January is officially over, which means that your gym might be clearing back up again. All the resolution-havers have most likely burned out by now, and now only the real gym fellas such as yourself are left to duke it out by the squat rack. Or maybe you’re a resolution-haver yourself, and you’re sticking it out against all odds. Hey, gym rats aren’t just made, they’re born. Once you become addicted to working out, it’s hard to shake that feeling. All the early mornings, bad sleep, and sore muscles in the world couldn’t stop you from achieving your goals. This is the lifter’s version of a runner’s high. It’s the lifting point of no return.

But it takes a lot to get to that place. It takes a lot of overcoming your lack of motivation, your paucity of experience, and your eagerness to do literally anything else. It’s not easy to push past most days.