Exercise in Moderation

Character: Chen Jue

Strength: 0.78

Physique: 0.93

Spirit: 1.05

Skills: [Stone Skipping Lv1 (5/200)]

Available Free Attribute Points: 0.01

(Character Evaluation: An ordinary corporate wage slave; your body is in a state of severe sub-health.)

"Attributes increased!"

Chen Jue looked at the notification on the Attribute Panel with great excitement.

Although this trip to the gym had left him physically exhausted, it was well worth the effort.

Not only had he learned a great deal of knowledge related to fitness, exercise, and the body, but he had also undergone a physical assessment, giving him a rough idea of his current physical decline.

But most importantly, he had gained 0.02 attribute points.

Especially after his Strength increased by 0.01, he felt a faint sensation of muscle swelling in his legs.

Though the feeling was very subtle, Chen Jue could clearly perceive it.

As for that free attribute point, Chen Jue immediately added it to Physique.

His Physique attribute rose from 0.93 to 0.94.

After finishing five sets on the Seated Leg Press Machine, Chen Jue's stamina was completely bottomed out. As he slid off the machine's seat, he felt his legs trembling uncontrollably.

If it weren't for the boost from the Physique point, he likely would have collapsed onto the floor by now.

"So tired!"

"But it feels so good!"

"It feels more exhausting than pulling three all-nighters!" Chen Jue gasped for air, one hand resting on the handle of a nearby piece of equipment.

Seeing this, Coach Li hurried over, crouched down, and squeezed the muscles in Chen Jue's thighs.

"Very good, the results are excellent."

"To reach this level on your first session is already quite impressive," Coach Li praised. Clearly, he was unaware that Chen Jue's sudden improvement was due to the attribute increase.

"Coach Li, should I continue training?"

"I feel like I can't even walk anymore." Chen Jue caught his breath and squeezed out an awkward smile.

He finally understood why the fitness influencers in those self-discipline videos wore "masks of pain" while working out.

Because this stuff is truly intense!

"Generally, our private training sessions at the gym are 45 minutes long, with a 15-minute break in the middle, meaning the actual workout time is about half an hour."

"Since this is your first time, your body hasn't fully adapted to this level of high-intensity exercise, so it's best not to train anymore today."

"Exercise must be progressive. Your ankles and leg muscles will likely be very sore over the next few days. This is just the muscles secreting excess lactic acid; it's a normal phenomenon, so don't worry too much."

"Go home, apply a hot compress, and come back after you've had a proper rest."

Coach Li patiently guided him, explaining in detail the precautions Chen Jue needed to take after his first workout.

By the end of their conversation, he even shared some cautionary tales about people who exercised blindly—those who didn't understand the dangers of overexertion during their first session and ended up with rhabdomyolysis.

Chen Jue felt a chill run down his spine after hearing that.

He seemed to have come across such cases on the news before, and not just once; a few such incidents popped up every year.

"Thank you for the guidance, Coach!"

The free trial session concluded, and Chen Jue thanked Coach Li.

By now, the number of people in the gym was slowly increasing.

The row of treadmills was already occupied, presumably by people there to burn fat and warm up.

Of course, there were also seasoned fitness enthusiasts who came straight to Coach Li for their private sessions.

Seeing that the coach was busy, Chen Jue scanned the QR code on the wall to add him on WeChat, then wandered around the gym on his own.

He was walking slowly to alleviate the soreness in his legs.

Judging by his experience from last night, when Stone Skipping "wrecked" his right arm, his legs would likely be in excruciating pain by tomorrow.

According to Coach Li's instructions, it was best not to sit down immediately after intense exercise, but rather to walk slowly to accelerate blood circulation.

Sitting causes the joints in the lower limbs to flex, increasing resistance to venous blood return and leading to poor circulation in the lower body.

This, in turn, slows down the oxidation and decomposition of the lactic acid produced in the muscles, ultimately causing it to accumulate even more.

In severe cases, it can even lead to a reduction in cardiac output, potentially inducing shock.

"I never expected there to be so much to fitness."

"I just wonder how long it takes to reach the level of these people." Chen Jue shuffled along, observing the members working out as he wandered around the gym.

He noticed that these regulars, regardless of age or gender, all possessed an excellent spirit and appearance.

Whether it was their complexion, their physique, or even the way they stood and sat, they were all more upright than the average person.

Having spent years working at a computer, Chen Jue had long since developed anterior pelvic tilt and lumbar disc herniation; his body was abnormally curved whether he was sitting or standing.

Add in smoking, drinking, and frequent late nights, and his complexion simply couldn't compare to these members.

After observing for a round, Chen Jue couldn't help but lament inwardly: "No wonder that body composition analyzer measured my physical age as three years older than I am. The gap really is quite significant!"

Since the trial pass in his hand was still valid for another week, Chen Jue planned to return for more training once the muscle soreness subsided over the next few days.

He couldn't train anymore today, as both his legs and his right arm were practically wrecked, leaving only his left hand with any freedom of movement.

Just as Chen Jue was about to drag his exhausted body home, he discovered that a small glass partition in the gym contained some leisure board games and card games.

A black and white circular board hung on the wall.

"What is this?"

"Leisure Sports Room?"

Chen Jue pushed the door open and took a closer look at the board hanging on the wall.

Beyond the black and white background, the board was marked with a conspicuous ring of numbers from 1 to 20, arranged in a specific, randomized pattern.

There were also red and green grid markings on the board, clearly divided, looking like some sort of game.

"Is this Darts?"

"I think I saw people playing this back in school!"

Chen Jue found the corresponding box on the shelf.

Inside the box were instructions and two sets of red and green darts with sharp tips.

Glancing over the unfolded manual, Chen Jue discovered that this thing was actually considered a type of sport, with even international-level competitions.

Checking the time, it wasn't even 10:00 AM yet. Since his left hand was still usable, Chen Jue followed the rules in the manual, stood at the throwing line, picked up a dart, and tried throwing it at the target.

"Thwack~"

The red-tipped dart with its flight tail embedded itself into the target.

Having just read the manual, Chen Jue knew that the grid he had hit carried points.

The closer to the red bullseye in the center, the higher the score.

His throw had only landed in the outermost grid.

But the moment he finished throwing the dart, Chen Jue froze!

Because the pixelated box in his field of vision had popped up a notification once again!

[Ding~]

[Action meets requirements]

[Skill activated: Darts]

First update!

I think I caught a cold from the temperature drop last night; I've been feeling dizzy all day, but fortunately, a shower helped me feel a bit better, so I'll knock out two chapters for now.

During the new book period, as long as there are no special circumstances, there should be about three updates a day~

By the way, still asking for votes!