We’re in week 6 of fitness training now, which means almost half way thru the transformation. It’s been going strong but thing have just started to come up this week, involving actually not wanting to go to the gym. Actually avoiding it some. Six days a week is a lot of time. However, I’ve also made it my goal this week to officially have a free day on Sunday (I had to move a few workouts last week), which means I’m doing double-duty strength-and-cardio days in order to make sure I have Sunday free. Which is good.
The most interesting thing has been stopping and looking at those moments when I don’t want to go. Because they’re actually involving me, negotiating with myself in my own head. I’m writing about this now, because I’ve hit this wall before – usually at about the six week mark – so I’ve got a legitimate challenge in front of me. So after the jump, I’m gonna talk more about that, plus updated progress photos.
Here are the steps:
1. Focus on why I really want to go to the gym. And what that feels like. This involves switching my mindset from just having it be an obligation, to using another goal for motivation. So I’m focusing on how I actually feel after leaving the gym. When I feel strong, when I’m running for warm-up and I find myself actually wanting to run MORE that I have to. When I’m sprinting on the elliptical machine, and I push myself farther than I expected at the 45 second mark into a 1 minute run, and I want to stop because my legs burn, but I REALLY want to prove to myself that I’m not going to let that stop me. And how I feel when I make it there. How excited I am when I move up in weight each time at the gym because I CAN do more, and it feels awesome to push that hard. I’m focusing on that.
2. Use the results. I’m really glad I’ve been taking pictures so far, every two weeks. So at the start of all of the odd numbered weeks. Week 7 is on Monday, which means we’re over the hump, and I’m going to take another picture then, and maybe new stats for everything else. My weight has been going up, and I’m starting to see my abs more. And it shows in pictures. This is huge for me. Because it means there’s actually changes going on, and I’m improving. Other people can see it AND so can I. This is a big deal and it’s helping me to know that this is working.
I already know I can feel better by training, but I really do want to get to a level from an aesthetical point when I can feel like my body is ready to rock. That I’m strong and hard and prepared for whatever I have to do, because that’s inspiring. So I’m glad that I’m seeing some results. As of today, Day 40, I weighted in at 164.6 lbs. That’s up just under 5 lbs. from when I started, and I don’t seem to see any of that being fat. So I’m gonna keep going.
On Monday, I’m switching to running. It’s been six weeks of cardio on the elliptical machine, as I work on my legs and my lungs and trying to get my ankles and legs safe and strong to take the impact of running. But I think I’m ready. The first week is going to be really easy – alternating walking and running at a moderate pace. We’re gonna start slow. But in a very short time, I’m going to be up to a mile: one of my goals for these 12 weeks. And it’s gonna go quickly beyond that, since 20 minutes of cardio, can get you a mile just by walking. How fast will I go? How far will I go? I’m not sure yet, but I’ll let you know when I get there.
Another hurdle to jump, and I’m excited for this one too. I’ve had dreams on and off for the past few years of just running. Running fast and freely and it feels AWESOME. Just to run like I did like a kid and not have to stop, just to keep moving. I want to get to that again. And when I’m on the elliptical and find myself able and pushing really hard and fast, during the “resting” periods of the intensity – I know I’m getting ready for that again. Awesome.
Below are updated pictures for the last four weeks, starting with before and moving up. Almost two more weeks have passed from the last picture. Changes are small (I’m a tall guy and 5 lbs. of muscle is a big achievement, even if only the mass of five baseballs), but I’m proud. Also, as you can see, I got smaller in the third photo, which was not part of my original plan, but I think will help me fit thru tinier doors. Click to see a larger version if you wanna “zoom” in to check the differences.
Cheers, folks. I’ll let you know how the process is going when we hop into week 7. Rock and roll.