We've all been there before - contemplating the actual need to walk into a place full of weights and scary machines that has a far from pleasant smell to it. We've all, on multiple occasions, found the worst of excuses to convince ourselves not to go to the gym, or we've put it off until later to the point where later takes a few days, maybe even a few weeks... We know these stages better than we know the gym itself.

The Night Before

You’re ready to go. No one and nothing can stop you. You set aside your gym clothes, your shoes, your favorite socks. You’ve filled up you water bottle, put your breakfast on the counter, and set your alarms. You’re motivated to do that killed workout your personal trainer gave you or you’re ready to go to that spinning or kick boxing class you’ve been tell yourself you were going to go to all week long.

Pre-Gym

This is the moment where you find absolutely any excuse to not go to the gym. It’s thunder storming. You’ll just sleep for five more minutes… or go later today. You remember that today would be a taper day anyways or that you’re too injured to do the main set of 500 burpees. You complain and complain and try anything you can to avoid walking into that stainless steel, heavyweight world, but you do it. You pick your bike, you set up your mat, you choose your weights, you quick start your treadmill and there you go.

At The Gym

Well now what? You look at the clock, 8:00 a.m. You look down; power through what seems like eternity, look up, 8:03 a.m. Yeah… this is going to be a long workout. You warm up and pick your favorite playlist. Now it’s going to be good. You’re starting to get really into it. Your favorite song is on and you’re fighting the urge to breakout and dance as though you were in a movie. This isn’t too bad. You’re feeling your muscles. You know you’re going to be in pain tomorrow, but you don’t care. You’re going to look hot. Better than hot. You’re going to be that person that everyone else breaks their necks to try to get a look at.

Post-Gym

What was that noise? That was your stomach. You’re hungry. No, you’re more than hungry. You could probably eat a small village. You go home and drink a cold cup of water. You look in the fridge and maybe find some cheese, or eat a banana with peanut butter. You go shower. You’re washing your hair and again, what’s that noise? Yep, you’re hungry again. What’s the point of working out to get fit if you’re eating more than you could possibly handle. You start making yourself a shake or breakfast or lunch, but obviously, you can’t control yourself that well… time for another snack…

The Next Day

You wake up feeling great… until you move any part of your body. You curse whoever invented exercise – spinning, kickboxing, running, weight lifting, literally everything. You slowly get up and realize you can’t even stand straight, let alone walk. You get dressed, go to the kitchen and make a very sorry attempt at sitting down at the table. You look so pathetic that your parents are even worried about you. You have some breakfast, or a lot of it – you’re an athlete, after all, and athletes need to eat, plus you’re still hungry from yesterday’s workout. You curse everything about what you did the day before, yet you’re still setting aside your gym clothes, your sneakers, and your water bottle to go at it again tomorrow.