My body can't move like it used to

Do exercises at the level your body allows right now, then enjoy your progress as you go along.

Your body is the most amazing, living machine ever. It truly is miraculous. However, after years of neglect and normal wear and tear, it tends to function like you'd expect -- a machine that's been sitting there idle for many years when it's "restarted".

It took a lot for me to lose weight. I started in my early 40s. I blew an ACL in my 20s and had completely blew my knee out, very nastily, coaching BB for my son. The injury was so bad I couldn't walk for nearly a year. That kind of injury, when you're also at your biggest, gives you a whole new perspective.

Back when I hurt it, I started with what I could do, which was PT (Physical Therapy) to start. Then it became learning how to walk again, literally taking one step at a time. There was a lot of determination, but also a lot of feeling sorry for myself. That all ended when I started becoming a "regular" at the local gym, just doing what I could.

There was a guy there that was a war veteran that worked out regularly with only one arm (and he was very strong, much stronger than I was!). He wasn't setting any limitations on himself, so how dare would I? Another lady I met had MS and wheeled herself from one machine to another to keep her muscles strong for her young kids. There was a father and son and the son had only use of his upper body and the father would pick him up, literally, and place him on equipment to keep his upper body strong and use what limited use he had with his legs. In my opinion now, after years of inactivity and now more activity than I've ever done, I think how ungrateful I was before my knee injury, that it took THAT long to finally realize the gift that all of us have, without limitations others have every day. I keep that in mind everyday now when I workout.

Aches and pains and weight happen. I took such inspiration off of others that made what I had seem trivial. I still can't do what I did in my 20s, but I can do amazing things now, much better than when I was in my early 40s (I'll be 56 this year with nearly 10 years in maintenance). Some things I do better than in my 20s, like my cardio endurance. I just can't stop and start like I used to!

It might take you six months to feel like your "back" to your old self, it might take a year. You might, like me, never quite meet your level of expectations. But one thing is for sure, consistent, gradual effort rewards immensely, not only for what you're physically capable of, but also how you look, feel and your health.