Have you ever read Politikin Zabavnik and do you remember the ‘Life Writes Dramas’ column? Well, that’s how I, as if my story were in that column, after a spine injury and surgery, got to live through a ‘drama of my own life’ and I almost lost hope that I would be able to do sports actively ever again.
Although my doctor’s advice for recovery was to walk and swim for about 60 minutes, after the initial concern, I started believing that I will return to my regular physical activities.
As my recovery went on, I discovered powerlifting, which became a way of life for me after my spine surgery.
One day of practice involves about two hours of intensive exercise which strengthens muscles and keeps your spine healthy, with a focus on physical and mental strength. In addition, the powerlifting training is good for your heart, improves balance, helps in losing or gaining weight and achieving emotional balance.
Powerlifting is also known as training with weights or resistance. It is designed to improve muscle strength and fitness. It is recommended to all age groups, of different levels of fitness in order to prevent the natural loss of muscle mass, which comes with aging. The training involves lifting, pushing, and pulling by which muscles are built and coordination is obtained, necessary for everyday activities – such as lifting something and putting it onto a shelf, carrying your groceries, bending down and picking up something, or getting up after you have fallen. All the exercises help in boosting your metabolism to burn the calories in your body faster during the day and in establishing psychological balance. The exercise is followed by diet rich in proteins, fresh vegetables, good fats, and fibre.
Very soon, I got interested in competing, so that in those days I strictly follow a dieting regime, in addition to intensive exercise. The first victories followed, medals which were priceless experience for me. I climbed onto the podium, not only proud of being the champion of my country and among the best in Europe, but also because of being the champion of my own health and body. That was a priceless victory for me at that moment – I recovered my spine, improved my physical fitness, and health.
Danijela Kršanin is the first woman in the history of Serbian powerlifting sport who won a medal at a European championship. She has so far been the champion of Serbia in bench press, in 2021 and 2022, the champion of Serbia in powerlifting in 2021, in M1 category up to 52 kg. Danijela still holds the official Serbian record in bench press in the same category.
I hope that my success will also inspire others not to give up, to turn to a healthy way of life through diet and sport.
Author: Danijela Kršanin, Visual inspection operator, Lyophilizates department – Hemofarm A.D. Sterile products plant
Source: Hemofarm Foundation - How I beat myself? (fondacijahemofarm.org.rs)