This morning, after a rich time in Romans 12 (more on that later), I set out for the gym. Here I want to tell you that training with lighter weights, as I do, can actually achieve muscle growth, thus challenging the traditional dogma that progressive overload via heavy weights is the only path to building size.
Chasing heavy numbers easily leads to fatigue and poor engagement rather than hypertrophy. Instead, focus on concentrating on how well you connect with the muscle during an exercise. If you lose that mind-muscle connection or feel other muscles taking over, the weight is too heavy. Don't be afraid to test your form. Test different angles, tempos, and ranges of motion. The goal is to find what best stimulates the specific muscle you are targeting that day.
After my gym session it was time to drive to the High Bridge Trail (yes, that trail!) to get in a few miles of walking.
It was awesome.
Also pictured here is the first of several acres we cut today.
Thus begins our 2026 hay season. A new season of farming is a time of hope, renewal, and intense labor. It's a clean slate where the possibilities for a fruitful harvest are endless. It is a time filled with both physical activity and quiet anticipation as we transition from spring to summer. I LOVE this time of the year! There is a DEEP satisfaction in the anticipation of watching crops grow and then finally seeing them come to fruition. May to September can be make it or break it for farmers. Too much rain can damage crops, but not enough rain can also damage crops. It takes the perfect amount of rain, sunlight, and warmth to produce crops.
In the meantime, I can't wait to share with you what the Lord is teaching me from Rom. 12:2!