This whole day has been a bit off. Other than the time on my hands and the general malaise I felt, I am also consuming less food (all in the plan) and readjusting to this whole, “Oh yeah…you’re a bodybuilder!” lifestyle. It’s coming back big-time, but like all adjustments, there’s a momentary shift of emphasis.

Fear not (or fear, depending on your position); I shall blog. I shall blog. I’ve kept my promise and then some — daily blogging, and we’re nearing the half-way point. Can you believe it? So, we’re looking for about 5 pounds of fat from ya.

Just mail it to me, courtesy of:

Richard Simmons
P.O. Box 5403
Beverly Hills, CA 90209-5403

That’s a real address. I say we mail him all our fat.

Wouldn’t that just be really cool? I mean, if you could KEEP the gobs of fat you lost in some sort of trophy case and then dump it off on Richard Simmons?

I did mention the need for therapy, so it really should come as no surprise that I would find something “cool” in this fantasy.

So, onward…here’s the low-down:

I cut my MasterMeals back to 3-4 for the next few days in prep for Thanksgiving. I will be having the standard: turkey (about 8-10 oz), stuffing (enjoy stuffing, and I only have it 2x/year), corn and one small dessert. I’ll be walking later that evening to offset some of the calories with my mom; it will be nice to have her over for a day or so. She’s 80 and walks 3-4 miles per day. And your excuse is…what again? Ha. I love to brag on her.

Tonight I felt ‘compelled’ to train thanks to a post from a client. Oh, okay…I was gonna anyway, but he helped up my enthusiasm 200%, and consequently I died.

Ha. Had you there. I’m still alive. Really.

I pushed very hard tonight; brief, but hard. About 20 minutes of actual lifting, and all I trained was arms, delts and a few sets of legs. After the workout I opted for a set of “step-ups” to get my quads back into the game. The idea was not to train legs at all for another month, but I couldn’t resist the urge, so I hit a few sets of hamstring curls (standing) and a set of step-ups to get my knee (recovered, but undertrained) back into the notion of going up and down a lot.

Afterwards, the lightheadedness reared its ugly…head?…but not so bad. Obviously my treatment for this has yet to begin due to time, but I’m confident of the problem now and the solution. The good news is that it was much less than expected. I pushed ‘hard’ — every set. At the end, I was already feeling it a bit, but decided on the legs. I figured I had the head-thing coming, but except for a bit of fog, nothing major. Post-workout hypotension upon standing still, but that very well may be the fact that my blood pressure is too low now and I need to alter some things.

No matter — it passed and I’m not letting a damn thing stop me.

Tonight I actually trained “sleeveless” in the gym. It’s odd not seeing my arms with a lot of veins and about two inches larger, but they’re an inch larger than when I started a mere, what, two-three weeks ago? Muscle comes back fast. More veins, but a ways to go. That’s fine — I’ll be 100% by NYC-time next year, and 125% after (I plan to best my previous condition by a full 25%. More on that later.)

Now, after this, check it: I fell asleep. I was already hungry about an hour after I ate a large post-workout meal (lean spicy beef, new potatoes in olive oil, organic tortilla, veggies.) I went to stretch out before showering and having a protein drink, you know, for about 10 minutes…and the next thing I knew it was freakin’ midnight. Wow. That’s one excuse I’ll buy off on for missing a MasterMeal: falling asleep.

Still, I woke up really hungry and, given the day, even more out of it. I went to make some food, run to the store, and that’s when it hit me: a burst of creative ideas and new energy. This, despite the fact I smell. (The nap happened prior to ever hitting the shower, you’ll recall.)

I blogged back to a new reader tonight (you can read that response by clicking here) about how M-Power pretty much tapped me out of audio ideas. It’s true, at least in the sense of “I don’t know what more needs to be said…it’s 48 weeks, for Buddha’s sake”, but Gabe put an attraction statement into my subconscious without even knowing it. (Thanks Gabe…I’ll cut you in for .0000001% of the royalties, cool? : )

This blog isn’t just about my ‘great new idea’…it’s about how ideas and elements of progression can hit you when you least expect it. All you need is an open mind and a bit of understanding of how Law of Attraction works.

