September 25, 2020
I Just Lost >20lbs, Do This not That…
The Good News, I lost over 20lbs and Improved my Fitness to Levels I haven’t seen in a decade…
The Bad News, I finished the Process, a Period of ~100 Days, Sore, Tired, and potentially left some opportunity on the table…
The Backstory:
Every year, within ~100 Days of my Birthday, I Train to get “Back To” my Wedding Weight of ~205lbs.
The Cool Part, is that each year I Change the Variables, to Change the Process, while hoping to arrive at the Same Outcome.
Read that Again: I Do things Differently even though I had had Success previously.
I want to Learn.
I want to Experiment.
I want to Crush It or Be Crushed, because I will benefit from both.
I am 26 years into the Health, Wellness, Fitness and Strength Industry, and I want more.
The best way to Find More is to “Do Different”, so the Trial and Error begins with me.
It is altogether Fun, Scary and Enlightening, and never fails to Educate.
This Year, the New was as Follows:
- Eat a Larger Breakfast (Higher in Volume/Calories) to guarantee more Energy to start each day.
- Eat Dinner before 7:00pm each evening to create more Quality Time with my Family (We Walk most Nights either Before or After Dinner)
- Workout for 40+Days Consecutively. This is something I haven’t done in 5yr+, and I wanted to see how My Body would react.
- Keep “Step-Count” High: >14k daily, and Have an Understanding of the Total Volume of Activity
Summary of New: Eat More, Exercise More, Be Consistent, Be Aware.
Now, here is the Real Scoop:
I had a Knee Injury ~3mos ago, and resulting Bone Bruise, that limited the Impact my Body could withstand.
I had spent the previous ~3.5months attempting (Successfully) to add Muscle to my Frame, and the Training had left me Sore, Less Fit but more Muscular.
Oh, We also had a Child ~6wks ago + have another that is 3yrs Old.
Mind you, none of these are Restrictions, they are simply the existing Roadblocks that need to be dealt with to ensure + enable Success.
The Process, Training my Body, incorporated enough Variety that I was never bored or limited.
That doesn’t mean my Motivation wasn’t Up or Down, it was.
That doesn’t mean I didn’t want to occasionally skip a Workout, I did.
It certainly doesn’t mean I was on a Linear (Smooth and Easy) Curve of Success, I wasn’t.
How I Started:
I Lost Weight + Fat quickly, in the initial ~5weeks.
I Looked and Felt Better.
From Weeks 6-8, I plateaued. I Was Tired. I was Sore.
I wasn’t Angry, however, as I expected the Process to Match previous Experiences and Run in Spurts: Easy, Hard, Harder…
At 8-Weeks, my Knee felt Better, my Diet was Solid, and my Fitness had already Improved. What Happened?
We had a Child.
Everything Changed.
My Sleep disappeared.
My Tasks nearly doubled.
My Free-Time/Recovery-Time shrank to Nothing.
I was ecstatic.
I went on another “Run” for the last 8-Weeks and lost ~10more Lbs.
With Less Sleep, less Time, and Less Margin for Error.
With a Newborn, a 3yr Old, and 3 Incredible Mutts.
With a Business trying to Push itself out from the Pandemic.
Or you could Frame It another way:
With Renewed Focus on My Goals.
With Structured Parameters each Day.
With enough Opportunity to Succeed.
With Support from My Partner.
How We Look at our Situation determines What We Make of our Situation.
Believe That.
My Final Weigh-In saw me at 202.8lbs, the Lightest I have been in over 7years. I Looked Great, Healthy and Fit.
How Did I Feel?
I was (am) Tired, Sore and Look a little Older (a thinner face can do that).
My “Lightest Weight” comes with a bit of a Price Tag: the Energy + Effort to get to that point have a Cost (one that I won’t be able to Pay for long).
I Like having Energy, a “Bounce” to my Step, and the 2-things that Get in My Way of that are Fatigue and Soreness.
I plan on staying under 205 for 2-Weeks and then getting back to 208-210lbs.
Yes, as little as 4-6lbs make a huge difference (for me-it’s always Individual).
Let me also say this, as someone with Multiple Heart Attack Deaths in the Family, I do not have the Luxury of “Stepping off the Gas” and not paying attention to My Fitness.
I Need to Stay Fit.
I Need to Stay Small(er).
I Need to Pay Attention.
I promise you I Will, and that is Exactly Why I Experiment every Year, trying to Find New Ways to Feel Good; for Myself and My Family History, and for Our Clients so that They Can Feel Good as Well…
I advise you to Read this with an Open Mind but a Pragmatic Approach:
What Works for Me may Not Work for You (and Vice-Versa)
But based on How Many Different Methods I have Used, some Useful, some Awful, I can probably relate to a Path that You Have Taken…
Let’s Review:
This Year, the New was as Follows:
- Eat a Larger Breakfast (Higher in Volume/Calories) to guarantee more Energy to start each day.
Result:
Will continue this until November-a Huge Boost to My Energy!
- Eat Dinner before 7:00pm each evening to create more Quality Time with my Family (We Walk most Nights either Before or After Dinner)
Result:
We are Trying to Eat Earlier, at a Set Time (~6:00pm) to give some Structure to our Family. (Limiting My Intake by another hour may help Consistency for BodyFat + Weight)
- Workout for 40+Days Consecutively. This is something I haven’t done in 5yr+, and I wanted to see how My Body would react.
Result:
I will Not Continue this and may not Do it Again (ever). While I Loved the Mental Aspect of “Getting It Done”, My Body Did Not Respond Well, and I Worked Through Small Aches + Pains that have become Bigger Aches + Pains). Hard Pass on this Again.
- Keep “Step-Count” High: >14k daily, and Have an Understanding of the Total Volume of Activity
Result:
I Loved the Awareness of Activity, the Day to Day Knowledge of Movement, and Knowing the Highs + Lows of the Week.
Also, My Wife and I Compete in “Steps” and enjoy comparing notes at the End of the Day. I will continue with this Behavior until further notice.
Side Note: We used “Step Counts” to Help Athletes Lose Weight this Summer with Incredible Success. Simple, Manageable, and Limited in Taxation + Impact, this is a Tool that we Utilize and Recommend.
I am thrilled to be where I am: Healthy, at My Goal, and Armed with more Knowledge than the Year Before…
The “Cost of Doing Business is High”, but Not Taking Care of Myself has a much Higher Price Tag…
How do You Plan to Structure Your Next Fitness Opportunity?
Trying Something New?
Sticking to What Works?
A Hybrid Approach?
Whatever Your Plan, here are 4 Pieces of Advice to Make it Work:
- Have a Plan, that You Have Based on You “Now” and also Your History
- Be Willing to Listen To and Learn From Your Body
- Get Started ASAP. Action Wins. It Always Does.
- Find Accountability + Enjoyment in a Partner, Group, or Coach. It Makes Every Journey Better.
We are Here to Help. But You can Start Anywhere, with Anyone.
Get At It Today…
