Joel here.
Let’s just start with the fact that I’m a creative type. I do love dealing with spreadsheets and numbers, but not that much of a scheduler. I can schedule myself as long as I know what tasks are at hand and when they need to be done, but not that great with generic “oh do something about blah when ever you feel like doing it”.
Because of this, I find that if I have a plan or schedule laid out, I will do much better. Back when I was going to the gym to do “weights” I never really had a plan. I would hit up a machine and do reps until sore then move on to the next machine. I never settled into a groove and I didn’t ever see results.
But now we have “THE PLAN”. The plan is just a list of exercises that we do at the gym in a specific order with a specific number of reps and amount of weight. Its been great I am seeing (or not really seeing yet, but feeling) the progress. What it took for me was to type out the plan, email it to myself, then print it out and put it in my gym bag. With my Training Peaks account I also have them email me every morning my workout plan that I have entered. It’s a great reminder every day of what I am doing, and it also Emails me “THE PLAN” so I can see what I am supposed to do.
The first day to the gym I looked over the plan on the way there and carried it around to each machine. By the second week I had memorized the order of the exercises. By the third week I was able to do all my exercises confidently and up the weight and or reps of each.
Although looking at me, you might not see the abs of steel and the buns of a Greek statue yet, but I feel the progress being made. I can do 15 sit ups with a 10lb weight on my chest now, where in the first week I couldn’t even do 10. I am supposed to be doing 20, and by golly, that is what I will be doing this week. I can’t stand doing squats, never have liked them one bit, but I have been able to up the weight and have better form than ever before because of “THE PLAN”. I just think to myself that each squat is going to make me faster on the bike and faster on the run. Each lat pull down is going to make me a more efficient swimmer.
Every one of the exercises hits key groups that will make me a better triathlete, and that is my motivation.
Each month “THE PLAN” will change and be updated.
I am challenging you this week to make your own “THE PLAN” if you don’t have one. Have it emailed to yourself. Put it in your gym bag. Become friends with your plan. It will help you achieve complete your goals.
Question of the day: Do you have a “THE PLAN” or do you just wing it?
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