From Mezcal to Macros
It's peak summer, two weeks away from my 30th birthday, and my childhood friend Pablo is visiting and staying with me for the month. This constellation of events paints the ideal summer vibe. Yet, a familiar and troublesome planetary body is also in orbit - prep for my upcoming bodybuilding show.
I qualified for the 2024 Natural Canada Pro Qualifier after winning Best Overall at the Ottawa Natural Classic in June. This wonderful whirlwind event inspired me to do something I haven't done in my adult years: experience summer without partying. I must admit, this was not the ideal scenario, but given the stakes and opportunity, I decided to commit to the vision.
Pablo visits approximately every two years. Having grown up together, we share the same group of childhood friends. His semi-regular visits always provide a mental checkpoint where I see myself as I currently exist through his eyes. This external perception provides a sobering sensation, even though Pablo is wholeheartedly nonjudgmental. He has a heart filled with idealism and out-of-the-box philosophies that you'd want to discuss over dinner. Pablo's visits also lead our childhood friends, still connected but sometimes working in silos, to spend more time together.
The last time Pablo stopped by, we were in a very different mindset. At 28, we were both mostly concerned with partying and finding the bottom of several bottles of mezcal. Following his previous visit, Pablo decided to stop drinking and became California sober, making my current lifestyle coincidentally and conveniently synergistic with his. Our weeks together were filled with fun and leisure - what a vacation should actually feel like. Rather than waking up with several days of stacked hangovers, we took it easy and worked casually on our respective visions while enjoying each other's company.
As we connected with our old friends, I encountered a new hurdle I had never experienced before - I was tired, damned tired. The type of tired that makes you reconsider participating in an event you would otherwise be elated to attend. The prep fatigue had hit me, and there really wasn't anything that could be done about it.
On July 12th, a group of us decided to head to our local waterpark for a day of fun - something that would usually be right up my alley. I found myself looking at the waterslides with a reluctant feeling in my gut. The effort required to enjoy this day was more than I could likely summon.
When you've spent days, weeks, even months hungry, your body stops providing you with the youthful energy you're used to. The diet, combined with the savage weightlifting and cardio regimen, only exacerbates the feeling of fatigue.
Not being able to do what you want specifically because of your energy levels is a bizarre feeling. You have the heart but not the tools. This makes me consider how many people with health issues experience this feeling every day. I am reminded of my grandparents needing breaks during visits to local museums and how their world shrank as they got older.
My lack of energy is temporary, and like many of the simple pleasures you learn to live without while bodybuilding, it will return. When it does, you best believe I will feel a renewed sense of gratitude when using it.