Sound like your life?
Those gains are hard to come by. Yet, you still keep up the regiment and work towards the pump. But what happens after in the actually "recovery" phase? Are you allowing yourself that? How about food? I can't argue with the same old same old, since I do that most days, but I do like variations and occasional treats after a tough day. I like looking forward to ice cream or a massage-- I like getting my hopes up and then experiencing the payout.
You should too. You should look forward to things-- little things-- things that make life easier to handle. I addressed stress in the last blog, but I didn't offer the "treats" that can help reward you for getting through it.
Here are a few ideas:
Upgrade Food
Eggs, peanut butter, oatmeal, yogurt, chicken rice, broccoli, spinach, almond milk, cereal, pasta, potato, salad, turkey, beef, and bananas. This is what I live off of for the most part.
Oh yes, and many different sauces and condiments. That is how I add variation to everything.
I also upgrade. If I have extra money, I am able to get the "higher end" products of the foods I mentioned earlier. As an example:
Organic Eggs, Vermont Peanut Butter Co. (VT PB), Quaker Oats GF, Triple 0 Oikos yogurt, free range chicken, jasmine rice, organic broccoli and spinach, organic almond milk (and different brands), One Source cereal, Tankya pasta, organic potato and salad mix, grassfed turkey and beef, and organic bananas-- as well as natural and organic sauces (or homemade).
I can't upgrade all of these at once. Now and then I get the "best" of a few. What are your best?
Haagen Dazs ice cream is up there for me-- and the price certainly reflects it!
Every now and then I am able to discover something new and try adding it to my diet. This could come in the form of spices, sauces, and new vegetables.
I have even tried venturing into alternative sources of protein (more on this later).
The point is to keep discovering until your diet is varied, you feel strong, and satiated. I have not found that yet myself.
If you work out 5 times or more a week (or even less, but at high intensity), then you need to recover properly to keep this lifestyle going. How are you doing that? Food and supplements only?
How about meditation? Yoga or extended stretching? Massage therapy? Other wellness therapy (including some that may only have a placebo effect). The question may be if you can afford some or one of these recovery options: there are ways you can offset this though.
One more thing. ASMR. Look it up. This is an effect that many people experience when listening to soft soothing voices, a soothing type of music, a video of someone being massages, and even sounds of things happening in the world. It creates a tingling sensation for some, but calmness in most. I am able to watch a video of a massage, and given that the masseuse uses a soothing voice, can visualize myself getting massaged. This is like meditation. Don't knock it until you've tried it!
I have even tried venturing into alternative sources of protein (more on this later).
The point is to keep discovering until your diet is varied, you feel strong, and satiated. I have not found that yet myself.
Upgrade Recovery
If you work out 5 times or more a week (or even less, but at high intensity), then you need to recover properly to keep this lifestyle going. How are you doing that? Food and supplements only?
How about meditation? Yoga or extended stretching? Massage therapy? Other wellness therapy (including some that may only have a placebo effect). The question may be if you can afford some or one of these recovery options: there are ways you can offset this though.
- Find a massage school-- look for practicing students (discounted rate at least)
- Volunteer at a day spa, or work at one. Freebies or discounted rates will apply.
- Get into a relationship with something in a "recovery" field. I am not saying to "use" someone, but you should be able to benefit from being with them in more ways than one.
- Buy a Ryobi car buffer. I know, that was random! When I was hired as a local actor during a professional run of the musical "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", the lead male was using this car buffer to warm up his body every day. The dancers followed suit, and it really worked! This device cost around $25 (Home Depot), and comes with a velvet covering so it will be comfortable. This is not a high-powered sander that will take skin off, it is low powered, it doesn't spin, and the heat produced is manageable.
- Meditate in nature= free! Take a forest bath! Get outside and rest your mind.
One more thing. ASMR. Look it up. This is an effect that many people experience when listening to soft soothing voices, a soothing type of music, a video of someone being massages, and even sounds of things happening in the world. It creates a tingling sensation for some, but calmness in most. I am able to watch a video of a massage, and given that the masseuse uses a soothing voice, can visualize myself getting massaged. This is like meditation. Don't knock it until you've tried it!
I will be back soon with more, and my own personal upgrades.
Make it to the highlands!
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