It's time for an ass kicking

[clevermanka]

And that ass would be mine. After being blown away by miischelle's recent physical achievements, I'm stepping it up. Big time.

It helps that mckitterick is on a path to fitness right now, too. Living with someone who can share the experience is invaluable. I'm not going to see him for much of July, but that's actually a beneficial situation. I won't have to cook as much or as often, so I can make a couple items on Sunday to eat during the week. The time I don't spend cooking dinner can be spent on physical efforts. I bet that two weeks of vigorous afternoon exercise will shift my metabolism enough that I'll have the energy to get up to exercise in the mornings again.

How aggressive am I feeling about this? Aggressive enough to see if there was a CrossFit group in Lawrence. Their boot camp style programs would be a great way to jump start myself. I don't like everything about the CrossFit phenomena. They seem to encourage a drink-the-kool-aid mentality that makes me leery. However, I like their structured-but-varied programs and the way they seem very supportive of their members. Luckily there isn't a CrossFit gym here. Luckily because that sort of money is not in my budget right now. Hard workouts aren't cheap, I see. But I can take their theories (mostly don't be lazy, mix it up, and don't be lazy) and apply it to my TRX workouts which have been notably lacking.

This is all very exciting.

Comments

Woo hoo go you!

[wyckedgood.livejournal.com]

Other people's motivation always motivates me, go you and thanks for sharing.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the encouragement!

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

If it weren't a total outdoor thing, Red Dog Days (http://reddogsdogdays.org/About.php) is a super group motivational free workout.

If I thought I could cut the mustard, I'd totally hire Wayne Jackson (http://www.gohardtraining.com/default.aspx) for a personal trainer.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I don't like Dog Days because of the massive emphasis on cardio. Something I think is utter crap when it comes to overall fitness.

I've never heard of this Wayne Jackson, but his website drives me crazy! What, he's never heard of text info? Not everyone wants to listen to your video introduction, dude. Sheesh. But really, a good trainer works with you and your current abilities and doesn't tell you to do things that cause or exacerbate injury. Why wouldn't you be able to make his cut?

I have cera's and femfataleatron's resistance and circuit training programs that they designed for me, so I'm going back to those.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

Yea, I don't like Dog Days because me and running just don't agree with each other, especially running outdoors.

I don't think I could afford Mr. Jackson, and honestly? I might be "too easily distracted" by where my mind would go. ;)

I would like to find someone who has a specialization in injury rehab. Need to chat with my PCP at Doc Burt's.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I don't think I could afford Mr. Jackson, and honestly? I might be "too easily distracted"

LOL! Ah yes. Well, those are different issues. =D

[annamatic.livejournal.com]

Body Boutique (the gym I went to in Lawrence) has a bunch of Les Mills fitness classes (BodyJam, BodyPump, etc). They kick your ass but are a hell of a workout, and get results fast. I think you have to be a member to take them there, but maybe look into seeing if any other classes are being held somewhere in town. WORTH IT.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Alas, I'm not encouraged by this info from the BodyPump website: "Don’t overdo it with the weights – remember that BODYPUMP™ uses high repetition to tone and strengthen."

[femfataleatron.livejournal.com]

I'm researching the relationship between Vo2 max and resistance training. There is some interesting stuff here, it seems cardiac muscles respond to some really specific demands, and it's possible to generate those through certain types of resistance training.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Every time I hear "high repetitions" and "tone" used to describe resistance training (especially when targeted to women) I think about this:



And I throw up in my mouth a little.

[femfataleatron.livejournal.com]

this is particularly horrible. there is a place for high repetitions but the only pink it involves is when you yank the callous off your palm.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

*wince*

And this is why I have fingerless gloves for when I do pick up weights or hang from the pull-up bar. I have other areas of my life that require me to have pretty-pretty girly hands. Sue me.

[femfataleatron.livejournal.com]

http://www.begin2dig.com/ go here this is one of the best fitness blogs evar. reviews of lots of stuff too

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Faboo. Thanks!

Edit: OoooOOOOooo! Lookit all the anatomy stuff! *excited wiggle*

2nd Edit: I set up an LJ Feed for it here (http://syndicated.livejournal.com/begin2dig_rss/) if you want to add it to your f-page read list.

