Archive for the ‘Mostly Exercise’ Category

29 Oct

52 DC progress,…

Posted by Captdhd in 52 DC Challenge, Mostly Exercise. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

I’m not crushing this challenge though I’m feeling good about my start. All I have done since March has been to work. Exercise has included not much more then to walk or carry a golf bag. Not quite the same as pressing it at the gym.

Today (Tuesday) I had a great circuit, amazing how quickly it’s bouncing back. 600 weighted reps in my circuit today. I have a couple of 750 rep routines that I should be able to finish in 45 minutes each. I’ll alternate the routines through at least the end of this challenge.

I’m listening to system and working my way up. Thursday I’ll finish the 750 in the 45 minutes for the first time. Gotta start somewhere.

Here are my goals and what my post on Wednesday 10/30 will be.

My Goals

CE: 25/28/85
RT: 3/12
CT: 2/12
PG1: 6/45 50 push Ups @ day

RB

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29 Oct

Tomorrow I test,…

Posted by Captdhd in 52 DC Challenge, Health, Mostly Exercise. Tagged: , , , , .

5AM Work Out 10-23-12

Kickboxing last Thursday night, kickboxing Saturday morning, kickboxing again tonight. The routine is only 40 minutes or so but when Mother and I are done, man, we are dripping and feeling a bit used!

These routines are easy in comparison to the Tuesday/Thursday  5AM Rise & Shiners!

Ya Gotta Love It! It’s what we go for!

I got a little off track there,… I usually do not look forward to testing my vitals but this week I’m actually anticipating some good numbers. Last week I had missed my meds on Monday night so my glucose numbers were off on Tuesday morning, 206, wicked poor.  The good though is that my blood pressure is down to a more manageable range.

Last Tuesday after a tough 5AM circuit I posted a 119/72/59HR, frigging amazing for me!

Here are my 52DC numbers and All Out Fitness challenge numbers 2 weeks in;

    52 DC Goals

CE: 24/26/90   Clean Eats
RT: 4/15          Resistance Training events
CT: 6/15          Cardio Training events
PG1: Drive my fasting glucose below 130 (10/23/12 = 206)

    All Out Fitness 3 weeks in;

Lost an inch off my hips
Lost an inch off my stomach
¼ inch off my chest
¼ inch off my thigh
I’ve lost 4 pounds, 3 of which are from fat.

I feel like I’m doing well, though Nanc is doing better than that!

The exercise routines Mother and I have been involved in are spot on with our goals. Emily and Glen at All-Out Fitness are kicking our arse every time we go in. I would recommend this place to anyone.

If you go – be sure to wear your big boy panties,…. they are going to help me get where I need to be.

20 Oct

One week, more or less, into the challenge(s),…

Posted by Captdhd in 52 DC Challenge, Health, Mostly Exercise. Tagged: , , , , , .

You know I’m kind of liking the Two-Fer here! My body does not recover any more quickly after my workouts though I’m getting double the credit for my pains! At least that’s the way I see it.

Into the first weekend with the Men’s Health 52 Day Challenge my numbers out of the gate are pretty decent, at least exercise wise. I’ll test my sugar on Tuesday morning after a workout.

My Goals

CE: 5/6/90 (5 Clean Eats of 6 possibilities, 90 of a possible 104 is my goal)
RT: 2/15    (resistance training)
CT: 1/15    (cardio training)
PG1: Drive my fasting glucose below 130

The “All out Fitness” Challenge is what is really keeping me disciplined. I mentioned in my prior blog post that it is a “Biggest Loser” type challenge that’s taking place at a fitness center just about ½ a mile from my home.

Mother and I joined this group recommended to her by one of her friends. We both joined and have keeping each other in check with this one. The kickboxing on Monday night is awesome; the 5 AM’s on Tuesday and Thursday are kicking my arse! We are sticking with it.

I have no designs that I will win this challenge thing but I know I’m going to be better off for taking part.

Capt’n

6 Oct

Discovered Kick Boxing today and I love it!

Posted by Captdhd in Mostly Exercise. Tagged: , , .

Wow! What a great workout! It wasn’t so killer but I think the leader took it easy on the class this morning, knowing that there were a few greenies miserably out of sync shaking their stuff!

I’m sure that I’ll be finding out just why they call the place “All Out Fitness” real soon though!

Ahhhhh,… it’s been about a month or so since my Wife first mentioned to me something about a “Biggest Loser” type challenge that would be starting today (Oct 6th). She talked about how one of her friends had been involved in past challenges at “All Out Fitness” and had posted some super results.

Mother was really high on doing this and doing this together, we could motivate each other.  Today was the official signup and opening session, we were there.  We were two of the greenies, terribly out of sync and shaking our stuff! It wasn’t puuurty!

Being the tracking/numbers geek I am; during today’s routine I registered a peak heart rate of 143 and an average of 102 over a 45 minute opening session. That’s not too bad for me but I’m thinking that I would like to see the average creep up to 110-115. Something tells me that won’t be much of a problem in the next session when the kid gloves come off!

