A Do-Over? (and a confession)

I'm clearly in the middle of a case of do as I say, not as I do. Not where I like to be!

As we enter the second week of December, people are asking me questions about what to do to not gain weight (or so much of it), or how to get their fat loss under control before the first of the year. Generally, my recommendation is to have a strategy without dieting and to not try to live under too much structure with eating and training. The very nature of the time period between Thanksgiving and the New Year sets us up for failure in terms of being able to adhere to unbending structure. Mind you, I'm not saying go hog wild (as my grandmother would say). I'm also not saying don't eat well and don't train so you can assess the damage at the new year and set another resolution that won't happen or will be short-lived. I'm just saying big ideas of grandiose structure during the holidays are sure to go straight down the drain.

This is where I find myself right now.

My first attempt at Week 1 of Warp Speed Fat Loss 2.0 was downright lame on my scale of measuring myself. Day 1 was beautiful, then it was downhill from there. Last week I literally was traveling or in meetings from early Tuesday morning to Wednesday midnight. Then I had family events each evening on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Today I am sick with an unresolved sinus infection.

My purpose of starting and completing WSFL 2.0 at this time was twofold.

1. I wanted to complete the entire program right now and give you a good, solid review in case you were considering it or starting it in January or sooner.

2. I'm still on my own fat loss journey and have my own goals to meet. This is an awesome program that is going to help get me there.

What to do now that I am realizing my problem? Here are my options as I see them:

Option 1

A total do-over. Repeat Week 1 beginning today and push through the next 4 weeks, doing the best I can, knowing it will be a substandard execution of the program.

Option 2

Delay the start date of WSFL 2.0 until January 4, at a time when I'm much less likely to be sabotaged by my schedule every time I turn around. Wing it until then.

Option 3

Between now and Jan 4 do a WSFL 2.o workout at every opportunity, use the concepts on my adjusted days, follow the eating plans as much as possible and stick to 90% compliance. Re-evaluate my goals and start a new plan to meet them Jan 4.

Now I have to confess a serious, personal flaw to you. The part of the sentence that I hate about Optoin 1 is the word substandard. If you told me you could not do a program like WSFL 2.0 right now I would completely understand and help you figure out a strategy until you could handle it. But I am much harder on myself. My husband would tell you that for the length of time he's known me, I tend to be off or wide open. That coupled with a relatively unforgiving spirit toward myself is not a good combo. At 44 years old I still battle this. Although I am making strides in this area, I can look at my calendar and clearly imagine how irritated an attempt at this level of structure is going to make me. So Option 1 is out.

Option 2 is a good one, but it isn't the best help for me in the here and now. So that one is out.

Looks like Option 3 is the way to go. Why?

• It allows me to reap some benefit now from the program.
• It frees my mind from the stress of knowing I can't do the program to the letter.
• I can still share thoughts and ideas with you regarding the workouts and eating plan.
• It provides a plan for the rest of the month.
• My calendar is already full so I can strategize for the days ahead.

Am I giving up? Some might think so. It's highly likely WSFL 2.0 is still going to be the program for me starting Jan 4 based on my goals. The point is, this strategy is what works for me now.

Do you have a strategy that works for you right now? Are you waiting until Jan 4 to do anything at all about your weight, your fat or your fitness level? You don't have to. Even if you can't follow a structured program during the holidays, you can still make great progress and get a head start on your goals as the new year approaches.

Here are some really simple tips that may help you:

• Sit down with your calendar right now. Schedule your exercise.
• Step up the daily movement. Be mindful and get physical. Add some movement to everything you do.
• Keep your eating as tight as possible every single chance you get. If you have a party tomorrow night, don't just eat haphazard until then. Eat very structured until then. Don't arrive hungry, enjoy a little in moderation, then tighten back up.
• Keep your water intake up.
• Don't neglect your sleep.
• When you exercise, crank it up and keep it intense.
• If you are currently on a program or schedule that is working for you, don't let it slack up!

I am anxious to hear what some of you are doing right now!

If you'd like to learn more about Warp Speed Fat Loss 2.0, click here.

This post includes an affiliate link. Please see my disclosure statement.

Beginning of Warp Speed Fat Loss 2.0

I started Warp Speed Fat Loss 2.0 Monday. Each week I will post about my experience with the program; more often if something comes up that I feel would be beneficial to share in real time. After day 1, let me just share a few notes I think might be helpful for you if you are currently doing this program, or considering it.

1. I use the margins of each meal plan page and each training day page, but there are pre-made logs provided.

2. It helps me to record my water intake, any food substitutions, the time I ate, how I felt. Why is this important? I can use it for future reference, track my progress and detect any issues that creep up with my eating. For instance, in looking ahead I know I will be making substitutions (from the provided list) for mushrooms. But by documenting all this it will help me make sure I'm staying on track. I also tend to struggle with energy when my carb intake is low.

3. I can record the number of sets and reps I accomplish and the weight I use for each exercise. I can then use this to make sure I progress each time I do a particular exercise throughout the program. This adds some personal record challenge to it.

4. I have to make sure I'm hydrated. The workouts are very intense and adequate hydration is necessary for me to power through.

5. I find that with high intensity work the warm-up is all the more important before I launch into my workout. I hit a cardio machine just long enough to break a sweat and then take some time to go through bodyweight versions of any range of motion I will be doing, such as a light shoulder press, bodyweight squats or lunges, step-ups, etc. This helps prepare my body for the work I will be asking it to do, which may lower my chance for injury.

6. I had to take some time to cool down after that workout, and now I am desperate for some stretching so I would say don't neglect that part! Do some stretching post workout!

More tips as I go along this experience. Workout 1 is a rough one. I went all out with it and am very sore today, even though none of the exercises was new to me! As I wrote before, it goes from heavy lifting through several transitions until you are higher in reps, lower in weight, resting less and then you finish off (literally) with bodyweight intervals. Whew!

The eating was easy for me because I was so ready to clean it up after Thanksgiving. At first it always seems like a lot of food, but I remember from the first program that by the end of week 1 I am enjoying every bite of the frequent, healthy meals.

We'll see how I do this week. My first challenge has already hit because I am traveling for 2 days. That's not very good timing for the start of a structured program, but I didn't want to delay any longer! It will be good experience for the big picture because it reinforces the need to be able to continue healthy habits while on the road. More to come!

This post includes an affiliate link. Please see my disclosure statement.

Related Posts:

Warp Speed Fat Loss 2.0 Initial Impression

Release of Warp Speed Fat Loss 2.0

Review of Workout 1, Warp Speed Fat Loss 2.0