Find what sticks, and stick to it.
For most of my life, I hated the idea of going to the gym. I thought everyone there was a narcissist, or an egomaniacal loser that was trying to break their back touching weights they had no business touching.
I was wrong.
I found passion, and community at the gym. A room full of people that were there for self care through self improvement.
When I started going to the gym, I had an immediate connection to it. Granted, I was only interested in powerlifting, but it stuck. At the core of anyone trying to make it into the gym more consistently, just find the thing that lights you on fire. Even if it’s just doing curls for months, the rest will fall into place with time.
Weight loss or muscle gain is a long and not a linear goal. At it’s best, its life changing, seeing new muscles or a new vein is a testament to your discipline and dedication. At its worst, it’s overwhelming and discouraging and sometimes you won’t see change for weeks or months. That is just part of the process. Just like any other form of self improvement, it’s never just a straight line.
And you have to stick with it
There are days where it feels pointless, your arms are fifty pounds each. There are sessions where nothing feels right, and you’re going to be tempted to pack it in and try again tomorrow.
That is simply never going to be the answer.
You have to learn why that’s the worst thing you can do for yourself. Barring injury or other practical reasons why you would need to stop, just find a way to finish. You will always feel better for it.
Your hardest day was the first day you came in.
The gym has gotten me through the darkest periods of my life: through death, bad breakups, struggle with alcohol abuse, weight loss, weight gain. It was always my reset point. Somewhere I could be in the moment and there has never been a single time that I left the gym feeling worse than when I got there.
It doesn’t have to be powerlifting, or going to the gym in general. It can be nature trails or rock climbing. It can be a creative expression, it can be reading a book. When you are lucky enough to find something that lights you on fire it is your responsibility to stick with it. “Learning what you’re made of is always time well spent.”
