Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

This is my first blog entry and I decided to put down on digital paper what I have already been recording from my daily routines. Hopefully this can save me some time jumping from medium to medium and perhaps you will find some useful information to help you in your life regarding time management and organization, as well as staying motivated and focused on your goals. It’s interesting to be able to look back at the end of the year and see all of the things you’ve accomplished in writing and all in one place. One of the things I write down everyday and will continue to on my wall calendar is my daily activities. This includes work, play, workouts, personal interactions, and anything significant that happened over the course of the day. I like to do this because I know that if I waste my time, I will have a record of it as a glaring reminder and that if I spend my days productively, I can look back at my accomplishments with respect. The second thing I do is keep a strict journal of my dietary nutrition. This ensures that everything I eat is accounted for and it makes me less likely to cheat when it comes to an unhealthy snack. The third thing I keep track of are my workouts. For me, it is important that my workouts progressively increase in intensity and form because the body gets used to repetitive movements and will reach a point of stasis. By writing down every exercise I do and the number of sets, repetitions, and weight as well as the tempo and rest periods with which I do them, I can ensure that my body continues to grow stronger and that I don’t increase weights too quickly which can lead to injury. Writing things down really helps me monitor my progress. Prior to adopting this habit, I would often underestimate or overestimate what I could do or what I had previously done. This keeps everything nice and tight and on a focused path to success, and again, reinforces that I am working toward a goal and that everything I put into or take out of my routine impacts or impedes the progress towards that goal. One concept for the body and mind that I have also come to embrace is balance. Even if one is highly motivated or passionate about something, one must maintain his or her balance. I typically assess a situation in terms of my long-term commitments. In the grand scheme of things, one over-indulgent scoop of gelato is not going to make me overweight but if I eat one every day then it will. So long as I do not always give into my cravings, or continuously skip workouts, I will indulge myself occasionally depending on how badly I want a certain food or how badly I need the rest. Skipping a workout for rest can be a good thing, and again, everything is about longevity and balance, and constant and steady improvement. Those that try to do too much too quickly often find that they cannot sustain that sort of effort for any period of time and drop off as quickly as they began. The last thing I want to do is burn out. One final thing I typically record are my dreams and goals. These entries may come rapid-fire one after the other, but most of the time there are days or months in between as I carry out the motions toward previously set goals and become inspired by new ones. We all live to fulfill our goals and dreams and writing them down ensures that none slip through the cracks.

Daily Activities:

Woke up at 6:30 AM next to Paige. Brushed my teeth and went back to sleep with a slight headache from last night’s festivities. Woke up again at 11:00 AM. Felt better. Luckily, Paige had given me 2 advils before we went to bed.

Went to Sharkeez in Newport Beach for “Breakfast” Fajitas, Hawaiian Toast, and Bowl Games. Watched half of the USC vs. Illinois game with Paige, Ryan, Saundra, and Graham.

Drove home and then took a nap.

Started working on this blog.

Daily Nutrition:

Side Note: I use Calorie King to approximate how many calories I consume a day. By using a Calorie Counter, I am able to get a rough estimate of my daily caloric maintenance and weight loss or weight gain levels and plan my nutrition accordingly. I hardly ever drink anything besides water so I won’t normally list it in my daily intake though I drink roughly 12 cups a day.

2 Advils and water

More water for my headache

Fried eggs, Steak Fajitas, Chips & Salsa (about 1400 calories)

1 Cup Freshly Squeezed Fruit Juice (100 calories)

5 caplets NO2

1/2 Shredded Beef Burrito – No Beans (350 calories)

1 Steak Burrito (380 calories)

2 Tacos (420 calories)

More water

1 caplet MultiPro 32X Vitamin

1 caplet Pure Fish Oil (10 calories)

Total Daily Caloric Intake:  2,660 

That is all for now. I am still recovering from last night’s New Year’s Eve Party and I want to sleep at a decent hour. I still have a lot to do with cleaning the room and getting ready for tomorrow so good night.