Bodybuilding in the times of Covid

I was in the best form of my life during the end of 2019. I was eating clean, working out everyday and was getting stronger week after week. Then something happened in 2020 that changed everything for everyone. But I will only be talking about one particular aspect of my life, the workouts. 

The total lockdown meant no access to gyms, and opening them was not even a priority for authorities to consider. Working out at home was a big challenge, especially for someone like me who loves to lift. I tried working out with my bodyweight and a pair of 20s, but it became too boring too soon. Not knowing the trajectory that Covid was taking, I worked out infrequently, waiting for the gym to reopen. Somewhere towards the end of 2020, the gym finally opening, but it was too risky to go considering that the vaccines was still far away. Yet, some brave souls still managed to find the courage to start working out,  all the while still maintaining social distancing. But cases across the country were spiralling, and at the peak of the pandemic wave in India, I contracted Covid. And it was one of the most gruelling moments of my life. 

I was not mentally ready for something like this. By the 7th day, I was not even able to stand up and go to the washroom. My lungs hurt with every breath that I took and the weakness in my body intolerable. After a lot of medication and steroid treatment, I could finally breathe normally. It took another month for me to walk without gasping for breath and climb stairs. My body, in which I took immense pride was now so weak, that simply walking a few hundred meters would tire my legs out.

But I started walking every day, first a few hundred meters, then a kilometer, then 2, 5 and finally reached 10 kms a day. Of course this took me another 2 months to achieve. Last month, I finally joined a gym and started working out. My body strength was like that of someone who never once worked out in his life. It was painful, and the recovery took forever. In fact, my muscles sore for more than a week, even when i worked out mostly on machines with light weights. Even after a month,  every workout feels like the first day in the gym. 

It is very easy to get depressed. But I am not losing hope. And I am sure that many of you will have a similar experience. All wanted to say was that we are all in this together. We must not lose hope.

Push the iron. Bend it to your will.

Happy workout.