2012 | Day 189: Calmly Disturbed

MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

Expectation and Appreciation

We have expectations of ourselves - that does not mean everyone else does the same. Those of us that have expectations of ourselves often also have expectations of others - expectations they may not have themselves, and if they do, likely to be very different from those held by the individual in question. Therefore, it is better NOT to have any expectations of anyone BUT yourself, for that way no one can ever DISAPPOINT you - for you WILL be disappointed if you expect everyone else to hold to the SAME standards that you set for yourself.

Instead, learn to be SURPRISED and APPRECIATE it when someone rises to the occasion and you discover that they DO have expectations of themselves after all, and that sometimes they might not be so very far off your own for you.

If you stop expecting and begin accepting the truth of the world, then your perception of it and the people in it changes. It changes from one who is always cynical to one who can be surprised, one who can see the beauty in life, the blessings in the tragedy. Life changes when WE change, when our PERCEPTIONS change, when we learn to LET GO of the things that we canNOT control, and learn to focus on making OURSELVES the BEST that we can, hoping that we are example enough that others will FOLLOW suit.

Quote for Reflection:

TRAINING

Session 1

HIIT Run:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 8 x 20 sec sprint/10 sec easy
c. 7 min jogging

Session 2

Hamstrings/Abs (30 sec recovery between supersets and trisets):
SuperSet -
1. Stiff-Legged DB Deadlifts (on step, reaching DB down ~6 inches) 4 x 10
2. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions
TriSet A -
3. Weighted DB Crunch (on bench) 4 x 10
4. Reverse Curls (on bench) 4 x 10
5. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions
TriSet B -
6. Swissball Leg Curls 1 x 20
7. Swissball Crunches (feet on wall, knees at 90 degree flexion) 1 x 20
8. Skip 1 x 100 revolutions

Stretch 20 min

OTHER NOTES

Sleep: Did not get up an hour earlier than yesterday, but an hour LATER, and was NOT pleased.

Energy: Getting lower by the day - and no, I am NOT "dieting" or being restrictive with carbohydrates or anything else silly like that. There are a few factors in play, one of which is stress, the additional body mass, and the fact that I have not taken a break from training in ~6 months - my body is just letting me know that I can't completely abuse it.

Joints: Getting more and more painful both my shoulders and wrists - it has become a constant nuisance now.

Quality of Training: HIIT was slower than slow, my sprints as fast as I could make them, but almost seeming like my "regular" jog (when I am feeling ok). Entire body was just exhausted and the extra body mass is not being kind on my knees or lower legs...Did the Hamstrings and Abs that I did not do on Monday and Tuesday respectively - glad I did them, because I didn't feel like it and was just going to leave work early withOUT anything further than my HIIT Run done prior to. I DID get on the Recline Bike after the weights, but stopped after a minute my body was THAT bad. Weighing up what to do for the rest of the week.

Overall Sense of Feeling: Quiet in my soul, albeit VERY disappointed in myself for the last 6-7 weeks and letting myself get affected the way I have.

Iron Mulisha: John actually inspired this piece - read The Life I Chose To Live here.

2012 | Day 181: ...you're the only one...I can't forget you...

MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

The Life I Chose To Live

The life I chose to live is the life I live and HAVE lived for a long time. The life YOU choose to live is entirely up to you, the way that my life is up to ME. We each make our OWN decisions on what our life is going to be like and be, and whilst you may OFFER your opinion on what you think I should be doing, realize that what you think of my life has NO sway over what it is.

I live life the way I WANT to live it. I live life so that I can look back with NO regrets. I live my life to make sure I make as MUCH DIFFERENCE as possible in the lives of all those lives I touch, if even for the briefest of time.

I live my life a certain way. With purpose. To fulfil a mission. Not for myself, but to see what I can DO, the IMPACT I can make, the POSITIVE change I can help instigate and bring, so that life is RICHER for all those in it.

I live my life with PASSION. A will to find a way, no matter what the odds. A mind willing to be open, work OUTside the circle but few would rather stay in. A soul open to that second chance, because we all can start over, and if you can give someone ELSE a second chance, that is a true blessing indeed.

My life may seem odd to those around me. Wasted with the talents they THINK I should be using. Thrown away because my values are not in line with theirs. But my life is NOT odd - it is the way I want it to be, and if anything is not, then I make sure I CHANGE it, so that it IS.

This is ME. This is MY life. This is what I DO.

