After finishing Week 2 of the Arnold Challenge, I couldn’t assist however consider the next quote I might use throughout my public talking days: “In every form of adversity, there is opportunity. You just have to find it.”
I got here up with that to assist share some positivity with these I used to be talking with, and it’s served as a means to assist me course of no matter I used to be coping with on the time.
That quote popped up in my head as soon as once more whereas I used to be taking up Arnold’s difficult routine. I knew stepping into that this journey wouldn’t be simple. That’s why I took it to start with—I wish to enhance, not simply bodily, but additionally mentally and spiritually as properly. There had been a number of obstacles that I needed to face early on this week, and I discovered a number of classes alongside the best way.
The first lesson that I believed I knew—however really discovered on a Tuesday morning— was that there have been no room for errors on this program. I had solely gotten 4 hours of sleep the earlier night time, and I believed an extended nap between the 2 classes would make up for it.
I couldn’t have been extra incorrect!
WHEN TIMES GET TOUGH, IT’S TIME TO ADAPT
My weights went down considerably on nearly each train, and I discovered myself taking extra time to recuperate between units. That was messing with my head, which affected the remainder of that coaching session total. After what I believed was a ample nap, I used to be mentally pumping myself up for the second exercise. Spoiler: that didn’t go as deliberate, both. Once once more, I used to be beginning off weaker than prior to now, and I used to be getting pissed off.
The lack of sleep and numbers dropping turned my adversity, so it was time to search out the chance. As cool as it could be to throw up huge numbers, Arnold Schwarzenegger educated for bodybuilding. The muscle mass don’t learn the numbers on the weights. He simply needed to coach the muscle mass to the perfect of his means. That was what I wanted to do.
So, I pivoted. I centered extra on slowing the burden down, maximizing the strain, and flexing muscle mass in between units. What I discovered was the exercise went significantly better total due to that effort to problem the muscle mass in different methods. I discovered one thing that I may apply going ahead. I acquired higher, which was the general level of this to start with.
PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS
Lesson 2 was that each final element issues. You’ve learn concerning the significance of vitamin, supplementation, and restoration many instances through the years on Muscle & Fitness. I’ve shared that data myself in lots of my articles through the years. The significance of all these variables will increase tenfold on a program like this. Every calorie, each minute of relaxation, and each apply I can implement to maximise my restoration issues. The time I take to warm-up issues as properly.
That lesson hit dwelling on my leg session of week two of the Arnold Challenge. I had run errands with the household, and we acquired behind on the schedule. So, as soon as we pulled into the driveway, I opted to skip my scheduled meal, blended my BCAA’s and went straight to my barn to start out coaching so I may nonetheless end on time. I uncared for my regular routine of utilizing my percussive gun and stretching earlier than I began the exercise. That price me. My numbers went down considerably, and I used to be severely preventing temptation to name it a night early. However, I utilized the lesson I had beforehand discovered about making probably the most out of what I’ve, and it nonetheless turned out to be a productive session.
So, my takeaway on that day was to not ignore something going ahead. If I’ve to take further time, I’ve to take it, however the work should nonetheless be executed correctly so I can get probably the most out of this. I vowed to myself that from that time ahead, I used to be taking every meal and step on this course of as severely as I do the coaching itself.
TAKE NOTE OF THE POSITIVE MOMENTS
This wasn’t solely a doom and gloom of the Arnold Challenge, nevertheless. There had been actually upsides to this as properly. When I noticed the primary article on Muscle & Fitness, it hit dwelling that this was actual, and I used to be very proud to see that. It made my day much more that Arnold shared my posts about it on his social media. So, he is aware of, and what I believed was already maxed out motivation elevated so much.
At the top of the day, motivation isn’t the final word issue that has carried me by way of up so far. Motivation is fleeting. It actually takes severe dedication and self-discipline to grind by way of 24 hours of whole coaching every week alone. Fortunately, my telephone has been a terrific assist by way of this. Putting on music, YouTube movies with Arnold sharing his knowledge to the world, and listening to podcasts with of us like Tony Robbins, Ed Mylett, and Lewis Howes speak about success and progress has been a giant assist. I might by no means put myself of the extent of these folks, however I wish to take what they share and use it to assist me elevate myself as excessive as I can.
I’ve additionally shared movies and posts with a couple of folks which might be on this journey, and the encouragement I’ve gotten again has been nice. Whether it was a “damn, you’re strong” or a easy thumbs up, it each encourages me and holds me accountable.
Last however not least, the assist I’ve gotten on social media and the suggestions to those articles has been great. My deepest thanks exit to all of you which might be driving alongside on this. As corny as this can be, the ultimate two, three, or 4 reps of the twenty first or twenty second set I do are as a lot psychological as they’re bodily. Knowing somebody could learn these and use it as a means to enhance is one thing I take very severely. When I began out as an adolescent, I walked nearly a mile and again to go to the gymnasium every morning, no matter what the climate was like, and I might think about myself sometime being ready to encourage others to be their greatest. If that is that chance, I don’t wish to waste it. That thought is nearly like a spotter on the finish of those supersets and trisets.
If you wish to see glimpses of what week two of the Arnold Challenge and the way I’m doing all through this course of, you may observe me on Instagram @rocklockridge, the place I share updates, clips, and ideas all through this journey. You also can examine again to M&F for future articles on this sequence. Don’t overlook to observe them @muscleandfitness as properly.