This will be short, but I’ll probably be back this week with a workout clothing review. Andy and I also completed our Refine Resolution Challenge this weekend. I’ve got lots to say about that too, and that will come soon. And I still haven’t reviewed my CrossFit Jersey City experience! That was in December, so you might say I am a little behind.
Until then, here’s my workout plan for the week of March 31, 2013:
- Sunday – Real Ride at Revolve (45 min)
- Monday – Teach spin (55 min)
- Tuesday – Refine Method (1 hr)
- Wednesday – Rest
- Thursday – Real Ride at Revolve (45 min) or Rest
- Friday – Rest
- Saturday – Teach spin (50 min)
You might notice this plan looks very different than most weeks – notably because of the lack of Refine Method. I started feeling some pain in my upper back on the right side. I’ve had this twice before and I’ve been to a doctor about it. She said it’s a muscle strain and comes from carrying absurdly heavy bags on my right shoulder.
Over the last few months, I’ve carried a heavy workout bag which includes sneakers for Refine, spin shoes (sometimes both, sometimes one or the other), a water bottle that is often full, a coconut water bottle, a bag of makeup, a hair iron, etc etc. And this is in addition to my purse. I’m incapable of carrying my bag on my left shoulder; I can’t explain it but it feels so wrong and unnatural that I just forget how to walk when it’s there. I’m like a dog. Does anyone else have that issue?
The point of this long winded tale is that the pain came back.
In the past, a full week off Refine has helped, since lifting heavy things and doing pushups and using my back muscles don’t help the situation at all. After a week, I’ve been able to come back to class feeling back to normal. I canceled the class I planned for yesterday and went to Revolve instead. I’m going to Refine on Tuesday because I am bringing a new friend who really wants to try it. We met because she takes my spin class every Monday morning! It’s been hard for Andy and I to make friends in Jersey City, and we loved meeting Caitlin and her husband for a drink last week. This week, I show her the wonders of the Refine Method.
After Tuesday, I’ll take a few days off Refine and see how I am doing. Also, going to Refine means carrying my heavy bag to and from Jersey City on two trains with some walking thrown in. So not going there should help.
I want to take care of this now because my wedding is in just over two months and I want to be back into my workouts as soon as possible. My back felt fine yesterday and this morning, but after having to carry that heavy bag with me today since I taught spin and had to get ready at the gym, I’m hurting again.
My bag is definitely the culprit. I need to find a non-ugly backpack this week! I can’t let something so dumb derail me from my workouts and keep me from the class I love most in the world, Refine.
I have a sports massage scheduled for this Friday with the most amazing, brilliant, talented sports massage therapist Danielle DeMaio (She works with famous athletes – let me know if you want her info!). I feel confident that I’ll be good to go after that.
Here’s how I did with my workouts last week:
- Sunday – REST – Complete!
- Monday – Teach spin (55 min) and
Refine Method (1 hr)Teach spin again (55 min) – I got a call to sub a spin class i nthe evening, so I did that instead of Refine – Complete! - Tuesday – Refine Method (1 hr) – Complete!
- Wednesday – Refine Method (1 hr) – Complete!
- Thursday – Revolve (45 min) – Complete!
- Friday –
Rest or easy run– I went to Refine Method since I canceled it on Monday. So, complete! - Saturday – Refine Method (1 hr) – Complete! (Last day of Refine Resolution Challenge!)
Last week was a great week of working out. This week I’m looking forward to taking it easier. I am open to canceling any workouts after Tuesday and just letting my body rest.
Rest isn’t so bad when you’ve got this tiny thing to squeeze.
Do you have a recurring pain that’s not quite an injury but keeps coming back? How do you handle it?
Liz
April 1, 2013 at 1:03 pm (12 years ago)LeSportsac used to make relatively cute backpacks that probably won’t break the bank… not sure if they’ll fit everything you need, though. And I LOVE Danielle! I used her on your recommendation in the NYC Marathon fb group last summer and she totally helped clear up some knee issues I was having.
cameo
April 1, 2013 at 6:45 pm (12 years ago)I second the backpack idea. I was given one from my company and at first I chuckled (haha, like I will USE it for REALS!) and now I swear by it. Changed my life with regards to commuting and carrying tons of shit. I am also not trying to win any fashion awards nor do I give a crap if I am “uncool” so take my advice with a grain of salt.
Jackie
April 2, 2013 at 10:49 am (12 years ago)I have a crossbody gym bag at the moment but am definitely considering a backpack when its time for an upgrade. Also – totally agree with you about not being able to carry anything on the left side of my body. Doesn’t matter how tired my right arm or shoulder gets, I won’t carry anything on the left – bizarre!
Stina
April 2, 2013 at 12:10 pm (12 years ago)I bought a Timbuk2 messenger bag for commuting to work (I walk about 1.25 miles total each way.), and I absolutely love it. It distributes the weight pretty evenly across my back even though the strap is on my left shoulder.
Frogoutofwater
April 2, 2013 at 9:24 pm (12 years ago)I have far too long a list of recurring pains that flare up from time to time. I had a couple of bulging discs in my lower back a few years ago, and so I have lower back pain that flares up every couple of months. I have an old rotator cuff injury that can get aggravated if I do exercises incorrectly and hunch up my shoulders too much. I get shin splints easily. But I still manage most of the time to work out (run, do Pilates, elliptical, etc). Actually, for back and shoulder pain, I find that a comfortable elliptical machine often helps me work out some of the kinks and strains in my back (something about the slight twisting combined with the regular upper body arm movement seems to help). Swimming would be even better but I don’t have easy access to a pool.
For me a backpack is critical. Like you, I can only carry a shoulder bag on my right shoulder. However, I can carry a bag by the handles in my left or right hand, so I have a couple of large hobo-style bags (that aren’t so long that they’re dragging on the ground) that I can carry a fair bit of gear in. So I rotate through several -different bags: a couple of backpacks, a couple of bags that I can switch from hand to hand, and a couple that I swing over my right shoulder.
Shane
April 2, 2013 at 10:09 pm (12 years ago)Hi Dori! I was just about to recommend Le Sport Sac, which I see someone already suggested above. I have never liked their bags, but last week I was getting fed up with my heavy workbag (or rather my shoulders were), so I went to Lord and Taylor’s and bought an all black Le Sport Sac backpack. I think it was around $116, but they gave me a coupon at the register, so it came out to $100. I am LOVING It…the straps are comfortable, it has several pockets, and I think it looks professional (maybe I’m kidding myself, but at least it’s better for my health).
Theodora
April 4, 2013 at 2:05 pm (12 years ago)My body also ceases working with a bag on the left side. And I am lefty!
Sutherland
April 5, 2013 at 9:07 am (12 years ago)Hi Dori, Sorry to hear about the condition. Sounds like you have isolated it to the heavy bag, and I hope you have found a solution, the backpack, perhaps? Anyway, to answer you question, I’ve had recurring back pain for a number of years now, probably a result of stress and working in front of the computer all the time. This past year, I have been able to reduce it dramatically by taking up yoga.
I hope you get better soon!