I wasn’t always an active person. In fact, up until just a few years ago, I probably would’ve considered myself to be the exact opposite. My “exercise” consisted of walking to classes and eating at least three plates plus dessert at the Commons for every meal. After that, I’d go back to my dorm to watch TV for the rest of the day until it was time to go out at night and start the process all over again the next morning.
That all changed after my first semester of freshman year when I took up rock climbing in my spare time. So began a spiral in my life. The good kind.
I starting eating healthier and eventually began lifting weights a few days a week to improve my climbing. As the weeks and months went by, I began to truly see the effects that working out had on my body and mind. I continued to stay interested and slowly learned more and more about fitness.
Staying fit quickly become a regular part of my routine, and has remained so for the past two years. That is, until about two months ago when, at the height of my physical fitness, I sprained my ankle while climbing. I was pushed back to square one. Or so I thought.
Keeping My Mind Healthy
For the first couple of days after my injury, I thought I was doomed to a sedentary life for at least another month, until I could walk regularly on my foot again. As a result, I felt down and unmotivated. What I quickly learned is that this doesn’t have to be the case. With just a quick Google search, I found endless options for ankle-less workouts. There was everything from chair cardio workouts to barre inspired body-weight workouts. Simply knowing that I would be able to stay active despite my injury immediately made me more hopeful and happy.
Reading for Mental Growth
As a climber, so much of my success in the sport has to do with the my mental state while climbing. I found time during my injury to read more about dealing with fear and doubt in a book called “The Rock Warrior’s Way” by Arno Ilgner. While the book is specifically tailored towards climbers, it is applicable to just about any sport or scenario.
When you’re dealing with an injury but want to improve at a sport/activity during your time off, consider sitting down and thinking about what might be holding you back from getting better. Maybe you’re like me, and your mentality is actually what needs the most work. If that is the case, odds are there is a book or article out there that can help you with exactly that; mental growth and confidence.
Staying Physically Fit
For a full month, I continued to do at least one ankle-less workout a day. I found creative ways to get my heart pumping while not losing any of the progress I had gained prior to my ankle injury. Even though I wasn’t working out in the ways I was before, my health remained a top priority. I also paid careful attention to what I was eating.
Because I wasn’t working out as vigorously as I once was, I made a point to eat healthy. For me, that means eating whole grains, a variety of fruits and vegetables, lots of healthy fats like peanut butter and hummus, as well as drinking a good amount of water. Remember to always talk to your doctor before starting a new diet to find out what healthy looks like for you.
Where I Am Today
Believe it or not, I can now say that I have come back from my injury stronger than I was before. While I still have a ways to go, I have slowly started incorporating my regular workouts back into my daily routine. I’m feeling better and healthier than I ever have.
This just goes to show that anyone is capable of whatever they put their mind to when it comes to fitness. Just like my journey to overall athleticism, yours probably won’t happen overnight. As with my ankle injury, there was never really one day when I got out of bed and decided to get in shape. It happened gradually and with small day-to-day changes. I listened to my body and tested what it was capable of as my injury steadily improved.
So if you too are dealing with an injury and are feeling uninspired or worried that you might lose progress, take note! It’s still possible to keep active despite the inconvenience of an injury. Who knows