My Fitness History
Today, I thought I’d describe my fitness history -- how I got into it and how my viewpoint developed. It’s interesting that I went from chubby teen who couldn’t run .5 a mile to fitness fanatic.
My Fitness History:
Until I was 10, I could barely run half a mile without getting winded. I was consistently benched on my youth soccer team. My dad actually thought I had a physical disability.
Turns out I had a hole in my diaphragm through which my stomach, spleen and liver floated, pressed against my lung and wrapped around my heart. Since birth, I had only one working lung -- seriously!
After surgery, it took me a few years to get my fitness bearings. Joining the freshman wrestling team helped me get in shape. My body transformed from a chubby preteen to a fit young man.
During these years, I disavowed weight-bearing exercise; my hippie-self believed that using body-weight exercises was more natural. For me, lifting weights was unnecessarily technical and complex, risking injury all for the sake “getting swoll”. I did not aspire to be the largest meathead, I merely wanted to be in shape.
At age 18, I joined the Israeli Military. Like many Israeli military-men, I took up running as an easy way to stay in shape and work out with teammates. I still performed bodyweight exercises, though military drills were effectively weight-bearing exercises.
After being released, I moved to NYC to study at Columbia University. During my first year, I seldom exercised outside of steady-state cardio. I ran incessantly in Central Park. I completed a sprint triathlon on one week of swim training (not a good idea!). My hippiness steered me towards the book Born To Run, which in turn steered me towards Vibram Five-Fingers, which resulted in a broken foot :-p Yes, putz, I know.
After recovering from my broken foot, one of my classmates invited me to weight train with him -- I was skeptical but game. In my cut-off running shorts, I deadlifted 150 lbs ten times -- I was ridiculously sore the next day, but hooked!
For the next year, we worked out four days a week, two hours each workout doing crossfit-style and bodyweight workouts. My body size increased, but I also felt injuries come on more and more. I was on to something...but not there yet.
Working out with my Columbia friends was a turning point in my fitness perspective. While I had formerly viewed weight-bearing exercises as unnecessary, I saw my running and bodyweight exercises improve because of them. I felt my posture improve. I felt better about myself. Everything about weight-bearing exercises was great. What was I missing?
As my research progressed, my hippie-self became convinced. I saw that steady-state cardio was detrimental to joints, ineffective at getting in shape and “out”, while weight bearing exercises and functional fitness were “in”. I read that humans evolved to lift heavy weights and run short distances at breakneck speeds.
Yadda yadda. Paleo schmaleo. My account is reductionist, but you get the point. I was convinced.
Since this turning point, I’ve self-taught myself kettlebells (both russian and sport-style), barbell training (stronglifts) and movement training (ido portal). The internet has been a fantastic resource, as there is a plethora of information at every turn.
I’m excited to continue down this path. It’s intellectually stimulating (I learn a new thing each day) and my body feels fantastic (though sore!). I hope I didn’t leave anything out here, and in coming blog posts I’ll write about my current perspectives and such.
Till next time,
Elie
