2012 | Day 182: ...you gone makes everything wrong...

MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

The Greatest of You and Me

God doesn’t shatter dreams - HUMANS do. And we do that by NOT giving ourselves the opportunities or the chance to become the BEST that we can possibly BE.

When we give ourselves EVERY chance possible to be the best that we can be, we allow ourselves to journey towards being the greatest that we can be. If there is but one thing in life that we CAN control, it is this.

There are NO excuses as to why you cannot be great. EVERYone has the seeds of greatness INSIDE them - just not everyone will ever find, nourish, or allow them to grow and flourish. But when you do, watch out!

So focus NOT on what anyone ELSE is doing - focus on YOU. If everyone realized their POTENTIAL and allowed it to grow, then the world would be one step closer to realizing a true dream. For when the greatest of you and me come together, there is NOTHING that we can’t do, nothing we won’t be able to ACCOMPLISH, no dream we won’t be able to make a reality.

Quote for Reflection: 

TRAINING

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

Stretch 20 min

OTHER NOTES

Sleep: Passed out almost as soon as my head touched the pillow.

Energy: Drained. Because I only had to work this morning, was able to sleep again this afternoon, adding an additional ~3 hours to the ~7 hours I got last night.

Quality of Training: Not the best. Body feels very heavy and like lead (likely from the 6.2 pounds I gained from yesterday after all the food I ate last night, especially after having just lost that 6.2 pounds from Monday to Tuesday when my eating was good and resistance training was done). So very hot outside too, which didn't help, as the heat drains me drastically, especially making it hard to breathe. Although I probably shouldn't have, did only a short HIIT session, and also giving my body the afternoon off to recuperate.

Other Notes: I'll be starting back at full-time study in a week with my PostGraduate Diploma in Science, so that I can complete my Masters in a year in 2013 - I'm excited about it (it's been a long time in coming - I wanted to start this in 2009, but coming to the US interrupted that plan for a while, especially since the course has not been available all online re studying from back home - and won't be all available yet until next year). Going to have a full plate over the next 18 months, but pretty confident I can handle it. I know what I want to do and where I want to be, and if I have to whittle it down, I will to the top priorities, I will.

Day 338: Third Day withOUT Erase

Quote of the Day

"Mediocrity always attacks excellence." - Oprah

Training

Cardio 20 min.

Stretch 25 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: ~5 hours - not able to fall asleep until ~0600, though.

Mood/Aggression: Good.

Energy: There, but more focused on study again today.

Mental Focus and Clarity: The last few days have been get up, study, train quickly, and then back to study, before work, and then more study. I want this assessment done by the end of next week - which is a week before it's due, and nine weeks' worth of work done in less than a third of that time!

Stress: High.

Libido: Body is amazingly responsive.

Joints: Noticing NOT having Erase.

Endurance: Fine.

Quality of Training: Just an easy day of cardio today - I decided to allow this week to only have FOUR resistance sessions, and get back into it hardcore from tomorrow.

Other Notes: Will have my review of Erase up tomorrow.

Question of the Day

Would you dance with the Devil if you had the opportunity?

Day 279

Training

HIIT Cardio:
a. 4 min easy
b. 24 x 20 sec effort/10 sec easy
c. 4 min easy

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: ~4 hours. Woke refreshed and peppy.

Energy: Slowly getting back to where I was.

Mental Focus and Clarity: Study and work for most of the rest of the day.

Endurance: Good.

Quality of Training: Still feels like I'm doing nothing, even if I'm not. My body is going to thank me for this easy week NEXT week!

Day 252: Mixing things up today

Training

Cardio 20 min.

Gym - Full-Body (1 min recovery between sets):
1. Single-Leg Deadlifts (with twist and lateral reach) 1 x 20 per leg
2. Plank x 1 min
3. Clean and Press 1 x 20
4. Bicycle 1 x 20 per side
5. Alternate Bicep Curls 1 x 20 per side
6. Deadbugs 1 x 20
7. Supinated BB Bent Over Rows 1 x 20
8. Push-Ups (with alternate side rotation) 1 x 20
9. Incline Dips 1 x 20
10. Plank x 1 min

Post-Weights Cardio 20 min.

Posing Practice 15 min.

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: Again, very broken - so broken that I wonder if I got much sleep at all; just felt like I was awake but not awake.

Energy: I have an extremely painful stomach today, which is affecting my desire to want to be energetic today, but the energy IS there.

Mental Focus and Clarity: More assignments due tonight (I'll have to finish them after work).

Appetite: Most often I actually wish that I WAS one of the individuals who do not have a problem with dieting, etc. - would make things so much easier. Then again, because it IS so hard for me, the fact that I even get where I want is accomplishment in itself.

Stress: High.

Endurance: Fine.

