"If it ain't working, work it out."
Often due to fatigue, or injury, or pain or lack of time or some other constraints, it becomes difficult to stick to a planned schedule - especially a strictly planned periodization cycle. So what i do is if for some reason i fail to do a 5x5 and end up doing only 3 sets of 5 reps, i dont abandon the workout, i work it out. I make sure that i put in enough effort to call it a workout - so when i fail a 5x5 due to travel fatigue, instead of calling it a day, i compensate with an equivalent 'effort' by dropping the weight to that of my 3x10 and doing 3 sets of 10 as a compensation. So at the end of the day, i have still done the amount of 'work' in terms of intensity and effort necessary for that days workout. This work ethic has been a very beneficial one for me especially due to my busy working schedule.
There are a lot of ultra roided alpha dogs out there who are endlessly boasting that if you haven't given it your 110%, you've not done a workout and crap like that. They also go on to talk crap like 'suck it up buttercup, the only way you will leave the gym is if your are dead'. that's all bullshit. The fact is, as a good athlete, understanding your limits and training in their periphery is extremely important - because that is what provides you longetivity. that is what ensures that you can train and train and train, week after week, month after month, without burning out. So its important to take into account that everybody has a few low days - and on those days, sometimes its advisable to just take an off - or if they are in the condition to workout, to just work it out if not workout. To put in the work, if not completely achieve the target that was decided.
This is what enables me to keep working out to my decided levels despite travelling 3 cities, doing 7 photoshoots, designing 2 brands and managing my company, all together in a span of these 2 weeks.
And thats very good, coz that's pretty much my schedule of life, all year long.
The new record:
My hatred for cardio is well documented. But when i decided to keep pushing, i discovered new boundaries that i could cross. and that made it exciting enough to push through the monotonous boredom of running and the pain. So between my strength training, i ended up running a 15 km stretch on a cardio day and thats a new personal record for me. Till last year, the longest i had run as 6 km. And the funny part is, that at the end of 15 km, i did not give up out of fatigue again. i gave up out of boredom and also because i had scheduled for only 15 kms.
but from next week for 2 weeks i will only be running 5 kms - since long distance running hampers my recovery and hence my strength gains. And the next two weeks are to attempt all my new 1 RMs!!! My new Personal bests on all lifts. Here's hoping i achieve them all.
So exiting week of strength ahead. And given that the dance festival of NAVRATRI is here, i might not even need running for my cardio ;)
Here's a quick log of the two weeks that were:
PS: I have finally changed my diet back to the ketogenic diet coz now i want to retain the muscle and trength gains and speed up the fat loss so that i maintain a lean body with high strength. That would allow me to retain my heavy lifts on my lighter, leaner bodyweight which after all is that which is of true consequence in a powerlifting meet. Will update details on the diet in the next week.
cheers!
- Pushkaraj S Shirke
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