Regimen

I'm not gonna lie...

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:23:45 -0500

I cannot wait to get back to the gym.

If you’ve been paying attention, I’ve begun reading...

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:26:00 -0500

If you’ve been paying attention, I’ve begun reading In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. This book is packed with gems so far and I’m only a chapter in! It is challenging my perception of anything related to “nutrition”. I will post a review of the book until I’m finished reading it. In the meantime, lots of quotes.

"If you’re concerned about your health, you should probably avoid products that make health claims...."

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:16:44 -0500

“If you’re concerned about your health, you should probably avoid products that make health claims. Why? Because a health claim on a food product is a strong indication it’s not really food, and food is what you want to eat.”

- Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food, p. 2

"Maybe it’s time we confronted the American paradox: a notably unhealthy population preoccupied with..."

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:55:06 -0500

“Maybe it’s time we confronted the American paradox: a notably unhealthy population preoccupied with nutrition and diet and the idea of eating healthily.”

- Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food, p. 9

"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. That, more or less, is the short answer to the supposedly..."

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:24:49 -0500

“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. That, more or less, is the short answer to the supposedly incredibly complicated and confusing question of what we humans should eat in order to be maximally healthy.”

- Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food, p. 1

Breathe. Repair. Heal.

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:45:53 -0500

I am taking a break from the gym for the next 7 days.

I’ve been working hard at the gym for the last 3 months. With the exception of one week, I’ve determined to be in the gym at least 5 times a week. Sometimes 6 times a week.

I think it’s wise to take a break every several months from something in which you are invested. It’s also good to stop the pommeling of your body for just a minute and let it breathe/repair/heal. This week has been very unproductive for me at the gym, and it’s because I need a break. My body is telling me to take it easy, so I’m listening.

Reader Mail (from a male)

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:32:03 -0500

Nick Gray’s Tumblr is jam-packed full of good diet & exercise advice:

ALWAYS eat before you are hungry! If you are hungry then you will make bad decisions about what to eat. Like some people pre-game by drinking before a sporting event… I am always pre-eating, eating before I think I will be hungry. When I am hungry I get grumpy and I will eat anything - like pizza or bread - just to get rid of the hunger.

I’d guess that 85% of the time, I make a poor eating decision (or decisions) because I have let myself become too hungry. This can also have a domino effect. The rest of the time I am “cheating”, or it’s inconvenient because I have not planned ahead.

Headaches

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:29:53 -0500

Today marked the second day that sudden intense headaches have begun just after beginning my daily workout. The only thing I’ve added to the mix lately that is out of the ordinary is sugar-free Red Bull. I’ve had one a day for the past several days. I enjoy them quite a bit, but if something in them (Taurine??) is causing headaches, then it’s not worth it.

Thoughts or suggestions on this? Had similar experiences? Let me know.

Do Not Do Sit Ups to Lose Weight

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:13:35 -0500

oats:

Here’s a tip that everyone should know: If you want to lose fat around your stomach, DOING SITUPS WILL NOT REALLY HELP!
Instead, you need to change your diet. Start by eating the same things you eat now, just 5 times per day instead of 2 or 3. Once you get used to that, change your diet and eat healthier.
I operate on the premise that most people know what’s good and what is bad for them. Cheese cake? White bread? C’mon… you know.
I saw this HUGE huge heavy girl really doing sit-ups at the gym today. She was killing it - doing a great job, really - sweating and giving it her best. She even asked me for advice on her technique. (I didn’t have any advice - she had obviously done these before and was feeling the burn.)
But it doesn’t matter. She can do those every day and she is not going to lose fat. You can’t spot train. Like, doing bicep curls will not make my arms lose fat. You have to hack your metabolism first.

What really sums these 5 paragraphs up in 4 words is in the last paragraph: You can’t spot train.

Blisters

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:24:07 -0500

I have peeling blisters on my palms from pull-ups. Did Fran in 8:45. Improved from 9:30 two weeks ago. This exercise is challenging, and makes me realize how much work I still have to do before I am in peak “shape”.

Check out this guy, who does Fran in 2:19!

*Fran = 3 rounds, for time. 21, 15, and 9 reps. 95# thrusters and pull-ups. This exercise is part of a group of challenging exercises named after women. They originate from CrossFit.

hotnessinacan:So yummy.therealjanelle:myszka:Watermelon...