Strength: Good.

Pump: Reasonable.

Vascularity: Definitely better.

Quality of Training: I mixed things up a little today. Like yesterday, I had a cold, clammy sweat (almost like a fever) going, leaving me with the chills afterwards. Session was good, even though I would rather have been tucked up in bed with a wheatie. Kept cardio easy today, since I was very nauseous, and any intensity would have made me throw up again - I'm lucky I didn't (nearly, though) during my resistance training! . . .

Recovery: Actually have DOMS in my biceps, LOL (that's a first).

Day 250: Coming together . . .

Training

Cardio 20 min.

Posing Practice 15 min.

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Mood/Aggression: Still mixed moods today.

Energy: I was energetic earlier in the day. At work, suddenly had no energy. Now, I'm fine.

Mental Focus and Clarity: Assignments need doing.

Metabolism: Great.

Endurance: Excellent.

Pump: Getting good at getting this quick during posing practice.

Vascularity: Getting better by the day.

Quality of Training: Nice to have an easy day . . .

Body Composition and Look: Posing practice will be better when I get a little leaner.

Other Notes: Looking to the future, whilst doing the best I can in the now.

Day 249: Putting things in Perspective

Training

HIIT Cardio:
a. 4 min easy
b. 8 x 20 sec effort/10 sec easy
c. 8 x 60 sec effort/30 sec easy

Gym - Shoulders (30 sec recovery between alternate sets):
Alternate Set A -
1. Behind-the-Neck BB Military Press 4 x 12, 10, 8, 6
2. Lateral Raises 4 x 12
Alternate Set B -
3. BB Military Press 4 x 12, 10, 8, 6
4. Lateral Raises 4 x 12
Alternate Set C -
5. Clean and Press 4 x 12
6. Abs Superset 4 x [a. ab rollout x 8, b. ab vacuum (on knees) x 4]

Post-Weights Cardio 20 min.

Posing Practice 15 min.

Stretch 21 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: Still on New Zealand time if I sleep.

Mood/Aggression: Mixed moods today.

Energy: A bit blah and not really feeling like doing anything, but having the energy for doing what I have to and anything else I might want to.

Mental Focus and Clarity: Living with a mind that rarely turns off can be exhausting.

Metabolism: Good.

Appetite: High - WTF???

Stress: High.

Libido: High - best make use of it to relieve a bit of stress.

Endurance: Excellent.

Strength: Good.

Pump: Great pump during both resistance session and posing practice.

Vascularity: Stronger through right side of my body than my left - interesting. Seeing more noticeable through chest, delts, and arms.

Quality of Training: HIIT was good. From now on, though, it's cool enough to do it outside - sprinting! . . . Resistance session caused some pain, with interesting clicks and pops going on, but it was nothing serious . . . Took posing practice up another level . . .

Recovery: Feel mentally drained. Physically I'm ok.

Body Composition and Look: Noticed during posing practice that from the front, my right upper traps are definitely bigger than my left (that shoulder is also lower though, because of my scoliosis, so that could be it). My left side shows more definition than my right, appearing leaner, but my right side is slightly more developed, I think.

Other Effects: Still thirsty. Not as hot, though.

Other Notes: Been keeping in touch with my family - they're all safe, thank God, after the devastation in Christchurch from the earthquake (I have a lot of family there, albeit no immediate family) . . . I have a tendency not to know when enough is ENOUGH, OVERfilling my plate - it's no wonder that my body has given up on me at least once a year for the last three years - and I have to STOP. Training, several jobs, and full-time study are starting to take a small toll on me mentally, so I've been taking some time to prioritize everything, It's hard letting go of some things, but there are times when it HAS to be done, and hopefully from now on things will be a bit more manageable . . .

Day 246: Busy day

Training

HIIT Cardio:
a. 4 min easy
b. 8 x 20 sec effort/10 sec easy
c. 8 x 60 sec effort/30 sec easy

Gym - Full-Body (1 min recovery between exercises):
1. Crunches (hips at 90 degree flexion, legs fully extended, to touch toes) 1 x 20
2. Reverse Curl (on floor) 1 x 20
3. EZ-Bar Bicep Curls 1 x 20
4. Incline Dips 1 x 20
5. Lateral Raises 1 x 20
6. Supinated BB Bent Over Rows 1 x 20
7. Flat BB Bench Press 1 x 20
8. Single-Leg Deadlifts (with twist and lateral reach) 1 x 20 per leg
9. Bicycle 1 x 20 per side
10. Plank x 1 min

Post-Weights Cardio 20 min.

Posing Practice 10 min.

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Mood/Aggression: Ok, but still disappointed in myself.

Mental Focus and Clarity: Perfect - with how busy it was at work, and with assignments due from all directions, got my game face on.

