In February 2016, I twisted my right knee during a basketball match for the first time. Since then, my right knee became very unstable and I twisted it again and again. I was fed up with constant injuries, so I decided to stop playing basketball and to focus on building muscles in order to stabilize my knee. I started to go to the gym regularly since June 2016. That’s how I began my weight training journey.
Find your own motivation and be patient
I used to be the skinny girl who was only concerned with the number on the weighing scale. I would spend the entire workout session on the treadmill in the hopes that the number on the scale would go down. I was scared to walk in a free weight area filled with all guys. However, the motivation — “I want to play basketball properly again”, has encouraged me to step forward and do something I had never done before. I started to lift (heavy) weights and do research on how to build up different parts of muscles efficiently.
Later on, I finally saw a doctor at orthopedics department and it turned out that my unstable knee was due to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. I decided to undergo an ACL reconstruction surgery in order to play sports again. I underwent surgery in November 2017. The rehabilitation is a long and (sometimes) frustrating process. The progression is not a linear growth and sometime regression happens. My right leg started resembling a chicken leg (described by my consultant) as most the muscles were gone within a week after the surgery. It took me a month to walk properly without crutches. It took me another two months to be able to run again. Even now, I am still working on my strength and flexibility on my operated leg. I am looking forward to the day when my right leg works as good as my left leg.
I am a person who always wants to see the result immediately. This rehab process has taught me how to be patient and consistent. There are various goals we would like to achieve in our lives. Some of the goals do not happen overnight and they require constant effort over a period of time. It is inevitable to experience frustration while pursuing a goal. It is also absolutely fine to have down time. However, the word “excuse” does not exist in a successful person’s dictionary. If you really want something, you must tackle every obstacle to achieve your goal. Remember your motivations in the first place, be patient, and time will tell.
Why we need to be active?
I am lucky that I grew up in a family who like to do exercise. My parents took me hiking and introduced me to different sports at a very young age. Exercising regularly just became a natural habit. For those who haven’t included an exercise regime into their lives, I would like to mention the powerful effects on both the brain and the body that have been confirmed through scientific research. These benefits after exercising can be a good motivation to start exercising.
Exercise not only improves your physical health, but also brings immediate, long-lasting and protective benefits for your brain. According to the recent neuroscience research, a single workout will immediately increase levels of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, and endorphin, which boost your mood and keep depression and anxiety away. Your overall cognitive function will also be improved, including the ability to shift and focus attention. Furthermore, long-term exercise actually changes the brain’s anatomy and physiology, e.g., the volume of the hippocampus, responsible for your memory, will increase. Finally, the most amazing thing that exercise will bring is to protect your brain from neurodegenerative diseases and normal cognitive decline in aging, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. What are you waiting for? Let’s be active!
Final words
Basketball used to be the only physical activity I was involved in. I was the captain of my department team at University in Taiwan for 2 years and I continued playing when I was doing my Master degree and Ph.D. in U.K. I used to play 3 to 5 times a week and I thought I couldn’t live without it. If I had not injured my knee, I would not have stepped into this journey of strength training and I would not have had a chance to explore just how powerful my body can be.
Life is full of ups and downs. It is common to face various adversities in your lifetime and the story of my injured knee is just one of them. Some people become stronger and more powerful through such debilitating difficulties but some people don’t. The attitude we choose to deal with the situation determines the outcome. Face it, accept it, find solutions and stay positive. You will be surprised to see just how resilient you are. Everything happens for a reason and I always believe that difficult times are a blessing in disguise.
Wei-Wei |崴, Fitness Enthusiast (@cwhsu617)
Any individuals in sports and fitness who would like to share their voice, please submit to hank@hankfittraining.com