I'll start on Monday...

I completely relate to the many people that try to instill a better routine of living a healthier lifestyle and incorporating exercise into their weekly agendas. I know the obstacles that they face when they look to trying to get on track or trying to start a new workout program or "diet" as many people like to say.
I was off my normal daily routine while at the Arnold Classic in Ohio. From Wed March 3rd til Sunday March 7th is a long break from my daily activities. I knew the time away would make my first week back to training a little difficult.

I was right. Although, I was very excited to get "back to business" in the gym with regards to my training, my body felt a lot differently about it! I have been extra sore this week. It was even more difficult as the days of the week progressed. And, by Wednesday, when I had hit every muscle group in my entire body, I was racked with muscle aches and mental worry that I did not have it in me.

That is the point where you have a choice to make. And a very small percentage of us make the choice to continue on....where, unfortunately the larger percentage of the group revert back to their old habits or give up altogether. It is such a shame that some just cannot get past the initial bumps and bruises to develop the better habits. Or trust in themselves that it will pay off further down the line if they keep it up.

The biggest key to getting through that point is to recognize that is what is happening. Know and trust that your body will adapt and it will get easier to make it to the gym or to not have one more soda. Once you recognize it, then you can work through it. Sure, I have to say, I am sore all the time, even after my body has been training for a while...but, I am more sore when I don't "work it out" - or work my body through the lactic acid that has built up from the previous training session.

No matter what stage of the health game you are in, just know you are not alone! So when you see that person pounding the treadmill for over an hour or working up a sweat on some machines, you are not alone in your pain, you are not alone in your future glory...but are one step closer to your personal goal!

Besides, that soreness is like a "ya done good", "thank you for the beating", "oh...I worked you out today" or a "hello, I never even knew that muscle existed".