As I progress towards the home stretch of Mission Grand Prix I realize that perspective is really everything. As the person directly working the change, my perspective gets clouded at times. That's why my preparation coach, Chris Albert, is there to keep me focused. A recent incident on the phone will explain the situation better.
“I'm not losing fat fast enough!”
During a text exchange with Chris, I texted him that I was not losing fat fast enough. He called me immediately to discuss my situation. He asked a bunch of questions, mostly aimed at figuring out why my mindset was in this condition.
“You were pretty lean when I saw you on Friday.”
Chris had just seen me 4 days prior on a Friday. During our conversation he commented that he felt I was getting leaner and leaner based upon what he saw during that meeting. His next question really hit me hard.
“How many times have you been in a competition?”
Yes, Chris asked me about my experience in this situation. I had to admit that I was a complete novice. This is my first ever competition. I have no idea how the body responds or how quickly. To me, 7 weeks out is not a very long time. To Chris it is an eternity.
“You will be leaner and in better shape than ever before!”
Chris told me to calm down. He said that he promised I would be in the leanest shape of my entire life by the time I stepped on stage. He explained a few things about the body and fat loss to me. I listened intently and came to a few conclusions.
“I have come to some conclusions!”
I have concluded the following things about getting ready for a competition:
- Having a preparation coach is a great way to stay focused on the right things.
- The body responds to some things immediately and others it takes time before responding.
- Fat loss is a major combination of factors–nutrition, weight training, cardio training, current condition, length of time on a diet, etc.
- There are tricks to blow fat off the body quickly if necessary, so there's never a reason to panic
I know I am going to be ready for the show on April 14, 2012. My mind is in it to the max.
Have you ever worried about not meeting a fitness deadline?
