Ass Draggin

[Brynja]

Ok I really dislike working out- I do.

I admit it, if left to my own sloth I am a lazy ass.

I force myself to the gym 3-4 times a week. I go like people go grocery shopping or to the post office. You just gotta.

I like the results I see but sometimes I just go meh.


Any thoughts folks on motivators?

[Pigs in Space]

Something that really helps me is getting all my stuff ready the night before.

Like if I know I'm up for a cardio workout in the morning, I get all my gear together and packed in a gym bag. I'll even pack the breakfast cereal or whatever I'm going to eat after the workout.

Sometimes I'll even cook breakfast the night before or something (when I'm feeling XTREME!!).

Then you have no excuse, it's just get up, get your bag and go.



Also, other people say stuff like weekly measurements or photos help them as they see the progress and want to continue. I don't really go for that though.

[Northcott]

1) Progress.
Nothing motivates like success. Make sure that you're getting solid progress, and that ass dragging becomes a little easier. Are you making progress that you're satisfied with?

2) Habit.
Our habits make us, and our habits break us. Has your frequency been enough that this is an unthinking habit? How long have you been at this?

3) Images of success.
Find people that have acheived the goals you seek, study what they've done to succeed, read about the mindset behind it. I always find this inspiring. Images of said people may prove motivational as well.

4) Survival.
I know this one doesn't work for everybody, but I've seen enough unpleasant things in my life that this one works for me. It only takes one occassion in your life when that extra strength, speed, and toughness makes a difference. That one instance will more than justify every drop of sweat, every ache, every pain, and every minute under the iron.

When the bar gets too heavy, I simply put it in my mind that something precious is at stake.

[Brynja]

On and off for 6 years.

My problem is that several times a year my work schedule becomes such I really can't work out. I fall asleep at my dining room table grading- the work needs to get done so i fall off the wagon for two weeks 4 times a year.

I am pleased, I am solidly in a 10. I was a 10 in high school, smallest I ever was was an 8 so I am pleased. I don't have an assalanche, I can keep up with the kids when we play games and my clothes look well.

[Brynja]

1) Progress.


4) Survival.
I know this one doesn't work for everybody, but I've seen enough unpleasant things in my life that this one works for me. It only takes one occassion in your life when that extra strength, speed, and toughness makes a difference. That one instance will more than justify every drop of sweat, every ache, every pain, and every minute under the iron.

When the bar gets too heavy, I simply put it in my mind that something precious is at stake.


Yes it has.

I think I am going to use this.


Thanks :)

You and Coops in tandem gave great advice.

I will return in a few weeks to share the progress.

[Northcott]

My problem is that several times a year my work schedule becomes such I really can't work out. I fall asleep at my dining room table grading- the work needs to get done so i fall off the wagon for two weeks 4 times a year.

Overtrain.

Factor in those times when you know you won't be going near the gym for a couple weeks, and train madly right before that period hits. Train an extra 2-3 times a week. Blast every set. Do 2-3 more worksets on each exercise than you normally would.

Stock your fridge with easy, healthy snacking foods. That way when you're pressed for time, you'll be feeding the machine you built in the two weeks before that time off the gym, rather than sabotaging it with either a lack of food, or unhealthy convenience foods.


BTW, I read Coop's post and decided to add info that was complimentary to his excellent advice. I wish I were that organized. :) I do this through sheer mean. I did forget one thing, though:

Music.
Pick songs that you know will get you pumped. Feed your aggression. If you have an I-Pod or somesuch, plug in all the adrenaline tunes you need to snarl through your workout, and go to town. The added bonus is that the earphones usually dissuade jackasses from distracting you with inane commentary.

[Pigs in Space]

assalanche heh.

heheheh.

[mollygrue]

yeh--thanks for THAT phrase--i now have a motivator! ill write it in lipstick across my hall way mirror--as a subtle reminder of a looming fate.

[Ergeheilalt]

I read the thread title and though Krishnash farted.

:D

[Morbidity]

Coop, I agree with you. If I get all my stuff out the night before then it's much harder for my lazy self to convince the rest of me that I shouldn't bother getting up. I admit that I've never been to the extreme of cooking breakfast the night before though ... what exactly do you make that tastes ok nuked in the morning?

[Brynja]

yes!!! i have been formally told to feed my aggression!

mwhahahah!

[Northcott]

I admit that I've never been to the extreme of cooking breakfast the night before though ... what exactly do you make that tastes ok nuked in the morning?

I'm eager to hear that, too. :) Quick breakfasts are gold! The only thing I can think of off the top of my head is steel-cut oats. I find the taste and texture to be superior to standard pressed oatmeal, a nuttier, naturally sweeter flavour, and it has a nutritional edge over the standard as well.


yes!!! i have been formally told to feed my aggression!

mwhahahah!

Seriously -- did you expect any less from me? :D I'm the guy who thought that the deadlift nosebleed was awesome.

[Black Angel]

Heh, I can answer this one! He makes massive omelettes, that take up the whole fry-pan, containing about 6 eggs (mainly the whites only, maybe one yolk?), a heap of ham, some onion/spring onion, mushrooms, tomatoes and a tiny bit of cheese. Oh and herbs too. Then he cuts them in half so they make 2 meals. Hopefully I got that right...

