Well I guess funny things happen all the time right?
So, as you may know from following me, I'm kind of on a half-rehab, half-diet thing now and I'm not doing any heavy training. Cardio. Stretching. Heavy bag. More cardio. Annnnnd the most dreaded two words in the world...light weights.
I know, I know heavy training burns more calories yadda, yadda but you guys don't wake up with my knees and ankles everyday, a break is past due.
Indeed.
Time to take a step away from the heavy training...
...okay it's been 3 weeks, that's enough right?
I can't put into words how miserable I feel right now. I've posted on here a lot about how the concept of 'muscle church' is something that transcends lifting weights or competing, it's something so close to my core that I haven't always been able to separate the workouts from the man. My identity is wrapped up in the iron and anytime I have to step back, even just a little bit, it's literally taking a part of my heart and soul out and it leaves me wounded.
Now I find myself on the business end of a few weeks of what could be called 'maintenance work' and I don't feel great. I've lost about 6 pounds but it's not the same. I feel weak. I feel unsafe.
I don't feel strong.
I think that's the problem with guys like myself, and perhaps many of you, when what you do becomes who you are, it's tough to change on thing without rocking the other. I don't need to be lifting heavy right now, I certainly don't need to be doing any strongman training, but without it...I feel like I'm no kind of man at all. Without the soreness and pain and grit and grime on me I feel like I'm some sort of subhuman fleshbag just existing from hour to hour.
I don't rest or relax well, and I have to say that a few weeks of doing just that has gotten me more stressed and on edge than ever! I know in my head that I need to heal up some injuries and spend some of my scant free time focusing on things outside the gym, but that's one hell of a learning experience for me.
If there is one thing I preach in this church above all else, is that being a strong man means more than stones, deadlifts and truck pulls, it means making the right choices, respecting yourself and sharing your gifts with others. Can't do any of those things laid up, or cranky from no sleep or schlepping around on a bum leg!
So I'm going to start ramping things up a bit, but I'm keeping a keen eye on my rest and recovery. I've burned the candle at both ends for decades now and it's caught up to me. The next phase of my journey in strength will be less about busting ass and putting balls to the wall, and more about setting goals and choosing my battles.
With that I leave you tonight, with all my hopes and prayers going up to the big bad Iron Addict in the sky, hoping He blesses you with heavy squats, cold protein shakes and broken records!
Believe in yourself, I know I do!
So, as you may know from following me, I'm kind of on a half-rehab, half-diet thing now and I'm not doing any heavy training. Cardio. Stretching. Heavy bag. More cardio. Annnnnd the most dreaded two words in the world...light weights.
I know, I know heavy training burns more calories yadda, yadda but you guys don't wake up with my knees and ankles everyday, a break is past due.
Indeed.
Time to take a step away from the heavy training...
...okay it's been 3 weeks, that's enough right?
I can't put into words how miserable I feel right now. I've posted on here a lot about how the concept of 'muscle church' is something that transcends lifting weights or competing, it's something so close to my core that I haven't always been able to separate the workouts from the man. My identity is wrapped up in the iron and anytime I have to step back, even just a little bit, it's literally taking a part of my heart and soul out and it leaves me wounded.
Now I find myself on the business end of a few weeks of what could be called 'maintenance work' and I don't feel great. I've lost about 6 pounds but it's not the same. I feel weak. I feel unsafe.
I don't feel strong.
I think that's the problem with guys like myself, and perhaps many of you, when what you do becomes who you are, it's tough to change on thing without rocking the other. I don't need to be lifting heavy right now, I certainly don't need to be doing any strongman training, but without it...I feel like I'm no kind of man at all. Without the soreness and pain and grit and grime on me I feel like I'm some sort of subhuman fleshbag just existing from hour to hour.
I don't rest or relax well, and I have to say that a few weeks of doing just that has gotten me more stressed and on edge than ever! I know in my head that I need to heal up some injuries and spend some of my scant free time focusing on things outside the gym, but that's one hell of a learning experience for me.
If there is one thing I preach in this church above all else, is that being a strong man means more than stones, deadlifts and truck pulls, it means making the right choices, respecting yourself and sharing your gifts with others. Can't do any of those things laid up, or cranky from no sleep or schlepping around on a bum leg!
 |
| The late, great Jon Pall Sigmarsson with words of wisdom! |
With that I leave you tonight, with all my hopes and prayers going up to the big bad Iron Addict in the sky, hoping He blesses you with heavy squats, cold protein shakes and broken records!
Believe in yourself, I know I do!
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