Getting out of first gear

Since we went into level 4 of the COVID alert systems, I have found myself in a position I am finding quite hard to get out of. Here’s hoping that the remedy is on the horizon as I know I am not the only one suffering due to this.

During the Level 4 quarantine I noticed that I was slowing down a fair bit. Both physically and mentally. Although I did train most days, if I’m honest, my heart wasn’t really in it. Before long, my focus became what series to watch on TV and what flavour corn chips to have with my salsa. I did put on a few kgs but that has not been the problem. Even after being back at work for 4 weeks now, I have noticed that I have been going through the motions with training, rather than putting actual conscious effort into it. This includes my own weights and cardio training, my MMA training and I’ve been unable to start BJJ training again. What has been interesting is the flow-on effect. Since my training has been below par, I have found that the training has been a little demoralising as the level I am at is not what I would expect. This has flowed on to MMA as well. Since it’s been cold as hell at training, I have been on the side lines instructing. The problem, though, is that when we go live everyone is warm and they want to beat me. I am cold and rusty which has led to frustration on my part, which is never a good look. Like most people who have not sparred for 7 weeks, it is always going to feel rusty and frustrating. I have been wanting to get involved in training a lot more but on all the sessions there has been an even number which leaves no one for me to play with.

Also, as it has been for most people, quarantine took a toll at a personal and emotional level. Using a rather good sports book system model, when one system in the body is overloaded, it affects the other systems. Think of it like three sinks. One being the skeletal and muscular system, another, the emotions, and the third, the nervous system. This means that if you are going through a tough time emotionally, that ‘sink’ fills up and flows into the other sinks. When you have been hit hard emotionally, the muscular and skeletal system has extra stress and cannot be expected to perform at a normal level.

So, where to from here? I have taken a good look at my diet. I’ve tightened that up during the week and allowed it to be a bit more casual over the weekend. With training, I have increased the intensity. This is a slow process, though, as I am keeping the workouts short but pushing the intensity. Then as I build my fitness back up, I will increase the duration and the pain. That may sound a little weird but for me (and I am sure a lot of others) when you are in top form, you’re in search for the “hurt mode.” Regardless of training weights/cardio or fight training, you are aiming to push hard. You get used to the grind and you actually start enjoying it. It seems that the fitter you get, the more you can handle the pain and, in some weird way, you kind of enjoy it.

There are many people finding it hard to get back into pre-quarantine mode. Whether this be with work, relationship, training or life. It makes sense that being cooped up in a house for 7 weeks is going to affect people. According to science, it takes 21 days to create a habit, so it would be logical to assume that a lot of us created new habits over the quarantine. If we’re honest, not many people did more work or training over the period (some would’ve for sure). But for the rest of us, we need to get back in the swing of things. For me I am taking small steps each week that will, all going well, lead me back to the place I was before all this. Because getting punched hurts even more when you are not in the right head space.    

Gareth Lewis

Head MMA Instructor