A success story in the making

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

Someone bumped my success story today. I posted it back in February and sometimes it gets bumped randomly. I'm not sure why. If you're interested, it's here:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1202245-sweat-tears-and-the-sea-three-years-of-mfp

The reason I'm posting though is to tell you that there's more to every story that's represented in the Success Stories board than what is contained in any given thread. My thread was about overcoming the symptoms of several chronic illnesses through diet and exercise. The day I posted it I felt like a super hero. I can't tell you all how much the responses meant to me.



But then about 6 weeks ago things started to go wrong. I was having a lot more back pain than normal. I couldn't sleep because of the pain. My doctors wanted to do minor surgery to deaden the nerves along my spine and in the process of preparing for that procedure it was discovered that I had a bulging disc issue that was likely contributing to the problem.

If you know me at all you know that lifting weights is my passion. Deadlifting is my favorite. This is what I was doing the morning before things went off the rails:



Shortly after that video was taken, I leaned over to pick something up off the floor and when I went to stand up there was a crunch. Excruciating pain spread throughout my lower back and hips. I collapsed on the floor. I knew it was bad, although I didn't know the exact nature of the injury. I spent a week in bed. The spine doc told me I'd probably injured another disc, but more severely than the first. He said no more deadlifting or squatting. I thought my heart would break.



I underwent surgery on May 8th. It was rough and I was in a lot of pain. The biggest problem though was that I couldn't exercise at all. I was back to being an invalid. And throughout that time, my success story kept getting bumped. Every time I saw it come back to the top of My Topics I felt a pang of disappointment and a little guilt. I felt like I couldn't call myself a success anymore.

But things got better. I started walking, slowly at first and then longer and faster. Then I was able to go back to upper body lifting. I started to feel more like myself. I'm awaiting an appointment with a physical therapist to figure out what types of lower body exercises are going to be safe for me.

This setback doesn't negate my success story. It's just another chapter, and when it's said and done I'll have another success story to tell. Maybe even a better one-- one about a lifter who came back from an injury even stronger and more determined than before.

Whatever setbacks you're facing today, just remember that you are a success story in the making. You may not be able to see the end yet, but that doesn't mean it isn't there.



TL;DR: I got strong and overcame illness. Then I got sick again. But I will overcome this too, and so can you.

tageekly

Do you ever get tired of hearing how amazing you are? No? Okay, you're amazing. Truly.



And thank you for sharing your story, and your continuing story. Stay strong.

Achrya

Yes.

Life keeps trying to knock you down and you keep kicking it in the balls and that is what I admire about you above all else. You don't give up or stay down, even when you have every right too, you just get up and figure out something else.

SapiensPisces

You are an amazing person, and yours is a beautiful story.

MyChocolateDiet

randomtai

You rock so hard. :flowerforyou:

MyChocolateDiet

You rock so hard. :flowerforyou:

You don't know how bad I want to rip off that towel everytime I see it.

whitebalance

Tough as nails and sweet as amber honey cakes - that's you, Acrylics. You are awesome and I'm glad to know you here.

Sreneesa

Very inspirational and amazing!

Thank you for sharing. :flowerforyou:

GiveMeCoffee

HanamiDango

:flowerforyou: Just awe-inspiring! Thank you for letting us into your life and showing everyone, that anything is possible.

brower47

CompressedCarbon

Do you ever get tired of hearing how amazing you are? No? Okay, you're amazing. Truly.



And thank you for sharing your story, and your continuing story. Stay strong.

I could not agree any more.

zoeysasha37

You should be very proud of yourself!! You are doing wonderful!! :-)

PetulantOne

sbarella

Could you please leave some awesomeness for the rest of us? :flowerforyou:

baba_helly

I said this on your success story and I'll say it here too: you are beautiful inside and out and I'm so lucky to call you my friend!

CallMeCupcakeDammit

Do you ever get tired of hearing how amazing you are? No? Okay, you're amazing. Truly.



And thank you for sharing your story, and your continuing story. Stay strong.

I could not agree any more.

+1,000,000

sun_fish

Thank you for sharing this update, I hope it won't be the last as each time I read your posts I find myself in awe and inspired. So many people would use what you face as an excuse, I know I have had my share of excuses based on physical limitations. Well, no more. Thank you, thank you, thank you, and I agree with others, you are amazing. :flowerforyou:

_Terrapin_

Amber, well I sweat earlier today so a little salty sweat is good, and now I had a good cry, a little more salty goodness. You are incredible. Period.

Cranquistador

Never surrender.

Derp_Diggler

I looked up courage in the dictionary and found this picture beside it




You are a badass. Don't ever doubt it Amber.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

:blushing: :blushing: :blushing:

DamePiglet

I looked up courage in the dictionary and found this picture beside it




You are a badass. Don't ever doubt it Amber.

Everything above this and also this.

You told me I didn't have to starve myself.
You were right.
You said lifting would help me get where I wanted to go.
You were right again.
You inspired me.

Then I found out about your health stuff.

And all I could think was, "holy *kitten*!! I'm not worthy!"
You're amazing!

Also:
That squat gif?

Just sayin'

bookworm_847

I looked up courage in the dictionary and found this picture beside it




You are a badass. Don't ever doubt it Amber.

Quoting again just for emphasis. You're an amazing person. :flowerforyou:

Prettymisssparkles

Do you ever get tired of hearing how amazing you are? No? Okay, you're amazing. Truly.



And thank you for sharing your story, and your continuing story. Stay strong.

^So much this

:flowerforyou:

Achrya

Just sayin'

See, what you all don't know about her is

CallMeCupcakeDammit

Also:
That squat gif?

Just sayin'

I didn't delete the rest of this post because I didn't agree, because I totally do (your fitspiration is one of my favorites), but I'm glad I wasn't the only one to think that! :bigsmile:

DavPul

mank32

^^that

and this:

PJPrimrose

I'm so glad you found a way to work out safely! If you don't mind my asking...what went wrong? Your form looks good to me. Was it the dead lifts that hurt your back? I have just started these and don't want an injury!