Thoughts

1. GET AWAY.

I am super guilty of this one. It is very easy to avoid getting away and not finding time to take trips that will take you out of your routine for a while. It is very easy, let me say that again, it is very easy to come up with reasons you shouldn't take some time off and get away. I have found every reason not to take vacations but finally decided it was time to either take a vacation or Jess would have me sleeping with abby in the crate….I chose vacation.

I really didn't think that I “needed” a vacation, I wasn't unhappy at work or frustrated at home. Things were going great at the gym and family life was as good as ever. It's just like we tell you about doing Paleo for the first time, you don't know what your body is supposed to feel like because it has had so much inflammation going on for so long. What you think is “normal”, isn't normal at all. Same deal here. Once I got to Belize, I realized that it was exactly what I needed. I was able to unplug for 7 days and have no stress. I came home feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the obstacles that are in front of me. I have a new motivation to train and my mind is fresh. Stop making excuses, get out of here for a little while, you don't have to go far, just go somewhere other than home for a little while…

2. ROUTINES CAN BE THE ENEMY.

Again, this is my achilles heal. I am a creature of habit and my routine is my enemy. I eat the same thing everyday, I workout the same place everyday, I train at the same time everyday, I use the same barbell everyday, I lift off the same platform everyday, I do the same 40 minutes of mobility everyday, I go to bed at the same time everyday….it is literally groundhog day everyday for me, and I love it that way. Routines aren't all that bad, as long as you can still function outside of them when necessary. When your routine starts to run your life, then we have a problem. I realized this as I worked out on our 3rd day in Belize. We were going to do some snatches on the beach, 50 feet from the ocean. However, I didn't have my oly shoes, I didn't have any chalk, and was using someone else's equipment. I know what your saying, “Dude, who cares, what's the big deal?” I realize that you are exactly right in saying that, but go back to the beginning and read the first couple sentences….I am a creature of habit. So when we only had about 90 seconds to warm-up and then start hitting snatches at a moderate weight, my mind was all over the place. I didn't know what the hell was going on, I was like a deer in the headlights. But you know what happened after I missed my first snatch….I just decided to have fun and lift. And it was awesome. I think it is imperative that we are all capable of getting out of our comfort zone and our routine….it doesn't have to be for long, but try it every once in a while. You usually workout at 6p everyday at Vitality? Pop in for a 730a or 830a class and get coached by someone else and train with people you don't know. You always take Thursdays off from Vitality? Come in and hit the noon class.

4. REFOCUS.

Once the vacation is over, come home and refocus on the goals that you have in front of you. Your mind will be fresh and you will be much more equipped to face these challenges. Don't worry, the first few days back will be a bit dicey getting back into your routine, but your body will quickly adjust and fall right back into step.

Alright guys, those are the things that I thought about, feel free to share your thoughts with the rest of us. Remember, I hate new years resolutions….it shouldn't take a meaningless day to start your journey. Holidays also aren't excuses to put everything on the back burner…that's not the way it works guys. Have a great Christmas and be safe. See you all in the gym….

*FYI…#5 that I didn't cover was that if you take your wife to Belize, it is pretty much a 4 month get out of jail free card to let you train as often and as long as you want without judgment, which means if you need to find me between now and July…I will be at Vitality training:)