A Three-Year Transformation — 4-Month Check-In

Four months in, and it’s not getting easier. It’s getting harder.
It’s not whether you win or lose. It’s whether you stop.

What’s happened so far is this. I consistently make it to the gym, even when I don’t feel like it. I have increased the weights I lift slowly when I believe I have improved. I test the new weight and judge if it is too heavy, good, or if it could go up some more. I have also added Assisted Dips and Chin-ups on the appropriate days, as well as Hip Abduction and Adduction on my leg day.

At the same time, I have totally fallen off the Calisthenics and Cardio routine. It’s a real struggle to get started when there’s no structure forcing it.

Right now, my at-home work has been focused on getting my three books ready for publishing and getting my two websites to a minimum viability. What I mean by that is, even though they need more construction and beautification, a visitor will be able to see what they are about. Writing and blogs are on hold while I focus on getting the books and sites to minimum viability, unless something just absolutely grabs me and won’t let go. Learning is also on hold for the same reason as the writing and blogs.

Reality looks like this. Taking care of my Dad is an ongoing duty and a blessing. Housework is slipping. Yard work is slipping. I have the time. I have the energy to do the work. I can do the work. Getting myself to start it is the problem.

The pattern I am seeing is simple. I do well where there is structure. I drift where there isn’t.

The reality check is this. It’s getting harder mentally. Mental fatigue is setting in more often. Some days I don’t feel like going, and starting is the hardest part on those days. My motivation source is strong. Taking care of my Dad, getting to the point where I can take care of myself financially, and the image of me after this three-year transformation is done. The motivation hasn’t gone away. Acting on it has gotten harder.

So the adjustment going forward is clear. I am considering going to the gym six days a week to add more structure. Those extra three days would be Cardio and Calisthenics oriented. The goal isn’t more gym time. It’s more structured for the areas I am avoiding. Distance adds another layer. Twenty miles each way makes adding structure harder. I need to stop relying on when I feel like it to get things done. The focus has to be on consistency before expansion.

Even when you don’t feel like going, you go.
You can take a break, but don’t let that break turn into quitting.

JD