Cursed with this problem no matter what I do

18 September 2015

Another back episode to deal with as today my lower back shot into spasm after some routine pressing in the gym.

It’s been a really good training week so far and I felt like I was moving forward with the lifting and performance on the erg. I did have a near miss in the gym on Monday whilst finishing a set of donkey calf raises. I didn’t replace the safety pole correctly at the end of the last rep and the weight came crashing down pushing my heels down way past their range of movement, only to be stopped abruptly by the ligaments and tendons in my ankles. Although there was a sharp pain I could walk about after, but it has just left me with some tender and vulnerable spots. I’m confident it will settle fine in a few weeks.

Despite the slight lack of ankle mobility I rowed on Wednesday with some 1000m intervals on 1 minute rest which was pretty unpleasant, but a useful training session. Squats yesterday was the best I have felt in a long time, not particularly the weight, but the execution. I felt good after too with less niggles and tightness than deadlifts tend to cause – they were on Monday and left my glutes pretty tight.

Then onto today’s routine military press day. I had stumbled upon a video last night which I watched with great interest on spine curvature and alignment whilst lifting. One thing that stood out was the danger of leaning back and allowing your lower spine to curve too lordotic whilst pressing over head due to the forces and where they are travelling to. Instead look for a neutral spine [as always] and keep the core and glutes tight and firing.

With this in mind I warmed up well and focused on this point during the lifts. The final set felt strong, finishing the week off well heading for another pb at this weight. I re-racked the weight after 6 reps and at that point my lower back decided to shoot into a spasm. I’m going through it over and over in my brain now. I did attempt a 7^th rep and only got half way up before returning – did I arch my lower back and lean backwards creating a load through an unstable area? I knew that 6 reps was form failure – why did I attempt another bloody rep? I believe if I hadn’t have tried that I wouldn’t be sat writing this now and I would be refuelling for this afternoons row. Instead I am locked up in spasm unable to move.

Incredibly annoyed with myself and the situation. Short term I wanted to lift tomorrow and do some demonstrations during some coaching. Medium term I wanted to progress on the erg with 6 weeks to run until I plan on racing.

I’ll rest the weekend and see how it settles before thinking any further.

See you on the mic on Sunday in Exeter champs – I’ll be the one hobbling around.

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Ollie Osborne

1 thought on “Cursed with this problem no matter what I do”

Back problems really suck. I wouldn’t beat your self up about the last rep. I’ve heard people say the same thing about injuring themselves on their “last” ski run. I’m certainly not qualified to give any worthwhile advice, so I won’t. But I do hope you get better and I get to read about you racing on the erg again soon.

Comments are closed.

gregsmith01748

18 September 2015 at 21:10

Back problems really suck. I wouldn’t beat your self up about the last rep. I’ve heard people say the same thing about injuring themselves on their “last” ski run. I’m certainly not qualified to give any worthwhile advice, so I won’t. But I do hope you get better and I get to read about you racing on the erg again soon.

Paul FLEET

Having previously worked with Oli when we both served together, I knew he was the guy to get me back on track with my lifestyle and fitness goals which had taken a bit of a back seat since leaving the military. I made the right choice. The programme is exemplary and within a very short space of time the results came and have stayed. Thanks Oli and team 💪 Highly recommend.

Wayne Gordon

10/10 got me on the road to finding my fitness and general health back again, motivated and accountable!! Would recommend anyone to think about it Ollie is great and works hard with you to get where you need to be 👍👍👍👍

Craig Hoggett

A great holistic approach to improving well being, covering the psycho-somatic connection and nutrition that supports both. Genuinely thoughtful, practical programmatic approach to making progress against your health and well being aims and, opening your mind to new goals too! Hazel, Ollie and Will make a great team, working together to cover the different dimensions of wellbeing for each client and creating a community that supports and grows together. Strongly recommend!

