Saturday Morning Cardio Motivation

Saturday 8am, getting in my last cardio session for the week. I have to admit, although I see progress, I sure as heck ain't happy w the progress being 10 weeks out. I'll see how I change in 2 weeks. I know I can do this. It's not like a class exam where I forget info or didn't study enough. Going to the gym and working out hard is my thing, I enjoy it, and it's not like it's rocket science to complete a workout. My dissatisfaction is enough to keep me motivated.

Being Fit vs. Competing

I learned there's a difference between being fit and being a competitor. The level of discipline exponentially grows as a competitor.
   Being fit = "I can afford to have sweets because I work out".
   Competitors = wait until after the show to satisfy that sweet tooth.

This is no easy feat. 4:30am wake-up 5x a week to commute 40 mins to the gym that's close to your job. A job you work 8-9 hours a day. Therefore, meal prep HAS to happen either in the evening (when you just want to put your feet up and watch TV) or during the weekends. Either way, hours are spent in the kitchen to marinate (healthy food does not have to taste bland), cook, measure/weighed, separated into storage bags or plastic wrapped so you don't take a gazillion tupperware containers on the road, and find room in the freezer. I could haul a big ass lunch bag with the tupperware but I don't want to wash so many dishes at work/home and I'm trying to keep bags to a minimum - I do enough weight lifting at the gym.

For any goal, work hard, and then work harder.

Prepping on Vacation

Nags Head, NC (Outerbanks). One last summer vacation.. while in prep mode. Managed 5 days of waking up 7-7:30am before the house woke up, completing a fasted HIIT cardio routine and varying body weight workouts (sprints, jump squats/lunges, burpees, etc), and sticking to my meal plan 85-90% of the time. Didn't know prepping could be possible on vacation until I tried. I'm glad I tried, and I had a blast.

It's 9am...

Have you had your grilled chicken yet?

My Daily Grind

My grind starts when my alarm goes off at 4:30am. Sometimes, I'm quick to fling off the covers and swing my legs off the bed. Other times I lay awake for a few seconds trying to figure out what is that sound. Because I've prepped meal 1 (out of 6) the night before, food is ready - just pop it in the microwave. Take my supps, and polish off my breakfast w my favorite part: oats and blueberries sweetened w stevia and cinnamon. At this point I've already drank 20 oz of luke warm water. It's said to kick start your digestion process and wake up all the internal organs. Sounds good to me. Throw my gym bag on my shoulders and it's off to catch the 5:24am train to my gym at Wall St. That's a 40 min ride. A ride where I'm awake and alert because the sun isn't up and there's not too many people in the subways

For the next 3 months, I tell myself that eating will be a means to obtain energy. Not for the experience and unique flavors I usually go for. Do whatever it takes... Even if it's a mental adjustment.

The Good Parent

A father parent good parent will do anything, I mean anything for their kid. Joe had three back-to-back softball games that started in the morning before most of the city was awake, and played through the early afternoon under the beating sun. Then, ran to coach the last few innings of his daughters softball game. Again, under the sun. Next, he packed up the softball equipment and cooler and kids to bring his gf back to Queens. Eventually sat down to a nice early dinner. At this point, belly full and heart happy, most working parents are day dreaming of a nap. His kids, with their limitless energy that I hope they never lose, turn to him and ask "Dad can we play wiffle ball when we get home?". Without a crease or wrinkle on his brow or forehead he gladly accepts. "Home" is a 45 minute drive assuming there is no traffic, and once you arrive you unpack the softball equipment and cooler, and THEN you play wiffle ball. One word to describe that is "impressive". But I can think of a better one: love.

Chicken. Breakfast of Champions.

It's 8am and I've already had meal #2 (out of 6) for the day. Nothing to continue your morning like 3.5 oz of chicken breast and 3 oz of yams. Plus, 40 oz of water already. Easy peasy. Weight training was all I could fit in this morning. I'm hoping to squeeze in my cardio during lunch. Need to get into the mental zone that "it's only 25 mins, Jam". I could easily scroll through at social media for 25 mins - and that just kills my brain cells sometimes.

Guilt

Feeling suuuuuper guilty I had two cheat meals back to back (Sat and Sun). It's not worth it: the oppressive guilt that might as well be the reason for the bloatedness, heart burn, and laziness that follows.

Dig. Dig. Dig.

I'm in constant competition with myself. The fight that goes on inside my head is real. I flip flop between quitting and continuing. I have to keep reminding myself to "just get it done". It will get me closer to my goal. There are things in life that we can change, and other things we have to accept. I have to accept that once I start cardio, I will be doing it for 25 mins. I want to stop by 5 minutes. I have to FIND IT IN ME SOME HOW. Dig. Dig. Dig.

Committed

I never thought I would look forward to using stevia. I use it for many things, from sweetener to my oats to my coffee. I'm tricking my brain into thinking I'm feeding my body the sweets I'm ignoring.

There are times I look at a bag of chips, a doughnut, and think "screw it I don't want to follow my diet". Then I think "I've already committed to this goal - complete w a date, payments to coach, supps, and various other things to help me reach my goal. Be disciplined. Be committed."

Things that keep me going this week (unedited):
"If there's one thing I love about you, it's that you're tough as shit and not afraid to be human and show emotion. And when you do, I never even question one bit just how grounded and tough you are. Don't ever change that."


"Ur never a quitter. U inspire every day"

I've committed to it already. No turning back. I've told people so now I'm accountable for my actions - either I'll inspire someone to keep pushing for something they want , or show them if the going gets tough then don't quit.