One week to go! I have mixed feelings about the end of the challenge..........
Of course, there's the worry that I haven't done enough........trying to cram this week.......stressing that I won't look the way I want........
But that is all ridiculous! I HAVE done enough! I've done exactly what I wanted to do. That is, stick it out for the 12 weeks, not miss any training sessions, be 100% on with my nutrition, get a six pack, and be in the best physical shape of my life. I've done all those things! Unbelievable! Sure, there's still some work to go on my legs - I'd like more definition in my calves and thighs but I know that will take time and I just need to keep working at it. I'm pretty much happy with everything else I see in the mirror.
Cramming this week is also ridiculous! Muscle doesn't grow in the space of a week - not that much anyway! Sure, I can definitely make sure I do weights and cardio every day, particularly the cardio to drop the last bit of body fat off my belly but that's pretty much it. No point busting my gut - not sure what that will achieve. I've already done all the hard work.
So I'm trying really hard to not make this week a big deal. Not much will change and things will just roll on.
Which brings me to the next point...............WHAT after the challenge???
Lots of people have asked me this in the last week. What do I plan to do? Will I continue with the nutrition? Will I keep my training up? Do I have a new goal? These things are all slowly coming together in my head. At the moment, I'm thinking I will continue with my training. I love going to the gym every day and I love doing weights and getting stronger. So not much will change there.
I'd really like to get back into my running a bit more. So I'll probably start to increase my running distances gradually, working up to a half marathon distance in March and see what after that. 3-4 runs per week should do that.
Nutrition??? I'd like to think that I'll following the 90% 10% rule in that 90% of the week I eat clean and 10% I can be more relaxed. That's all well and good in theory but I know it's going to be hard to do in reality. I enjoyed my week in Noosa where I was a bit more relaxed with my nutrition. Nothing major but not as tight as I am at home. But I can definitely see that the week of more relaxed eating doesn't take long to appear as fat! My six pack disappeared pretty quickly and it's taking some hard work to bring it back. So hopefully that is enough of a discouragement for me to go crazy with the food. But I am definitely looking forward to enjoying food at special occassions. And I am REALLY looking forward to my reward dinner - dinner at my favourite Italian Restaurant - Gusto da Gianni's! Garlic Bread, Gnocchi, Italian Doughnut, my favourite wine, I've had my meal all sorted out for weeks now and I am going to enjoy it so much. I have a feeling I'm going to feel quite sick after it but I don't care! I've earned it!
And finally, a future goal.................I'm not there yet. I think it will take me a couple of weeks at the end of this challenge to take a break, relax a bit, enjoy myself and think about what next. It will probably end up as a running oriented goal but something else might crop up that I have never considered...........just like this challenge did!
