The new year is upon us and we should all be retooling (our bodies and gear) for the upcoming fall.   While I plan to bring you updates on the latest and greatest gear, my focus today is more on your body.  If you're like me then you busted your butt all Winter, Spring, and Summer hitting the fall seasons firing on all cylinders.  If you were hunting out West then you were likely done in Oct, maybe early November.  If you are more in the Midwest or East perhaps your season got extended through December.  Either way, the season is over, now what?

Truly, I'm writing about this topic right now because it's where I am finding myself at the moment.  When October rolled around I was as strong as I've been in over 15 years.  I could knock out a 2-3 mile run without hardly breaking a sweat (OK, so I live in Texas now, not breaking a sweat would be impossible but you get the point).  I hunted hard in Colorado trying to fill an elk tag and after that, I came back and just seem to be wandering aimlessly.  I took the month of November off from working out to recover and refocus.  The problem is that when December rolled around I had no motivation.  I've been sneaking in some good workouts but nothing on the 4-5 times a week level I need to get back to. 

My diet has pretty much sucked around Thanksgiving and Christmas too.  I would venture to say that I'm not the only one finding themselves in this limbo land.  So here are a few suggestions for you that I will be following myself over the next month or two.

Surround Yourself with Good People 

Surrounding yourself with positive influences should be something you do for all aspects of your life.  Why would getting in shape or remaining in shape be any different?  Do addicts recover when they hang out with users?  Not likely, they start using it again.  Find someone or multiple people with similar fitness goals and utilize this as a support network.  You would be less likely to stand up a friend for an early morning workout or hiking excursion on the weekend.  I have a good friend and hunting partner who I see on a regular basis.  Here lately he's been asking, "Work out this morning?".  Then before I can reply he says, "Didn't think so".  Or he'll start off the conversation, "How was your workout?", then again before I can reply he'll follow up with "oh never mind, you didn't".  It's like peer pressure but in a good way.

Goals 

It’s cliched but true.  When I was training to hunt in the Rockies this year I had purpose with my workouts.  I had a reason to drag my butt out of bed at 4 AM.  I could argue that I should want to exercise for my overall health regardless, but let's face it, we're human and inherently lazy.  Over the last month, I've not had that extra push.  I don't have any Western hunts planned for 2018 so my drive has been diminished.  Now I need to find some new goals.  It may be to participate in a 10K or one of the popular running/obstacle events that I need to push me over the hump.  Maybe I'll fall into a physically demanding hunt for this fall that will kick start the desire.  Whatever my or your goals end up being, set them now and work diligently to achieve them.  By having a target you'll find your motivation pushing you to succeed.

Supplement 

Why not get a little extra boost?  You're likely taking a multivitamin,  some fish oil, you know you've got some protein powder laying around, maybe some BCAA's, which all help you recover and repair.  What about getting you moving in the first place?  I am a big user and supporter of Wilderness Athlete products so when they came out with an Elite Series of supplements I was curious to try out their Brute Force Pre-Workout.  I was not familiar with pre-workout supplements so I reached out to my contact at WA and asked what the deal was and why I should give it a try?  Besides explaining to me that my workouts would be taken to the next level he went into the intricacy of the science behind it.   

See below for a detailed breakdown.

• L-Arginine 3,000mg: Acting as a precursor of Nitric Oxide, L-Arginine increases the nutrient and oxygen absorption of the muscle allowing for higher training intensity and faster muscle recovery. 

• AminoBoost™2500mg:  

  • Beta-alanine: Effectively raises muscle carnosine concentrations. Carnosine is our muscle’s protection against low pH levels during exercise which is a major contributor to muscle fatigue and reduced physical output during high-intensity workouts. 

  • L-Leucine: One of three BCAAs. Preserves lean muscle tissue by supplying energy to the body when under stress. It maintains muscle glycogen, and nitrogen balance, and is involved during tissue and muscle regeneration. 

  • L-Citrulline/Malate: Increases Nitric Oxide production and enhances Arginine levels when taken in conjunction with L-Arginine. It also reduces the build-up of ammonia, a major factor in fatigue in athletes. It also increases the rate of ATP production during exercise. 

  • L-Valine: One of three BCAAs. It effectively improves cognitive function and the management of stress. Additionally, it increases energy and supports tissue repair that is damaged from physical activity. 

  • L-Isoleucine: One of three BCAAs. Like other BCAAs, it is used as fuel by muscle cells and prevents the catabolic effects of muscle sparing. It also plays an important role in protein synthesis. 

  • Moomiyo Extract: A powerful and natural ingredient with strong adaptogenic and anabolic properties, Moomiyo helps increase training workloads, rate of muscle production, and rate of recovery in a safe and natural way.  

  • Rhodiola Extract: A potent adaptogen that improves the neurological mechanisms that increase your ability to reduce and withstand stress and anxiety. Rhodiola stimulates the release of norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin which are powerful neurotransmitters. 

If you're not all into the scientific stuff, I'll just paraphrase and say when you take Brute Force you'll just really want to work out.  And your workout will thank you!  I used it and could definitely feel and see the improvement.  Don't forget to use the code "STAFFORD" at checkout for a discount when you pick yours up.

It Feels Good! 

There is no way you could look me in the face and say that a good workout doesn't make you feel good.  Really, it’s that simple.  You know it and I know it.  The advantages of getting your exercise are too long to list.  You're already aware of that or you wouldn't be reading this article in the first place.  Just imagine the improvements to your demeanor, attitude, physical appearance, and energy that immediately follow a high-intensity routine.  Good things continue to compound as you carry out your exercises on a regular basis. I've given you four motivators that I'm using to get me moving back in the right direction.  I suggest you take this info and any other ideas you may have and set them in motion.  Now is the best time to set yourself up for future success.  Make it happen.