We’re thru week 1 and 2 now, and about to move into week 3 of the official Strength For Life: Transformation Training Camp and things are certainly moving. This means we’ve started our full regimen and it’s had some significant impact so far. “Before” picture and stories about how my legs almost fell off after the jump.
We’re all feeling good, and but I was shocked to see how intensely my legs were sore and freaking out after the first “legs” day. For the first several weeks, we’re taking things light in all the trainings, and teaching our bodies correct form and getting muscles used to the work and the repair. I thought I overworked my chest on the first Monday, getting overzealous, but it turns out I was fine and can rock a lot more than I thought, so I’m pushing myself each week now. Whereas my legs are just freaking out. I kind of expected this, since my legs, lungs, and cardio are my weak points, but I didn’t expect to be sore for FOUR DAYS or so. It disapated, sure, but it took a while. And I was a little more careful this second week.
We’re getting into a stride, but also, one week in, the initial “discipline and damn-isn’t-this-awesome vibe” has already lessened a little, meaning that remembering to focus and always make workouts is important. And to make it part of the routine, where if you miss a workout for scheduling reasons, you make it up REGARDLESS. I had a bunch of odd jobs come up this week, which thru off my timing, and I had to get up early on Saturday morning to make up my cardio training before another job. Which, I won’t lie, sucked, since my body was not awake and was thrown into the activity without what felt like warning.
But here’s the good side of that: they’re all new challenges to be aware of and experience. A big part of this challenge is not just pushing ourselves in the gym, but learning to be aware of our experiences and blockages and to push thru those. The real strength gains come when you go just beyond your capabilities, pushing yourself farther than your mind tells you can and learning your real limits. And while sometimes that can be sprinting faster than your previous record, and sometimes that can be fighting just to make yourself finish a workout, those are all moments where one becomes stronger. Learning to be in the present, and, similar to a lot of meditations, seeing what’s coming up in your mind or in your body, and listening to it, and then letting it go - is all part of the training and learning to understand ourselves a little better. And hopefully, it’ll also teach my legs to get used to not wanting to fall off my body.
All that being said, being back in the gym has been great. I feel wonderful and it’s pretty exciting to really push myself again, when I’m in the zone, and I’m actually excited to be so sweaty lately. Because I feel like it’s all really earned. And most of the time it is. With cardio, I can’t remember being so sweaty in years and I feel like it’s all mine, with my lungs burning, but feeling fulfilled. And downstairs in the freeweight room - well, the air conditioning doesn’t work, so it’s really not all our doing, but it still makes me feel cool. And for the first time, I can actually appreciate the use of headbands and sweatbands on the wrist. I have sweat pouring off me now, in my eyes, and down my hands. So I can get them. I haven’t incorporated them officially yet - but I did find them in my drawer. And I’m thinking about it for this week, since I do think I look a little cool.
Wrapping up for now, here’s my “before” picture. This was taken 14 days ago on Monday, June 30th. In it, I weigh 160 lbs. and it will be matched with my “after” picture at the end of this thing, because by putting it up, I feel it makes me now accountable to all of you reading this to finish this thing. Thanks for your help, folks. More photos coming along the process as we make it thru the 12 weeks.
And coming up, later - official goals. Rock out.
B