The Proof is in the Pudding (says Bald Man Weighing in at 213lbs)
The phrase ‘the proof is in the pudding’ dates back a couple hundred years and roughly equates to ‘anything’s worth is measured by its action and results’. OK That’s officially my interpretation… I weigh in today at the area code of Los Angeles, CA.
I’ve digressed on my diet and workouts for a month – I’ve not hidden this either – right here in plain sight are the meals I’ve indulged in over the past several weeks and I’ve updated my fitness spreadsheet with reality and adding a calibration week (extra preparation for restarting) to help keep my workouts on track.
Life isn’t about punishing oneself for failures but instead learning from every choice and improving upon our goals with constantly redefined direction. In short – focus on what you want to accomplish and the rest tends to fall into place.
This of course only works when you take ACTION.
Today marks my latest round of “the 100 days” challenge personally and professionally to push harder and find more greatness!
Darren’s Weekly Workout Review
I’ve been in Denver, Colorado the past week for annual technical conference (OMG it was amazing – but another story for another blog)… Main issue I had was keeping my workout discipline on the road and made a conscious effort to reschedule them.
With my P90x on “rest week”, I thought – why not extend this to allow some practicality while on the week long trip and wow I’m glad I did. The schedule definitely wouldn’t have allowed my normal P90x schedule, I was able to leverage bands and body work (pushups, situps) to retain body composition and flexibility and actually lost a couple pounds in the process (despite eating everything delicious in sight).
Anyway, back to work – LOTS on my mind and super focused to kick some serious sales ass in the coming weeks; creatively and tenaciously! I’ve got a few more blogs in my mind to share too – coming up on my 42nd birthday and realizing I’ve been hitting all my goals is an amazing experience. I’m ready to share more of that as I tie in new goals. Look forward to some fun birthday photos later!
I’d shared a blog a while back about a coworker from Ohio who I’d admired for running and was able to meet F2F and ask him questions about running (coinciding with my Running 101 book I’m reading) and he gave an idea of walking 30 minutes and making one of those minutes a run until I’m able to do 2 and then move up to the 30. I’m going to give this a try. NO MORE EXCUSES!
66 Days Remain in 2011. Be Good!
I’ve been pushing myself harder both personally and professionally.
Taking the attitude that I should push until I break something and then work around there can be dangerous and wise at the same time when managed appropriately. I’ve been doing the P90x and am on the “rest week”, basically lower impact workouts before the next round. I’ve contemplated a pause during this period, extending the “rest week” and adding some core intensity. This may prove more realistic and stress relieving during a couple weeks of upcoming travel. Goal being strengthen core so I return to more intense workouts. This brings me to last night when I kicked my own ass.
Feeling an incredible sense of urgency about my work and eager to make more sales progress immediately. I’m partially aware the majority of my stress is internally generated, however that doesn’t make it any less real or important and I’d rather drive myself than have someone ever have to do it for me… Anyway my point is I’ve learned the best way to manage self-induced or externally received stress is fitness.
Last night I decided hitting a boxing bag was the best way to stay focused and burn energy. WOW I was intense! Felt the workout all the way through my chest and did some extra pushups to enhance things. I woke up today feeling good, then stepped out of bed and OW! My shoulder blades feel like they were pulled apart during the night or something. YIKES! I think my body is adjusting to the extra intensity. THIS is why I’m thinking of taking 2 weeks to refocus on core and push my body harder than before so I can obtain even better results with my P90x and other efforts.
Team call at work last week one gentlemen from Cincinnati mentioned wanting to run when we were all together on an upcoming business trip. Something about that commitment to fitness that required nothing more than a little time, some good gym shoes and probably a heart rate monitor (runners love their paraphernalia!) and made me wish I could run. Maybe I can run and need to get over the awkward arm-swinging version I’d been mocked as a child and give it a try again. It’s been over 3 years since having a cigarette, yet my lungs feel strained with cardio work. THIS is what drives me to improve; the awareness that I have been and can be continuously better.
I’m going to be 42 in 10 days and glad I’m aware of the need to workout NOW.
Why Am I Gaining More Weight?
Considering my aggressive exercise adoption and increased focus on lower carbohydrate and higher protein dieting, I’m somewhat surprised to see my scale shouting “210 210 TWO TEN TWO TEN” at me when just a few days ago I was in the wonderful state of ketosis and down to 204. I know there’s simple things that may be contributing to my weight gain, and have considered the following:
- Water retention while adapting to new healthy lifestyle.
- Hidden carbs inside vitamin supplements or elsewhere.
- Muscle growth is exceeding reduction of body pounds.
- Stress and anxiety is causing me to retain more weight.
- Body not playing well with artificial sweeteners maybe.
- Many number of reasons I’m not going to worry about.
I assume excessive carbs should be burning with my workouts.
Other than taking a closer look at my diet, I’m in need of increasing my exercise throughput. Since I’m getting up extra early for my P90X workouts (5am lately), this does leave a little more potential later in the day for bike riding or other cardiovascular commitments, so going to see what more on a fitness level I can “squeeze in” today.
P90x Day 42 – COMPLETE!
Thinking as the day started that it would be a waste to take rest vs. stretch day. I take satisfaction in checking off the workouts in my log sheets and seeing and feeling the progress as I work through the program. I’m eager to enhance progress and have modified diet more and adding more cardio into my workouts starting this week.
Make the Most of Every Single Day!