Quote for Reflection:

Photo credit: John Hicks

TRAINING

Arms/Abs (30 sec recovery between trisets and quadsets):
TriSet A -
1. Close-Grip BB Bicep Curls 5 x 5
2. Dips 5 x 6
3. Skip 5 x 100 revolutions
TriSet B -
4. Alternate Incline DB Hammer Bicep Curls 5 x 16
5. Rope Tricep Push-Downs 5 x 6
6. Skip 5 x 100 revolutions
QuadSet -
7. Weighted DB Crunch (on bench, knees at 90 degree angle) 5 x 10
8. Reverse Curl (on bench) 5 x 10
9. Pikes (on bench) 5 x 10
10. Skip 5 x 100 revolutions

Post-Weights Cardio:
Recline Bike 20 min @ 103-104 rpm

Stretch 20 min

OTHER NOTES

Sleep: Went to bed just after 2300 and was asleep pretty quick - that's how shattered I was. Woke a few times during the night, but ended up sleeping for close to 10 hours!

Energy: Not a lot. Have pretty much been on the go constantly since got up yesterday - aside from the time I slept last night.

Quality of Training: Fcuking PAIN!

Muscle and Strength: Steve published another of my popular articles on Muscle and Strength today - check it out: Training for Muscle Growth: Physiological Adaptations And Lifting Weights To Maximize Mass

2012 | Day 169: YOU are MY dream

MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

The Scary Choices

Sometimes we find a dream in our heart that we didn’t realize was there, discovered during a period of darkness, or when someone or something completely UNexpected comes into our life and we are knocked out for the count. Sometimes those dreams can SCARE us beyond all imagining, something we never wanted or ever thought we could or would want, held in trepidation as we debate the decision whether or not to FOLLOW our heart in this matter.

Will we or won’t we? Will we step out and risk everything we know and have ever known for something OUTSIDE the scope of our experience and knowledge, so unknown that we feel helpless and lost in navigating our way through it? Will we choose to look BEYOND everything that could possibly go wrong on the journey, seeing instead the wonderful OPPORTUNITY that life is blessing us with, the dream we have denied our heart for so long?

Whether your mind acknowledges it or not, once you are AWARE of this dream, you can NEVER become UNaware, that dream becoming a PART of you, living and breathing with you, held capture in your heart, no matter how far down you may try to push it or try to deny its existence out of fear of what might happen IF you follow it. You’ll never know if you don’t give it a chance, if you don’t take the risk and put yourself out there, if you don’t DO.

But when you’re afraid and you just DO it anyway, that’s when you grow and open yourself up to new POSSIBILITIES, when your heart SINGS in the exhilarating feeling of not knowing but knowing and having FAITH that something WONDERFUL is going to happen. It’s not just persevering and desiring it with a force more powerful than you ever realized, but it’s making the choices that scare us the MOST, stepping into the decisions that you want so desperately but have never allowed yourself to consider a plausible reality, that CHANGE us the most and can be the BEST things we ever do, WORTH everything in the end.

Will YOU hear and HEED the call of you HEART and take the RISK, no matter how fearful you are, no matter how hard the path ahead might seem, to SEE where it takes you, to take the chance that it could be something that ENRICHES your life BEYOND anything else you have ever known? Will you be BRAVE and EMBRACE it, knowing that God would never have offered such an unexpected gift it He did not WANT it for you? WILL YOU?

Quote for Reflection:

TRAINING

Skip x 300 revolutions

Full-Body (30 sec recovery between quadsets):
QuadSet A -
1. Single-Arm DB Bent Over Rows 3 x 8 per arm
2. Side-to-side DB Push-Ups (feet on floor, hands on DB) 3 x 12
3. Stiff-Legged DB Deadlifts (on step, reaching DB down 6 inches) 3 x 8
4. Skip 3 x 100 revolutions
QuadSet B -
5. Bent Over Plate Rear Raises 3 x 10
6. Hammer Raises (each hand with individual plate) 3 x 10
7. Alternate Single-Arm DB Lateral Raises 3 x 20
8. Skip 3 x 100 revolutions
QuadSet C -
9. DB Zottoman Curls 3 x 10
10. Push-Ups (feet on floor, hands on fists under chest) 3 x 10
11. Alternate DB Hammer Bicep Curls 3 x 20
12. Skip 3 x 100 revolutions
QuadSet D -
13. Swissball Crunches (270 degrees to 180 degrees) 3 x 15
14. Hanging Straight-Leg Raises (feet to touch bar) 3 x 10
15. Plank 3 x 1 min
16. Skip 3 x 100 revolutions

Stretch 8 min

Post-Weights Cardio:
Recline Bike 20 min @ 106-110 rpm

Stretch 12 min

OTHER NOTES

Sleep: The exhaustion yesterday was reflected in how long I slept - although I woke several times, ended up getting 10-11 hours and STILL woke feeling like I had been run over by a train, eyes bright red.

