Welcome back to another weekly instalment of the prep diaries! Well talk about jumping in at the deep end, my body doesn’t know what’s hit it, there’s lots to unpack and some lessons learned even at this early stage! So, let’s get into it…
Starting a diet is hard isn’t it, I know all of you reading this can relate, but I tell you what the initial hunger and headaches were a bastard! I never buy into the notion that things get harder as you get older but I’m saying it now because it makes me feel better. From Tuesday to Thursday my head was banging, didn’t want to exercise, everything was going to shit in my head and the thought of doing a long diet just became almost too much to consider. I genuinely thought, maybe I’m just not as motivated to do this like when I was in my 20s. I had zero responsibility back then, perhaps I was less distracted and I just wanted it more. Don’t get me wrong I never did anything I wasn’t supposed to, because in my head I’m either in or out, the diet and exercise isn’t a choice, it becomes something I must do regardless, and following this process of routine and regiment is what made me ride the storm and get into the right head space, get my big boy pants on, and stop the fucking moaning, it’s week 1, get a grip Aaron.
It did help me reflect on my last preps also, was I in a different head space, what did I do differently last time, is there anything I can do differently now to help to make it easier? I started building a list in my head to get back into that bodybuilders mind set that I had before, and decided on the following course of actions:
1. Remove the opportunity for excuses
2. Live the bodybuilding lifestyle
3. Surround yourself with support
Sounds like a load of waffle doesn’t it, stay with me, it will make sense!
Remove the opportunity for excuses
The biggest excuse I’ve heard from you guys is, there was nothing else for me to eat, or it was the best thing I could get, or something along those lines. Excuses to make it sound like there was no other option BUT to cheat on your diet. Well I’m going to do everything in my power to remove the opportunity for this to happen, and although this will be an ongoing pursuit, my first knee jerk reaction was to buy myself a brand-new meal prep bag. This might look like a long-winded opportunity for me to justify spending the money, but so be it, I’ll take the criticism just as I will accept the fact that my mate said owning this made me look like a turbo nonce. Sacrifices have to be made when you’re a bodybuilder.
Live the bodybuilding lifestyle
This is my way of saying get your fucking head in the game! When I was bodybuilding before, I would be all about bodybuilding, every YouTube video I watched was bodybuilding, I would watch pumping iron once a week for motivation, I would go to watch shows to get inspired, and I would go to gyms where there would be other bodybuilders and I could talk about all things relating to it! So this is another thing I’ve begun, I’m watching the videos, I’m educating myself on anything that’s new in the bodybuilding world, and most importantly, I booked tickets to go and watch the PCA UK open body building show at Bonus arena in Hull with my coach Leon.
Surround yourself with support
The UK open with Leon is where this last one made itself obvious. I would see him more and we’d talk everyday when I did my last preps, I also had friends who was competing, just talking to him helped to ignite that spark even more, to hear his plans for the Mr Universe title next year makes you want to run to the gym right there and then. It made me think I need to surround myself with people who have this attitude, who have a winner’s mindset, and who want me to succeed in the world of bodybuilding. The next step was to call in my best mate, and my very first ever training partner, AND the reason I even started lifting weights in the first place, Pete Smith. Pete’s Dad was a very successful hammer thrower in the late 80’s and as his kids grew up, they embarked on the same path of regiment and training, and have therefore built that winners mindset, another bonus to me, was his Dad also had a gym in his garage, so in turn became my first PT when me and Pete was just 12 years old, this is where I gained a love of (as I like to call it) dungeon training. It’s not the best equipment in your home gym, but the workouts can be fucking hard and get the job done.
On my last preps I would meet with Pete every Wednesday, and although I didn’t realise it at the time, the chats we had provided so much mental support that I am severely in need of even more in my 30s. Well we’re both Dad’s now so free time isn’t as available, but we both train still and there’s no reason we can’t align these times, and on Monday night of week 2, we was back at it again just like old times!
The new week has brought a new attitude, and a nice 9lb drop in weight to go along with it, so I’m feeling on top of the world as I write this! This large drop means no need to change the diet so that remains the same, same with training and my cardio. Week 2 has started and I’m ready to push myself more then ever into week 3. Fucking bring it on!
Aaron
Brilliant! gotta love motivation!
Love this ❤