Moving On---

After returning from my trip, it became clear that I needed a change-up.  So, I will be redesigning my blog and the concept for my blog.  It will still be fitness-oriented but will not contain my week-to-week workouts necessarily but will have more of my thoughts regarding workouts, techniques, etc.  or not!  So, until then (about 2-4 weeks) there will be no entries.  Talk with you soon.

Reading Todd Durkins Book

I am currently reading not only Men's Health Power Training but Todd Durkins Impact Plan.  All have very sound programs but I don't like following them to the "t" so I will incorporate the two programs somewhat taking what I like about each.  I will be previewing this in the next couple of posts but I will be traveling next week and using it (as I mentioned in a previous post) as an unloading phase.  When I return, I will probably use some of the periodization from the Power Training book and add the joint mobility and stretching aspects of the Todd Durkin book.  The Ki Hara stretching is still on my list of to-dos but I haven't brought it into my workouts as fully as I would like--this is what happens when you have many good ideas--fitting them all in at the right time. 

Ki Hara Resistance Stretching

I was reading some literature and they referenced Ki Hara Resistance Stretching (Dara Torres is an advocate) and thought I would give some of the stretches a try.  Although there is a DVD you can buy, I watched some of the videos on YouTube and was able to put together a short routine.  Because this is new, I decided to incorporate one or two stretches to my normal stretching and then as I got accustomed to them at some others.  What I found difficult was how they managed to hold their legs (I started with hamstrings) in such a way to provide both resistance and stretching.  I have decided to work on that aspect until I feel confident I am doing it correctly.  I find it helpful to not only view a number of YouTube videos around certain techniques but to also check out some of the professional literature on each of them.  Regardless, you still have to try all the moves and make adjustments as necessary for your comfort level.

My 3rd Workout is a Circuit

My third workout in this series is a circuit adapted from Men's Health that is 30 seconds of work/15 seconds of rest.  This is actually the hardest workout because I am doing similar moves as in the complexes and using the higher weights and each exercise will yield a different number of repetitions because of the timeframe:

• DB Straight Leg Dead Lift
• DB Plank Row
• DB Front Squat
• DB Push Press
• DB High Pull
• Cross Body Mountain Climber
• Split Squat (L/R)
• DB T-Pushup
• Reverse Lunge and Twist (L/R)
• DB Bent Row

I just wing the Tabata warm-up based on the exercises I will be doing in the circuit.  I will do this group of exercises for the next few weeks, ending on April 29th.  I will then take a week off for unloading as I am traveling to Ohio and won't have gym facilities and will be doing a bodyweight/tabata cardio strength training workout.  When I return from Ohio, I will start doing some of Robert Dos Remedios Power Training which includes some periodization.

Cardio Weight Training Complex - Barbells

As noted previously, I developed my own complexes for this next set of workouts.  The barbell complex consists of the following:

• Bent Row
• Romanian Dead Lift
• Snatch
• Push Press
• Forward Lunge
• Good Morning
• Squat

I can lift more weight with the barbells, so once I get to the 12 rep complex I will flip the barbell and dumbbell exercises.  The Tabata warm-up was:

• Hop (forward and back)
• Single Leg Dead Lift (L/R)
• Mt. Climber
• Static Squat (in/out)
• Bulgarian Split Squat (L/R)
• Lateral Ski Jump

Some of my moves have been taken from Rachel Cosgrove's book The Female Body Breakthrough.  I just purchased Todd Durkin's book as well as another of Coach Dos's books to see if I can bring other items to my workout.  I looked at other books at Borders but didn't find anything else of interest (ordered them on Amazon).

Developed My Own Dumbbell Complex

Based on what I know I developed my own dumbbell complex (see example of a complex below).  The push-press is a transition move I use in the the complex to bring the weight from front to back.  Here is my complex (I did 3 rounds @ 6 reps and increased from the bar only +2.5 lbs + 5.0 lbs):

• High Pull
• Split Squat (each leg)
• Front Squat
• Clean
• Reverse Lunge
• Push-Press
• Deadlift

I need to work on speeding up the complex; I am leaving the weight the same for the next barbell workout but will increase repetitions to 8 and decrease my rest time.  My dynamic warm-up is a Tabata series of 6 exercises for 4 rounds (20/10) for a good 12 minute warm-up:

• Jump Squat
• Hip Extension/Bridge (L/R)
• Plank Walk-Up
• Split Squat (L/R)
• Explosive Step-Up (only as high as my stairs at home)
• Overhead Squat 

All of these exercises can be done at home within a space of 10 x 10 so the basement is where I will be!

Using Modified Tabata for Dynamic Warm-Up

I decided I needed to start working on being more creative with my workouts.  This week I am going to use some modified Tabata workouts (ones I developed for home use) as a dynamic warm-up sequence.  Each routine has 6 exercises that I go through 4 times = 12 minutes of a dynamic warm-up.  This way I get to warm-up quickly and try out routines that I will be using at home.  Additionally, I purchased some inexpensive travel speakers to I can hook up my MP3 player and listen to my MotionTraxx mixes in the basement and not blow my eardrums out with those tiny ear buds while I do these new home workouts.  Luckily, I can use the steps to the basement for lots of the moves; I don't have a step at home so any movements over a step I have had to replace with something similar.  I will introduce a modified Tabata each week over the next couple of weeks.  I have also developed a couple of new complexes on my own using both dumbbells and barbells and added a circuit to round out my 3 day a week schedule. 

