Four Tips for Dealing with Shoulder Pain

Imagine that you’re having a regular day just doing regular things. Maybe you’re at the grocery store reaching for something on a shelf. Perhaps you’re trying to slip a bag over your shoulder. Whatever you’re doing, it’s not that big of a deal. But all of a sudden a stabbing pain hits your shoulder. Nothing is worse than that. This brief article will highlight four tips for dealing with shoulder pain.

I’ve been there before. In fact, I’m in the recovery phase right now. I don’t know exactly what I did to my shoulder. It could have something to do with my autoimmune disease. I dealt with my pain for a couple of months, but I don’t want you to have to do that. I’ve outlined four tips for dealing with shoulder pain that will help you out tremendously.

Tip #1: Take it Easy

The second you feel pain or even a bit of discomfort, it’s time to take a little break. Stop doing the things you normally do, especially if they cause any pain.

Having to readjust your exercise routine really stinks, but taking a short break to get things under control is much better than doing something that causes permanent damage.

Tip #2: Get Professional Help

We live in a time when a ton of people self-diagnose. We ask our friends what they think could be the problem. The internet is also how we try to help ourselves out. I know for a fact that there are tons of shoulder exercise video on YouTube and Facebook. I probably tried most of them. But since I didn’t exactly know what my problem was, those exercises made everything worse.

Whether you go to a medical doctor, a chiropractor, a physical therapist or a nurse practitioner, it is important to find a medical professional who can help you figure out what’s going on. Then they can give you the exercises that will help your condition.

Tip #3: Do Your Exercises

Have you ever gotten an antibiotic prescription from your doctor? If so, do you remember what they told about the medication? They probably said something thing like, “You’re going to start feeling better within a day or two of starting this medication, but don’t stop taking it! You need to take all the medicine until it’s gone in order for it to be effective and do it’s job.”

The same can be said about doing your recovery or physical therapy exercises. You might feel a lot better after a week or two, but DON’T STOP. Keep doing those exercises and stretches. Hold off on those activities that cause pain and discomfort. Give it time and be consistent.

Tip #4: Consider Lifting Weights

This one will come as a shock to those who know me because I am such a strong supporter of and advocate for bodyweight training. I will always believe that you don’t NEED weights to get fit or get a good workout.

However, as I’ve faithfully done my shoulder exercises over the past few weeks, I’ve felt that I need something more. Using 5-pound dumbbells, I’ve followed the doctor’s advice and added a few sets of basic shoulder exercises, including the one pictured below. It’s all part of the process.

Your Next Steps

Check in with your medical professional from time to time to see how things are progressing with your shoulder.

Once you’re feeling back to normal. Be sure to ease into those old activities. Don’t go overboard, though.

I’m finally getting back to the pool this week. I haven’t been able to swim since late August. Don’t worry…I’ll take my own advice and pace myself.

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Don’t forget to weigh yourself!

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Cheat Day vs Treat Days: What’s the Difference?

Living a healthy lifestyle isn’t easy. It takes a great deal of dedication and hard work. When you work hard, you want some type of reward for your labor, right? I’m pretty sure that’s why Cheat Days and Treat Days were created. But they’re not the same. Today we’ll be talking about Get Fit with Charity’s take on Cheat Days vs. Treat Days and discuss which is better,

Cheat Days

Cheat Day for an adult is the equivalent to field day for the average elementary student. Most of us have fond memories of field day. It was a magical day that typically happened in late spring right before the end of the school year. You got to wear a summer outfit and although you were at school all day, it felt like extended recess, a field trip and summer vacation rolled into one.

That’s how Cheat Day feels. After sticking to a really hard exercise program, you get to cheat by not doing anything at all. Maybe you’ve been avoiding carbs for like…ever, so you indulge in all the bread and pasta you can eat. Perhaps you took last week’s cue and cut back on sugar but now you’re ready for some sugary goodness.

A cheat day allows you to eat whatever you want (or do whatever you want) without feeling guilty. Obviously your body might not like it, but you worked hard so you deserve it, right? If I’m being honest, I have say that I disagree with the concept of cheat days.

By definition, to cheat is to act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage. If we’re trying to get fit and live healthy lifestyles, why would we cheat ourselves and potentially derail our progress? What kind of advantage would we gain from that? The way I see when it comes to Cheat Days, we’re only cheating ourselves.

Treat Days

Treat Day is enjoying your favorite dessert after eating all your vegetables at dinner.  When I was a kid, I was an extremely picky eater. Most nights I spent hours at the dinner table by myself long after the meal was over because I refused to eat what was on my plate. One time my mother had a genius idea! She let me help her assembly these amazing Jell-O parfaits for dessert and told me that if I eat my dinner, I could have one of them. In fact, I got to make my own dessert!

That’s what Treat Day is. It’s a special reward, something you’ve worked really hard for. Generally speaking most treats are sweet, like maybe a cupcake or a snow cone. Although I’m really not in favor of rewarding myself with food, I do appreciate the concept of treating myself.

Cheat Day vs Treat Day: Which Is Better?

You probably know which one I think is better. I’m 100% Team Treat Day because I really don’t want to cut corners or be dishonest with myself. I’ve been unkind to my body for far too long, so I would rather treat myself. I want to be fully transparent and say that, there are times, like last week, when I treat myself to an ice cream bar, but I don’t make it a habit.

I know there are some Team Cheat Day folks out there who are thinking, “She is getting way too deep with this. There is nothing wrong with indulging every once in a while.” I am definitely not the authority on this. I’m simply sharing my opinions. I just don’t agree with Cheat Days…for me.

Don’t get mad at me, but I can’t answer my own question? Why not? I can only speak for myself and decide which one is better for me. You’ll have to do the same.

Whether you choose to celebrate with Cheat Days or Treat Days here are a few options that will help you stay on track and avoid derailing your progress.

Cheat Day Options	Treat Day Options
Opt for a Cheat Meal	Choose a fun activity
Go with an indulgent side	Spend extra time on your favorite hobby
Walk for 10 minutes instead of completely skipping the workout	Have spa day

Your Next Steps

Decide which route you wish to take: Cheat Day vs Treat Day.

Then own it…just don’t go overboard.

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