Have you ever had an injury or setback that stopped you exercising for a while?

B Natural answer

Yes, I did. Last year I pulled a muscle in my lower back after lifting weights, and that kept me away from the gym for several weeks. I was still active in small ways, but I had to miss my usual runs and avoid anything heavy. It was disappointing, because exercise is part of my routine, and I felt a bit restless at home. After that, I focused on recovery, followed the doctor's advice, and slowly rebuilt my confidence. Once I was pain-free, I started to get back into my routine step by step.

Key phrases in this answer

• miss my usual runs — not be able to do the runs I normally do“When I was injured, I had to miss my usual runs.”
• get back into my routine — return to a normal schedule or habit“Once I felt better, I got back into my routine.”
• sprain an ankle — hurt the ankle by twisting it badly“I sprained my ankle playing basketball, so I had to rest.”
• take it easy — do less and avoid pushing yourself“After the injury, I had to take it easy for a while.”
• pull a muscle — injured a muscle by stretching it too far“I pulled a muscle in my back at the gym.”
• set someone back — delay progress for a long time“The injury set me back for months.”