Motivation advice. Cut to 14% in 7 weeks, 6 to go.

[Duracell_Bunny]

Hey guys,

This isn't really a question of diet/workouts, more of a general call for gaining motivation.

I'm 7 weeks into my cutting program, and have 5 remaining but right now I'm begining to find it hard to have that adranalin/aggressive type of high energy during my workouts that I had. It feels like so much more effort, its like mentally I want to try harder through the pain during an exercise, but my body just won't keep up.

Down on paper I've gone from 19% (180 pounds) to 15% (168 pounds) in 7 weeks. Although I havn't noticed much of a difference in the mirror, my trainer has taken photos of when I first started but said its best not to compare until I get in the lower teens. I have a holiday booked for July and I wan't to become lean as possible (to look good on the beach & beside to pool), with some expected loss of muscle. Both my strengh and endurance is increasing. From August I plan on gaining weight.

My diet and sleeping all seem to be in order, my trainer changes my program every few weeks. I've had freinds come along to my gym to help spot and push me harder, Im also attending different gyms, by attending a fitness class with my g/f and have my personal trainer at another, while still attending the gym I'm a member of when I train on my own.

The hardest workouts I find to get motivated for is the cardio.

 

[Strelok]

Pain is temporary pride is forever.

 

[NorwegianDJ]

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/forumdisplay.php?f=311

Motivation should only be needed when starting out, from then on it's dicipline.

 

[OzyBoy]

Good work. I am in the same boat (sort of). I have lost a bit of weight too and it is becoming really noticeable. Its a good feeling :woo:

 

[mikeyb]

It's normal to have ups and downs. Even elite athletes need a breather or a change of scenery from time to time.

Try some of the following:
1) Cross train. This is especially easy with cardio. Try cycling or running outdoors instead of in the gym, try the elliptical instead of running, etc.
2) Have an easy week, both in the gym and diet-wise. If you've been training hard up until now you may be surprised to find that you actually get stronger after such a week.
3) Come up with a rewarding recovery strategy, i.e. do something you like just after each workout as a reward to yourself for completing the workout. If you can afford it, a sports massage after hard workouts can work as far as this goes. It goes without saying that the rest of your recovery strategy, i.e. nutrition, should not be changed.

 

[cordoncordon]

How tall are you? I cannot imagine weighing 168. I am about 6 feet tall and have always lifted weights, played all sports, etc, but wanted to lean up. So I started P90 x 6 weeks ago. Started at around 212, now down to around 203, in 6 weeks want to be 195 or so, and that is as skinny as I want to get. 168 just sounds anerexic to me. IF you are having problems losing that last % of body fat, I HIGHLY rec the P90 X program. Trust me, you'll lose it. You work your azzzzz off.

 

[element0]

How tall are you? I cannot imagine weighing 168. I am about 6 feet tall and have always lifted weights, played all sports, etc, but wanted to lean up. So I started P90 x 6 weeks ago. Started at around 212, now down to around 203, in 6 weeks want to be 195 or so, and that is as skinny as I want to get. 168 just sounds anerexic to me. IF you are having problems losing that last % of body fat, I HIGHLY rec the P90 X program. Trust me, you'll lose it. You work your azzzzz off.

I'm a shade under six feet tall, and I had those same thoughts six months ago when I weighted 225. I'm down to 185 now, and I could stand to loose 10 pounds more of fat, as well as gain some muscle back. I figured I'd be ripped at 185, but I'm still around 14% body fat.

You don't realize how little you weigh without all that fat until you lose a significant amount of it.

 

[element0]

Hey guys,

This isn't really a question of diet/workouts, more of a general call for gaining motivation.

I'm 7 weeks into my cutting program, and have 5 remaining but right now I'm begining to find it hard to have that adranalin/aggressive type of high energy during my workouts that I had. It feels like so much more effort, its like mentally I want to try harder through the pain during an exercise, but my body just won't keep up.

Down on paper I've gone from 19% (180 pounds) to 15% (168 pounds) in 7 weeks. Although I havn't noticed much of a difference in the mirror, my trainer has taken photos of when I first started but said its best not to compare until I get in the lower teens. I have a holiday booked for July and I wan't to become lean as possible (to look good on the beach & beside to pool), with some expected loss of muscle. Both my strengh and endurance is increasing. From August I plan on gaining weight.

My diet and sleeping all seem to be in order, my trainer changes my program every few weeks. I've had freinds come along to my gym to help spot and push me harder, Im also attending different gyms, by attending a fitness class with my g/f and have my personal trainer at another, while still attending the gym I'm a member of when I train on my own.

The hardest workouts I find to get motivated for is the cardio.

I would suggest keeping the cardio short/intense, and stay away slow/long distance type.

Find a football stadium, run some stairs, do wind sprints, in between sets of running do sets of crunches, pushups, jump rope, bring a medicine ball and toss it around, anything that would break up the momentum of running.

 

[Jariel]

Unfortunately loss of energy, motivation and aggressiveness is all a side effect of strict cutting. You need to accept that you will not be able to perform at your peak during cutting periods, so don't worry about dropping a set here and there and/or lowering the weight you lift. Afterall, with less energy to fuel muscle growth you can't afford to punish them as you would during bulking or you risk losing it. Same goes for cardio and make sure you're keeping your protein intake high.

I've been reduced to depression and despair during strict cutting cycles and I've heard many reports of bodybuilders experiencing the same leading upto competition time.

A better alternative would be to cut on a more long term basis. You will still lose strength and energy, but on a much more managable scale.

Creatine and/or taurine and/or arginine might help. Just make sure if you take all 3 you drink a LOT of water.

 

[Duracell_Bunny]

Thanks, I didn't spot there were more replies.

My height is 5" 10. Got calliper tested last night, Im now 13% at 166 ibs.

Have 3 weeks and 3 days left of training - which right now is pretty intense. Also started doing cardio in the mornings, which I'm very pleased with as I don't normaly like getting up early and gives me an extra days rest.

Just changed the routine to doing 4 days back to back of morning cardio, weights in the evening then one day rest irrelevant of which day of the week it is, was doing weights and cardio alternatly.

I've set a realistic goal of 11.5% by the second week of July.

What percentage is it expected to begin seeing a difference? Unfortunetely I see I'm not going to get down to 10% in time to see the abs, but without comparing pictures (I did have some taken at 19%) I don't feel that I look much different - maybe the case of looking in the mirror too oftern.

As for the motivation thing its gettng harder all the time, but I just keep thinking its only 3 weeks and get down to business. Just gotta keep going and theres no time to hold back with excuses.

I just hope a week abroad and off diet won't bring it back up to much.