Day 17

Thursday, August 9th, 2012

Trying a new strategy. I feel like I've really been winging these workouts. I have enough experience to get by and get a good workout in, but I feel like I'm lacking structure and accountability entirely. I am going to start printing these programs 4-6 weeks in advance and sticking to them no matter what. Today is day 3 of my abstinence from alcohol. Junk food isn't really a problem for me. I don't smoke and I still have yet to go back to chewing tobacco. I really hope this works, because I've really been feeling sluggish lately. I've been sleeping in and feeling really down. I know it has a lot to do with how chaotic my schedule is and I'm hoping that I land this new 9-5 job soon. I'm going to start with a list of things that I believe I need to work on in order to be successful in my training:

1. Consistency: I need to stick with the plan and not run off on a tangent every time something new pops up. It's impossible to tell if something is working if I can't stick to it long enough to see the payoff. 
2. Structure: I have to stop making my workouts up once I get into the gym. I have a notebook for a reason. Also, this blog should help me stay on course.
3. I need to constantly be making pros and cons lists for my actions. I'm very spontaneous and lack some self control with certain things. This could be a symptom of PTSD but I'm not about to self diagnose. I only came to that conclusion after researching the effects on receptors from dopamine overloads and the ill effects of adrenaline over a sustained period of time (i.e. deployment to a warzone) which comes from and causes thrill seeking behavior.
4. Keep my goal in sight: I can't let short term issues get in the way of achieving a long term goal. If I wasn't already in the shape I was in, my training for the Tough Mudder would not have been enough to pass the course safely. My training wasn't up to my usual standard and, again, I need to be holding myself accountable.
5. Be a little more selfish: I feel like I've been spending a lot of time helping other people reach their goals and not enough time training myself. It wouldn't be an issue if I were being paid for the training, but I'm not and it is very taxing on my body, mind and wallet.
6. Diet Diet Diet! Nothing more needs to be said.
7. I need to change my sleeping habits. I'm up until 1 or 2 in the morning and miss out on hours of potential training time. This actually inhibits me a lot. If I woke up earlier, I could get my cardio out of the way, do whatever chores need to be done and have hours and hours of time to let my body heal before I do my strength training in the afternoon. Instead, I feel like I try to squeeze both workouts in at once and end up losing out on both. I never work earlier than 10:30am or later than 9:00pm save for a few exceptions, so I really have no excuses.
8. I need to lay off the TV. It's just sucking my life from me. I need to limit myself to 1 hour a day. Gonna have to work down though. I think I'm around 4-6 hours some days.

If I can work on these things, I think I will see a huge change in my mental state as well as my physical state. The psychological aspect is the hardest part to grasp. The physical changes are just a byproduct of a complete life overhaul.

I ran 3 miles this morning at around an 8min/mi pace. Not even close to average for me, but I haven't been stretching properly. In fact, might as well throw that up there.

9. Make time to stretch every day!

Gonna grab some food and head to the gym in a bit. But, while I'm eating, I'm going to start creating the scaffolding for my workout plan.

.