The fat man was me, to my eternal shame.
What’s worse is that I bore a passing resemblance to the Flubber (from the 1997 film of the same name) even though I was lifting weights with discipline and intent upwards of five times per week for many years.
Why?
The following:
* I convinced myself “cardio kills gains” to justify being lazy,
* I had the cardiorespiratory capacity of a brick meaning I was unable to run a single, measly mile without feeling as though I was going to expire, and this wounded my ego greatly so I avoided running altogether,
* I thought doing the occasional barbell complex and sprinting session would suffice (again, lazy),
* I didn’t want people to mock me in the same way I mocked runners who were plodding along slowly (yet doing the best they could) from the comfort of my car, and,
* I was genuinely too beaten up to run because I was lifting too heavy, too often.
What changed?
Initially, gyms shutting in response to The Virus That Must Not Be Named forcing me to look at other forms of exercise, one of which was running.
Then the gyms opened again and I stopped once more because the fundamental shifts in my character required to make running a fixed, firm part of my life (i.e. dealing with my tendencies to sloth and malice) had not taken place. (Incidentally, this lack of character development is also why almost everyone who takes ozempic gets fat again once they stop taking the medication.)
It was only when my eldest daughter got to an age where she could charge around and I found myself getting out of breath trying to keep up that I realised I was on a fast track towards becoming Just Another Fat Dad at the park staring glumly from the sidelines.
Action followed.
I’d like to say getting my head around this running lark was a swift and smooth process, but, alas, it was not.
Running, like lifting, is easy to do if it’s the only thing you do. Yet profound difficulties arise when you begin to juggle the two.
Not only does your strength take an almighty hit (which you must prepare for lest you suffer a potentially training-terminating injury) but you also have to deal with extra fatigue and niggles, not to mention carving out time to indulge both activities sufficiently.
Ultimately, all of this leaves you with the following options:
1) Don’t bother running at all and remain pudgy and dissatisfied for all the weeks in the year you are not doing some extreme diet that has you measure every morsel that passes your lips because it’s the only way you can keep the belly at bay,
2) Do some other form of cardio that is less efficient and effective than running at building cardiorespiratory fitness, general physical preparedness, and character, or,
3) Figure out a way to get in respectable mileage week in, week out, without fail (planned rest weeks aside).
Obviously I would opt for number three.
I would also subscribe to “The Phil Tyreman Letter” before the deadline on the 28th of February at 23:59 to get the March issue which is all about making running as straightforward and unobtrusive as possible for non-runners who are prepared (perhaps begrudgingly) to do the needful.
As well as the Real Paper Newsletter, you’ll get:
* Virtually unlimited support you can use at any time for anything I am qualified to help with (form critiques, programme adjustments, moral support, etc)
* Non-pushy accountability in the form of my peerless “Monday Message” (the email I send to every client, every Monday which sometimes includes goodies),
* Other useful bits of information from time to time.
To learn more and, if you feel it’s right, subscribe, go here:
https://philtyreman.co.uk/information/
Thank you,
Phil Tyreman