Mood: My soul feels so LIGHT

Energy: Boundless, once I got into training - mood definitely makes a difference as well, because I woke shattered as hell.

Libido: HIGH!

Joints: Shoulders still not good - left tendons clicking over each other painfully during resistance training, and right so painful I had to dig my nails into it during post-weights cardio to minimize the pain. Neck a little "out" as well, but working on it - has become more prominent the more my shoulders hurt.

Quality of Training: Took my bike off the rollers and RODE to the gym today (going to start doing this from now on methinks) - felt awesome to be out on the road again and made me realize how much I missed it, but anyways...I was smiling when I walked into the gym (it truly IS my "happy" place, although my smile was because of something else entirely), ready to get into the weights. Stuck with quadsets (really enjoy doing these), changing up the exercises for some variety. Noticed last night in the mirror how much more developed my left lateral delt is than my right and couldn't help but see this in the gym as well - going to have to work on that. Definition was great though. Smiled for the most part through the pain of my shoulders (which started playing up early) and the lightheadedness (that set in during QuadSet D), my "usual" training face only on through QuadSet B - where my neck started playing up on me (went away after this quadset though). Finished covered in a glistening sheen of sweat, feeling my abs tight (they need to LOOK as tight as they felt during and after planks), eyes bright, in pain but unable to keep the smile away...

Overall Sense of Feeling: My entire body is SMILING!

Iron Mulisha: Don't forget to check out I CHOOSE...

2012 | Day 168: This is OUR Time!

MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

WORTH Waiting AND Fighting FOR!

Your heart knows what it wants. And it knows what it’s prepared to do to get it. If it’s something you TRULY desire and long for above anything, you WILL do WHATEVER it takes - wait as long as it takes, fight as much as it takes, suffer as much as it takes, until your dreams manifest as reality.

Waiting teaches us patience. It is probably the one thing above all else that shows us how much we truly want something. Waiting suffers the battles, the fights, the struggles, the torment, the pain, the tears. It’s NOT giving up when things seem bleak, hope desolate and lost beyond belief. It’s having faith that no matter what, you WILL persevere, that it will all be WORTH it in the end.

Nothing great ever comes easy. It is always going to be a battle, because that is the way of life. It sorts out the wheat from the chaff, determines who REALLY has it in them to touch their dreams. After all, if you’re not fighting with EVERYthing you are and have, then you’re not really fighting, and if you’re not really fighting, then it means whatever it is you are fighting for does not mean that much to you.

Pain is just one price we pay for our dreams. Sometimes it is the most costly of all, because the road to our heart’s desire is neither short nor easy, and the most beautiful of things cannot be touched, but they must be felt. The most beautiful things in life often come out of the most intense and immeasurable pain, drawn from a soul that refuses to let go or give in or give up, knowing that even the deepest torture is nothing to endure to see their dreams alive and living.

When your heart wants something, TRULY desires it, you will find within you the STRENGTH to endure and overcome ANYthing in the pursuit of it. So hold TIGHT to your dreams, NEVER give up hope, and always have faith that every minute, every fight, every tear is WORTH it!

Quote for Reflection:

TRAINING

HIIT Run:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 8 x 20 sec sprint/10 sec easy
c. 4 min jogging

Stretch 21 min

Sleep: Took me quite a while to get to sleep, waking after ~3 hours and feeling completely shattered, the couple of hours' sleep after that broken and black.

Energy: EXHAUSTED! So much so that I didn't go out until just after 2100 to do my HIIT! And even then, though darker, the heat was still prevalent. Body still shattered.

Joints: Shoulders still aching. Neck also cricking a lot.

Quality of Training: Not my best, but I did SOMEthing - will just have to go extra hard tomorrow to "make up" for what I feel was lack of intensity (or ability to be intense) tonight.

OTHER NOTES

I CHOOSE...

My second article for The Iron Mulisha was published today. After everything that has transpired these last few months, I no longer hesitate. Again, all thank you to a very special individual - YOU ARE AMAZING AND NEVER FORGET IT!

