Abs/Core Project. Phase 2.
I ended my 6 Month Abs project: part 1 and 2 (Phase 1), the end of August 2013. I am ready to start what I will call Phase 2 and continue what I started. Phase 1 prepared the base. Phase 2 will work on further to strengthen that base and tone my body. What will I do exactly? No idea. A bunch of back and abdominal exercises. I'll see what workouts I can do with the time I have currently. Phase 2 is also known as the beach body goal and that's basically the overall quantitative result I'll use to determine if I complete Phase 2 or not. Don't really need to complicate it. Make the goal simple.
Some things to consider for achieving my goal. For abs to actually appear, I have to decrease my body fat while increasing my muscles. Also, I won't count the 6 pack not showing as a failure. If I can do an insane amount of sit ups and lift like a beast, I say that's a win. The global goal is for my own self development. How much can I improve? The beach body is just something to work towards as motivation.
What this will really work on are a number of other things:
Time management. If I only have an hour or less to work out, I'd better make it worth it. That means going intense. No pussy footing. You get what you put into the work out. Take it easy and you're just wasting time. So create a schedule. Work, eating, sleep, errands, miscellaneous, and exercise. Write it down and stick to it. You won't wonder where the time went because you can account for it all.
Self motivation. When it gets hard, you want to quit. The easy way may feel good for the moment, but you're really hurting yourself. Ask yourself: am I doing the best that I can? This also ties into mental strength. There are days when we feel crappy and just don't want to do anything. We just want to take a break. But you won't be proud of yourself for that. You'll immediately regret it later, be harsh on yourself, put yourself down, then it becomes a downward spiral. Doesn't accomplishing something make you feel good? Be good to yourself. When you can't depend on others, at least you know you can rely on your inner strength.
Courage. Sometimes external influences will attempt to circumvent our goals. Friends, family, acquaintances, strangers. Sometimes you might have to refuse an invitation. We tend to be very self conscious about our actions, believing that other people are always on the look out for our mistakes and ready to point it out. But consider this, if you're concern so much about what you're doing, then I can assure you that those people are also focusing more on themselves than whatever it is you think you look like from their perspective. We have doubt and self esteem issues. These are fears that exist in our psyche. Attain the courage to do what you need and want to do, sometimes in the public sphere, in the supposed judging eyes of those around us. Don't simply abstain from activity because you think you might look silly. Shift your mind and make your opinion worth more than the opinion of others.
Responsibility. You are in charge of what you do. If you have to make excuses for why or why you didn't do something, or put the blame or responsibility upon someone else, then you're giving up control of your life. Why must you have to wait for their approval or blessing? You can't lead your life if you let others make decisions for you. Take charge of your life and your responsibilities. You are the driver. Don't let backseat drivers steer where you go.
Positive attitude. Your attitude contributes a great deal in how you behave. You're going to be doing the same things over and over, probably eating similar meals over and over. You might have to do the boring stuff. I mean, who likes paperwork? It sucks. I know it. You know it. Now stop constantly complaining outwardly about it. Stop dragging yourself down with a negative attitude. You know what you do, that grunt, sigh, rolling of eyes. Days will suck. You don't want to do it. It's too hard. You're tired. Well, you can be THAT person and make yourself and everyone else miserable with your whining. If you focus so much on how you don't want to do it and make those excuses, you won't put your all into it. But how can one have a positive attitude? Well, you have to figure that out for yourself. Me, I find beauty in the little things. I become more perceptive of what's around me. I begin to notice the world around me. It's amazing. Try it sometime.
These are just a few extras that come with a project such as this. I think most people fail because they limit their vision on what they need to do. They only see weight loss as dieting and exercise, so they look for the quick solutions: weight loss programs, supplements, work out fads, etc. I chose to not do any of those and instead worked on the areas I need. I knew I was bad with keeping a schedule. I'm a terrible procrastinator, I blamed everything on something else other than my own negligence and unwillingness to change how I lived. I couldn't continue my old lifestyle and expect any developments to happen.
My advice is if you want to accomplish or succeed in something, you must be willing to change many aspects of your life, for better or worst, to attain the result you want. You have to do something different than what you did before, change your thinking, how you handle situations, if anything, be willing to learn and accept that you don't know as much as you think you do. You can't be stubborn and expect change to happen. Become critical about how you live your life. Be willing to admit your flaws and weaknesses, while likewise, figure out your strengths. We tend to overshadow our strengths with our weaknesses. I'm guilty of this myself. Nowadays, I tell myself, I can do it. I can do more. I will do it. I will do more. And you can do it too.
Some people were blessed with talent. For the rest of us, we have to work harder. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it and it will mean more.