Lower Body

Have a mentioned that the TBT lower body workout is just brutal? It's one of the hardest workouts I've done. It rules! Thanks, Coach Ilg.

A footnote

Those of you who do not believe that evil exists in this world need look no further than "comment spam."

Consult with Dr. Jen

Dr. Jen uses a technique called Nutrition Response Testing, which can pinpoint areas of weakness (either systemic or structural) through kinesiology. My baseline was that of a very healthy person. But more detailed testing showed problems in the sigmoid colon, and these she felt were related to issues of digestion of carbohydrates.

It was interesting. I'm not certain how I feel about that: in some ways it tracks, in others, it doesn't. But Jen knows her stuff, so I am giving her the benefit of the doubt.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Let me apologize in advance to thoseof you who live in Florida. But there were two observations that I just had to make:

1. There is just way too much litter. We went to Clearwater Beach our first day. Beautiful sand, warm water, and trash cans every 45 feet or so (seriously, there were like 10 between lifeguard huts). And yet there was trash everywhere. It was so sad. Sue and I walked the beach, and picked up trash as we went along. We didn't pass even one trash can that we didn't have something to put in.
2. There is way too much air conditioning. I don't like AC in general, but in the South it is totally out of hand. I felt so nice to get out of a store and into hot, humid air.

I didn't get to do any strength training (unless you count carrying luggage), but we did yoga and meditation, and I did an easy 4-mile run. I also had a consult with Dr. Jen, the results of which I will get into next time.

Hello from Tampa

I'm here in Florida, finally.

We started out by exploring Clearwater Beach a little. Just in time to get drenched (and I do mean drenched) by one of Rita's feeder bands. It was invigorating though: a good 20 minutes of thorough soaking.

This morning Sue and I had a nice 15-minute mediation on our friend's porch, listening to the drizzle on the roof and to the sounds of the local birds. I hope to get in some yoga today or tomorrow as well, but for now we are rolling out to Sarasota.

Namaste, fellow warriors.

Long Weekend

I didn't get to work out at all on Friday: Sue and I went to our friend's wedding in Pittsburgh. So I spent most of the weekend trying to make up for that. Saturday I did a 4.5 mile run, with some tough, steep hills in it. Sunday we did yoga, then strength training for upper body. Then Sunday night my volleyball team had our first match of the season.
Today Sue and I did lower body, and then I'm playing basketball tonight. I haven't yet decided what I'm going to do tomorrow, but I'm sure I'll think of something.

Strong in the Faith

Brothers and Sisters!

It's been a crazy buzy week, and I've had no time to post. And no desire to be on a computer outside of work, either. But I'm still making time for working out, although I've haven't been able to get to the iron gym too much. But I've been running, biking, and doing my yoga and meditation. It's mostly in the posting that I've been lacking.
I'm on vacation starting Friday, so I'll try to make it up to you all.

Upper Body

Yesterday was upper body day at the gym. I had played racquetball the night before, and it was strange how the arm fatigue manifested itself. For example, pull ups and dips were no problem. Bench press and butterfly? No problem. But lat raises, curls, and especially triceps were a tremendous struggle.
Afterwards Sue and I took the dogs for a trail walk. If you want to see how to enjoy the woods most fully, take dogs with you. Just watching them run after everything and nothing, exploring all the shrubs and the falling logs, and just generally enjoying utter bliss reminds me of how valuable it is to play just for the sake of fun.

Racquetball

My friends invited me to play racquetball last night, so after mowing the lawn I made my way to the IM Building. My first game, against B, I was masterful: every shot was perfect. The second game, against D, who's a much tougher opponent, I was keeping pace for a while. But about halfway my mindfulness broke down, and I surrender a bunch of easy points. Down to defeat. Then I played B again. I jumped out to a quick lead, and then the same let-down again. I gave him more points than he scored. I finally got it together for a late run, but too late, as it turned out.
Then I played J, whom I haven't beaten in a while. He is one of those guys who lifts weights to make his biceps look big, and he's always teasing me about the size of my arms. It doesn't bother me, because I know my strenth training is about more than physical strength. Even before we began, he was complaining about being tired. Whatever, dude: we both played three games, and I mowed the lawn before I started.
Here was the benefit of my WF training: I was running down every shot, and muscle boy was dragging. I can't tell you how many points I scored because J hit into the ground. So I crushed him, and I know why he won't beat me again.

Going with the Flow

It's been a busy few days: life has a tendency to accelerate. I've been working in the "found time" though to keep the practice strong. Yoga, meditation, and of course the iron gym have all have their impact. I had a long session of yard work, which was not so physically challenging but had a delightful Zen to it. Can something be mindless and yet mindful at the same time?
I crushed the lower-body workout last night: it might be time to start taking up the weight.

Namaste, fellow travellers. And Coach, my special thanks to you for all your words of inspiration: you are so kind to take time for me.

Scaling the mountain

Last night I ran the hardest course I'd ever tried: 6.2 miles, almost all uphill. Through all the pain and effort, through 3 heart-breaking false summits, I kept hearing Coach Ilg in my head: "a fitness warrior never gives up!" When I finally scaled the hill, I wanted to stop and rejoice, even though I still had about a mile to go.
All those sets of leg extensions and jump squats prepared me to deal with the pain, and trained my muscles to keep firing even when there was no gas in the tank.
I used to be intimidated by that hill. Now it should fear me.