Endurance: Great.

Strength: This session was NOT about strength.

Pump: Pretty good.

Vascularity: Could see the veins through my anterior delts and chest strongly today.

Quality of Training: HIIT was good - feeling it in my hips, though . . . Resistance training was a blast; so much better than yesterday . . . Getting better re posing; figuring out how to showcase my body best in each pose. Just need to lose that belly . . .

Day 243: Posing Needs MORE Work

Training

Cardio - Rollers:
a. 5 min @ 39x12 @ 120-125 rpm
b. 15 min @ 39x17 @ 120 rpm

Posing Practice 5 min.

Stretch 21 min.

Comments

Sleep - Time and Quality: I suddenly realized last night that the sleeping pattern my body has fallen into my [I]New Zealand[/I] body clock,going to sleep between 8-10pm and waking up at ~3.30am - which would be ok if I was IN New Zealand, but I'm not, so it has to right itself, and quickly . . .

Mood/Aggression: NOT very happy with myself.

Energy: Took me quite a bit of time to get myself going for training, dragging my feet for a resistance session - until I realized that I don't have to do Arms until tomorrow, which was a small relief. Feeling very shattered.

Mental Focus and Clarity: I have study to do - before AND after work - and need my head focused.

Appetite: The last week, it's been the equivalent of forcing down 1-3 decent-sized meals every day. After yesterday, though, I am quite ok going back to my excess of BC+EAA (and good fats), because food still makes me feel unbelievably nauseous and upsets my stomach badly after every meal . . .

Endurance: Good.

Quality of Training: After some adjusting of my bike - the freight messed it up a little - I was on and away. Nice to be back on the rollers again. Heated up FAST. Legs were ok . . . Had a really strong PUMP in my arms during posing practice, which was interesting. Definitely need to take this up to 10-15 minutes a day from now on, and start practicing my T-Walk soon . . .

Other Effects: Woke with a scratchy throat and thirsty as all hell. Still hot and thirsty, and it makes me feel like sh*t every time I wake up - at least during the day I am sculling back galleons of water . . .

Day 242: One bottle of Alpha-T2 down; two to go

Training

HIIT Cardio:
a. 4 min easy
b. 8 x 20 sec effort/10 sec easy
c. 8 x 60 sec effort/30 sec easy

Gym - Shoulders (30 sec recovery between alternate sets):
Alternate Set A -
1. Behind-the-Neck BB Military Press 4 x 10
2. Lateral Raises 4 x 15
Alternate Set B -
3. BB Military Press 4 x 10
4. Lateral Raises 4 x 10
Alternate Set C -
5. Ab Rollouts 4 x 10
6. Hanging Straight-Leg Raises (toes to touch bar) 4 x 8

Post-Weights Cardio 20 min.

Posing Practice 5 min.

Stretch 20 min.

Comments

Mood/Aggression: Could swing either way today.

Energy: There - and it HAS to be!

Stimulant Effects: Still none.

Mental Focus and Clarity: After work tonight, it's more study time.

Metabolism: I've been forcing down two meals a day now, and my body is dealing with them ok.

Stress: High.

Endurance: I have.

Strength: Better than this session last week.

Pump: Left deltoid was painful today - more the lateral delt, and it was interesting.

Quality of Training: HIIT was ok . . . Resistance session was painful . . . Didn't want to do Post-Weights Cardio, but I know that it makes a DIFFERENCE with my fat loss, so I did it anyway . . . Posing practice was also painful . . .

Day 144

The last three days have been a hive of activity and happenings - some good and some not so good. It's amazing what life manages to throw at us, when we think that we couldn't possibly handle any more, and how we find the strength and tenacity to just bear it and keep on going . . . I am SO stressed right now that it's not even remotely amusing anymore . . .

Briefly, re training, my body was so sore and exhausted after Friday, that I had Saturday and Sunday off training - making allowances for the fact that I worked a very strenuous job for seven hours constantly on the go Saturday night, and that Sunday was a huge day re physical labour; so getting a different kind of 'cardio' in at least. Unbelievable that only three days of training took so much out of me - and that I didn't grit my teeth and stubbornly force my battered body to do what my head wanted it to be doing re training.

This week is the LAST week that I can afford to take to get my body back on track and on a schedule. I need to be getting up again early - 4am, and going to bed before 10-11pm. Getting back into it is always the hardest, definitely, but once my body falls back into routine, then it should be ok.

I'm also going to be returning to full-time study soon, on top of my several part-time jobs and preparation for competition, so I HAVE to be all set, disciplined and structured, managing my time to perfection!

It's time to give life a good kick in the balls and show it that I can handle whatever it throws at me, that I WILL stand under onslaught, and if it wants to test me, I WILL come out victorious, no matter what!