Struggling with the Grind

[Juni0r83]

So for the first time ever I've managed to set myself some realistic goals with realistic timelines, and so far I've stuck with them pretty well compared to previous goal setting fiascos.

 

My issue is, I seem to have things basically on track, apart from the occasional hiccup. My nutrition is where it should be most days, my training is on track to reach my (adjusted) goal timeline, and my weightloss has so far been steady and reasonably consistent. So now all I really have to do is keep doing what I'm doing and wait for the results to get here. My problem is this: how the hell am I supposed to stay motivated and driven when I reach the 'day in, day out' portion of reaching my goals? Am I the only person who just starts to feel a little broken down by the everydayness of it all? Does anyone have any ideas that I can use to help keep things interesting?

 

I suppose at the end of the day it's not terribly important, because I do have some long term goals in mind that keep me going back, I just wish it would always be as exciting and motivating as when I first set the targets, or as exciting and motivating as I'm sure it will be when I finally manage to achieve the things I've set out to achieve.

[heathengirl]

I'm struggling with the same thing, and I have set up mini rewards for when I hit certain milestones.   This way I still have something to look forward to when the grind of every day is wearing thin.

[JPrev]

What's your training like?

[SpecialSundae]

I struggle a lot with the grind. I just sort of accept that it's what I have to do to reach my goals and try to indulge myself with things to keep myself cheerful.

Ice cream is a great motivator. I used to keep space in my macros for 50g of Ben and Jerry's on lifting days and we always have a steak (cheap cut) on Fridays.

Competition motivates me too, but you'll see that I cry about the grind and lack of progress sometimes. It happens to all of us, the difference is whether you let it stop you or not.

[Anim07734]

You could try mixing in some more "fun" exercises on the days when doing the same workout again is just too much.  "Instead of OHP today, I'm going to try handstand pushups," for example.  What's "fun" will depend on you, but there are plenty of different workout styles out there to find something to substitute for a session just for a change of pace.

[SpecialSundae]

You could try mixing in some more "fun" exercises on the days when doing the same workout again is just too much. "Instead of OHP today, I'm going to try handstand pushups," for example. What's "fun" will depend on you, but there are plenty of different workout styles out there to find something to substitute for a session just for a change of pace.

Handstand pushups for fun? You be crazy!

[Anim07734]

Sanity's overrated.

[Juni0r83]

Heathengirl: the mini rewards for small milestones is something I sort of already do. This issue isn't the reward at the end of the process, it's the getting where I want to be. It's a long road from where I am now to where I want to be.

JPrev: I'm doing SL 5x5 at the moment. Still haven't even shifted down to 3x5 so I'm definitely not ready to move on from that yet.

SpecialSundae: I would try that, but if I ate 50g of icecream, I'd be back to the freezer before the end of the night to finish the tub. Icecream is my kryptonite...

Anim07734: This may be what I'm looking for. Keep it interesting by mastering smaller skills along the way. Just maybe not anything quite so challenging as handstand push-ups just yet.

[Anim07734]

Checkout startbodyweight.com or just do a google search for BW progressions you can mix into your workout.  Personally, I'm working towards handstands, muscle-ups, and elbow levers atm.  It's a long road, but you can see the progress if you stick with it.

[Juni0r83]

Checkout startbodyweight.com or just do a google search for BW progressions you can mix into your workout. Personally, I'm working towards handstands, muscle-ups, and elbow levers atm. It's a long road, but you can see the progress if you stick with it.

Thanks, I spent the first 9 months of my time here at NF as an assassin, I already have a stack of different progressions to look at, so long as they don't compromise my main lifting goals.

[The Reel Godfather]

A couple things, first, motivation does not last but disipline and habits do.  Motivation gets you going and should get those good habits deeply ingrained.  Sounds like you are doing well there and remember to take motivation daily, I find little bright spots that keep me going almost every day.  Also remember your why!  Why are you imporving your health and fitness?  Why are you eating properly?  If you dont' have that why, find it, if you have it, keep it present in your mind, if it is a strong and true why, it will get you thru any dark/bored/tired periods.  Good luck and keep grinding!

[Machete]

Have you ever heard of Dan John's Bus Bench / Park Bench Workouts concept? It seems to apply here.

 

Personally, I ran into the same always-pedal-to-the-metal problem when I first joined NF. The 6-week challenges just made me so goal-focused and want to achieve so much. By challenge 4 I started burning myself out, and one of my quests then was actually just getting my daily shower in. I wasn't really a beginner anymore, and I had forgotten how to enjoy my plateaus.

 

I think I [unwittingly] followed the Bus Bench / Park Bench mentality back when I was competing. If a match was scheduled 8-12 weeks out, I'd go to my usual Bus Bench training, my usual peaking phase. But the rest of the time it was usually just "punch the clock" days, where I'd just show up and maybe occasionally enjoy training but not sweat the bad days. Just another day at the office. But the point was to always be semi-ready, in case a match suddenly came up 2 weeks, or even 2 days out.

 

Think of it like brushing your teeth; it's not something you necessarily enjoy doing, you just do it. The effects are cumulative.

[jfreaksho]

Have you ever heard of Dan John's Bus Bench / Park Bench Workouts concept? It seems to apply here.

 

I like Dan John, but that's an awesome concept.  I'm going to have to think about how to apply it when I'm still trying to have all the fitness.

 

To the OP:

I find some sort of fun activity or skill training to be necessary: a martial art, parkour, gymnastic skills, archery, tracking/woodcraft, etc.  You need some physical activity that keeps your mind engaged on the "how do I move correctly" aspect.  Even adding one new lift for skill training every month might be useful- learn the clean and practice at fairly light weights.  A month or two from now, switch to the snatch, or something else. 

 

Training new movements is arguably just as important as training for pure strength.