Our house smells like omelette for the whole day. :) And we go through a lot of eggs.

As Northcott said in another thread, Tupperware is your friend. We have some containers that go straight from the fridge to the microwave.

[Northcott]

It's not proven yet, but there's some suspicion that the chemicals in plastics become more unstable when heated, and can leave tiny traces of xenoestrogens in your food. Over time, if correct, this would build up to raise estrogen levels in the body, and deplete testosterone.

To be on the safe side, I generally dump things from tupperware into a glass or ceramic container for reheating.

[Pigs in Space]

Coop, I agree with you. If I get all my stuff out the night before then it's much harder for my lazy self to convince the rest of me that I shouldn't bother getting up. I admit that I've never been to the extreme of cooking breakfast the night before though ... what exactly do you make that tastes ok nuked in the morning?

I know the loverly wife replied already... but...

Often I just take cereal or oatmeal with me to nuke. But for something real nice...

It's an egg white omelette!! With Variations.

So, here's the go: egg white is all protein and is all good for you, but the yolk isn't all that wonderful. I will usually create a massive bloody omelette, and eat half of it one day, half of it the next. It nukes quite well and personally I don't mind them cold.

Here is what I do:
8 eggs - I have a little separator for the yolk which you throw away. This is not time consuming, you get good at it. Actually I usually just separate 6 and throw in the whole egg for 2 of them, I like a _little_ yellow in there.

Then make it edible by - hack up a whole small tomato, up to say 100g of smoked turkey or ham instead, maybe chuck in some other stuff if you have it lying around (mushrooms, spring onion, etc). My secret is a tiny amount of crushed garlic in there too.

Then cook it up - you can scramble it if you are lazy, but I like to be omlettey.
This takes me about 15 minutes to perform, it makes two meals (cos that is a damn big meal to eat all at once).

Your meal (half the omelette) ends up being:
- 3 egg whites
- 1 whole egg
- 50g of lean meat
- some toms, some veg.

It's very tasty, even cold, actually we have some cool tupperware at home too that I jam this in and reheat in.

Now this thing is basically pure protein, if you want some carbs - I have another neat trick: Also it turns this into "on the go!" food.

I will take my half an omelette and halve it again, and get some mountain bread wraps. (you guys know mountain bread right? Like a nice fibery wrap).

Then I will wrap each half in a wrap, and you have like a nice morning egg breakfast in a wrap, you can hold it in your hand and walk to the bus, like I do. :)


Now I know that was quite a long rave, but it's quite easy, tasty and reheats well!

[Dacke]

I just gotta say that every time I see this thread in the New Posts forum, I think "Ass Dragon? Did someone read the Hacklopedia again?"

[Northcott]

So, here's the go: egg white is all protein and is all good for you, but the yolk isn't all that wonderful.

The yolk is where most of the nutritional benefits come from, outside of the protein count. Not all vitamins are water soluble, and eggs are impressive in that they provide their own fat content to allow for proper utilization of the nutrients stored. The combination of fats and proteins also help to maintain hormonal levels, as well as build muscle. With the absence of higher glycemic carbs in the meal, it lacks the insulin spike that would shuttle the fat into storage instead of energy use.

[Black Angel]

It's not proven yet, but there's some suspicion that the chemicals in plastics become more unstable when heated, and can leave tiny traces of xenoestrogens in your food. Over time, if correct, this would build up to raise estrogen levels in the body, and deplete testosterone.

To be on the safe side, I generally dump things from tupperware into a glass or ceramic container for reheating.

This is true, however we only use the specific microwavable tupperware. It is made with different/more stable plastics. I certainly wouldn't recommend using just any plastic container, or standard tupperware.

[doc]

Heh, I can answer this one! He makes massive omelettes, that take up the whole fry-pan, containing about 6 eggs (mainly the whites only, maybe one yolk?), a heap of ham, some onion/spring onion, mushrooms, tomatoes and a tiny bit of cheese. Oh and herbs too. Then he cuts them in half so they make 2 meals. Hopefully I got that right...

Our house smells like omelette for the whole day. :) And we go through a lot of eggs.

As Northcott said in another thread, Tupperware is your friend. We have some containers that go straight from the fridge to the microwave.

Damn ! You got a keeper BA, does he clean house ?

[Northcott]

This is true, however we only use the specific microwavable tupperware. It is made with different/more stable plastics. I certainly wouldn't recommend using just any plastic container, or standard tupperware.

So far as I know -- and remembering that this is currently a theory rather than proven -- this holds true of plastics, period. Higher quality plastics of ratings 5-7 are less likely to leak, as opposed to the level 1 quality you find with bottled water. But even the higher quality plastics may be leaking tiny amounts of those same chemical compounds when heated.

A little here and there probably isn't a problem, even if the theory does hold true, but consistent exposure could be unhealthy in the long run.

[Brynja]

Pyrex (my good friend!) sells small carrying containers with plastic tops so you can cook safely but have the joy of plastic seals.

As to ass dragging. I have gone this morning and on Sunday before work. I feel better, the music selection is helping.