Its in times like these that I am drawn to the concepts outlined in the book, Peaks and Valleys, by Spencer Johnson. To break down the central concept to its basest level, this is what I took from it:

        The decisions we make today are what effect the outcomes tomorrow

During the good times, we make decisions on what is happening to us right now, when things are really good, we never think of the bad times because when you're on top, you will always be on top. This is the peak.

This is the valley. Valleys happen when in the good times; when you're on top, you make decisions that are counter to the decisions you made to get you there. Its a bit of an arrogance, I suppose, but hey, we're all human and the Greeks were writing about hubris a couple of millennia ago, so it's not like it's a new concept.

When I started this, people started reminding me about the dreaded plateau. 

"Watch out Gord, you will get to a point where your body will stop responding to the training. You'll get through it."

Now, I'm no philosopher, just a keen observer, of myself anyway. I've always said I would be honest on here, because if I'm not, why write about such a personal event? With all that inward observation I learned that the plateau is a myth. One myth that in times of weakness, I've used as a crutch.

In the gym, as in life; if you aren't winning, you're losing. Peaks and valleys, there is no room for plateaus in my game plan. What there is room for is a wider definition of success or winning and a narrower definition of failure, or losing. The peaks and valleys happen within those two lines, losing doesn't mean failure and winning doesn't mean success, because the closer your peak gets to that goal, it means you need to move that goal to the next level.

Right now, I feel like I'm in a valley, I've made a week of less than stellar food decisions and let life get in the way of doing what is right by me. My training is doing rather well, I'm feeling stronger, I'm looking towards adding running as another way help me accomplish my goals. But the eating thing is what makes me feel like I'm in a valley, right now. 

I guess the only way to get out of that valley is to start climbing out...