Image credit: sandpeat.

Reader Billy asked:

What do you do when life hits you square in the jaw? Where your commitment and focus is 24/7 at the bedside of a love one after a long illness and their recovery takes up your full attention?

What to do when you obviously can’t workout under these types of life’s blows and your diet is going to suffer as well?

Maybe you can offer tips on when life hits you square in the jaw and how to stay moderately fit until you get back to the routine.

The Real Concern. This isn’t really about how to maintain the muscles you’ve built or how to prevent your body fat to increase. This is more about your physical, and more importantly mental health.

Your environment influences your thoughts & actions. Being 24/7 with someone who’s ill will affect your mood. Some people stop caring about everything when life hits them hard, including their own health.

Your loved one getting your full attention is good, but don’t forget about your own health. If you get ill, who’s gonna take care of her? You don’t want to get into self-destructive situations of starvation & pseudo-depression.

When Life Hits You Square in The Jaw. Strength training is a great way to de-stress from life and forget about everything for an hour. Strength training also reminds you that life is hard, and that you’d better get used to it.

The Iron is the best antidepressant I have ever found. There is no better way to fight weakness than with strength. Once the mind and body have been awakened to their true potential, it’s impossible to turn back.

The Iron never lies to you. You can walk outside and listen to all kinds of talk, get told that you’re a god or a total bastard. The Iron will always kick you the real deal. The Iron is the great reference point, the all-knowing perspective giver. Always there like a beacon in the pitch black.

I have found the Iron to be my greatest friend. It never freaks out on me, never runs. Friends may come and go. But two hundred pounds is always two hundred pounds. – Henry Rollins.

How to Stay Fit. You’ll have to cook for your loved one so she recovers. Cook for yourself too. If time is a problem, cook all meals in the morning or evening. Microwave the food when it’s time to eat.

Training wise you have 3 solutions:

1. Starting Strength routine. Same as StrongLifts 5×5, but 3×5. Replace Rows by Pull-ups/Chin-ups. Drop Dips.
2. 2 workouts/week: workout A Monday, workout B Thursday.
3. Worst case scenario: drop all exercises except Squats.

Avoid getting into this self-destructive behavior of stopping to care about everything. Get a change of mind.

What do you do when life hits you square in the jaw? Do you workout? What about your nutrition? Share in the comments.