12 rules to live by....

I’m in a mode this weekend, emptying boxes of journals, throwing stuff out and basically cleaning up the place…. I found some notes I wrote a few weeks ago.


These are rules that I have been trying to live by – with varying degrees of success. I’m posting this not so much that you may want to learn from it, (although if they make sense to you please be my guest)- but more so that I have another place to remind myself what my goals are.



So here goes…. If you want to challenge me about them, please do.

1. Train consistently 4 days a week.
   


2. Train hard for as long as you feel good with high intensity training, as soon as you feel the need to back off, LISTEN to your body and “deload “/ cut back for a 1 - 2 week period.
   Every 3 months, take 1 week off from strength training entirely – clean out boxes, throw stuff away and go traveling.
   


3. Stop training fancy “schmancy”. You are not going to impress anybody.
   


4. Use heavy weights for low reps…Use moderate weights for moderate reps…Use light weights for high reps. It all counts as work and will burn calories. It’s the lack of intensity, lack of consistency and poor nutrition that cause lack of results.
   


5. Eat as much wholesome food as possible. Stay away from processed foods, go organic as often as possible and eat approx. 5 meals a day (4 - 6 meals).
   The basics always work - barbells, dumbbells, bodyweight.
   


6. Move your body! Jumping rope, hill sprints, stair climbing, trail running, swimming, boxing, wrestling, etc. - all these different activities keep you mobile, agile and hostile! Do not allow yourself to become a one dimensional person who can only lift heavy, or only do calisthenics, or only _________ (fill in the blank)
   


7. Drink tons of water. Non-caffeinated. Eat fruit and veggies everyday. There’s pretty much nothing that can be done to out-train a crappy diet.
   


8. Once a week, loosen up on the food choices and splurge to your liking. The next day, get back on track.
   


9. Lots of training methods and principles work, do not subscribe to one and only one. This is a great way to get overuse injuries and get burned out.
   


10. Take time EVERY day to give to yourself. Lie down and read a few pages from a good book get some extra shut eye, even if it’s for 15 minutes or have a glass of wine. In life, it’s important to do what makes YOU happy!
    


11. Do NOT fear the unknown. Learn to love the unknown and go for what you’ve always wanted in life. Tomorrow is never as good as right NOW!
    


12. Don’t talk sh*t behind other people’s back, it only shows your insecurity and lack of respect for self and others and wastes too much time. Respect all and walk the walk, don’t talk the talk.