Yes... I did step away from the bloggingness in the past few weeks simply because I had not the inclination to write something meaningful enough or worthy enough to put into the ether. Not so much that I'm filtering anything, just that I didn't want to write just to write; I'd rather write with sincere inspiration to share whatever is really at the heart of my being, instead of contriving some sort of jumble of words for the mere sake of verbally marking my presence somewhere (especially since there is already a lot of noise everywhere we go anyway).
That said, in my last blogpost I hinted about a discussion on progression. Funnily enough, I got this awesome mailing from one of the little daily bits that I subscribe to that started off with this:
"It is a natural part of being that our lives sometimes contract before expanding." - DailyOm
If you'd like to read the whole thing, feel free to click here. To summarize the article, it basically talks about step one of those little principles I talked about in my first blogpost of the year and its importance to progression: The need to step back. As far as I've experienced, stepping back usually leads a person to one of two different directions:
1) Moving forward in the same direction one was originally headed, except with a new sense or strategy of how to advance appropriately and more efficiently
or
2) Moving forward in a completely different direction.
Might I also add that #2 has some subcategories as well:
2a) Momentary Regression: That completely different direction is only a sideroute to help a person acquire the necessary tools required to progress in the original direction (because the person basically skipped a few steps or came forward inappropriately prepared to tackle the original path... kinda like trying to skip steps when leveling up in an RPG or something... you know, when you get to the big boss of some level and you fail because your character just wasn't well-developed enough to tackle that obstacle).
2b) Complete Digression: That completely different direction is the more appropriate direction that is a better fit for the weary traveler.
Arguably, one might say that #1 and #2a are the same. They're close, but not quite. I'd say #1 is more like my experience working with my coach for the past few months. In fact, I've got a great pic for y'all to start my story off with:
After months of doing my own programming, I was seeking a way to take my lifting and body composition to that next level (outside of fight training) and was blessed with an awesome coach. I started walking down that path on his programming and was great about following the workouts and the initial nutritional plan laid out for me. A few bumps in the road (including a 3-week stint of bronchitis plus a week of the kids being sick; a total of 4 weeks no gym) and some time into the next phase of nutrition later, my leaning out progress started to slow, only, it wasn't because of his programming.
I was diverging from the meal plan.
Actually, it wasn't even really "accidental" divergence (quotes used because, let's face it, no one really "accidentally" diverges from their prescribed meal plan), it was a combination of getting lazy and/or intentionally cheating or substituting items on a regular basis because of the "just this once" cheat or substitution mentality that eventually turns a "just this once" time into a flurry of noncompliance. I had to take a step back a couple times and really take accountability for my noncompliance and then recommit myself to moving forward along the path the initial/appropriate way he had intended me to move forward.
I did put together some simple fixes to help myself adhere more strictly to the original plan and path - strategies like making sure I had all the necessary items that were listed on the list and not buying anything else that wasn't on the list (unless it's something for the kids, but in most cases, the kids can eat the exact same thing I'm eating). I made sure I was carrying a good sized water bottle around with me to ensure proper hydration (because I'm really bad at that), and I cut back on eating out because of convenience.
When it comes down to it, all I really had to do was buckle down and be like Nike says: "Just do it." I never truly strayed from the original path or direction, in this situation. I merely lost momentum through either my own laziness and/or distractions, thereby having to re-focus and push through to continue the course at full speed.
On a different note, an example that is more like #2a would better be explained by visiting the progression of my squatting technique in the past year.
You see, I have squatted to "a box" (a bench) and learned how to squat with a barbell on my back in my lifetime. However, when I got back to weight training in May 2012 after a four-year hiatus and in a deconditioned state, my form had definitely gone out the door. My biggest problem involved the excessive forward lean (as my coach effectively stated, "good morning the sh*t out of it."). Oh sure, I was getting stronger, but not the stronger that I was aiming for.
I totally needed to regress a little bit, re-learn a few things before being able to move forward. I admittedly did not have some of the "tools" needed to progress appropriately, so regression was absolutely necessary before I could get back to squatting heavier and heavier.
(If squats are an issue for you, check out these articles about some fixes that could improve your form and ability to move forward appropriately: "But Squats Are Still Scary and Why You Are Not Seeing the Squat Booty You Were Promised" (by Joy Victoria), Simple Solutions to Correct Your Squatting Technique (by Charles Poliquin), Get Your Butt Out of the Hole - How To Improve Your Squat (by JC Deen))
Honestly, from my perspective, there is no option #2b when it comes to moving forward in life. However, #2b is definitely an appropriate option for specificity with regards to paths in life. What I mean is that it may be the appropriate option for certain types of training, in the case that you experience some sort of extreme injury that prevents you from ever moving forward along that type of training ever again (i.e. amputation of some sort that prevents you from ever training that body part again). In most cases, there exists some alternative movement or exercise that can be done in place of others for almost every type of injury or disability; it just comes down to the matter of figuring it out (with the amount of knowledgeable individuals out there and information floating about, I'd be hard-pressed to believe that there isn't a solution for just about everything, if you have the heart to go find it).
