Time for a Change in my Goals

[jbran23]

Well fellas, I have finally decided its time to change my athletic goals but it has been in the making for quite some time now. With my idol growing up being Arnold, my goals have always been to get bigger and stronger and more muscular but for anyone who has seen my posts in the Injuries and Rehab section you know I have been battling a shoulder injury and more recently an elbow injury.

The last straw was today doing biceps and triceps and working through pain in my elbow from my very first set before finally giving up in frustration and heading to the treadmill. I have made attempts to work through the pain by trying to find different exercises that cause less pain, supplementing with joint support products, stretching more, and focusing more on warming up pre-workout with no luck. Every step of the way my body has fought me. I can no longer go into the gym and put forth the kind of intensity needed or the ability to do the types of exercises needed to achieve my goals. I used to look forward to the gym and now something that has brought me so much pleasure in the past I now dread because of the pain and disappointment I feel almost on a daily basis.

I have come to the realization that I am never going to have 20 inch arms or be able to bench 350 pounds. Its most discouraging because I KNOW that I have the drive and determination to achieve my goals and I also feel I have the knowledge to get there but my body just wont cooperate anymore. I can deal with it. What I cant deal with would be to sacrifice my quality of life down the road because of my stubborness now.

I will continue to exercise because it keeps me sane and it is my release from day to day stress. Without it I dont think I would be a very happy person. Its just my goals are not going to be the same. I am going to focus more on cardio and I guess I may turn into the guy at the gym that I feel like saying to now "You should be hitting the weights and then getting your ass home and eating something rather than sitting on the treadmill for 45 minutes!" but I can deal with that as well. I plan on finally getting my BF% into the single digits and maybe finally getting that 6-pack I have always wanted. Also, so far my legs have not failed me and I can still work them pain free so I will continue to squat and leg press so I still have that to hold onto.

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to listen to my long winded story. Its a sad day for me in the fact that my goals I have had for so long are coming to an end without being accomplished but I have new goals to look forward to achieving one day down the road. Wish me luck guys as I embark on my new athletic journy.

[HawaiianPride.]

When was the last time you took a decent deload?

[jbran23]

When was the last time you took a decent deload?

I have basically been on a deload for the better part of the past month. I have dropped the poundages down on almost everything to lessen the strain on my shoulder and elbow and have dropped some of the heavier compound movements like bench press totally.

[HawaiianPride.]

So you've deloaded for a month and still have the same issues?

[dec11]

have you tried freeze treating the injuries? has saved me many times when nothing else worked

[lovbyts]

I treat with Ice and it doesnt hurt to lay off everything for a couple or a few weeks, 100%. If you can go a full month with nothing but light stretching it may be all it takes. I had a break last time of almost 3 weeks and my shoulder is 95% better.

I gave up for 15 years due to injuries and constantly getting sick or hurt every time I tried to continue. It just takes the right motivation (for me it was a young girlfriend) and the right mindset (I decided to take it SLOW and not rush things) and almost 3 years later so far so good. Dont give up, dont change the goals or at least dont loose the motivation. Just realize it will take you longer to get where you want that planned. Rarely does life work out as planned.

[Igifuno]

Have you seen a doc about your consistent injuries?

First of all, I can understand your frustration with repetative injuries. I've experienced a similar sequence of events and I know what a damper in your daily goals these things can cause. I would see a sports medicine doc and ask him point blank - why am I experiencing constant injuries? It could be a number of things. Maybe you need to consume a higher amount of joint support, fish oil, water, certain foods that you may be depriving yourself of with your diet, carbs... are you getting an appropriate amount of rest typically, how much water are you drinking every day. Let me ask you another question..by chance are you lifting weight that is too heavy for your current strenght? Could you perhaps lift with lighter weight with a higher degree of intensity? If so, consider this concept and you'd be surprised as to the results you may be able to accomplish with this. .

Wishing for the best for you brutha... give me some feedback.. I'm trying to do some thinking for you. I know your frustration..

IG

[jbran23]

I treat with Ice and it doesnt hurt to lay off everything for a couple or a few weeks, 100%. If you can go a full month with nothing but light stretching it may be all it takes. I had a break last time of almost 3 weeks and my shoulder is 95% better.

I gave up for 15 years due to injuries and constantly getting sick or hurt every time I tried to continue. It just takes the right motivation (for me it was a young girlfriend) and the right mindset (I decided to take it SLOW and not rush things) and almost 3 years later so far so good. Dont give up, dont change the goals or at least dont loose the motivation. Just realize it will take you longer to get where you want that planned. Rarely does life work out as planned.

