Leo's uncle's house was just a few blocks away.
The uncle's family was slightly wealthy, as both the husband and wife had decent jobs at a design firm. Because of this, they had been able to buy a large two-story house. This allowed Franco to open his mini gym on the first floor for a while. Until he was able to get enough money to move it to a nearby location.
As he approached the location, he could see a sign that said 'NewDay Gym'.
Leo thinks it was referring to how the exercises got him out of the vice and gave him a new day.
2 houses before arriving, Leo crossed paths with his uncle leaving his home, carrying some bags to the car.
-Uncle- Leo greeted, approaching to help.
-Leonel, what are you doing here? I see you're recovering well from the accident.- His uncle answered in a hoarse voice, while he loaded a bag into the trunk.
-I'm coming to Fran's gym. Sisi, I've recovered well. Do you need help?.-
-Yes, help me carry that bag over there. Are you thinking about doing some exercises? You should try it. It's good to get out on the street.- The uncle answers, worried about his son's addiction to video games.
-Okay.-
After helping his uncle and getting him to work, Leo enters the gym.
It wasn't a very big place. With the amount of machines there, it even felt suffocating.
Leo sees his cousin sweeping the floor. He approaches from behind and blocks him with one of his arms and with the other he points at his hip as if it were a gun.
- Hey, bandit, do you think you own the neighborhood or what? I told you that you can't be doing business on my land without paying protection. Does my brother understand me?, jokes Leo with a strange accent.
Leo suddenly feels some soft caresses on his arms and then hears a high-pitched voice saying, "Hello daddy, what strong arms you have." A shiver runs through his body and he quickly steps back.
"Shit! What kind of clients do you have lately?" Leo looks at his cousin.
"Hahaha, you're still too young to joke with me," Franco replies arrogantly.
"The older the ginger, the spicier it is, I see, I see," Leo says as if he had discovered something important.
"Who are you calling you old little idiot, this daddy just turned 16."
"16 on each leg."
-Hmph, it seems like a long time since I beat you up.- Raul says as he quickly grabs Leo, to throw him and put him in a lock on one of his arms.
-Aaahhh, okay okay. You're the best, the youngest, the most handsome and the strongest. Please have mercy on this commoner.- Leo said begging for mercy.
-Ah that's how I like it.-
Franco lets go of Leo to grab the broom and continue sweeping.
-Hey, you could have been gentler, I just got out of the hospital.-
-You wouldn't be doing exercises if I was like that. What are you planning to do today?.- Franco asks.
Leo grabs the sheet he brought from home and gives it to his cousin.
-I looked up some beginner challenges on the internet, along with some recommendations and that's it. What do you think?-
-Cardio, push-ups, sit-ups, squats, pull-ups, dumbbells. I understand that. But where did the 100 meter swim and speed come from?.-
-Uhh, they were good to fill in a bit. According to my conditions, how long do you think it will take me to do most of those exercises?-
-We'll have to do some tests. But I don't quite understand why there are exercises without rest.-
-Because I know I can do it. Also, look at me, I just got back from running. Yesterday I ran for 8 minutes and today I got to 10. What do you think?- Leo said puffing out his chest.
-Really? It seems like your body adapts quickly. Likewise, for some exercises like the dumbbells you'll have to build muscles. For that, it's necessary for the muscle fibers to rest and be able to regenerate. If not, you'll get injured. Also, your small arms won't hold 5 kg for 10 push-ups.-
-Where are the 5 kg ones?- Leo said in a defiant voice.
Franco looks at him, laughs, and brings over the 5kg dumbbells. He leaves them on a nearby bench.
-Come on, try it.-
Leo walks over, looks at the small weight, and confidently grabs it with one hand. Suddenly his hand falls from the weight of the dumbbell, but he manages to control it in time.
-Hahaha, don't be so confident. What do you think? It's quite heavy for you.-
Leo tries the exercise by lifting it up to his shoulder. And he succeeds, but with his arms shaking.
-Shit that's so heavy.- Leo said frustrated when he realized that this challenge would take more than 7 days.
-I recommend that you do it with a 2kg one for about 10 days. And then increase the weight.-
-Let's try something else. Push-ups. Have you tried them before?-
-Not that I remember. So far I've only been jogging and doing planks.-
- Yes, the plank is more of a corrective or calorie-burning exercise. Less demanding than the others. Come lie down here.- Franco said as he pointed with his foot to an open part of the gym.
Leo approaches and throws himself on the floor in a push-up position.
-No, lower your ass. Try to keep your back straight with your legs. Look like this.- Franco said before throwing himself on the floor in the push-up position.
-Look at my hands. Depending on where you place them, they will affect more or less one muscle or another. The main push-up is this one. Hands below the shoulders and elbows half open. When you push-up, they point at about 45 degrees. As long as they don't point directly down or to the sides, it's fine. Now do some.-
Leo positions himself like his cousin, adjusting his hands and elbows well, with his back straight. Then he pushes down and back up. Although it was difficult due to lack of experience, it became relatively easy.
-Well, as long as you maintain that position during the series, everything will be fine. Although this exercise may take you longer than the 7 days you set out to do.-
-Now, since you're here, try your series.-
-I'll do it later at home. I want to record all the exercises I do for the first time.-
-Ahh right. So let's try squats. Look, copy my posture. Feet aligned and shoulder-width apart, more or less, extend your arms forward and then lower yourself down. Remember that when you lower your back, your back should stay straight.-
Leo copies the posture and tries squats. Doing it easily.
-Good, good. Since the legs in general are the muscles that are most naturally worked, this series won't cost you much.-
-So let's move on to the abs. There's not much to explain. You lie down with your hands on your chest and try to raise yourself by forcing your abdomen.-
-Don't you put your hands on the back of your neck?-
-You can do it, but many people try to raise themselves by putting their arms behind them by pressing them. Which can lead to poor posture and possible back pain.-
-Ohh-Leo said as he got into position.
Franco approaches and lightly steps on his toes.
-It is recommended that you find something to hold your feet so they don't lift up when you exercise.-
-Ohh I think there is a box at home that is perfect.-
Leo tries the push-up and comes out. But this time it took a while.
-Mm, it seems that this one will also take you 7 days.- Franco told him while offering him his hand so he could lift him up.
-Let's go with the pull-ups on the bar. It's not rocket science either, look at me. Just keep your hands a little wider than your shoulders, with your thumbs underneath and then go up. Nothing else.-
Leo gets under the bar, jumps and grabs on. He places his hands at the same distance as Franco and tries to go up. This time it also took a while.
-Another exercise that will take you more time. But overall good, Leo. With rest included, I think it will take you about 15 or 20 days to complete those exercises you wrote.- Franco told Leo who was a little discouraged by the time it would take him.
-Come on, come on. Don't be sad, this is step by step.-
But Leo, who seemed distracted, was not because of what Franco thought. It was because his only active skill had leveled up.
[+10 Exp in Physical Control Skill]
[Physical Control Skill has leveled up (Level: 1)]
[Hidden achievement completed: Level up an active skill]
[Calculating reward]
.