How to Get Started (Part V)

Alright then, we’ve got all the basics to get you started down the path to being happier, feeling healthier and just overall awesomeness. Now let’s try to make sense of how they all tie together.

In Part I we talked about your training regime and got you some basic exercises to get you moving in the gym. In Part II we talked about the foods to eat and how to make sure you can stay on track for the long term. Part III we started to delve into a topic less thought about in terms of training and fitness, sleep. Sleep is a crucial part that most people think they can white knuckle their way through, but nature always wins. Finally, Part IV we covered another less talked about topic in this realm, stress. It can have quite the effect on you over time.

I’ll tie all 4 together as simply as I can;

Train to build muscle and burn calories -> Eat foods that will nurture your body and goals -> Sleep so you can recover from training and see you can remain mindful -> Despite your best efforts, stressors will present themselves, but you’re prepared for them because you’re taking care of yourself and if it gets to be just a bit too much…-> Train to let some of that stress and aggression out (can you say medball slams?)

​Something I want to circle back to here, remember, this is a long term thing. You are trying to get healthy for the rest of your life and as someone recently put it, training for quality of life. This is not a 30 day, 6 week or 90 day plan. This is a 365 x your remaining years plan. Here are some key ways to help you sustain the 4 parts we’ve discussed.

1. When you strength train, it’s ok to have a subpar day or even skip a bit of training, just get back at it the next day/week. Easy training is still training, sweating and being tired are not signs of good training, remember that.
2. Being miserable because you aren’t eating enough is not the way to go. Yes, you should be hungry sometimes, but ask yourself, are you hungry or are you bored? Have a glass of water, get to doing something, and if you’re stomach is still getting angry, might be time to eat.
3. Go the hell to bed, your work, video games, e-mails, instagram, whatever, will be there in the morning. When you are tired, do not fight it, get some sleep, your body is sending you a message.
4. Find ways to get stuff off of your mind/chest, have someone to talk to (hello therapy), write thoughts down in a journal, shoot do it out in public on a social media outlet if you want.
5. Remember, as long as you don’t quit, you can’t fail. Just keep trying, keep plugging away and eventually something will click and you’ll be set forever.

I hope at least one person can find this series helpful, and if that’s the case, I’ll call it a victory. Thanks for taking the time everyone, it’s much appreciated, and until next time Team First XV, go out there and get after it!