First day back at the gym was a failure

ritzvin

youngmomtaz wrote: »

snowflake954 wrote: »

I'm surprised that you didn't just keep working above the waist with a foot and leg injury. I get the impression that your pride is getting in the way. Don't ever let it. It will hold you back. With any injury--YOU DO WHAT YOU CAN. That's a smart way to approach life. There is no shame in dialing back your workout for a couple of weeks until you're up to snuff now. I wish you luck, and be very careful that you don't re-injure yourself. Patience.

Does it not make sense that loading and unloading plates, carrying around heavy dumb bells, and manovering over benches could stress the ankle even though op is not directly working it?? Maybe his gym has limited machines and all free weights, maybe it is super busy and machines are rarely available. Life happens. He wasn’t asking for critique on how he spent his injured time. At all.

This. Also, the ratio of what you get out of it versus the time spent may not be enough to be worth it. After breaking my collarbone at end of August, I tried returning to the gym in October (exactly once) for what I might be able to do... found it pretty much near useless... still waiting on further recovery before trying again. My notes at the time (from Strava) repeated here word for word....

I had to at least try it. Summary: pretty much useless right now, and I will never take barbells for granted once I'm back in 1 piece.

Linear leg press: had to ask for help from fellow gym goer. Left at too high setting (geometry, not weight) for me to reach with legs, so had to get help to remove weight (can't handle 45s with left hand alone) and then hold the release levers while I pressed with my back to release it down. Then added 25s (ad nauseum) until working up until a somewhat usable weight. (The irony is that one has to add a bazillion more plates to this stupid contraption that serves no F'ing purpose IMO for someone with working arms. (ETA: I guess it would also serve a purpose for someone with injury to 1 leg)). Only targeted a very small specific point of quads (with both seat settings) and nothing else.
Back Extensions: Didn't not do anything, but very barely does anything when you can't hold weight. My shoulder was fine with the motion.
Decline bench: the motion was a problem for my shoulder. stopped at 2nd one.
Leg Curl: (As before) strains back of knees before it does zip to the muscles. useless. actually, more than useless. Useless + potential repetitive motion injury waiting to happen if I stupidly opted to continue use.
Single DB deadlift (had to atleast try): not enough weight to do absolutely anything.

Summary: Gym is useless until I can handle a barbell again! Zwift+trainer+(fake) hills once I'm a bit more recovered is looking more like a possible option, although I still doubt whether I have the necessary attention span.