Last Updated on October 29, 2024 by Michael Brockbank
So, the Hot 4 Halloween challenge was an epic failure of biblical proportions. I didn’t put in a lot of effort and was sidetracked more often than I would have liked. However, I learned a few things for the next.
Well, learning and actually doing are two separate things, really. I can learn all there is to know but never put that knowledge to the test. It’s part of the reason why I don’t sell more books as an author – I know what needs to be done but don’t really put in the effort to do so.
Anyway, things were kind of sideways during this challenge. But, I have every intention to succeed in the next, which is the “Christmas 20.”
What Held Me Back During H4H
I don’t even know what I weigh at the moment. We got a new scale and I haven’t connected it to the phone nor did I care to this morning. Aside from the fact that I’m exhausted today and woke up at 1:30 am in a bad way, it just didn’t seem like a priority.
You can probably tell where this is going. But, let’s take a look at the four major hangups that screwed my challenge this time around. And yes, most of them are pretty much the same as the other challenge attempts.
I’m just not learning my lesson, I suppose.
Zero Willpower
Donuts, Taco Bell, pizza, burgers…any time someone brings up dining out for any reason, it’s relatively easy to talk me into joining. Even if I have awesome things in the freezer, I am easily swayed by the opinions of others when it comes to food. I suppose that makes me a social eater.
This is perhaps one of the biggest issues I need to work on at the moment. I’ve been doing very well with curbing the snacking at night, but when it comes to the meals throughout the day, I’m easily sidetracked.
I need to figure out how to put my foot down and tell others, “No, thank you. I’m good.”
Of course, there were a few days when we had a lot of things going on and it was just easier to grab something quick because of the circumstances. Unfortunately, we had a lot of those days during this last challenge. Ever since the Father’s Day incident, the chaos in my house has been dialed to unbelievable levels. Yet, things are starting to settle down a bit.
I say that an awful lot and things usually get worse soon after. Maybe I should stop assuming things are going to calm.
Ignoring My Alarms
I’m still ignoring my exercise alarms in lieu of getting my work down throughout the day. I am so desperate to get things moving on some of my projects that I would rather work through the alarms to keep going.
One issue I’m having is “postponing” the workout when the alarm goes off but then never actually doing it. That’s probably one of the biggest hangups when it comes to my alarms.
I need to get into the mindset that when the alarm goes off, I need to stop what I’m doing and commit to working out in some fashion. Ideally, I would like to jump on the Oculus or Kinect for about 20 minutes or so and grind out some calories. What’s funny is that I love playing the Oculus and Kinect. Unfortunately, my need to get things going is overriding my need to lose weight.
Not Going to the Gym
It’s been a while since I’ve gone to the gym. Between exhaustion and being ultra-busy, it has been difficult to squirrel away some time to lift some weights or walk on the treadmill. I’m starting to lose the biceps and pecs I was building during the summer!
It wouldn’t be so bad if I could get to the gym at another time throughout the day. But the way I have things set up, 5:45 am is my only window. If I can’t get out of the house by then, I can’t go because of everything else. It would create a ripple effect that would postpone the things I’m working on, including client work, which makes up the vast majority of my income.
A big part of not getting out of the house on time is the lack of sleep I get. By the time 5 am rolls around, I think I logged in just over four hours of rest. When you’re trying to work out with weights, four hours is not enough time to heal or recuperate.
Getting Frustrated with Myself
The most damaging of all is how often I get frustrated with myself. When things don’t go according to plan, which is often, I get stressed. Then, I get into the “fuck it” mindset and don’t bother to try to keep things from spiraling out of control. Well, according to my weight loss goals, anyway. I’m really good at doing what needs to be done to keep the household from falling apart.
Losing weight is mostly mental. If you’re not in the right headspace to do it, success is far more difficult. Your body knows what it needs to do. It all comes down to giving it a chance to do it. If you’re in a negative frame of mind, you wind up making piss poor decisions that derail your efforts.
How Can I Fix This?
The next weight loss challenge starts on November 5th. We’re planning on losing 20 pounds by Christmas. It’s not entirely out of the scope of what I can lose if I actually put in the effort. However, I’ll fail that one too unless I can pop my head out of my ass and get it done.
Given the above, how do I give myself the best chances for success?
Do the Alarms Really Matter?
When my workout alarms go off on my phone, do them. The problem is that I’ll have to move things around a bit simply because I don’t have the time.
For instance, I had a 10:00 am alarm for working out. Well, now I spend half of that 30 minutes setting up the live stream for writing sprints on YouTube. Then, I had a 3:00 pm alarm for playing the Oculus. For the next half of the school year, that’s when I have to drive out to pick up my daughter from school. It’s roughly an hour round trip.
The only time I have for playing the Oculus or Kinect is during the early mornings or after my workday. And even then, there are usually things going on that derail the effort. There’s really nothing more I can sacrifice during the day.
Get More Sleep – Tea Time is at 8:45 pm
A lack of sleep seems to be the cornerstone of why I fall apart so easily. When you don’t have enough rest, you’re less likely to make logical and rational decisions. In my case, it’s more related to decisions that involve food or exercise.
From Sunday through Thursday night, I have an alarm on my phone set for 8:45 pm to drink my tea and wind down. If I actually stuck to the plan, I’d get far more sleep than what I’ve had recently. I’m still struggling with a minor case of FOMO, and I’m going to miss something if I go to sleep too soon.
It’s funny how a childhood issue can still play a role in the life of a 48-year-old.
Anyway, I am going to start practicing getting to bed on time before the next challenge starts. If all goes well, I should be able to hit the Christmas 20 challenge running.
Practice Saying No More Often
One of my major downfalls is the inability to tell people “no.” I’m easily swayed when it comes to certain types of food, Taco Bell being one of my greatest weaknesses. But if I truly want to lose weight, which I gained quite a bit back, I need to start putting my foot down.
It’ll probably be one of the most difficult things for me to do, really. Well, that and remembering to exercise without putting it off.
Perhaps if I had a meal plan throughout the week, and kept in consideration how expensive dining out is over the long term, I can stand my ground on firmer footing. And it’s not like I have an empty freezer or anything. In fact, I have a lot of food here that I truly enjoy.
Actually Caring About Success
I need to get back into the mindset of actually caring to lose weight. I don’t have a lot of realistic motivators that can keep me on course. My heart issues have cleared up for the most part, and I haven’t had a major health episode since 2021. So, there isn’t a lot of motivation to keep up the good fight.
I say that I can use the data for blog posts. But when Google suppresses the blog as much as it does, it’s easy to fall into the mindset of “why bother?”
In other words, I need to find that part of me that gives a shit.
Perhaps a lot of that has to do with a lack of sleep. There are a lot of studies that show how sleep deprivation can affect everything from mental stability to weight loss. Maybe by getting enough sleep at night, I’ll think more rationally and have an easier time with motivation to succeed.
Ending the Year On a High Note
I would love to end the year being less than 220 pounds. It’s within my ability from a physical perspective. Now, I just need to get my mind in the game as well. Although it’s been a turbulent year, there is still quite a bit I can do for myself inside of two months.
All it takes is me getting my head back in the game and tackling it like a fat kid jumping on a Twinky.
For the next week, I’m going to do what I can to get my mind right for this next challenge. That includes sleep and getting back into the habit of going to the gym. Let’s see if I can finish a 7-week weight loss challenge for losing the Christmas 20.
About Author
