Let's Talk Setbacks...Cause Face It, They Happen A Lot.

It may go without saying, but yesterday was a craptastic day for me. I had a three hour dental "procedure" and by the time I was done; I was ready to crawl into my bed and never come out again.

This was me yesterday...except I'm not a dude.

You see, about ten odd years ago, I knocked my front teeth out with a golf ball. I'm totally serious. I don't even know how I did it exactly, but whatever, I've been dealing with the consequences ever since. At first, they put them back in, and that lasted for quite awhile. Eventually, however, one of the teeth needed to be replaced. I won't go into the horrors that are dental implants, but basically they put a freaking huge screw in your jawbone and attach a fake tooth to it. Then you wait to see if it takes. Six months later, we found out that MY implant didn't take. It didn't grab hold of my jaw or some shit. To say I was angry would be a gross understatement. So yesterday, I went in to have it removed and to have a bone graft placed. It was total hell, and I left the dentist office with lots of stitches and orders not to do any running. [yes, I asked!]

This is what I'd call a setback. At first I thought, "I will prevail!" If I couldn't run, I'd just do Pilates instead! No one can bring me down, right? WRONG. Having my head any other way than completely vertical brought on jaw pain that rivaled child birth. Crap. So... maybe I could do The Shred? WRONG again. The impact from jumping jacks and butt kicks was pretty close to running, so I figured I shouldn't do that either. After all, I don't want to mess up my stitches or anything.

Finally last night I decided to just accept it and admitted defeat.  I was having my first, true setback since starting this whole exercise thing. I don't mean the things that come up that I CAN work around. I mean a true impasse. I'll admit, I was sort of bummed. I've spent five weeks now working out with a fervor that rivals twenty nerds playing World of Warcraft. I've noticed I actually get pissy when I can't get in exercise these days. The last thing I wanted was to lose the momentum I've finally got going on.

This is real life, however, and setbacks happen to all of us. The best advice I can give you when they do occur? Get back on that horse and riiiiiiide, as soon as your possibly able. One or two days won't break the new habits you've formed, and the best way to move past a setback is to do just that; move your ass right past it.

Ride, bitch!  Ride!!!

Today I went for a run again (and it was damn hard). My mouth kinda throbbed from the motion [that's what she said!], but it was worth it for my morale. I needed to make sure that one little setback wasn't going to take me down. I conquered that run. I encourage you to do the same thing with your true setbacks.  No need to get down, just find the will to start right back up again.  The little bumps in the road won't mean anything when we're finally crossing that finish line.