#1 It’s incredibly embarrassing putting up these photos of me.
#2 Sticking to my plan is super difficult.
I want six pack abs. To get them I must push myself. For that reason I have made a six pack abs plan. For that reason I have made myself accountable. If I don’t make it, I will know it and so will all of you.
I will be posting a few more posts about why I want six pack abs so badly, and also what my diet plan is and my workout plan. I figure you should all know, so that if it works you can implement it yourself (Though I’m not sure how many of you will care to obsess yourself over something so painfully trivial and superficial as six pack abs).
Six Pack Abs Picture of Progress 2a
Six Pack Abs Picture of Progress 2b
I took these photos this morning, right after I got up. I have tried a couple different locations and can’t seem to find a place with great lighting where I can also set the camera down and take the picture with a timer.
Update on my four rules:
#1 Workout 5 Days a week: I have been pretty good with working out, though 5 days a week is hard to hit. I know I at least did four since my last update.
#2 Eat Healthy 6 Days a week: I have done pretty good with this one too. I’m always really good at eating a bunch of junk on the 7th day… The six days of healthy eating are relatively successful. Though sometimes I feel a craving and satiate it with a small bite of something unhealthy (which is much better than satiating it with 20 bites of something unhealthy.)
#3 7-8 Hours of Sleep a Night: Wow. This one I suck at…
#4 In Bed by Midnight, Sunday thru Thursday: Wow… I also suck at this one.
For this upcoming week, I will rededicate myself to all four goals. I have to be in bed by midnight. I feel this is the most important of my goals (so that I can accomplish #3 as well), and it is the easiest one to mess up on. I will let you know how it goes.
Since it is now officially the 8th Anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9/11, I decided I would include a Tribute post. I started looking through YouTube to find appropriate videos and soon found myself crying, in shock, in awe, and biting my nails as I waited to see again the second collision. Knowing it would happen only made it worse.
On 9/11/2001 I was serving a mission for my church in the Dominican Republic. I remember exactly where I was when I found out something had happened in America. My companion and I couldn’t get good information until we went to a member’s house and turned on CNN. That’s when I saw what had happened. We watched and rewatched the footage over and over. It was surreal. I wish I could’ve been here in America when it happened. I’ve been told that American Flags were displayed everywhere and that the Nation was completely United.
I was only going to include one video, but I couldn’t find just one that had everything I wanted to share. So, I’ve included many. Watch whichever ones you want, just make sure and remember.
If you can, please leave a comment with where you were and what you were doing that day. You can include any feelings you had as well.
Well, I hesitate to put up a photo, but only for a moment. If I’m really willing to work hard at getting my six pack, I need to be willing to do whatever it takes. I have now not only officially declared (in writing) my goal, but I have now uploaded a six pack status photo.
I decided the only way to show real progress is to flex as good as I can each time I take a six pack status photo. That way I can easily compare progress. I will also try to get better lighting next time. (It’s hard when you’re taking the photo of yourself).
Six Pack Abs Photo 1
As for my four rules:
1) workout 5 days a week: This week I think I only did 4. It’s hard to workout 5 days a week, but I will try harder this next week.
2) eat healthy 6 days a week: I did mostly good on this one, though Sunday night I got the munchies and couldn’t stop snacking.
3) sleep at least 7-8 hours a night: I think one night I only got six, but every other night I got 7 or more.
4) be in bed by midnight Sun-Thurs: This was by far my worst one. I think I was late almost every night. Blogging has cut into my sleep schedule.
Oh well. This is a work in progress, and as long as I keep my eye on the ball and do the best I can each week, I should be able to get my six pack abs.
Then I got up and headed over to my parent’s house to go swimming. I invited some friends over, and we had a nice enjoyable day by the pool.
The best part was when one of them pulled out the camera… We started taking a ton of crazy pictures. I’ve included some of my favorites here. I hope you enjoy.
Our Best Group Jump
Pep Talk: Getting Ready to Do Tricks
My First Trick: Going Vertical
Oh ow, ah hot hot... Should I go in or not?
Second Trick 1st Attempt: Superman
Trick 2 Success: Superman!
And finally the women attacked us.
At this point, we decided it was time to do something else. We went and ate at Quizno’s (I got the Turkey Bacon Guacamole… yum) and then headed to my place for smoothies, a movie, and a nap. The movie we chose: Far and Away–with Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise. I have to say that’s one of my favorite movies, though it is really long. We thought we’d take a nap while watching the movie (there were 8 of us) though I don’t think anyone ever fell asleep.
My favorite line and moment from the movie… Joseph (Tom Cruise) says to Stephen (Thomas Gibson) right after he throws him from his horse into the river: “We’re not in Ireland anymore, you arrogant bastard.”
This past Sunday I drove back from Utah. I was on vacation visiting friends and attending my friend Michele’s wedding.
As I left Shane’s apartment on Sunday, I stepped into the most beautiful and peaceful Utah morning I have ever experienced. It was clean and crisp, and the clouds hung low over the eastern mountains. It felt like the Earth had renewed itself through the previous night and was just beginning to wake. I stood there for a few minutes and just soaked in the feeling of renewal.
Luckily, I had the impression to take a picture. Understandably, the picture doesn’t capture the full beauty of the moment…
I think what I liked the most was that the weather was perfect: clear blue sky, about 80 degrees. What inspired me was a combination of driving fast in my Dodge Charger (which I have still not named) with the windows down and skylight open, while listening to Absolute by The Fray, and driving through the west side of Roseville that is still undeveloped. Right by my house there are huge open fields that just go on and on… WOW it was amazing. Can’t get much more inspiring than that. I even took a picture of myself while I was driving…
Jon Inspired by The Fray, Nature, and Wind
I listened to Absolute at least 10 times today… And while I was driving home tonight–cranking Absolute with my windows down–I was so inspired that I pulled over and wrote some lyrics of my own… Then I cranked the music, and sped home. Wow, I love feeling inspired
And when I got home the inspiration didn’t stop. My roommate mentioned Smashing Pumpkins and that he had the music video for Disarm–easily one of my top 5 songs of all time. Needless to say I watched it a few times…
(Though I’m not sure how many of you will care to obsess yourself over something so painfully trivial and superficial as six pack abs).
