Getting Through December

In honor of today's WOD and a reminder of how much skinnier I used to be

I wish I could say that I am on the top of my game all year long.  The truth is that certain times of year I tend to hang on by my fingernails.  December is one of those.  My motivation goes down because it is dark and I never want to go anywhere or do anything.  I usually want to gain weight as it gets cold (that is pure pseudo-science on my part, but I become lethargic and want to eat more like I am getting ready to hibernate or something).  Holidays mean lots of junk food and a disrupted schedule.  If there one thing I learned over my life of fitness it is that routine is ESSENTIAL for me when it comes to exercise.

But it is not the end of the world.

And the other half of the lift. Notice hips and knees are a little forward for an olympic style squat.

For one thing, I try to make months like this a natural back-off month.  If you know those months are coming, hit it hard before that month and then plan on cutting your workouts in half for a while.  It is a healthy thing to do anyway, this just takes advantage of your natural schedule.

I use a different strategy.  I try to go 100% during these months.  I inevitably fall short, but falling short of 100% for me means hitting at least four workouts a week (it would usually be 5-6) and eating well 75% of the time.  Not terrible and still better than most people ever get.

This past week was a good example.  I wanted to be super good and super motivated.  What happened?

WOD Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.

Rest Thursday

WOD Friday but had planned to do a bunch of stuff I needed to practice and ended up only doing the bench/push-up WOD.

Eat and drink too much Friday night at Vegas Mike’s going away to include an almost legendary comeback in flip-cup.

Saturday Rest (and not eat great), but got a massage.

Sunday Rest, though I practiced a few gymnastics movements you will all be getting to know very well very soon.

And back on track Monday.  I really wanted to workout both Saturday and Sunday failed, but in the end that left me with 4 workouts last week.  Could be worse.

Yesterday for me:

3 eggs for breakfast

Chicken, asparagas, and snap peas for lunch

Same for a snack

Nothing post WOD

Dinner of shrimp, sauteed greens, and pepper and radish salad with berries and coconut milk for dessert.

That was pretty good food, but probably bigger meals then I should have been having.  Remember, I am trying to keep meals at or under 500 calories to reduce inflammation and the glycemic load of whatever carbs are in there.

Workout:

PR ON THE SQUAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

375lbs went up pretty easy.  I think I have more in me.

1 min row, box jump, double under with 30 seconds rest in between was harder than I thought.  Proud of getting 30 on the first row.  Might have liked 20 inch jumps rather than 24 because it slowed us down and I wanted near constant effort.  Oh well.

373 total calories, jumps, double unders.

Bench mark today is Nancy.  See my comments on the blog about that one!  I am Aaron – PCF for the two of you who read this and are not PCF Members.