The bonus; My Cardio Sessions for the next MH 52 DC just became a whole lot less boring!

Capt’n

23 Jan

Just a tweak or two,…

Posted by Captdhd in 52 DC Challenge, Mostly Exercise.

What I do in the gym is never going to be misconstrued as overly difficult.

There are guys (and gals for that matter) at my gym doing some pretty impressive things.  That’s not me however. I’m the low and slow guy on the corner matt doing alternating sets of sit-ups and core stabilizers with a 25 pound plate.

Today I added a twist to a couple of my regulars.

During my 3rd set of 20 weighted sit-ups (I hold a 25lb plate about an inch off my forehead) I drop back to about the 70 degree position or so, hold for a second then do an overhead (or more so) a chest press with the plate, then back to the top and with no hesitation go into the next rep. It just adds that one more degree of stress I do like.

Today I did the last set of 20 this way then added an additional 12 for a total of 72, 32 with the press. I may need to stick to sets of 12 or 15 instead of 20 because the heart rate runs into the mid 140’s. I need to stay under 140.

I like BOSU push-ups, I like decline push-ups, so today I combined them.

3 sets of 20 alternated with wide stance prisoner squats.

Again, I’ll have to watch the heart rate until I get more use to them. One more time, it adds that extra little stress to the move. I feel in my shoulders tonight.

The routines and the perimeters I’m working inside seem to be doing the job.  I do like to mix em up.

8 Jan

Pickin up a few old moves,…

Posted by Captdhd in 52 DC Challenge, Mostly Exercise. Tagged: .

It's Not Me!

It’s a perfect form BOSU plank. It’s the only picture on Google that I could find that showed someone doing one.

I Like Em! Do enough reps and hold them for a long enough time and they work to beat the fat out of your midsection. I’m a believer.

 

 

Again, Not Me!

 

This 52DC has had me looking back to a few of my older routines and I’ve been pulling a handful of exercises that I use to perform though for some reason or another left out of newer circuits. Tomorrow’s resistance circuit includes Weighted Bulgarian Split Squats, I’ll be a little gimpy for a day or so but they will end up doing me good

30 Dec

Dialing in my 52DC workouts,…

Posted by Captdhd in 52 DC Challenge, Mostly Exercise. Tagged: , .

January 3rd, it’s back to work.

January 4th, it’s Men’s Health 52 Day Challenge Time (52DC). I’m near dialed in and ready.

(Check this link for what the Men’s health 52 DC is; http://forums.menshealth.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/4551080985/m/9551009947  You might just choose to join, you are very welcome to. )

 

I really like these exercise and diet based challenges. They are personal in nature though there is a great camaraderie that develops on the forum as the challenge progresses. The Folks are super supportive. Take a look, the challenges are a lot of fun and the added bit of accountability is a great motivator.

 

Lately I have been working to dial my exercise circuits in for this challenge.

I have been experimenting with my cardio and with three different resistance routines. When leaving the gym I feel like I’ve been challenged by each. I recover well and by allowing a day between lifting I feel as though I can sustain what I am doing now for the duration.

First things first, I need to limit my workouts to 1 hour or less. No more 90-120 minutes. My body will talk to me in the case an hour is too much on days. Even if I’m feeling real good, an hour’s an hour. I have pushed too hard in a couple challenges and it didn’t work out well.  

When performing Cardio I will walk, jog, workout on an elliptical, treadmill, what have you, so long as I keep my heart rate around 115 while performing steady rate cardio or range between 100 to 130bpm while doing interval.

For resistance training I will be respecting my doctor’s order to limit myself to 50 pounds. 50 pounds might not seem like a lot of weight and it’s not by most regard though I invite you to workout with me some day, any day, I will show you how you can make 50 pounds hurt.

An Ideal workout will be 400 – 500 weighted reps, peak per set of 140bpm heart rate, rest to 100bpm before starting the next set. Each of the three circuits I have written up consume about an hour.  

I have three total body circuits written out that I will be rotating. My plan is to lift on Monday-Wednesday-Friday, Cardio on Tuesday & Thursday. I’m going to leave the weekends open initially. 

I’ll post the circuits in future blogs with the spec’s.

Now, I have to go to work dialing in a diet that I can actually stick to!

28 Dec

A fresh new year ahead,….

Posted by Captdhd in Health, Mostly Exercise.

I should be the last old fat guy in the world to be doling out exercise advice but I’m going too anyway!

This tends to be that time of year where the gyms get overrun with new memberships though by the first of February the enthusiasm seems to have eked out of the air and things get back to the dull roar of normal. That is just too bad!

For you, if you are inclined to make exercising a resolution this year I hope you make it over the start up chasm and make it a regular practice in your schedule. Your entire life will certainly benefit from it in so many ways.

Three years ago I was a virtual new-bee wandering into the gym for the first time in near 30 years. At the time 6 months post-surgery it was easy for me to start out slow and by doing so it made the lifestyle change to a reasonably regular exercise schedule adaptable.

