I was tired. I was still a bit sore. I still ran.
It’s hard to take rest days now. I want more progress, I want more change, and so I run on legs that are running on empty. I’m stuck between I should rest because it’s healthy and be a man and train!
Don’t let yourself get sucked into the thinking that you’re Superman. You need to rest. Actually, I’m pretty sure Superman takes some days off as well.
So, I have been honest recently in saying that I stopped my fitness routine for a while. Blah blah blah, excuses, plain and simple I stopped for at least three weeks. I took a look in the mirror and thought, “Not again.” Thus, I made a comeback run today.
The gods have forsaken me apparently because that run was hell.
Every comeback run is going to feel terrible, that’s just how it works. It’s as though your body is reminding you of the consequences of stopping your workouts. I was no exception.
From the minute I began to move, my mind was alive. Excuses began pouring out. My legs were heavy and tired. My lungs felt like they weren’t taking in enough oxygen. Even the sun was an excuse, the sun! I remember thinking for a moment, “It’s way too bright outside, if I don’t have my sunglasses I might damage my eyes.”
After laughing at my pathetic excuse, I decided there was nothing that could stop me.
Running is both a liberation and a torture at the same time. It’s you versus your body and a lot of times it hurts. However, to be out there, to be running and only thinking about breathing and where to place your next foot; that’s what it’s all about. Being healthy just plain feels good.
The runner is back and I’m going to make my muscles hate me tomorrow when I workout. Bring on the pain.
I had a rough weekend feeling pretty sick and so, fell out of the loop of working out every day. Today, I went to the gym and hit it hard. I nearly gave up half way through.
Working out can be really tough. When you’ve had a couple days of feeling off your game and head back to being active, your body can feel like you’ve hit the reset button. The soreness hits you again and the fatigue jumps out of nowhere. Giving up can seem very easy and very justified.
Twenty-something minutes in, I was feeling the pain. I was tired, I was using heavier weights, and my body was throwing a tantrum. I looked at the clock and thought, “Hmm, how can I justify leaving now. Can’t go too hard while working out right? I shouldn’t push myself too far.” It was all bullshit, of course, but my mind was loving every word of it.
I decided then to finish with one workout I always have to do when I hit the gym, I call it my four-hundred punches. What I do is (holding dumbbells), I do 50 weighted and 50 weightless jabs, uppercuts, haymakers, and body shots. You end up with stronger arms and much stronger punches. An added bonus is that when you switch from holding the dumbbells to punching freely, your arms move a lot faster and you feel like a superhero.
It was at this time that one of my power songs came on (the songs that I designate to get me pumped up again) and I let loose. I went for it better than I ever went for it. I sweated and I felt great. Suddenly, I had all my energy back.
You see, it’s easy to be tired. It’s easy to think up an excuse and go home. What’s hard is getting passed that to your next level, going passed the pain to your god-mode. When you tell your body to shut up and get with the program, it does. Your mind controls your body. What it says goes. If your mind says, “I have a full tank of energy,” your body says “Umm, yeah, okay, got it.” I picture mine speaking that way but I’m sure yours sounds a lot cooler.
When you are feeling low, attack your go-to workout and play your power song. Get passed the fatigue because After tired comes great. The harder it is to get over the hill, the more fun it is going down the other side.
I Hate Eating Right 