I always enjoy doing complex circuits. Essentially did a great one with MBodyStrength circuit routines last month and now doing them again with TT. I love metabolic strength circuits.
Seen a good friend do one yesterday and decided to do this as an off day routine. You dont need much - but they are definitely best done with a kettlebell or barbell.
Did a nice sweet short one today and had a blast with it. Topped that off with some core work.
I'm just enjoying working out again...Busy Dad here as you all know... But here I am, still exercising consistently, eating right as best I can - but I think I might have lost that psychological edge a bit..just going through the motions to no fail in the weight room. The good thing is, I hardly even gained any weight which is good.
Overtrain..undertrain...whatever it is - I'm just appreciating it all again...
Who likes to workout and get that pain and soreness the next day...nobody does. If you do...go get checked out at a mental health hospital. Jk!
But YOU HAVE TO ENJOY WHAT YOU'RE DOING OR THERE JUST ISN'T ANY JOY DOING THEM AT ALL.
Sometimes with some sole searching and re-tooling - the mental part comes around and you kind of find your old self again.
Back at it again tomorrow...
Andy
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
A Change Up
One thing I've been really struggling with is balancing my day with the kids now in school. Blogging has been pretty difficult too lately.
It's been a tough 5 weeks since the boys started kindergarten...Still learning the whole "time budgeting" thing with homework to contend with each weeknight. Shouldn't be too hard on ourselves in wanting our kids to get in a set routine Monday - Friday.
Right when you're used to getting things done at certain times of the day - here comes a curve ball 4 1/2 years later.
You either take the dive and face it full on...or just find excuses why you dont. And if you don't..man up and face the consequences.
I'll take the dive.
And just like exercise...you either just do it...or find excuses why you didnt. Bottomline: change programs up periodically. Too much of one thing isn't always the best answer for results.
I'm already contemplating if working out in the morning is still to my advantage with the kids schedules as they are...I'm already considering giving afternoon workouts a try once again before going home - at my work gym. My whole "get it done in the morning" thing is only because I dont have to think about working out when I get to work and I can spend time at home with my family in the afternoon.
We'll see...I did a 10 am workout today. I'm shooting for an early bird workout tomorrow.
a.
It's been a tough 5 weeks since the boys started kindergarten...Still learning the whole "time budgeting" thing with homework to contend with each weeknight. Shouldn't be too hard on ourselves in wanting our kids to get in a set routine Monday - Friday.
Right when you're used to getting things done at certain times of the day - here comes a curve ball 4 1/2 years later.
You either take the dive and face it full on...or just find excuses why you dont. And if you don't..man up and face the consequences.
I'll take the dive.
And just like exercise...you either just do it...or find excuses why you didnt. Bottomline: change programs up periodically. Too much of one thing isn't always the best answer for results.
I'm already contemplating if working out in the morning is still to my advantage with the kids schedules as they are...I'm already considering giving afternoon workouts a try once again before going home - at my work gym. My whole "get it done in the morning" thing is only because I dont have to think about working out when I get to work and I can spend time at home with my family in the afternoon.
We'll see...I did a 10 am workout today. I'm shooting for an early bird workout tomorrow.
a.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Nutrition is #1...
Still up...mind is thinking...so I decided to write up a blog about it.
No matter what you do in the gym...no matter how nutbaggy we all can get sometimes...in healthy fat loss there simply isn't in a secret pill...it's not in a supplement drink we get at GNC...it isn't a result of how much burpees you do or how heavy you can lift. Or even how long you stay in a gym and do crazy amounts of unnecessary exercises...
It's all in the diet. Exercise comes second. But they are both essential compliments of each other in the fat loss game.
Which leads me to these questions:
We may be doing everything right in the gym...but are we doing what we should be doing the next 24 hours after?
Are we drinking enough to replenish that water lost? Our body is about 55-60% water. Integrate hydration in your daily to do list. Too little is not good.
Are we eating the right macro's to nourish the body adequately? Or are we even simply eating enough for the body to sustain optimum functioning throughout the day?
Mostly, are we getting rest? Are we allowing our bodies enough rest during the week to allow our bodies ample recovery. You can be a Ferrari...but when you run out of gas - you will run out of gas.
Are we balancing everything in our life and incorporating healthier habits each day? I'm not perfect but the mindset is to always try to everyday.
