LogFAQs > #970974147

For the past month or so I've made it a point to try and workout five times a week (of course, there have been weeks where I've had to drop that down to 4, but also a week where I ambitiously went for 6), and have been increasing them in length and intensity (my average workout used to be 45 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes, now it's about an hour and a half to two hours), however, over the past week or two I have really noticed my progress slow to almost a halt. I think there are a few things I can do to try and fix this, and I'd like some opinions.

First, a friend recommended that I vary my routines a bit more, which I think sounds great. So far I've mostly been using the weight machines, and I think now would be a good time to try some free weight exercises. I've already started to look some up.

Second, I'm wondering if I should start, for lack of a better word, protein-ing during my workout (ie shakes) (I just take water to the gym). I've been focusing a lot on protein in my diet, but I noticed today near the end of my workout that I was unable to finish a couple of sets that I knew I was perfectly capable of doing and was very tempted to go get a Muscle Milk from the counter (if it had been more towards the middle of my workout I probably would have caved).

Third, and this is just something I have to do anyway for a million and one reasons, but I need to get a new job. My current job is physically active and although it's not a proper workout, it's exhausting and sometimes I don't have the energy to do a proper workout afterwards, or I'll to force myself to do one and it feels like a chore rather than self-betterment.

On some unrelated notes, I'm doing dry January. Not that I drink a whole lot anyway, but it's always nice to just abstain for a bit every now and then, especially right after the holidays when my drinking does increase. I've also been practicing mindfulness by daily journaling and meditation. It's been tough to keep up with so far, but I feel like in another month or two it will feel like a natural part of my routine.