tosabarbell

RC repair rehab…you’re doing it wrong.

Bigg and I were talking last night about a conversation he had with a co-worker about training so hard. First off, not surprisingly Matt has a lot more patience with folks in these types of conversations. When people want to ask me why I train hard enough to be a bit sore afterwards I want to say, “So I’m not a weak POS like you.” End of conversation. This is why he’s nicer (reason 48,023.)

Some of the questions he’s asked are kind of funny (why do you eat so much? why do you have to “train” after work instead of going out for beers? what’s training, is it the same as working out?) ya know, standard. But yesterday, after talking about various surgery’s and rehab that are common in Professional Strongman (Pro sports really), one interested co-worker asked if he were concerned about possible surgeries looming in his future (knee replacements, hip replacements, and so on.) Of course Matt being Matt, answered in a  patient and logical way.

My reply? I dunno dude, do you worry about all the medical treatment you’ll start to rely on as you age because you’re weak and constantly inflammed due to a shitty diet? Cuz THAT should concern you, not me pushing myself hard in the gym. True story.

But it doesn’t. We live in an age where a small (in the larger scheme of ‘Merika) subset community are willing to push themselves in the gym and sport to be stronger. Or often, Strongest.

Cuz strong people, those who have been in the gym for years and have not only the physical strength to accomplish difficult feats of strength but also have the MENTAL fortitude to push through work when difficult, accept possible risks and will run their numbers to decide if the possible reward is worth it. And if you’re a Pro athlete? It probably is. If not, why compete at all? Spectate. It’s a sport and more beer consumption is usually involved.

We talked about how athletes DO approach injury and rehab. Mainly, how do I get back into the gym as fast as possible to get stronger than before and back to competition? That’s the mindset of an athlete. Even if competing isn’t on the docket, how do I get back into the gym with a barbell in my hands? A 9 month rehab for a rotator cuff repair? W!T!Ffffffff! Wouldn’t you rather be pressing a barbell in four weeks?? Is it a painful rehab? Yup! It’ll hurt but we ain’t got time to bleed and need to get back to training.

Gratuitous picture of Jesse The Bod

For some reason among those who have decided strength isn’t needed in life, all of the doctor’s visits and surgeries needed to “maintain mobility” is accepted. It blows my mind and anyone asking a strength athlete or even someone who has prioritized strength in their life “why” they do it is offended when we say, “Dunno dude, why DON’T you?”  (Ya, I know, my delivery can be a bit harsh.) I have to ask, out of all of the physical therapy going on in America, what percentage are competing athletes (no matter the age and no, beerball doesn’t count. You actually have to have a S&C program) and what percentage is the average American?? The answer would indicate WHO really is at risk for future surgeries. Duh!

When my ex tore up his knee playing basketball with his brother, he went right to the surgeon from the Minnesota Timberwolves and said, “I need to be squatting again and plan on hitting 405 within 6 months. How do we do that?” Surgeon say, ‘okay, here’s how we do it.’ No, “I’m sorry sir, you’re looking at a one year rehab before you can do that.” Had he said that, Dan would have looked elsewhere. True story. We don’t have time for the standard “Joe Public” rehab. Those who live on a pain scale for 3 months and rehab is adjusted as such.

No. No, no, no.

The last time I was at the doctor was March, the time before that? Dunno, four or five years. We ran some tests based on a complaint I had and it turns out that I had an issue, something I’ve chosen not to talk about publicly. Still won’t. Cuz the program is:

1. Jules has a health issue

B. Jules needs to make some adjustments in life and do it now.

III 3 months later Jules is on the road to recovery and feeling better every day.

End of story. My health is everything, strength is a part of that. I will not jeopardize it by not doing EVERY THING I can to ensure it’s optimal. I will push myself in the gym and in the kitchen to make sure I’m the best I can be and if someone dares question me as to why this is so important? Well, I just might answer you. And you won’t like it.

Without health, life is not life; it is only a state of langour and suffering- an image of death.

Buddah

I’ve been giving a lot of attention lately to how I’m acting in public. No, not the swearing, I gotta be me. But the overall vibe. Largely because people in public drive me crazy and if I don’t check myself I’m a hugenormous bitch that can shit all over an extroverts day. Not acceptable.

See, I always thought that I was an outgoing extrovert but am finding, well, not so much. Crowds? Not really unless it’s worth it. Chaos? Never. I get very anxious in chaos. I like to know when, where, how long and the current version of “wing it Jules” that takes hold occasionally has taken 48 years to get to. I’m not good having tons of friends with superficial relationships, I like real or fuggetaboutit.

I’m not a fan of the introvert description that they are all wrapped up in themselves because I actually know many who would walk through fire for a friend and even have for me. Matt told me the other day that one description of extroverts are that they get their energy from others so that when I’m faced with one, they are trying to get energy off me and I am wired so that I protect it fiercely. So each interaction almost becomes an emotional tug of war. Explains why people are so foking exhausting. True story.

Here’s an example, in an attempt to hold on to just a little bit of my Hawaiian bronze I’ve hit a new (to me) tanning studio. Truth is, I like to have a little color. I take after my light skinned Hawaiian mother who’s Portuguese coloring allows me to tan easy, but to be whiter than other locals. So tan I go. Upon walking into the studio, the owner who is a very friendly, VERY EXTROVERTED young woman hit me with so much energy that I was instantly on guard. But now that I’m kind of embracing the whole introvert thing I can step back and be aware of how I’m coming off. It’s a relief really, embracing how I interact and making sure I’m not a negative to someone else even in passing.

