I remember when Sam was born. He is 11 now.
The lack of sleep, tiredness and general energy slumps at 9am in the morning was somewhat crippling.
I was also playing competitive rugby at the time, growing Sphere, pulling in 16 hour days and still finding time to train.
As a plucky 27 year old you definitely have a bit more in the tank.
But I remember at the time something has to stop. I can’t keep going. But I did. And made progress. I remember looking back over my journals that year and thinking “I have actually got stronger” and played some of my best rugby.
So how can YOU keep momentum? How can you keep the show on the road when things are falling around you?
1. Do less not more. Trim the excess. What 1 thing can you do in the gym, with your diet and lifestyle that will yield the best results. For me it was focusing on 1 exercise. Sometimes gym sessions lasted 20 minutes. But there was progress.
2. If I had energy I did some more. If I didn’t I just didn’t. Simple.
3. I prepared meals in advance. Bulk cooks. Meals in minutes. I had 4 staples that I turned to that could be done in minutes and ate those over and over and over again. Boring yes – stress free, no.
4. I tracked everything. That is why, if you can, weigh yourself daily. Studies have shown that this actually acts as a mental trigger to continue the day in a healthy way.
5. Keep a chart of your weight and whatever else you are looking to monitor.
6. Track your performance in the gym. Are your lifts and performance going up or down? Up = good. Down = bad. Stop. Do a few brisk walks for a couple of days and then go and hit it hard again.
7. Who is your accountability partner? Where are your fitness buddies?
8. Eat a little less if you are less active that day.. Smaller portions can be as simple as reducing the size of your plate or trying intermittent fasting by skipping breakfast, having a cup of Joe and buckling up the hunger cues till lunch.
9. Nap. If possible. Nothing wrong with getting the head down when and where you can. I could sleep on a clothes line by the time Sam was 1.
John
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