You are going to slip and fall right into a comfortable sofa. Get the hell back up.

dabrah1 · 2015-02-18T17:09:38+00:00

I got a super flu last year that lasted two weeks. During the time I had it, I would rest for a day or two, try to jump back into work/ working out etc, fail, and end up back on the couch for another couple days. My point is essentially the same one you made- rest until you are 100%, and then get back to it. Don't pretend your at full strength when your not. Being sick is one of the only times where I personally feel that it is ok to break frame a little and take it easy. Health is wealth.

StarDestinyGuy · 2015-02-18T18:46:31+00:00

How do we, as men, deal with temporary weakness while maintaining a strong frame?

Funny you ask that - I just posted the same sort of question awhile ago here when I was sick.

The top responses I got were:

Being sick is bad. Try not to do it. Having women tend to you is good. Damn man, stop overthinking it. Get well soon
Bruh, she's taking care of you cause she gives a shit, she's not thinking ”man I'm gonna shit test this dude by taking care of him while he's sick. He's such a pussy..."
What the fuck dude. This girl is taking care of you, what else do you want?

lost_2_apathy · 2015-02-18T17:08:13+00:00

Laying down is the perfect time to grab a book and read. It doesn't take much energy and if you get tired or bored just sleep. If your body is healing from sickness or injury, sleep will help.

Casanova-Quinn · 2015-02-18T16:38:29+00:00

[permanently deleted]

metallica11 · 2015-02-18T18:25:14+00:00

I'm experiencing something different - burnout from trying to do too much shit to improve myself.

Trying to improve my career - 50 hours a week (I like my job) Trying to stay in shape and lift - 8 hours a week (incluiding commutes) Working on my hobbies (cooking/music - 20 hours a week. Socializing = 10+ hours a week

then you have all the shit like cleaning/laundry/car breaks down

In the end, I maybe have only a few hours a week to actually relax.

moodymela · 2015-02-18T16:10:31+00:00

I try to ease back on the throttle but never go into idle. This makes it easier to ramp up the RPMs once i've recovered. Also in my weakest moment I go AWOL to take advantage of Law 16: Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor. Works like a charm.

PolishHammerMK · 2015-02-18T19:20:09+00:00

Dope yourself as much as you need. But don't be a fucking moron and catch pneumonia over lifting weights.

Masonjarteadrinker2 · 2015-02-18T18:45:27+00:00

i needed to read this, been getting less sleep and using it as an excuse to not workout, lame cop-out.

tino125 · 2015-02-18T17:49:13+00:00

Not sickness related, but I've had 3 major surgeries in the last 4 years (all lifting or rugby related), so I know a decent bit about getting back up when you've been knocked down.

You've gotta own it and set goals specifically around/related to it. Keep it within your frame: "Yeah, I'm getting surgery/I'm ill/injured, but wait until you see how fucking hard I hit it once I'm back"

For example, I had hip surgery almost exactly a year ago. My goal was to squat 405 again (hadn't done it in 4-5 years at that point) and deadlift 500 before I went under the knife. Hit 425 and 500. Then, after the surgery I set the goal to be stronger in each within the next year.

Haven't hit the deadlift again (haven't tried), but that's because I've blown my squat goal out of the water and my training has changed.

One thing that kept me sane while I was severely limited post-surgery was staying productive. For me it involved the job search that helped land me my current position, and facilitate my relocation from Cleveland to Charlotte, which was my #1 goal at the time.

S74RK · 2015-02-18T21:02:12+00:00

Here's what I'm getting through: recovering a dislocated shoulder. Popped it doing my favorite activity - lifting (side note: pullovers are a really dangerous exercise, especially for people with hyper mobile joints).

It's been a tough month, not lifting. I can do cardio on the exercise bike and light leg machines, which is something. Physio is a bitch. Still, I completely agree with holding frame and continuing on your mission. You can only sit on the couch and feel sorry for yourself for so long.

So as I'm one month into my 3+ months of not lifting and being impaired, I adapt. I find new positions to fuck in; still program and complete contracts with one hand; get my buddies to help out with stuff here and there; use physio as a meditation outlet, similar to how I would when lifting.

