Getting Your Drive Back After No Lifting Since March

[mvitz]

Have not lifted at all since March when they closed all the gyms. Had nothing at home so the only lifting I did was body weight stuff. That lasted for about a month and half. But I have been walking 2 miles or riding my bike almost every day.

Recently I finally managed to get a bench and some Powerblocks (for a song I might add). I have resolved to get back in the groove and set up a space in my house.

On Monday I was invited to go lift with a trainer that I am friends with. Per our douchebag governor you are not allowed to go the gym without a trainer. I was kind of nervous going into the gym and had to wear a mask. The gym was totally empty. So freaking strange, I felt like I was in a zombie movie.

So I lifted but felt very rusty and out of sorts. I know my head was not there. The intensity and drive was gone.

Any words of wisdom after stopping for almost 6 months?

[etet1919]

Did you say "the gym was totally empty"?!!! Did you try pulling your mask down for each set?? Any serious lifter knows it's going to be extremely difficult to train with intensity and energy while wearing a mask. You won't be able to breathe properly and your workouts will suffer, especially with a lack of adequate air ventilation systems in your gym.

These are my only "words of wisdom" at the moment: You simply won't be able to put in your best efforts with a mask covering up your nose and mouth, no matter how hard you try. Ask management what is permissible at the moment to help you get through your regimen. And then don't give up!! Keep focused on what you've recently achieved before the pandemic and just build up to that again by having a good doable plan in place and not giving up on it! You'll get back into the rhythm again soon! Just be patient with yourself!!

[WolfRose7]

get a reasonable come back program
Zourdos has a solid one - https://www.strongerbyscience.com/re...g-to-training/

build some confidence and work capacity under the bar again and be consistent

I disagree with etet, a mask is a minor annoyance but not that big a deal

[letsfixthatform]

Happened to me years ago after a car crash. I was out for months. When I came back I did a simple linear program to get my strength back then re-evaluated from there. It sucks when you have to recover from taking two steps back but it is very doable. Good luck.

[VicDumbbells]

I only have one rule right now. No missed workouts.

If the workout is trash fine. If I am upset at weakness, tough. If I have to cut a WO short for other matters OK. But no skipped sessions.

[mvitz]

Been back at it for a month and I am pretty surprised at how quick my strength has come back. I am not back at what I was before the pandemic but am doing ok.

The first few weeks were rough getting back into the groove. I have been somewhat in a fog since the pandemic stuff started - have not been able to focus. The gym and lifting was a big part of my life and than just like that they turned it off. It was like a piece of me got turned off.

Mentally I decided I needed to get focused. So I have been lifting 5 days a week again and pushing through the workouts even when I am not feeling it. Yesterday I had a ferocious workout and am energized even today.

Our douchebag governor reopened the gyms after Labor Day. After a month of being open its still not busy by any means. You have to wear a mask all the time. If you dont the staff will say something. Nobody likes it but it is what it is.

[miniLad343]

Have not lifted at all since March when they closed all the gyms. Had nothing at home so the only lifting I did was body weight stuff. That lasted for about a month and half. But I have been walking 2 miles or riding my bike almost every day.

Recently I finally managed to get a bench and some Powerblocks (for a song I might add). I have resolved to get back in the groove and set up a space in my house.

On Monday I was invited to go lift with a trainer that I am friends with. Per our douchebag governor you are not allowed to go the gym without a trainer. I was kind of nervous going into the gym and had to wear a mask. The gym was totally empty. So freaking strange, I felt like I was in a zombie movie.

So I lifted but felt very rusty and out of sorts. I know my head was not there. The intensity and drive was gone.

Any words of wisdom after stopping for almost 6 months?

muscle memory is a thing

[ADC53]

Set goals using the SMART method (Google it), set ambitious goals and believe in yourself.

Remind yourself why you started and use positive quotes every single day.

[tobistrength]

To get into anything and want to progress you have to have the internal drive and desire to do it and get better. If you truly don't want to do it, truly don't enjoy it no matter how much you try, if you don't obsess over it or think about it or getting better even when you are not there, you will ultimately not be motivated all the time and want to quit and be inconsistent. Also its okay to be rusty as you were out of practice nothing like ol school yard greasing the groove with the movements and practice won't do to get you better and strong again. Also take your time to get there and there is no time limit or rush. Also realize you won't enjoy everything all the time and some days you will be motivated than others and other days you have other life priorities where its okay to ease back or even skip.