Thanks for the encouragement brother. I think yesterday was more of a snap judgement after having one of my worst workout sessions in a long line of poor ones. I think Im going to take some time off for maybe 2 or 3 weeks and just hit some cardio and do some stretching and some very light work in the gym. Then ease back into a routine again and see how things feel.

[jbran23]

Have you seen a doc about your consistent injuries?

Hey Igi, I went to a doc about my shoulder 2 years ago but never got a definite answer as to what the problem was because I had just been laid off from my job and had lost my insurance after making only a couple visits. I still dont have insurance to this day and Im not in a financial situation where I can afford to pay any doctors out of pocket. Sucks big time.

First of all, I can understand your frustration with repetative injuries. I've experienced a similar sequence of events and I know what a damper in your daily goals these things can cause. I would see a sports medicine doc and ask him point blank - why am I experiencing constant injuries? It could be a number of things. Maybe you need to consume a higher amount of joint support, fish oil, water, certain foods that you may be depriving yourself of with your diet, carbs... are you getting an appropriate amount of rest typically, how much water are you drinking every day.

When I was younger I never paid attention to my joints but as Ive aged and had the normal aches and pains that everyone gets from being in this game for any amount of time I have started supplementing with fish oil religiuosly and I also take Animal Flex. My diet I would say is pretty well balanced. Anything specific you think I should be eating or supplementing with that would help me out? I drink a ton of water a day also. I aim for 64 ounces but most days Im sure its more than that. Rest isnt an issue either. Im currently unemployed so other than working out Im not doing a whole lot of strenuous activity during the day and I get at least 8 hours of sleep consistently every night.

Let me ask you another question..by chance are you lifting weight that is too heavy for your current strenght? Could you perhaps lift with lighter weight with a higher degree of intensity? If so, consider this concept and you'd be surprised as to the results you may be able to accomplish with this. .

I know this one would probably be the obvious one for the types of things I have going on but Ive never been super strong or pushed a ton of weight. Im always the guy using less weight than everyone else in the gym and concentrating more on form and squeezing each rep.

Wishing for the best for you brutha... give me some feedback.. I'm trying to do some thinking for you. I know your frustration..

Thanks for taking the time to try to help me out bro. I really do appreciate it. I plan on taking a few weeks off and then giving it one more go and see how I feel. Hopefully that will do the trick for me.
IG

....

[jbran23]

So you've deloaded for a month and still have the same issues?

Exactly. Maybe just some time off from the weights completely for a few weeks might be what I need?

[jbran23]

have you tried freeze treating the injuries? has saved me many times when nothing else worked

Thanks for the reply Dec. Is that just icing after my workout? I have started doing that here and there when the pain gets bad. Seems to help at the time but the pain just comes back in the next workout.

[calgarian]

try chiropractor (if it is a bone injury) or acupuncture it works seriously. I am the same way but I am way too stubborn to give up my doc had to MADE me stop going to gym for 2 weeks in which i still manage to put cardio in.

[jbran23]

try chiropractor (if it is a bone injury) or acupuncture it works seriously. I am the same way but I am way too stubborn to give up my doc had to MADE me stop going to gym for 2 weeks in which i still manage to put cardio in.

I think its more to do with my rotator cuff in my shoulder and a bad case of tendonitis in my elbow but not 100% sure. I feel ya man, Im the same way. Ive been putting up with this shit for months now and just trying to work through it but its gotten to a point where I cant lift with the intensity I need to or the weight I need to be using to get the gains I want so why keep going in there and hurting myself if Im not getting anywhere, ya know what I mean?

[calgarian]

I think its more to do with my rotator cuff in my shoulder and a bad case of tendonitis in my elbow but not 100% sure. I feel ya man, Im the same way. Ive been putting up with this shit for months now and just trying to work through it but its gotten to a point where I cant lift with the intensity I need to or the weight I need to be using to get the gains I want so why keep going in there and hurting myself if Im not getting anywhere, ya know what I mean?

it will cost u 100$ for both give or take(if u r in Canada) why not check it out I have to go to acupuncture cause its not joint related.

[jbran23]

it will cost u 100$ for both give or take(if u r in Canada) why not check it out I have to go to acupuncture cause its not joint related.

Thanks Cal, I will look into it.