Throwing Hands

David was a professional trainer and bodybuilder, but his comments as an influencer were somewhat controversial. Despite backlash for his trademark slogan, he continued to insist there was no excuse not to look like him. Anyone who put in the time and effort could build and maintain the muscle that he now possessed. One day, a young woman named Sarah stayed behind after attending his workout session. "I've been coming here for a long time and I'm not seeing results," she said. "I don't think my body is capable of doing what yours is. Would you like the chance to put your money where your mouth is?" She proposed a three-month fitness challenge, where they would switch bodies and David would provide the gains he promised her.

David saw the perfect opportunity to improve his brand name. "How hard could it be?" would be his famous last words. After the swap, he went home to analyze the starting point for the next three months of his career. His body was almost skin and bones. No muscle, no fat, not even the secondary sexual characteristics that would outwardly identify him as a woman. Coupled with a short haircut and an androgynous face, looking in the mirror almost felt like looking back in time. So what? David thought. I had the body of a 13-year-old boy before. I can build myself up once; I can do it again.

As days turned to weeks, the daily exhaustion from hours-long workouts blended into an endless grind. He was indeed getting stronger, but the lifestyle was mentally and physically draining. The lack of visible progress on his muscles was slowly but surely sapping his motivation to continue. How did I do this before? he began to ask himself. Being a woman had its limitations in the world of fitness, but he wasn't ready to admit defeat yet. David's diminished stature certainly didn't reduce his attitude in public. If anything, his need to prove himself meant he was more aggressive than before. Once he even tried beating up a man who catcalled him. The man was scared off but hardly reacted to the actual punches.

As the three months were coming to a close, David hadn't made nearly the gains he was hoping for. He tried calling Sarah to discuss the challenge and hopefully avoid a PR nightmare, but the number he called was not available. She had changed all her contact information. A sinking feeling set in. What if that was the plan? he thought, panicking. She didn't want to be taught a lesson. She didn't even want to teach me a lesson. She just wanted instant results. David would never be stronger than a teenage boy again.