Day Zero: One Hour Before the Event
I arrive home from work and my sluggish movements reveal my mood. I yawn as I consider going to bed, even though it is only 6 p.m., because I didn't get much sleep last night. I'm hungry because I have only eaten one meal today, six hours ago, and I know I have to eat something before I can think about bed. I struggle to even initiate anything I want to do, primarily because today is the day I have been dreading for a while. It has been circled on my calendar for a while. Today is the day we start the grind again. Today is the day I shock my body back into the regular regime of working out, quite possibly one of the worst things you can do to yourself.
Day Zero: During the Event
"What have you done to me!?" is all my body can scream mid-workout. It aches with every movement, and the degradation of my prior strength is apparent. What's even worse, however, is that I have no gym where I can lift weights, which is what I like to do when working out. No, no, I have to do body-weight workouts, which is damn near cardio. And I hate cardio. With a passion. Not much I can do, though, as work is nine-to-five, so my usual free gym is out of the question, and I don't want to purchase a membership.
I do what's available: push-ups, sit-ups, air squats and pull-ups. The repetitions are high, sweat is beginning to pour out, my heart is beating fast, and there is a funny feeling at the back of my throat. At one point, I can't even push myself off the ground, and I laugh in response. It's all a part of the game. That's the whole point of working out, and on some days I'll reach that point more quickly than on others. I wait a few seconds before attempting again, barely lifting myself to the top resting position, and collapse back to the floor.
I have to be honest: I've missed it.
Day One: 22 Hours After the Event
My body can't even make comprehensible words, its inability to do anything speaks for itself. I find it difficult to do simple tasks; muscles cry as lactic acid flows within them, trapped until further evacuation can be accomplished.
On my face, however, a slight grin appears. There is a joy to this pain, one that I have lacked for a while. But now it is definitely present, and occasionally my inability to move elicits a hearty laugh from me. It's part of the fun, after all.
Day Three: 68 Hours After the Event
I know this day well. It is the worst day in the lineup after you start working out again. I don't know why, I cant explain it — but usually, after I revisit leg day after months of not doing it, the third day is when my eyes look at stairs and my body says, "LOL, good luck buddy." Well, today is that day. My core will not even let me sneeze without punishing me for what I put it through, and other muscle groups follow suit. They are protesting today, calling an end to this practice, but it is all for naught.
The mind has been bitten again. The fun part of working out, pushing yourself past your own limits, has already been experienced three days prior. For complete newcomers, that drive past your limits is the worst thing to overcome. Why would you want to feel this bad all the time and why would you keep doing what was causing it? Does it ever get better?
Yes, it most definitely does. Soon, you will be able to take on a workout and your body won't yell at you like it did when you first started. A dull, pervasive resistance will result from breaking your muscles down, but nothing will be as bad as that first endeavor. The period of time between the two states is different for everyone, but you will get past the initial wall.
If this summer is the summer you want to take that step into lifting or working out, go into it confidently and with resilience. It's awesome to see results from your efforts, and driving yourself toward a goal can be both extremely rewarding and extremely infuriating depending on how well it is going. No matter what, though, if it is something you want to do this summer, stay committed to it. You will be thankful for it at the end when you can see what you've been able to accomplish both physically and mentally.
All you have to overcome is that first period of hell, but I know you can. I find it best to have a workout buddy to help push you past the really tough points in the process, but everyone is different. Start small, too. If you can only do 30 minutes a day three days a week, do it. If it is something you want, that is better than nothing.
Happy lifting. Stay safe above all, but push yourself past what you think you can do. You'll be surprised by your own drive, I have no doubt.
