Football Epilogue

This weekend I have a full body workout planned that's sure to leave me feeling tired, but accomplished. It will involve cardio, core muscle lifting, stability and balance exercises and interval training. The equipment needed is readily available, but non-conventional (from a typical "gym-rat's" perspective). It includes: A heavy bag, in particular one from Waste Management A wheelbarrow A shovel A lawn mower Bolt cutters A good pair of gloves This could be a group training session with plenty of hydration offered, but I'm looking forward to getting it done! I may have to splurge on a massage once it's all done.  :)

Umpiring kids' baseball/softball games is a hazardous job. It requires thick skin and a decisive resolve (even if you're wrong at times). I've been umping my for daughter's softball team this season. tonight was exceptionally challenging. A couple of the opposing team's parents started chiding right from the first close call. To make matters worse, there is substantial ambiguity from what most people interpret as "out of play" (i.e. beyond the fence) and this league's director foul. On one hand I understand the intent of the latter (don't turn the game into an inside the ballpark track meet) on the other hand the fielders should learn to chase the ball down. This was ill defined coming into the game until tensions rose enough that I called time and we had a ground rules discussion (we opted for the former definition). Then after all was settling I cleared a bat from home plate giving it a little toss away from any players. One of the chiding pare...

I guess I am gaining a little traction, but losing a little patience at the gym. I'm missing a true free weight area and cardio is just feeling like it's taking too long. From my last post  I mentioned an old high intensity workout I've had some success with. Short, intense workouts. The only dilemma is it is a 6-day workout and doing it right means lots of fatigue initially, but I think I'll give it another try with a couple small modifications: Cardio days get priority and supplant lifting days if missed Add tummy time to cardio days after getting sweaty Moderate lower body workout intensity to save knees and back Not beat myself up for missing a workout I'd like to generate and post some spreadsheets for the workout to have on the site as a repository. I guess I'll list that as "coming soon to a mediocre blog near you". Diet-wise, the weekend was tough with having a mom's day family thing coupled with a birthday celebration for my sist...

Ok. Going on day four sans pastries. Yesterday I opted for carrots with my guacamole instead of chips and actually enjoyed it. I bought some stuff to build salads at work. By the way, strawberries with a little balsamic vinaigrette (as part of a salad) is an excellent flavor combination.  I know that was just one day, but hopefully I can get back on a healthier eating trend. I just need to eat right one meal at a time, right? I also, got back into the gym for a regular workout. My schedule has been a little in flux going through this separation/divorce along with participating in a golf league. I may try going back to high intensity training for a while as the workouts are a bit shorter and they supposedly amp-up the metabolism. The  Men's Health 2008 Total Fitness Guide  has a HIT program that really kicked my butt, but also really worked. I may post some of it if I get this site spruced up a bit more. I'm also contemplating moving my routine back to mornings. I have...

After impressing my daughter by doing dips on some steel rails at a local sandwich shop, I hit the gym in what felt like the first time in a month. Well it was actually a week-and-a-half. Some of the slacking was from being on travel for work, getting in a few more rounds of golf and doing some yard-work/gardening with the kids, so it wasn't a total slump. What has slumped some is my diet, I'm having a hard time going a day without either the doughnut or beer fairy visiting. Also my portion control is a little out of ...control. My (ex)wife started doing Weight Watchers  and I know in the past loosely using their "point" system to at least quantify my food intake has helped. Perhaps some healthy eating motivation will rub off on me. It's key to keep looking forward and not dwell on that way too calorie-laden dessert I had the other day. That just results in a craving.

Those white specks...they're snowflakes on my first day of league play...

I had a friend post something today about showing up a guy in her Bodypump  fitness class doing lunges . It quickly brought back to my mind my few humbling experiences with Bodypump, and group fitness classes. Bodypump is a combination strength training and cardio fitness class focusing on supersets and combination lifts in a near continuous, highly repetitive nature. Upon moving to MN the wife and I joined the local YMCA. She was big into the fitness classes so I decided, moreso agreed, to try a Bodypump class with her. It proved to be an excellent workout, but in the first class my "football ego" got in the way a bit. I had adequate strength and endurance to make it through the cleans, rows and such. ...then came lunges. I remember loading up on the weight and doing my big guy show of brute leg strength thing. Part way through the workout the trainer singled me out and told me that I was "doing it all wrong" and to lower my weights. This put me at a weight l...