Connecting Food, Exercise, and Appearance

It wasn’t until I went away to college that I began to realize the link between food, exercise, physical performance, and appearance. To be honest, my focus during those years was almost entirely on appearance. I had never been really athletic; in fact, I was always skinny and likely considered underweight by most standards. Though this wasn’t a problem, I wanted to change. My goal was to bulk up, gain a few pounds, and maybe see some definition in my chest and arms. At that point, I didn’t care much about the parts that weren’t visible.

Exploring the College Gym

As I settled into college life, I found myself wandering into the campus gymnasium one afternoon. It was a typical college facility: basketball court, lockers, showers, and a weight room. The weight room stood out to me because it was unfamiliar territory. I had only seen weight machines in fitness magazines, never in person. Motivated by curiosity, I began visiting the gym’s weight room and started working out, although that might be overstating it. Truthfully, I had no idea what I was doing. Suddenly, I had access to professional weight machines—weight stacks, pulleys, bars, benches, and equipment that looked like it came straight from NASA. These were the machines that real athletes used, and I felt like I was entering the big leagues.

Before college, my experience with weights was limited to a barbell, a few 10 lb. plates, and a weight bench I had received for Christmas. Despite my good intentions to stick to a weightlifting program, I always got sidetracked. I recall hurting my back during a deadlift, which put an end to my dreams of becoming the next Charles Atlas. My weights ended up sitting in the corner, gathering dust, only moved when helping my dad clean the basement.

Seeking Guidance from a College Athlete

During one visit to the gym, I asked a member of the Muskingum College Fighting Muskies football team for advice on a workout routine. In hindsight, this may have been a mistake. Whether he wanted to teach me a lesson for invading his territory or genuinely thought I could handle it, he agreed to train me that afternoon. He introduced me to the Colorado Exhaustion Weight Training program—a name whose origin was unclear, but the “exhaustion” part was no joke.

This program involved lifting very heavy weights to complete exhaustion (muscle failure). Once I couldn’t do another repetition, my partner assisted with the lift for ten more reps, pushing my muscles to total fatigue—and nausea. After finishing the circuit, I felt dizzy, sore, and exhausted. I wanted nothing more than to collapse on the gym floor. My trainer made a quick exit, likely concerned he’d killed me, leaving me alone and unable to move. I questioned whether this was what working out was supposed to feel like and wondered how I would make it back to my dorm room.

Recovery and Lessons Learned

Somehow, I made it back to my dorm and fell into bed, skipping dinner and a shower. I slept through the night and woke up feeling as if I had been run over by a truck. Anyone familiar with weightlifting knows that the soreness peaks a day or two after a workout. Every muscle in my body hurt; I couldn’t lift my arms, had to slide down the stairs because my legs wouldn’t bend, and even my eyes hurt when I blinked. I avoided the gym for weeks after that experience, having learned a valuable lesson: slow and steady wins the race. I eventually made it back to the weight room and this time after doing some research in the library, followed a more appropriate routine. I guess the takeaway from this experience is, as a rule, never ask a football player for help if he mentions Colorado and exhaustion in the same sentence.

Until next time—be happy, be healthy, be kind.

Site Disclaimer: The information provided on this blog is intended for general consumer understanding and entertainment only. I am not a medical doctor, Registered Dietitian, or fitness expert. I cannot diagnose, prescribe, or treat an illness. The information provided is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. I encourage you to consult a doctor before making any health or diet changes, especially any changes related to a specific illness.