Do you have the will to lift?
Of the many magnificent purposes served by including weight training in your life, one great aspect of that decision often goes 
uncelebrated. Some of you who have been “lifting” for a while have not completely understood it in the past, and others who are hesitant to begin a strengthening regime today do not fully grasp it now. But I have spoken of it to you repeatedly and emphatically. It is the grand truth that of all the wonderful benefits that may come to pass by spending time “pumping iron”, none is as important to you as is the objective of injury prevention. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” – Benjamin Franklin
Good health is such a wondrous blessing. You know that it is not by mere chance that one experiences what you know as good health. No longer can one define such a condition as simply living disease free. Chronic aches and pains in the body, anywhere from head to toe, do nothing to contribute to a happy, healthy lifestyle. Limited flexibility and range of motion at various joints generally do not promote a smile on your face as well. You know that being tired, sore, and stiff on a consistent basis is not an enjoyable state of existence. I know many of you who regularly pop pills for occasional back flare ups or even daily discomfort. I understand that some of you receive injections in your knees to quell the raging fire you feel. Others will try anything advertised on their computer or TV screens which promises relief. You do not have to accept this as part of the aging process of life. I am not offering you a panacea, but a reasonable alternative to pills, needles, and chiropractors and other temporary fixes. Think of all the money you have thrown away and you’re still complaining about your body hurting.
I am mystified that far too many suffer from a distressing misconception regarding strength training. “Oh, it’s not my thing.” “It’s far too intimidating.” “I’m too old for that.” “I’ll only hurt myself worse if I try that.” “That’s just for athletes.” “I can’t afford to do that.” “It causes too much pain.” “I’m too overweight.” “I don’t want to look like one of those body builders.” This in spite of the fact, that your own primary physicians and friends or family members have recommended you engage in it. This in spite of the fact, that many of you have even gone through rehabilitation for an injury, not caused in the gym by the way. You utilized some form of weight training during the course of your time with a physical therapist. Was it easy? Of course it was not. That is one of the major reasons why medical professionals, who I train, tell me that people quit their rehab sessions. You don’t like pain of any type, do you? Well, choose to give up, and invariably, due to the ensuing frustration you eventually end up back in the doc’s office. You have to work hard! “It is better to try to keep a bad thing from happening than it is to fix the bad thing once it has happened.” – old Proverb
So, what is to be done? Resistance is futile. Your reluctance to apply a resistance to your muscles will over time result in further deterioration of what strength you do possess while increasing your vulnerability. Your unfounded fears will not add years of increased physical productivity to your life but rather detract from them. Your rationalization will never lead to the realization of your desire to become more than a couch potato when you get home from work. Do you have the will to lift yourself off your rear end and put an end to all of the whining? There are far too many ways in which you can hurt yourself during the course of a day for me to consider listing them all. However, perhaps you strained your rotator cuff while painting a ceiling recently, or felt something akin to an uncomfortable twinge in your lower back when you lifted up your child. Maybe you pulled a muscle extricating your golf bag from the trunk of your vehicle before you even moved a muscle on the course, or maybe you are wishing you had a full-time gardener because your hands and knees are saying they’ve had enough. It could be that carrying those grocery bags up the steps triggered a painful reaction somewhere, or you’ve simply been on your feet all day at work and your entire body is screaming at you. The pain in your neck and upper back might not be due to an annoying, stressful situation in your life involving your significant other, but rather due to the significant amount of time you situate yourself in front of the computer typing away your stress. While fighting pain, you tie your shoes, or wash your hair, or scratch your back, or fold the laundry. “Calgon, take me away!” Although a good soak may feel wonderful for a moment, the truth is, your body requires more than a short hiatus from some activities. Your life does not often afford you the luxury of slowing down or even a day off. Unfortunately, a relaxing bubble bath every night is never going to happen. While absolutely necessary, even the marvelously restorative power of sleep is not sufficient for you.
“Pain is weakness leaving the body.” – Marine Corps General Lewis B. Puller The self-inflicted pain of working out is absolutely nothing compared to the pain from neglect of your body or from injury. If you choose to do nothing, than absolutely nothing will change! Through weight training, your weak areas can become strong. The “pain” in training is only momentary. Without the appropriate attention, the agony of your weakened back or shoulder may become permanent. Prevention is the key to avoiding last minute intervention.
The type of prevention I am referring to does require a commitment, but not so much as to be overwhelming. With a minimum of two days per week of some form of training, you can begin the process of fortifying yourself against the agents of injury which often attack the weak points in your body’s structure. Ideally, I would love to see you performing a strengthening routine on three non-consecutive days each week. I promise you that if you receive proper instruction, and pay heed to that, you will not hurt yourself when weight training. I would be thrilled if you were less reliant on the pills and needles. I know that you will enjoy becoming active again without having to be overly cautious due to fear of the unknown. “There is only one ultimate and effectual preventative for the maladies to which the flesh is heir, and that is death.” – Harvey Williams Cushing While you are yet still alive and hope to be kicking, I exhort you, “Don’t be a “dumbbell”! Start strength training today and prevent tomorrows’ woos!