By now, you've likely noted that I am using the word "tools" as a metaphor for the intangible skills and desire you need to accomplish your fitness goals -- part 2 will be breaking down these common excuses
Regarding blaming your tools for failure -- 5 common examples Imentioned yesterday:
"I don't have time to cook"
"I don't have time to get to the gym"
"I'm tired when I get done with work at night"
"my schedule is so tight, I don't stop to eat"
"Its Friday, i'll pick up where I left off on Monday"
1) - I don't have time to cook --- this can be a biggie when your on the road for sure -- in an earlier post, I mentioned having access to a kitchenette, or at minimum, a microwave and a mini fridge--- even if all this fails -- there are ways around it.
A popular chain restaurant has a dish that is pretty simple -- mainly just pasta, and a seasoned, grilled chicken breast, with a veggie medley on the side
The process of going into a restaurant, sitting and waiting, then eating and waiting some more for your check is a time suck for sure and negates the statement of "I don't have time to cook" -- if you have time to do that, you likely have time to whip something up for yourself ---- but there is another component, and that is having food on hand to whip up
If its a longer term deal and you will be there for a while, you will encounter a market of some type to get the raw materials you need-- just stop in one day on your way back to the hotel with a list and a clear vision of what you need- you should be in and out in 15 minutes
But back to where I was going with restaurants ---- Most have a "to Go" or takeaway setup -- don't call this order in, as you will confuse the person on the phone, you have to go in to do this and possibly speak to a manager , --
- but ask them to put together a package that includes the equivalent of 3 servings of pasta, 7 chicken breasts and the equivalent of 5 servings of the veggie medley --- and request the pasta and veggies not be tossed with extra oils or butter -- get a couple of cups of butter on the side if you anticipate a need, the stuff you add will be far less than what gets mixed in during preparation
-- they'll throw in the plasticware too
There - you're set for 3-4 days and you only had to go in once, not 4 times
Breakfast can ideally be handled in the hotel if they have a breakfast option, but if not --- and if it truly is just for a few days, you'll survive with 2 big scoops of protein powder in a blender bottle and a couple of pieces of fruit
Between meal snacks in the truck can be handled out of your cooler, -- my suggestion would be fruit purloined from the hotel breakfast bar if handy, along with one of the small Nutri Grain bar type bars -- these are high in carb percentages, but the sizes and calories are generally low, so their impact on your energy levels should be minimal
Be aware of your surroundings -- if you see a local shop in your travels that does wraps or Panini's -- stop in, but don't get one meal, get 2 -- eat one, keep the rest in your cooler forlater (tell them to put lettuce/sauces etc in separate packaging because you are going to eat it later -- this has never been a problem for me)
All of this I mentioned is a bit of a PIA at first until it becomes ingrained behavior , and it will after awhile -- you will start keeping a soft side
cooler handy and pack that in the truck every morning along with your other gear ---- but it works, and will keep you on a 3-4 hour meal schedule
Pics below :
You may or may not want to pack a juicer -- but its a way to make a whole lot of veggies portable -- fill a shaker with the results to keep in your cooler
Spaghetti, meat sauce with the best meat you can get ---- sometimes a simple plate like this can make you happy and snap you out of the doldrums of being on the road
Somedays, you may not hit your goals exactly --- but you still need a multi vitamin and I also take plenty of Vitamin C
MEals don't get much easier than a pre-made salad with some warmed up chicken bits tossed on top
2: I Don't have time to get to the gym : - I've made suggestions such as adjustable dumb bells , using the hotel facilities, and others, but even in maintenance mode, you need at least 20-30 minutes of solid activity a day (with an occasional day off) -- get a heart rate monitor to ensure you are not going too easy, bundle up a little then get in a walk if you can
If walking is not an option due to weather or location, then 15-20 minutes of calisthenics and body weight exercises will have to do -- tell the hotel you need to use a meeting room in the morning for this when one is available , to give yourself more room , after all , you wouldn't be in this predicament if they had even a basic exercise room set up --
I personally recommend doing this the minute you get in from the field, because I late an afternoon workout, but whatever is best for you --- I'm not traditionally a super early riser unless I have to be
3. I'm tired when I get done with work at night - This goes back to a couple of other things -- but being tired means you will skip your workout , go to the nearest restaurant, order 3 beers and a high calorie meal, and go back to the room and go to bed
This is why I recommend getting your workout done the minute you get in from the field without exception, and before you settle in for hours of paperwork documenting your field activities for the day
-- putting the workout off until the end of the day/night is a recipe for skipping the workout -- just 20 minutes of calisthenics programs your mind to make better choices ultimately --- you've been good to yourself, so you feel there is no sense in ruining that with poor food choices
4. My schedule is so tight, I don't stop to eat - This is a problem with your scheduling and time management skills -- I covered most of this subject above in the "I don't have time to cook" answer-
-- but if you are prepared and keep some resources on hand , its darned easy whip up a protein or meal replacement cocktail in a blender bottle, plus keep some fruit and locally bought sandwiches on hand -- with luck, your morning meal will be adequately covered at the hotel, and the evening meal will be squared away due to the big box o' chicken / pasta and veggies brought home from Chili's/Applebees/Outback , etc.
I hate eating in my vehicle, so I will frequently pull around the corner and pull off in a neighborhood park, drop the tailgate and chow down (just dont do this in your client's driveway -- that's bad form )
but its important to keep your energy levels stable throughout the day with a constant influx of good nutrients, --- and its almost universally recognized that the best way to do this is with smaller, evenly spaced meals 3 to no more than 4 hours apart
Pretty easy to whip up 2 scoops of protein or meal replacement powder with some ice cold water
5. Its Friday , I'll pick up where I left off on Monday - This one is the death sentence. You may as well undo the top button on your pants and head to Golden Corral . Waddle up to the potato bar, get a 5 pound baker, and all the feexins you can handle. Throw a piece of chicken fry steak on the plate, a dozen fried shrimp, -- vegetables are taken care of with fried okra and corn on the cob with a dollop of butter melting seductively on top -- and while you're at it, Golden Corral has great variety, so may as well throw a mini taco or two on the plate -- Enjoy ! You deserve this ! Afterwards, if you have the room, - nothing better than a bit of cobbler topped off with some soft serve
--- Congratulations ! --- you've just ate more than your supposed to at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner -- (and people do this all the time , sadly )
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-- when we're at a cat site, we don't let off the gas on Friday, Saturday, or even Sunday , really -- so why mentally do we set aside our programs for the weekend?
If you engage in sport, the weekend is typically where you test what you do during the week,. It may not be everyone's goal to go bust out a triathlon, or an off road motorcycle race on the weekend, but where is it written that we have to abide by a 7 day/week schedule and take off on the weekend?
Let me use a football analogy -- Your team comes out firing hard in the first half and are up 21 points, - then the second half, they go into maintenance mode and are not aggressive while the other side is playing catch up -- guess what , you let the other team back in the game and it can bite you in the butt
-- just ask Texas Tech about their loss to Baylor earlier this year . Up by a considerable margin early in the game --- but a motivated Baylor team came back in the second half and scored 28 points within 7 minutes of play
---- Wouldn't you rather finish strong , than finish --week? (see what I just did there)
Here's a link to a prevailing weekend mindset you might find amusing
Thank F - its Friday !
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