We all share the same time currency, in that we get 24 hours each and every day to spend. I’ve got a new career I love and put in about 12 hours a day into it between appointments, training, emails and administrative tasks. I put another 1-2 hours a day into fitness and when you factor in meals and hygiene there’s really not a lot of time currency remaining. Television is a luxury I enjoy on the treadmill.
To maximize results, I’m getting up earlier and earlier. Today for instance I’d popped out of bed before 5am to kick into my Yoga-X (week 6 of P90x workout) and have time for a quick low carb breakfast (scrambled eggs and avocado), a cup of green tea, and showered and smiling at work by 7am. I used to believe that abusing caffeine was necessary to achieve results however have been off coffee for nearly a week and beginning to regain focus. Welcome to Today, enjoy this video!
Perseverence – No Matter What
Been on a roller coaster reset lately as I gear towards a healthier lifestyle while remaining focused on professional growth. Today was no exception and feeling nervous as the weekend winds down and I focus on goals for this busy upcoming workweek. Change most always feels uncomfortable at first.
Damn well aware of how much work I need to focus on diet and exercise and how easy these areas find crutches for neglect.
For instance, I’m already giving myself permission in my mind to eat poorly considering the pressure of the workweek. Now I’m reversing this wiring and instead add increased fitness initiatives and preparing healthy meals ahead of time to prevent any types of self-imposed hurdles and make things easier!
For lifestyle changes I’m keeping it easy and when at home making sure to have healthy options for dining and snacking always available. It’s a lot easier to make healthy choices when there’s several healthy things to choose from.
Check out this berry tasty vLog about my detox journey:
Healthy Powers of Perseverance!
You need perseverance when re-calibrating health. There is a lot that can go wrong in life, but you should at least feel safe about your health. When it comes to perseverance in your health you will have to take steps to get and stay healthy.
Perseverance is when you don’t give up no matter what. You find something, you stick to it, and you make it all that you can. You will find that perseverance will help your to become healthy. You will find that when you do became healthy you feel so much better about yourself, however, you will notice that it’s easy to slip up. This is when you need to get perseverance so that you can make something of your life.
You will find that with perseverance you will be able to carry on with your diet or healthy living. It takes a lot to be able to stay healthy, but initially a great deal of will power to get on the right track. Once you are on track to good health, you will find that it is easier to stay with it, then it was to start initially. You’re still going to have weak moments. You begin to feel like you could have one smoke or one donut and then you’re hooked again. Even a simple mess can throw you completely off track.
You will realize perseverance comes from both your own self will and the help of others. When you have others on your side, you will feel like you can do everything and anything. You will find the empowerment for you to get healthy and stay healthy.
You will be able to everything that you want. You will be able to make goals for yourself and then you will find anyway that you can to make the goals come to life.
When it comes to something like your health, you will find that it can be critical to find the will power to change. You have no idea, but you could be killing yourself by eating the wrong foods or by smoking. It’s important that you do find some perseverance.
This Guy Was On To Something!
Jack Lalanne recommended the following 10 steps (points):
- Exercise
- Nutrition
- Positive Thinking
- Good Habits
- Grooming
- Smile
- Posture
- Help Others
- Relaxation
- Faith
Fanatically Focused on Fitness!
Along the lines of “if you can’t measure it you can’t manage it” I’ve been following my P90x workout strictly with this spreadsheet and an android app.
I’ve added in more fitness too but find this minimum baseline keeps me on track.
Two Solid P90X Weeks
I have been consistently “bringing it” since November 29th and feeling good. Actually I do *get* why this workout is so effective – it forces you to not only constantly move and improve muscle stability, it genuinely makes you aware of how out of shape you are. I’m excited about initial results and eager to see more. The best part is I’ve noticed myself making more incredible lifestyle changes – just to add more exercise constantly.
Idea hit me today of a walking desk, I’m going to try this out…
Day 5 of P90x Rocks!
I have to admit, I’m so glad I restarted this program. Although it was fun to do with a group, fitness is a personal health pursuit that I refuse to skimp on – if I do ONE THING RIGHT every day for the rest of this year it will be this.
The ramblings of a crazy man? Possibly...
This is Darren Williger and I am taking a look at what I can accomplish in the next 100 days, both personally and professionally.
September 2010 I had this thought - WOW there\'s just over 100 days left this year. Then I realized all my annual goals, professionally and personally - and said \"Darren, it is time\". A GoDaddy coupon code encouraged me to pull the trigger on this new domain and had the site up in minutes.
December 2011 seemed like an awesome time to do this exercise again! Over the next 100 days I will be taking a more serious look at my health and wealth, learning to focus more on what\'s important, and scheduling everything in my life for maximum productivity. I\'ll share details here, mostly to hold myself accountable and track my results on achieving greatness!
I\'m totally immersed in my new career and focused on learning more daily. It\'s been an incredible shift these past few months. On the side I\'m going to be exercising, writing, making more videos, photographing meals, tweeting, speaking and eating. Looking to minimize unproductive time sucking activities.
I\'m limiting my side business focus to weekends as I ramp up my new career. New blog coming soon, appropriately named Saturday Night Marketing. I\'m very excited!
It has been one helluva year so far - many challenges, and some frustration sweat and tears along the way - additionally, many net new opportunities have unfolded as several old ones fall by the wayside. Seems this pattern has repeated in life relationships as well.
I am so excited and grateful for all the incredible opportunities I\'ve been afforded and ones I will continue to create for myself. I\'m not going to allow anyone or anything (including myself) get in the way of the success and greatness I deserve!
Thanks for joining me on this journey!