It never ceases to amaze me how I know something is going to hurt (i.e. make me sore) and yet I will do it anyway. You would think at the age of 63 I would be wise enough to say, “No!” and walk away from the pain.

But it is because I am 63 that I fail to heed the signs and wallow right through the mess.

Our weather has been stinky. Translated: lousy for riding a bike outside. I have already taken my bike off the inside trainer and unless a freak snow storm hits and lasts for weeks, I have no intention of putting my bike back on the trainer. So…I have taken up another way to whip my body (I wish into shape) but instead just to whip it. I have made more trips to the Y than I normally do this time of the year. Therein lies the problem. Forgetting I am 63 I go to the Y and subject myself to pain and agony with weights. When I go I tell myself to “take it easy” but when I am done it is like, “That was easy? What did you just do?”

So…over the past couple of weeks I have taken my body to extremes.  Incline bench presses. Upward leg presses (knees don’t allow squats). Dumbbell work. Cable work. Hanging leg lifts (I’m still searching for that 6-pack). 🙂 Then yesterday, I rode 16 miles for the first time in over 2 weeks.

Today? I’m not sure I have legs that will function or will even get me out of my chair. So I took it easy today, even though Jo told me I could ride. (What a wife! She says I could ride on MD!) I chose not to. You see, muscles need time to heal.

Muscle growth comes from stretching the limits, breaking them down, then allowing them to heal. Sort of like the Christ-follower. All growth comes from the struggles. Growth doesn’t come when it is easy; it comes when it hurts. Growth doesn’t come on the mountaintop; it comes in the valley and in the desert. I may not like it. I may not want it. But it is essential. Don’t begrudge the growth opportunities.