It may also be the solution when it comes to career paths or the pursuit of a relationship with a specific individual. In fact, when it comes down to it, option #2b should only be utilized when you've already exhausted the possibilities of option #1 and #2a.
As the old adage says: "Where there is a will, there is a way."
In life, we are always moving forward, even if that way means some sort of regression before progressing or finding it within you to push through harder than ever to regain momentum, and even if you must digress and find another path.
Progress is evolution and evolution is the essence of life.
---
For some great reads on progression with regards to training (starting at square one - the beginner phase), check out the following articles that I've enjoyed:
The 3 Essential Pillars of Weightlifting (by FitJerk) Note: This article is a great, simple, straightforward approach to exercise selection and progression
Mastering the Basics (by Sohee Lee) Note: Great article to read in addition to the above when getting into strength training.
What To Do When You Can't Squat Deep, Benching Hurts and Deadlifts Terrify Your Back (by Joy Victoria) Note: Another great article to read in addition to the above when getting into strength training, you've gotten the hang of doing the movements and are ready to add some load, but can't quite get the loaded movement right.
When it comes down to it, all I really had to do was buckle down and be like Nike says: "Just do it." I never truly strayed from the original path or direction, in this situation. I merely lost momentum through either my own laziness and/or distractions, thereby having to re-focus and push through to continue the course at full speed.
On a different note, an example that is more like #2a would better be explained by visiting the progression of my squatting technique in the past year.
You see, I have squatted to "a box" (a bench) and learned how to squat with a barbell on my back in my lifetime. However, when I got back to weight training in May 2012 after a four-year hiatus and in a deconditioned state, my form had definitely gone out the door. My biggest problem involved the excessive forward lean (as my coach effectively stated, "good morning the sh*t out of it."). Oh sure, I was getting stronger, but not the stronger that I was aiming for.
I totally needed to regress a little bit, re-learn a few things before being able to move forward. I admittedly did not have some of the "tools" needed to progress appropriately, so regression was absolutely necessary before I could get back to squatting heavier and heavier.
(If squats are an issue for you, check out these articles about some fixes that could improve your form and ability to move forward appropriately: "But Squats Are Still Scary and Why You Are Not Seeing the Squat Booty You Were Promised" (by Joy Victoria), Simple Solutions to Correct Your Squatting Technique (by Charles Poliquin), Get Your Butt Out of the Hole - How To Improve Your Squat (by JC Deen))
Honestly, from my perspective, there is no option #2b when it comes to moving forward in life. However, #2b is definitely an appropriate option for specificity with regards to paths in life. What I mean is that it may be the appropriate option for certain types of training, in the case that you experience some sort of extreme injury that prevents you from ever moving forward along that type of training ever again (i.e. amputation of some sort that prevents you from ever training that body part again). In most cases, there exists some alternative movement or exercise that can be done in place of others for almost every type of injury or disability; it just comes down to the matter of figuring it out (with the amount of knowledgeable individuals out there and information floating about, I'd be hard-pressed to believe that there isn't a solution for just about everything, if you have the heart to go find it).
It may also be the solution when it comes to career paths or the pursuit of a relationship with a specific individual. In fact, when it comes down to it, option #2b should only be utilized when you've already exhausted the possibilities of option #1 and #2a.
As the old adage says: "Where there is a will, there is a way."
In life, we are always moving forward, even if that way means some sort of regression before progressing or finding it within you to push through harder than ever to regain momentum, and even if you must digress and find another path.
Progress is evolution and evolution is the essence of life.
---
For some great reads on progression with regards to training (starting at square one - the beginner phase), check out the following articles that I've enjoyed:
The 3 Essential Pillars of Weightlifting (by FitJerk) Note: This article is a great, simple, straightforward approach to exercise selection and progression
Mastering the Basics (by Sohee Lee) Note: Great article to read in addition to the above when getting into strength training.
What To Do When You Can't Squat Deep, Benching Hurts and Deadlifts Terrify Your Back (by Joy Victoria) Note: Another great article to read in addition to the above when getting into strength training, you've gotten the hang of doing the movements and are ready to add some load, but can't quite get the loaded movement right.
