I’ve been weightlifting at the gym with my brother at least 2-3 days a week for the last 2 months. I recently noticed a week or so ago, after my workouts, the soreness has decreased in the days following, tremendously. No longer am I walking around with locked knees because my legs are going to give out, or with T-rex arms because my biceps are locked up solid.
I love the feeling I get after I come back, and my body feels totally relaxed and used up. I have noticed I get anxious if I go more than a couple of days without going.
Physically I’ve noticed my muscles have started getting harder, like they are flexing even when they are at rest. I’ve started losing weight, my wife has mentioned it multiple times, and when I feel parts of my body throughout the day, it feels like certain places where fat had built up are now “smaller”. I also notice that just moving around has gotten easier. Getting up from seated, while squatted, climbing stairs and ladders, moving furniture etc, has all gotten a little bit easier. I haven’t gotten on the scale, but I suspect I’ve lost maybe 10 pounds, but it might be more. I’m still probably 40 pounds overweight so there is plenty more room to improve.
Mentally, I’ve noticed my confidence has grown and I feel much more comfortable with my body. I have the confidence to start limiting my calories in a meaningful way now, and I’m also currently psyching myself up to start running on my off days.
I used to dread gym days, but now, I get excited to push myself and crave the broken down feeling it used to give me when I was more out of shape.
I think the drive that keeps me going back, is the fear of losing what I’ve gained.
Anyways, what has kept the rest of you going? How long have you been going and how long until you feel like you started hitting your goals? Any advice for someone like me in this early stage?
Much love, thanks everyone!
Discipline in the beginning. After 9 months it has become a habit.
You are right! It’s ALWAYS discipline because motivation only drives you some of the time. Motivation = I want to go Discipline - I have to go even thou I don’t feel motivated.
I tell people that want to start that motivation is overrated. If you wait until you feel motivated you may never go. I don’t wash the dishes because I’m motivated to do so. I do it because it has to be done. If you want the benefits of going to the gym the work has to be done.
This goes for anything. For example, if you want to make a video game, you’ll probably lose motivation half way through because of the struggles and the time it takes. With discipline, you’ll work your way through it. My motivation usually wavers a lot for anything, so discipline really helps me until it becomes a habit after doing it so much.