It's all experience. I'm living proof that it can be done with the right mindset and attitude. I've been on the other side of this equation - and I know for a fact that obesity was probably the hardest thing to go through once in my life. The things I enjoyed as a teenager and young adult all went kapoof as I gained the weight...but by losing it I gained my life BACK.
If you want to lose fat and keep it off - it's clearly going to be your diet that's going to get you there - but exercise certainly helps your chances to get their quicker and feel even fitter.
Yes, you can transform your body simply by proper nutrition - but that's just not me. I love to exercise and it's engrained in me that as long as im healthy..I'm going to keep on doing it. Again, you'll look healthy only if you're eating right. I'm not one to listen to reason sometimes (except when the wife speaks) but follow what your heart says and do it safely.
Fat loss...its not complicated but it is hard and it takes alot of understanding how your body works. I keep learning something new everyday in this journey to no fail.
If you can figure out all this and have an open mind on how hard it is but willing to make those necessary changes in your life...and again by doing it gradually and not abruptyl - man, I guarantee you a positive change not only physically but also internally. But it's all about making that first step to make that change.
Make it happen...take that first step.
Andy
No matter what you do in the gym...no matter how nutbaggy we all can get sometimes...in healthy fat loss there simply isn't in a secret pill...it's not in a supplement drink we get at GNC...it isn't a result of how much burpees you do or how heavy you can lift. Or even how long you stay in a gym and do crazy amounts of unnecessary exercises...
It's all in the diet. Exercise comes second. But they are both essential compliments of each other in the fat loss game.
Which leads me to these questions:
We may be doing everything right in the gym...but are we doing what we should be doing the next 24 hours after?
Are we drinking enough to replenish that water lost? Our body is about 55-60% water. Integrate hydration in your daily to do list. Too little is not good.
Are we eating the right macro's to nourish the body adequately? Or are we even simply eating enough for the body to sustain optimum functioning throughout the day?
Mostly, are we getting rest? Are we allowing our bodies enough rest during the week to allow our bodies ample recovery. You can be a Ferrari...but when you run out of gas - you will run out of gas.
Are we balancing everything in our life and incorporating healthier habits each day? I'm not perfect but the mindset is to always try to everyday.
It's all experience. I'm living proof that it can be done with the right mindset and attitude. I've been on the other side of this equation - and I know for a fact that obesity was probably the hardest thing to go through once in my life. The things I enjoyed as a teenager and young adult all went kapoof as I gained the weight...but by losing it I gained my life BACK.
If you want to lose fat and keep it off - it's clearly going to be your diet that's going to get you there - but exercise certainly helps your chances to get their quicker and feel even fitter.
Yes, you can transform your body simply by proper nutrition - but that's just not me. I love to exercise and it's engrained in me that as long as im healthy..I'm going to keep on doing it. Again, you'll look healthy only if you're eating right. I'm not one to listen to reason sometimes (except when the wife speaks) but follow what your heart says and do it safely.
Fat loss...its not complicated but it is hard and it takes alot of understanding how your body works. I keep learning something new everyday in this journey to no fail.
If you can figure out all this and have an open mind on how hard it is but willing to make those necessary changes in your life...and again by doing it gradually and not abruptyl - man, I guarantee you a positive change not only physically but also internally. But it's all about making that first step to make that change.
Make it happen...take that first step.
Andy
Sunday, August 23, 2009
This is Tough!
Did a great Yoga workout which involved core work which was a really nice change given it only took 10 minutes to do.
It's been a tough 48 hours on this nutrition trail I attempted to follow for 7 days. Really stuck with my Vegan diet experiment for 2 full days...with no cheating at all - but I cracked this morning and ended up eating some lean turkey this morning for breakfast. But still trying to keep it close to Vegan as much as possible.
Surprisingly but as expected, I lost approximately 3 lbs of water weight. Whoopee.
I can resist the temptation of carbs for the most part but I can't resist NOT eating protein sources for prolonged periods of time. I know there are meal plans out there to utilize to stay on a Vegan diet and keep food interesting but my recipe's suck. I think I can't sustain it long enough to really make it work. I'm again back to the reality of that no matter what diet approach you choose - proper, sensible nutrition is what's important here. So I sort of dropped that experiment quickly unfortunately. What my body needs I just can't seem to go without - and that means oatmeal and some rice here and there. So yes, I failed the experiment unfortunately even if it was just some lean turkey I had this morning. Going Vegan was extremely difficult for me, but it really has helped some in re-directing my diet approach some here which is nice...it got me out of the rut of eating those bad unjustifiable carbs in between meals which is a good thing. I was falling in that trap occasionally...
