how hard do you think 12 weeks of 'perfect living' Tues-Wed-Thurs would be?
As I stare down the start of my OS next week, I'm thinking of an experiment. There are two factors behind it: (1) I'm doing 12 instead of my regular 14 or 16 week OS, and I'm a little anxious about the missing time (even though I shouldn't be), and (2) early signs are showing me that an experiment I tried last season had caused a major VDOT and FTP erosion, and took me back to levels of about 5 years ago. That I need to claw back.
What I am entertaining is a "zero variables" challenge for the time starting, say Monday bedtime of every week, through to Thursday night, where I try to keep tight controls on everything that speaks directly to conducting and absorbing key sessions* . So, maybe it looks like:
-getting to bed at exactly XX:00 o clock / waking at exactly ZZ:00 o clock M T W T
-exactly the same meal patterns and nutrition timing following "correct" macronutrient breakdowns
-workout timing exactly the same T W T
-stretching, etc at the same times
-etc
These probably aren't too far from what those days would look like anyhow; I'm just curious about the whole marginal gains approach of 'doing the basic things really, really well,' as applied to good living. I have a good amount of control over externalities on those days at work and home, and after a thought experiment, I could go fully regimented if I wanted to. And ... having the rest of the week to bump plans into, etc etc gives a weekly breather so I'm not completely monastic.
How difficult do you think an experiment like this would be? After 4 weeks? 10 weeks?
*T / W / T are where I put hard work days.
Comments
@Dave Tallo I'm reflecting back on when I was a working stiff ... an MD with in-hospital call, surgery, patient rounds, etc. On the one hand, I can't imagine how I was able to train and race the way I did between 2003-2010 and still keep up that full-time load.
But your query caused me to remember something an adult told me when I was a mid-teen, in high school on the swim and debate teams, which were both big time commitments. "The number one thing you're learning is time management." That became helpful in the '90s when I had a job leading the 1,000 doc medical group I was in - more time intensive than practicing medicine. I got all the stuff done in both those instances because, quite simply, I was committed to doing all the work, and I arranged my life with that as the first priority. As Woody Allen is alleged to have said, "90% of success in life is just showing up." Funny, but true as far as I'm concerned.
Message to you: if you determine that following that rigid schedule is what you want and need to do for a sense of success in your life, then you will git it all done, and you won't even feel as if it's a burden.
I think this is VERY doable if it's a priority for you (and it fits into your family's schedule/priorities).
FWIW, I've done some version of this for many months at a time (think ~6+ months) before most of my key races for the past few yrs, but that was literally 7 days a week. Sleep is so important, and nutrition, and recovery and 2 of the 3 of those come at the expense of time for other things in your life. Hitting the workouts purposely as a goal is also something you can prioritize (and you know how to not run that plan into a wall)
It meant no more Sunday night football, no more Monday night football, ignoring evening March Madness games. No drinking, focus on what I thought was important from a nutrition standpoint (we all have a different opinion on what exactly that should be).
In some ways it made things a lot easier because I didn't have to think as much or make hard decisions as I was simply following my rules and/or plan... Keep us posted on how it plays out for you.
Jill and I are doing a ten day, Zero carbs challenge together.. Much harder for her than for me. I think given the level of discipline I know you apply to things, this should be very doable. The only variable is how much life, job and just waking up earlier than planned gets in the way...
please keep us informed!