📋 TL;DR ☀️ Here is the sixth and final part of my series update. 🏁 I am sharing 🍕 how losing my motivation led me to throw away strict training plans, simply just to do whatever makes me happy and relieves my job stress without taxing my cognitive load to avoid brain fog. 🧠 While this flexible approach is definitely not optimal for physical progress, 🧘‍♂️ it is what I need right now to cope with heavy work stress and ongoing brain fog. 🌪️ 📝 Full Post 👋 Hello, BBB family! 🫶 Finally, we have arrived at the very last part of this series. 🎬 This specific update is based on a comment I previously wrote under our community recording post: https://www.skool.com/darrenliufitness/recording-june-24-2026?p=74a4e2c4 My own personal situation with lost motivation is a bit uncommon. 🌀 It does not mean becoming a lazy couch potato, 🛋️ eating terrible junk food, 🍔 binge-watching Netflix, 📺 or completely depriving myself of sleep. 🛌 Instead, it means I have deliberately decided to do things that make me happy, 🎊 release my stress, and are convenient without inviting more brain fog ⏰ even though it is not optimal and does not follow a well-structured fitness plan. 🗺️ ⚠️ Warning: Please do NOT read below if you are currently struggling with your own workout motivation! 🛑 I really do not want you to copy my current habits. ✨ I am only posting this to honestly explain what I mentioned earlier in my previous updates.🏠 💡For example, here is what my routine looks like right now: 🟢 I threw away my strict resistance training plan 🗑️ and now I only lift weights for muscles that do not feel any DOMS. 🦵 I hit larger muscle groups and prioritize compound lifts. 🏋️‍♂️ My main decision criterion is simply the availability of the machines in the gym 🏬 because I absolutely don't want to wait in a queue. ⏳ Even though leaving 1–2 RIR is much better for physical recovery with similar results, 📊 I sometimes push all the way to 0 RIR 💥 because I feel way more relaxed when I empty my tank. 🔋

5AM crew today because I wanted to train with my HYROX buddy! 💪 Today was my first official HYROX Signature class and we had: 3 laps • 10 stations 🔥 90 sec work / 30 sec rest 🔥 60 sec work / 15 sec rest 🔥 30 sec work / 15 sec rest We hit plenty of the HYROX movements — sled push, wall balls, sandbag lunges, SkiErg, rower, box jump burpees, farmer carries and more. And can we talk about those WALL BALLS?! 😩😂 I thought, “Squat and throw a ball… how hard can this be?” Ummm… HARD. 😂 Trying to find the rhythm between the squat, driving up, throwing the ball and catching it again while already exhausted had me frustrated. I wanted the movement to flow, and my body was basically saying, “Ma’am… we just met.” 😂 Then I had to remind myself: This is DAY ONE. I can’t expect myself to already be efficient at movements I haven’t practiced consistently yet. That was probably my biggest takeaway today — HYROX is going to challenge me differently. It’s not only about being strong or having good cardio. There are skills, transitions, technique and efficiency that I’m going to have to learn. And honestly, I’m excited about that. My HYROX buddy was hustling right alongside me too! ❤️ We were both working, learning and figuring things out together. After class we talked about continuing to build our strength and gradually increasing our loads because when race day comes, we’re going to need that strength behind all of the running and conditioning. So instead of walking away frustrated about those wall balls, I’m looking at them as my starting point. Today showed me exactly where I have room to grow. And that’s what training is for. 💪🔥 HYROX Day 1: DONE. ✅ Wall balls… I’ll be seeing you again. 😩😂

