Lookism: What If

(Tuesday, April 23, 2024 – 9:02 PM)

After Jay left, Daniel stood at his doorstep for a moment, taking in the quiet of the alleyway before heading back inside. His original body was still lying on the mattress, his chest rising and falling in steady sleep. It had been days since he last focused on it, and he could already tell it would be a challenge to get it into shape. His second body was naturally athletic, but his first? It was weak, stiff, and out of balance.

Sitting down at the small table, he powered up his laptop, quickly typing into the search bar.

Stretching routine for flexibility.

A list of MeTube videos popped up, each with trainers explaining different methods. He clicked on one with a well-rated comment section and a professional thumbnail.

The video started with a basic overview, stretching wasn't just about loosening muscles but restoring mobility and preventing injury. The instructor explained how most people thought stretching was just about bending forward and touching their toes, but in reality, proper stretching involved understanding muscle groups, range of motion, and breathing techniques.

Daniel opened a new tab and searched for human anatomy muscle chart. An interactive 3D model loaded on the screen, showcasing every major muscle in the body. He clicked on different sections, hamstrings, quadriceps, hip flexors, deltoids, lower back. Each muscle had detailed descriptions of its function, common tightness issues, and the best way to stretch it.

His eyes scanned the information carefully. The hamstrings controlled leg movement and were responsible for flexibility in the lower body. The hip flexors were often tight due to excessive sitting, which explained a lot about how stiff his first body felt. The shoulders and upper back needed mobility work to prevent rounded posture, especially after years of slouching.

He jotted down notes, memorizing the sequences. First, he'd need to work on dynamic stretches, movements that increased blood flow and warmed up the muscles. Then, he'd incorporate static stretching, holding each position for at least thirty seconds to lengthen the muscles.

Finally, he looked up progressive stretching routines for weight loss. He needed something sustainable, something he could build on daily. One trainer recommended a 30-minute routine that started with full-body activation and ended with deep, controlled stretches. That seemed doable.

Satisfied with his research, Daniel shut the laptop, exhaled, and stood up. Time to put everything into action.

....

After a quick slap and shower, he was now standing in the center of the small room, Daniel started with light joint rotations. He rolled his neck slowly, feeling the familiar stiffness. Each movement sent a small release of tension down his spine. Moving to his shoulders, he did controlled circles, loosening the tightness in his traps.

Then came the dynamic stretches. He lifted his knees high, alternating left and right, warming up his hip flexors. The motion felt clunky at first, his body unused to the range, but he kept going. He moved into leg swings, holding onto the table for balance as he kicked one leg forward and back, then switched to the other. His hips popped slightly, adjusting to the motion.

Next were the lunges. He stepped forward with his right leg, sinking into a deep lunge while stretching his hip flexors and quads. The sensation was both relieving and uncomfortable, but he held the position, focusing on his breathing.

After the dynamic portion, he transitioned into static stretching.

First was the seated forward fold. Sitting with his legs extended, he reached for his toes, feeling the deep pull along his hamstrings and lower back. He held the position, counting in his head, breathing deeply to relax further into the stretch.

Moving on, he lay flat on the floor and pulled his knee to his chest, stretching his glutes and lower back. This was a position he could barely hold at first, his belly got in the way, but he adjusted, finding a way to make it work.

Then came the butterfly stretch. Sitting up, he pressed the soles of his feet together, pushing his knees toward the floor. His inner thighs burned slightly, but he ignored the discomfort and focused on his breathing.

Finally, he worked on his spinal mobility. Lying flat, he twisted his torso to the side, pulling his knee over while keeping his shoulders planted. His back popped slightly, releasing built-up tension.

By the time he finished, an hour had passed. Sweat coated his forehead, but he felt lighter. His movements weren't as stiff anymore, and for the first time in a while, his body actually felt a bit responsive.

....

(Daniel Pov)

The night was still, the streets empty except for the occasional distant car. I stepped outside with my muscles warm but my body still sluggish. My cheap sneakers pressed against the pavement as I started jogging, forcing myself to breathe only through my nose. It was suffocating, my lungs screaming for air, but I pushed forward, keeping a steady rhythm.

Each step sent shocks through my legs, the weight of my body making every movement heavier than it should be. My thighs burned, my calves strained, but I refused to stop. Sweat rolled down my forehead, sticking to my skin as I moved through the dimly lit streets.

After what felt like an eternity, I reached a small park. The pull-up bars stood under a flickering streetlamp, casting long shadows on the ground. My chest rose and fell rapidly as I caught my breath with my shirt clinging to me from the sweat. I sat on the bench, letting my heart settle for a minute before dropping down onto the cold pavement.

Push-ups. Until failure.

The first few reps were easy, my arms still strong from carrying my weight all my life. Fifteen in, the burn started creeping in. By twenty, my breathing was labored, my arms shaking. At twenty-six, my elbows buckled, but I gritted my teeth and forced out one more.

I collapsed, my face nearly pressing into the ground. My body screamed for me to stop, but I wasn't done. I shook out my arms, rolling my wrists to keep the blood flowing. Stretching would help, keep me from locking up. I swung my arms in slow circles, flexed my fingers, feeling every aching muscle.

I stood and moved straight into squats. Each movement burned through my thighs, the weight of my own body making it harder with every rep. Fifty. Seventy-five. One hundred. My legs wobbled, but I forced myself down for another with my knees barely holding together.

Shaking them out, I moved to the planks. Core training was hell, but I knew I needed it. I dropped down, holding myself up on my forearms, every second dragging. My stomach clenched, my lower back aching as the minutes crawled by. The shaking started at two minutes, but I clenched my teeth and held on.

My arms buckled. I collapsed onto the ground again, panting, my vision blurring for a moment. My body was screaming at me to stop. I ignored it.

Different push-up variations followed. Wide grip, diamond, pike. My triceps burned, my shoulders protested, but I kept moving. Every time I thought I couldn't do another, I forced myself through the pain.

Single-leg raises, slow and controlled. My lower abs felt like they were tearing apart. Calf raises, every fiber of my legs burning, the strain running all the way up to my knees.

The pull-up bar stood in front of me, and I knew it would be the hardest part. My grip tightened around the cold metal. I jumped and pulled. My chin barely made it over the bar. My arms screamed. Five. Ten. Fourteen. I let go, dropping to the ground, my shoulders twitching from the exhaustion.

Switching to chin-ups, I forced my biceps to take over. Nine. Eleven. Fifteen. My fingers slipped, and I hit the ground harder than expected.

I was done.

Lying flat on the pavement, my limbs refused to move. Hunger gnawed at my stomach, my vision darkened at the edges. My body was shutting down.

Everything went black.

When I opened my eyes, I was staring at the ceiling. The mattress under me felt different. My body feels lighter easier to move.

I looked at the time.

(3:02 AM)

Hahh i need to head out and get my body..

----

It might seem a lot the reps Lil Daniel did, but keep in mind that these mf can crack a wall with repeated head slams, we are outside the realistic humans