Mahler's Monday Morning Motivator # 42 - Mahler Gone Mad

[Mahler]

Good morning guys.
I hope everyone from the states had a great Thanksgiving holiday. I know I did, and the scale proves it.

That prompted me to think about today’s motivator. The holidays are always a time when we tend to let things slide. We eat more; drink more and workout less than any other time of the year. Even if you are in a bulking phase, what you are eating may not be the best choice.

So here is the plan. I am making a challenge to all of you. I am throwing down the gauntlet. It’s time for the first ever “Mahler’s Mad and Masochistic Holiday Challenge.” What is that you may ask? Well, I challenge you to get a jump on the holidays and make your New Year’s resolutions one month early. Ouch!

What will your goals be for the coming year? And, what can you do during this season of excess to get you ahead of the game in achieving those goals.

Now, don’t go off the deep end and start searching for me to do serious bodily injury. Here’s the plan. Just as you would set goals or resolutions for the New Year, set some goals or limits for yourself for the coming month. I have taken the calendar and started marking down the holiday parties and travel. The month of December is planned and I will fit in my workouts. No, I am not going to miss anything fun. I am just going to make sure that my program doesn’t suffer. If you plan it in advance, it’s like an appointment that you don’t want to miss. Be flexible and don’t beat yourself up for missing a workout, but make sure it’s in there somewhere. As for food, I am being realistic and know that I will gain some weight, so I have set a goal to gain no more than 5 pounds over the holidays. My God, that’s about 45 pieces of cheesecake! With this in mind, I hope to be able to have a few drinks, eat some sinful pleasures, and yet not hate myself on January 2nd. The truth is, if you have this in the back of your mind, even if you overdo it during the holidays, chances are you will do less damage than if you had no plan at all. It’s psychological, especially for guys like us who are driven by competition. Give it a try, and let me know what your ideas are to stay the course over the holidays so that others can share the secrets of your success.

"The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails."
--- John Maxwell

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Thanks guys. I look forward to hearing your responses.

In Fitness & Friendship,
Mahler

[aztecwarrior]

ok. I'm in.
This is great...well, it's 8:25 am. I still don't know what to think for an answer, but I will while in a boring meeting I have in few minutes.
It's good that now I have something to ponder and keep my mind in things that matter and will keep me from sleeping!
Thanks Mahler

[OldGuy]

Good one, Mahler. I've been working out hard and I still have this gut. Time for it to go. Like you I also thought why wait for New Years. So this is the plan for between now and Jan 1:

19 weight sessions.
13 HIIT session (this is the hardest for me, but dammit I'm doing it this time).
100% clean diet.

[FlyinM]

I admit that when I saw the topic title, that it was gonna be some ugly video......Luckily I was wrong.... [img]tongue.gif[/img]
Well, for my December goals:
1. Final Phase of HGM - No missed workouts for any reason.
2. Gain 0 lbs. It looks like the party calendar is relative light. I did some damage on the liquor cabinet over the Thaksgiving holiday and a break should be in order.
3. Follow Adam's diet within reason - after all, it is the holidays.
4. Not obsess if there are some minor slides during the month - this could be the hardest goal of all.

[Matthew]

i dont have any goals made yet, but i wanted to drop in anyway and say that i love that quote you had at the end of your post.
"The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails."
--- John Maxwell
also that i plan on stealing it from you, i hope you dont mind [img]smile.gif[/img] .
oh and this challenge is a very good idea, like always mahler. ill be back to list my plans for the month.

[canuckguy]

Good morning Mahler - I'm with you on this one.

My goals for 2005 include reaching my target weight and BF% ~180 & <15%. I'm currently 200 & +/-22%. So what can I do this month to start me on the way.

Like FlyinM, I will be finishing HGM this month. In fact, my first Phase 10 workout is about an hour away. Having come so far, my first resolution is to see this through to the end.

Having looked at the program, it seems to be another good cutting phase. So resolution number two is to hit the new year no heavier than I am today.

I will be starting CB's Turbulence Training for Fat Loss in January, and I'll see where that leads to. My secondary goal for next year is increasing upper body strength - but weight/BF management first.

As always, thanks for your motivator.

[RipStone]

It's all about organization and planning...great post Mahler....I like the idea.

[FishrCutB8]

Going to go home and do it tonight....thanks, brother.

[Lost Dog]

I'm trying to lose some fat, so this will be more challenging...

1. Follow Adam's Diet.

2. Try to keep to a 90% success rate with meals/snacks.

3. Continue to lose. Last year I actually lost weight over the holiday season, so I think I can do it.

4. Follow Craig's Turbulence Training for Fat Loss. Keeping the intensity up has been my challenge so far. I don't want to miss workouts. I do it at 5:00 am, but staying up later can make me want to skip the next morning workout.

Thanks for the motivation!

[Flee]

I'm IN! I posted on one of "Adam's diet" threads about implementing his diet starting mid Nov. So far things are going well. I have already planned on the diet motivating me to eat just a little smarter than I normally would. I not only expect to come out of the holidays even, I expect to make an improvement.

Currently
6'2"
180
17% BF

Goal
10%-13% BF by mid to late January.

Go into my first ever, well planned bulk phase utilizing proper nutrition guidelines.

Ryan

[Mahler]

Not a lot of takers on this one.

WIMPS!

lol

Mahler

[BamaDave]

My goal for the month is to not gain any weight and hopefully drop 1-2 lbs. This will be detrimental to my BOM Intermediate workouts, most likely, but I am training for a late Feb. marathon and feel like trimming a few pounds off between now and then will give me a little extra pace boost. Aside from that - continue regular weight training and long distance running throughout the month.

Actually, for me, Dec. is easier than November. Thanksgiving is the food fest that I have to watch the most closely. We have three major Christmas parties, but the food is only a temptation at one of them (usually).

The other good thing about the holidays is that the few extra days off are good for workouts! LOL. I worked my ass off between Wed. night before Thanksgiving and Sunday night before work with two BOM workouts and 31 miles of running. Nevertheless, I gained a couple of pounds during November -- I think I am responding well to BOM even though I have not been consciously trying to bulk.

[ChrisO]

My december goals have been tough for me to get going. I'm trying to work out my excercise program and meal plans to get the results I want, but I get side tracked by too much info!

So my December plan is to stop learning and reading about waht to do and do it! as far as food goes it shouldn't be too bad I would much rather eat cut up veggies than sweets and chips at a Chrismas party.
As far the gym I plan to lift 3 days aweek and
cardio 3 days 1 or 2 of which is 1 hr of ice hockey/week.
I don't plan to gain any weight and hope to lose some cause I'm getting Married in the summer of 2005.

good luck to everyone with there plans
Chris

[Lost Dog]

Sick again.
Weak.
Can't lift.
Barely type...
Frustrated...
Must lie down.

[Mahler]

Originally posted by Lost_Dog:
Sick again.
Weak.
Can't lift.
Barely type...
Frustrated...
Must lie down.

When you lie down, it better be on a bench with a bar in your hands.

Mahler

[Lost Dog]

I haven't got weights at home, but I did a bench dip 'till I was down on the ground...

Feeling much better today. I'm hoping for a full blown workout tomorrow!