Even legendary strongmen feel the ravages of time. That was also the case for our own Hercules. Bill Murray plays an aging Hercules who has not worked out in a very long time. Though we don't like to think of Hercules as an older god (technically he's immortal).
The skit Il Returno de Hercules comprehends the 3 lessons we should incorporate in our lives. Here is the small clip from that skit that would make it easy to understand.
Lesson 1: Consistency is Key
When Hercules is asked to prove his strength to save Queen Helena, it is apparent to King Leites that Hercules is no longer a legendary strongman. Since the last Olympics, he had not worked out and has consumed more calories than he has burned. Bill Murray hams it up by distending his stomach and asking for six months to prepare for the challenge. Visual humor aside, even Hercules had to move his body consistently and eat well.
Lesson 2: Portion Control
The great news is that with a little training and portion control Hercules could become a better version of himself over the next few months. Fortunately, in ancient Greece, there weren't processed foods, so if he wasn't consumed by the hydra, he likely could have met his fitness goals. This is one of the reasons that all Hercules bars are 250 calories or less. We want you to look like young Hercules, not old Hercules.
Lesson 3: Know Your Limits
One thing you can say about Murray's Hercules, a lifetime of training gave him an impeccable sense of self-knowledge about his body. He knew that he could no longer do what he had always done as a younger god. When asked to lift a large boulder, he said, "That boulder is too big, perhaps a smaller one." As we get older, it is important to understand that we may not be able to do what came easily to us when we were younger. This is especially critical when we have taken some time off. When Hercules, against his better judgment, tries to lift the large boulder, he pulls a muscle in his back.
If you haven't run in a very long time, take it easy the first few weeks back. If you haven't been to the gym for a while, don't try to max out on the bench place. If a God like Hercules has limits, so do you. There's nothing our bar can do to help you if you get hurt.
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