The “BIG” Secret to Fitness Success

As you could guess, I keep detailed training logs. In addition to the sets, reps, and weight of a given exercise, I’ve also tracked my weight, body fat, heart rate variability, and conditioning times for much of the past few years.

I never said I wasn’t crazy. 😉

But as I was combing through my logs earlier this week, something jumped off the page: I haven’t missed a scheduled workout since January 2014.  I’m not sure if I should be proud of my dedication, or scared for my sanity.

To clarify, that’s not saying I’ve worked out everyday for the past 3-4 years. It’s that I haven’t missed a “scheduled” session. Whenever we go on vacation or see family, I take that time as a mental break from the gym and program accordingly.

And in full disclosure, having my career intertwined with my own training has kept the barrier of “getting to the gym” pretty low. There are also plenty of external factors I haven’t had to deal with – stressful life events or kids being the two big ones. But I do have some great pictures and videos of marching through several Boston Snowpocalypses in order to stay on schedule.

After all, my inner introvert loves nothing more than to sit in a quiet room and think.

I recently dove into my past training logs and found a few observations:

1.  
2. My program reflects how II’m one of the most meticulous record keepers out there (regarding my own workouts, that is).
3. —
4. I haven’t missed a workout since January 2014.

And yes, that includes our recent 800 mile move,

And I should clarify that any time I took off from the gym had already been programmed as an off day. After all, when I go on vacation I often plan it as a mental break from the gym.

I’m hardly the most successful person in the gym, but I am known for my ability to throw some weight around.

Granted, there are certain external factors that I haven’t had to contend with such as kids, second jobs, or any real personal issues. And having my career intertwined with my own workouts lowers my barriers of getting to the gym on a given day.

There’s a smattering of motivational quotes I could give someone: 

• Embrace the mundane.
• Keep the goal, the goal.

But really, the only advice I can offer is to stick with the plan.

As Dan John eloquently said, “The goal is to keep the goal the goal.”

You need to earn the right to have variety.

Sticking to the plan

“Things are going so well, help me screw it up!”

1) Switch Exercises too Frequently

2) Not following the plan

This one is pretty simple. Did you follow the plan exactly how it’s laid out? If you didn’t, you didn’t follow the plan.