Value of Time

It seems incredible that we sell our time for amounts of money far below it's actual value. You have a limited number of hours to live, is it really only worth the amount you get per hour?
I don't think so. I doubt you do either. Keep that in mind when you feel tempted to measure a person by the car they drive or house they live in. Those are side-effects of how they sell their time, not measures of a person's worth.
It's ok to work for less, but it's not ok when you use the payment a person receives to rate that person.
Just as you are worth more than what you wear, so is everybody else.
So if you can't measure people by money any more, what will you use?
Time to develop a real set of values, grasshopper...

I'm Melting!

Any guy that has spent an appreciable amount of time in the gym has an inordinate fear of being small. You don't skip a workout because you'll shrink. You can't stop doing certain exercises because you'll shrink. Heck, if you miss one meal, you'll shrink.
At least, that is what the fear is.
It's not true. As long as your pattern of eating is good (enough calories) and you are getting stimulation for your muscles, you do not shrink.
Ok, you may not be getting bigger, but at least you're not going backwards! Why do I bring this up? Well, my weights finally arrived yesterday after a 6 month wait. I have not shrunk. I've been doing a basic bodyweight program (levels below my max ability), averaging 2 workouts a week. I've had several run-ins with illness. (not used to all the new germ varieties here). Also, my diet has been up and down. But, I'm still pretty much in the same condition as I was 6 months ago.
It's not ideal. I prefer to improve, but given the circumstances, not bad.
What does this mean?
1. If you need to focus on something (rehab, prehab, arms, calves), go for it. The rest will stay where it is if you put it in maintenance.
2. If you want to lose (or gain) weight, getting out of maintenance takes effort. Your body wants to stay there. But, if you can get to your goal, soon that will be your maintenance point and your body will want to stay there. So go for it.
Don't fear losing where you are. It's just a step to where you want to be anyway. But at least if things don't go to plan, you can feel more secure knowing that your hard work won't just instantly disappear!

Never Give Up

Just when you think that you are in cruise mode with your goals an iceberg comes along.
"I am the Titanic, I am unsinkable!"
Er, no, that iceberg is going to rip you open from stem to stern.
Ok, perhaps that's a bit melodramatic, but that's how it feels when you fall off the rails.
"I'm a loser. It's all over. My diet/exercise plan/goal is RUINED!"
Have courage. Very little is completely wrecked by one or two failures.
If you look at a plan over a period of months or years, the blips of falling off the rails won't even register. The big thing is to keep at it. Never give up.
You cannot throw in the towel because there is no towel!
Keep your nose to the grindstone, and you will achieve that goal. One or two stumbles do not define the journey. They do not turn you into a failure. The only way you can be a failure is if you decide that you are a failure.
If you simply stick at it and refuse to give up you will get to that goal.
Stick to that goal. Success is there if you grab it.

Skink a dink maroo

There once was a man from sri lanka
He worked as a personal banker
But gave it all up
To follow his dream
Of sailing a big oil tanker

Workout 16 & 17

Last week my computer died a horrible death, so I didn't log my workout. I've now managed to misplace my numbers, so it's a bit of a guess here and there. Time will tell if I'm blowing my own horn.
Workout 16
 Warmup:
   Mobility: Rocking, Rolling, and Crawling. Movement.
 Squats:
   Full Squats: 50,30 (meant to be 2x30, so I guess I can move on!)
 Pullups:
   Plate Rows: 10
   Inverted Rows: 20,15,10 (hmm?)

Workout 17
 Warmup:
   Mobility: Rock, Roll, Crawl. Movement.
 Pushups:
   Incline: 10
   Kneeling: 30,30,28 (didn't force the final 30)
 Abs:
   Seated: 40, 40, 40
I'm cooked after the abs. damn. that was tiring. out...

Workout 15

Mobility
Rocks, Rolls, and Crawls
Pushup:
  Incline: 10
  Kneeling: 30,30,25

Abs:
  Planks: 30sec
  Seated: 40,40,40

I'll take it. Time to move to level 2 abs. I'm tired of the seated version.

Mastery or Multiplicity

Often we are forced to decide what our main focus will be. If we want to stand out from the crowd, we will generally have to focus on a something specific. It's unusual to stand out from the crowd if you do not invest significant time and effort on your chosen area of expertise. That time will no longer be available to use in improving other areas.
If you choose to be multi-skilled, then you must spread your time across the various areas of endeavour. This means that you will not have time to master a single area.
So, ultimately, you will need to decide what appeals to you. Do want to be someone known for a specific skill, or will you trade fame for being known simply for being pretty good at a lot of stuff.
I've always gone for the multiplicitous approach. Not exactly a 'jack of all trades', but someone able to show skill and ability in a wide range of activities. I like the idea of being a 'Renaissance Man'. Look it up. Another name for it is a Polymath. That's my goal. So I accept the fact that I will never deadlift 800lbs, but I prefer being able to do lots of things rather than just one or two.
What are you? A master of one, or an artisan of a few?...