I recommend anyone suffering an impairment do the same. Adapt. Do what you can and forget about it. Of course, schedule in some extra rest, and for any physical injuries, don't rush back in. Always better safe than sorry.

Also look into finding something positive about your impairment, as difficult as it might seem. Since I don't spend as much time in the gym, I've focused more on my diet and cooking quality. Ive found time to solidify habits that will benefit me when I'm back at it. Similarly, being sick is like a temporary stop sign. Slow down for a bit and take care of those things you've been meaning to get to, but a busy schedule wouldn't admit.

Positive framing makes it bearable, and before you know it, it's over.

MattyAnon · 2015-02-19T00:36:07+00:00

If I'm sick I'm sick. If my LTR has a problem with that - thankyou very much for the heads up and NEXT.

Girl not fucking doting on you when you are sick is a big disloyal red flag. Last one: "you're not sick". Right in the middle of fucking flu.... "you're not sick". She flat out denied my illness rather than taking any responsibility for just letting up one second in bitching at me. Obviously she got dumped, and she of course sees that as my fault too.

Cyralea · 2015-02-18T16:59:36+00:00

My LTR has seen me just laying around like this for days. Not good.

I don't necessarily advocate this for everyone, but I take a hardline stance about never displaying physical weakness overtly when I'm ill. I don't let her take care of me, despite her insistence. It's likely not the worst thing, but there's no reason in my mind to risk the image she has built in her head of me being strong and infallible.

Just tell her you have a case of the sniffles and that you're just taking it easy so as not to make it worse.

chadeusmaximus · 2015-02-18T19:02:05+00:00

Sickness is a battle, where your immune system is fighting off an alien horde. Treat it as such and help it do its thing, plenty of rest, fluids and comic books.

MacNulty · 2015-02-19T13:50:46+00:00

I'm going to play the devil's advocate here and argue for beating oneself up. An average person has a common cold two times per year, that amounts to two weeks taken from training. Why not just ease up on intensity? If you just tell yourself that you're too sick to work out, next time you'll likely give up even earlier because of how relative our thoughts are.

I have my own set of stories that I could share, including an injured back. But as much as grinding through pain has sometimes been very stupid, it wasn't always stupid and I'd take none of it back because that's how I gained my wisdom. And I won't share these stories because in light of what I'm trying to communicate, it makes little sense to do that.

No doubt other people here just want to share their own wisdom but you've got to remember that these are the things every man has to experience for himself. Nobody can really tell you where the limits because it takes an actual beating to discover them.

We experience the world as relationships of opposites and unless you experience illness, you will never know what healthy feels like. Until you feel pain, you will never know or appreciate how normal feels like. And thus, you will never know when to stop.

Don't follow arbitrarily set limits. Tune in to your body, sensitize and imagine communicating with it. If you work out a little bit and feel fine, maybe you can actually work out a little harder next time. If you feel worse, easy it off. Be reasonable.

nothingnearly · 2015-02-18T21:40:56+00:00

"A captain shouldn't leave the wheel for too long." Forever quoting this.

anothercarguy · 2015-02-18T18:56:02+00:00

Dealing with temporary weakness?

Amused Mastery.

The same cocky attitude knowing that even down you are step away from being on top, that you shit the bed from gastro and are too weak to hold a glass of water but in 5 days you will be back in the gym. The weakness doesn't define you, you can laugh at it.

playmaker86 · 2015-02-18T20:39:05+00:00

I fall in the comfort zone when I get good regular pussy, I tend to be more motivated the worst things are. I gotta stay strong even when things are going good,

animalpoo · 2015-02-18T22:00:25+00:00

My grandad is 89, literally a couple of days ago I found out he's been hiding that he has had skin cancer for the past 3 fucking years ! He called my dad and my auntie to his house to tell them he's feeling sick and he's in pain ( it must be bad if he's willing to speak about it now).

I called him yesterday to see how he is, he wanted no fuss , just complained that he couldn't sleep right and that he'd be missing the gym for a while and that he's going to get bored sitting around being forced to watch T.V. He then switched the conversation to me and what I'm doing.

