Bedside Clock - GONE!

This CCC has really got me excited about a few things.  I can feel myself forming new habits.  Strangely, they are taking effect much sooner than I thought they would.  Take my sleep, for example. 

I really want to get my point every night for a full 6-8 hours of sleep.  I realize the importance of it and plus, it is the ONE thing I got.  It's my ONLY gimme point.  While I'm going to miss a bunch of points for drinking diet soda - others will have a hard time sleeping like I do.  I'm a pretty good sleeper.  Takes me forever to fall asleep, but when I do, FREIGHT TRAINS could plow past my window nightly, with horns a blasting and it wouldn't wake me.  Seriously, I have a gift. 

But I want to do better. 

I like my sleep and I have noticed that after about 4 am I wake periodically to check the time.  Mostly, I'm concerned with how much sleep I have left.  4:30 am, "Whew!  2 hours left - woot!"  5:15, "Plenty o time!"  6:00, "Half hour left - can I get a HELL YEAH!" 

The other day, I read about a guy who says this is bad.  He claims it takes away from your rest time.  And that you can train yourself to sleep longer, deeper and with more rest if you simply do one thing.  Get rid of the clock!

It makes sense.  But could it really work?  For MORE/BETTER SLEEP it's worth a try. 

Starting Sunday night, I got rid of my alarm clock.  I figured I'd have nothing to lose.

Wrong!

It's rough.  I actually got out of bed that night to search out a clock to find out how much more sleep I had left.  I got a pretty bad sleep that night.  Was tired all the next day.  It didn't seem worth it.  

Monday, I remember waking up a couple of times, but I didn't get out of bed.  To my surprise I fell back to sleep pretty quickly.  ONE night and already there was improvement?  "Nah," I figured "It's probably cause I was so sleepy from Sunday. 

Tuesday, I only woke up once.  Very briefly.  I got the best night's sleep I've had in a very long time.  But Wednesday topped it. 

Wednesday, I got the best night's sleep I've had in a lot of years.  Didn't wake up once.  Not ONCE.  I feel like it must feel to strike gold!  Like I've discovered a new planet or asteroid.  And had it named after me.  I found myself walking around all day feeling bad for all the people who have never slept through the night like I just did.  I mean, I'm almost smug about it. 

Feels good, man. 

Who'd have thought something as simple as getting rid of that clock could make such a profound change?  In such a short time, too.  I get that I will have ups and downs with this, but I tell you.  If I NEVER sleep another night like that again, I feel it was worth it.  Because May 9th, 2012 I had one of the top 5 sleeps of my life.  It feels better that I planned for it.  Even worked for it a little.  So, it makes it that much more cool.

Want to get a better night's sleep?  Try getting rid of your clock.  It is working well for me.  I'll keep you posted on how I'm doing with it periodically.  But, I have high hopes for this thing.  I'll try to keep the "smug" to a minimum. 

If you have some experiences you could share about getting a better night's sleep.  Please do in comments.  Every little bit helps. 

When Am I a GPP Vet?

"Veteran" status is sort of a made up thing, but it's VERY real.  It means you know better.  Veterans at GPP are blooded.  Seriously.  They can pilot their way through any and all of our workouts gaining maximum benefit, while avoiding unnecessary pitfalls. 

Pitfalls? 

Mainly the pitfalls they avoid are wasted time and effort.  But, they are very skilled at avoiding injuries and excess soreness.  Notice I didn't say ALL soreness.  Even experts will hit the wall from time to time.  Hitting the wall seems to be part of this journey.  Experts are better at bouncing back though. 

One of the ways you can know you are approaching "Vet" status is by looking to the Rx.  If, in general, you are able to complete ALL of the workouts within any given week as it is written (as Rx'd).  As written means you can do all the reps, of all the sets, of all the rounds of any given workout.  It also means you did this with perfect form using the recommended weights.  It also means you can do this without evil, awful horribleness and pain.  If this is so, you are probably approaching "Veteran" status. 

Completing a consecutive week of our workouts as Rx'd shows broad based ability, fitness and skill.  Many people have individual strengths that lend to Rx'ing certain workouts after a short while.  But, few posses the ability to Rx workouts that lie outside of their strengths.  GPP programming is extremely broad in scope.  It will take you outside of your strengths regularly.  However, Vets will attain acumen within all aspects of fitness and develop more broad based abilities.  Rob Eastman is a great example of this broad-based fitness.  Last weekend, Rob ran 9 miles in 55 minutes.  Several weeks before that he bench pressed 110 lbs above his body weight for 2 reps.  See what I mean by broad? 

Each week, our unique programming ensures that we put all ten aspects of fitness on you in a way that will increase each aspect.  If you are very strong, you will Rx workouts that play to your strength, but in general, the endurance, stamina and flexibility stuff will take you for a ride.  The opposite is usually true of those with lots of endurance.  After you bring the other aspects of fitness up to speed with your strength, Veteran status is now within your grasp.     

