The First Day: A Turtle’s Start Toward Strength

I know myself too well: go too hard on Day One, and I’ll crash, burn, and quit by Day Three.

So this time, no big declarations, no macho posturing. Instead, I’m starting like a turtle — slow, steady, and with the simple goal of teaching my lazy muscles:

“Hey guys… training season is coming. Get ready.”

Today’s “Workout”

• Push-ups: 20 reps × 2 sets
• Bodyweight Squats: 20 reps × 2 sets
• Core Work: Just enough to wake up the abs and remind my posture that it exists

And because I can’t ignore it any longer, part of today’s training was cleaning out the messy garage that will become one of my workout spots. Consider it functional fitness.

Why Start So Small?

Because I’ve been here before — dozens of times. Every “serious” start ended with sore joints, lost motivation, and another long break. At 40+, the goal isn’t to prove toughness on Day One; it’s to still be training on Day 100.

Minimal Equipment, Maximum Longevity

I’m skipping the gym and keeping dumbbells to a bare minimum. I believe that for a body over 40, bodyweight training is the safest, most sustainable path.

One of the best resources for this approach is Convict Conditioning by Paul Wade. It focuses on progressive bodyweight exercises — push-ups, squats, pull-ups — scaling from absolute beginner levels to advanced strength training, all while protecting joints and avoiding unnecessary injuries.

Day One Done

So that’s it for today. No fanfare, no heroics. Just a few sets, a cleaner garage, and the first tiny step toward building a stronger, pain-free body that might — just might — help me dunk someday.

Tomorrow, I’ll try to show up again. That’s the real win right now.