If there is any one piece of advice I could offer it would be that you do just that. Start out slow, work up to a level that challenges you and allows you to meet your goals. You should be a bit sore but you shouldn’t be laboring to walk 2 days later. If you go in the gym and come away hurting yourself you are near 100% likely to fail. Your health is too important to not be doing something.

I have journaled my exercise and its effect on my general health, blood pressure, glucose numbers, weight, etc. since the start.  (maybe a second piece of advice there)  For the past couple of months I have added an extra observation to my workout notes. I have been adding a caption on how my previous routine has affected me physically, how do I feel right after, and also a day after. I’ve really been in search of my boundaries.  If I had any real brains I would have documented this aspect from the start as well.

Knowing what you can do is good, knowing what not to do is equally important.  More is not always better,  in fact sometimes “too much” especially “too quick”, can produce some pretty unhealthy results and breed some serious failure.

It’s a fresh new year with a new outlook, elect to do the gym, low and slow for starters, you will set yourself up for success. Your blood pressure and waistline will love you for it too!

14 Nov

TNT got me started,….

Posted by Captdhd in 52 DC Challenge, Mostly Exercise.

TNT, I hope you don’t mind if I feed off an Idea you gave me as I was reading your post of Nov. 14th. “Cable Push Pull rotation” http://tntman.wordpress.com/

In your post you talk about mixing up the exercises ever 4-5 weeks so as not to get bored. Makes good sense to me and if you follow any legitimate trainers’ advice they will tell you to keep your body guessing.  I follow that advice and for both mind and body.

Boredom, or as much so, the desire to add more impact to the moves had me change up a couple of my core 5 exercises recently. I wrote about it earlier on where I have added a curl to my weighted step ups and a chest press to my weighted Swiss Ball crunches.

The newest thing I have added is to alter my standard elevated chair dips. Lately I have been performing them with my feet extended on the top of an equal height Swiss Ball and my hands on a bench. A few sets of 20 reps each of these intensified moves adds some spice to a workout.

I really enjoy taking a standard move and see what I can do to add as much stress and inflect as much pain to the move as I can.  What do they call it a compound exercise? Not sure.

As part of this challenge I am performing 6000 reps. 4000 from 5 base exercises the remaining 2000 from “others”. Others include whatever I feel like doing at the time. Could be dead lifts, lat rolls, Russian twists, pullovers, chest flies, sumo squats, lunges, ….. I always pick at least two opposite exercises and then alternate sets.

The key for me is to write it into my circuit while in the locker room before hitting the floor. If I don’t write it in I do not do as good a job at picking an exercise. Then again, if I get a hankering to do something at some odd point during a routine, I just work them in. Box jumps for instance, I already have the stepper set up so why not!  

I may not be the most regimented guy when it comes to frequency to the gym, if I can show 3-4 times a week again I will be better for it. Cold is setting in and with being at the stoop of my off season it won’t be long before I will be lifting 5 times a week.

I’m with you TNT, I’ll find a handful of ways to keep it fresh. Thanks for getting me on the roll.

24 Oct

Experiment day at the gym,…

Posted by Captdhd in 52 DC Challenge, Health, Mostly Exercise.

I am constantly tweaking my exercises so as to get the most out of what I’m pretty sure won’t kill me.

40 pounds is my projected limit, no more than an hour or so or 600-700 reps per circuit. With a little creativity I am learning to put a hurt on most of my major muscle groups while still working inside my “Still Alive” perimeters.

Weighted Step ups and Weighted Swiss Ball Crunches are two of the staples of most every one of my Circuits. Today I threw a slight twist into each of them.

My weighted Step ups start with a stepper and 5 risers, a curl bar, 25lbs set 1 35lbs set 2, 45lbs set 3.  I use a standard underhand curl grip, I make sure my elbows do not touch my sides and perform the move while holding the bar with my arms at 90 degrees.

The weighted Swiss ball Crunches are pretty normal with the exception that I put the same curl bar of weight, hands close together, balance the bar on my chin and perform the exercise. I get a look every now and then, I’m sure I look like a dope. 

I stuff 20 BOSU Ball Push Ups in between the two exercises. 3 sets of each exercise, 20 reps per set.  180 reps total for this segment of my circuit. Takes about 20 minutes. I work it like a cardio routine where by the time I am done a set of 20 I am in the 140-150 heart rate range.  I let my hr level to around 110-115bpm before starting the next set. It’s a pretty good burn and after the 180 reps I’ve worked up a pretty good sweat, and I feel it. Though, I’ve been thinking about how to increase the intensity.

Today I added a curl to the Step Ups and a chest press to the Swiss Ball Crunches. It adds 20 more reps per set and really does the trick to increase the intensity of the exercise.

Now, if my arms don’t fall off before Wednesday I’ll call it the standard and finish out this challenge doing the exercises with the included new moves.

Before I left I experimented by using a Swiss Ball to perform a few sets of elevated chair dips. Certainly adds a little more intensity to this move too.

Good adjustments.

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