Fitness the Mary Stockbridge Way: Overcoming Setbacks
If you compete or have ever competed i
n fitness, sports, weight training, or any physical activity, you have probably had your share of setbacks. The same goes for me. Most recently, I reinjured my left ankle.
When it happened, I went to one of my chiropractor's to get it treated. Who knew that chiropractors could adjust ankles? After discussing what he could do for it, he proceeded to go to work. At the end, he confidently asked how it felt. I responded by telling him that it was great, and that my right ankle had never felt better! Unfortunately, he had adjusted the ankle according to his left, not mine.
Back in 2001, I tore my right ACL for the third time. I was devastated. I had grown up competing in athletics and was fortunate to have cheered collegiately. I prided myself on being in shape, but injuries led me to give up what I loved most and how I identified myself.
Fast forward to 2007, when I entered my first competition. I had just turned the big 3-0 and wanted to give myself the birthday gift of getting into the best shape of my life.
Instead of dreading the milestone, I wanted be proud of it. But why did I wait so long to start? As a teenager, you could find me watching the fitness competitions in awe. I would watch, rewind and rewatch episodes of pageants that used to air on ESPN. I really loved the fitness routines and admired how powerful, yet graceful all the athletes were. It always looked so fun and glamorous, but I was far from ready to parade my physique across a stage.
Mentally, I could not get past my shyness and was too afraid to even ask someone to show me how to begin a fitness journey. As time went by, I never forgot about wanting to compete but I busied myself with jobs, traveling and marriage. Before I knew it, over a decade had passed and I was still only dreaming about doing it. Months before kissing my 20s good-bye forever, I knew enough was enough.
I started an action plan to get going. I traveled to a nearby city where a large national show was being held and attended a free seminar. From there, I began doing serious research about what it took to compete, diet and train. It was scary but, I targeted a show date and sent in the entry early so that I couldn't back out. When the show finally rolled around, I was nervous. I didn't have on enough tanner or make-up and didn't really know how to pose. But the feeling of accomplishing a goal that was over a decade and a half in the making was a feeling like no other.
Even now, when I get seriously injured while prepping for a show, I try not to let it stop me from moving forward. I have a repaired Achilles tendon on my left ankle that is currently causing me trouble. And I have had three surgeries that have failed to reattach my torn ACL on my right knee. When my knee slipped out while I was prepping for my return to fitness after having a baby in 2011, I crossed over to figure to get my confidence on stage back up. When it happened, emotionally I dealt with the situation by allowing myself to grieve, verbally vent (sorry to my family) and then I slowly got back to work by staying on my diet, getting therapy and doing extra work to strengthen the weaknesses in my body.
And, now that I am older and wiser, I am realistic about my limitations and try to prevent myself from being reckless with the moves and skills that I practice. I focus on making the muscles stronger, to provide more stability and control around my knee. A proper warm-up is now a top priority for me. Because my ankle is acting up, I am using this time to train hard my upper body, work flexibility and do more handstands!
And to new mothers or mothers to be, I remember my pregnancy like it wa
s yesterday, even though my son is four years old now. I am sure we all have some interesting stories regarding childbirth. Mine ended in an emergency c-section after a grueling natural birth that failed to progress after twenty-four hours of labor. Lots of comic relief there but that is for another blog entry. Becoming a mom has seriously enriched my life in a way that nothing else can compare. It is a lifelong career paid in love and self sacrifice but yes, my body has paid the price.
I started back from scratch and managed to build my best body to date, despite the looser skin and battle scars. Speaking from experience, it feels so much better to be in shape than tired and slightly depressed because I didn't like what I saw in the mirror. Of course, I wanted to look like the magazine covers overnight. But realistically, I started with walking a lot, pushing the stroller around the block before finally caving in and buying a jogging stroller. Hudson loved the movement and would always fall asleep and I felt better getting some good blood flow going.
Excuses were things I told myself to feed my fears and leave me complacent. Changing my environments, being proactive, and surrounding myself with positive and like minded people have helped me become the person I am today. I never want to go back to the scared and shy person from half a lifetime ago. It is all about making the most of today by shutting out doubt and continuing to go for it, no matter what life throws at you!
For Contest Prep or Competition Stage Tanning with Jan Tana:
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