Sometimes you realize you’ve been doing something wrong for a long time. Sometimes you realize the way you’re doing something isn’t the most effective or beneficial way.
That’s ok. At least now you know. Now you can start doing it better and possibly even figure out alternative ways to do it.
I realized recently that I have not been lifting weights and working out in the most productive ways. While it was good that I was going to the gym and doing some work, the way I was working out wasn’t the most beneficial for my goals.
I was nervous to lift heavy and push myself, so I would choose weights I knew I could lift for the desired amount of reps. Doing it this way left me feeling a little tired and sweaty, but I never felt like I was doing enough.
As I began researching more about exercise and specific workout splits, volumes, and intensities, I began to realize how wrong I had been.
At first I was confused with the stuff I was reading. There’s a lot of science behind how much you should lift, for how many reps, how many sets, how long to rest, etc. It was a lot to consider.
But as I continued to read and learn, it started to make more sense and eventually, I found a workout split that seemed to be in line with my goals. It explained why some exercises had fewer reps, why you should rest longer for some, the benefits of each lift, and a lot more information.
So I put my faith in the program and started pushing myself more. I started choosing heavier weights to fall into each rep range the workout called for and I started increasing weights when I felt I could go a little heavier.
For the first time in a while, I actually feel like I’m pushing myself in a good way. Not overdoing it, but making progress slowly and getting stronger one step at a time.
Yes, it kinda sucks I wasn’t doing this for a long time. It feels a little like I wasted a lot of time and I could’ve made a lot of progress in those months. But I can’t do anything about that now. All I can do is be happy I figured it out at all and continue learning, trying, and progressing.
So let this example be your encouragement to question the way you do some of the things in your life. Don’t simply fall into a routine and assume you’re performing every task in the best way possible.
Read and watch how other people do the same thing. Try new methods. Push yourself out of your comfort zone.
You never know what you might find.
August 20, 2021
