The Gym

I started going to the gym again somewhat religiously... It was not a New Year's Resolution, it was a factor of a few things. It was way overdue, I am starting to feel old, I have gotten a little heavier then I want to be, and my company pays for it. I used to go to the gym all the time. It really started in college because I played sports and the level of competition got a lot harder and quite a bit stronger. I probably peaked right after college when I went to the gym almost every night with my friend. I used to meet him there around 9 PM because he worked late and I wouldn't get home until around midnight. Not to mention I held a full time job during that time. After I got married and moved around a bit, I stopped going as much and then just didn't go at all. Three years went by and when I went for the first time a few weeks ago, I was about as weak as could be. It is slightly embarrassing and emasculating in a way knowing how I used to be. Of course I over did it the first few days and I pulled just about every muscle in my body. It was awful. My wife had to help me put on and take off t-shirts because I could not lift my arms over my head. I had trouble lifting the phone to my ear at work and taking a shower. It was so bad that I would have to contort my head in such a strange way to eat because I could not lift my arm high enough or bend it to reach my mouth. I should have known what I was getting myself into because I have done it before. One time my buddy was doing calf exercises and I rarely do much weightlifting with the lower half of my body because I do cardio instead. He was doing these calf exercises and he guilted me into doing them. I did and of course I did the same weight he did. Big mistake! I woke up the next morning and I couldn't walk. I remember having to renew my license that day and walking into the DMV. When I walked in, everyone stared at me as a hobbled around like a 90 year old man. I learned my lesson this time and stayed at home until I recuperated.