Ramblings of a Madman

Today was, a day. It was on the up and up, but any day that I go to the gym is instantly better. There is no other place, not even church, that puts me in a state of zen like the iron palace.

My brain just stops. The silence is perfect, and the only things I focus on are my breathing and how many reps I’ve completed. And that’s after being at work for 12 hours.

Cardio

It starts with a 1 mile walk on the treadmill. That sounds small, but it gets me in the mood, as it were. Gets my heartrate up, gets me focused. I either read or figure out what my workout plan is. And once that’s done, it’s time to get to work.

The program I’m working through is a five day program. It breaks up the week by hitting different groups and different muscles within those groups every day. There is a strong emphasis on the upper body: arms, chest, shoulders, and back.

Legs and Abs

There isn’t much work to be done with the legs, even though they get a day. And abs are optional. While you can target them and the different muscles with different exercises, there is almost no need. I guarantee you have abs; you’re just too fat to see them currently.

Legs only get a day due to them being used constantly, right along with your abs. They’re constantly activated, even when you don’t think they are. About the only time they’re not is when you’re asleep or dead.

Everything else, though, you really need to work with intention. Even if you think you’re using them constantly, whether at work or at home. About the only part of your arms that you work consistently throughout the day are your hands.

Upper Body

That isn’t saying you’re doing anything meaningful. If all you do is spend your day typing, you’re working toward giving yourself a case of carpal tunnel and a grip like a wet noodle. Grab a grip exerciser and give it some squeezes when you take a break.

Unless you perform manual labor, you’re not working the rest of your arms effectively. And even then, your biceps, triceps, and forearms aren’t being worked with intention. You’re not keeping them under strain for an extended period; you may be picking things up and moving them, but, that’s just that.

Your shoulders are in the same position (not physically, of course), as your arms. You still need to activate them with intention to keep them healthy and strong.

Your back is akin to your legs in that it’s constantly in use to some degree. It helps hold you upright, after all. So whether you’re sitting or standing, your back is under strain. You also work a decent chunk of your back with the movements you work with your arms and shoulders.

That is to say, you can specifically target the muscles on your back, and you arguably should. Muscles are used for movement; if they’re weak, you are far more likely to cause yourself harm if you try doing something strenuous. And if you cause harm to your back, especially the lower, you’re down and out until it heals up, and that isn’t happening without pain meds and physical therapy.

You are often your own worst enemy when it comes to taking care of yourself. It’s so easy after work to just go home, sit down, and proceed to stuff your face.

Dedication, not Motivation

If you’re waiting for motivation to magically appear, stop holding your breath. You’re turning blue, and rumor has it that isn’t healthy. Even if you think you don’t have a reason, I guarantee you do.

Vanity, pride, heartbreak, health. There’s a handful of motivation right there. Vanity leads people to do it because they want to look good. Pride comes from a sense of accomplishment. Heartbreak is a meme at this point, but it can still be a motivator. And then there’s health, which should speak for itself.

The first step is the hardest. Just like any problem, it gets easier once you do that. You go, you may or may not do cardio. You lift your first weights. You feel good when you finish, and realization dawns that you can add this to your schedule, so it becomes a regular thing.

So, go to the gym. No matter your reason, you won’t regret it.