After being a miserable *** the last 6 weeks, eating miserably and letting work stress control my life and my decision making, I got my bottom in gear today and worked out. DH took the girls to the park, so I had about 90 minutes free. I got myself on the treadmill for a hard 45 min. workout and then did my ubwo. That was at 1 pm and I felt GREAT for the rest of the day. It was like flipping a switch in my brain. I NEED TO EXERCISE. I NEED TO LIFT WEIGHTS. My kids need me to do this so that I am tolerable to be around!!

So, now for the bad news. I lost so much strength. Will it come back more quickly than building it the first time? On some exercises, I had to drop back to where I was lifting in OCTOBER. Ugh, I made myself so sick by seeing this. I hope it comes back faster, but have no idea how the body reacts to something like this. Is there hope that I haven't had to start over from scratch?

6 weeks isn't going to set you back too far. I speak from personal experience, because I had surgery a year ago and couldn't do ANY strength training for 6 weeks. I bounced back. Sure I had to start out a bit lighter than before my surgery, but it only took me about 3 weeks to get back up to par. You'll get there. Just stay the course and let this little set-back be a life lesson. You're right, you need exercise. We all do. Good for you! Keep going and going and going!

hrbabe -- There is such a thing as muscle memory, you strength will come back faster than when you first started working out, don't you worry...

You WILL comes back faster, as Libby and Ilene said- what's greatis thatyou did come back and have had one of those light bulb moments! I wondered where you'd been.

Mel

Nice to have you back! Be proud of yourself...in the big picture, 6 weeks is nothing so good for you for putting an end to the misery!

Good job, Fran! Six weeks sounds about right to me too.

Welcome back Fran! You'll be back to your prior lifting weights before you know it. I've been slacking on lifting lately as training for the half marathon takes a lot of my exercise time. But the race is now just over 6 weeks away, and after that I'll readjust my priorities and lift more - plus ride my poor neglected bike.