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!
It's changed over time and will probably keep changing.
When I first started off in high school, I was primarily driven to get stronger for sports I played at the time i.e. (American) football and tennis. In college, my drive was mainly for vain reasons. I liked the way weightlifting made me look and that brought confidence in myself. After college, the vanity aspect was still there but I also started really getting into Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting, so that pushed me to get stronger in cleans, snatches, squats, etc. Now that I'm a parent, my drive is mostly to push off the "dad bod" stereotype from happening and making sure I stay physically fit enough to keep up with my kid, who's relentless and won't stay still. I'd love to be able to hit the gym with him once he's a bit older.
Besides from these things that drove me, like others have said, it really just became a habit and part of my daily routine.
Oh brother I am living what you actively stave off. It’s no fun having your kid run laps around your tired old ass haha
Thanks for the insight friend