Category: Fitness Blog

We’ve all had bad workout sessions. But I don’t think we ever really regret them. At least we made the effort. I just had the worst workout of my life. And I’m debating about the regret part.

An aging  (or “ageless” – thank you Robin Legat) athlete is what I am. It’s my identity. And it’s something I intend to keep. One of the memes on my wall is “Sometimes I feel like giving up, then I remember I have a lot of mother fu@^ers to prove wrong.” That’s a significant motivating factor for me. I can’t not be an athlete. I can’t lose that. It’s what I have to prove who I am to the people who didn’t think I’d amount to anything.

Reality is seriously hard to contend with. If you know me, if I’m about anything, I’m about reality! But when it comes to self-reflection, I’m a little more stubborn than I expect my readers to be. I don’t want to be old. I don’t want to be slower. I don’t want smaller upper arm circumference. I don’t want injuries. I literally cannot handle belly fat. I won’t let (too many) others (especially in my age group) beat me.

I’m still working out in our “Gymrage” (gym + garage) because of the government mandated shut down that made exercise with other people illegal. Is it the heat, or is it something else that’s triggering tears after every set? My mind and my muscles want to work hard to build some size worth talking about, but something hijacked the blood in my veins, causing me to struggle way, way beyond reasonable expectations.

I’ve had a knee injury for 4 ½ years that I’ve maintained a level of function I’m ok with. And then today, I lost it with a completely otherwise uneventful move. It is no longer runnable, squattable, or lungeable without further damage.

It was a really bad workout.

It’s 100 degrees. Does oxygen become gelatin in 100 degrees? or is my thyroid arguing with me? or is my plant-based diet not enough protein? or is my age really negatively correlated to the amount of intensity I want to give? Not running is not ok with me!

Assessing and knowing which battle I’m fighting is paramount to a win. A gravity problem requires a different mindset shift than an anchor problem (See Anchors Away). Neither mean completely letting go of the person I want to be. I just need to be ok with the pivot. Which sucks, but it’s the only road to victory.

My knee is broken, so I look down at my new FitBar egg beater toy and think, well now’s the time to master that one. I’ll be more intentional about protein grams. I must find a safer workout space. And it’s time I buck-up to the possibility an ortho doc has enough competence to help me.

I recognize it’s another blog about not giving up. I don’t think it’s just about me.

One of my favorite qualities about the new me is I refuse to be a victim.

If I take responsibility for everything that happens to me, it puts me in control of the outcome, not someone else. And I like that option.

When I lose a competition I intended to win, I allow myself a few hours to feel sorry for myself. But then, as if I am one of my own clients, I remind myself losing is part of the game.

The big reality check though is: do I really, for reals feel like a Loser? Or am I willing to feel like a Champion?

A Champion friend of mine, Zack, just told me: losing does not make me a loser. And I have to see myself as a Champion. That means not just blithely parroting the words “ok… I’m a champ-ee-on…”

It’s a mindset that translates to doing what Champions do.

Champions know that other people are working just as hard as they are. Champions recognize what they thought was their best was indeed short of their best. Champions appreciate that it’s going to take more… or at least different- than before. Champions take a realistic look at what it’s going to take to get to the next level, and make a realistic plan about their future.

Where are you a year from now? If you quit moving forward toward your dreams, or goals, or achievements, or whatever you call them, can you proudly look yourself in the eye? Or will you hang your head in regret?

Let’s stay in the fight. Let’s keep evaluating and scouring and calculating our performance. Let’s diligently assess our reality. Let’s be honest with ourselves. Let’s not be victims but Victors