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On Mondays, we’ll lock in together: See below for a motivational tidbit to start your week, perspective on movement I’m focusing on, and music I’m enjoying I’d like to share with you 🙂
1/3. Motivation
The right perspective makes the impossible possible.
When faced with something that feels "impossible," our immediate instinct can be to list the reasons why it can't be done. At least, I’ve become more aware of when I default to that. I look for proof, a blueprint, or someone who has already achieved it. And if it’s not at my fingertips, motivation may wane. While practical steps and examples are invaluable, sometimes the greatest breakthroughs come from a place of healthy idealism and even a touch of romanticism.
There is something courageous about daring to envision a reality that doesn't yet exist, even if there's no direct precedent for it. This isn't about ignoring reality, but consciously choosing a lens through which to view it. Why not opt for a lens that highlights possibilities over limitations?
Allow yourself to romanticize your goals a little. The space of imaginative possibility can help us find the mental push needed to actually begin the journey, even when the path isn't fully illuminated and no one has walked it before us.
Intention for the Week: Cultivate the "visionary perspective" through a blend of optimism and courage🙂
2/3. Movement
Your Strategic Blueprint: Unlocking Faster Progress with Training Splits (PPL)
Week 7: Recap and What’s Next!
Eep! Hopefully you were able to (and enjoyed) the past six weeks where we dove into training splits with a focus on the split I currently use in my routine: Push / Pull / Legs. Here is the complete guide!
When initially designing this, the goal was to dive deep into how I think about my workouts with the hope of inspiring others who may be reading to consider or feel empowered to create their own routine.
However, as I wrote this, the one thing that became clear to me is that there isn’t a ‘right answer’ to a training split and it may vary depending on how frequently you plan on lifting and other activities you may enjoy. So…there are two additional training splits that offer more flexibility: Upper/Lower and Full Body. The nice thing about these is that you can hit more muscles more frequently, if you don’t plan on going to the gym 6x a week and would prefer to go anywhere from 1-5 times.
I’m planning on diving into and creating sample plans for both. Would love your input on which you would like to see first 🙂
POLL: Which of the following training splits should I focus on first?
Recap of the PPL Guide
Week 1: Lay the groundwork and answer the fundamental question: "What's a Training Split?" (if you missed it, click the link here).
Week 2: Dive into the split that I incorporate into my weekly routine: Push / Pull / Legs + an exercise bank to get you started (Link if you missed it)
Week 3: Within my PPL split, outlined the exercises I prioritized on each training day (link here)
Week 4: Deep dive on my Push Day (read it here)
Week 5: Deep dive on my Pull Day (here)
Week 6: Deep dive on my Leg Day (here)
3/3. Music
This song popped up in my Spotify recommendations about a month ago under my playlist 1.6. I find that Spotify's "Recommended" songs (at the bottom of your existing playlists) feel like a more real-time and curated "Discover Weekly". Whenever I feel like a playlist of mine is due for newness, I give them a listen.
Perhaps it's the pre-wedding scramble (seven weeks to go) or other exciting personal milestones keeping me energized on tired days, but the repetitive, trance-like chorus of "Don't Stop" has resonated deeply, making this constant on my shuffle as of late.
Side note: I think this cover art would make such a unique print?
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