My Secret Love

Ok, no telling the wife, but I have a secret love. To look at me, you would probably have no idea. I try to see her at least 2 -3 times a week. Sometimes, it is early in the morning, sometimes the afternoon, and I may even visit her after dinner. Most of the time it is only for 30 minutes, but if I am lucky or feeling a bit frisky, it may last an hour.

But let me back up and come clean. This relationship is with the weight room! To look at me and my current ginormous physique, you would never know. Am I jacked? No. Ripped? Nope. But I do have a plan when I get into the club.

Now, growing up, us men were supposed to be big and strong. Lift big weights, get big muscles. Oh yeah! Grunt, grown and check myself out in the mirror. Maybe, just maybe, when no one is looking, flex a little bit too. So that is how it all began, but I am so much more mature than that now.

Here is where my dilemma begins. Lift for me or lift for others who may be "watching" me lift. What I mean is this: I lift little weights to be a better triathlete while others are lifting big weights to get bigger. It has been a bit different for me lifting "differently" after all the years of lifting the "other" way.

For me, it takes a lot of testicular fortitude to go into the weight room and lift little weights. The focus is to get lean and be strong. Often this means one or two sets of higher reps. It means doing a new brand of lifting, focusing on my core while lifting the little weights. I work on balancing myself on a Bosu Ball or Restista Ball while performing my routine.

Ironically, someone (you know who you are) made a comment about my little weights today. I know that this change in lifting has helped me greatly. Yes, I have slimmed down and have gotten a little more sleek in my appearance. I am not as bulky or as strong as I once was, but still enjoy lifting as much as ever.

To add lifting to ones triathlon training program is very difficult. The off season is critical and I encourage everyone to partake in some sort of strength training. For those who want to get big and keep lifting big weights, go for it. How often have you seen a 200 pound triathlete with bulging muscles do really well in a race? Again, it's up to you decide.

So, don't judge me because I am lifting little weights and I won't judge you knowing you can't swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 and run 26.2 miles in under 17 hours.

Sound good?