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:37:35 -0500

hotnessinacan:

So yummy.
therealjanelle:
myszka:
Watermelon Juice, A Recipe
-Insert frozen watermelon chunks into blender
-Blend (add some cold water to help the blades turn)
No need to wait for a special occasion—Give your mouth this gift today.

Another still from Pumping Iron. Look at the PACKED HOUSE in the...

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:37:36 -0500

Another still from Pumping Iron. Look at the PACKED HOUSE in the background. I would have loved to be sitting in that audience, watching Arnold at the height of his career.

The Oak. A still from the movie Pumping Iron.

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:35:05 -0500

The Oak. A still from the movie Pumping Iron.

Arnold - The Education of a Bodybuilder

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:34:01 -0500

I want to recommend a book.

Two summers ago, I read a book called Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder. At the time, I had just finished a program called Body-for-LIFE, and was becoming interested in bodybuilding, and what better source of information than The Oak?

Through learning about Arnold, the book inspired me to work hard and become focused on my goals, doing whatever it took to meet them (as Arnold did). If you’re interested in bodybuilding, health and fitness, or anything that you want to be intense about, read this book.

After reading it, watch the movie Pumping Iron and you will want to become a beast.

Workout Update

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:17:26 -0500

It’s been quiet here, but I’m still going strong at the gym. A friend of mine called me a “gym rat” today. I don’t think I’m a gym rat - I’m at the gym for maybe an hour a day, 5-6 times a week.

I weighed 216.4 lbs today. The lowest I’ve weighed since I began seriously training/dieting was 214.2 lbs, which was about 3 weeks ago. The reason I’ve stopped losing weight rapidly is because of my diet (pretty lax the last few weeks) and the fact that I’m getting closer to my ideal body weight and body fat. I’ve still got some body fat to shed, which will be difficult for me to do.

But, I enjoy pushing myself.

The Science of Appetite

Tue, 27 May 2008 13:19:18 -0500

The Science of Appetite:

This Time article reveals some of the truth behind hit TV show The Biggest Loser.

“But while the message of the show is inspiring, it is also unrealistic. […] Ryan Benson, 38, an actor who works for a DVD distributor in Los Angeles, lost 55 kg to win the first season in January 2005 but says he regained 14.5 kg within five days simply by drinking water. ”

Workout Update

Sun, 18 May 2008 09:52:05 -0500

I’ve been spending time sprinting at the outdoor high school track near my gym. Sprinting is about as intense as it gets in terms of heart rate (which I monitor during my workouts). I will go to the track and sprint 110 meters three or four times. It takes me about 15 to 20 seconds (this is a very rough estimate. I haven’t timed it. I’m not breaking any records here).

After sprinting, my knees start to get really sore. My workout buddy suggested that my hamstrings are underdeveloped, so I am going to be working on this over the next few weeks.

I still weigh approximately 215 lbs. My goal for May was to reach 205 lbs, but as my body fat decreases it becomes more difficult to lose body fat. However, my diet has not been what it has the last two months. My meals are great during the day, but at night time (as the grilling season begins) food and social events are plentiful. For example, I’ve eaten pizza the last two nights!

A photo example of a Paleolithic diet for 1 day.

Thu, 08 May 2008 22:26:40 -0500

A photo example of a Paleolithic diet for 1 day.

Today's Workout

Thu, 08 May 2008 22:18:00 -0500

Today I weighed in at 215.6lbs and completed the following workout:

21 thrusters (65lb/barbell), 21 Pull-ups (25lb assistance), 400m run
15 thrusters (65lb/barbell), 15 pull-ups (25lb assistance), 300m run
9 thrusters (65lb/barbell), 9 pull-ups (25lb assistance), 500m rowing
500m rowing

This exercise took me approximately 35 minutes.

"In Andy McNab’s bestseller Bravo Two Zero, a book about a famous British SAS mission in Iraq, the..."

Fri, 02 May 2008 15:32:00 -0500

“In Andy McNab’s bestseller Bravo Two Zero, a book about a famous British SAS mission in Iraq, the commandos use the term “hard routine” to describe their mindset, focus, and seriousness when at work. When they step into an actual mission, crossing the line of departure, they say that they go on the “hard routine.” From that moment on, the rules are strict, the focus is singular, and all available resources are brought to bear with an intensity that is necessary for success. When they’re on the hard routine, there is no room for selfishness, indulgence, compromise, or distraction.”

- CrossFit Journal, Issue 69