Day 3: Muscle Conditioning -- I Feel the Burn

I have met the enemy, and it is rubber: The resistance band.

I think I need start slow with this one. Perhaps start with a shoe string and work my way up through office supply-grade elastic. And then move to fitness rubber.

I made the acquaintance of the weighted bar. I think it was originally developed by intelligence officials as a form of “intensive interrogation.” With each squat I wanted to cry, “Please stop. I know no national secrets.” Starting level: 2.5 lb weights on either end. It’s only up from here.

Next up, dumbbells. I’ve used then before, in fact earlier this year I could have said I use 10 lb weights regularly, but oh, how the mighty have fallen! I am starting at the bottom with 3 lb dumbbells. But the difference is that I am no longer cheating. When you use them properly, those 3 lb dumbbells might as well be 30-lbs.

I know I should feel no shame, but they are florescent green. I’m pumping a glow stick, while everybody else is pumping iron.

My dream is to have arms like Linda Hamilton, circa Terminator 2. It won’t happen overnight, but hopefully something will sprout by summer.

Inhale . . . .patience. Exhale . . . .I will improve with time. Focus. They will be back . . . .

I was warned by my instructor that I will be sore in the morning. That was at 6:45 a.m. Night has just fallen, my body has decided not to wait to a full 24 hours to react. The only thing not sore is my fingertips, so I will stop now for fear of straining them, too.