Sore Bones, Plateaus, and the Motivator’s Curse
OKINAWA, Japan (Nov. 27, 2009) - I am sore. Not sore like "Gee whiz, Beav, I hit it a little hard today," but sore like my flippin’ BONES hurt.
I’ve been doing a 5X5 program - getting in three full-body workouts every week - just varying the angle I hit the major parts on with each workout. Over the course of the last three months, my bench, rows & squats have increased exponentially, which makes me happy. I seem to be butting up against my first plateau though, which pisses me off.
I’ve been stuck at 240 on bench now for three weeks straight and at 235 on underhand rows for the same amount of time. My best guess as to why is that I need to step up the consistency, which makes this problem my fault, and that pisses me off even more.
I have GOT to hit this every other day, without f-ing fail, or I will never get "there." Ah the elusive "there…" Will any of us ever actually complete that journey? My guess is no. Those who populate this site are of a focused, motivated and goal-oriented breed.
The trouble with the goal-oriented is that the satisfaction of realizing one goal lasts only until they set the next. Then it’s back to the grind. Back to pushing until your bones hurt. Back to questioning one’s own sanity for doing so and to guilt and self-degradation at every missed opportunity to do so.
Better to live that life than the alternative, eh? At least when I hang my head in shame for missing a workout, I can still see my toes.
