increase our strength as we gradually increase our calories. We
make an effort to stick with quality foods and avoid junk, but
we do allow ourselves to indulge every so often (Jonathan is
better at staying strict than Steve). We try to convince ourselves
that winter is the time when we can build lots of muscle due to
a calorie surplus—your body is more apt to pack on mass
when there are extra calories available—so we stay focused on
how that extra muscle will look when we lean out for summer.
As spring approaches, say, around the end of March, we
start training for some detail and ramp up the intensity. We also
begin to gradually drop our calories—or at least eat cleaner. It’s
still cold out, so our motivation is only about 80 perc e n t ;
h o w e v e r, it’s much easier to see summer on the horizon, and
our big goal is to try to improve on the way we looked the year
before.
And, of course, once we start leaning out, the looks and
comments we get add rocket fuel to our motivation. It seems
like everyone notices, even strangers. For example, Steve was
running in his neighborhood with his shirt off one aftern o o n ,
and a guy driving his kids home from school pulled up next to
him and said, “Hey, you look awesome!” His kids waved, and
Steve thanked him, waved back to the kids and kept running.
Sure, it was a little strange, and took Steve by surprise, but it
was good of the guy to take time to stop. Then, on down the
bike path, a woman pushing a baby carriage with her husband
walking beside her saw Steve coming toward them. As he
passed, the woman said, “Now that’s a body!” More motivating
acknowledgement (although she probably said it to annoy her
husband).
Jonathan has had similar experiences. While at the beach
with his shirt off, Jonathan saw an older gentleman and his wife
walking toward him. The man glanced at Jonathan and said
sarcastically, “Gee, you need to work out.” Then, when he and
his wife got a little closer and took a good look, they were
stopped in their tracks by Jonathan’s condition. They just kept
looking at him, jaws dropped, uttering a “wow” every few
frankie
(Frankie)
#1