Eric,

I fully understand about the shyness and feeling awkward in public. I assure you we all have gone or continue to go through that. I'm not sure it ever really goes away but you will feel better in your new skin. Just give it time. Trust me when I say this but we are our worst critics. I have heard that from so many over the years and when you hear it from others it gives a sense of relief to know you aren't alone in these feelings. In time it will improve. You will even find folks in similar circumstances to eat with.

As far as the exercises, as the body heals and things start reconnecting the need to do them constantly will start spacing out. By not being diligent now you could jeopardize maximizing functionality in the future.

I will tell you something not to scare you but to explain something. I have to exercise almost every muscle in my body or within 4-5 days they start shrinking and I lose strength. I worked up this year from a minute to 2 1/2 hrs on the bike. I could not even sit on a bike 2 years ago. I have lost somewhere between 50% and 60% of the muscles in my body but have found that I can work the remaining muscles and they start compensating. The doctors told me a year ago it was not possible. After 8 months of daily exercise they are now very curious how it happened. I cannot get the full connection yet but I won't stop trying.

Hang in there. Stress tends to make it worse, especially the whole citric acid/ATP chemical process in the blood that then releases more cortisol that can create more scar tissue.

Ed