First, the idea. I was thinking to myself, “Self…”

No, I won’t put you through that again.

I was thinking about what I said to Gabe; about how my team is always endeavoring to improve M-Power and so-forth. I asked, “Is there really nothing more you can say, or have you overlooked something?”

For some reason, my mind drifted to my favorite songs of all-time…and then to a seemingly off-subject question: “If you had to list them, what would be your Top 5 Songs of All Time? Meaning, what 5 songs rock your world the most and had the most impact on the world of music at the same time?” Of course, this is completely subjective, and I’m sure I’ll get a lot of you blogging your Top 5…feel free, as mine will probably horrify you. Newly added: clips of each song! How nice of me to annoy you so, right?

In no particular order:

• One; U2 from Achtung, Baby
  This song, as mentioned in an earlier blog, was voted the top song of all time by Rolling Stone, so I’m in good company for thinking it hung the moon as well. Not only influential in countless ways, “One” was an anthem of an idea that Bono has stretched into a fantastic effort to feed the world and do something more with his fame than nail supermodels…although I’m pretty sure he does that, too.
  
  
  
• March Of The Pigs; Nine Inch Nails from The Downward Spiral
  As far as “changing rock” goes, most people would give a nod to bands like Skinny Puppy and Ministry prior to NIN, but this song, as opposed to the much-more commercially-successful Closer off the same CD, just flat-out gave rock-n-roll a kick in the bollocks at a time it needed it the most. Two and a half minutes of sonic assault that combined the best traits of rock, punk, alternative and industrial music.
  
  
  
• Combination; Aerosmith from Rocks
  I was torn between this and the song, Toys In The Attic from the LP with the same name. Both could easily be on my list. “Toys” changed the sound of rock guitar forever. However, “Combination”, a song few people have even heard, was just raw, nasty (sound-wise), brutal Aerosmith back when Tyler and Perry were known as the OD Duo. (Not really, but either could be dead right now…instead Joe looks 20 years younger than his age and has abs. I hate the guy.) There’s a certain sound that you just can’t duplicate without a bit of magic; Aerosmith had that magic on more than one occasion, but this is my fav.
  
  
  
• A Day In The Life; Beatles from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
  I know, I know…a million Beatles songs could have been selected, and this wasn’t their best album…that nod would go to…god, who knows. Too many great ones. However, again, this changed a lot of musical parameters. Clever and funny mixed with backwards orchestra tracks…well, that has “Jon” written all over it. Of course the melody; what Beatles’ tune doesn’t have the best melody ever written? I can listen to Something a hundred times without growing tired of the chord progression or melody.
  
  
  
• Creep; Radiohead from Pablo Honey
  Last, but not even least, another anthem-like song for a generation. “Creep” did more than introduce Radiohead, in my mind the greatest band alive, to a generation of slackers and dorks. “Creep” opened more musical doors, creating a combination of grunge and incredibly haunting melodic vocals from (give me your voice) Thom Yorke. The man can sing like there’s no tomorrow. Nirvana (another fav of mine) had the same gig going on, but Kurt Cobain certainly never had Yorke’s voice, nor did he care too much I think. Still, this song and a dozen others from Radiohead belongs on my Top 5 list…but then it would be my Top 17 list, and no one has a Top 17 “anything”.
  
  
  For the record, you can toss in 2+2=5 from their CD Hail To The Thief, and make this a Top 6. Oh, and I love the comment from Ink Blot Magazine: Matt Melvin tries his best to describe Radiohead’s genius: “I believe the best band in the world is Radiohead. Their greatest asset is their songwriting ability. The inventiveness of Johnny Greenwood’s guitar playing and Thom Yorke’s mesmerizing and chilling vocals put a fininshing touch on one of the last hopes for good music out there.” Amen, Matt, amen. Radiohead (as much as I love Aersomith, Rush, RATM, NIN, Red Hot CPs, Nirvana, and (yes) Seal and Sting) would be the one band I’d take with me on CD if left on a desert island for life. Just make sure you supply me with decent headphones, you evil person who stranded me there, you. They’re like the “squat” of music — I’d squat over any exercise, closely followed by dips. So, yeah…Radiohead and NIN is like the dips and squats of tuneage. Ha.
  
