Fitness

Discipline in the beginning. After 9 months it has become a habit.

Happy for you and your gains.

I go first thing in the morning so I feel like I’ve achieved something already. It’s the simplest part of my day.

I keep going as it’s my routine and I’d like to get the changes you described.

Awesome gains friend! I’ve been into lifting ever since high school and college soccer workouts. I got addicted to the feeling of achieving PRs and just the general release of the days’ frustrations, the flow of listening to music while lifting, and of course the gains that come both physically and mentally. It’s become both a habit and a hobby, because it’s something I enjoy so much.

I’ve not had a gym membership since before COVID. Despite being vaxxed, boosted, and having had it once before, I don’t see myself ever becoming comfortable with the idea of joining an indoor gym. I also hate (American) fitness culture, a view that COVID solidified, so there’s zero desire to be around anyone else anyway. I just want to be able to age well and maintain my independence.

What got me to start working out: Almost 10 years ago, I went from doing manual labor (warehouse, construction, etc) to writing code for a living. It has its perks, like no longer being near the poverty line and having a consistent work schedule. But I knew that a desk job is the fastest way to end up sick and out of shape, a suspicion that was 10000% confirmed when I met my first boss. Dude was 5’10” and easily 400 lbs. After my first day at that job, I joined a cheap gym and bought a pair of running shoes. A few months later, I’d completed my first 5K. After couple of years and a few injuries and stern lectures from my chiro, I started strength training.

Why I do it now: Admittedly, I’ve not been 100% consistent over the years because of injury/illness (outside of my control) and work (something I need to get better about, as the company is only concerned with money, not my well-being). I couldn’t run or lift much for two years because I had a suprapubic catheter and I was one of those unlucky people who pees blood if I run or even walk too fast. But I got lucky and learned about adaptive fitness and that my employer would reimburse some fitness-related expenses, so I was able to work with a trainer until the catheter came out. Then last year I got a high-paying but high-pressure job, which made it too easy to skip workouts due to deadlines or emergencies. So I’ve been playing catch-up and I’ve had to learn to be patient but not complacent. I’ve also had to learn to be nice to myself when I slip up, otherwise what’s the point? While I haven’t always been consistent, I have been persistent. Ultimately, I just want to be able to haul my own groceries into the house even when I’m 80.

The sounds and the smell. If I were the manager I would turn off that shitty music: grunts, hisses, thumping and clanking is the only soundtrack I need.

I didn't want to get a stereotypical dadbod. Then I got powerlifting blackpilled and ended up fat af anyways. Cutting down lately and doing more bodybuilding stuff.