The Return of Zoa Linsey: Heading To The Arnold: 9 Week Out
9 weeks & 2 days pre-show! Putting into words what being invited to the Ms. International 2012 means to me this year is nearly impossible. After my sudden neck herniation I suffered 2 days before the Ms. Olympia 2010, then the resultant neck fusion surgery 2 weeks later and the long-term recovery process, I had no guarantees that I would ever return to the stage. I hunted high and low for other athletes with a similar situation and found virtually nothing! I researched nerve injury, nerve healing, fusion implications, searching all over for encouraging news but found only a whole litany of negative stories which to be honest, scared me to death! The internet is full of horror stories! I consulted surgeons and met a few Special Forces and other military personnel who had a similar surgery and decided to equip myself with their attitude of working through it, no excuses! Initially I kept asking "why me" but those questions are often never answered and the truth is only realized long after the challenge is overcome. Ultimately I learned (still learning) that this test, like every other, has come my way to teach me how resilient the human body and spirit can be.
The hardest aspect of my recovery was that the one thing (the GYM) that was always my ‘stress-release’ became my number one stress! Going to the gym became an act of commitment, versus the highlight of my day. I chose to share my recovery at the beginning to make myself accountable to remain positive and to follow through! I truly had to revise all my expectations of what training meant to me, yet at the same time hold on to that small string of hope that kept me believing that I would eventually be where I envisioned. Having spinal surgery and dealing with nerve damage and the snail’s pace of recovery was a whole new challenge for me, unlike anything I had ever experienced.
In the midst of the uncertainty of my recovery, and the frustration of being so restricted with what I was able to do, I must confess I often had frustration and felt tempted to let go. But I kept asking myself – what are my choices? Giving up was not an option. So here I am, December 2011, 14 months after surgery, dieting for the Arnold, and feeling confident that I can stand on that stage and compete with the best on an equal footing. And yes, thankful and proud of myself that I persevered! In some ways, just getting here means more than any trophy I have ever received.
Thank you to everyone here on RX who continued to believe in me and encouraged me during the last year. When Gail invited me to continue a blog here for my last couple months of prep, I felt I wanted to, in large part because of how many of you had written me and believed in me during the moments when I needed it the most. The story is not over, it’s just beginning. And as Steve W. said, the real story is that I’m even there. (Thanks Steve!). In this thread, I’ll share videos from the gym, some daily life experiences and answer any questions you may have. I welcome your comments!
So here goes…just over 9 weeks out….it’s GO TIME! I wish all the athletes preparing safety & health during this time, and looking forward to seeing many of you in Columbus in March!
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