Fitness Training Requires Individual Experimentation

I was reminded by a fellow forum member that everyone responds differently to training--more so as your gains become increasing harder to achieve.  Some strategies my work for me and my goals, but the same strategies would be horrible for someone else.  This means that whatever someone suggests should be viewed within the vision you have for yourself.  Right now, I focus on weight consistency and increasing my lean muscle mass but others may need to focus on balance and range of motion.  Any or all are great but no one else can prescribe what you may need.  I have found going to much heavier weights and lower repetitions more successful for my desires while my training partner goes the opposite for hers.  Keep in mind that when I share my exercise programs or ideas, it isn't doesn't mean I think everyone should be doing it -- I just want to let folks know how it has worked for me.  I tend to vacillate between multiple workout techniques and programs that many of you might think I don't have anything better to do!  Alas, it may be true.  Check in tomorrow for my newest workout and continued commentary.

March Madness

Not the NCAA but me being MIA!

March 2011.mp3

New Venture--Lake Barcroft Fitness

I have been writing columns for the Lake Barcroft Newsletter and have been asked to provide a way for folks to connect and network around their fitness.  I provided 3 walking (or running routes) and have embedded them in my site (for now).  I am still deciding which online software I prefer for the routing and networking.  This will all depend on how many residents respond to the article and whether we can also incorporate our efforts on the Lake Barcroft website and promote participation through Lake Link.  It should be an interesting experiment!

Pistol Squat Goal and New Kettlebell Workout

This week I am working on the third installment of the Beginner Kettlebell Workout (see below).  Additionally, I have started my training for the pistol squat (one-legged squat).  Whether I accomplish this goal is immaterial but the progression toward the goal is a great off-day workout after my walk-runs.  It doesn't require weights and I have steps that can be used for the step-up portion of the workout.  I will keep you posted on my progress and talk about this on my monthly podcast.

There Isn't Any "Magical" Food

It seems to me that everyone is looking for a food (or drink) that will magically help you lose weight.  The most recent entry in this competition is green tea.  My guess is that green tea is probably better to drink than most options, but I doubt it is what will "make or break" your weight loss efforts.  There isn't one element to a weight management program that makes it work; it is a combination of elements that make it work.  There are common elements to any weight lose/maintenance program -- burn more calories than you eat, eat balanced meals, journal your food intake -- that usually lead to success.  Additionally, each individual can find some unique ways of using these "common" elements to their best advantage because of their lifestyle, personality, motivation, etc.  It amazes me that individuals would prefer to defer this process to someone or something else rather than be accountable for what they decide to eat.  Drinking green tea isn't going to the be answer, no matter what the research.  You have to look at each decision you make and how it effects the results you want -- green tea doesn't really have much more effect than drinking water (and the cost is higher as well!) so why waste your time and money when it would be better just to take a walk?

Switch Up to Kettlebell Workouts

Last week and this week I did another beginning kettlebell workout - see workout 1 in the sidebar and workout 2 in this post.  I am finding that I need to have to do heavier weights with the kettlebells to get the cardio work I need.  There is a tipping point where the effort to stabilize the kettlebell makes the whole movement more exhausting.  My problem is that I am wary of starting with too much weight and by the time I progress to a more challenging weight, I want to move on to another workout.  So, I will take better notes and start any other program with a weight just below my ending weight from the previous program.  Since I change up quite a bit, my starting weights should end up being challenging from the beginning.  Note:  I will be posting comments I make on other forums (such as AARP, Power Bar, Fitness, etc.) to break up the tedious nature of reviewing my workouts--it bores me sometimes!  After another week of kettlebell training, I think I am going to return to complexes and make up my own to address my specific needs.

What Is It You Want To Accomplish?

Every day I watch people working out -- to what end?  If it's weight management, then some of the workouts seem ridiculous--too much machinery and gimmickry (BOSU, kettlebell, Swiss Ball, bands, etc.).  Simple body weight exercises (otherwise known as calisthenics) and some kind of moderate cardio (walking, biking, jogging, etc.) plus decreasing calories is sufficient to start.  If my personal trainer started to give me exercises that would ultimately require me to stay enrolled at a gym rather than transition to my home, I would be suspect.  The average person isn't training for a competition, they are training for life and what better way to train than with normal, daily activity?  If your interests run to sedentary pursuits (reading, watching TV, knitting, etc.) then you want to do the bare minimum so you can, at least, do activities of daily living (cooking, cleaning, dressing, bathing, etc.) and possibly respond to an emergency (climbing out of a window, running for help, etc.) without difficulty and have healthy "numbers" (blood pressure, cholesterol, heart rate, etc.).  If you have more active pursuits such as gardening, weekend sports, or hiking you may need to be more specific in your workouts but not by much--all these activities are done primarily with your own body weight, so you don't really need more than that to train.  Additionally, you can use different techniques to make body weight exercises more difficult.  The bottom line is -- you have everything you need right at home and within your ability if you want to get in better shape!