What I've learned from him. Get on with it, get on with life. Don't complain, play it down, change the subject.

wurding · 2015-02-19T11:04:26+00:00

to paraphrase Nietzsche "When we are sick, we are confronted by demons we defeated long ago"

TW_RPAwake · 2015-02-18T19:21:52+00:00

How to handle convalescing periods - You are either so weak that all you can do is sleep, SO SLEEP!!!! If you are awake enough to stay lucid but immobile, discipline yourself to do brain activities along with the pure entertainment. For example: 1 Netflix show, one COD round on XBOX live, then shut down the toys and read a book. Meditate. Draw. Update your journal. My wife knows the routine when a fever >100 hits me.. keep my ice water glass refilled and offer chicken soup when I'm awake. I'll typically sleep for 14-20 hours straight. For the next day, Ill be up but still too drained to engage on "work from home" stuff.
How to get back into the routine - Watch all four minutes of CT Fletcher. It's still your MF set.

SkorchZang · 2015-02-19T00:41:50+00:00

That's exactly the reason why most men who have their shit together are so religiously averse to ever stopping to rest on their laurels.

It ain't because they're such modest angels.

It's because they know, you stop, you drop the ball, you're going to need serious energy to get it moving along again. It will move frustratingly slow at first too, you put in huge amounts of energy and the reward is a fraction of what you used to have before... before, when you got it all done with practically no effort, just as a matter of habit.

improvy · 2015-02-19T02:13:40+00:00

How do we, as men, deal with temporary weakness while maintaining a strong frame?

That's a painful realization I am beginning to feel. That we are as men only measured by our unflinching strength, power. A prolonged weakness can cause an instant divorce of a relatively solid marriage. Women find weakness disgusting, and will forget decades of providing for them after a few months of weakness.

princenotsocharming · 2015-02-19T03:41:28+00:00

I have been in this cycle before but its good that you managed to bounce back immediately after a gap. For me the tv shows, the cheat meals and the lazing around feel so good that it takes more effort into get back to the routine.

There is one thing that helps me. I polarize my entertainment. There is no "ok i will see just this one show". It doesnt work for me. I have to 100% quit TV shows, 100% quit video games, 100% quit weed. If I am sick I will read some classic literature, sit on the couch and make plans to run my future start up better, write in my journal about my past(insights) and future(plans) ,read TRP literature (I have all the top posts by archwinger and gaylubeoil printed out and spiral bound)

Working out is good but if I make that my only criterion to measure how much I am improving then the times when I get sick make me feel really low. So I choose to measure my progress in terms of physical(Workout), mental(Reading), emotional(TRP, stoicism), financial(savings), social(socializing) aspects.

EvilCam · 2015-02-18T18:56:58+00:00

Women (and psychologists) will tell you to talk about it. To admit your flaws and be truthful to your partner about what you're feeling.

That's not what you want to do. You should listen to women ONLY because you should do the opposite of what they say.

Maintain frame. Don't complain. Get up and do.

nothingnearly · 2015-02-18T20:36:43+00:00

This is my new gym philosophy: I have never regretted going. Some days I'm not feeling good or tired from work but if I make myself go anyway, I always walk out feeling better about myself.

the_one_man_taliban · 2015-02-18T21:28:01+00:00

I've been sitting on my ass doing nothing for the last two weeks, not even working, but then again I'm trying to pass a kidney stone so there's my excuse.

unrealdong · 2015-02-18T18:34:05+00:00

just focus on getting better as fast as possible. I'm battling the second bout of severe diarrhea in 3 weeks. In the meantime I read. I always see routine breaking as a benefit because it seems to always give a new perspective on things. For me personally when I'm forced to not lift for a long time I come back with more intensity.

Air4ce1 · 2015-02-18T19:06:05+00:00

I completely agree and I was just thinking about this, this morning. Classes were cancelled allowing me to sleep in. I slept in until 11am and while no work or suffered I could feel myself "taking it easy". I usually reserve the weekends to do that. I'm glad I noticed so I could get back on the grind, but it's very dangerous and could have derailed me for most of the semester.

beware_the_syllogism · 2015-02-18T20:04:52+00:00

If you aren't confident then don't have the LTR/plate around. Always be prepared with sick food, vitamins, saline flush, what have you. If you have something serious recover. Sleep and nutrition are priority #1. I make home made chicken soup with extra chicken during sick season.