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There comes a point in every high-achiever’s journey where professional success and personal wellness seem irreconcilable, where the cost of performance is paid in silence, self-neglect, and eventual burnout. I had reached that point. Outwardly, I was thriving: respected, accomplished, operating at the peak of my profession. But beneath the surface, I was physically depleted, mentally fractured, and overwhelmed by self-loathing. I asked myself the question so many executives silently carry: How did I let myself get to this point? The answer, as I would come to learn, was not failure , it was imbalance. The truth is, high performance in leadership should not come at the expense of health, clarity, or self-worth. And through the Warrior Wellness Movement, I discovered that it doesn’t have to. This programme is not simply a fitness plan or a motivational workshop. It is a total recalibration of mindset, physiology, and leadership presence. The coaches at Warrior Wellness understood the unique pressures of executive life, the long hours, the constant decision-making, the burden of responsibility, and built a wellness framework that works with those realities, not against them. It is tailored, evidence-based, and deeply human. Through their guidance, I learned how to reclaim my physical health, strengthen my mental resilience, and lead with energy and authenticity. Just as critically, I brought my executive team on the same journey. Together, we evolved not only as professionals, but as people. We now operate with sustainable intensity, strategic clarity, and a shared understanding that wellness is not a luxury, it’s a leadership imperative. The Warrior Wellness Movement has fundamentally changed how I approach success, not as something to chase at all costs, but as a state of balance where performance and wellbeing co-exist. I cannot recommend this programme highly enough to any high-performing individual or team who is ready to stop surviving and start thriving.

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Ollie and the team at Warrior Wellness are simply brilliant. Proactive and reactive to your situation. Bespoke. Cover all bases and support you. They stretch and challenge rather than push to breaking point. Are responsive to your needs as well as your likes and dislikes. I’ve tried PTIs, diets, therapy and many other things but for me, this is working. Things make sense and are explained in a supportive way. No patronising, no making you feel crap about yourself but they do hold you to account in a way that feels positive. Highly recommend

Paula McRobie

Been coached by Ollie for over 9 months. I was looking for accountability and structure in the gym to fit around a new job where shift work has messed with consistency. Ollie gave me a program that was achievable and the necessary nudges to get me into the gym. My initial goals were specific and he has delivered 100%. He has understood exactly what is required to train when you are mid life. I am in my late 50s and his focus on mobility/warming up and conditioning and feedback on form has kept me injury free and loving my sessions. Totally recommend Ollie whether you are new to fitness or a seasoned gym goer.

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Over the past 15 months with Warrior Wellness Movement, I’ve had an exceptional experience. Their personalised approach to strength training, nutrition, and overall well-being helped me achieve my goals faster than I ever imagined. The expertise and guidance I received not only significantly improved my strength but also led to the added benefit of noticeable weight loss. I highly recommend WWM to anyone seeking a dedicated and effective system for achieving their fitness goals.

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Inspiring, thorough, tailored and effective S&C training, nutrition and wellbeing advice delivered with professionalism, empathy, sincerity and smiles (despite the logo 😁). Very highly recommended!

Paul Roberts

After spending a very long time (years) aimlessly going to the gym with no structure or focus I eventually met Ollie at Warrior Wellness - and I’m glad I did. From the word go Ollie was direct (which I absolutely needed) and very supportive. Ollie demonstrated during our first meeting that he has experience and understanding of how that happens - and more importantly how to make the changes I needed. For me that was a good omen. The structure of the programming during the initial phase was straight forward and really easy to follow. It was just about doing the basics really well with some added variety and functionality. With help and focus on getting my diet sorted from the outset it has helped me get some early victories which helped keep the motivation and enthusiasm. In 3 months I’ve lost 5kg, I’m lifting heavier and feeling better than I ever have. I’m also moving better and easier than I’ve done for years since leaving the army. If you need structure, direction, honesty, accountability and support with a holistic approach then Ollie and Warrior Wellness is what you need. I would Highly recommend working with Ollie - it was honestly a great result and well worth the investment.