Final Workout #6 for this Series-Timed Sets

Again, 40/20 work/rest for the following exercises:

• Plank Splits
• Plank Walk Up to Push Up
• Rotational Dumbbell Straight Leg Dead Lift
• Burpee
• Jump Squat
• No Tabata
• Cardio-final interval at level 12 for 10 rounds (60/60)-will begin 11 rounds next week and probably decrease rest to 45 seconds (if I can make it through).

Workout #5 Supersets-Last Time!

Staying with the Superset theme for this workout, I used the following exercises:

• Forward Lunge/Lat Pull Downs
• Bulgarian Split Squats/Push Ups
• Dumbbell Push Press/Cable Rows
• Tabata-Mt. Climbers
• Cardio-Level 12, 60/60 on stairclimber

I am doing morning and evening yoga - and some walking on the off-days.  I haven't developed my spring training for off-days yet so they are not officially structured.

Workout #4 Supersets

For the second week of workouts, I am using the other two from Men's Health (originally a 4-day workout but I modified it for my own purposes) plus my a timed set for the Spartacus Workout.  On Monday, I did the following workout (supersets, 3 sets, progression 10-8-6, increasing weights each set) + 1 finisher and then cardio intervals.

• Squat/Dumbbell Bent Row
• Deadlift/Barbell Push Press
• Inclined Push-Ups/Pull-Ups (gravitron)

Tabata: Plank Splits followed by 60/45 intervals at level 12 for 10 rounds.  I have been struggling with my weight of late and will be food journaling over the next weeks to figure out the issue before it gets out of hand.

Workout #3 Timed Sets

This is a 20 minute workout based on the Spartacus Workout at Men's Health.  There are 5 exercises and you go through this circuit 4 times.  Each exercise is done for 40 seconds followed by a 20 second rest.  The hardest part is estimating a load you can do for the 40 seconds that is not too easy.  The exercises are:

• High Pull
• Offset Dumbbell Reverse Lunge
• Single Arm Dumbbell Swing
• Thrusters
• Single-leg, single-arm underhand-grip dumbbell row

Since these were timed sets, I didn't do a Tabata at the end.  This was the last 60/60 interval at 9 rounds; I go up to 10 rounds next week (will top out at 12 rounds and then start all over again at the next level on the stair climber).  The weather is getting better so I hope to get back to a more consistent walk/run on off days and I am developing some of my own bodyweight Tabatas for home use.   I will also be working on perfecting both the Turkish Get-Up and the Pistol squat over the next few months.  A new video is in the side bar.

Hybrid Workout #2

Since I don't have a complete video for my workout, I will feature exercises on my sidebar throughout the week.  Workout #2 follows:

Dynamic Warm-Up
Supersets in the same manner as my previous workout:

• Front Squat/Chin Up (assisted)
• Step-Up/Push-Up
• Barbell Push-Pull/Face Pull

Tabata Side Lateral Step
Same cardio but progressively doing shorter rest intervals
Static Stretching

Hybrid Workout for the Next Few Weeks

As mentioned in my podcast, the amount of information about fitness and workouts specifically is enormous so I try to stay with just a couple of sources.  Even then, it is overwhelming.  So, to keep from getting behind the the collection of information, I will start doing "hybrid" workouts--a combination of 2 or more structured workouts--to maintain my interest.  With that in mind, the following workout is a combination of 1) Lose the Last 10 pounds (Men's Health) workout, 2) Spartacus Workout (again, Men's Health), 3) Finishers/Tabata (Dos Remedios, Ballantyne, Cosgrove), and HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). 

Workout A (was done on Monday)
Standard 3 sets, repetitions decreasing 10-8-6 with increasing weight.  Finish each superset before going to the next one:

• Dumbbell Split Squat/Forward Lunge
• Barbell Romanian Dead Lift/Dumbbell Push Press
• Push Up-Plank Walk Up/Chin Up (assisted)
• Finisher - Step Up Tabata Style (20 seconds of work/10 seconds of rest for 8 rounds)
• Cardio-Stair climber, Level 12 60 seconds rest/60 seconds work for 9 rounds

I worked on pushing heavier weight and it makes a big difference on the workout.  I have become a little complacent with pushing myself on the weights.  The Tabata routines or timed sets are helpful in doing this but if I don't make the right weight choice, it can be a wasted workout for muscle growth. 

By the way, if anyone is checking out my blog, you don't have to have the same kind of workout I do to get results.  It depends on your fitness level.  I have be working out my whole life so it would make sense that I would be doing more advanced routines.  If you have just started, doing any physical activity at least 30 minutes a day is great!  Walking is the easiest and most convenient activity--don't worry about the weights or anything else, just get more active.  You will advance quickly and be able to do other things that may be of interest to you later.