Day 24 - Wednesday March 21/01 - Presented the Good Coffee & Books Club this morning for a final review at the church - didn't see a lot of support. Felt down about that, but perhaps it was just a bad day for me? Very difficult work-out as body felt weak. A mild cold. Sneezing a bit. Lots of sleep tonight! Keep Triceps same next time with 25's for Lying Dumbbell Extensions. Try keeping Barbell Press for shoulders the same next time as indicated this time. Try using Easy-Curl bar at 50 next time. Went home and my Challenge Kit had come! Was pumped until I opened it. When I had talked with Upper 49th Imports about sending it as I was about to start, they asked me if I had taken "BEFORE" Photos, and I told them that Dad had taken them, BUT nobody had mentioned I needed to take "a BACK-PHOTO." (I don't have a BEFORE BACK PHOTO)! I didn't know what to do - I had given this program my all to this point - and I was devastated. The kit went on to explain that "to enter this round of the Million Dollar Body-for-LIFE Challenge 2001, you may start your program on Jan 30 2001 but no later than Mar 12 2001." Today was Mar 21 - an ironic reverse of those numbers. I didn't want to quit. I didn't want to start all over, or wait until after June 3rd to start again. My life needed transformation now!! Finally, I just relaxed, looked up and put it in God's hands. If the "powers that be" can accept this or make an exception - it would happen. This was way beyond my control. I would just have to continue doing my best, but I had a hard time swallowing the lump in my throat! It wasn't a good day! I would just have to go on and try and put this behind me. It was important to keep my focus tough towards accomplishing My Program. I wasn't about to quit one-third of the way through!
Day 25 - Thursday March 22/01 - Great Treadmill work-out after a few problems through-out the day and yesterdays Back-Photo disappointment. I noticed others stepping off their Treadmills and thought that it would be easier to step off the Treadmill than to run to a new personal best. I am here to stay! 366 cals.
Day 45 - Wednesday April 11/01 - Initially a very difficult work-out to go into as I misinterpreted my new set of stats as only losing 2 pounds of fat, but in reality in 6 weeks that maybe so, but I've also gained 4 pounds of muscle. So, with relentless determination, I continued, but it was a slower, more methodical work-out. The intensity will return!! Let myself down inwardly tonight... I think I let those stat results get to me. I'm not going to look at them again until the end! It's inner strength I gotta build!!! (shake had been within 4 hours prior)?
Day 50 - Monday April 16/01 - Good intensity. Good overall work-out. Stay focused. Stay intense. Concentrate on posture & new life possibilities within this and the next moment. By-pass the adversity! Nobody else can see the dream, therefore the key is to "by-pass their adversity" comin' at ya! By-passed a substance abuse opportunity! By-Pass The Adversity!
Day 51 - Tuesday April 17/01 - Stationary Incline Bike. 280 cals. Maintained above 7.5 mph. Very good work-out. Good intensity! "By-pass the adversity!" WORKED!! In many areas. Stick to the program. Stick to the focus! Remember Korby (planned Photo Shoot), the grand prize, and shaking Bill's hand! "By-pass the adversity!" One at a time!
Day 53 - Thursday April 19/01 - Treadmill. 460 cals. Have a bit of a cold - so saved this plan 'till next time. Did start at 4.1 & increased to 7.3 mph, then back to 4.5 & up to 9.5 for 30 seconds. Increased by "3's." Good fat-burning work-out.
I read the following note from Kevin Antcliff in the Body-for-LIFE Guest Book: "I have already failed. I started the program unofficially 3 weeks ago, and completed 3 days. 3. That's it. After reading all of those posts and comments, I am revitalized. I am starting for real, Monday morning. I can't fail this time. I look in the mirror, and what I see hurts me. I'm ugly, flabby, sad. I need to do this so I can feel good about myself for the first time in my life. I do it alone. No work-out partner, no friends to motivate. All I have to push me is how bad I want this. If you have words to help me along, send them... I'll need it."
I answered this as follows:
This is for Kevin and anyone else having inner struggles and thinking they're failing - but who are willing to try again: Get a binder, photocopy the Eating-for-LIFE method for the entire first week (page 184), photocopy The Training-for-LIFE Experience x 2 (page 185) for the 2 x you'll use the upper body workout in the first week, photocopy The 20-Minute Aerobics Solution x 3 (page 179) and The Training-for-LIFE Experience x 1 (page 181) for your lower body workout the first week. I also photocopied all the exercises I would use in these plans so I could refer to them right in the gym to make sure I was doing them correctly. The day before I started, I went to the gym to get starting weights for my level 5 intensity (able to do 12 reps fairly easily) of all the exercises I would be doing the first week. Also in your binder, put a page of encouragements that other people can sign to keep you going when you feel like giving up! Once you plan, & organize this, your focus will be great, there will be no turning back. The program is YOURS! The perfect gift from Bill. Go for it! I'm about to start Day 54. I've been hit with several discouragements along the way also, but I've refused to let anything stop me from doing my work-outs! Even today, I bashed my knee after the Treadmill and when I wake up I gotta do LEGS. I just hope I can get through the quads without further injury to my knee. If you need any info about shakes, supplements, whatever, please don't hesitate to e-mail me. OK? I too, have had a lot of interior rubbish try to limit me. I have to fight it all the time. But you know what? As long as you take your planned work-outs and do them day by day, you'll get a new inner strength. In fact, the phrase I use now (it just came to me a few days ago) is: By-Pass The Adversity! They come in many forms, from others, from our own minds, body's, etc. Just take 'em one by one and By-Pass 'Em, no matter how shrewd or cunning you have to be, you CAN get through each adversity, even if it means avoiding them and going around them :-) I know, I've been there. Whatever it takes, try and find the positive. That energy's there too, right along with whatever negative comes |
