brent99’s BodyBlog

I’ve cleaned up the diet a lot (read: less beer) and really been hitting it.  I think I have every type of protein they sell, lol.  I’m cycling my weights as fast as once every 5 days, intense days followed by very lazy ones…and doing a modest amount of cardio.

So far, so good.

I’ve lost 4 pounds of bodyfat and gained 4 pounds of muscle in as little as 3 weeks.  That’s a MASSIVE transformation in that timeframe and far exceeding my expectations.  I’m just outside my more normal fitness range with 11%.  A current photo was just posted of me from about a week ago.  Strengthwise, I’m starting to rep 250 on the benchpress and I got my fitness cardio levels going again.

So I’m on the rebound after a few months on the slide.  And as I chart my aggressive progress, I’m trying to remember the most important thing.

There’s my relentless intense workout sessions.  Splitting the body parts.  Working the cardio.  Constant protein.  Cleaning up the diet.

That’s not it.

The willpower to work out and workout hard!

That’s not it either.

It is…REST.  

Yes, working out 2-3 times a day, hitting all the bodyparts, pounding the protein…that’s relatively easy.  The hard part?  Taking the day off.  Doing NOTHING.  Then taking another day off.  And then…hitting that full speed "go go go" switch again.

I know that its the right thing to do, and the smartest thing to do.  But arguably, it can be the hardest thing to do too when you want fast results, are willing to work for them, and realize that the best way to get there is to listen to your body and know when NOT to be in the gym.