After the tanning salon owner’s inquiries on who I am, what I do, where I live, am I going on vacation (three times she asked that one), and expressing sadness when I said I’m not going on vacation I finally stopped the barrage of questions with a simple statement of, “I’m an introvert and all of your questions make me uncomfortable. I don’t want to be rude or mean to you but I can’t take all the personal inquiries” the interrogation instantly stopped and her energy dropped by about 75% which still made her more energetic than most D1 cheerleaders when the camera’s are on them but it helped. She simply said, “Oh, ok” and we conducted business. When I came out she simply said to have a good day, see me next time and that was it. Possibly more subdued than she would like, probably actually, but far more comfortable for me. I was extremely thankful for that.

So here’s what I’ve learned. I don’t think I’m a full on introvert. I like to be around people, a lot actually. Just smaller groups where I can connect with people. I hate pretend relationships, avoid them at all cost. If I am friends with someone I guess I expect that friendship to be on all fronts, not just a “oh my gosh we just have so much fun together and let’s have coffee again soon.” I am here if they need me and I know they are there for me when I need them. Real. I love having people to the house and sharing food, drink, stories, games. I love going to parties to celebrate people or things. I love a good sporting event and will even tackle IKEA on a Sunday. Brave, I know.

But when I go head to head with an extreme extrovert, I need to keep myself in check. The energy I kick out is going to come right back at me so I want it to be good. It doesn’t have to be fake and I don’t often need to let them know they’re making me uncomfortable, but I don’t need to shut down either and that’s probably my go to.

So while not just an introvert or obviously not an extrovert, I’d call myself a Hybrid. Cuz that sounds more fancy and good to the environment. Mainly, mine. Heh.

The only problem with seeing people you know is that they know you.

Brent Runyon

When the Z’s were younger, being good little Minnesota boy and girl, they played hockey. Zac turned into a defensemen and even at a very young age, had a keen eye for where the play was developing. Some negative ‘Association’ experiences had him leave it early and that’s on me to not handle it correctly. I so hated hockey parents and the “association” police. It’s not my first regret as a parent and certainly won’t be the last.

Zandra stuck with it much longer and had some good runs in the net. I won’t get into the absolute shit treatment goalies get from not only other parents but their teammates too. Today. That’s not the message for today.

One favorite term among parents of girls hockey is that, at times, other teams would play “chippy.” It’s said with disgust and anger as if it’s unpalatable to even utter.

Chippy, in girls hockey speak, means aggressive and dirty. Pushing the limits of the referee’s (we say ref’s, also with anger and disgust) in hopes that they don’t get caught and when they do they perform a European football sized display of shock and outrage that such a poor call was made. And this is at the squirt age. By the time they get to High School, they’ve perfected this trick good enough to fool some of the new ref’s into not making a call. The whole point of the act.

Duh.

And that was something to throw shade at? When I was 14 I taunted a girl at a softball game so bad that she ran right for me (I played shortstop at that particular game) on a hit and I faced her, braced myself and let her try to take me down. She ended up on her ass and I ended up on the bench. I deserved it but hot damn was that satisfying. I was the poster girl of “Chippy.” I love aggressive competition. Helloooooo, hockey fan? I have tried so many times to enjoy non-contact sports and I just can’t. It’s so torturous. Pretend fouls; throwing tantrums; pretending you need 911 at every turn. How is that enjoyable???

Anyways. Chippy. Chippy, in our circles I guess, was undesirable. If I had a dollar for every time I heard the sentence “just play the game, leave the physical stuff out of it” I’d have enough money to buy at least one sports mom a personality. LEAVE THE PHYSICAL STUFF OUT OF IT??!!! It’s hockey! Leaving the physical stuff out of it means you’ve just become a basketball player. Foking duh!

So that’s me…at a very early age. Chippy. Not dirty, per say. But pushing the limits for sure. And I still compete that way. Oh, the chippiness (it’s a word spell check, stop redlining me) has gone away mainly because I’m not competing in that setting. Once this late winter, I missed a snatch in spectacular fashion and as I fell on my ass the bar hit the shit out of my shin. Shin ouchies demand lots of swearing. Matt was in the gym at the time and stood up wondering what to do and was helpless as I walked it off cussing my brains out. Now THAT made weightlifting a contact sport and the bar won. Well done.

But driving myself in competition is still there and, in most cases, I thrive in it. Except for now. Something is going on where I’ve approached the last two Games with a bit of a relaxed, “practice this”, attitude. It hit hard last Saturday and is annoying the ever living out of me. So, yes, the season is young. Throws obviously aren’t where I want them to be 3 months from now but that doesn’t mean that mentally I’m not in the Game. And I haven’t been.

Unacceptable. Not me. I’ve adjusted my practices to work on that and as of yesterday, it worked. There are a lot of mechanical things to relax and think about on a throws day but at Gametime? It’s time to shut it down, relax; prioritize, and attack. I haven’t done that and it needs to change.

That’s how I like to compete and I have fun doing so. I don’t have fun not doing so and the numbers these last two Games show it. Abysmal is the only word I can think of so back to the drawing board to mentally prepare for Games day and hopefully my next one (June) will show as such.

Hopefully.

You have competition every day because you set such high standards for yourself that you have to go out every day and live up to that.

Michael Jordan