Friday, February 22, 2008

Bummed out

I have exactly zero motivation for exercise right now. Despite the fact that I still have fairly good left arm and shoulder function, I have not spent one minute sweating or breathing hard since my LOTR 12 hour trainer marathon last weekend. I'm depressed about having rotator cuff surgery and then a long rehab.

Starting Monday, I won't be able to lay my left hand on a handlebar for 3 long months, although Bones says I can start aerobic exercise 72 hours after my surgery. We went with Big Jim to St. Aug's fish fry tonight, and he offered to take me around his 4 hour climbfest tomorrow, but I just don't have the heart. I never much liked Soulmate's Arc trainer, but I think I'll be seeing alot of it for a few months.

Soulmate has promised to help me pull on my socks and tie my shoes so we can go walking every day. Now there's a pleasant thought, especially with nicer weather coming. It'll keep my mind off of missing the GrandStay training rides. Maybe not.

Bagley swears he kept his fitness up last year after his horrific crash by walking every night with his wife, so if it's good enough for my buddy, it's good enough for me. Any ideas on how to keep the weight off while I can't put in the bike hours? Don't say Jenny Craig--that ain't gonna happen for Doc.

Guess I'll fire up the arc trainer in the morning and see how long I can work it until rigor mortis sets in. At least I've got a stash of pretty good movies banked. Just got to get a better sound system for my workout room...

7 comments:

Kevin Gilmore said...

It's easy to say but it really is true that when times like this leave you sidelined you need to take inventory of the health you have and the health you'll soon regain. Sort of a be thankful for what you have approach. I'm guilty of the same thinking when problems keep me off the bike.

Is there a stationary trainer in your arsenal?

Best wishes for a speedy

Doc said...

Thanks for the great reminder, Kevin. In a sort of twisted way, I can be thankful that I bunged up my shoulder doing something I love.

Lots of brick-layers, construction workers, and other manual laborers have this problem due to the physical strain of their livelihood. I count myself blessed.

I have a LeMond Revmaster, and use it alot, but can't even lay my left hand on the handlebars for 8 to 12 weeks, depending on whether the muscle has to be stitched together (complete tear) or just trimmed up (partial tear).

Kevin Gilmore said...

You should be able to sit upright (maybe read a newspaper) and spin so you can keep some of the form you have. It won't be the workout you want but it will beat none at all. You'll come back hungrier than you've been in a while with a new found appreciation for your bike.

There are some positives to work with here but you do have to remind yourself of them.

GoBigGreen said...

Recumbent bike at a gym?
Lots of high cadence drills and as you said, maybe some weight bearing stuff like walking or stairs. (yea I know that sounds like torture) You'll find a routine that works once you know what you are dealing with and as Kevin said, makes you realize that we are so lucky. This is temporary. When my mom had cancer it is like "crap, this is real." Sports injuries for most of us "citizens" (sorry y'all, that is what we are) are just bruises to our physical egos.
Hang in there, tell your PT you are the most compliant people pleasing patient ever and theywill put you on the fast track :)

Doc said...

Thanks for the great ideas for keeping up my fitness. Soulmate and I are committed to walking together an hour a day for the duration of my rehab. Beyond that, the arc trainer gives me plenty of level 1 and tempo exercise.

I owned a recumbent trainer but it killed my back and I couldn't get my HR up at all, so I traded it in. I can't see spinning for 2 or 3 hours on my Revmaster while sitting up "no handed". We'll see...

Anonymous said...

Bagley is lying to you...I saw him out on numerous occasions on a RECUMBENT! He just doesn't want you to know about his secret life...

Doc said...

I must cofess that I lent Bagley that recumbent. A friend who lives in Willmar leaves his recumbent in my garage so he can ride it when he is in town each week.

I think it's a death trap when ridden with 2 hands. I wouldn't think of doing it one handed...