overcoming a setback
and why it is important to keep on pushing
When it comes to health and fitness, I really do like to push myself. I know it’s terrible and wildly unhealthy sometimes but I can’t help it. So when I did my pull-ups for the first time in over a month and I could not get through the last two sets straight through I wanted to cry.
As I was holding back tears I was also pushing myself to keep going, just do one more.
Do one more while your arms are shaking
Do one more while your hands are burning
Do one more while you can’t visualize pulling yourself up that bar
And I did it.
For some context, I started doing pull-ups in April of 2020 with the goal to hit 30 (10x3). I did them every third day. Even though off the bat I could do 8 in a row, started off with 5 reps of 6 sets (30).
I hit 10x3 in October.
Then I decided to reach for another goal: Get as high as I can until I hit 365 days.
My total was 11x3
When I stopped in April 2021 I made sure that I kept them up at least once a week. I incorporated them into my workouts instead which helped with endurance.
But then the end of May hit.
After one trip, moving in, settling down, flying back home, unpacking again, and a new job, I found myself not doing pull-ups or even working out at all. Prior to this, I exercised 5 days a week.
I knew my body has been out of shape in some ways but I was not expecting the setback that I had.
I was on the verge of tears because I wanted it so bad. I wanted to be at just a fraction of where I was. The kicker is knowing that I was in a better place. You’ve seen yourself there.
But once I finished, I had to accept that I simply must get reacquainted with it. I can get to where I once was. I know that in my heart and I believe that in my mind. I simply wanted to just see it then.
It is hard to acknowledge and realize a setback. The harder part is accepting it and going through to get to the other side again.
But if you can do that, then nothing is really a setback.
