Why Do We Lift
Why do we come in at 6 o’clock in the morning, roll out on stiff tubes that remind us of muscles we didn’t think we had, lift weights that challenge those newly rediscovered muscles to their brink and then run, jump, bike, swim or push sleds that would put the best reindeer to shame on a daily basis? Why do we come in day in and day out pushing ourselves beyond what we thought was our limits? Why? Because we know, that through all our hard work we will emerge as individuals and as a team better than what we were before. It is through these challenges and perseverance that we develop the character and strength to overcome any obstacle in front of us both in sport and in life. And for this we applaud you. All of us at George Washington commend you for the success you have achieved over the last semester.
Your improvements have not gone unnoticed. We see you everyday in the weight room, on the practice field and in the academic arena putting in the effort to improve. This semester has been one of the best we have seen in the Colonials Strong Competition and it’s clear that these gains have translated into other realms beyond the weight room. We have built an amazing foundation and now is time to capitalize on these gains. As most of you leave for home this week, it’s so important that we recognize the critical point you all are at.
To be more specific, the reason why we lift is to put stress on our bodies. To stress our body to the point it must respond. And Adapt. By putting this stress on our body we develop new muscle, new paths from our brain to our muscles to be able to jump higher, sprint faster, strike a ball harder, and push further than our opponent.
Atrophy. It is the wasting of muscle. The decrease in size and production of muscle due to a number of factors, none more devastating to you athletes than inactivity. If we don’t continue to move at the rate we have been, atrophy will begin to set in. In fact, in only one or two weeks of inactivity, your muscles will start to adapt to their new, less stressful environment and weaken. Workouts ended two weeks ago, what are your muscles adapting to right now?
You have all come a long way, we have put in countless hours to develop athletic bodies prepared to handle the rigors of competition and this break is a pivotal point in your training. Please, do not let your hard work be for nothing, continue to train, continue to push yourselves and if you find yourself struggling continue to look towards your teammates and your strength coach for support. We are all here for you and will do everything in our power to help you reach your goals. Keep training and keep taking care of your bodies through nutrition and recovery. The time is here, the place is now.
Have a wonderful break, stay strong, stay smart, stay hungry
Ben, Paul, Brandi, Matt & Dan
Colonials Strong vision is to provide information on athletics, strength and conditioning, and nutrition for our coaches athletes and recruits in order increase athletic potential and enhance the lives of others.
