Routine

Having a routine, in my opinion, is one of the most important aspects of overall mental health. When I was in college, I was probably the unhealthiest human you could have ever met. To put things into perspective, I recently had a meeting with an individual looking to go to my alma matter and one of his questions was about the recreation center (i.e. gym) -  I couldn’t even answer a single question (I could answer really anything he wanted to know about the college of business, SEC tailgating, as well as the bar scene).

Not only did I never go to the gym in college, but it literally never crossed my mind. I graduated at my highest weight ever, 190lbs, and below is the transformation:

I lost roughly 45 lbs in less than a year doing the Keto diet. I began the keto diet shortly after starting my job in June of 2018 simply because I was disgusted with myself. I had seen some things online about how you did not have to go to the gym in order to lose weight, and this was definitely true - at no point did I ever exercise during the initial descend.

I believe one of the major factors in my ability to find success with the Keto diet is, oddly enough, the Chartered Financial Analyst series of exams. To pass these rigorous tests, you must be extremely disciplined. Due to my study schedule, I really did not have time to go out with friends or cook dinner, so I learned how to meal prep and basically ate the same three meals every day for six months. It worked.

Since starting my journey, I have become rather addicted to a routine. Whenever I stray away from my goals or ‘fall off the wagon’ for a little bit, I find that I am just not 100%. This occurred when the CFA ended. I had reached my goal weight, passed the exam, but now what? I really did not have any other plans for the year and began to enjoy my free schedule. This led to me gaining 20lbs back over the holiday season of 2019 and being extremely disappointed.

I hopped back on Keto this year and joined the gym. Moreover, I established goals that almost go into perpetuity. So rather than having them end like the CFA on test day, there is always something else to accomplish. This has kept me much sharper and much more consistent on a long-term basis which is extremely helpful. Like we have all seen throughout 2020, plans can change very quickly. I planned on sitting for the CFA level two exam in December. However, like many plans this year (I had a two week European adventure cancelled in April due to the virus…had looked forward to it for a year…not mad) it will have to wait until June of 2021 due to moving parts beyond my control. Life goes on and we continue to enjoy the ride.

Despite my exam being cancelled, I have still managed to remain disciplined with my routine. It is broken down in time increments, but on a considerably basic level it is:

• Eat healthy
• Workout
• Always learn something new

I still meal-prep every Saturday after my spinning class at 8:15 AM. This allows me to have all my meals prepared throughout the week and I do not have to take my allocated one-hour lunch every day at work. Moreover, I am one to eat what is in front of me. If I only prepare healthy meals, I am good to go.

I work out six days a week, three being cardio (45 min spin class) and three being an interval of weightlifting sessions. I am not a big weightlifting guy (not trying to look like The Rock) but there was no way I was cranking out 14 miles, six days a week. Again, I am just a normal guy – not Lance Armstrong.

While I have seen success in the mirror and acquired new skills with this on-going mindset, I believe the most important beneficiary is mental health. I simply feel great about myself when I am on track. I truly feel unstoppable when I accomplish everything I want to get done (hit the gym, eat healthy, perform at a high level at my job, and well as learn something outside of work).

Above all, the routine and continuous goals have given me metal clarity and even more focus. Do I steer off track at times? Yes. One thing I will never forget regarding working out is, “You can slip – but don’t slide.” If you look at the transformation photo I previously provided, I do have a beer in my hand. If you know anything about Keto, you will know that you are really not supposed to drink. I really do not drink much at all, only socially and I rarely go out, but it is important to still have a life and spend time with friends.

I do not do extreme Keto, I just don’t eat bread or pasta. That is it. I found what worked for me and rolled with it. I would encourage to you to find structure in your life to accomplish the things you have always wanted to do. We can often become lost between work, family, and other aspects of our life that we just disregard that goal from the past.

It is so easy to launch a business from your computer or learn new skills via YouTube. You just have to find the time. By understanding your schedule on a weekly basis down to the hour, you will likely be able to find at least one hour that you can dedicate to something that will help you over the long run. The one thing that I have found that is most important in this process is waking up early. Similarly, the hour before bed that is often wasted on your phone can be used to read or crank out some free modules online. It all adds up.