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Ok people, it's crunch time! No, I'm not talking about ab work...I'm talking about only 3 more days until the BIG Day! I can't believe this was the last weekend before Christmas and I didn't get any shopping done.
Life got a bit crazy for me this weekend. My son flew into SeaTac airport for a short layover on his way to Mexico. I was able to spend a few hours with him before he flew back out. This meant I stayed up all night to enjoy every precious minute of time I could with him. Which meant I slept all day today. I woke up at 3 in the afternoon, and the adrenaline started pumping before I even got out of bed. My mind started racing. I have so much to do, how am I gonna fit it all in? How am I going to get Christmas shopping done, get meals ready for my work week, and find the time to exercise? Hmmm...I started to think things through. First and foremost, I know when we are stressed cortisol is released into our system, and guess what happens then? Belly fat! That's right, the very thing I am trying to get rid of. I took a deep breath and began to make a game plan for the day. I'm not working Christmas eve day...so that will be my shopping day. I might even get some great sales that late in the game! I planned out what stores I absolutely needed to go to today. Costco was it. I needed food for the week. Then what? Prepare meals for the week. Easy! Dave showed me how simple preparing meals can be. I used to make a huge deal over preparing stuff. Not anymore. All I can say is Costco, baby! I get tons of stuff there and make it simple! For example, this week I'm packing cans of chicken breast that require a can opener and a fork. Throw in some veggies and rice and call it good! Next on the list...how was I going to find time to get my exercise in? Reality check! I'm not FINDING time I'm MAKING time. Big difference. It's all about priorities! Finding time, to me, means I'll try to get it done. Making time, however, means it will get done! Dave always says "do or do not, there is no try". You might remember Yoda saying that line from a little movie named Star Wars!
We all have the same 24 hours in each day. Sometimes I feel that there's never enough time for the things I need, or want, to do. When I really look at my life, and the lives of people around me, I've come to the conclusion that we all MAKE time for the things we want to do. We just make it happen. Most times it requires that we sacrifice something else. I really wanted to just sit down and watch a video this weekend. That's all I wanted. 2 hours to just relax and veg out in front of my big 56 inch screen TV. Not much to ask, really. Did it happen? Nope! Why not, you ask? After all, I had all weekend. Well, I chose, yes...CHOSE to do other things that were more important to me. Spending time with my son. High priority! Getting shopping done so I have good, healthy, foods to enjoy all week. High priority! Getting enough sleep so my muscles can grow bigger and stronger. High priority! Working out and getting cardio in so that I can kick butt onstage come next October. High priority. Sitting on my butt, watching TV... way down on the priority scale. So you see, I could've watched TV, but what would I have had to give up? When I'm onstage, whatever the outcome, I'll ask myself one question. The only question that really matters. I'll ask myself, did I do my best each day to prepare for this show? Could I have done any better? I want to be able to say with confidence, that I did everything I possibly could have done. That I gave 100% each and every day. Sure, I could have watched TV. Maybe not got my workout in today. Probably no one would know that I slacked off today...but I would. (actually Dave would figure it out, come body composition test time!) ha ha. I'm beginning to see the light. The competition is with yourself. Each day trying to be the best that you can possibly be. Each day improving on the day before. The actual bodybuilding event should be a celebration of all the hard work that was accomplished to get to that day. (I am learning Dave! Weedhoppah catches on quickly!) That being said, even though it is 10 pm I am going to the gym to "make it do what it do"! Thank you Golds gym for being open 24 hours!
So at this crazy-busy time of year..."crunch time" 'til the big day, ask yourself what's important to you? For me, in this time of my life, it's surrounding myself with family and friends who love and support me. Giving my all, each and everyday, to a sport I love, bodybuilding. Remaining as stress free as possible, because really, the stuff that we think is a big deal, really isn't after all. So, this week make the time to eat healthy, exercise, sleep, hug the ones you love and remember to breathe!
Think on it...
If you do each day what you need to do, the week will take care of itself.
If you do each week what you need to do, the month will take care of itself.
If you do each month what you need to do, the competition will take care of itself.
(Dave Patterson)
Bren
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