A few days ago, at the gym (a heaven’s franchise), I broke another Personal Record (PR) and to be honest, I was flabbergasted. The days least expected are the days that may work most in your favor.
That day, as any other (except Sundays) my alarm went off at around 3:15 a.m. and my eyes opened instantly. I hurried to turn the sound off so my dogs, Bandit and Rocky, didn’t get too riled up and woke my rather sleepy wife. She prefers to sleep a little longer. Just with enough time to get ready and walk the dogs before we must leave to work out.
Still sunk in the bed, I took a deep breath and carefully got up and bumbled my way to the kitchen with only one thought swirling in my mind at that precise moment; to turn on the coffee maker and brew some robust black coffee. The only drug my brain needs to function properly as an adult.
Usually, while I wait for the delicious smell to overcome my senses, I scan the web for some quick news. This is all before my usual dose of clown world news I listen to while cooking breakfast, after we come back home from our work out. That morning I did the same.
I finally heard the coffee percolating, I put my phone on the kitchen island, took a step towards the cabinets above the coffee maker and I opened the door looking for a particular coffee cup that reads, “It took 30 years to look this good.” A gift from a friend I truly appreciate, and it always makes me chuckle.
A few moments later, the coffee maker was done doing its magic and I poured some robust coffee into the cup. I walked towards the living room and picked one of the three books I am reading at the moment. You must train your body, but most importantly your brain.
I read as much as time would let me before it was time to wake up my wife. The dogs tend to wake her up before I even make it to the bedroom door.
We got ready, walked the dogs and drove to the gym.
The day prior, I always have planned what we are doing for our workout. That day it was “Heavy chest” training, starting with the bench press with a range of 5, 3, 1, 8, 8 repetitions.
It is extremely important to warm up, so we did.
I had planned to start with 295 pounds, so I did. But this time 5 repetitions felt less heavy, and I told my favorite spotter (my wife) I would try one more, so I did. My excitement was already at high levels.
Next up was 315 pounds, so I did. 315 pounds felt not as hard as last time, but I did not want to risk one more repetition and not be able to lift it. You also must know your limits.
With that said, I added the appropriate weight to push, once again, 325 pounds. But I was feeling amazing, I told my wife with excited eyes, “I think I can push 335 pounds.” She didn’t reply and with a cute smile helped me add the additional weight.
I waited the 5 minutes I typically do on heavy days, took a few deep breaths and sat down at the edge of the bench. While sitting on the bench, with my feet well-grounded on the floor, I started to give myself mental motivational speeches mostly consisting of “You got this. YOU GOT THIS MOTHERFUCKER. Light fucking weight.” And sometimes, memories of people that knew me and said I never would be able to go to distance pop up and I tell them, “Fuck off, the hell I can’t.”
I grabbed my phone and quickly searched for my favorite song for this lift, “Batman Epic Theme,” from the latest film, take a few more deep breaths and I laid on the bench.
My wife was right there, supporting my craziness, looking at me and planting her feet on the floor, and telling me that I got this.
I set my hands on the Olympic bar, caressing it with the tip of my fingers, searching for the grove that tells me where the perfect spot for my hand positioning is. Breath, breath, the most epic part of the song started playing and I unracked the weight.
335 pounds pressed against me. The epic orchestra part of the song played loudly in my headphones, and it made me feel like the dark knight. I knew right there; I could press it.
I lowered the bar slowly and when I touched my pectorals, I started taking a deep breath and pushing up.
Slowly by surely, the repetition was a success, and I racked the bar back on the hooks.
I got up more excited than a child on Christmas. It was my damn Christmas. It was the culmination of so many years of nonstop grind.
I turned around and looked at my wife. I wasn’t really sure if she really understands what this meant to me, but I know she felt the same happiness I felt.
Bodybuilding, working out or whatever you may call it, it is more than pushing, pulling, and perhaps even hauling weight around. It builds and constructs from scratch many traits you may of lacked while growing up. And that’s without taking into account the health benefits that comes along with it.
Bodybuilding helped me build character and confidence day after day, repetition after repetition.
Every new Personal Record broken, are small battles you win, victories that your mind treasures and boosts your mood immeasurably.
Some may say there is no reward of hitting new Personal Records. If you don’t compete, why do I keep pushing harder and harder? But you need to understand that the reward isn’t a material prize, the reward is even better, it is your wellbeing. Mentally and physically. The fight is against you, no one else.
Developing a habit takes weeks. I am not always motivated to work out, but bodybuilding taught me that being motivated always is impossible, and it taught me to be disciplined and very importantly, to be patient. It takes years to reach your goals at the gym, just like it could take years to reach your job goals, entrepreneurial goals, travel goals and so on.
There are days that I drag myself to the gym, and somedays, I also drag myself to work. Other days, I drag myself to my office to write this blog and a page of my new book. I don’t always feel motivated to wake up at 3:00 a.m. but I do my best to not fail myself.
The truth is that you will never be 100% motivated, but you can be 100% disciplined.
Take every small victory and save it in your mind and in your heart. Because every victory as small as it may be, it is building towards something bigger.
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