Another way to know if you are a Vet is by logging time within our methodology.  If you understand and live the meaning and purposes of GPP fitness.  If you have spent more days than not over the last year exercising and learning about your fitness, health and nutrition.  If you have made positive and consistent gains in your health, fitness and appearance over the last 6-12 months and learned how to keep these gains.  If you have payed it forward by encouraging and helping others.  It is a safe bet that you are one of our salty, crusty old VETs.  

The "No Soda?" Discussion

This “no soda?” thing I have imposed on myself is probably going to be a fairly short lived experiment.  Yesterday was HELLA rough.  Details to come.  

Your responses to my little experiment were surprising.  Points made on this site, FB and in person ranged from fairly salient, to bat-FRICKIN-crazy.  Seriously, I get the feeling that the diet soda discussion is only one step away from someone strapping on a bomb, lighting the fuse and stepping into a crowded market place hollering “Coka Cola Akbar!” Or maybe (depending on their side of this debate) they’d holler “Death to Coka Cola!”  

My mouth has been like the Sahara.  My head pounds.  Low grade stuff, but enough that I can count heartbeats by the pain surges.  Sucks.  My leg goes like a jackhammer every time I sit down.  Someone pointed out that the reason I yelled at that kid who broke the rain gutter on the outside of our building on Tuesday probably had more to do with my Tab-less existence than his profound idiocy.  But I doubt this.

The Jones’n is the worst part.  I’m constantly Jones’n.  Sitting here at the computer, it occurs to me that I keep reaching to the shelf on the left of this screen (where I keep my DC while writing).  There is something about the writing process that calls for Diet Coke.  This is a harder process without it.  Today I walked over to the fridge under the Jack Lalane photo about three dozen times.  It is where I keep my Tab.  It was CREEPING Cole out that I kept buzzing the tower like that.  Sorry bro.   

Tried some herbal tea today.  Meh...

The only reason I’m still in this is pride.  There is a little curiosity there, but mostly stupid, stupid pride.  Oh well, in for a penny - in for a pound, right?  I have created some rules and procedures for this experience, as it appears I am on a journey now (likely a very short one).  

Rules/Procedures

1. To do this right, it seems to me that I should eliminate all the bad players.  Soda has a bunch of stuff in it that fanatic nutritionists claim is bad for me.  There seems to be no point in eliminating aspartame without also eliminating carbonation (although I’m sure there is nothing wrong with either).  So, both are gone.  As are artificial colors (in my drinks), artificial flavors, ALL types of artificial sweeteners (maybe not Stevia).  NOT the stimulant.  Nope, never that!

2. I’m looking for something to sip on (preferably with caffeine).  It is what I do with the 2 diet sodas I drink per day.  To those of you who are suggesting I simply go without ANYTHING or switch to water - it is not an option.  I feel like sipping on something all day.  It adds to my quality of life.  I simply want it.  NO, I don’t need it, but there are a ton of things I do/have in life that I don’t absolutely need.  I’m not trying to be a monk.  Just hoping some pain in my leg will go away, plus a couple of other things.     

3. I’m not doing this objectively. But I’m going to do it right (for as long as it lasts).  At the end of this process (TBD), I would like to be able to say that giving up diet soda had no redeeming value.  It didn’t cure my knee, stomach or headaches.  It just made me miss it.  At which time I will pop the top on a delicious, delicious diet soda and commence to sip to my heart's content.  I will make up for all the lost time without it while holding my tongue and keeping the middle parts of my hand down when engaged in the “Diet Soda?” discussion from henceforth.  

4. I will bring and bear all of my training to this process.  There would be few people on earth who pay as much attention to their body as I do.  With my unique training and daily routines, I sit perched to shed some light on this subject where others may not be able.  Objectivity will be a chore, so Rules/Procedures #5 is up to you.

5.  Gonna need your help.  Your perspective is going to be valuable to this effort.  

6.  I will post updates whenever there is new info.  


It has been 4 days and I have noticed NOTHING different.  As I said before, the only thing that keeps me from caving is pride.  For now, the only thing I can think of that is worse than going through another day of relative misery at the hands of being Tab-less is the thought of failing in front of you.  Shallow as that sounds, it'll drive me.  At least a little ways.  And while I'm on this journey (probably over by this time tomorrow), perhaps I can learn a few things about myself, about these cravings, about this discussion and maybe (as cheesy as it sounds) about life.  

Questions I hope to answer or at least address in a thoughtful way:

1.  Is this mainly psychological or physiological?  Which parts are which?  Why?
2.  Can this be classified as an "addiction?"  How do I treat it, whether it is or not?
3.  Which parts of the anti-DS side have credence?  Which parts are pure bogus?  Why?
4.  Which parts of the pro-DS side have credence?  Which parts are pure bogus?  Why?
5.  How will quitting DS affect me?
6.  Is it possible to quit at all?
7.  SHOULD I quit drinking DS?

What questions am I missing?  Please post to comments.