Exercise 12th of May

After a busy week I’ve finally managed to get my bum back in the gym. I had been dreading and putting off my weigh-in. But this morning I decided I had to weigh myself, even if it was just to see how badly it had spiraled out of control. I hardly dared to look at the numbers. But… to my surprise I had not gained any weight. That was a good sign, especially since I have not exercised regurarly and I haven’t really stuck to my meal plan. But on the other hand I haven’t lost any weight either, so I really need to get back into it again.

My neck is feeling much better now that I am not so stressed anymore, but I still thought it would be better to only do cardio training. I can tell I am not exercising regurarly, because I was pretty puffy and my heart was beating like a maniac. But it feels so good to see that lazy sweat come out of your body!

Cardio

• 10 min. Cross trainer - level 3 - 13 km/h
• 30 min. Bike - level 6 - 90/100 rpm
• 20 min. Treadmill - 5.6 km/h - incline 5%

Neck problems

Since I’ve had a few messages and comments of concerned readers I will explain where my neck pain is coming from. Last year I was involved in a car accident. I got t-boned by someone who ignored a red light. I ended up with bruised ribs, bruised hips and a neck injury. I consider myself very lucky to walk away with only those injuries. A split second later and things would have been completely different.

In the hospital they took x-rays and did a CT-scan because they thought I had broken my neck. Fortunately It turned out that I ‘only’ had a whiplash and loss of the curve in my neck as a result from the car accident. They did however find some other abnormalities in my neck like two fused discs, scoliosis and arthritis. Apparently I have been born with this (apart from the arthritis).

After the car accident I had to wear a cervical collar for a while to give my neck rest. Unfortunately the pain did not ease off as time went by. I gained more weight from not exercising and eating my frustrations away. Before the accident I went to the gym 5 or 6 times per week. When I started to visit the chiropractor things got a bit better and I decided to go back to the gym to make my neck and shoulder muscles a bit stronger.

In the beginning I didn’t feel too good after each gym visit, but I decided to push through it and as time progressed and I also started to visit the acupuncturist I started to feel much better again. The daily headaches disappeared and my neck could handle more and more.

Unfortunately the last couple of weeks things have been going downhill again. At first I didn’t know why it had made a turn for the worst, but now I know that it was severe stress. I am very good at ignoring the things that are bothering me. I always have the idea that I shouldn’t worry about things and just get on with it. The only problem was that my body was having none of it this time; the stress ran rampage in my body. Bad headaches, crappy neck pain and muscles as hard as steel.

Last Friday we had a very stressful day that was very important for our future. Unconsciously I was stressing more about it than I realized. When the day was over I was so incredible tired and felt like I could not even move. All the stress was coming out. Now that that day is behind us I feel so much better. The pain in my neck has eased off and the headaches are gone.

Exercise 30th of April

Yesterday I finally done a body combat class again. Body Combat is my favorite class and I really got into it. Unfortunately I had to pay the prize for it too. The rest of the day I’ve been laying in bed with bad pains in my neck and a massive headache. Today it feels as if I have cables of steel in my neck and shoulders instead of muscles, so I decided to take it easy. Tomorrow I won’t be able to go to the gym, because I have to go to the city for an important appointment.

Cardio

• 30 min. Treadmill - 6.0 km/h - incline 6%
• 60 min. Body Combat