I Am Doing the Weight Room Wrong...

So, for the past few months, I have been hitting the weight room pretty consistently. I can really feel myself getting stronger than I was and it has been a good change of pace from the typical S/B/R that I have been doing for the last 8 years or so. It has been fun and I wish I could figure out a way to continue to lift on the same schedule and get all triathlon training, but who has that sort of time? So I plan to continue to got to the gym for the rest of the year, while working in some swimming, and maybe the elliptical machine to try and lose some pounds.

And, I will admit, the weight room has had its "eye opening" moments. Sometimes I think I am doing it all wrong and if I cared, it might even be intimidating. Let me list out the Top 10 things I am doing wrong at the weight room.

1. I don't wear all black. Now I like to wear a sleeveless shirt when I lift to let the guns shine in the light, but it seems I should be wearing all black. Shorts, shoes, hoodie, headband or hat. I know black is supposed to make you look thinner, but I thought the whole point of going to the gym was to get swole!
2. I am wearing the wrong headphones. I have been wearing my in ear buds, like the ones I use when I go running, but apparently that's not right. It seems that I should be rocking Beats by Dre headphones, wireless beats by Dre headphones when I lift. I gues it gives you that extra umpffttt when you need it.
3. I don't have a duffle bag I carry. I am not sure what hey all have in the bag, but I don't have one. I just walk right in and get to work.
4. I also don't carry around a shaker cup. You know the cup that people have to shake before they can drink out of it. Maybe they don't know about the water fountain right outside the door, maybe it is some super supplement that helps them recover faster, I don't know. But I think I need to get one pretty soon.
5. I don't slam the bar down on the ground and grunt. Ok, I get this one, really I do. We all want people to think we are strong at the gym and what better way to let them know then to make a lot of noise and let the weights come crashing down? That way they have to look over at us in admiration or utter fear of our strength, but come on, is that necessary?
6. I only use one machine at a time. I have seen many "bros" setting up multiple machines so they can really get that burn going. It's weird cause they do about 3 reps and move to the next one and repeat.
7. I don't sue a mouthpiece. Yeah, I am not sure about this one at all.
8. I have never taken a selfie while working out. Instagram is full of weight room selfies, and I dunno, maybe it's like taking a picture of your dinner on FB, but I think its odd to have someone film you or snap a picture.
9. I re-rack my weights when I am done! Nothing is more frustrating than having to take off plates from some lunkhead that was using the machine before me. there are signs posted for a reason "bros" so take the time and re-rack them please.
10. I work legs.

So do you have any weight room shenanigans going on at your gym? If so, let me know what you are doing wrong!  But, always remember this:

MINDSET CHANGE

I have no idea who Hazel Hira Ozbek is, but as I was looking for a photo for this blog post, it struck me. It struck because I seem to always be waiting for something to start running again, or waiting for Monday to come around. It's always something, at least here recently. I am waiting for my knee to get better (that's probably legitimate), I am waiting for it to cool down, I am waiting for me to lose some weight first...excuse after excuse. And I have plenty more excuses!  I don't have the time to run like I did, I need the extra hour of sleep in the morning, I will start when school starts and the kids are up...

I do not know how many Mondays this summer I was supposed to start "my training". The latest one was supposed to be August 1, which was the golden date because it was the first day of the month and a Monday! But, it did not happen. Next Monday the kids start school, so everyone will be up and that should be a "good time" to start right? Mindset change.

All in all, I agree with Hazel, it should not matter what day I start, I just have to start. The doctor has cleared me with my knee (although, he said I should look at doing something else because it is a 44 year old knee) and I know it is going to be hot no matter when I start, unless I wait till late October. I realize it is going to be like starting over and I have to understand that it will not be like it was when I was training. My mindset can't be to get it all back in one day. Mindset Change

As of this morning, I weighed in at 205.7lbs. This is the most I have ever weighed in my life. Now I do think some of it is added muscle since I have been going to lift weights for the past two months while my knee was messed up, but still, 205?? This is another reason I need to get back to the pool and the roads. I know once I get into my groove, I should lose some weight. My first weight goal is to get under 200 lbs. My main number one goal is to get back in the 180s. Man, 25lbs sounds like a lot to lose doesn't it? I really don't feel like I eat a lot, I just eat the wrong things. Another mindset I have to change.

I think the draw to triathlon for me in the very beginning was the journey it would take to reach Ironman, it seemed so unobtainable to me. Will I ever get back to IM? I don't know, I would like to one day do a second IM, so maybe I am starting a journey to a second IM...

I started this post like 8 different times because I could not get this post to flow like I wanted it to until I found this quote. Thanks Hazel!

P.S. I Googled hazel and she is some kind of famous poet!