The narrator says he previously claimed his back condition was worsening and he would likely need a disability parking permit soon, but that was not true.
After incorporating Pilates, the narrator can now squat 160 kilos and deadlift 162.5 kilos, beyond what he previously thought was possible.
The narrator now has fewer back pain flare-ups than when he was lifting lighter weights earlier on, contradicting expectations.
The narrator recommends those with back injuries focus on rebuilding core strength and mobility with Pilates first, before gradually reincorporating weight training starting at a low weight.
The narrator says making progress requires taking control of one's own recovery through sleep, stress management, nutrition, hydration and slowly increasing activity levels.
The narrator argues that most people use "being too busy" as an excuse to not start something new like an exercise routine. However, life tends to stay busy, so waiting for more free time is unrealistic. Instead, make your health a priority now by starting small, even if it's just 5 minutes per day.
Personal examples: The narrator was working 50 hours per week, had just moved and doubled his mortgage, yet still made time to train as a Pilates instructor. Now, despite mentoring a business, studying, delivering exercise sessions, and parenting two young kids, he still makes his health and Pilates a priority.
Pilates can be done anywhere with online programs. Rather than wait for perfect conditions, take a free trial of the narrator's online program. Start small with just 5 minutes today to start improving your back pain and overall health.
The narrator shares how focusing too much on back pain can actually make it worse. He describes his own experience with worsening back pain after finding out he had a disc issue. The more he focused on it, the more anxious he became, and the worse the pain got.
He gives another example with recent severe headaches he thought might be brain tumors. After multiple doctor visits and MRI scans showing no tumor, his symptoms greatly improved after getting the clear scan results.
The narrator explains that the more you focus on and stress about symptoms, the worse they can become due to the brain's role in creating pain. He advises building confidence by moving more and not letting back pain limit activities. Distracting yourself and reducing anxiety around the pain can also help improve symptoms.
While the pain is real, the brain can make it worse if you obsess over it. The key is to address the anxiety and lack of movement making the pain worse, not just the pain itself.
Here is a condensed summary of the main points from the text in HTML format:
The narrator explains how focusing too much on back pain can actually make it worse. When he found out he had a disc problem at age 27, his pain got much worse because he was constantly thinking about it, trying to protect his back, and feeling anxious. As he started rebuilding confidence in moving through Pilates, his back improved.
He gives another example of when he thought he had a brain tumor. His symptoms got progressively worse the more he focused on them and wrote them down in a diary. After getting an MRI that ruled out a tumor, his symptoms improved dramatically overnight.
The narrator explains that the more you focus on and stress about symptoms, the worse they will become. To improve, try to build confidence in moving, distract yourself, and manage your anxiety. He notes that while the pain is "all in your head" in that the brain creates it, the symptoms themselves are very real.
The narrator had back pain issues starting at age 27 that prevented him from weightlifting or playing rugby. Doctors said his back condition was that of a 50 year old manual laborer and could not be repaired. He was told to avoid activities like weightlifting and rugby.
At age 38, the narrator is now squatting, deadlifting, and playing rugby again. He has surpassed what he could do prior to his injuries. He shares the exact steps he took to recover:
1. He started doing Pilates consistently - 1 longer 60 minute session weekly with an instructor plus 3-4 20 minute mobility sessions he created himself before weightlifting or rugby.
2. He addressed lifestyle factors like nutrition, hydration, sleep, stress management. Pilates helped positively impact these areas.
3. He very gradually built back up strength with weightlifting using the Strongest 5x5 program and principles of progressive overload - starting with very light weights and slowly increasing weight in small increments only when he successfully completed sets.
He emphasizes having patience and not rushing the process of building back up to avoid re-injury. The narrator hopes his exact steps help others recover from back pain and get back to activities they enjoy.