Self improve or work on a hobby if you aren't bedridden.

If it's temporary weakness I'm inclined to say don't bother hiding it, amused mastery may be a better way to maintain frame. You know you'll get over it and your confidence will carry over. Confidence and charisma are often most important to people's perception of you.

I think it may be beneficial to have a LTR/plate see some weakness assuming they can't hold it against you. Seeing you sick, having an episode over a parent, maybe missing a promotion at work. One and done sort of deal though.

1/5 of my workout cycle is a deload period. It prevents overtraining, reinforces form, and lets my joints recover. Taking deload personal time is necessary for most of us. If used properly it gives us renewed motivation and interest.

Take some time to enjoy your empire no matter how small.

justgrif · 2015-02-18T21:56:15+00:00

Well timed post, from my perspective. I've been slowly (too slowly) getting myself back in shape after too long away.

I've been slow to get my upper body going, but I use a fitbit to track my daily steps, so I try to get out during lunchtime and walk 3 or 4 miles, just about every day, with a 10 or so mile day hike once a week. The benefits to attitude and apparent charisma with other people are very noticeable.

So yep, time to get some pushups going to start off with. I plan to join the gym at my work and begin lifting there, without telling my wife, and start observing her behavior.

Fen94 · 2015-02-18T23:33:43+00:00

This is really good positive exercise/drive advice :) thanks for the motivation :D

Also, remember that people with higher testosterone levels have lowered immune systems, it's been proven... So it's harder to stay healthy

Don't really see that it needed gendering though, but whatever works for you ^{_^}

meet_me_at_high_noon · 2015-02-19T01:09:27+00:00

"An object in motion tends to stay in motion."

I run a lot. So what I find is that there's a lot of pain in running and exercise in general. If I go to to the gym to lift, the first three workouts are fine. The next three are pretty brutal. Around # 6 I think about going home. Then, I hit 7, 8, 9, and find that I've got power for days. Once you start the motion, either way, it's tough to stop.

So even when I am sick, I suck it up and keep going. Usually Eric Thomas's voice is echoing in my head: "Listen to me, don't quit, don't give up." I know if I quit I have no chance of success. But if I keep going, I can't fail. So even though when I am sick, and it hurts to work out, I find that I heal faster and have more energy.

squeadle · 2015-02-19T02:00:22+00:00

Have you seen Defiance with Daniel Craig? There's a great sequence where he gets sick and stuff starts going downhill, and he's got to set things right despite being in a real bad way. Really speaks to what you're talking about I think.

rangamatchstick · 2015-02-19T03:46:05+00:00

I really need to write this down.

LickiRake · 2015-02-19T03:47:54+00:00

I've got a chronic illness, flare-ups around 2x/month that last about a day each if I'm lucky. How I (mostly) stay on the ball:

The longer you're away from working out (your body and/or mind), the harder it gets to start up again. (I'm sure we all know that by now) Nip sickness in the bud whenever possible: which means watching for signs, having a bowl of hot soup (and pills, in my case), and going to sleep ASAP. It's 1-2 days of sleep vs. a week of semi-incapacitation.
My exercise routine is scalable: it's combined Tabata with Kung Fu and running. For longer-term illness (as with surgery) I scale it back to the most I can do without becoming further incapacitated: so, keep the same workout but cut back on reps/intensity/speed. You still get some cardio, and while you may lose some bulk your muscles will retain some strength and structure.
I keep an emergency health food stash in my freezer: homemade chicken soup and lots of beef/vegetable stew. (Very easy recipes.) It's amazing what a bowl of nutritionally balanced, hot food can do. And chicken soup has now been scientifically proven to aid in the healing of colds.
Video games can be draining (at least, to me they are), so I usually pick up a light-reading book or a crossword/Sudoku/similar puzzle if I get bored. Usually it's working from home and pacing myself, though. Either way, it gets the brain flowing but not so hard the circuits fry.

