Early morning v. earlier morning - planning
I slept in a bit this morning, and didn’t go to the gym until 7:30. It was nice to have those three extra hours (spoonin’, snugglin’, etc.n’), but it just wasn’t the same. The 7:00 - 9:00 crowd is nice enough, but I was really missing the energy that the 4:30 - 6:30 a.m. period offers. It’s kind of sick/twisted since school’s now out and I could sleep as late as I want but we STILL got up at 3:45 yesterday (my first day off). I’m planning on doing the same thing again tomorrow. I just really like seeing those faces/bodies, and I kind of fantasize that they’ll notice if I’m not there and they’ll think that I’m slacking off so I’d BETTER get my butt out of bed and be there at 4:20 (he he).
Today’s my 100 carb day. This is something that I’ve never done before (hence, possibly the reason that I haven’t hit all my goals yet), keeping track of calories and all macronutrients. Reading in the forums and articles, it looks like a lot of people are having success with carb cycling. I believe that I had done pretty good by switching to only good carbs, but I was still probably getting too much. So, one article suggested that I have a 5 day cycle of 150 (day 1), 100, 50, 125, 200, then back down to 150. Physiologically, it will keep my body guessing (just like adjusting workouts and poundages) and psychologically - especially on that 50 carb day (tomorrow) - I’ll know that I get 125 and 200 the next couple of days. So, this Friday won’t be a "cheat day," which I usually turn into a "cheat weekend," because I’ll still have to count all of my macronutrients, spread them out over 6 meals (or the first 4 when considering carbs), and stick to the plan.
"Stick to the plan." Hmm, I guess that’s kind of a new concept for me. I knew that I had a goal, and that the way of getting there was to eat less and exercise more. But, just how much less should I eat and how much more should I exercise? I still feel like a smaller fat person because I didn’t really have a plan. I did cardio a lot, but not much on weights because I wanted that end result so badly. I saw on JJanet’s page the other day (oh my gods, do we have some beautiful people on this site, or what?) that her goal was to hit herevery workout day, hit every meal cleanly during the month of May. How perfect is that? She has a plan that she knows will work; she sticks to it; it works. I would have 4-6 meals, most of them good, and possibly do some arms if I felt like it. Whenever I saw a sample workout or diet in M&F or Flex, I would think "yeah, that’s for someone who’s in shape. I’ll get there someday. Until then, I’ll just do what I’ve been doing ’till I get there." Well, this last weekend I decided to start thinking like someone in shape, someone with a beautiful body. So, I did the arm workout on Monday (yesterday) which really kicked my butt. I’ve never been this tired and I’ve never felt this right. I planned out every single meal, right down to the fish oil and creatine, and I stuck to it. Today, I did HIIT after legs, just like the plan said; and tomorrow I’m going to be doing abs, calves, and 2 hours on the treadmill at 60% of max HR, just like the plan said. How dare I take this gift that was handed me - 12 weeks off, knowledge of 1000’s of bodybuilders, and a kick-fanny gym that I love - and not make the absolute most of it? How dare I? BTW, I didn’t weigh myself yesterday, and I’m not going to tomorrow. I’m going to let the plan do all the work.
June 3, 2008 at 10:39 am
Oh Troys.
All well-intentioned plans fail sometimes! Honestly, I think you are SO TERRIFIC for sticking to your goal and meeting it, and also evaluating where you are and making a roadmap to get to where you want to be! On days where I feel blue, I often revisit my failures (emotional suicide!!), and I see all of the mistakes I’ve made and my many moments of weakness. But in my bright moments, I truly *know* that without those tough ‘lessons’ and those times where my shortcomings really reveal themselves, I could not be the person I am right now. I want you to see how terrific you are. 
And how despite not always being where you would like to be, you’re still pretty awesome. 
I’m sure your family would wholeheartedly agree. 
So yes, make a plan, do your best to stick with it, but don’t beat yourself up if things change. 
Life’s so wonderful, isn’t it?? 
June 4, 2008 at 7:59 pm
That carb cycling definitely sounds intriguing, and I do agree that I started to get results when keeping track of my diet!! As for the workouts, awesome job with stepping up the weights!! As much of a cardio-freak I am, I definitely admit that weights is hands-down the best thing you can do to see drastic changes in your bod!! Keep up the awesome work and the positive thinking - you did great during the school year and you’ll do awesome in the summer!!
And spoonin’, snugglin’, etc.n’ - LOLn’!!! 
June 5, 2008 at 3:18 pm
You’ve set some good goals, and found things that work. i’d try to keep hanging with my pre-dawn workout group, you’re part of that tribe now. Diet is the hardest part, so good luck finding a diet that you can build into a lifestyle. My wife is doing well, she’s back full time at work for over a month.