So it's back to a new program tomorrow. Still contemplating on what but at least I wont be too worried whether I have enough in the tank to keep up with my exercise. It's possible to keep your energy up on a Vegan diet. I've read some of the great fitness people do it so I'm not shooting it down as it is probably the healthiest way to eat.
But --- we move on.
Have a good one!
It's been a tough 48 hours on this nutrition trail I attempted to follow for 7 days. Really stuck with my Vegan diet experiment for 2 full days...with no cheating at all - but I cracked this morning and ended up eating some lean turkey this morning for breakfast. But still trying to keep it close to Vegan as much as possible.
Surprisingly but as expected, I lost approximately 3 lbs of water weight. Whoopee.
I can resist the temptation of carbs for the most part but I can't resist NOT eating protein sources for prolonged periods of time. I know there are meal plans out there to utilize to stay on a Vegan diet and keep food interesting but my recipe's suck. I think I can't sustain it long enough to really make it work. I'm again back to the reality of that no matter what diet approach you choose - proper, sensible nutrition is what's important here. So I sort of dropped that experiment quickly unfortunately. What my body needs I just can't seem to go without - and that means oatmeal and some rice here and there. So yes, I failed the experiment unfortunately even if it was just some lean turkey I had this morning. Going Vegan was extremely difficult for me, but it really has helped some in re-directing my diet approach some here which is nice...it got me out of the rut of eating those bad unjustifiable carbs in between meals which is a good thing. I was falling in that trap occasionally...
So it's back to a new program tomorrow. Still contemplating on what but at least I wont be too worried whether I have enough in the tank to keep up with my exercise. It's possible to keep your energy up on a Vegan diet. I've read some of the great fitness people do it so I'm not shooting it down as it is probably the healthiest way to eat.
But --- we move on.
Have a good one!
Friday, August 21, 2009
Goin Vegan...
Yup..going semi-Vegan for a week. Im not one into diets and calorie counting but I want to give this a try for a week and see the effects of how a semi-vegan diet feels like. I say semi vegan because I will be eating some beef somewhere around day 4 or 5. Day 0ne started today and should end Thursday next week. I'm not a vegetarian by any means but I'd like to see what the effects of a vegan diet does relation to fat loss. Just got done with Week 4 of my mbodystrength program which I was only hoping to do for a full month which I did in it's entirety and to Mark and Marcus - great stuff guys! Can't wait to get on some of your newer programs here soon. Some of your BW stuff is fun too which I hope to try here as well.
So I have decided to take a moderate break for a week starting today and see how just by doing a semi vegan diet approach feels like. Might be doing some bw stuff, some yoga and some stretching here and there...so this should be an exciting experiment.
So yesterday afternoon, I did some shopping at the local grocery market and went down a list of things I'll be eating. No peanut butter...no rice...no eggs...no junk. Nothing in this diet has any of that so I'd like to see what happens.
7 days isn't that hard to do if you really want to put your mind into it...and effective last night before going to bed, I made a contract to myself that I was going to do this for 7 days.
The only downside is that I did do a workout today and quite honestly, I feel ok. It's only been day one...but I honestly dont think I can handle this for more than a week. I'm just not that good with staying consistent - especially when Im not eating much carbs here at all. I've been peeing like crazy all day!!!
Anyway...here's to a great weekend!
Andy
So I have decided to take a moderate break for a week starting today and see how just by doing a semi vegan diet approach feels like. Might be doing some bw stuff, some yoga and some stretching here and there...so this should be an exciting experiment.
So yesterday afternoon, I did some shopping at the local grocery market and went down a list of things I'll be eating. No peanut butter...no rice...no eggs...no junk. Nothing in this diet has any of that so I'd like to see what happens.
7 days isn't that hard to do if you really want to put your mind into it...and effective last night before going to bed, I made a contract to myself that I was going to do this for 7 days.
The only downside is that I did do a workout today and quite honestly, I feel ok. It's only been day one...but I honestly dont think I can handle this for more than a week. I'm just not that good with staying consistent - especially when Im not eating much carbs here at all. I've been peeing like crazy all day!!!
Anyway...here's to a great weekend!