2012 | Day 167: REBIRTH ANEW

MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

I AM

I AM ME. Brilliantly flawed. Perfectly imperfect. Beautiful masterpiece. Forever learning. Always growing.

I AM ME. NO ONE ELSE can be ME. No one else can IMITATE me. No one else can come CLOSE to me. NOTHING is as good as the original. A copy is but a SHADOW of the light of the original.

I AM ME. I DECIDE WHO I AM. The core of my soul. My values and principles. The foundation of my life. My driving motivation behind words and actions.

I AM ME. THIS IS ME. Love me or hate me, agree or disagree with me, it does not matter, because I KNOW WHO I AM and I am OK with that. I will NOT compromise who I am and what I believe in. I will NOT pretend to be anything other than my TRUTH. I may change, but THAT will NEVER change.

I AM ME.

Quote for Reflection:
TRAINING

Session 1

Arms/Abs (30 sec recovery between trisets):
TriSet A -
1. Deadbugs (on floor, with medicine ball) 4 x 10
2. Reverse Curls (on floor) 4 x 10
3. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions
TriSet B -
4. Close-Grip BB Bicep Curls 4 x 6
5. Dips 4 x 6
6. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions
TriSet C -
7. Incline DB Hammer Bicep Curls 4 x 8
8. Rope Tricep Push-Downs 4 x 8
9. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions
TriSet D -
10. Inverted Knee Curls (on pull-up bar) 2 x 10
11. Plank 2 x 1 min
12. Skip 2 x 100 revolutions

Stretch 6 min

Post-Weights Cardio:
Rollers 20 min in 39x18 @ 103-105 rpm

Stretch 21 min

Session 2

Run 3 miles

Abs (30 sec recovery between trisets):
1. Weighted DB Crunches (on floor, knees at 90 degree flexion) 4 x 10
2. Pikes (on floor) 4 x 15
3. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions

Post-Weights Cardio:
Rollers 20 min @ 101-103 rpm

OTHER NOTES

Sleep: Went to bed round 0030, but not able to go to sleep until close to 0100, waking on and off until I eventually dragged myself out of bed just after 0800.

Energy: Had it until ~1500 and then just felt shattered.

Joints: Left shoulder is really giving me a lot of trouble, especially during training it did. As well as left wrist - so bad that I strapped it up after my morning weights. In the afternoon, right shoulder "tugging", and I can feel my neck a bit out as well.

Quality of Training: I've actually lost a bit of strength - or it could be because my shoulders and wrists were in such pain today. Compensated for lower weights by using a tempo of 3-1-2. Was pleased that was able to do more Inverted Knee Curls though - only the second time I have ever done these and it was so much better than my first time. All rollers was just body ticking over, to get it done and nothing more.

Overall Sense of Feeling: Life continues to change, POSITIVE change that causes my heart to smile. NOW is the time to RISK if you are not ALREADY! Life is just WAITING for you to step out and say "HERE I AM"! NEVER stop being grateful for your Blessings, because you don't know when they will be snatched from you. Grasp EVERY Opportunity and DO YOUR BEST TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH YOUR LIFE!

Iron Mulisha: Be sure to check out Demons and Angels: Pain to Remind You of Your Strength

2012 | Day 164: I'm taking back control

MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

The Purpose of Life

We all have a purpose in life. We all have a philosophy as to how we LIVE. Some live to make a difference, happiness simply a “side” benefit if it occurs. Others live to find the happiness in life, instead of for something greater than self. The world is made up of all kinds of people, and it needs those people to have BALANCE.

Being happy is a state of mind, of emotions, affected by far more than anyone could ever possibly describe, and for each individual, being happy means something different than it does to the next person.

Not being happy is not the same as being UNhappy. Those who live to make a difference may not always be happy, but they will likely never be unhappy, for they are doing what they love, and when you do what you love, you have a sense of peace and satisfaction, of fulfilment. Those who live only to find the happiness may never truly know what it is, because if one is never NOT happy, how can they know what true happiness is? And if you ARE happy, what is the point if you have lived selfishly, that happiness true or false, because who can truly be happy being completely selfish?

Everyone is going to have their own opinion on this and I respect that. Life is a balance of souls and always will be. But let me ask: What are YOU doing with your life? What are you LIVING for? What is your PURPOSE?

