Everybody here (myself included) is just a guy or gal with an opinion.
In fact, I worked as a personal trainer for a year or so. And have been working out for close to 10 years, all-together, as part of my training in martial arts. So I do have kuite a bit of expirience on the topic.
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Okay guys so...
Recently, I've decided I really want to start exercising and get physically stronger after I recently hurt my back rather badly, with sprained muscles that kept me out of commission for several days.
Deciding to myself, that the pain involved with hurting yourself due to being out of shape is BULLSHIT and simply not worth it(because seriously OWWWWWWW), and that also knowing that being in better physical shape will also just make me overall healthier and less prone to illness, I decided to change that.
Some problems face me
Affording a gym subscription is simply impossible for me for starters, and I do have family members who own training weights, and a nice treadmill, the ultimate problem that assails me is...
My lack of knowledge in general about the subject, how does an adult 24 male who's never seriously exercised in his life, go about doing so in a manner that will build your body up properly, and safely, find out about it?
Part of he issue is, the internet is in this case, rather unhelpful for me, because I don't know what sources of information are good, or even accurate, how do you find out? I don't know anyone to talk to, and as far as I know if I want to talk to a someone who professionally really knows this stuff, like a trainer or a physical therapist, in order to talk to them, I'd need to pay money.
So yea, I really just don't know what to do, any advice for me folks?
Now to offer a profesional recomendation for your specific situation Hunter Of Shadows, something I usualy dont like to do over the net, and vhen I dont meet you in person and see for myself, but the level of guessvork from varius people here maked me change my mind.
So, Hunter Of Shadows, rehab/workout regimen folowing a back-injury. First of all, your goal shuldnt even be to get physicaly stronger yet, your goal shuld be first and fore-most, to fully rehabilitate your back and get it back in working order. For that, I recomend certain yoga asanas (postures), simple ones, focusing on the proper spinal alignment, only sligtly augmented by low-intensity strength training.
First of all - the Staff posture. Sit vith your back to the wall, keeping them as straigt as you can, legs extended forvard, also straigt in the kness. The vhole surface of your back shuld be in contact with the wall, completly straigt and upright. Basicly a 90 degrees angle betwen your trunk and your extended legs, L shape.
Next - stand up from that posture, keeping your back straigt to the wall, relaxed if posible, until you enter a Equal standing posture. Feet right next to each-other, arms paralel to your body, palms tightened and splayed out-vard (something I sadly cant do vith my left hand, having nerve damage there that prevents me from splaying my fist fully), but the rest of the arm relaxed, and sligtly separated from your sides, not in contact vith them. Sholders loose, back straigt. Eyes front, gaze directly ahead.
Next - slyde back down the vall, back in-to the the Staff posture, and hold it for another 3 mins or so, then try a very simple set of Twists. Kneeling stance, toes pointed back (maybe have a training mat under, if its sore on the knees). Arms paralel to the sides, try to twist in your waist to the left and right, no more then 45 to 60 degres (normaly the twist shuld be a full 90 or even 120 degrees (for very flexy ppl), but vith your injured back I'd sugest toning it down). Use comon sense, see how far you can twist before it begins to hurt. Do it, say, 5 times left and 5 right, in one session. Hold each twist for 20 seconds, and stay relaxed in it.
Next - get completly down on the mat, lye on your back, in a Corpse posture. This is the "rest" period, at the end. Hold this one as long as you want, and stay completly relaxed, in your whole body.
So, that completes one session. After this yoga warm-up, so to speak, if you'r up to it, try doing a couple dozen sit-ups. Dont cheat and bend the knees vhen doing them, keep the pure L shape, legs straigt, back straigt. This wil put the focus on abs and hips/thighs, instead of further straining your spine by bending it, and at the same time keep the back straigt during the whole sit-up. Keep your hands paralel to your body, not behind the head, to make it a litle easyer then a normal sit-up, if you need.
Folowing that, you can do another Yoga set descrybed above, to "warm-down" after the exertion of the sit-ups. Or just spend some more time in a Corpse posture, relaxing. Up to you.
Now, this vhole session, shuld take about 15-20 minutes. Do it, say, 3 times a day, vhen you have time. After a week or so, you can start experimenting vith adding-in some more chalenging exercises, if your back start to feel beter.
Hope this helps! :)