HTH.

Luckyluke23 · 2015-02-19T04:57:31+00:00

i don't love this post because you posted an inspirational post about getting back up and getting back to it.

i love your post becuse you posted a question at the end. Bravo!

raytulip · 2015-02-19T05:01:11+00:00

I'm in the middle of a breakup. It's the dead of winter, which I hate with a passion, and I can't tell if I'm coming or going with an illness. I'm about five to ten pounds over what I want to weigh. It will come back. I know it will.

adiultrapro · 2015-02-19T05:26:32+00:00

Thank you for this post, I was sick in bed days ago and I'm still coughing.. Before I had my wisdom teeth removed. Stupid month to be in between semesters but I'll start training next werk anyway!

mstersmith · 2015-02-19T05:31:18+00:00

I dropped a trap bar loaded with 405 pounds on my right foot. I was doing trap bar deadlifts. Great exercise if you have lower back and knee issues with traditional dead lifts and squats. Well my strap slipped bar dropped, shattered my toe into 5 pieces, broke both knuckles and broke my foot. This was Thursday. The following monday with the doctors approval I was back in the gym. Cant do a lot of lower body but I am getting by and thats what is important. Also I walked in and walked out unassisted.

StinkyDiaper · 2015-02-19T13:04:22+00:00

I've never had a woman view me as weak while I was sick. In fact, many are ready to adapt to role of caretaker for the duration of it.

GeminiEvolver · 2015-02-19T13:57:15+00:00

I mean, you've said it best. Acknowledge your oriented state. Look at where it is in relation to your goal and plan. Hey back to it. It's great to have a mastermind group to help put you back in order.

king_of_red_alphas · 2015-02-19T19:47:23+00:00

At this point I'm gonna have to roll the dice. About to give up a kidney for my sick sister and I'll be out of the gym for 2 months minimum and even then it will be light weights for a while.

I have a live-in LTR who will stay with me for a few days before she goes back to work.

My plan - take programming and language courses on-line while in recovery. I want to have something to show for this down time.

Also, as others have said, I will get better at cooking that supports my lifting so when I'm back in the gym I have that skill too.

But, if / when I'm in pain and need help - I won't think twice about asking for it.

I think if you can ask for assistance in a "captain" like way (rather than whining) her tingles won't be damaged.

If you are sitting there crying that "it hurts!!" - definite tingle killer.

If you are in pain and say "can you prop this pillow under my legs and bring me the ice pack?" It shows you are managing your situation effectively. Tingles restored.

kevkos · 2015-02-19T21:24:20+00:00

You did it right.

Best never to get sick. Get mid-day sun, exercise, take extra vitamin D, and don't drink too much or eat too much sugar. These things go a long way in staying healthy.

But it still happens. Not a big deal, happens to everyone. Accept the down time. Don't beat yourself up. Enjoy the Netflix and video games and know that you'll be back again in time.

Gotta rest up when you're sick. Muscling through it is a bad idea.

aptway · 2015-02-19T23:31:14+00:00

I'm at home sick with a cold today. Am I sitting around playing video games or watching Netflix? Nope, scheduled a dentist appointment, got documentation for my new apartment lease, and did my taxes. I'm also going to the gym later- if Michael Jordan can win an NBA playoff game with the stomach flu, I sure as hell can lift weights with a cold.

The Red Pill doesn't allow me to be OK with myself having Zero days anymore.

foldpak111 · 2015-02-20T01:07:08+00:00

That call of duty is great for the mind. Limit it to Sundays only though

HeinousFu_kery · 2015-02-18T20:29:39+00:00

Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.

Lungs clogged up and can't run? Lift. Can't lift? Swim. Can't swim? get on a bike/trainer. You don't have to go full tilt if you're really messed up but do something and you'll feel better and you'll be off the couch.

There is a limit to this - if you have symptoms of things like pneumonia/serious infection/illness etc. get to the f**king doctor and get after it (voice of experience ... not worth toughing it out if you're not going to get better).