Quote for Reflection:

TRAINING

HIIT Run:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 12 x 20 sec sprint/10 sec easy
c. 2 min jogging

Stretch 20 min

Shoulders/Arms/Abs (30 sec recovery between quadsets):
QuadSet A -
1. Alternate Single-Arm Plate Lateral Raises 3 x 20
2. Hammer Raises (each hand with individual plate) 3 x 10
3. Bent Over Plate Rear Raises 3 x 10
4. Skip 3 x 100 revolutions
QuadSet B -
5. Alternate Plate Hammer Bicep Curls 3 x 20
6. Plate Bicep Curls 3 x 10
7. Plate Hammer Curls 3 x 10
8. Skip 3 x 100 revolutions
QuadSet C -
9. Cable Crunches 3 x 20
10. Reverse Curls (on floor) 3 x 10
11. Pikes (on floor) 3 x 10
12. Skip 3 x 100 revolutions

Post-Weights Cardio:
Rollers 20 min in 39x18 @ 103-105 rpm

Joints: Shoulders still very pain, right more than left today (go figure). Popping Aleve like some kids do candy (which is not healthy, I know).

Pump: Painful, especially during QuadSet B.

Quality of Training: Could barely breathe during HIIT (doing it out in the midday heat didn't help either)...Training in the basement today. In a lot of pain during the weights, but pushing through it regardless, determined to pretend I didn't feel anything, not to give in to the weakness. If my body breaks, then so be it - I'd rather deal with a broken body than a broken soul...

OTHER NOTES

Demons and Angels: Pain to Remind You of Your Strength

My first article for The Iron Mulisha is now up. This piece, almost like a Motivational, was inspired by a very special individual, from a conversation I will never forget, ironically on the day that EVERYthing changed, when life suddenly offers you something so very precious you're not sure whether or not to believe that it's real or truly meant for you, your secret heart hoping so as it reaches out to tentatively welcome it. So thank you (you know who you are). This message and that which inspired it - none of it has changed, and if anything, stands truer than ever right now.

2012 | Day 142: Who do you think you are?

MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

The Sound of a Champion's Voice

Live to CREATE something. Live to make a DIFFERENCE. Live to CHANGE lives. Live to SHINE in the world.

Live NEVER giving up. Live ALWAYS trying. Live giving nothing but your BEST. Live with a PURPOSE.

Life is tough. It hurts. It causes pain. It will try to break you down.

DON’T give in. Pain is NOTHING. Defeat is NOT an option. You are STRONGER than that.

Life is for LIVING. Life is for moving FORWARD. Life is for experiencing as COMPLETELY as possible. Life is for standing up and KNOWING WHO YOU ARE.

You don’t have to win medals or accolades on a grand stage to be a Champion. You don’t have to have millions know your name to be a Champion. Being a Champion is in your ATTITUDE and what you DO. BE A CHAMPION!

Quote for Reflection:

TRAINING

Run 3 miles

Skip x 600 revolutions

Arms/Abs (30 sec recovery between quadsets):
QuadSet A -
1. Incline DB Bicep Curls 4 x 10
2. Dips 4 x 8
3. Swissball Crunches (270 degrees to 180 degrees) 4 x 10
4. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions
QuadSet B -
5. DB Zottoman Curls 4 x 8
6. DB French Press 4 x 6
7. Weighted DB Crunches (on bench, knees at 90 degree flexion) 4 x 10
8. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions
QuadSet C -
9. Rope Cable Bicep Curls 4 x 10
10. Rope Tricep Push-Downs 4 x 6
11. Rope Crunches 4 x 10
12. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions

Post-Weights Cardio:
Recline Bike 20 min @ 103-105 rpm

Stretch 20 min

Energy: Talk about half past dead - I felt like I was barely moving during my 3-mile run and it's the slowest pace I have had in a long time. Took a cap of BLACK CATS an hour before going to the gym, hoping it would help a little re energy, but there was almost nothing there today.

Joints: Wrists were better today. Anterior delts, especially right was not - during post-weights cardio, had to dig my fingers into the joint to "numb" the pain some. Although not a joint issue, right arch still tight and hurting, favoured a lot during skipping.

Pump: Good.

Vascularity: Enjoying this.

Quality of Training: Changed it up a little today - and yes, I know, not following my "split", but sometimes you just have to do what you must, and these last five days are important. I was struggling and in pain today and it was obvious. Decent session though.

OTHER NOTES

The Iron Mulisha

Honoured and Excited to join the Iron Mulisha team as a Writer and Spokesmodel

Thank you to Gary Miller for the gorgeous images he shot when I went to Florida in April!