The Gym Wolf Returns

The Gym wolf Returns, 58 years old,… I’m back in the gym and pumping serious iron. Never thought I had it in me to go back to training as I did in my younger years when I was an athlete. “But yes I’m doing it and there’s an interesting thing to this!” Your body, and muscles, do not forget (muscle memory) and the journey back is interesting because over the years your muscles have matured. I know we’re not all alike but it’s incredible how muscle memory plays such an important role in the journey back. but wait, I’m getting ahead of myself let’s start at the beginning.

So as the covid restrictions finally lifted in mid-February of 2022, the gyms reopened. Our freedom to move around freely in the communities came back. Anyhow, looking at myself in the mirror after sitting on my behind for two years I was definitely not pleased with the couch potato I had become. I put on weight, breathing heaving when walking upstairs, and needed to nap now and again. Frankly, I was fed up, ready for change. I hired a trainer because I knew if I did it alone I would overdo it or want to give in if I was not accountable to anyone.

Starting, literally using the lowest weight possible the journey began, better safe than sorry. I stayed consistent, I entered all my stats in my little trusted trainorize app and followed the trainer’s plan. Tracking my improvement day by day. I made sure to be better than the day before, quality over quantity, technique as opposed to trying to get it done. Here’s the crazy thing, if you show up every day, listen to your body, pay attention to the technique and eat and sleep properly your muscles and body react amazingly. On some exercises, I am lifting the same amount of weight I was lifting in my late teens and early twenties. Just today I was doing leg extensions with 300 lbs., calf raise at 400 lbs., and leg press with 540 lbs. That’s insane and I know I could go quite a bit heavier because it was relatively easy to get a full set in.

But I didn’t!

There was that little voice on my shoulder saying, “relax big boy, cool down and keep some of that for another day.” so that’s what I’m doing, I’m taking it easy, keeping a level head, and gradually I will make it to my next level.

So what’s the moral of this story. It’s not really about my superhero feats of strength, but I think it’s about pushing your boundaries, living a good life, being kind to yourself, and having fun. Guess what? I’m having fun.