With a renewed sense of focus on stripping off the fat I was intent on smashing the cardio today, mixing up some steady state fasted jogging with an aggressive HIIT session.

It didn’t happen.

Day: 33 of 77
Date: 13/06/2013
Workout Day: Active rest
Weight (lb): 165.8 (6 lb loss)
Body Fat %: 15.0 (1.6% loss)
Health: Almost fine, still some quad DOMS 9/10

Today started well with some fasted jogging. 25 minutes to be precise. This wasn’t exactly going to provide miraculous benefits but it all helps towards the goal. The rest of the day however was mad busy with work, and I started to question the value of doing any more exercise today. I knew that I was almost fully recovered from injury, and with another back session tomorrow I thought that some extra rest might be the most useful activity. In turn I did no other training today. I just ate well.

The question of how much is optimal is an unanswerable one. Theoretically one can always work a bit harder in the gym, get up earlier and do more fasted cardio, add some HIIT finishers to the training, perform desk work standing up and walk to work instead of using the car. But is this better? We all know that rest and especially sleep are hugely important, but what balance should we take? Whilst we might strive for a set regimen, environmental, work and family influences usually break that. For me I’m fortunate to be under the guidance of a strict regimen in the 12 Week Body Plan Book. It is effectively a 4 weights session per week routine, with some optional cardio if your body can handle it. So at the moment, I know that whilst the 4 sessions are set in stone (not missed one yet), I’ll perform the cardio if I think it will help and not hinder my progress. This current microcycle is particularly gruelling on the CNS (Central Nervous System) and needs solid recovery, and with a recent injury my focus on recovery is even more wise. So today I shifted the balance towards recovery, and maybe soon I’ll feel like I want to get back on the cardio.

Laziness is always something we should be aware of. Our bodies naturally want to do very little, especially when we’re tired, so it’s crucial to feel the difference between exhaustion and tired apathy. Ultimately it’s about being truly honest with oneself and always being purposeful in one’s actions. Whatever you do (or eat), do it for a reason.