Today I conquered The Cloud! 😭🙌🏼 It was actually supposed to be Friday, but my friend couldn’t make it — and looking back, I think it worked out perfectly because it was SO hot! 🥵😂 Today was much cooler, which made such a difference. For anyone who doesn’t know, The Cloud is a steep hill in the Peak District near Bosley — and believe me, it definitely tested me! 😂 A couple of years ago, I attempted Mam Tor, also in the Peak District, and struggled so much that halfway up, I had to stop. I just couldn’t go any further. Fast forward to today… I’ve conquered The Cloud! 😭💪🏼 And I’m honestly SO chuffed with myself. My fitness has changed massively this year compared with previous years, and it hasn’t happened overnight. It’s been the result of consistently working on my steps, nutrition, sleep, hydration and workouts, but also my mindset. I’ve kept pushing myself, challenging myself and doing things I never thought I could. Today was proof that the work is paying off. ❤️ I went prepared too! 😂 ⚡ Electrolytes 💪🏼 Creatine + protein concoction before I set off 💧 Stayed hydrated 🥾 Hiking boots 👕 Comfortable clothing 🧠 And the mindset of “just keep going.” And I DID. 🙌🏼 The views from the top were absolutely worth every single step. ☁️🏔️ A huge THANK YOU to EVERYONE (Love you guys! 🫶) who gave me advice beforehand! ❤️ But I’m not finished… OCTOBER HAS A DATE WITH AN OLD ENEMY. 👀⛰️ Mam Tor. The mountain that stopped me. The one I couldn’t finish. But I’m a different person now. In October, I’m going back — and I WILL get to the top. 💪🏼🔥 A couple of years ago, Mam Tor stopped me in my tracks. Today, I conquered The Cloud. Next up… Mam Tor. ⛰️ And if there’s one thing I’m taking from this, it’s this: Don’t let something you couldn’t do yesterday convince you that you can’t do it tomorrow. ❤️ Keep showing up. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Keep working on yourself — even when progress feels slow. You might surprise yourself with just how far you can climb. 🏔️✨

Today’s run had about 47 different opportunities to NOT happen. 😂 My original plan was to run after HYROX this morning, but I saw a weirdo walking around the community and my gut immediately said, NOPE. 🫣 My safety comes before getting miles in, so indoors I stayed. Then Mini Me requested another round of apple fritters 🍎… and Momma happily went back into baking mode. Except somebody forgot the chocolate chips. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂 Then work Zoom happened. And suddenly I’m looking at the clock wondering, WHERE DID THE DAY GO?! At that point, my only opportunity to run was in the afternoon. One small problem… 🔥 IT. WAS. HOT. 🔥 I went out thinking about my 3 miles, but my body had other plans. HYROX was already done this morning, sleep wasn’t exactly on my side, and the heat added another layer of fatigue. So no, I didn’t run 3 miles straight today. I slowed down. I walked. I ran again. I took another break when I needed it. And finished 3.19 miles in 40:27. 🏃🏻‍♀️ Was this my strongest run? Nope. Was it the prettiest? Definitely not. 😂 But maybe that wasn’t the lesson today. Sometimes fitness isn’t about executing the perfect plan. It’s about being willing to change the plan without throwing the whole thing away. I listened to my gut when something didn’t feel safe. I handled Mom duties. I handled work. And when the little voice in my head kept saying, “But I still want to run…” I found a way to get outside and move—even if that movement looked different than I imagined. Could I have rested after HYROX? Absolutely. 😂 Did the running call my name anyway? Unfortunately… YES. 🏃🏻‍♀️🤣 Today’s win wasn’t running every mile without stopping. It was learning that Plan B still gets to be called progress. 💪❤️

The past 2 weeks has been all about showing up - waking up and heading to the gym. My workouts have moved to be more endurance and mobility focused than "build muscle". Amidst all that very nice PRs have been achieved: Lateral raises - 4kg -> 6kg Deadlift - 35kg -> 40kg Lat pulldowns - 24kg -> 30kg Vertical rows - 24kg -> 28kg It was pain and fulfillment at the same time to have hit those weights - sometimes the big wins just come along and take you by surprise. In other wins, I see more muscle definition here and there - there's line in my quads, the delts are showing up too - my whole figure definitely looks more slim than before and it is amazing to see. Growth! Everyone take care of yourselves!