  
  

So, there you have it…Jon as a music critic. Everyone is a music critic, eh?

Now, back to the FREAKIN’ POINT…I can hear you screaming from Dallas.

During this “Top 5” trip, I realized that each of these songs are on my workout mix, kept handy on my trusty iPod to musically avenge the “dum, dum, dum, dum, dum, dum, dum, dum, ad infinitum” music played at most gyms today. It’s like some ass named “Trevor” bought himself a drum machine and never made it past page 1 of the f-n owner’s manual. What do you want people to do, Mr. Hip Gym Owner, start club dancing while doing squats? Moron. Put on some rock, or put on nothing at all. Some people don’t like rock, but very few will hurl 25-pound plates at the gym speakers to prevent it from entering their gray matter. I have, and shall again, if exposed to some flea-bitten drum machine dance piece of crap when I’m busy doing incline bench presses.

Bastards, one and all.

Same reaction to, say, N-SYNC, or any other band that resembles The Mickey Mouse Club Gone Gay video cover.

Bastards, one and all.

So, you see, music is important.

You’re STILL waiting on me to make my point, aren’t you?

Bastards, one and all.

The point is that I’m listening to something that motivates me, moves me, and inspires me all at the same time when I train. It puts me in my own world while, at the same time, opens the door of creative influence to my subconscious.

I asked myself, “Is there a way to improve on this? It’s hardly a ‘new’ idea…listening to music while training…but the whole ‘creative door’ thing is interesting.”

The answer came, and my next project will be set into motion next year.

I will be killing three birds with one honkin’ stone (what do we have against birds, anyway?) with the release of “M-Power’s Creative Workout Series”. That’s the name I just thought up. Don’t laugh…I may keep it.

The idea is this: first, provide people with a variety of workouts that I KNOW work and work well in either MP3 or CD format (or both.) These workouts will be the same as the ones we already provide in M-Power through our personal trainers, merely in audio format. Hang with me…this is cool.

The audio is paced according to differing and progressive rest intervals. I’m literally “speaking” to you as you train, reminding you what to think about during your rest intervals, and pushing you through sets and reps. There’s almost no way you can fail during a session like this; the guesswork is not only removed, but all the time most people completely waste in the gym — the invaluable rest intervals — are maximized by power thinking, focusing techniques, challenging statements, and more.

Sounding even better, eh? Well, one more thing to top it all off: you’re coached through each rep in real-time as I remind you of form and all the tricks of the trade to make the most out of every rep.

So, we have education (basic workout in audio format), motivation (the rep-to-rep, set-to-set instructions), and creation (I’ll be challenging you each workout to be more creative during rest intervals, asking you questions that set your mind up for more success, etc.)

Hey, just when you think you’ve heard it all…

Sure, there are challenges with this idea, but nothing that cannot be overcome. Many improvements and alterations will no-doubt occur between now and the time the first audio is available. The end result will be something that will tap into the conscious and subconscious mind in a very powerful way. As far as I know, this is a new idea. Frank Zane had something similar once, but it was more “hypnotic” than useful, and not patterned after a given workout program.

This will also solve another pseudo-challenge I face. Many clients tell me they listen to M-Power audios ‘during’ their workouts. I always make sure this is during their cardio workouts, as M-Power is far too intense to be listening to during a heavy set of…anything. Still, most people want to listen to something while training. I’m flattered that they would listen to ‘me’, but with Creative Workouts, I can give them something that’s more useful during weight training sessions. Cardio is ideal for M-Power, so now you can have the matching set. Just like china, only you don’t have to wash it.

I really love this new idea — and what a fitting way to end a day that, by my standards, was nearly a complete wash. It just goes to prove that there is always more out there. Inspiration and great questions are the ticket to a life of constant and enjoyable challenges.

Let me know what you think…for now, it’s back to bed for Bingo. {10}