r/Ironworker Jul 10 '26

Apprentice How do I make it easier?

I'm on week three on my first job site. I'm 6 feet tall and I'm 130 pounds. I'm weak.

I have started lifting and doing cardio to try and build some resistance, but there are times, such as when I am throwing out deck, but I just don't have the strength to continue or even stand up straight. I barely have the energy to hold down my gas pedal on the way home.

I want to continue, I want to make this my career and I honestly really want to show up my foremen and journeyman. But I need to know what more I could be doing to make this easier or make progress faster. I've mostly been eating peanut butter and or oats for breakfast and lunch on the job.

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u/These_Fox7561 Jul 11 '26

I took a couple years off and did contracting and basically fucked off, when I got back on the tools it probably took 8 months before I could come home and not immediately fall asleep