Mission 1, Day 26: Why do I do this?

Last night I went to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. As I went off to bed I was thinking about my deadlift workout in the morning. As soon as I went to sleep I dreamt about my workout.

I'm up at 3:30 a.m. and getting prepared for my workout.  I have a protein shake blended with a portion of oatmeal.  I down that and fill up my shaker with a portion of protein, glutamine and some glucose for the insulin spike when I drink the shake after my workout.  I head off to the gym and begin thinking about my workout and what I'm going to try.

I walk into the gym and it is farily quiet as this is a holiday week.  I step onto the treadmill and do a 10 minute warm up.  I then head over to the squat rack that I use for my deadlifts.  I have been increasing my weight by 5 pounds on my deadlifts and this time I feel strong, so I add 10 pounds.  I am about to attempt a 195 pound deadlift for 10 repetitions.  I step up to the bar and squeeze my hands tightly.  I squat down and grip the bar with alternating grip on my hands.  I push my heels hard into the ground and with locked out arms, I begin to lift the bar off the ground.  I'm full vertical and my traps are squeezed together at the end of the lift.  I lower the weight.  That's one repetition.  This repeats for 10 repetitions.  I have completed one set of deadlifts.  Without any rest, I immediately drop and do 11 explosive pushups.  I follow that with 10 Bulgarian Split Squats.  Finally, I end the set with 10 two-point rows on each arm.  I rest for 60 seconds and my mind starts wandering to that deadlift I need to do on the next set. 

“Why am I trying to lift so heavy today?  I should've stuck with 190 for today.”

My mind is playing tricks on me.  I step up to the bar and again, I squat down and grab the bar.  I push hard with my heels and the bar is in motion again.  I complete 10 repetitions and move right into explosive push ups.  From those I move to the Bulgarian Split Squat and end the set with 10 two point rows on each arm. 

On the third set of deadlifts, I still manage 10 repetitions.  I move on to the explosive push ups.  The sweat is literally dripping off my head onto the mat on the ground.  My arms are shaking as I do the explosive push ups. 

“I wonder if I should drop the weight on the final set of deadlifts?” my mind is thinking.

I finish off the Bulgarian Split Squats and the two point rows and get ready for the next set of deadlifts.

“I need to push through” is what I'm thinking, so I don't change the weight. 

I push hard through the next set of deadlifts and manage 9 repetitions before I reach the point of failure.  I drop the bar to the ground and feel quite satisified with what I just did. 

“Why do I do this?” my mind wonders. 

I move through the 2 sets of the second giant set and then it is off to the cardio area.

“I have hit a pretty high heart rate during my workout, so maybe I can do cardio later?”  I think.

Despite what my brain says, I step onto the treadmill.  I am aiming for 20 minutes.  After 5 minutes I start to think strange thoughts.

“This is boring.  I can't believe I forgot my mp3 player in the car!”

I continue on and work towards that 20 minute goal.  Steady cardio at 4.5 mph with an incline of 4.0.  I am sweating profusely as I walk quickly on the treadmill.

“Why do I do this?” my mind wonders yet again.

It is now 10 minutes into the cardio workout.

“I should just go into the cool down now.”  my mind is working on tricking me again.

I continue pushing forward.  I am now at 12 minutes.

“I should stop now.”  my mind thinks.

I continue to work.  I am now at 16 minutes.

“Why do I do this?”  my mind continues to wonder.

Finally I hit 20 minutes.  What a dream this has been.  Except…

This wasn't a dream at all.  It is what really happened at the gym this morning and it gave me the answer to the question “Why do I do this?”  There's a selfish answer and a not so selfish answer.

The selfish answer:  I do this for the triumphs and victories I get at the gym like today's personal best on the deadlifts and because it is taking me closer to my ultimate goals.

The not so selfish answer:  I want to inspire others to do the same thing. I want to inspire others to workout as hard as they can and to get them to leave it all on the gym floor.

I do it because my goals have propelled me forward and I almost feel compelled to do my workouts.  Stong or weak on a given day, I give it my all and in the end, I feel better about myself (witness the smile on my face now).

My workout log: