This entry brings me up to date, Ready to close out September and move into October which means, heavy lifting for the next 5 or 6 months. Also have to train for the Urbanathalon at the end of october, so I think this part of ruggedness will be back to running the woods, the normal GX stuff and some HEAVY upper body training.. back to where I started.. light squats various leg work for toning, speed and ignition... and I should be good!!! I'm psyched.
91811 - Day 92 - Another day of class... then work, then I can get back to my routine for a week.
91911 - Day 93 183.5 don't know whether it's the change in the weather, the diet of lowered activity, but weight gain up and intensity level down. Feel kind of bad for taking TNT class to far to hard.. and need to keep GnB (Gutts n Butts) more disciplined. Meanwhile - wake up, trampoline, more calf and ankle work.. ankles and feet feel weak and sore these days... - don't over do it tho - haven't run in too long, maybe friday I'll ditch the gym and run a lil bit. New push up week not sure what to call these, but my hands are behind my chest, trying to push up from a dif angle, It was tough but I did 3 sets.. 2, 5s and a 10.. OY!
92011- Day 94 181.5 with 28-30% (as measured by the scale) body fat. I am wondering if over night creatine drinks are causing this? This has only been a couple of days, plus I drink tea at work too. Maybe I didn't get enough H2O yesterday? Better keep an eye on this... Oh yeah more honey than usual too. and No psyllium husk. PUMPED and Aqua Box today. two good energetic sessions. My legs, esp inner thighs are sore... must be the deep squats maybe.. I like the feeling must do this more often.
92111 - Day 95 - See book? Aqua GX (From the book 184.5) I wondered if I was holding food in b/c of no phys-husk, elim felt bad, hard and... well TMI just in case someone else is reading.. in case you are however and stools are slow moving and hard, try psyllium husk.. it's awesome. 5 mins on tramp today took 4l Lunges up to 10s.. (at home) inner thigh was ignited, and felt like it would cramp up but didn't.
92211 - Day 96 184.5 A strong GX session at the Y I was super hyped and energetic. How do I maintain this?? Suddenly legs stopped hurting... as in soreness, it was a GREAT day!!
92311 - Day 97 - Rainy slow start Friday But I'm going to the Y to lift. 184.5 seems like good solid weight. clothes are no tighter and body fat seems to be steady in the range I'm used to. Almost 1/3 of the way through. Wow, today was tiring, despite that I hit lots of stations starting out with free squats, in fact that was the first stop on a leg rotation, to calf raises, anterior shin flexes, lots of leg stretching trying to open up the lower pevis/groin area. Then a round of 1 legged inverted leg presses, and dumbbell presses - 2 sets of 20 w/ 60 lbs, then moved to 70s... it's time to ease into heavier weights and lesser reps. However my body/mind has gotten used to doing 20-30 reps so the 70 lb eps were 15 and ten. T-bar rows were challenging b/c I was fatigued and hadn't done them for a while. 3 sets 10,12,15.. single leg extensions and that was it for me. I'm satisfied with the session
92411 - Day 98 182.5 H2O is low, I can't remember the last time I did a sun salutation. All day I'll be in class today. Jumped on tramp already. The day caught up with me, exhaustion.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Ruggedness Training September: 91111-91711
Hello me... what do I want to remind myself of this week. This was the week I started training in ESL. At the point of this post I have passed the seminar but I still have more to do. Meanwhile GX has been awesome, very high energy, very hot (with body heat) rooms/sessions... More to follow...
91111 - Day 85 - 182.. already gaining weight, ha, just kidding. No training yesterday, spent the day in class and will likely do the same today. However today, 8 hours of class and then a few hrs off then off to work. Maybe I can get some training done there. Maybe i can at least jump on the tramp today and maybe a few push ups before class. It sounds odd writing and thinking, "class." had the left knee wrapped most of yesterday, after an icing and heat rub , it's better today. sat in class all day GX starts tmr, restart Arginine as well.. start 1.5 gm per day then increase to 3 next week... maybe in 2 wks, we'll see. I should have time to run b4 Temple also. I should split the year into 3 parts so after 122 days I'll open another document. (Just notes to myself. Hwevr - i feel i'll lose this in an archive.) No matter it's online and not THAT important.
91211 - Day 86 - Today we return to Arginine and start doing different types of push ups for our morning routine. Also GX begins again at all locations including Mondays at Temple so I'll only be getting to the Y on Fridays at least for now, maybe weekend will open up in 2 weeks. Started with the trampoline, wonder if I have time to run, seems like a good day for it 72 degrees, we'll see, got some chores to do. Crab style 50-20-30-(easier w/ a longer break)-40-hitting these between chores I find it a good way to do it and they get easier the more I do. Awesome GX session... great group.... 1/4 - 1/2 mile run from train with backpack and full pockets.. ouch.
91311 - Day 87 GX was awesome yesterday. I think I od'd on protein tho, didn't count the grams, just the results. Woke up 182.5 today, feeling dry and crampy b/c we rocked legs lots yesterday. 3 mins tramp, more crab push ups 55- PUMPED and Aqubox at Temple wore my ass out!!
91411 - Day 88 182.5 holding steady, 63 push ups... +55, Aqua Box was great!! I led the class and got a good sweat, didn't come home exhausted... EZ Day.. YMCA tomorrow...
91511 - Day 89 182: Ate my last microwave meal last night. Haven't lifted or run all week, however lots of group fitness activity, doing the usual walking up steps etc. Push ups when I wake up, crab style.. Today so far 40+40+ Then GX at the Y... guess all the activity is working, I am tired... seem to be sleeping well, could use more hydration tho I think. 50 more +30 after GX... Good session at the Y.
91611- Day 90 - Lost track of the days now that i'm much busier i may not update daily... anyway, 182.5 today. Can't decide whether this is maintenance or a plateau. 182 isn't a bad weight for me, it keeps me under overweight status (BMI wise) I am however very dissatisfied with my belly, I can see the cuts coming and the 6 emerging, but there's that flab, probably left over from when I was in the 200s. I need to do more actual training for the run in NY, I've done no running in I don't know how many days. Today I did a very short run with the backpack on after the Y workout, which was good. Let me recount -
Leg circuit: Inverted leg press 435, didn't get any 30s but I did do more than 15 each of 3 sets. Then 30 calf presses, then went to standing calf raises, then feet flex w/ 40 lbs, and finally dumbbell swings w/ 65 lbs.. only 6-8 reps total... it's brutal.. Dumbbell presses with 60s, then incline bar (only) press... Lat pull downs, got a 30 so I added a brick, shoulder flies and triceps cable push super set.. then out...
91711 - Day 91 - Ha on day 91 I'm sitting in a class for 8 hours. I guess rest is a good workout in a way...
91111 - Day 85 - 182.. already gaining weight, ha, just kidding. No training yesterday, spent the day in class and will likely do the same today. However today, 8 hours of class and then a few hrs off then off to work. Maybe I can get some training done there. Maybe i can at least jump on the tramp today and maybe a few push ups before class. It sounds odd writing and thinking, "class." had the left knee wrapped most of yesterday, after an icing and heat rub , it's better today. sat in class all day GX starts tmr, restart Arginine as well.. start 1.5 gm per day then increase to 3 next week... maybe in 2 wks, we'll see. I should have time to run b4 Temple also. I should split the year into 3 parts so after 122 days I'll open another document. (Just notes to myself. Hwevr - i feel i'll lose this in an archive.) No matter it's online and not THAT important.
91211 - Day 86 - Today we return to Arginine and start doing different types of push ups for our morning routine. Also GX begins again at all locations including Mondays at Temple so I'll only be getting to the Y on Fridays at least for now, maybe weekend will open up in 2 weeks. Started with the trampoline, wonder if I have time to run, seems like a good day for it 72 degrees, we'll see, got some chores to do. Crab style 50-20-30-(easier w/ a longer break)-40-hitting these between chores I find it a good way to do it and they get easier the more I do. Awesome GX session... great group.... 1/4 - 1/2 mile run from train with backpack and full pockets.. ouch.
91311 - Day 87 GX was awesome yesterday. I think I od'd on protein tho, didn't count the grams, just the results. Woke up 182.5 today, feeling dry and crampy b/c we rocked legs lots yesterday. 3 mins tramp, more crab push ups 55- PUMPED and Aqubox at Temple wore my ass out!!
91411 - Day 88 182.5 holding steady, 63 push ups... +55, Aqua Box was great!! I led the class and got a good sweat, didn't come home exhausted... EZ Day.. YMCA tomorrow...
91511 - Day 89 182: Ate my last microwave meal last night. Haven't lifted or run all week, however lots of group fitness activity, doing the usual walking up steps etc. Push ups when I wake up, crab style.. Today so far 40+40+ Then GX at the Y... guess all the activity is working, I am tired... seem to be sleeping well, could use more hydration tho I think. 50 more +30 after GX... Good session at the Y.
91611- Day 90 - Lost track of the days now that i'm much busier i may not update daily... anyway, 182.5 today. Can't decide whether this is maintenance or a plateau. 182 isn't a bad weight for me, it keeps me under overweight status (BMI wise) I am however very dissatisfied with my belly, I can see the cuts coming and the 6 emerging, but there's that flab, probably left over from when I was in the 200s. I need to do more actual training for the run in NY, I've done no running in I don't know how many days. Today I did a very short run with the backpack on after the Y workout, which was good. Let me recount -
Leg circuit: Inverted leg press 435, didn't get any 30s but I did do more than 15 each of 3 sets. Then 30 calf presses, then went to standing calf raises, then feet flex w/ 40 lbs, and finally dumbbell swings w/ 65 lbs.. only 6-8 reps total... it's brutal.. Dumbbell presses with 60s, then incline bar (only) press... Lat pull downs, got a 30 so I added a brick, shoulder flies and triceps cable push super set.. then out...
91711 - Day 91 - Ha on day 91 I'm sitting in a class for 8 hours. I guess rest is a good workout in a way...
Monday, September 12, 2011
Ruggedness Training September: 90411-91011
I have to admit I haven't been getting out and running as much as i probably should. I have had two dynamic run sessions this week, (I think) also I haven't had the chance to swim... crazy work and now school schedule. We'll see how ths shapes up.
90411 - Day 78, I go crazy when I don't have anything to do!! Break day, but tomorrow I start the 50-100 push ups to start my day. Those were good days, and running thru the woods. I think that combination, along with GX and 1 or 2 lifting days a week will get me in shape for NY.
90511 - Day 79 (Labor Day) 182.5 @Wake 77 degrees... as imagined, wake up, jump on trampoline, 65 push ups, (this time we'll go for straight digits nothing fancy) some rev crunches... then to the park.. 3 mile ruggedness run thru the woods, 41 mins 22 secs. full gear (hiking boots and hand weight gloves) finished 180.5 lbs, then recovery shake. I mentioned the plan last entry, however I think I should reenforce it: Wake up, jump a lil bit 1-3 mins... push ups, til I feel them, lower abs then run 1 - to maybe 4 times a week.. I really won't have time to do 4, but if i put it in my mind I just may hit a 4-run week here and there. Ready for 5K, even though I probably won't run one.
90611 - Day 80: Cold and rainy, off of a labor day festivity, so eating/drinking, but not too much. Came in at 185, woke up at 183.5 - the official wt has yet to be measured. They say it takes 40 days to make a habit.. Today is day 2 (oh don't get started) of wake up routine: 2 mins trampoline, 70 push ups, 50 leg raises, show of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) - then we get started. This I'll brave the rain and hit the Y for a rare Tuesday... lift day. One week until I return to Temple. 183.5 it is... Only +3 lbs from post run wt. Not bad... but I gotta get into the 170s and stay there. was kind of disappointed w/ the leg press, then remembered i ran 3 miles thru the woods yesterday. Didn't get too many 30s, shin flex (moved to 45s) and I forget what else. Oh ; did 2 sets of 30 1-legged inverse leg press (135) first time doing that. Peanut Butter blast shake after.
90711 - Day 81: Came in at 186.5 and 14% BF, which made me happy. I'll do the math later. Had a casein shake b4 bed - that shish to always too frickin' thick. Need to cut the scoop in half and use 8 oz of liquid. Wake up, 3 mins tramp jump, 75 push ups & rev crunches. So far. Looks like 82 out. 2 mile run, humid.. slow pace.. meeting at temple. 15 mins of zumba, glad i ran...
90811 - Day 82 - 1 min trampoline, 60 p/u 60 rev crunches, cross legged get-ups: Today my be a day when i stay home, practice yoga, stretch and balance.. and the stuff i say I need to do but somehow don't do. This is a VERY rare Thursday that i have no GX classes, it's raining, dreary and I am not very motivated to hit the gym. So it's Home-work. 182.5 17% when the wake up routine was done. 40 more p/u (this may be a day for lots of sets of push ups...) 30 crab p/u: think i'll do a different style of push ups each day, see how many i can do and what the results will be. Yoga pose practice...
90911 - Day 83 - Friday at the Y-day: Jump, plyo, combos, rollups, broncos and stuff, I was exhausted. 182.5 or some such. On days like this there are no weights to record, most of this stuff is done for time. It was a very dynamic day, exhausting but satisfying. What I have to do is start including the casualty list: Left knee was weakened, I think... it didn't start hurting until hours later as I was walking down the street. Will have to band it up. Oh yeah Iced it .. heat tomorrow.
91011 - Day 84 - Moving right along 181.5 last night was a cheat nite, had a couple of dark beers and french fries, with veggie burger out. Need those every once in a while. Very little if any training this weekend. Mostly home stuff.. I am back taking classes. Hope i can keep up.
90411 - Day 78, I go crazy when I don't have anything to do!! Break day, but tomorrow I start the 50-100 push ups to start my day. Those were good days, and running thru the woods. I think that combination, along with GX and 1 or 2 lifting days a week will get me in shape for NY.
90511 - Day 79 (Labor Day) 182.5 @Wake 77 degrees... as imagined, wake up, jump on trampoline, 65 push ups, (this time we'll go for straight digits nothing fancy) some rev crunches... then to the park.. 3 mile ruggedness run thru the woods, 41 mins 22 secs. full gear (hiking boots and hand weight gloves) finished 180.5 lbs, then recovery shake. I mentioned the plan last entry, however I think I should reenforce it: Wake up, jump a lil bit 1-3 mins... push ups, til I feel them, lower abs then run 1 - to maybe 4 times a week.. I really won't have time to do 4, but if i put it in my mind I just may hit a 4-run week here and there. Ready for 5K, even though I probably won't run one.
90611 - Day 80: Cold and rainy, off of a labor day festivity, so eating/drinking, but not too much. Came in at 185, woke up at 183.5 - the official wt has yet to be measured. They say it takes 40 days to make a habit.. Today is day 2 (oh don't get started) of wake up routine: 2 mins trampoline, 70 push ups, 50 leg raises, show of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) - then we get started. This I'll brave the rain and hit the Y for a rare Tuesday... lift day. One week until I return to Temple. 183.5 it is... Only +3 lbs from post run wt. Not bad... but I gotta get into the 170s and stay there. was kind of disappointed w/ the leg press, then remembered i ran 3 miles thru the woods yesterday. Didn't get too many 30s, shin flex (moved to 45s) and I forget what else. Oh ; did 2 sets of 30 1-legged inverse leg press (135) first time doing that. Peanut Butter blast shake after.
90711 - Day 81: Came in at 186.5 and 14% BF, which made me happy. I'll do the math later. Had a casein shake b4 bed - that shish to always too frickin' thick. Need to cut the scoop in half and use 8 oz of liquid. Wake up, 3 mins tramp jump, 75 push ups & rev crunches. So far. Looks like 82 out. 2 mile run, humid.. slow pace.. meeting at temple. 15 mins of zumba, glad i ran...
90811 - Day 82 - 1 min trampoline, 60 p/u 60 rev crunches, cross legged get-ups: Today my be a day when i stay home, practice yoga, stretch and balance.. and the stuff i say I need to do but somehow don't do. This is a VERY rare Thursday that i have no GX classes, it's raining, dreary and I am not very motivated to hit the gym. So it's Home-work. 182.5 17% when the wake up routine was done. 40 more p/u (this may be a day for lots of sets of push ups...) 30 crab p/u: think i'll do a different style of push ups each day, see how many i can do and what the results will be. Yoga pose practice...
90911 - Day 83 - Friday at the Y-day: Jump, plyo, combos, rollups, broncos and stuff, I was exhausted. 182.5 or some such. On days like this there are no weights to record, most of this stuff is done for time. It was a very dynamic day, exhausting but satisfying. What I have to do is start including the casualty list: Left knee was weakened, I think... it didn't start hurting until hours later as I was walking down the street. Will have to band it up. Oh yeah Iced it .. heat tomorrow.
91011 - Day 84 - Moving right along 181.5 last night was a cheat nite, had a couple of dark beers and french fries, with veggie burger out. Need those every once in a while. Very little if any training this weekend. Mostly home stuff.. I am back taking classes. Hope i can keep up.
Sunday, September 04, 2011
Ruggedness Training: 82911-90311
Looks like I gave you 8 days last week, so you only get 6 this week. Wait. Who am I talking to?? Is anybody reading?? Doesn't matter. This is my time capsule.
82911 - Day 72 181 19.5% Body Fat.. this is just a guideline, I don't believe it's accurate b/c it fluctuates too much. Anyway - this drop is typical after a night off of work and no "meal." Up early today running errands, realizing I won't get them all done.. The no-priority stuff will have to wait. However I MUST lift today.. I feel strong and even if I am a bit sleepy, once I get in the gym I'll be energized. As predicted.. energized, even tho i didn't get 30 on the leg press I got 2 on the dumbbell chest press.. 1st & 4th sets.. awesome!! added triceps push downs today.
Exercise list:
Inverted leg press,
dumbbell swings,
potato sack squats,
calve presses (inverted & standing),
shin flexes, 25 lbs-35lbs...
Dumbbell press 50 lbs.
DB pull overs 70 lbs (15, 12, 10)
Lat pull downs, (90lbs)
db shoulder press 35s 3 sets,
triceps cable press down.. 3 sets 100 lbs 12-15 reps.. that's all folks.
83011 - Day 73.. 181.5 (drop from 185.5 when I got in) i think the trail mix (home made0 put the weight on. but even though I was heavier I felt very lite yesterday and the morning (Night shift). I earned my shake today Cobbs Creek Parkway workout, run thru woods, then up hill 4x (was going for 6) then calisthenics, pull ups, jump ups, etc... more later.
83111 Day 74 182 Goodbye August - the intensity of the last 2 days has shown up today. Even though I got some high energy jump intervals, I felt sluggish and heavy.. Oh well.. got a lot of stuff done, a couple of first time activities, jumping the bench, no hands.. and dips.. did dips and plyo bench dips.. pretty easy, awaiting the burn. Also couldn't do as many plyo push ups as before and no plyo pull ups at all. Will have to wait til next week I suppose.. or... nope the WC won't be open this weekend. Maybe it's a good time for a break. A short one.
SEPTEMBER
90111 - Day 75: I feel like at this point I am getting the days mixed up. Feeling yesterday's session esp in the shoulders, (inverse push ups, and some on a stability ball). Group fitness today and that's pretty much it. ate a cheese danish... GX at the Y, pizza after, no big deal. Tired tho...
90211 - Day 76: Turned out to be a pretty good workout, started with deadlifts 135 (got 2 20+ and 2 16s) tri-setted these with foot flexers (may have to photo/explain this one) and smith machine calf raises. (30 reps) Bent rev grip barbell rows, bent flys (50s, which was too much for reppin high). Barbell incline bench press 8-16-16-14 (95 lbs) decline db press (50s) 12 reps, 3 sets i think. then my shake.. Feels good to shock the upper body again, and give the legs/thighs/glutes a break. Thinking about a break, but my break will probably be light running ad stretching and yoga.
90311: Day 77 Household chores today, didn't even get the wt yet - (Ha gonna have to upload this later.... ) 182.5. 16% Not bad. I don't think I could maintain this if I didn't exercise vigorously.. and, I don't want to find out. Of course I couldn't NOT work out, so I did a lil old school arms rotation, tris-bis and 4's (arms that is) and a lil neck work too.. I need to activate the neck array, stretch and strengthen. just using 10s, 20s and 30s, can barely curl the 30 dumbbell... my isolation has gotten week, I think b/c I've been training biceps as a secondary muscle. Did I mention no meat this week, how ironic it's a cook out weekend. Also no vitamins and no supplements until Tuesday.. I'll probably be back with a vengance. I probably won't even notice the results.
82911 - Day 72 181 19.5% Body Fat.. this is just a guideline, I don't believe it's accurate b/c it fluctuates too much. Anyway - this drop is typical after a night off of work and no "meal." Up early today running errands, realizing I won't get them all done.. The no-priority stuff will have to wait. However I MUST lift today.. I feel strong and even if I am a bit sleepy, once I get in the gym I'll be energized. As predicted.. energized, even tho i didn't get 30 on the leg press I got 2 on the dumbbell chest press.. 1st & 4th sets.. awesome!! added triceps push downs today.
Exercise list:
Inverted leg press,
dumbbell swings,
potato sack squats,
calve presses (inverted & standing),
shin flexes, 25 lbs-35lbs...
Dumbbell press 50 lbs.
DB pull overs 70 lbs (15, 12, 10)
Lat pull downs, (90lbs)
db shoulder press 35s 3 sets,
triceps cable press down.. 3 sets 100 lbs 12-15 reps.. that's all folks.
83011 - Day 73.. 181.5 (drop from 185.5 when I got in) i think the trail mix (home made0 put the weight on. but even though I was heavier I felt very lite yesterday and the morning (Night shift). I earned my shake today Cobbs Creek Parkway workout, run thru woods, then up hill 4x (was going for 6) then calisthenics, pull ups, jump ups, etc... more later.
83111 Day 74 182 Goodbye August - the intensity of the last 2 days has shown up today. Even though I got some high energy jump intervals, I felt sluggish and heavy.. Oh well.. got a lot of stuff done, a couple of first time activities, jumping the bench, no hands.. and dips.. did dips and plyo bench dips.. pretty easy, awaiting the burn. Also couldn't do as many plyo push ups as before and no plyo pull ups at all. Will have to wait til next week I suppose.. or... nope the WC won't be open this weekend. Maybe it's a good time for a break. A short one.
SEPTEMBER
90111 - Day 75: I feel like at this point I am getting the days mixed up. Feeling yesterday's session esp in the shoulders, (inverse push ups, and some on a stability ball). Group fitness today and that's pretty much it. ate a cheese danish... GX at the Y, pizza after, no big deal. Tired tho...
90211 - Day 76: Turned out to be a pretty good workout, started with deadlifts 135 (got 2 20+ and 2 16s) tri-setted these with foot flexers (may have to photo/explain this one) and smith machine calf raises. (30 reps) Bent rev grip barbell rows, bent flys (50s, which was too much for reppin high). Barbell incline bench press 8-16-16-14 (95 lbs) decline db press (50s) 12 reps, 3 sets i think. then my shake.. Feels good to shock the upper body again, and give the legs/thighs/glutes a break. Thinking about a break, but my break will probably be light running ad stretching and yoga.
90311: Day 77 Household chores today, didn't even get the wt yet - (Ha gonna have to upload this later.... ) 182.5. 16% Not bad. I don't think I could maintain this if I didn't exercise vigorously.. and, I don't want to find out. Of course I couldn't NOT work out, so I did a lil old school arms rotation, tris-bis and 4's (arms that is) and a lil neck work too.. I need to activate the neck array, stretch and strengthen. just using 10s, 20s and 30s, can barely curl the 30 dumbbell... my isolation has gotten week, I think b/c I've been training biceps as a secondary muscle. Did I mention no meat this week, how ironic it's a cook out weekend. Also no vitamins and no supplements until Tuesday.. I'll probably be back with a vengance. I probably won't even notice the results.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Ruggedness 82111-82811
Ruggedness Training: 82111-82811 (Editor's Note: Extra Day in the line up)
82111 - Day 64 - 182 17.5 Even a small gain in weight can mean a trend especially when I realize I haven't run in a while.I have designated this coming Tuesday as a run/sprint day. Also I treated myself to a half duck last night and did some push ups on the bars, some balancing and grip strength with the classic eagle claw. Today will be tidying up... I hear that's good exercise. I ate a lot yesterday, Vietnam Cafe (chicken curry), Salmon at home, breakfast Canadian bacon and cucumbers, half a duck over night, some frozen fruit and all the H2O I drank and a beer. So a pound or two gain isn't that outrageous.
82211 - Day 65: 182 23.5% _ didn't care for the morning numbers. My feet are jacked up and I probably need to see the pedi peeps. I drank a lot of tea yesterday, I guess it's true what they say about caffeine dehydrating _ I expected it. Last night I was doing some push ups and working the old school "eagle claw" I got when I was into martial arts stuff... Today is a different kind of Monday, dynamic agility and balance training at the Y provided I can find the space - and body wt training.. push ups, pull ups and dips.. How I HATE dips!! Probably b/c I am weak at them (again). Oh yeah, been feeling cold symptoms coming to I've been popping the Vita-C in the AM when i get home as well as psyllium husk b/c the pipes seems clogged. I notice a bit more detail in recent journals.. I'm approaching a more creative time. Recalculated to 17% after some coconut water, guess that works too. Very energetic intense day of body work. went from crane to headstand and back for the first time. Hanging windshield wipers were strong, roll ups were kind of weak tho. The body will be paying the price for today.. Oh yeah, the killer combos.. YIKES.. I pity the fool...
82311 - Day 66: 180 20.5% - perhaps it's the weather, I didn't feel that dehydrated. (In case you're reading a hi BF% at wake up usually means low H2O). I'd been doing good for a while, probably not a good idea to have tea before bed. This drop can be attributed to a night off from work. I usually eat less at home, sleep earlier and longer. More time to burn calories in my sleep. I am surprisingly not SORE... however it's not been 24 hours yet so it may come during the day. 72 degrees out, low humidity. I promised myself a run... better get at it. Gave myself a pass today: did manage what I call a lite workout day - 10 mins treadmill, recumbent bike, and elliptical. The soreness from yesterday came this afternoon and the energy wasn't there for sprints or a 3 mile run.... so I compromised.
82411- Day 67 - 181 19% a wake up... don't know why the bf% is so much higher than a few weeks ago... I am guessing all the tea I've been drinking. May have been a lack of fruit this week too - I got that covered... I need to cut that and get back to the elixir - ok so as for today.. Feels like redemption.. started with 435 lbs leg presses and hit a 25 rep set (that was one out of 4 that went to at least 15) The squats 2 30 reppers, added wt and did maybe 12: I did some different stuff this time around...3 back stations (rev grip barbell row, bent lat flys and shrugs) pull overs and inclined db flys for chest and called it a day. A GOOD day.. I love moving wts. but I know I need to distribute my activities for balance.
82511 - Day 68: 180.5: Thursdays are my "rest" days however since I do most of the exercises with the class i teach at the Y it's more like an aerobics day so I am pretty beat by the time I get to UPenn for aqua aerobics. Anyway that's what I did today. Now eat, work, and back to the Y for some dynamic body work tomorrow.
82611: Day 69 181 - Sprint Day Treadmill 2 1 min sprints @ 10 mph, 1 @ 9.5: 2, 2 min sprints @ 8mph 1 3 min run @ 7 mph, then cool down, then various abs trying to get the "L" leg lifts and holding it.. OUCH Keep at it til you can do it!!
82711 - Day 70: Chillin around the house, the ruggedness part will happen when I have to leave for work, through the wind and rain... with gear. Kind of what I've been training for.. but kind of not too.. 182 lbs.
82811 - Day 71: Post Hurricane Irene - 183.5 at wake up and dehydrated. Lots of shin work and wrist curls at the jobs. Trampoline jump and push up process at home. Maybe some scattered calisthenics throughout the day/evening. Start cleanse cycle maybe get off tea for a day, week month.. who knows. Ended up going back and forth on the trampoline and push ups.. I felt VERY light pushing up although I didn't get the entire 15s in the pushup process. In fact I felt lighter going up steps and everything. decided to work what I think are my weakest points while I'm at work, wrists and ankles - the forearm and calve muscles will get a good workout, but I need to strengthen and stretch the tendons as well. I gotta keep the joints strong so I can keep on exercising.
82111 - Day 64 - 182 17.5 Even a small gain in weight can mean a trend especially when I realize I haven't run in a while.I have designated this coming Tuesday as a run/sprint day. Also I treated myself to a half duck last night and did some push ups on the bars, some balancing and grip strength with the classic eagle claw. Today will be tidying up... I hear that's good exercise. I ate a lot yesterday, Vietnam Cafe (chicken curry), Salmon at home, breakfast Canadian bacon and cucumbers, half a duck over night, some frozen fruit and all the H2O I drank and a beer. So a pound or two gain isn't that outrageous.
82211 - Day 65: 182 23.5% _ didn't care for the morning numbers. My feet are jacked up and I probably need to see the pedi peeps. I drank a lot of tea yesterday, I guess it's true what they say about caffeine dehydrating _ I expected it. Last night I was doing some push ups and working the old school "eagle claw" I got when I was into martial arts stuff... Today is a different kind of Monday, dynamic agility and balance training at the Y provided I can find the space - and body wt training.. push ups, pull ups and dips.. How I HATE dips!! Probably b/c I am weak at them (again). Oh yeah, been feeling cold symptoms coming to I've been popping the Vita-C in the AM when i get home as well as psyllium husk b/c the pipes seems clogged. I notice a bit more detail in recent journals.. I'm approaching a more creative time. Recalculated to 17% after some coconut water, guess that works too. Very energetic intense day of body work. went from crane to headstand and back for the first time. Hanging windshield wipers were strong, roll ups were kind of weak tho. The body will be paying the price for today.. Oh yeah, the killer combos.. YIKES.. I pity the fool...
82311 - Day 66: 180 20.5% - perhaps it's the weather, I didn't feel that dehydrated. (In case you're reading a hi BF% at wake up usually means low H2O). I'd been doing good for a while, probably not a good idea to have tea before bed. This drop can be attributed to a night off from work. I usually eat less at home, sleep earlier and longer. More time to burn calories in my sleep. I am surprisingly not SORE... however it's not been 24 hours yet so it may come during the day. 72 degrees out, low humidity. I promised myself a run... better get at it. Gave myself a pass today: did manage what I call a lite workout day - 10 mins treadmill, recumbent bike, and elliptical. The soreness from yesterday came this afternoon and the energy wasn't there for sprints or a 3 mile run.... so I compromised.
82411- Day 67 - 181 19% a wake up... don't know why the bf% is so much higher than a few weeks ago... I am guessing all the tea I've been drinking. May have been a lack of fruit this week too - I got that covered... I need to cut that and get back to the elixir - ok so as for today.. Feels like redemption.. started with 435 lbs leg presses and hit a 25 rep set (that was one out of 4 that went to at least 15) The squats 2 30 reppers, added wt and did maybe 12: I did some different stuff this time around...3 back stations (rev grip barbell row, bent lat flys and shrugs) pull overs and inclined db flys for chest and called it a day. A GOOD day.. I love moving wts. but I know I need to distribute my activities for balance.
82511 - Day 68: 180.5: Thursdays are my "rest" days however since I do most of the exercises with the class i teach at the Y it's more like an aerobics day so I am pretty beat by the time I get to UPenn for aqua aerobics. Anyway that's what I did today. Now eat, work, and back to the Y for some dynamic body work tomorrow.
82611: Day 69 181 - Sprint Day Treadmill 2 1 min sprints @ 10 mph, 1 @ 9.5: 2, 2 min sprints @ 8mph 1 3 min run @ 7 mph, then cool down, then various abs trying to get the "L" leg lifts and holding it.. OUCH Keep at it til you can do it!!
82711 - Day 70: Chillin around the house, the ruggedness part will happen when I have to leave for work, through the wind and rain... with gear. Kind of what I've been training for.. but kind of not too.. 182 lbs.
82811 - Day 71: Post Hurricane Irene - 183.5 at wake up and dehydrated. Lots of shin work and wrist curls at the jobs. Trampoline jump and push up process at home. Maybe some scattered calisthenics throughout the day/evening. Start cleanse cycle maybe get off tea for a day, week month.. who knows. Ended up going back and forth on the trampoline and push ups.. I felt VERY light pushing up although I didn't get the entire 15s in the pushup process. In fact I felt lighter going up steps and everything. decided to work what I think are my weakest points while I'm at work, wrists and ankles - the forearm and calve muscles will get a good workout, but I need to strengthen and stretch the tendons as well. I gotta keep the joints strong so I can keep on exercising.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Ruggedness August 81411 - 82011
81411 - Day 57: today (180) seems to confirm chest pain was simply delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) Friday (81211) i did more than the usual single set of plyo push ups, I did roll ups into push ups and a couple of sets of plyo pull ups, which sent a sensation through my chest. But it's ok now. If I do anything during the "break" it will be jumping combos, plyo push ups, and maybe some running if I can find someplace to do it.
81511 - Day 58 - Early AM some abs work and push ups (at work) which involved pushup bars and rolling chairs. Up all night then train to NH Ct. no wt charting next 2 days.
81611 - Day 59 - HAPPY Birthday POP!! Long-azz walk around NH Ct. scaled a freekin rock mountain... not rock climbing per se... there were railings. I was SOO winded I wondered if all the ruggedness training was doing anything. I'm going to need to start "sprinting" up hills, paved and unpaved. Maybe a few weeks of that before I go mixed bag (i.e. 2-3 mile runs through the woods, sprint interval days, and uphill days. This sounds like a good fall strategy.
81711 - Day 60 - Back in Philly 3-4 hours on the road, opted for sleep over the gym (gotta work tonight) 182.5 14%.. not bad. wt is up a couple lbs, but that's just a matter of metabolism, elimination and getting back to a regular routine of high activity. Got a nice compliment from some ladies shouting at me from a car going by my house. It may be a bit uncouth,but it's not everyday I get called "sexy" .. we (my ego & I) will take it.
81811 - Day 61 - 182 17.5% measured the belly today, there IS some reduction albeit small, I am however on the right track and if I can maintain progress I will reach my goal. No numbers will be posted until the drop is significant (at least 10 centimeters.) Meanwhile on today's schedule group fitness... this is my first week off from Temple which means Thursday is the first chance to dance jump and twist around. Then aqua-robic at UPenn. Was high energy at YGX, not so hi at Aqua and after both I am quite tired. Need to eat a decent dinner, then work.
81911 - Day 62 - 181.5: Beginning month 3 of Ruggedness and what I am doing is working, you already read about the small centimeter reduction on the belly. Weight's staying in the low 180s (but would like to be fluctuating 10 pounds lighter, although body fat seems to be reducing as I'm maintaining the weight.) Headed to the Y today for lifting 30s!!! Guess i should get going. Somewhat disappointing session, NO 30s... however as they say about Florida, a bad day there is a great day everywhere else, so even tho I'm not doing 30 reps, I'm still getting up there and making progress! Good day.
I need more run days, I didn't have that many this past month.
82011 - Day 63 - 181 19.5% a little high....!! what will I do today? Some lite yoga.. Sun sal and some twists. Got my every 3 weeks massage, both rt ankle and rt trap was less sore than last time. After most of the week of NOT working out I feel a bit guilty today. Thought about swimming but then opted out. I will stretch instead, maybe edit some pix... maybe some push ups at the job. Occasionally i try balancing in semi-yoga poses, but I don't consider it a workout. Maybe I should.
81511 - Day 58 - Early AM some abs work and push ups (at work) which involved pushup bars and rolling chairs. Up all night then train to NH Ct. no wt charting next 2 days.
81611 - Day 59 - HAPPY Birthday POP!! Long-azz walk around NH Ct. scaled a freekin rock mountain... not rock climbing per se... there were railings. I was SOO winded I wondered if all the ruggedness training was doing anything. I'm going to need to start "sprinting" up hills, paved and unpaved. Maybe a few weeks of that before I go mixed bag (i.e. 2-3 mile runs through the woods, sprint interval days, and uphill days. This sounds like a good fall strategy.
81711 - Day 60 - Back in Philly 3-4 hours on the road, opted for sleep over the gym (gotta work tonight) 182.5 14%.. not bad. wt is up a couple lbs, but that's just a matter of metabolism, elimination and getting back to a regular routine of high activity. Got a nice compliment from some ladies shouting at me from a car going by my house. It may be a bit uncouth,but it's not everyday I get called "sexy" .. we (my ego & I) will take it.
81811 - Day 61 - 182 17.5% measured the belly today, there IS some reduction albeit small, I am however on the right track and if I can maintain progress I will reach my goal. No numbers will be posted until the drop is significant (at least 10 centimeters.) Meanwhile on today's schedule group fitness... this is my first week off from Temple which means Thursday is the first chance to dance jump and twist around. Then aqua-robic at UPenn. Was high energy at YGX, not so hi at Aqua and after both I am quite tired. Need to eat a decent dinner, then work.
81911 - Day 62 - 181.5: Beginning month 3 of Ruggedness and what I am doing is working, you already read about the small centimeter reduction on the belly. Weight's staying in the low 180s (but would like to be fluctuating 10 pounds lighter, although body fat seems to be reducing as I'm maintaining the weight.) Headed to the Y today for lifting 30s!!! Guess i should get going. Somewhat disappointing session, NO 30s... however as they say about Florida, a bad day there is a great day everywhere else, so even tho I'm not doing 30 reps, I'm still getting up there and making progress! Good day.
I need more run days, I didn't have that many this past month.
82011 - Day 63 - 181 19.5% a little high....!! what will I do today? Some lite yoga.. Sun sal and some twists. Got my every 3 weeks massage, both rt ankle and rt trap was less sore than last time. After most of the week of NOT working out I feel a bit guilty today. Thought about swimming but then opted out. I will stretch instead, maybe edit some pix... maybe some push ups at the job. Occasionally i try balancing in semi-yoga poses, but I don't consider it a workout. Maybe I should.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Ruggedness August: 80711 - 81311
80711- Day 50 - Dancing at Shakedown, must have moved for 90 minutes straight, it was awesome.. woke up at 179 lbs today. Wonder if it was the dancing, the swimming, the elliptical, the big meal at Perkins (reving the metabolism) or the many hours of sleep. Or maybe it's just the regular dip?? It's been a long time since I broke 180... (March 8th 2011 last 179... ) Long walk downtown, probably about an hr's walk... maybe less... hot humid, good sweat. House cleaning..... :-/ (and general sweating from humidity.
80811 - Day 51: 182 wake up and post run... phantom 3 lbs gone one day and back the next?? Sprint intervals.. no records.. best 1:47... 4 x 1/4 miles, 1 x 1/2 mi. 4:33 and 2 more 1/4 miles. Pro-WMz-Crt drink and almonds for breakfast... now second breakfast. Great work at the Y 3 - 30s, leg press, (added 30 lbs), lat pull down, advanced to 90 lbs, and shoulder press... now doing 35 lbs... I am close to maxing out on the wt limit of the smith and the DB wt upstairs in the wellness ctr. Very good strength. Now wondering whether to swim or do laundry??? I hv maybe 30 minutes to decide.
80911 - Day 52 182.. back to a steady wt. Subbed a fitness class of out of shape students... too bad, they seemed perplexed, but maybe something will kick in... or maybe not... anyway. PUMPED Today and laundry folding off tonight, what to do??? Relax probably.. 180 after 1st GX class of the day, and rituals. Not used to being up and active this early. (Oh, might mention I was up at 630AM to teach a class at 910am hella early for me. More intense PUMPED than I'd planned... but time to relax now, maybe some stretching tonight. Wish i had this day at a resort.
81011 - Day 53: 180, right out of bed 18% BF, a bit dehydrated, but compared to this time last year... a mass improvement. It may be informative to start writing down what and when I eat again. I think I had a substantial amount of food yesterday, which included one of my fave meals out, Asian Salmon salad. I also wonder how much the supplements I take have to do with wt. I've been taking 3 grams of arginine a day in 1.5 g doses, one at wake up and usually one before workout. Also supplement with a scoop of protein and waximaize, and take a teaspoon to a scoop of NO Explode before workouts. YMCA body/agility workout then aqua box.. still charged from the latter. Today's post workout drink: 6 ice cubes, 1 banana, 1 kiwi peeled, handful of fresh frozen blueberries, double-double shot of coconut water, 1 dbl shot of pineapple juice, single shot of fresh 100% ginger juice (very potent), blend and drink. Very yummy, just a hint of banana and ginger, maybe a 1/2 shot more ginger if you can take it. (add rum or protein powder if desired.. depends on what you're into.)
81111 - Day 54 181 (@ wake) 17.5% - I have to be disciplined enough to drink water as soon as I wake up... then take the arg, and then don't know whether I should eat first or take the protein/waxi/creatine powder stack?? Try it for a week and see what happens. GX @ YMCA then Aqua at Penn... got to take it easy on the jumping/running for a few days i think.. Ankles...
81211 - Day 55: Wake up and do some balance stuff... on one leg, etc. 183, 19% at wake both higher than in recent weeks. Body work day at the Y, some agility stuff. A bit sore in right shin, ankles seem ok so far, didn't wake up sore. 180.5 18% after rituals... time to get active. Awesome workout, much to recount.. slow start but as usual, it became very intense, some stuff I can use for classes.
81311 - Day 56 a day of eating, resting and socializing. However I did feel like my chest had been banged up from the inside out. my guess the plyo push ups. A brand new feeling. Otherwise a pretty mellow day. It also looks like I won't be getting a "proper" workout for the next 4 days. We'll call it a rest... and come back stronger.
80811 - Day 51: 182 wake up and post run... phantom 3 lbs gone one day and back the next?? Sprint intervals.. no records.. best 1:47... 4 x 1/4 miles, 1 x 1/2 mi. 4:33 and 2 more 1/4 miles. Pro-WMz-Crt drink and almonds for breakfast... now second breakfast. Great work at the Y 3 - 30s, leg press, (added 30 lbs), lat pull down, advanced to 90 lbs, and shoulder press... now doing 35 lbs... I am close to maxing out on the wt limit of the smith and the DB wt upstairs in the wellness ctr. Very good strength. Now wondering whether to swim or do laundry??? I hv maybe 30 minutes to decide.
80911 - Day 52 182.. back to a steady wt. Subbed a fitness class of out of shape students... too bad, they seemed perplexed, but maybe something will kick in... or maybe not... anyway. PUMPED Today and laundry folding off tonight, what to do??? Relax probably.. 180 after 1st GX class of the day, and rituals. Not used to being up and active this early. (Oh, might mention I was up at 630AM to teach a class at 910am hella early for me. More intense PUMPED than I'd planned... but time to relax now, maybe some stretching tonight. Wish i had this day at a resort.
81011 - Day 53: 180, right out of bed 18% BF, a bit dehydrated, but compared to this time last year... a mass improvement. It may be informative to start writing down what and when I eat again. I think I had a substantial amount of food yesterday, which included one of my fave meals out, Asian Salmon salad. I also wonder how much the supplements I take have to do with wt. I've been taking 3 grams of arginine a day in 1.5 g doses, one at wake up and usually one before workout. Also supplement with a scoop of protein and waximaize, and take a teaspoon to a scoop of NO Explode before workouts. YMCA body/agility workout then aqua box.. still charged from the latter. Today's post workout drink: 6 ice cubes, 1 banana, 1 kiwi peeled, handful of fresh frozen blueberries, double-double shot of coconut water, 1 dbl shot of pineapple juice, single shot of fresh 100% ginger juice (very potent), blend and drink. Very yummy, just a hint of banana and ginger, maybe a 1/2 shot more ginger if you can take it. (add rum or protein powder if desired.. depends on what you're into.)
81111 - Day 54 181 (@ wake) 17.5% - I have to be disciplined enough to drink water as soon as I wake up... then take the arg, and then don't know whether I should eat first or take the protein/waxi/creatine powder stack?? Try it for a week and see what happens. GX @ YMCA then Aqua at Penn... got to take it easy on the jumping/running for a few days i think.. Ankles...
81211 - Day 55: Wake up and do some balance stuff... on one leg, etc. 183, 19% at wake both higher than in recent weeks. Body work day at the Y, some agility stuff. A bit sore in right shin, ankles seem ok so far, didn't wake up sore. 180.5 18% after rituals... time to get active. Awesome workout, much to recount.. slow start but as usual, it became very intense, some stuff I can use for classes.
81311 - Day 56 a day of eating, resting and socializing. However I did feel like my chest had been banged up from the inside out. my guess the plyo push ups. A brand new feeling. Otherwise a pretty mellow day. It also looks like I won't be getting a "proper" workout for the next 4 days. We'll call it a rest... and come back stronger.
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Ruggedness August: 80111 - 80611
Here's the first weekly post as promised... I don't bother with spell check, these are just notes for me to refer back to later. If you want to follow along, you are welcome to, any questions, drop a comment - Thanks..
August 2011:
80111 - Strong day 44: To the Y to press wt.!! Got 2 30 rep sets (leg press and lat pull down) See book. Don't feel like writing too much now. Started off with the push up process... will explain later if u haven't seen the video. 182 lbs... 16% BF 1 hr after wake up. Took the nite off for something that didn't work out. An extra nite off is never a bad thing. Oh yes... The daily push up process is in effect also. Will have to explain this for the sake of new readers.
80211- Day 45: PUMPED at Temple, Push up process (high) i PUMPED at Temple today, details on this later. Shooting hoops with the boy for about an hour, and didn't get worn out. Fitness is dashizzle!!
80311 Day 46 - 182 steady 3 days start with movement, light squats jump on trampoline which I usually do just haven't mentioned, push up process 3rd day of this.. This shish is HARD!! haven't gotten thru the whole process yet. 20 laps at the YMCA, 10 regular, 10 breast stroke. Towards the end I was getting two str8 laps... about 20 minutes total... Not bad, first time out in years, May have to dedicate 1 day a week to swimming laps.. Ruggedness baby!
80411 - Day 47 182 needed to rehydrate this am 20%, later 17% pushup process (hi) I FF at the Y, Aqua at UPenn, both went well.. now the nite gig... Looking fwd to Friday
80511 - Day 48 - 182.5 SPACERB day at the YMCA, just a lot of movement that got me out of breath quickly. Basically I did a hard core version of my class which included a lot of jumping, broncos, squat pul up push up combos and a good amount of stretching towards the end. I was tired before I started, which is par for the week, but I pushed on.. Lots of shadow boxing and shadow kicking a la class, but I won't bring this stuff to the sessions anytime soon. Took protein & waximaize before, banana and two slices of pizza post... cheat day perhaps???
80611 - Day 49
183 lbs... Woke up and gave myself another hour of rest, rt ankle was tender so I went for a swim instead of sprinting, determined to do 1/2 mile (18 laps or 36 lengths says the YMCA's all time lap leader a 79 year old retired doctor.) Achieved in a combo of crawls, breast strokes and inverted breast stroeks, which is basically the beast stroke on ur back. Then did 30 minutes on the elliptical and yoga stretch/breathe out - Then a big 730 PM "breakfast" at Perkins w/ French Toast... filling. I have taken to reminding myself that the military has (tried) to make me a Super Seabee...
August 2011:
80111 - Strong day 44: To the Y to press wt.!! Got 2 30 rep sets (leg press and lat pull down) See book. Don't feel like writing too much now. Started off with the push up process... will explain later if u haven't seen the video. 182 lbs... 16% BF 1 hr after wake up. Took the nite off for something that didn't work out. An extra nite off is never a bad thing. Oh yes... The daily push up process is in effect also. Will have to explain this for the sake of new readers.
80211- Day 45: PUMPED at Temple, Push up process (high) i PUMPED at Temple today, details on this later. Shooting hoops with the boy for about an hour, and didn't get worn out. Fitness is dashizzle!!
80311 Day 46 - 182 steady 3 days start with movement, light squats jump on trampoline which I usually do just haven't mentioned, push up process 3rd day of this.. This shish is HARD!! haven't gotten thru the whole process yet. 20 laps at the YMCA, 10 regular, 10 breast stroke. Towards the end I was getting two str8 laps... about 20 minutes total... Not bad, first time out in years, May have to dedicate 1 day a week to swimming laps.. Ruggedness baby!
80411 - Day 47 182 needed to rehydrate this am 20%, later 17% pushup process (hi) I FF at the Y, Aqua at UPenn, both went well.. now the nite gig... Looking fwd to Friday
80511 - Day 48 - 182.5 SPACERB day at the YMCA, just a lot of movement that got me out of breath quickly. Basically I did a hard core version of my class which included a lot of jumping, broncos, squat pul up push up combos and a good amount of stretching towards the end. I was tired before I started, which is par for the week, but I pushed on.. Lots of shadow boxing and shadow kicking a la class, but I won't bring this stuff to the sessions anytime soon. Took protein & waximaize before, banana and two slices of pizza post... cheat day perhaps???
80611 - Day 49
183 lbs... Woke up and gave myself another hour of rest, rt ankle was tender so I went for a swim instead of sprinting, determined to do 1/2 mile (18 laps or 36 lengths says the YMCA's all time lap leader a 79 year old retired doctor.) Achieved in a combo of crawls, breast strokes and inverted breast stroeks, which is basically the beast stroke on ur back. Then did 30 minutes on the elliptical and yoga stretch/breathe out - Then a big 730 PM "breakfast" at Perkins w/ French Toast... filling. I have taken to reminding myself that the military has (tried) to make me a Super Seabee...
Friday, August 05, 2011
Bragging Rights: 80511
Bragging Rights: 80511
By SOMA
A title comes to mind and the essay that follows has little if anything to do with it. This is why weblogs, more commonly known as “blogs” are a great invention for cats like me; people who write, who are not writers. Of course “journalists” and “media personalities” had to go and ruin it by posting their blogs on the side of their regular reporting.
UGH! I stopped watching TV to get away from these omniscient blowhards who use their status to sway public opinion. I might be a little bit jealous of their notoriety as well, but not much. I prefer the underground; that nostalgic, romantic realm where creativity thrives and small groups of eclectics gather and appreciate the obscure. I’ll save my thoughts on the Death of the Underground for a more lucid period of mental vibrations.
Photogenica
I think I can take a picture a day to go along with these cerebral lava flows, as long as I am not obliged to do it. I have my camera on a tripod, and a strobe screwed into a track light and a wall with nothing on it but my “to do” list to use as a background. I set the timer, stand in front and remember the day.
I was thinking the other day that it would be nice to invite a friend or two over from time to time for cocktails and a portrait. I can think of some funky undergroundee alliterative name to call this project later. Maybe they can come over, have a drink – I’ve been working on some spicy ginger-infused cocktail recipes – do a quickie photo session (suitable for social network profile pix) and as an added bonus they can take one of the many albums I am soon getting rid of… wax baby. So make your reservations now.
Competition from Other Places
I’m currently in a fierce battle with the 2004 version of My self. He is for the most part silent save echoes and images from that year. Bench pressing 295 pounds, doing 100+ pushups in a single set, some days churning out 1000 pushups a day, just because someone told him Hershel walker did it. Only that guy wasn’t running. He was big and bulky too.
Seven years later, seven years older and most importantly seven years smarter/wiser the transformation has been amazing, if I do say so myself. What I’ve sacrificed in brute (upper body) strength, I suppose I have made up for in core strength, endurance, lean muscle mass (more ripped) and certainly overall health.
Still that macho kid haunts me. I look at the young bucks benching 250, 275, 315 pounds with relative ease and I become (just short of) those guys who were talking about what they “used to bench” before this or that happened.
The barbell (flat) bench press is a real “guy” exercise. For most of us this is how we measure our strength (and ourselves against other guys.) I haven’t worked with barbell flat presses in a couple of years; it’s been all dumbbells. I made a pledge to myself as to when I’ll get back to the bench and I am trying my best to keep it. (The incline barbell bench press is a different story.)
I don’t blame you if you’re not interested in my strength gains; honestly. I write these essays up from time to time and post them, simply because blogs exist. Most of my exercise scribble goes into my little notebooks for future deciphering.
I suppose in a way I’m bragging. I’m okay with that only because I’m bragging against my past self; a bit faster, a bit stronger (overall if not specifically with barbells) a bit slimmer am I now as well.
Accomplishments within my seven pillars of fitness are my Bragging Rights, posting them are my bragging rites.
By SOMA
A title comes to mind and the essay that follows has little if anything to do with it. This is why weblogs, more commonly known as “blogs” are a great invention for cats like me; people who write, who are not writers. Of course “journalists” and “media personalities” had to go and ruin it by posting their blogs on the side of their regular reporting.
UGH! I stopped watching TV to get away from these omniscient blowhards who use their status to sway public opinion. I might be a little bit jealous of their notoriety as well, but not much. I prefer the underground; that nostalgic, romantic realm where creativity thrives and small groups of eclectics gather and appreciate the obscure. I’ll save my thoughts on the Death of the Underground for a more lucid period of mental vibrations.
Photogenica
I think I can take a picture a day to go along with these cerebral lava flows, as long as I am not obliged to do it. I have my camera on a tripod, and a strobe screwed into a track light and a wall with nothing on it but my “to do” list to use as a background. I set the timer, stand in front and remember the day.
I was thinking the other day that it would be nice to invite a friend or two over from time to time for cocktails and a portrait. I can think of some funky undergroundee alliterative name to call this project later. Maybe they can come over, have a drink – I’ve been working on some spicy ginger-infused cocktail recipes – do a quickie photo session (suitable for social network profile pix) and as an added bonus they can take one of the many albums I am soon getting rid of… wax baby. So make your reservations now.
Competition from Other Places
I’m currently in a fierce battle with the 2004 version of My self. He is for the most part silent save echoes and images from that year. Bench pressing 295 pounds, doing 100+ pushups in a single set, some days churning out 1000 pushups a day, just because someone told him Hershel walker did it. Only that guy wasn’t running. He was big and bulky too.
Seven years later, seven years older and most importantly seven years smarter/wiser the transformation has been amazing, if I do say so myself. What I’ve sacrificed in brute (upper body) strength, I suppose I have made up for in core strength, endurance, lean muscle mass (more ripped) and certainly overall health.
Still that macho kid haunts me. I look at the young bucks benching 250, 275, 315 pounds with relative ease and I become (just short of) those guys who were talking about what they “used to bench” before this or that happened.
The barbell (flat) bench press is a real “guy” exercise. For most of us this is how we measure our strength (and ourselves against other guys.) I haven’t worked with barbell flat presses in a couple of years; it’s been all dumbbells. I made a pledge to myself as to when I’ll get back to the bench and I am trying my best to keep it. (The incline barbell bench press is a different story.)
I don’t blame you if you’re not interested in my strength gains; honestly. I write these essays up from time to time and post them, simply because blogs exist. Most of my exercise scribble goes into my little notebooks for future deciphering.
I suppose in a way I’m bragging. I’m okay with that only because I’m bragging against my past self; a bit faster, a bit stronger (overall if not specifically with barbells) a bit slimmer am I now as well.
Accomplishments within my seven pillars of fitness are my Bragging Rights, posting them are my bragging rites.
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
Today's Account: 80311
Today's Account: 80311
by SOMA
That's me, "Jack of all trades. Master of fun!" To whom do I owe this quote? I'm not sure. I'll find out.
I am, above all else, a thinker; j'imagine. Writing comes in a very close second for it is the manifestation of my thoughts. As a thinker/writer, I of course love words, I love conversation and communicating. Although I try not to, I must admit to taking offense towards, or shall I say from those, who fail to reciprocate my initiated communication. I acknowledge their right not to, however I acknowledge my right to consider them rude.
Progressing - the word "whimsy" has been bouncing around in my mental lexicon for the better part of a year now, perhaps longer. Most of what I've done, including military service, my current profession and publishing two semi-successful independent magazines have been done without much planning. My mantra has been, "Wouldn't it be cool if..." and I subsequently made "If" happen.
One declaration I have never made is, "Wouldn't it be cool if I was famous?" Because I know it wouldn't. I eschew attention, going so far as not just changing my name, but completely changing my identity, when I stepped into what we shall reluctantly call, "the scene." (I stopped short of plastic surgery as I've been told I look different every time I show up somewhere, anyway.)
Let me change gears here before this becomes a chapter of my unauthorized auto-biography, and get on with my original thought for today.
This is where the statement, "Don't get me wrong" would go if I actually cared about being misunderstood. By all means, misconstrue what I write. Be very confused about what I say and what I mean. Please note the contradictions and bring them to my attention... onward.
I am truly loving my lifestyle at the "moment" (consider this moment the 21st century) especially the past seven years. I live alone in a three bedroom row home, I do little more than show up to my job and when i do have "work" to do it's something I enjoy doing. By day I'm a fitness trainer, my clients (in some cases employers) are two universities and the YMCA. I train on land and in the water, both of these activities help to keep me in shape, and i schedule my weeks with enough time to train myself. My endorphins are in over drive and I'm never more than 90 minutes from the next natural high.
For a while I wished I could pack this life in a suitcase and take it out to San Diego, and do everything I'm doing here, out there, with perhaps a little bit of laptop deejaying for Sunday brunches at a little cafe in Pacific Beach. Wouldn't THAT be cool? However, as un imaginaire, I have bigger fantasies... which I think I will have to reveal later, as I don't want to jinx myself.
Syndication
I've spent a lot of time on the internet becoming a member of this or that social network, website, blog page or whatever. These pages have been sitting their dormant for maybe 3 or 4 years just yearning for my words to once again dance on them, incite imagination and spread whimsey. Of course being a man of whims, this could be the first and last account of the day... or maybe not.
I'll probably return, "Maybe sooner, maybe later, maybe never." To whom do I owe this quote??? I'm not sure.
I'll find out.
FIN
by SOMA
That's me, "Jack of all trades. Master of fun!" To whom do I owe this quote? I'm not sure. I'll find out.
I am, above all else, a thinker; j'imagine. Writing comes in a very close second for it is the manifestation of my thoughts. As a thinker/writer, I of course love words, I love conversation and communicating. Although I try not to, I must admit to taking offense towards, or shall I say from those, who fail to reciprocate my initiated communication. I acknowledge their right not to, however I acknowledge my right to consider them rude.
Progressing - the word "whimsy" has been bouncing around in my mental lexicon for the better part of a year now, perhaps longer. Most of what I've done, including military service, my current profession and publishing two semi-successful independent magazines have been done without much planning. My mantra has been, "Wouldn't it be cool if..." and I subsequently made "If" happen.
One declaration I have never made is, "Wouldn't it be cool if I was famous?" Because I know it wouldn't. I eschew attention, going so far as not just changing my name, but completely changing my identity, when I stepped into what we shall reluctantly call, "the scene." (I stopped short of plastic surgery as I've been told I look different every time I show up somewhere, anyway.)
Let me change gears here before this becomes a chapter of my unauthorized auto-biography, and get on with my original thought for today.
This is where the statement, "Don't get me wrong" would go if I actually cared about being misunderstood. By all means, misconstrue what I write. Be very confused about what I say and what I mean. Please note the contradictions and bring them to my attention... onward.
I am truly loving my lifestyle at the "moment" (consider this moment the 21st century) especially the past seven years. I live alone in a three bedroom row home, I do little more than show up to my job and when i do have "work" to do it's something I enjoy doing. By day I'm a fitness trainer, my clients (in some cases employers) are two universities and the YMCA. I train on land and in the water, both of these activities help to keep me in shape, and i schedule my weeks with enough time to train myself. My endorphins are in over drive and I'm never more than 90 minutes from the next natural high.
For a while I wished I could pack this life in a suitcase and take it out to San Diego, and do everything I'm doing here, out there, with perhaps a little bit of laptop deejaying for Sunday brunches at a little cafe in Pacific Beach. Wouldn't THAT be cool? However, as un imaginaire, I have bigger fantasies... which I think I will have to reveal later, as I don't want to jinx myself.
Syndication
I've spent a lot of time on the internet becoming a member of this or that social network, website, blog page or whatever. These pages have been sitting their dormant for maybe 3 or 4 years just yearning for my words to once again dance on them, incite imagination and spread whimsey. Of course being a man of whims, this could be the first and last account of the day... or maybe not.
I'll probably return, "Maybe sooner, maybe later, maybe never." To whom do I owe this quote??? I'm not sure.
I'll find out.
FIN
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Ruggedness: July 16-31st.
71611 - Day 28 - Family GX at the hotel, then some aqua demos in the pool - food drinking and debauchery 181.5 but that didn't last.
71711 - Day 29 _Proposed, intervals and abs and stretching at the Y.
71811 - Day 30 - woods... had to detour scale 2 hills walk/recover a few ft after 2d hill. 27:55 90 degrees 184 pre- /post same. YMCA 30 rep sets, DLs.... 135 (Fail) front squats bar (Fail) need more work... DB press... + (45 is the weight) pull overs (Fail) anyway get the body used to do 30 reps, then add weight. First month done... 11 months to go. Actually I'm the same wt as when I started, but look a bit leaner. Wt doesn't matter as much as BF% and that's down.
71911 - Day 31 - GX Temple. PUMPED, pretty intense, good sweat box and leg intensive. 183 lbs. 16% BF at wake up. Noticed last years specs no difference.
72011 - Day 32 1st day of sprint training.. 1/4 mile 6 intervals (wanted to do 8) best time 1:57 (1st) worst time 2:28 ugh!! 86 degrees... 182.5 lbs. estimate 8 intervals will take 50-60 mins.. so these should be done on "off days" GX Pool.. was wiped from sprinting. RHR 56...
72111 - Day 33 - ruggedly cleaning house, but not all that much. GX at the Y and first day of aquarobics at UPenn. 183 lbs. I don't think should run/sprint 2 days straight... every other day at best, maybe every 3.. we'll see... tomorrow should be a sprint day but it combines with a lift day.. we shall see... don't want to over train, but the over training level has probably been pushed back for me...
72211 - Day 34 - 181 after sweating myself to sleep, eating fruit for dinner and working out, twice.. well teaching. Didn't sprint today. The temp was 105 in Upper Darby when I left the Y. It was the 30s.. most of my 30s are fails, but here's the deal... I pick an exercise and a weight try to do 3 sets of 30 reps (sometimes 4).. when I get to 30 I have to add 5-10 lbs... so the most I'll ever get is one rep of 30 unless I'm not using enough wt. Today Squats 135, leg press 375, db flat press 45s (30) then upped it to 50s... db pull overs 70s (3x10), lat pull downs 75 didn't get past 14 reps i think, need much work!! shoulder press dbs, 20s.. (30) went to 25s... abs tri sets... 35 lb db for side bends and 140 core cable crunches.. or whatever they are called. Maybe pix later.
72311 - Day 35 181.5 waking up. ate lite, salad and trail mix - thinking tread mill and pool at the Y today. let's see if either/both work out. It's still hot. 1/4 mile sprint intervals (8) on treadmill max speed 8.8... speed range 8 mph - 7.5 (don't think I went any slower. A few minutes in the pool after than... Those intervals took a bit out of me,but I looked good all sweating and "glistening."
72411 - Day 36 practical application, walk to market about 1.5 miles, buy food, carry it back... hunter gatherer day, otherwise, chill.. I am SORE from Friday tho!! Hittin the GYM tomorrow tho...
72511- Day 37 lifting at the Y details later... did the 30s... made some advancements in legs... chest, needs to be pumped up again. 83 degrees 182 lbs. gotta get some running in this week. Leg Presses... It takes a while to warm up. Started with 375 a set of 15 then 30, moved up to 395, bythe 4th set its getting good!! Didn't hit 30 yet. Back lunges on the Smith.. Maxed at 185, will work up to 15 sets each leg. Incline bench 95 lbs. Got around 13-15 reps.. need more work on this... I want to rock 30 reps of 135!!! peck deck successful with 75 lbs... 30, moved to 95. Lat pull downs... 75 lbs... close to 20s, but FEEEELIN' it!!! DB shoulder preee 25s, rocked the 3-0 moved to 30s, 30, now at 35s... (Remember this)
72611 - Day 38: Gx atthe Y, heavy on legs and after yesterday... ouch, I was worn out. Walked from Temple U Broad and CB Moore to 15th and Market... just a stroll and meditation.
72711 - Day 39 beautiful day to run 80 nlow humidity degrees.. sprint intervals .25 miles - best 1:45 which was my goal.. new goal, anything less than 1:45... keep consistent. Improvement, could be the weather... 3 minute rests. Aqua Box Kung Fu Splash Party this afternoon. Finished up the day with climbing poles at the playground workout with Xave.
72811 - Day 40 - Somehow I turned up the intensity on Functional Fitness today... anyway GX at the Y Aqua at UPenn, this is a day of rest, so to speak, wt was down..(low I should say) 181.5, I indulged in some guilty pleasures at night at work... nothing habit forming, just a lil carb boost. OH yeah. I ate some carrot cake next morning (72911) and got a blast of energy.. sugar rush.... no doubt.
72911 - Day 41/366 (let us not forget this is a year long process... and next year is a leap year, so I get an extra day. Today the plan (182.5) is hit the Y, and do the 30s... my regular routine of 30 rep sets, I am lacking in several, but the goal is to conquer the routine and get stronger/better in he process... 88 degrees, doesn't seem humid, but i'm not doing any running outside today... sprints may come tomorrow... 1.5 g arginine when i get up, when i can remember. Felt tired a tthe gym today, didn't ht any 30s, skipped abs - thinking the hi intensity of the previous FF workout and the rest of the week did me in. However I did add leg extensions. Maybe fridays should go back to being Spa (Body work) days. Let's consider it. (91 degrees @ 19:22!!! and Humid, it might rain).
73011 - Day 42... Good day to relax, maybe get a massage?? Great massage... relaxing day. OUT!
73111 Day 43 - either gonna be rugged house cleaning or evening sprints.... it's 93 degrees, I'm 183 and waking at 16% body fat. must do the calculations later. Temp cooled down to about 87: Sprint Intervals.... 8 total, best time 1:44 PB by a second.(17:40 to 18:30 about 50 mins total, with 3 minute stretch breaks in between and 10 minutes lying in the sun, cloud bursting.) Nice way to wrap up July. Kind of like the evening runs and will do them when i can.
71711 - Day 29 _Proposed, intervals and abs and stretching at the Y.
71811 - Day 30 - woods... had to detour scale 2 hills walk/recover a few ft after 2d hill. 27:55 90 degrees 184 pre- /post same. YMCA 30 rep sets, DLs.... 135 (Fail) front squats bar (Fail) need more work... DB press... + (45 is the weight) pull overs (Fail) anyway get the body used to do 30 reps, then add weight. First month done... 11 months to go. Actually I'm the same wt as when I started, but look a bit leaner. Wt doesn't matter as much as BF% and that's down.
71911 - Day 31 - GX Temple. PUMPED, pretty intense, good sweat box and leg intensive. 183 lbs. 16% BF at wake up. Noticed last years specs no difference.
72011 - Day 32 1st day of sprint training.. 1/4 mile 6 intervals (wanted to do 8) best time 1:57 (1st) worst time 2:28 ugh!! 86 degrees... 182.5 lbs. estimate 8 intervals will take 50-60 mins.. so these should be done on "off days" GX Pool.. was wiped from sprinting. RHR 56...
72111 - Day 33 - ruggedly cleaning house, but not all that much. GX at the Y and first day of aquarobics at UPenn. 183 lbs. I don't think should run/sprint 2 days straight... every other day at best, maybe every 3.. we'll see... tomorrow should be a sprint day but it combines with a lift day.. we shall see... don't want to over train, but the over training level has probably been pushed back for me...
72211 - Day 34 - 181 after sweating myself to sleep, eating fruit for dinner and working out, twice.. well teaching. Didn't sprint today. The temp was 105 in Upper Darby when I left the Y. It was the 30s.. most of my 30s are fails, but here's the deal... I pick an exercise and a weight try to do 3 sets of 30 reps (sometimes 4).. when I get to 30 I have to add 5-10 lbs... so the most I'll ever get is one rep of 30 unless I'm not using enough wt. Today Squats 135, leg press 375, db flat press 45s (30) then upped it to 50s... db pull overs 70s (3x10), lat pull downs 75 didn't get past 14 reps i think, need much work!! shoulder press dbs, 20s.. (30) went to 25s... abs tri sets... 35 lb db for side bends and 140 core cable crunches.. or whatever they are called. Maybe pix later.
72311 - Day 35 181.5 waking up. ate lite, salad and trail mix - thinking tread mill and pool at the Y today. let's see if either/both work out. It's still hot. 1/4 mile sprint intervals (8) on treadmill max speed 8.8... speed range 8 mph - 7.5 (don't think I went any slower. A few minutes in the pool after than... Those intervals took a bit out of me,but I looked good all sweating and "glistening."
72411 - Day 36 practical application, walk to market about 1.5 miles, buy food, carry it back... hunter gatherer day, otherwise, chill.. I am SORE from Friday tho!! Hittin the GYM tomorrow tho...
72511- Day 37 lifting at the Y details later... did the 30s... made some advancements in legs... chest, needs to be pumped up again. 83 degrees 182 lbs. gotta get some running in this week. Leg Presses... It takes a while to warm up. Started with 375 a set of 15 then 30, moved up to 395, bythe 4th set its getting good!! Didn't hit 30 yet. Back lunges on the Smith.. Maxed at 185, will work up to 15 sets each leg. Incline bench 95 lbs. Got around 13-15 reps.. need more work on this... I want to rock 30 reps of 135!!! peck deck successful with 75 lbs... 30, moved to 95. Lat pull downs... 75 lbs... close to 20s, but FEEEELIN' it!!! DB shoulder preee 25s, rocked the 3-0 moved to 30s, 30, now at 35s... (Remember this)
72611 - Day 38: Gx atthe Y, heavy on legs and after yesterday... ouch, I was worn out. Walked from Temple U Broad and CB Moore to 15th and Market... just a stroll and meditation.
72711 - Day 39 beautiful day to run 80 nlow humidity degrees.. sprint intervals .25 miles - best 1:45 which was my goal.. new goal, anything less than 1:45... keep consistent. Improvement, could be the weather... 3 minute rests. Aqua Box Kung Fu Splash Party this afternoon. Finished up the day with climbing poles at the playground workout with Xave.
72811 - Day 40 - Somehow I turned up the intensity on Functional Fitness today... anyway GX at the Y Aqua at UPenn, this is a day of rest, so to speak, wt was down..(low I should say) 181.5, I indulged in some guilty pleasures at night at work... nothing habit forming, just a lil carb boost. OH yeah. I ate some carrot cake next morning (72911) and got a blast of energy.. sugar rush.... no doubt.
72911 - Day 41/366 (let us not forget this is a year long process... and next year is a leap year, so I get an extra day. Today the plan (182.5) is hit the Y, and do the 30s... my regular routine of 30 rep sets, I am lacking in several, but the goal is to conquer the routine and get stronger/better in he process... 88 degrees, doesn't seem humid, but i'm not doing any running outside today... sprints may come tomorrow... 1.5 g arginine when i get up, when i can remember. Felt tired a tthe gym today, didn't ht any 30s, skipped abs - thinking the hi intensity of the previous FF workout and the rest of the week did me in. However I did add leg extensions. Maybe fridays should go back to being Spa (Body work) days. Let's consider it. (91 degrees @ 19:22!!! and Humid, it might rain).
73011 - Day 42... Good day to relax, maybe get a massage?? Great massage... relaxing day. OUT!
73111 Day 43 - either gonna be rugged house cleaning or evening sprints.... it's 93 degrees, I'm 183 and waking at 16% body fat. must do the calculations later. Temp cooled down to about 87: Sprint Intervals.... 8 total, best time 1:44 PB by a second.(17:40 to 18:30 about 50 mins total, with 3 minute stretch breaks in between and 10 minutes lying in the sun, cloud bursting.) Nice way to wrap up July. Kind of like the evening runs and will do them when i can.
Ruggedness Day 43
Starting August.. tomorrow I'll be updating this blog weekly, just to keep me honest, with the occasional updated photo to try and track my aesthetic progress.
I jot my notes down quickly on computer and in books. Somethings my handwriting is illegible, often there are misspelled words and abbreviations, but you'll get through them. I don't type very well either.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Ruggedness: July/First 30 days done...
July
70111 - Day 13... Not feeling so bad 8 hrs sleep/rest, gotta run today and lift at the Y, yeah lift heavy things, maybe squat and bench.. and the regular agility stuff. 24:12 demon rum added a minute to my time, i felt it too. 77 degrees. Y wk out Smith back wards lunges can do 45s... db press working w/ 95s, 1st rep is the hardest!! 30 mins elliptical.. hot legs work with ank wts. abs work focus on obliques..
70411 - Day 16 THe days sneak up when you skip journal entries - Today 24:33 thru the woods, moving back towards 25 mins, hwrv - was at BBQ and drinking yesterday so the time is skewed.. BTW 184.5 87 degrees... added a gate jump, walk around the track and hill run. (untimed).
(70311 - Day 15) 100 push ups and BBQs
(70211 - Day 14) pyramid intervals, jump training at the Y.
There now we're caught up. See book note for more info...
70511 - Day 17 - 86-88 degrees 23:47 good to be under 24 again, just needed a day without partying. Dead cat on trail, very strange, looks like the colourful cat who used to visit me. Jumped gate at end of trail twice.. (It was more like a climb) added 1/2 mile walk around track, jumped fence couldn't run all the way up the hill. :-/ 182.5 start 180.5 after. Hydrate, eat breakfast and I'm sure I'll be bk to 182 (gonna record 180.5 tho) feel hungry and tired.. tired b/c I'm hungry gotta get strength back. HAd to replenish H2O b4 even eating.
70611 - Day 18 YMCA treadmill intervals (pyramid) practicing running on the balls of feet... anyway 30 mins of that 15 mins of abs/core.. and Aqua Box.. was worn out... 182, not bad.. trending downward hopefully, looking good tho... maybe run the surface tomorrow, don't really wanna encounter the dead cat again... might be removed by the weekend or it will be stinking!! Poor cat.. ran out of lives.
70711 Day 19 GX class at YMCA, 30 mins elliptical, 30 mins leg/back stretching.
70811 Day 20 - gonna run on paved road today. 2 mins... 80 degrees made it no time watch didn't set right unless i made it in 12 mins... which i doubt!!! that run took 1.5 lbs off.... and a 32 min recovery, YMCA legs.. smith lunges, leg presses (6 plates 30 reps to advance maxed 25)
70911 - Day 21 - chilled, got a massage. Walked around.
71011 - Day 22 - (Day 22 was Xave's birthday and worked OT at the job, so basically no exercise.
71111 - Day 23 - 88 degrees... 24:39 looped it today, out on the pave back on the trail. the cat's gone RIP felt slow and heavy started at 185.5 finished at 183.5 don't know where the wt came from unless eating out 2x this weekend. legs at the y...
71211 - Day 24 GX Temple... maybe some stretching after.
71311 - Day 25 26:06 83 degrees 182.5 lbs like running thru soup... still finished, wanted to walk badly sore legs probably from GX. Aqua Box... i was hyped, must be full moon... so tired, hammies are sore, need to stretch.
71411 - Day 26 GX at YMCA and some balance/agility work. sun sals..
71511 - Day 27 183... 80 degrees 23:06 thru woods, may be a PB. legs/chest at Y today... and ??? oh abs.. 181.5 after the run.
71611 - Day 28 - Family GX at the hotel, then some aqua demos in the pool - food drinking and debauchery 181.5 but that didn't last.
71711 - Day 29 _Propsed, intervals and abs and stretching at the Y.
71811 - Day 30 - woods... had to detour scale 2 hills walk/recover a few ft after 2d hill. 27:55 90 degrees 184 pre- /post same. YMCA 30 rep sets, DLs.... 135 (Fail) front squats bar (Fail) need more work... DB press... + (45 is the weight) pull overs (Fail) anyway get the body used to do 30 reps, then add weight. First month done... 11 months to go. Actually I'm the same wt as when I started, but look a bit leaner. Wt doesn't matter as much as BF% and that's down.
70111 - Day 13... Not feeling so bad 8 hrs sleep/rest, gotta run today and lift at the Y, yeah lift heavy things, maybe squat and bench.. and the regular agility stuff. 24:12 demon rum added a minute to my time, i felt it too. 77 degrees. Y wk out Smith back wards lunges can do 45s... db press working w/ 95s, 1st rep is the hardest!! 30 mins elliptical.. hot legs work with ank wts. abs work focus on obliques..
70411 - Day 16 THe days sneak up when you skip journal entries - Today 24:33 thru the woods, moving back towards 25 mins, hwrv - was at BBQ and drinking yesterday so the time is skewed.. BTW 184.5 87 degrees... added a gate jump, walk around the track and hill run. (untimed).
(70311 - Day 15) 100 push ups and BBQs
(70211 - Day 14) pyramid intervals, jump training at the Y.
There now we're caught up. See book note for more info...
70511 - Day 17 - 86-88 degrees 23:47 good to be under 24 again, just needed a day without partying. Dead cat on trail, very strange, looks like the colourful cat who used to visit me. Jumped gate at end of trail twice.. (It was more like a climb) added 1/2 mile walk around track, jumped fence couldn't run all the way up the hill. :-/ 182.5 start 180.5 after. Hydrate, eat breakfast and I'm sure I'll be bk to 182 (gonna record 180.5 tho) feel hungry and tired.. tired b/c I'm hungry gotta get strength back. HAd to replenish H2O b4 even eating.
70611 - Day 18 YMCA treadmill intervals (pyramid) practicing running on the balls of feet... anyway 30 mins of that 15 mins of abs/core.. and Aqua Box.. was worn out... 182, not bad.. trending downward hopefully, looking good tho... maybe run the surface tomorrow, don't really wanna encounter the dead cat again... might be removed by the weekend or it will be stinking!! Poor cat.. ran out of lives.
70711 Day 19 GX class at YMCA, 30 mins elliptical, 30 mins leg/back stretching.
70811 Day 20 - gonna run on paved road today. 2 mins... 80 degrees made it no time watch didn't set right unless i made it in 12 mins... which i doubt!!! that run took 1.5 lbs off.... and a 32 min recovery, YMCA legs.. smith lunges, leg presses (6 plates 30 reps to advance maxed 25)
70911 - Day 21 - chilled, got a massage. Walked around.
71011 - Day 22 - (Day 22 was Xave's birthday and worked OT at the job, so basically no exercise.
71111 - Day 23 - 88 degrees... 24:39 looped it today, out on the pave back on the trail. the cat's gone RIP felt slow and heavy started at 185.5 finished at 183.5 don't know where the wt came from unless eating out 2x this weekend. legs at the y...
71211 - Day 24 GX Temple... maybe some stretching after.
71311 - Day 25 26:06 83 degrees 182.5 lbs like running thru soup... still finished, wanted to walk badly sore legs probably from GX. Aqua Box... i was hyped, must be full moon... so tired, hammies are sore, need to stretch.
71411 - Day 26 GX at YMCA and some balance/agility work. sun sals..
71511 - Day 27 183... 80 degrees 23:06 thru woods, may be a PB. legs/chest at Y today... and ??? oh abs.. 181.5 after the run.
71611 - Day 28 - Family GX at the hotel, then some aqua demos in the pool - food drinking and debauchery 181.5 but that didn't last.
71711 - Day 29 _Propsed, intervals and abs and stretching at the Y.
71811 - Day 30 - woods... had to detour scale 2 hills walk/recover a few ft after 2d hill. 27:55 90 degrees 184 pre- /post same. YMCA 30 rep sets, DLs.... 135 (Fail) front squats bar (Fail) need more work... DB press... + (45 is the weight) pull overs (Fail) anyway get the body used to do 30 reps, then add weight. First month done... 11 months to go. Actually I'm the same wt as when I started, but look a bit leaner. Wt doesn't matter as much as BF% and that's down.
Ruggedness 2011
Bajai Boot Camp 2011
Theme: Ruggedness!!
Start Date 6-19-11
Goals: Increase endurance, exercise outside, (SPACERB)
Strategies: Run through woods, climb hills trees fences, lift heavy things, fall, tumble, balance, invert.
61911 -
Day 1: Run through woods, jog, 100 jumping jacks, run up hill (Loc Cobbs Creek).
Felt rather pathetic, but remember it was day one About 80 degrees. Full gear long pants, camos, heavy/rugged boots, t-shirt, wt gloves.
wt: 184.5
Fuel: Oatmeal w/ blueberries, banana, coco water,OJ. vitamins Post: protein drink,BCAA vitamins, Brewers Yeast.
62011 -
Day 2 - run thru woods up + bk (up full run/bk walk run) 25:58 - 76 degrees... empty stomach (coco water + supplements BCAA & Arginine 1000m 2 capsules) 186 lbs. at wake up.
Tough run, but on the way back I couldn't walk the whole way. had to at least jog. Get up + bk full run before calisthenics. 2 mile goal time < 20 mins. Push up process 12s - split sets, low - break - high Aqua Class - shopping long walk home from 69th. 62111
Day 3 - PUMPED Session and heavy lifting/moving at Temple IBC gym then balance and agility.
62211
Day 4 back to the woods.. ran more but slower 26:56 87 degrees 184 lbs. I blame the heat, but i came out with a good sweat. Dita is my new inspiration, she does 5 a day to relieve stress but i have no stress coco h2o and protein drink post (pre) ACV, h20 and coco... ACV first thing. Phyl husk after work b4 bed.
62311 - Dripping with Sweat!
Day 5 made the entire course to and fro...26:18, 83 degrees humid (85 when I got back... ) 183.5 lbs 16% BF (which is really a hydration measure) fuel: Water, NO explode 2 teaspoons 8-9 oz water, D-ribose tablet and 1 gram Arginine... Almost decided to walk the course, ankle seemed a lil tender (left outside) but it's traditionally these types of days that I excel. No going back now.. or is there??? Just try to go faster and more steady. Tomorrow... intervals at the Y i think, balance, agility and stretching and jumping.. Ruggedness Style of course.
FF complete - one thing I have to stop doing is taking random "naps" after workouts. I have to force myself to keep moving, to keep things flowing and to make more energy...
62411 - Day 6 - YMCA Incline treadmill intervals 30 mins..... jump, kick, agility, balance training.
62511 - Day 7 Broke 26 mins.
Run thru woods... 25:41 74 degrees... standard uniform.. 930 - 10 am ish. nice day low humidity.. 184 lbs wake up.. 12% BF according to scale.. all time low!! LEg work atthe Y.
62611 - Day 8 181.5 lbs but dehydrated BF was 23.5 % or something like that. Push ups rest and recovery today. Slept almost 12 hours. Worried about getting back to it tomorrow...But I gotta + meet with Dan At UPenn.
62711 - 184 80 degrees 24:11 dubious, but maybe intervals thru park, jog/sprint.. YMCA - leg presses, leg extensions, lotsof various push ups core work.... didn't have good balance strength today.. stretching squats on med-ball, balance on med and swizz ball... some pull ups, a slid rugged day.
62811 Day 10 - 183.5 - holding H2O thru sleep, and getting good rest/sleep, but shorter. Seems I need less... and I'm up and alert all night at work.fitness rules. Taking a running thru woods day off - it's planned, worried that I may not get back into it. I don't want to do nothing today so I may go down to the park, grab a k-bell and a chain after my meet with Xave. Can always work on more push ups. of jump training/plyo.. playground w/o with xave. climbing, swinging, pull ups..
62911 Day 11 - speed gains 23:41 , 184.5, 81 degrees - technique as well... start strong hit an interval blast when i feel sluggish.
63011 - Day 12 My body was pretty sore esp legs so I ditched the run, instead did GX at the Y which I would have done anyway, I teach the class. Then went out drinking. Not too much.... just enough.
Theme: Ruggedness!!
Start Date 6-19-11
Goals: Increase endurance, exercise outside, (SPACERB)
Strategies: Run through woods, climb hills trees fences, lift heavy things, fall, tumble, balance, invert.
61911 -
Day 1: Run through woods, jog, 100 jumping jacks, run up hill (Loc Cobbs Creek).
Felt rather pathetic, but remember it was day one About 80 degrees. Full gear long pants, camos, heavy/rugged boots, t-shirt, wt gloves.
wt: 184.5
Fuel: Oatmeal w/ blueberries, banana, coco water,OJ. vitamins Post: protein drink,BCAA vitamins, Brewers Yeast.
62011 -
Day 2 - run thru woods up + bk (up full run/bk walk run) 25:58 - 76 degrees... empty stomach (coco water + supplements BCAA & Arginine 1000m 2 capsules) 186 lbs. at wake up.
Tough run, but on the way back I couldn't walk the whole way. had to at least jog. Get up + bk full run before calisthenics. 2 mile goal time < 20 mins. Push up process 12s - split sets, low - break - high Aqua Class - shopping long walk home from 69th. 62111
Day 3 - PUMPED Session and heavy lifting/moving at Temple IBC gym then balance and agility.
62211
Day 4 back to the woods.. ran more but slower 26:56 87 degrees 184 lbs. I blame the heat, but i came out with a good sweat. Dita is my new inspiration, she does 5 a day to relieve stress but i have no stress coco h2o and protein drink post (pre) ACV, h20 and coco... ACV first thing. Phyl husk after work b4 bed.
62311 - Dripping with Sweat!
Day 5 made the entire course to and fro...26:18, 83 degrees humid (85 when I got back... ) 183.5 lbs 16% BF (which is really a hydration measure) fuel: Water, NO explode 2 teaspoons 8-9 oz water, D-ribose tablet and 1 gram Arginine... Almost decided to walk the course, ankle seemed a lil tender (left outside) but it's traditionally these types of days that I excel. No going back now.. or is there??? Just try to go faster and more steady. Tomorrow... intervals at the Y i think, balance, agility and stretching and jumping.. Ruggedness Style of course.
FF complete - one thing I have to stop doing is taking random "naps" after workouts. I have to force myself to keep moving, to keep things flowing and to make more energy...
62411 - Day 6 - YMCA Incline treadmill intervals 30 mins..... jump, kick, agility, balance training.
62511 - Day 7 Broke 26 mins.
Run thru woods... 25:41 74 degrees... standard uniform.. 930 - 10 am ish. nice day low humidity.. 184 lbs wake up.. 12% BF according to scale.. all time low!! LEg work atthe Y.
62611 - Day 8 181.5 lbs but dehydrated BF was 23.5 % or something like that. Push ups rest and recovery today. Slept almost 12 hours. Worried about getting back to it tomorrow...But I gotta + meet with Dan At UPenn.
62711 - 184 80 degrees 24:11 dubious, but maybe intervals thru park, jog/sprint.. YMCA - leg presses, leg extensions, lotsof various push ups core work.... didn't have good balance strength today.. stretching squats on med-ball, balance on med and swizz ball... some pull ups, a slid rugged day.
62811 Day 10 - 183.5 - holding H2O thru sleep, and getting good rest/sleep, but shorter. Seems I need less... and I'm up and alert all night at work.fitness rules. Taking a running thru woods day off - it's planned, worried that I may not get back into it. I don't want to do nothing today so I may go down to the park, grab a k-bell and a chain after my meet with Xave. Can always work on more push ups. of jump training/plyo.. playground w/o with xave. climbing, swinging, pull ups..
62911 Day 11 - speed gains 23:41 , 184.5, 81 degrees - technique as well... start strong hit an interval blast when i feel sluggish.
63011 - Day 12 My body was pretty sore esp legs so I ditched the run, instead did GX at the Y which I would have done anyway, I teach the class. Then went out drinking. Not too much.... just enough.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Personal Training: Fifth Anniversary
Personal Training: Fifth Anniversary
by KC Bajai
I saw the pictures from 1996 and was horrified! I was 225 lbs and I looked five years into the future and realized i could be 250, or 200... I choose 200. It took me a whole year to get myself into the gym (YMCA) regularly. I had and used ALL (if not more) of the excuses you've probably used and are using right now as your weight keeps increasing and your health slowly decreases. I gave myself a FIVE YEAR plan. Not 5 months to a beach body, or pair of Speedos! Five years and all I wanted to do is lift my own weight.
By the turn of the 21st Century I'd was hooked. I'd made noticeable improvements on my physique and I actually looked and felt younger than I was five years earlier. I was planning my next five year plan: conditioning. I'd dropped 25 lbs. primarily through intense weight lifting and muscle development. I didn't know why at the time and didn't care... but I know now.
I became a regular fixture at the YMCA - and just as energy creates energy, success spurs ambition. I was strong and bulky, still had a big stomach so I set my sights to reducing that. UGH, had to do cardio, had to start running and even started taking group exercise classes. 2003-2004 were my strongest years to date. Bench press was up to 290, squats were at 405 and leg presses were in the 600s. In 2004 I decided I wanted to be a personal trainer. I'd put it off for years because I generally lose interest in activities I do for money, but by '04 I had lots of time on my hands even with working two jobs.
PT certification became a reality for me on January 31st 2005 and for a year people would ask me to train them, but they would seldom follow through. I started working in a gym in Dec. of '06, started group fitness training at Temple in May of '07, and expanded GX classes to Uni. of the Sciences, St. Joe's, 12th St. Gym and started as a Personal Trainer at the YMCA where I'd dropped the weight and muscled up in the first place. Last year I started teaching GX classes at the Y as well.
To keep me sane I've devised policies which I adhere to. Anyone who gives me my first opportunity I remain exclusive to for the first year. Such was the case with Temple, I didn't even entertain the notion of teaching fitness classes anywhere else for that first year. Also, I returned to train at the YMCA because that's the establishment I credit for helping to turn my health around... some sort of loyalty and give-back probably developed either in the cub scouts or the military.
For the first five years of PT Certification I offered my services to friends and people I knew for free. I'd post items online answer questions and put together beginner routines to get people started. I'd explain calorie counting, heart rate, etc. and how to strategically drop weight and gain muscle tone. Maybe 5% took advantage.
Starting February 1st Yours Truly becomes professional - I'll be happy to train you... for a fee. I have my schedule rolling around in my head and will probably post it on fb. I may even reignite my dormant website.
Fitness Consultations start @ $25.00 (up to ah hour) includes health eval.
PT starts @ $75.00 an hour plus expenses (such as paying a guest fee at a gym. There are gyms in the area that allow trainers to use their facilities.)
If you're a member of the Y, come on up while I'm working and there will of course be no charge, provided I'm not busy with a client (or playing solitaire... just kidding about the solitaire.) If you're a Temple student, you may have to go through channels unless you want to engage my services on your own. (Temple may be providing PT services this year.)
So, that's the deal my friends. I love what I do, I love my peeps - but the paper seems to make ALL the difference. Money adds value and perhaps if you've forked over some cash for training you'll take it more seriously.
Is THIS the year you'll start your new lifestyle? Keep the promises you've made to yourself? We shall see.
by KC Bajai
I saw the pictures from 1996 and was horrified! I was 225 lbs and I looked five years into the future and realized i could be 250, or 200... I choose 200. It took me a whole year to get myself into the gym (YMCA) regularly. I had and used ALL (if not more) of the excuses you've probably used and are using right now as your weight keeps increasing and your health slowly decreases. I gave myself a FIVE YEAR plan. Not 5 months to a beach body, or pair of Speedos! Five years and all I wanted to do is lift my own weight.
By the turn of the 21st Century I'd was hooked. I'd made noticeable improvements on my physique and I actually looked and felt younger than I was five years earlier. I was planning my next five year plan: conditioning. I'd dropped 25 lbs. primarily through intense weight lifting and muscle development. I didn't know why at the time and didn't care... but I know now.
I became a regular fixture at the YMCA - and just as energy creates energy, success spurs ambition. I was strong and bulky, still had a big stomach so I set my sights to reducing that. UGH, had to do cardio, had to start running and even started taking group exercise classes. 2003-2004 were my strongest years to date. Bench press was up to 290, squats were at 405 and leg presses were in the 600s. In 2004 I decided I wanted to be a personal trainer. I'd put it off for years because I generally lose interest in activities I do for money, but by '04 I had lots of time on my hands even with working two jobs.
PT certification became a reality for me on January 31st 2005 and for a year people would ask me to train them, but they would seldom follow through. I started working in a gym in Dec. of '06, started group fitness training at Temple in May of '07, and expanded GX classes to Uni. of the Sciences, St. Joe's, 12th St. Gym and started as a Personal Trainer at the YMCA where I'd dropped the weight and muscled up in the first place. Last year I started teaching GX classes at the Y as well.
To keep me sane I've devised policies which I adhere to. Anyone who gives me my first opportunity I remain exclusive to for the first year. Such was the case with Temple, I didn't even entertain the notion of teaching fitness classes anywhere else for that first year. Also, I returned to train at the YMCA because that's the establishment I credit for helping to turn my health around... some sort of loyalty and give-back probably developed either in the cub scouts or the military.
For the first five years of PT Certification I offered my services to friends and people I knew for free. I'd post items online answer questions and put together beginner routines to get people started. I'd explain calorie counting, heart rate, etc. and how to strategically drop weight and gain muscle tone. Maybe 5% took advantage.
Starting February 1st Yours Truly becomes professional - I'll be happy to train you... for a fee. I have my schedule rolling around in my head and will probably post it on fb. I may even reignite my dormant website.
Fitness Consultations start @ $25.00 (up to ah hour) includes health eval.
PT starts @ $75.00 an hour plus expenses (such as paying a guest fee at a gym. There are gyms in the area that allow trainers to use their facilities.)
If you're a member of the Y, come on up while I'm working and there will of course be no charge, provided I'm not busy with a client (or playing solitaire... just kidding about the solitaire.) If you're a Temple student, you may have to go through channels unless you want to engage my services on your own. (Temple may be providing PT services this year.)
So, that's the deal my friends. I love what I do, I love my peeps - but the paper seems to make ALL the difference. Money adds value and perhaps if you've forked over some cash for training you'll take it more seriously.
Is THIS the year you'll start your new lifestyle? Keep the promises you've made to yourself? We shall see.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Tales of Tea & Crunches
Bajai Kulture 9.3.04
Tales of Tea & Crunches
by KC Bajai
In none of my many online profiles or self summaries do I describe myself as "whimsical." I don't think of myself as a whimsical person. I don't do whimsical things... unless... you count starting a magazine because I thought it would be cool, or deciding to do 2000 crunches a day just to see what would happen. Okay, I admit it, there may have been some other whims in my past. I may even have become a personal trainer on a whim... nah, that was more practical.
Which brings me to the other fish in the Pisces circle, the practical one. I had a practical reason for becoming a fitness professional and I also have a practical reason for quitting the daily, sometimes twice or thrice daily consumption of tea.
For the past week my Facebook status has included two curious items; the number of crunches (also known as torso curls for those of you not into fitness jargon) and the number of days I've gone without a cup of tea. Curious because these two items have been the subject of a bevy of questions ranging from evaluations of my sanity (for which sometimes i cannot even vouch) to straight forward inquiries as to "why no tea." The later being quite understandable, as these questions have come from people I've shared many cups of tea with.
But first, let me indulge my whimsical side and allow you a peek into how my mind works. Take the children out of the room, I'd hate for you to blame me for anything they might pick up by reading over your shoulder.
As a fitness professional my longest running class (continuously since May of 2007 with the exception of regular breaks) has been the "Awesome Abs" class at Temple University. I've gotten pretty good at motivating and entertaining the students who come for an abs experience. Not only have I come up with memorable names for everyday abdominals exercises, I also tend to use humurous (to me anyway) imagery and scenarios that at times elicit reports to the coordinator. While my "audience" is stretching I give them tidbits of information and/or test their attitudes towards fitness fact vs. myth.
On one particular day, I asked the class if anyone still believed that doing nothing but crunches would reduce the fat around their midsection. Almost no one raised their hands. This is when I told them, "You could do 2000 crunches a day and unless you do a cardio workout, no one will ever see the results." I further told them that if they had a fat gut, the muscles under the fat would get big and make the stomach look even bigger. [*I put this in just in case any of you reading are doing crunches alone in hopes of achieving the six pack abs rack.]
This is the moment that I wondered what the results would be if I did 2000 crunches a day. Of course I would have to document everything, because I also have this nerdy side. To make an already long essay not as long as it could be, let me assure you that the body does and will adapt to what you do to it. The first day I never even made it to 2000. The last day I did crunches (3-9-09) I got the first 1000 done in 3 (non-even) sets. The final 1000 came in 4 sets which included a single set of 500. I don't have to tell you this is time consuming and a bit mundane and certainly painful, it may even be a waste of time aesthetically, but I'm curious, disciplined and determined to see what happens after 6 weeks of this.
Let me share some brief results with you. Result number 1: They get easier to do. 2. You feel them. 3. Don't actually do them EVERY DAY, I learned that after 4 days straight of trying to do 2k a day. 4. Your rectus abdominus aka the six pack, will get harder and stronger, and as big as they will get. 5. Prepare yourself for some gastro-intestinal changes. No details, just keep in mind what curling your trunk entails. Finally stretch you abs after every set. If you are going to do 10 sets 200, or 200 sets of 10, stretch them babies out. You will feel the difference.
And now a word or two(thousand)... about Destiny. Although I no longer believe in this mystical concept, I still use it the same way I use God to bless people when they sneeze... it's just a habit.
One could say that a random encounter with a newspaper publisher for whom I once wrote led to the eviction of tea from my daily routine.
Briefly - I run into the publisher of a neighborhood newspaper, we catch up, I tell him about my fitness training, he tells me about his daughter's massage therapy. His daughter appears on the porch just as we're mentioning her. we are introduced, turns out we work in the same fitness compound. We exchange contact info and sure enough the next day I se her at the gym promoting her service. we chat I make an appointment.
I get my massage, which was very good, although I only have ONE other massage to compare it with. Being a fitness trainer has gotten me better acquainted with my body; learning the names of the muscles, etc. so as I'm relaxing I'm actually feeling what's going on and making mental notes to ask about at the end of the session.
Massaging my lower legs, just below the calf and above the hurt, not enough to ask her to stop, but certainly it was a point of concern. These are the areas that cramp up when I run long distances and wake me up at night when they cramp up. The left leg is especially troubling. Here's what she told me.
My fascia (imagine the rubber that protects the cable) around the muscle fibers in my lower leg(s) were dried out. She told me they felt like chips crinkling in her hands. (At least that's how I remember her putting it.) In short this area wasn't getting enough circulation, blood I figured, and certainly not enough water, (which blood if full of.)
I went into nerd mode and searched possible causes for poor circulation in the legs. After dismissing all the prescription "cures" and their myriad side effects, I found what I was looking for. Poor blood circulation and dehydration can be caused by caffeine and sugar, which happen to be two of my most profound addictions, which you probably know already from having read my "Addictions" essay.
So tea had to go. Cold turkey, which is how I'd recommend anyone to kick a habit.
It was probably Wednesday, March 4, 2009 that I had my last cup of tea. Thursday I taught two classes and I felt my lack of energy. By Friday I had a withdraw headache. Saturday it was still there. Late Sunday it seemed to pass. I didn't take any aspirin for it, just some herbs (and not THAT kind of herbs either). The problem was, just like a lover you may have broken up with that you really didn't want to, I kept having ghost images of drinking tea. I'd being surfing and writing and thinking, "I'd be having a cup of tea right now." I'd look at the tea cup my daughter brought me back from Disney World and want to fill it up with tea and sugar. Sometimes at work I'd go through 32 to 50 ounces of tea per night.
At first I was only thinking of getting through to Sunday. I'd heard some place that the first three days are the toughest when kicking habits. Then as Sunday passed, I decided i might as well go for 30 days, like the Super Size Me guy on TV. Then, another massage, see if she notices any difference. Some more running, see if i notice any difference and then perhaps joint the ranks of the decaf tea tot'lers or limit my caffeinated tea drinking to one a day.
Meanwhile, my beverage alternatives have been water, more water, the occasional orange juice and protein shakes, with water or OJ.
The early results are too early to evaluate. My scale supposedly measures body fat, but it does a better job of measuring weight and H2O content, which I record on a daily basis (nerd/scientist alert), and I have noticed my H2O measurements are higher and a bit more consistent.
Of course there's a possibility that I might be wrong about all this dehydration, circulation, sugar-caffeine connection stuff and I may have what doctors call "PCIL" (poor circulation in legs) and I'll have to be on Plavix, of Zytnyte, Xanficore, or some such drug I'll have to learn about in an multi-page ad in Golf Digest whose disclaimer reads "symptoms may persist" (translation - the drug doesn't work on the problem) side effects may include gaseous emissions from the rectal cavity, suicidal feelings, erratic erectile episodes, insomnia and could be addictive.
For now, I think I'll drink more water, no tea and see what happens.
And this, my friends is why my status updates can be summed up in shut-out terminology; Crunches 2000 Tea Zero!
Thank you for your concern.
Tales of Tea & Crunches
by KC Bajai
In none of my many online profiles or self summaries do I describe myself as "whimsical." I don't think of myself as a whimsical person. I don't do whimsical things... unless... you count starting a magazine because I thought it would be cool, or deciding to do 2000 crunches a day just to see what would happen. Okay, I admit it, there may have been some other whims in my past. I may even have become a personal trainer on a whim... nah, that was more practical.
Which brings me to the other fish in the Pisces circle, the practical one. I had a practical reason for becoming a fitness professional and I also have a practical reason for quitting the daily, sometimes twice or thrice daily consumption of tea.
For the past week my Facebook status has included two curious items; the number of crunches (also known as torso curls for those of you not into fitness jargon) and the number of days I've gone without a cup of tea. Curious because these two items have been the subject of a bevy of questions ranging from evaluations of my sanity (for which sometimes i cannot even vouch) to straight forward inquiries as to "why no tea." The later being quite understandable, as these questions have come from people I've shared many cups of tea with.
But first, let me indulge my whimsical side and allow you a peek into how my mind works. Take the children out of the room, I'd hate for you to blame me for anything they might pick up by reading over your shoulder.
As a fitness professional my longest running class (continuously since May of 2007 with the exception of regular breaks) has been the "Awesome Abs" class at Temple University. I've gotten pretty good at motivating and entertaining the students who come for an abs experience. Not only have I come up with memorable names for everyday abdominals exercises, I also tend to use humurous (to me anyway) imagery and scenarios that at times elicit reports to the coordinator. While my "audience" is stretching I give them tidbits of information and/or test their attitudes towards fitness fact vs. myth.
On one particular day, I asked the class if anyone still believed that doing nothing but crunches would reduce the fat around their midsection. Almost no one raised their hands. This is when I told them, "You could do 2000 crunches a day and unless you do a cardio workout, no one will ever see the results." I further told them that if they had a fat gut, the muscles under the fat would get big and make the stomach look even bigger. [*I put this in just in case any of you reading are doing crunches alone in hopes of achieving the six pack abs rack.]
This is the moment that I wondered what the results would be if I did 2000 crunches a day. Of course I would have to document everything, because I also have this nerdy side. To make an already long essay not as long as it could be, let me assure you that the body does and will adapt to what you do to it. The first day I never even made it to 2000. The last day I did crunches (3-9-09) I got the first 1000 done in 3 (non-even) sets. The final 1000 came in 4 sets which included a single set of 500. I don't have to tell you this is time consuming and a bit mundane and certainly painful, it may even be a waste of time aesthetically, but I'm curious, disciplined and determined to see what happens after 6 weeks of this.
Let me share some brief results with you. Result number 1: They get easier to do. 2. You feel them. 3. Don't actually do them EVERY DAY, I learned that after 4 days straight of trying to do 2k a day. 4. Your rectus abdominus aka the six pack, will get harder and stronger, and as big as they will get. 5. Prepare yourself for some gastro-intestinal changes. No details, just keep in mind what curling your trunk entails. Finally stretch you abs after every set. If you are going to do 10 sets 200, or 200 sets of 10, stretch them babies out. You will feel the difference.
And now a word or two(thousand)... about Destiny. Although I no longer believe in this mystical concept, I still use it the same way I use God to bless people when they sneeze... it's just a habit.
One could say that a random encounter with a newspaper publisher for whom I once wrote led to the eviction of tea from my daily routine.
Briefly - I run into the publisher of a neighborhood newspaper, we catch up, I tell him about my fitness training, he tells me about his daughter's massage therapy. His daughter appears on the porch just as we're mentioning her. we are introduced, turns out we work in the same fitness compound. We exchange contact info and sure enough the next day I se her at the gym promoting her service. we chat I make an appointment.
I get my massage, which was very good, although I only have ONE other massage to compare it with. Being a fitness trainer has gotten me better acquainted with my body; learning the names of the muscles, etc. so as I'm relaxing I'm actually feeling what's going on and making mental notes to ask about at the end of the session.
Massaging my lower legs, just below the calf and above the hurt, not enough to ask her to stop, but certainly it was a point of concern. These are the areas that cramp up when I run long distances and wake me up at night when they cramp up. The left leg is especially troubling. Here's what she told me.
My fascia (imagine the rubber that protects the cable) around the muscle fibers in my lower leg(s) were dried out. She told me they felt like chips crinkling in her hands. (At least that's how I remember her putting it.) In short this area wasn't getting enough circulation, blood I figured, and certainly not enough water, (which blood if full of.)
I went into nerd mode and searched possible causes for poor circulation in the legs. After dismissing all the prescription "cures" and their myriad side effects, I found what I was looking for. Poor blood circulation and dehydration can be caused by caffeine and sugar, which happen to be two of my most profound addictions, which you probably know already from having read my "Addictions" essay.
So tea had to go. Cold turkey, which is how I'd recommend anyone to kick a habit.
It was probably Wednesday, March 4, 2009 that I had my last cup of tea. Thursday I taught two classes and I felt my lack of energy. By Friday I had a withdraw headache. Saturday it was still there. Late Sunday it seemed to pass. I didn't take any aspirin for it, just some herbs (and not THAT kind of herbs either). The problem was, just like a lover you may have broken up with that you really didn't want to, I kept having ghost images of drinking tea. I'd being surfing and writing and thinking, "I'd be having a cup of tea right now." I'd look at the tea cup my daughter brought me back from Disney World and want to fill it up with tea and sugar. Sometimes at work I'd go through 32 to 50 ounces of tea per night.
At first I was only thinking of getting through to Sunday. I'd heard some place that the first three days are the toughest when kicking habits. Then as Sunday passed, I decided i might as well go for 30 days, like the Super Size Me guy on TV. Then, another massage, see if she notices any difference. Some more running, see if i notice any difference and then perhaps joint the ranks of the decaf tea tot'lers or limit my caffeinated tea drinking to one a day.
Meanwhile, my beverage alternatives have been water, more water, the occasional orange juice and protein shakes, with water or OJ.
The early results are too early to evaluate. My scale supposedly measures body fat, but it does a better job of measuring weight and H2O content, which I record on a daily basis (nerd/scientist alert), and I have noticed my H2O measurements are higher and a bit more consistent.
Of course there's a possibility that I might be wrong about all this dehydration, circulation, sugar-caffeine connection stuff and I may have what doctors call "PCIL" (poor circulation in legs) and I'll have to be on Plavix, of Zytnyte, Xanficore, or some such drug I'll have to learn about in an multi-page ad in Golf Digest whose disclaimer reads "symptoms may persist" (translation - the drug doesn't work on the problem) side effects may include gaseous emissions from the rectal cavity, suicidal feelings, erratic erectile episodes, insomnia and could be addictive.
For now, I think I'll drink more water, no tea and see what happens.
And this, my friends is why my status updates can be summed up in shut-out terminology; Crunches 2000 Tea Zero!
Thank you for your concern.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Bajai Kulture 9.2:05
Bajai Kulture 9.2:05
The Roar of the Crowd
by KC Bajai
Somewhere in an old photo album, possibly in the possession of my mother, is a picture of me in my stage debut. The second grade Thanksgiving play. I think they made me a pilgrim. While everyone else is in some kind of period costume, I'm up there wearing standard issue second grader glasses, a turtleneck shirt and striped pants... forgetting my lines. If it weren't for that picture i would have probably blanked out the whole event, vehemently denying it until publicly unlocking the memory in a gush of tears on some afternoon talk show.
All I remember about how I got into this situation, is one of the teachers asking for volunteers.
I was standing in line waiting for whatever second graders lined up for back then. (This is when lines were called lines and not "queues.") And one of the teachers came out and said something like, "I need a volunteer." Cleverly I thought to myself - and yes i still remember this part - if i raise my hand nonchalantly I'll get picked. And it worked! I got picked, for the second grade Thanksgiving Play! More cleverly the teacher did not announce what we were volunteering for. Despite this unexpected turn, I volunteered several more times throughout my life until I finally learned my lesson after being discharged from the NAVY - which itself stands for Never Again Volunteer Yourself.
UGH!!
The first few years of my life i was a cute and happy baby. Those pictures are precious. My dad always seemed to photograph me smiling and laughing. Then I grew into a nerd. I didn't know I was a nerd, I didn't even know the word existed. I did know however, that I was different from most everybody else around me, or maybe i just felt different. Like I wasn't supposed to be there... but that's another story.
In any case, there would be no more plays, and no more performing on stage for me. With the exception of a few fashion shows in which I strutted my stuff on the catwalk... meeeOWWW! I kept myself off stage and in the background for many, many years, probably until I started producing and organizing variety shows for the magazine i started (once again, another story.)
If you were to take any of my group fitness classes you'd never in a million years believe the shy kid I was... or maybe you would. I've read in books written by egg-heads that we often mature into the opposite of what we were as children. In fact, I've done such a good job of reinventing (and subsequently liking) myself people have wondered if I'm Narcissistic. They've made me wonder that very same thing only to discover that the opposite is closer to the truth. Sometimes when we try to reach a goal, to affect changes to ourselves we tend to over compensate ~ to over shoot the mark. We have to zero in on the target. Maybe my, at times, bombastic personality is like shooting an air ball from half court only to have the ball go clear over the backboard. I'm zeroing in on my personality target.
I'm getting closer and closer every time i step in front of an audience. That audience is the handful to over 50, at times ~ mostly college students ~ who come to my group fitness classes. I'm not sure this character actually exists, but I feel like a cross between a college professor, a personal trainer and stand up comedian when I'm leading a class. I feel highly confident, I don't take myself too seriously, I explain what muscles the exercises are working and i even tell the occasional (bad) joke, make a (bad) pun, use sound effects and I've even been known to bark and/or growl, encouraging the class to do the same.
I suppose it's a bit different than most aerobics teachers' techniques, many of whom yell, count every move (that would drive me crazy) and sometimes worry too much about how they look doing the moves. My guess is aerobics teachers learn from other aerobics teachers and copy their techniques and choreography. But since I've never taken aerobics classes I come with a different style. (That style could be called Ignorance.)
In many respects I approach group fitness as if it's stand up, part monologue, part lecture, dynamic motivation and encouragement as if I'm rooting for my children telling them, they can do it! (They'd better do it!) I've coaxed push ups out of women who've never done them in their lives. A woman who comes to one of my classes just turned 70 and she's knocking out push ups like Rocky Balboa! (Second appearance for this story.)
Honestly, I get such a rush out of leading these classes i can't tell whether that rush is from being the center of attention or from the exercises. (Shhhh, maybe a little bit of both.) I think that rush spills over into the audience too. I can see that they are getting a good workout and i try to make sure everyone is safe too; not working too hard, etc.
I "opened" at SJU a while back to a very appreciative audience. They hadn't heard any of my jokes or wise cracks yet, the ones I've tested on Temple & USP; they hadn't done french fries either ~ french fries is a hit record!
Ha, that second grade Thanksgiving play still messes with my psyche. My nerd years in West Philly, my maturation in Overbrook Park and my birth of cool in Center City, I think about them and smile. I've left those days behind me and continue to evolve, but all those little parts of me are still inside. I wasn't such a big hit on the elementary school stage, but I've decided that stage was far too small for me. I'm performing on the life stage these days, two shows at Temple Mondays and Tuesdays, with matinees those days at the YMCA and 12th Street Gym; a single show Wednesdays at USP and two shows on Thursdays at SJU and 12th. Sometimes I get a round of applause at the end of the class and I blush - still, what i really enjoy is the laughter when I make historical references to torture and/or slasher flicks.
An educated group is my best audience.
PS: Between the time I wrote this and the time I posted it, I apparently offended a "customer" with one of my action anecdotes. While the rest of the customers were cracking up when i hit them with the punch line, one put her stuff down and walked out. I knew I'd hear about it and i did. I also knew I'd write about it, and I did... here it is... another hit record.
Bajai Fitness: #22109
Bajai Fitness: #22109
by KC Bajai CPT (Fitness Nerd)
This was actually written for my students/clients but my friends can probably benefit from this info as well...
There are three things people notice right away when they come to one of my GX Classes, 1) I'm a smart ass - I don't, and can't deny it, 2) I talk a lot. I'm not just there counting our reps, I'm telling you why we do what we do. 3) I'm a badass!! I believe in pushing the body beyond what YOU think it can do. You think you can't do push ups I say try. A lady in one of my classes was cranking out push ups on her 70th birthday... NO KNEES!!!
What you might not immediately figure out is that I care about your health and fitness. I'll give you all the information and resources I can think of to help you achieve your goals. Just because i do it in a smart-ass style, doesn't mean I don't care. You might also miss the fact that I'm a fitness nerd - my face is buried in books about weight training, martial arts, aerobics, nutrition, fads and trends. While you're downloading music, I'm downloading fitness videos. I stay up late at night watching fitness informercials and trying to figure out how the exercises done on these gadgets can be adapted to the class. I literally dream about fun and functional ways to lead a class that will not just educate you, but entertain you as well.
With this in mind, here's the latest (first of this year) essue of Bajai Fitness.
Most of what's in this "blog" I've been espousing to classes since i started, this time I've pulled some clips from an issue of On Fitness Magazine (www.onfitnessmag.com).
K-C Told you so....
The Back!!
1. The Latissimus dorsi are the biggest upper body muscles! This is why we worth them before we work the chest. These muscles are help us achieve that V shape that's so appealing.
Spot (Fat) Reduction
2. You can't spot reduce... but, the closest thing to it is, pounding your thighs and butt during a strenuous workout! when you do this the muscles will feed off of the nearest source of fat for energy. Fat is stored in two places primarily, between the skin and muscles. Hill running, high stepping, jumping & lifting creates an immediate need for energy - it will grab the fat that's "on location." When you burn fat this way, your legs will become tighter and trimmer!
Cortisol the Stress Hormone can help Burn Fat
3. The same hormone, cortisol, that promotes fat storage in the abdominal area, can help burn fat when combined with HGH, testosterone & adrenaline. These hormones synergistically work with cortisol to encourage fat-burning, NOT FAT STORAGE! This is why we keep the intensity levels high. This is why we do intervals in abs class!
Breast Enhancement & Exercise
4. Gyms have abs and butt classes, leg-specific classes, but I've yet to see an exercise class called Breasts and Busts! This is such a sensitive area (particularly in terms of body image) that no one wants to tackle it, so I sneak it into classes in a uncharacteristically PC way, for me anyway... but here's some important info for you, "Bench pressing will not bulk up a woman. a woman will have more uplifted breasts from chest workouts, along with firmer, trimmer and more attractive shoulders." So let's stop using the "I don't want to look like a line backer" excuse when I encourage you to bench or do push ups. One day a week of chest exercises will make you both more attractive and more confident - it will also make you stronger & better able to repel the unwanted advances your new look will attract.
OK... this is all you get this month. Digest it and hyperactivate it. Make this a part of your life style.
Remember my classes are about "SPACERB"
Strength
Power
Agility
Coordination
Endurance
Reflexes/Reaction Time
Balance
Last question - Should I bother making a Fan Page on Facebook???
PS I made the page anyway... it's under "Bajai Fitness"
Saturday, February 14, 2009
What It's Like for a Girl
Bajai Kulture 9.2:04
What It's Like for a Girl
by K-C Bajai
From 1995 to about 1997 I became an honorary lesbian. Certainly by now we've all heard or maybe even used the "lesbian trapped in a man's body" bit. Back then it was new (at least newer than it is now.) I hung out and became friends with and observed and listened to the girls. This experience cemented the idea in my head that there is always a dominant and submissive member of every relationship. I also realized that female/female relationships can and often are just as abusive as male/female relationships. The personalities and attitudes are the same, only the anatomy is different. This isn't to negate the positive aspects of same sex relationships, it simply emphasizes that grass is just as green (or brown) on both sides of the proverbial fence.
While I was in my honorary lesbian phase (I've since learned that there's no resigning such an honor) I seem to have tapped into to my Yin - my feminine side. Now boys, don't go thinking you've got a chickie-boy over on your side of the fence to play with. Don't confuse gentleness for homosexuality. I still love the ladies. I'm not trying to screw my bolts into other bolts. Nonetheless, as I've tapped into a more sensitive part of my psyche, women have responded, in good ways and at times, in ways that have made me uncomfortable.
"How does it feel," one female friend of mine responded when i confided to her about an unwanted kiss. She had obviously been slipped an unwanted tongue a time or two when a cheek was offered too.
I have no problem with sexual tension karma coming my way - not even when it comes from men, I feel after my years of exploits I deserve it. Attention from (possibly) gay men is almost as big a complement as attention from women, hetero- or lesbian. I'm most likely to follow up with the latter - sorry guys, you can look, I'm flattered, but no touching.
So here's the story that all this background has led up to.
A short time ago in one of the gyms where I work, (I probably don't even need to name the place). I was about to hop into the shower. A guy was about to do the same across the aisle. We exchanged cordial words. Despite my penchant for innuendo and double entendres I wasn't sending out such word play - unless - I did say something about hoping not to have to take a cold shower. Uh oh!!
Anyway, I jump into my shower stall and pull the curtain, and shower.
When I'm done I open the curtain to find Mr. Tom peeping at me from his shower stall. He hadn't pulled the curtain all the way. I grabbed my towel and shut my curtain again and dried off. Then I wrapped the towel around me and walked back to my locker.
I was in serious relaxation mode. I had plenty of time before I needed to be anywhere so i wasn't moving very fast. I won't bore you with the details, this isn't a novel and I'm not being paid by the word.
Sitting on the bench separating my sweaty clothes from the clean ones I heard the rustle of a trash can liner, followed by some banging of the trash can. I looked up and over my shoulder and who do you think I see looking at me? That's right, Tom the peeping shower stalker. In a blink I could tell that he'd been standing there for a moment and when i looked his way (I didn't even look AT him, I was looking to see who was making that racket) he moved away as if he'd been caught with his fingers up his nose.
If a female were telling me this story I'd give the alleged stalker the benefit of the doubt; "well maybe he, this" or, "maybe he that," I'd say... and in the back of my mind I'm just thinking it's a series of coincidences. But maybe they're not. My senses have been honed in bad neighborhoods, military training, night clubs and various situations where erring on the side of caution is preferable to being caught with my pants down. Plus, it makes for a good story.
Like I say, I certainly don't mind being looked at. I've done my share of looking, leering, gauking, oogling. Sure, it's my artistic eye, my appreciation for beauty, my heterosexuality - I'm not trying to scare, anger or threaten the women I look at and I'm sure Mr. Peepers wasn't trying to rattle my ire either. Perhaps he liked what he saw and wanted to see more.
Hubba hubba.
So when Madonna sings, "Do you know what it's like for a girl?" My answer is still unequivically NO! But i have an idea, so i try to keep my dog on its leash. It's a balancing act between expressing a physical attraction, appreciation for beauty, biological desires, and the need to let you (her) know that I'm not going to hurt you.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Weight Loss and Body Contouring Secrets (Part II)
Bajai Kulture Vol 9.1:03
Weight Loss and Body Contouring Secrets (Part II)
Wednesday January 7, 2009
by K-C Bajai
Here we go again!!
Secret Number 6: Write it Down!! In the beginning you should write down everything you do, and everything you eat... even elimination! This will give you a clearer picture of you and how your body is working. You may not have to get carried away with it, however the more you write things down the more you will realize where you can make small changes in your life style that help you reach your goals. Write down how you feel after your first workout, what classes you're taking if any. Are you driving to work? Are there stairs you can walk up instead of an elevator, even one or two flights? How do you fel when you eat??
Secret Number 7: Do the Frequency! Minimum 30 minutes a day of exercise 3 to 5 days a week. Eat 5-6 small meals a day. Eat in decending order, larger meals early in the day, smaller meals as you get closer to sleep time. Multiply your body weight by 12 (sendentary) to 14 (mildly active) and that's the approximate number of calories you'll need per day. [This goes back to the education component, so i'm not going to get too deep into this now.]
Secret Number 8: Consult Professionals: I could easily hit you with the 1-800 number or some other sales pitch right here, but to be honest most of you couldn't afford me and I'd feel bad about charging my friends... (If you find me at the Y or 12th Street or Temple or USP and you have questions I'll try and help you.) Personally I don't think a person should have to pay an arm and a leg to get healthy, but this PT stuff is an industry and this industry charges me to keep my certifications up to date and stay CPR trained, etc. So us trainers have to cover our expenses. But it doesn't have to be me. If you have the funds to engage a trainer don't just do what he/she gives you to do, take the knowledge and use it. In my opinion there are three times a person needs a personal trainer: When they are just starting out or getting back into it; When they've hit a plateau; and when they wantto take it to that next level. Trainers provide knowledge, technique, caution and assistance.
Secret Number 9: Will remain a secret for now. This has to do with a bunch of numbers and calculations that are very individualized.
Secret Number 10: Which is not so much a secret, but a disclaimer. Consult your physician before starting your exercise routine. Make sure you are healthy enough to get healthier. When you do engage a trainer or join a gym you'll fill out a medical form that states you don't have any type of situation that can put you at risk of dropping dead on a treadmill. If you're a high risk "health seeker" you might be sent to you doc for a medical clearance. Don't use this as an excuse not to exercise, you'll more than likely just have to exercise moderately for a while.
Here are your ten "secrets" that will help you keep this, and possibly last year's resolution. I'll tell you straight away that I am an example of these "secrets" I've listed. I've been at this exercise lifestyle for a dozen years (a baker's dozen in April). I've incorporated every "secret" little by little and the changes have been no less than amazing. Beyond impressing my friends, I've also gained a great deal of control over my body, as far as muscle and weight control, as well as mind control in terms of eating discipline. I've also become a lot more educated about how the body functions.
Don't have 13 years to exercise 3-5 times a week for 30-90 minutes? Consider this, scientists have discovered evidence that a healthy lifestyle can slow the aging process. Spend the next 13 years active and healthy and it can earn you another 13 in healthy functional, fun, strong living. It sould be the difference between walking off the airplane and being wheeled out in a chair.
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