By Dr. Donald D. Denton, Director of education
I started being a gym rat before I turned sixteen years old. I’m one of those, “Why can’t the gym-be-open at 2:30 am” guys. My first time using those free weights, one of the ‘old guys’ came over to me and said in no uncertain terms, “Put those weights back where you found them.” I can still hear that voice, along with a couple of other gentle motivators.
So! When Governor Northam decided to that gyms came under the category of “Entertainment Businesses,” I began to suspect the last time he seriously went to a gym was during his tenure at VMI. I’ll admit that at certain times during a gym’s day there is more socializing and hunting going on rather than lifting and sweating. But not for the gym rat crowd. What we do is called, “working out…” with an emphasis on that first word, regardless of the time on the clock.
Being self-quarantined during the Covid-19 plague has challenged those who take our personal fitness seriously, regardless of the specific type of torture implements we use to maintain it. My first confession is therefore this: I got on that well-paved Road of Good Intentions when self-quarantine was announced. I didn’t wind up in its ultimate destination, but I haven’t done as much as I intended.
Somehow a morning walk of under two miles and using the adjustable dumbbells only when the spirit moves me quickly replaced those first two weeks of heavy commitment to Marine-style calisthenics. Gentle yoga moves replaced weight-assisted crunches and somehow going up and down the stairs just hasn’t given the same satisfaction as massive leg-presses.
But I have had some success. My weight has remained stable. So has my resting pulse and blood pressure. My spiritual disciplines have remained constant and psychological attitude has remained positive. I’ve taken more walks around the VIPCare complex.
The article by Darius Foroux may give you some guidance if you’ve struggled with this issue. His language is a bit salty at points, and I didn’t post either his picture or mine in our workout clothes. His would embarrass most of us and mine would “scare the women and horses,” as Virginians of a certain age are still wont to say.
Anyway, most of us are looking forward to the day when we can return to our gyms. In the meantime, I’m recommitting to those calisthenics so I don’t hurt myself when those doors open again at 5:30 am.
Reference:
Foroux, Darius (2017, May 25). I Stopped Working Out Daily. Here’s What Happened. (https://getpocket.com/explore/item/i-stopped-working-out-daily-here-s-what-happened?utm_source=emailsynd&utm_medium=social)
