There comes a time when you have to make tough decisions. You get so focused on certain things that you forget the important things. For me, I got so focused on my goals and my progress that I neglected the signals my body was giving me. I know that in the back of my mind I knew it was time for a break, but I wanted to hit my goals. Then I looked back at my log and discovered something interesting. Every single time I've taken a break from lifting I've come back better, stronger and more motivated than ever.
One example would be the very last time I took a break. I came back and managed to shatter a bunch of personal bests. I had some awesome progress with my nutritional issues. It was all a very good experience. This time is going to be no different. I will come back in a week and my weight routine is going to change pretty dramatically. I will be able to lift more than I could when I started the break. This is almost a guarantee.
It is times like this that I realize how important it is to make the tough decisions. For most of us, the first tough decision we made was to start down this fat loss road in the first place. We gave up things we liked. We made a decision and stuck to it. In fact, it gets easier to make the tough decisions once you get yourself used to making them.
Accountability is a tough decision as well. Putting up pictures daily is not an easy thing to do. It was a tough decision for me to dig down and do this. At the same time, it is probably the most rewarding thing I've done on my fitness journey. It is a habit that I will not break. I am here for the long haul.
My plans for the next 14 days involve some serious shredding. I am going to eat a very strict diet. I am going to mix up my cardio every few days to keep my body guessing. I'm going to shred off alot of fat in the next 2 weeks and I need you all to help me along that path. Keep me honest. Hold me accountable. Encourage me. Just keep me focused.
Accountability Log:
| Mission 1: Day 24 of 40 | Accountability | ||
| Meal/Training Plan: Real-time accountability | Each task completed? | ||
| Day 85: January 18, 2008 | Yes or No | ||
| 4:00 a.m. | Meal 1: Protein shake with glutamine and 30 g. of oatmeal and 3 glasses of water | Yes | |
| 4:00 a.m. | Supplements: Animal Pak, Glucosamine Chondroiten, calcium, chromium, glutamine | Yes | |
| 4:30 a.m. | Workout: Lifting and 6 glasses of water | Yes | |
| 6:00 a.m. | Meal 2: Protein shake with glutamine, BCAAs and chromium and small salad and 3 glasses of water | ||
| 9:00 a.m. | Meal 3: Chicken breast and large salad and 3 glasses of water | Yes | |
| 12:00 p.m. | Meal 4: Chicken breast and snap peas and 3 glasses of water | Yes | |
| 3:00 p.m. | Meal 5: Tuna (6 oz.) and large salad and 3 glasses of water | Yes | |
| 6:00 p.m. | Meal 5: Cheat Meal–4 slices of pizza with a small salad and 3 glasses of water | Yes | |
| 8:30 p.m. | Supplements: Casein protein, glutamine, calcium and 3 glasses of water | Yes | |
| Accountability Areas: | Points | Possible | |
| Meal 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Meal 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Meal 3 | 1 | 1 | |
| Meal 4 | 1 | 1 | |
| Meal 5 | 1 | 1 | |
| Training | 1 | 1 | |
| Post Workout Nutrition | 1 | 1 | |
| Water | 1 | 1 | |
| Pre-sleep nutrition | 1 | 1 | |
| Accountability | 1 | 1 | |
| Daily Totals: | 10 | 10 | |
| Mission Totals: | 216 | 220 | |
| Workout Log: | |||
| Squats | 245 x 10 x 4 | ||
| Deadlift Shrugs | 265 x 10 x 4 | [PB] | |
| Bulgarian Split Squats | 50 x 10 x 4 | [PB] | |
| Step ups | 40 x 10 x 4 | ||
| Reverse Crunches | 24 x 3 | ||
| HIIT Cardio Session | 30 minutes | ||
| Pushup challenge training | 15; 15; 14; 14; 12; 12; 10; 41 | ||
| [PB] = Personal Best |
Until tomorrow…GET BACK TO LIFTING!
