Blahg

First of all, I am an introvert.  If you saw me somewhere, and didn’t know me, you would probably think I was a snob.  So it has taken me a while to open up and get to know the people I workout with at 5:15 in the morning, but now that I do know them, if gives me one more reason to drag myself out of bed at 4:30.  I know that at least one of the "early morning crew" (some of whom get to the gym at 4:00 AM!) will be there.

I got a reminder of that this morning when I got to the gym, and only one guy was there, this other introvert who does crossfit-type stuff and always looks like he is in pain.  We struck up a conversation for the first time, even though we had worked out in the same gym at the same time for months!  So there is one more friend at the gym.  On more reason to crawl out of bed.

When I ran into another one of the early morning crew in the parking lot as I was leaving at 6:30, we joked around a little, and he said, "I will see you early tomorrow!"  I said, "Okay, I’ll see ya!" so that means I am gonna be up again tomorrow.

It doesn’t sound like a big deal to know some people at the gym will miss you if you aren’t there, but I have an ongoing battle.  I open my eyes at 4:15 every morning and begin the argument:

"Today would be a good rest day.  I need to rest"
"Rest!?!  I haven’t worked legs/biceps/back in 4 days!"
"Yeah, but I have a big day at work today.  I don’t want to be too tired"
"I am not going to be tired!  I am always more awake after my workout!"
"One day of sleeping in ’til 6:30 won’t hurt"
"But Mike, Ralph, Susan, Michelle, Maria, Chonda, and everyone else will be in there.  There is no reason for me not to be."

This continues until I get in the shower.  Then I am committed.

So if you are having trouble getting motivated, join the closest gym that you can, and get to know some people.  That will help keep you on track.

TH

So when the new year started, I decided to blow up my BodySpace.  I think I was just getting too "in" to myself.  I felt like I was taking pictures of myself and posting them, hoping for words of approval from other people… I just wasn’t feeling like that was healthy.  (Just to be clear, that is what I was doing.  That’s certainly not what everyone here does.)

The good news is that I never stopped working out.  I am in the gym every morning at 5:15ish, following the Snap Fitness Hyperstrike workout plan, and really seeing gains.  Biking up hills is easier than ever, and my cardiologist says that my heart function is now almost normal!  On interesting piece of doctor’s orders that I received: "DON’T STOP EXERCISING."  That put a smile on my face.

As far as progress, I know I have a lot more definition, but I am not sure that I have gained any size.  I’ll update measurements soon, just to see.

One thing that I have come to realize about fitness is that, at least for me, it is a long, long marathon.  Nothing happens overnight.  …And not much happens over a month.  But put a few months together, and amazing things can happen.  

So why am I posting again?  Honestly, I think I am starting to annoy people on twitter and facebook with my posting about being up at 5AM and in the gym.  (Twitter: Steve_Wms)

TH