If I Was Making a Comeback This September, Here’s What I’d Do

We’re right in the middle of August and, honestly, this happens every single year.

People are away more. Training drops off a little bit. Nutrition gets a little looser. Maybe there’s more alcohol, more dinners out, more weekends away.

And that’s summer. I get it.

But then September comes and all of a sudden you realize, okay… I haven’t been training the way I normally do. My diet hasn’t been great. I’ve put on a couple of pounds. I’m tired. I’m not feeling as good as I was.

And now I need to make a comeback.

So if that was me, what would I do?

First thing — I’d get my training back.

Not my diet. Not some crazy cleanse. Not trying to lose 10 pounds in two weeks.

I’d start training.

And I’d put those workouts in my schedule like they’re appointments.

If I’m training Monday, Wednesday and Friday, those are booked. That’s where I’m going. I’m not waiting until I feel motivated because, quite frankly, you probably aren’t going to feel motivated at first.

And I’m going to tell you right now — the first couple of weeks might suck.

You’re going to be sore.

You’re probably going to feel out of shape.

The weights aren’t going to feel the way they did before the summer.

Who cares?

Give it two weeks.

Because once you start moving your body again, things start changing pretty quickly.

You start getting some energy back. You feel a little lighter. You start sleeping better. You feel stronger.

And then you start wanting to go to the gym again.

That’s why I’d start with training.

Then I’d Start Cleaning Up My Food

I’m still not going crazy here.

I’m not coming back September 1st and trying to eat perfectly seven days a week.

I’d start with Monday to Friday.

I’d get my food prep going again on Sunday.

I’d make sure I’m getting enough protein.

I’d get some of the junk out of the house.

I’d cut back on the alcohol.

I’d start drinking more water.

Basically, I’d start doing the simple things that I know make me feel better.

And I’d try to make Monday to Friday really, really good.

If I know nutrition is something I struggle with, this is also where I’d start thinking about getting some help.

Get a nutrition plan.

Get a coach.

Get somebody who knows what they’re doing and can tell you exactly what to eat and keep you accountable to it.

Because sometimes you just need somebody else to take the thinking out of it.

I’d Also Get A 3D Scan Done

I’d want to know where I’m starting.

And I don’t mean just getting on a scale.

I’d want to know my body fat, my lean muscle, my measurements, my visceral fat — give me the whole picture.

Maybe the summer wasn’t as bad as I thought.

Or maybe it was. 

Either way, now I know.

And more importantly, I’ve got something to compare against when I scan again.

And Then We Get To October

I’ve said this for years.

October is probably the best time of the entire year to get into the best shape of your life.

I really believe that.

The weather is still good.

You can still walk outside.

You can throw on a pair of track pants and a sweatshirt and get to the gym without dealing with snow, ice and freezing temperatures.

Summer is over.

The long weekends are basically done.

The vacations are mostly finished.

Besides Thanksgiving, there really isn’t that much going on.

And you’ve got this beautiful window before Christmas.

That’s when I’d go after it.

That’s when I’d get my nutrition plan completely dialled in.

I’d get a coach.

I’d join a challenge.

I’d set a goal.

I’d give myself 8 or 12 weeks and see what I could actually accomplish.

But here’s the key.

I wouldn’t wait until October to start.

That’s the mistake.

I’d use September to get myself ready for October.

September gets me training again.

September gets my food cleaned up.

September gets my energy back.

September gets me back into a routine.

So by the time October comes around, I’m not starting from scratch.

I’ve already got three or four weeks under my belt.

Now I’m ready to go.

And I think that’s a much smarter way to make a comeback.

You don’t have to punish yourself because you enjoyed your summer.

You don’t have to starve yourself.

You don’t have to start training six days a week.

Just start getting yourself back into it.

Get your workouts booked.

Clean up Monday to Friday.

Get your protein in.

Cut some of the crap out.

Get some help if you need it.

And give yourself a few weeks.

September is the comeback.

October is when we go to work.