Progressing despite Disruptions

My acceptance of chaos as the default status of my life has been the only thing that has helped me keep pushing forward over the past few years. I still make plans. I still have the intention to do certain things -- but then life happens and it is just chaos.

I've said it many times before, I don't function well without a plan. I like having a routine (not just for food and fitness, but for everything), and I like being able to stick to it. More than anything, the plan helps me measure my progress. Did I get things done? Have I accomplished anything within X amount of time? Or did I waste the past day/week/month/year sitting on the couch waiting for the perfect circumstances.

Not having a plan/routine stresses me out. I don't feel like I have any control over my life -- and the temptation to just say 'Fuck it' is really high. Things aren't going my way now so why bother?

Luckily, I those silly tantrums only last a short amount of time and I can move on. Some days it's easier to move on than others. Still, I move on.

My whole plan for the end of July (after returning from vacation) was to spend my days eating right, working out, and planning a good routine for August. I talked about gathering my tools for success - joining Weight Watchers, joining My Fitness Pal (I'm PlumpetalsFit if you want to add me), making sure to wear my FitBit every day. I also talked about researching food plans and trying to come up with some sort of eating program that will help optimize my training and break through this wretched plateau I'm stuck on once again.

Of course after all that, I am not preparing for yet another trip abroad. I do love to travel - however, this trip was unplanned and isn't really for pleasure. I'm anxious about it as I am worried about my brother's condition and I do hope that some breakthrough will be made while I'm there.

In the end, it's family first.

So, that's life. I'm getting on with things as that really is the only way. Of course I will plan (hahaha) some sort of fitness regime to follow while I'm abroad, but in the meantime, an update on how things have been progressing after my move to London in terms of my fitness.

I really have not had a proper weight lifting session for almost a year. After dislocating my wrist in November and going through a long healing period, my weight training recently has been more about recovery rather than increase in strength.

After moving to London, I set up a program to cover some basic lifts. My goal was to work towards rebuilding the strength I had when I was doing CrossFit regularly.

Today was my last training day of my program, and I'm quite pleased with how I've done. Given my circumstances (moving to London, going away on a 2 week vacation, then a 3 day weekend, and dealing with family stuff), I am happy with my progress.

Here's my chart (these are not all the exercises I did nor are they listed in the order of my program) --
4 sets x 10 reps each

London Fitness Progress

7 weeks 

Exercise	Start Weight	End Weight
Squats	20 kg	70 kg
Deadlift (quads)	20 kg	55 kg
Deadlift (hamstrings)	20 kg	50 kg
Chest press	20 kg	30 kg
Cable chest flies	9/side	13.5/side
Low row	13.5 kg	31.5 kg
Incline chest press (db)	5 kg/hand	11 kg/hand
One point row (db)	5 kg/hand	8 kg/hand
Push press	20 kg	30 kg
One arm shoulder press (db)	5 kg	9 kg
Thrusters	10 kg	25 kg
Lateral pull	22.5	31.5 kg
Cable pull downs	13.5 kg	40.5 kg
Row (db)	5 kg/hand	9 kg/hand

I still haven't reached the heaviest weights that I lifted before, but I really am quite happy with my progress, especially because I confidently completed all of the reps in excellent form but with some difficulty. I know that I was pushing myself, but I also know that I'm ready to move on.

I'm looking forward to continuing to build my strength.

After today's gym session of lifting, boxing, treadmill, and stretching -- loving my new Nike leggings - the color cheers me up :) 

Just Do It

Nike's Just Do It has to be one of my all time favorite slogans. I find myself repeating it to myself quite frequently. It doesn't just apply to exercise, but rather it goes for any task that I want to achieve, but somehow feel lazy to push forward and get them done.

I always kinda shake my head at myself when I find myself in a situation where I know what I want - like I want to lose weight - but then I do something that does not fall in line with working towards that goal. If I want it, surely I'll work for it, right? What is it in my head that starts the thought process of -- nah, you can get to it later/you don't have to?

Some people have commented (on my blog and in emails) how they don't know how I get through my exercise routines, especially on days when I've worked out for almost 4 hours.

All I say to myself is: Just Do It.

I know I want this. I know that I have the physical ability to do this -- all the other excuses are in my head.

In the mornings I sometimes feel lazy but I tell myself - Just do it - you'll feel so much better once it's done. Plus I know if I don't get my workout in and something comes up later and I don't make it to the gym, I'll feel like crap.

When I'm at the gym and I look at the treadmill after my weights workout and think - man, I'm exhausted, I really don't want to run -- I tell myself, Just do it - If you don't do it now (and running really is something I want to achieve) then you'll never get it done. You need to work at it if you want to progress.

After coming home in the afternoon and doing things around the house plus relaxing a bit, it's sometimes a struggle to get back up again and get ready to workout. There's nothing else to really say to myself other than Just do it. If I want to lose weight, if I want to get stronger, if I want to improve my technique and build up my skills, then I have to work for it. I have to put in the effort. I have to Just do it.

Thinking about food and preparing a nutritious, delicious, clean, and healthy meal can sometimes be tedious. Chopping vegetables takes time. Washing up takes time. Wouldn't it just be easier to eat out? It would, but then I wouldn't feel good. I know that I would end up regretting it. I also know that whatever extra calories I consumed would mean extra time at the gym. So instead, I get out those vegetables and start chopping. Just do it!! Within half an hour, a great meal can be prepared and enjoyed. No guilt. All good clean food. No excuses. Just do it.

For my 60 burpees a day challenge, when I'm on my 25th burpee and I'm breathing hard and drenched in sweat, I tell myself - Just do it; 5 more and get to 30; then at 30 I say, you're halfway there, just do it; then at 40 (which is when it gets quite a bit more challenging), I tell myself - Just do it, one at a time, you're almost done; at 50 I tell myself, come on, push through, what's another 10 burpees -- Just do it!!

I do it. I'm exhausted, but I feel great.

I've written about the mental struggle to lose weight quite a lot (as have other people in the blogging world). It really is about conquering your mind and knowing that not only do you have the strength and capability to Just do it, but also you deserve to do it for yourself.

It has taken me a long time to get to this point. I should have done it a long time ago. I know I tried many times, but I never made it because my head wasn't in the right place. You have to believe that you can do it and believe that the effort is worth it ... and on days when you just don't feel like it - tell yourself to Just do it anyway.

Your life is in your hands. You are in control. You CAN do this. Be brave. Be Bold. Just Do It. 

Today's Exercise
General: Martial arts conditioning exercises (15 minutes) + jump rope
Weights: NROL Workout 5A (45 minutes)
Cardio: HIIT on treadmill (15 minutes)
MMA training: Taekwondo and Jiujitsu (1 1/2 hour)

Today's Food
Breakfast: 3 dates + 1 tablespoon of peanut butter; banana
Lunch: Leftover chili from last night with 1/4 cup of rice
Dinner: Tuna burger (homemade) on a portobello mushroom
Snacks: 2 walnuts, 3 almonds, 2 raisins