"Come on, one more push! Agh-ha!"
Breathing out heavily, I set the barbell down on the floor, taking a quick break in the middle of my tough workout.
It's been a week since I started this intense routine, and I'm already noticing my body getting better.
My day is pretty structured: tough upper body exercises in the morning, followed by a tough lower body workout in the afternoon. I use the evenings to chill out and let my body rest up for the next day’s training.
During my morning workouts, I zero in on strengthening my chest, back, shoulders, and biceps. The afternoons are all about powering through leg-focused exercises, targeting my thighs, quads, and abs, while also sneaking in some triceps work. My approach to these workouts is a bit unconventional – I use a gradual weight decrease strategy.
Most people increase the weight as they get stronger, but I start heavy and then go lighter. It might sound weird, but it's really about building endurance and control.
I think of it like a warrior in a fight. A warrior starting a battle with their heaviest armor and heaviest weapons. As the fight rages on, they shed their load, becoming more agile and swift. Similarly, in my training, I start with the heaviest weight, pushing my body to its limits. This initial challenge is crucial - it's where I build raw bodily fortitude.
For example, in a chest workout, I might begin with a 50kg lift for the first set. In the next set, I'll drop the weight to 40kg, adding a few extra reps to maintain intensity. Then, I'll go down to 30kg, and so on.
My muscles, already fatigued from the heavy lifting, have to work differently. This shift forces them to adapt, improving my muscle endurance and make the tearing of muscles more significant. It's not just about lifting; it's about sustaining the effort over a longer period.
Plus, this method is safer. By the time I'm on lighter weights, my muscles are warmed up and more flexible. This lets me do more reps with good form, which is key for building muscle and avoiding injuries.
It's about pushing yourself, but also knowing when to back off a bit to let the muscles you’ve worked on heal and grow.
Despite my approach, I couldn't help but be surprised that I hadn't seen a single increase in my Vitality attribute since I started this training regimen.
I had been diligently following my routine and pushing my body to its limits, but it seemed like my efforts weren't bearing fruit in the form of attribute points.
I shrugged off the disappointment and decided to focus on my workout. Maybe the increase in Vitality was just taking longer than I expected. I grabbed the weight bar once more and started my next set of reps, determined to give it my all.
As I lifted the weights and felt the strain in my muscles, a sudden surge of energy coursed through my body. It was as if a hidden reserve of strength had been unlocked. I could feel my body responding to the intense training, and it wasn't just in my muscles; it was a deep, internal feeling of endurance.
You have gone past your body's limit! You have gained 1 Vitality Stat!
A triumphant smile spread across my face as the notification announced my Vitality increase.
"Finally! System Window Open!"
https://i.imgur.com/tyciwpv.png [https://i.imgur.com/tyciwpv.png]
It was a sign that my unorthodox approach was working, and I was on the right path to achieving my goal. Acknowledging the notification of my Vitality stat and health increase.
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"Now, let's keep this momentum going," I muttered to myself.
My training regimen continued, and with it, my daily diet underwent a significant shift. The food that was originally intended to nourish my mind and provide the necessary nutrients for study now found itself fueling my physical training and body nourishment.
I couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of how my family would react if they ever found out that I was using their carefully prepared meals and precious books for the complete opposite purpose they were intended for.
"Sorry, but your hard planned meals meant for mental clarity is now being used for my muscles." I quipped to myself as I devoured a plate of food meant to enhance cognitive function.
It was a comical contradiction, but I couldn't deny the results. My body was transforming, and I could see the progress I was making.
The extra calories and protein from the meals were aiding in muscle recovery and growth, while the intense training sessions were pushing my physical limits.
The days turned into weeks, and I remained dedicated to my relentless training regimen.
I knew that to achieve my goal, I couldn't afford to become complacent. So, I diligently adjusted my workouts, adding variations, and increasing the intensity to keep my muscles guessing. It was a constant battle to push my limits and force my body to adapt.
Each session brought me closer to my objective, and I could sense the changes in my physique. My muscles grew more defined, and my endurance improved.
I had also gained some weight, which was a positive sign of proper development.
***
Time passed quickly, throughout the year, I meticulously tracked my progress, feeling my strength and endurance reaching new heights.
With each passing day, I could sense a profound transformation within me. My muscles grew more defined and robust, my movements more fluid and powerful.
The strategy of starting with heavy weights and gradually decreasing them proved to be remarkably effective.
On the last day of my training, as I completed my final set, a surge of energy coursed through my body. I felt an overwhelming increase in my Vitality stat. It was a moment of triumph, a culmination of a year's worth of relentless dedication.
You have gone past your body limit! You have gained 1 Vitality Stat!
"Great, managed to snag one last boost in my Vitality stat before training wrapped up. Any second now we should be..." I trailed off, feeling the familiar sensation of being transported. "Oh, there we go."
Suddenly, a fiery sensation enveloped me, and in an instant, I was whisked away from my training space.
Emerging from the flames, I found myself in a familiar setting – the place where the Arashi family's coming of age ceremony was held. The training was over, and it was time for the next phase. The Arashi family was known for its efficiency, wasting no time in transitioning from training to the ceremony where each child would acquire their active skill.
As I stood there, amidst the gathered family members and branches, I couldn't help but feel out of place. My attire, provided by the training space, was ill-fitting. The clothes, designed for an average fifteen-year-old, struggled to contain my now massive frame, stretched and torn in places due to my muscular build.
I was a stark contrast to the other children on the podium, towering over them with my newfound physical stature.
The transformation I had undergone in the training space was drastic and, as I would soon realize, utterly unexpected to everyone else.
As the flames dissipated, revealing me to the gathered crowd, a collective gasp rippled through the assembly.
The other children, summoned at the same time as me, stared in disbelief, their eyes wide with awe and confusion as they looked at me.
Among them, whispers began to circulate, their gazes fixed on my towering, muscular form that strained against the fabric of the ill-fitting clothes.
"Who is that?" one of the children murmured, his voice laced with incredulity.
"Is he an intruder?" another questioned, eyeing me warily.
The family members, gathered for the ceremony, shared similar expressions of surprise and suspicion. None of them recognized me, the drastic change in my appearance rendering me a stranger in their midst.
As I stood there, trying to comprehend the situation, i saw my mother standing there just as in disbelieve as the others. I calmly and happily waved at her. Squinting her eyes as if trying to place a familiar face to my unrecognizable form she gasped and said out loud; "Could it be... Kaien?" she uttered, more to herself than to anyone else.
The crowd turned to her, then back at me, their confusion slowly turning to realization. Murmurs of "Kaien?" and "Is that really him? is it really the same 'Dangling Arashi'?" began to spread among the family members and the other children.
Unaware of the nickname 'The dangling Arashi' assigned to me following the incident on the first day of training,
I stood there, taken aback by the reaction. I had been oblivious to how my initial actions had shaped the perception others had of me.
Now, as I stood before them, my year of transformation had not only altered my physique but was also about to change the narrative of my existence within the Arashi family.