Yesterdays WOD included shoulder presses. I started slowly working up weight as that was the direction for this strength portion, and was on my second to last set of five when something popped in my shoulder. It was one of those “I hear it, I feel it” situations. Immediately, I put the bar down and took a breath. I rolled out the muscle with a ball, with the bar, against the wall, anything to help move the pain. After a few minutes rest, I lightened my bar load, finished the strength portion of the workout and got myself ready for the next segment. I pushed through–throwing snatches up over my head until the rounds were over. Even though I finished the workout in good time, I left defeated.
I should’ve stopped. Instead of rolling out, I should have gathered my things and called it a day. Should have left early with an injury. My theory of pushing through helped me finish the workout, but certainly didn’t help me in the long run.
I’ve been in the worst pain I’ve ever been in since. Excruciating pain every time I move my right side, turn my head to the right, bend forward, raise my arms to put on a shirt. I had x-rays done this morning and nothing is dislocated or broken, so I must have strained or pulled a muscle. It feels like a million bones are crushed inside me.
The point of the story is, know when to stop. I knew that I should’ve called it quits yesterday and instead kept going. Would it have changed my bottom line now? Maybe, maybe not, i’ll never know. But I do know that it is important to take care of yourself. Instead of working out today, I’m sitting at my computer. Instead of working out tomorrow, I’ll still be sitting at my computer (or doing something equally as uninteresting and active).
When the going gets tough, know when to sit back and take a break–that’s what I’ve got to tell myself from now on.
On a lighter note, I’ve discovered a magical thing. Smoothies definitely taste better when they’re in a bowl and eaten with a spoon. I think this should be a new thing–like fro yo with healthy smoothies that you add toppings to and devour (don’t anyone steal this idea…I’m going to make a store now 🙂 ..but really).
My go-to smoothie bowl this week is super easy, good for you and tastes deeelicious.
You Need:
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin (simply pumpkin–nothing else in there)
1 handful of spinach (about a cup)
1/2-1 frozen green banana
About 1/4-1/2 cup coconut or almond milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. almond butter
1/2 tsp. coconut butter
more cinnamon
To Prepare:
The night before you are going to make the smoothie bowl, slice up a green banana, cover, and put in the freezer.
When you are going to make it, remove banana from freezer and allow to thaw while you are preparing everything else.
In a blender (or food processor like I’ve been using because I don’t have my blender), mix pumpkin, spinach, milk, cinnamon and vanilla. The mixture will be a little chunky but continue to blend until all big leaves are broken down and the mix starts to thin out.
Add a few banana slices, process and repeat. Continue to blend until all chunks are gone and the smoothie is a thick, green puree.
Transfer smoothie to a bowl and swirl in almond butter, coconut butter and cinnamon. You can also top with nuts, granola, coconut–anything you desire.
Grab a spoon and dig in!
A Simple Spoon 