Edit: Some follow on comments are pretty much right - don't go at it too hard! My point was to stop wallowing in front of the TV, and to get up an move around, get a little, moderate exercise - not a gonzo workout.

_the_shape_ · 2015-02-18T18:32:01+00:00

"How do we, as men, deal with temporary weakness while maintaining a strong frame?"

"I appreciate your concern, but let me handle this alone, please. No biggie. I got this. Thanks."

Do you two live together? If not, keep her away until you are fully recuperated. In the meantime, LOTS of water, lots of green tea if you can get your hands on some (the real deal, the leaves, not that sugary Arizona Tea trash), and eat lots of fiber to flush out your system (prunes, tamarind, carrots, oatmeal)

amerryunbirthday · 2015-02-19T00:04:34+00:00

I like the message you are communicating, but injuries should not stop you from personal growth. Injuries will happen to all athletes, hopefully there frequency will diminish if we learn from our mistakes, but you cannot prepare for everything. You should be using this time to develop other aspects of your personality, read a book, pick up an instrument, pick up a new skill. Huge facepalm when I read you used that time to play COD for 4 hours a day. The reason you felt like shit is because lifting was your only outlet for building yourself, and when you lost that, you lost everything. I say this not to kick you while you are down. Instead I hope it shows why it is important to spend time cultivating a balanced life.

gui524 · 2015-02-18T16:50:56+00:00

Have a contingency plan as a backup to your usual routine (aka: if all else fails, at least you can do the bare minimum on auto-pilot while you get your shit together). EX: having a HIT workout routine 2 or 3x a week if you're not able to do your higher frequency training, etc

bourbonhipster · 2015-02-19T01:00:16+00:00

im confused. sure getting sick sucks and anytime you are out of a routine longer than 5 days it takes a little man-the-fuck-up to get back into it, but is settling into the couch forever after a single illness really a thing? Dudes get sick and get knocked off kilter and actually never recover?

djvita · 2015-02-19T01:34:29+00:00

yep im sick too; that' s why i've been on reddit all day, work from home, yesterday i was better and i hit my routine hard, seems the research supports it too. got a dry nose and throat....

once i get better, it's back to lifting and fitnessblender routines. but slowly building up

swallowpls · 2015-02-19T07:56:50+00:00

im sick and was having a blast working out and eating right for the last two weeks.

i was sitting in my bed reading this and picked up my kettlebell and threw it around for a bit.

i feel much better :)

King_of_Demons · 2015-02-18T19:50:07+00:00

good fucking post, i feel the same way today.. nice assist man

ReadingHard · 2015-02-18T20:13:55+00:00

I'm not sure of the dogma of having a facade, and when you're in your worst. The "plates" will leave you for some alpha cock. I use the RD, to filter women who are worth the bulshit, the ones who will care for you, regardless of leaving the wheel. By this ti

justskatedude · 2015-02-18T21:43:02+00:00

Also a good title for dealing with rejection. I just got soft rejected by a foreign chick because she is married. Whatever. It doesn't hurt anymore. It actually is comforting because I don't waste any more time on her and can use that time efficiently on other chicks.

beerthroway · 2015-02-18T23:29:51+00:00

A pre workout can make all the difference in pushing you back into a routine.

I have always been frugal as fuck so if I spend my money on something, it's cause I need it. If I know I need to workout but feel like a little bitch that day I only have one tiny thing to do: take my pre workout shake. Especially beta alanine. That makes your skin tingle if you don't go workout when you take it, so even if you didn't feel like working out before, you will once that anxiety builds. It's fucking awesome. Plus the effect of stims and I go from chill to beast mode in 30 min or less.

Title	You are going to slip and fall right into a comfortable sofa. Get the hell back up.
Author	TempleNameJob
Upvotes	366
Comments	126
Date	February 18, 2015 4:01 PM UTC (11 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/TheRedPill
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/TheRedPill/comments/2wbl72/you_are_going_to_slip_and_fall_right_into_a/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/TheRedPill/you-are-going-to-slip-and-fall-right-into-a.29290 https://theredarchive.com/post/29290

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