Hard Body Island

Why did you stop doing leg day?

” Once I’m done with football, I’m never squatting again”
I wish this quote was from one of my mentors and then they go on to tell me how this was a huge turning point in their life but sadly this one belongs to me. I was excited to be done with football and the all the hard work that went into it. 15 years straight of winning seasons, weight room sessions, and ankle tape jobs, hell yeah I was glad it had come to an end. I was free from the work. I didn’t need a coach to tell me how to live life anymore or rely on their guidance. I can rely on myself to just relax and party as if I just made a million dollars. Man, did that put me on a boring and slow path.

A Shift in Workouts
I went to the gym after I graduated, and it was not as intense as the football workouts I used to do. I didn’t even look at the squat machine, no reason to. However, that leg press machine was calling my name. Oh man, I get to sit down, scroll through Instagram, and push my legs up, this is the dream. I enjoyed this for a while because it was so new and easy, it was like I can do anything and don’t need to be accountable for anything. But then, that scale started piss me off and all I had to blame was myself.

The Comfort Zone
Why is that when we stop playing, we get comfortable? Do we think there’s more to life then our fitness now? Leg day is not on any day of the week anymore? Taco Tuesdays and Friday after work beers are the highlights of our week? Hell no, that’s not enough for me and it shouldn’t be for you! Just because you’re not 18-22 years old anymore doesn’t give you the right to throw all your hard work away to be regular. You haven’t been regular since the day you first suited up. Being athletic when we are young is cool and all of a sudden it’s not when we’re done? I think being able to squat and do legs 1-2/ week at 26 years old is pretty frickin cool.

A Change of Heart
I changed my mind about not squatting. One of my best friends helped me. “You’re hella soft for now squatting”. That’s all I needed to get my lazy ass back under a squat bar and take care of business. I found a weight program just for me. There are plenty of programs out there that can be designed just for you and your abilities. If you need help finding a lifting program, drop your name in the comments below.

Embrace Your Potential
Don’t lose your youth after you graduate, it’s not worth it trust me. Don’t be that “I used to squat 405, but now I don’t need to”. That will be your approach to everything in life. Do you want to be a good parent and spouse? Make over 200K/ year? Be one of the healthiest people at your job? Then get your butt back into the gym, and stop feeling sorry for yourself. No more coaches, parents can’t coddle you anymore, just you against you.

Take Action Now
Remember, your athleticism and dedication don’t have to fade away just because you’ve moved on from sports. Embrace the challenge of maintaining your fitness and push yourself to be the best version of you. Stay active, set goals, and keep striving for excellence in all areas of your life. Let’s support each other on this journey—drop your thoughts and feedback in the comments below!

PS. DON’T BE SOFT!