Why Exercise?

Last week, Chip thought it would be fun to put a tight rubber band around my ankles–-and then make me walk! Walking was soon deemed “too easy,” so Chip had me take steps diagonally and sidestep! When Chip described the activity to me, the word “impossible” flashed through my mind, along with a few others not suitable for print!

Going through this intense rehabilitation has given me great insight as to why it was important that I had exercised throughout my life. It was not because it has been easier to recover. I would not describe any of this as easy. It was not because it improved my mood, managed my weight or sparked my sex life. Jerry Seinfeld said that we exercise just so that we can be in shape to exercise. That wasn’t it either. The way that regular exercise helped me through rehab was simple: I was able to distinguish “good” pain from “bad” pain.

Everyday at the gym, it’s my job to put forth my maximum effort, and trust my trainer enough to know that his prescribed exercise program won’t damage me. That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t hurt. If I train hard enough, something hurts every night. Aching, burning muscles are good; nerve pain is bad. The only way I know the difference is because I had experienced both as a healthy person.

Chip has been prescribing these very intensive, aggressive, tough work-outs for me since I started attending the Adaptive Physical Education (APE) class in August 2007, 13 months after my surgery. There are days when I’d like to punch Chip in the face, yet I still go every day. He makes me do more than I’m comfortable doing. I lift more weight, walk faster, and squat deeper with his encouragement. I usually leave the gym thinking, “Chip almost killed me today.” The honest truth is that, these tough work-outs greatly enhance my self-belief. CHIP BELIEVES I CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE. That statement goes through my head with every muscle-wrenching step!