Andy
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Hookin' Up with A Good Friend
Met with a Turbulence Training buddy of mine whom I met online at TTMembers.com. This guy is truly amazing. It was almost like a dream to have been able to actually meet in person someone I've always had been driven by when I met him online at the site about a year or so ago. A really great guy and very humble too.
Over the year or so that I've known him at the site - we've constantly been very supportive of one another in our goals and the like which always kept me motivated to do the right thing and not stray away from my goals. We occasionally would trade thoughts...but genuinely just being very supportive of one another over there was the kicker for me to keep doing what I was doing and still doing to this very day (you will find tremendous amount of support over there believe me).
That we were able to overcome our own obstacles and plateaus just through positive support alone really made a difference in both our transformations. He won 3rd place at a recent TT contest and is working on winning another one here soon hopefully with TT #5 which just officially finished yesterday (this guy is sporting a nice looking 6 pack btw!). He's looks great and to me - that's what this contest is all about: working on a defined goal and staying committed - not only for 84 days but for life. And that's what it should be all about.
The benefits of online social support truly makes a difference. It doesn't have to be online - just find support wherever and whomever you can get it from. That will be your ticket to keep that motivation and fire - because you simply can't do this alone. I honestly wouldn't be able to accomplish much of anything if I didn't get that support from my family and of course from friends - like Kerry and Ed - among others.
In less than one hour, we were able to mingle, talk (even though we were gasping for air most of the time) and still have a kick ass time doing a Turbulence Training workout. It was no surprise to me that everything I thought of him was validated in just less than one hour of hanging out with him. Really great guy.
Great workout today Kerry...Let's keep rockin it.
~ Andy
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Tabatas Session: BW Squats
Got up early this morning to finish up some homework for one of my son's kinder projects for school that was due this morning. I've noticed kindergarten education changed since I was a youngster! It's a bit more advanced nowadays than the way I remember it.
But that's a whole different story...anyway - Tabatas session today but I just didn't feel like I wanted to get a sweat session via tabatas this morning. So I packed my scrubs, left for work rather later than usual but managed to get to work on time! Talk about a photo finish.
Anyway, got home...called our local cable company for some new service...Maybe it's just me but don't you just hate it when you have to wait for ages before you can speak to a live person before you can get any progress done? Anyway, 5 minutes waiting already...I decided to go ahead with a quickbw routine and started doing alternating plyometric style step ups for 3 minutes on our staircase for a warm up and immediately jumped into a Tabatas session for some BW squats. I was going really down with my butt close to the floor and was just knocking them out all while holding our home phone in my hand and looking at the seconds going by as I was waiting for a live operator - so I was able to keep track of my 20 second work intervals to a tee as well as my 10 sec rests.
Damn...if done RIGHT - Tabatas can really work you up big time... I literally felt like my legs were all stiffed out after that session was over with. Didn't get an operator until 3-4 minutes after my tabatas session was over with. So talk about managing your time wisely...sometimes you just got to get it done no matter what. Took care of two things for the price of one in less than 20 minutes! I could have easily said screw it and just look towards tomorrow's kb circuit...but I would feel sooooo bad if I just skipped it today. So glad I didn't.
Just do it.
A.
But that's a whole different story...anyway - Tabatas session today but I just didn't feel like I wanted to get a sweat session via tabatas this morning. So I packed my scrubs, left for work rather later than usual but managed to get to work on time! Talk about a photo finish.
Anyway, got home...called our local cable company for some new service...Maybe it's just me but don't you just hate it when you have to wait for ages before you can speak to a live person before you can get any progress done? Anyway, 5 minutes waiting already...I decided to go ahead with a quickbw routine and started doing alternating plyometric style step ups for 3 minutes on our staircase for a warm up and immediately jumped into a Tabatas session for some BW squats. I was going really down with my butt close to the floor and was just knocking them out all while holding our home phone in my hand and looking at the seconds going by as I was waiting for a live operator - so I was able to keep track of my 20 second work intervals to a tee as well as my 10 sec rests.
Damn...if done RIGHT - Tabatas can really work you up big time... I literally felt like my legs were all stiffed out after that session was over with. Didn't get an operator until 3-4 minutes after my tabatas session was over with. So talk about managing your time wisely...sometimes you just got to get it done no matter what. Took care of two things for the price of one in less than 20 minutes! I could have easily said screw it and just look towards tomorrow's kb circuit...but I would feel sooooo bad if I just skipped it today. So glad I didn't.
Just do it.
A.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)
.jpg)
