Is there a point in time when you guys/gals say to yourself, "this is how I want to look/feel, so I don't need to be leaner, stronger and just maintain?"
I'm relatively new to strength training and have found it very efficient and addictive at the same time. The amount of knowledge/information out there plus seeing results makes it addictive. Always something new to learn/read about and it concerns both nutrition + exercises. It works + feeds an interest to learn new things.
I also find it the most efficient type of getting in shape because, in my opinion, it takes less time than a pure cardio approach (ie long distance running which I did in the past), plus you're adding muscle which works for you 24/7 instead of just burning calories during a workout. Not to mention the most dedicated ones are more concerned with eating healthy, because to see the great results, you have to be lean.
After 7months, I'm continuing to see results and am leaner/stronger than I've ever been. However, I still want to be leaner (ie picture the gal on the Bowflex commercials...ok not quite there but you get the idea). When I started my "goal" was to find a 'sustainable' level. Something that required a level of diet/exercise that I felt I could stick with.
I'm probably getting close to approaching a plateau...so I'm wondering if this is where I level out, or do I go the extra mile to keep pushing. Josh (at JPs place who writes my workouts and nutrition plans, and fields most of my incessant questioning) has been pushing that I allow myself time for rest & restoration, which is sort of sinking in (except I have a weekend of guilt to make up after having my girlfriends in town this weekend...those alcohol calories are tough! [img]smile.gif[/img] )
Which brings me to you guys...from the pictures/reading here. Johnka, in your recent post of pictures from Anna's request to see everyone, you're going from extra buff to even buffer...do you just keep going? Kaiser...sounds like your goals are biking now, so you're accepting a little extra bf and then change when its too cold to be outside. JP, you looked great before you started getting back into your workouts/diet again, but I didn't know you before to have any comparisons. Gardner also sounds like he's continuing to look for more results. I'm sure there's more examples.
When are we happy with what we have???? I'm finding I still look like me, only smaller with muscle defintion..but would love a firmer....
I feel that I'm in decent shape but there is always room for improvement, performance-wise and aesthetically. Cultivating an attitude of seeking progression without crossing the line into obsession may be what your hinting at here.
JP and other trainers would no doubt tell you that periodic evaluations of your goals is important.
Otherwise we may all end up like the guy hanging out at the dohnut shop mumbling to himself "I think I look great and if nobody gets it too bad".
For myself having some sports related goals really helps in the motivation department. Knowing that time in the gym will help out next time the waves are big or a long climb comes up.
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
That's it exactly, Kuri. I'm trying to stay balanced between always wanting more improvement, but without going overboard. I find goal setting is fuzzy because I'm not sure where my end point is. There are just so many ways to "tweak" things for more results.
Would be fun if I could catch a few waves here in Little Rock!
baby steps Cappuccino, baby steps.
Go rent "What About Bob" for a refresher
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
Cappy (can I call you that?),
Great topic, BTW. I am getting back in shape myself, but for me that meant getting my diet in order. I have no goals of being any stronger, except in increasing my speed on the trail with my bike, or paddling.
I don't need to be any stronger, and frankly, when it was a big focus of mine, I always wound up injured. Now I am just happy to be relatively injury free (compared to the last few years). I don't really even care if I don't retain all the muscle mass that I have now. It is a vestige of my stupid youthful goals of getting big. Now that I am 36 my interests have really shifted. I prefer mountain biking and rock climbing as physical activities, and increasing my speed/performance is really important, but I really am too thick to have any illusions of actually being competitive. I would really prefer to be right at about 170-175 (still enough mass for my narcissistic side, but not so much it slows me down on the hills or on the wall).
So in the context of the question, I am at or above what I would like to have in terms of muscle mass, and I will be completely satisfied with 10-12% bodyfat when I reach that goal. I think it will be quite easy to maintain with my current eating habits, which are also very easy. And if I just do some activities that I enjoy with somewhat frequency, train with weights 2-3 times a week, and maintain my current eating habits, I won't want to go any further with it.
Linear Mode