[chronovore.livejournal.com]

I'm nowhere near as committed as that, but I'm back on my no-snacks diet after weighing in at 97kg recently. :-/

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

There are very few people who honestly need to worry about starving to death if they miss their next meal. They might get grouchy or lightheaded, but that's an insulin sensitivity problem, and should be addressed as its own issue.

Snacking is a killer. Good for you for nixing it.

[chronovore.livejournal.com]

I am just WAY too fond of food.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

You and me both!

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

I found that simply eliminating sugar (in the form of my favorite delivery methods: cookies, lemon bars, etc.) allowed me to drop about 10lbs in a month! From there, everything gets easier, once you lose the desire for refined sugar so much - which declines the longer one stays away from it, I find!

[chronovore.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[femfataleatron.livejournal.com]

Yes, don't be lazy. But the amount of variation in CrossFit is crazy.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Do you think it's crazy in a good way or a bad way? I lean towards good way because I'm easily bored with exercise routines. But I'm interested in your angle.

[femfataleatron.livejournal.com]

I think it's crazy in a bad way. it's like saying that you'll be better at soccer by playing rugby, and tennis, and football, and baseball, and hockey...
I admire the intensity and the interval (work versus rest ratio) is usually great. They get the whole acceleration idea in spades. But... All, and I do mean all, of the evidence I have ever seen, and my personal experience as well indicates that humans adapt to specific demands. Crossfit basically says that if you keep your body guessing, by constantly changing the variables (exercises), you will achieve better(?) faster results.
This is in direct contradiction to the SAID principle (Specific Adaption to Imposed Demand), one of the cornerstones of training science.
Crossfit proposes a kind of generalized demand, and while they might be right, there is no evidence that this is any more efficient, and a fair amount that it is not. Mixing it up is not a bad idea but there also has to be consistency. Many effective training systems as opposed, to workouts, have a set of anchor exercises, that remain constant and a set of ancillary exercises, that vary in accordance with needs, whims, whatev...

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I hadn't picked up on that, reading from the CrossFit blogs I browsed. I thought they had a set of basic movements (albeit a large set) and varied the workouts by switching up the moves and changing the focus. So one day you'd do ABCDE for time and the next day you'd do ABDFG for endurance.

[femfataleatron.livejournal.com]

their set of basic movements is HUGE, and includes things like deadlifts and power snatches. These are technique based moves that require lots of training and practice. It could take someone a good six months just to learn how to do one properly. crossfit wants you to do a crapload one day and then none for several weeks, this is no way to train these movements.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Sounds like I'm better off with my body weight focused training, then (which I prefer anyway). Good old TRX! How I've neglected it!

[femfataleatron.livejournal.com]

The TRX is an awesome piece of equipment.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Wow, out of sight, out of mind! I'd forgotten we even had it in the house, and it's PERFECT for the things I've been trying to figure out how to do. We need to keep it visible!

[poincaraux.livejournal.com]

A few months ago, I decided that I wanted to get faster and less fat (for frisbee and aesthetics). After talking to a bunch of smart folks, the consensus was that I wasn't strong enough to worry about CrossFit type stuff.

So, I picked up a copy of Mark Rippetoe's Starting Strength and I've been doing barbell exercises. It's been incredible. I'm way stronger (e.g. I went from squatting 100lbs to squatting 225lbs in 2 months), I look way better, I have more energy, I'm faster, etc.

Strength may not be exactly what you're looking for, but if it is, I heartily recommend Starting Strength. I've converted most of my lab, my wife, my dad, and hopefully my mom.

As an added benefit, lifting heavy weights is apparently a great way for women to build bone density.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's an amazing squat! Congratulations! I'll look for Starting Strength. Alas, neither of my libraries has it, so I'll have to go the interlibrary loan route. Thank you for the recommendation.

[poincaraux.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm pretty happy with it :). In fact, I think I'm strong enough that I can start training directly for speed/etc. now.

There's also a Starting Strength DVD. I haven't seen it, but my parents ordered a copy, and I assume it's pretty good.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm pretty happy with it

You should post a video of you and your impressive squat!

When I can finally do a chin up, I am totally posting a video youbetterbelieveit.

[poincaraux.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'll post a video when I have a less impressive belly :).

An added benefit of the Starting Strength routine: I can do two pull ups/chin ups now. When I started, I couldn't do any. I see how many I can do every 3-4 weeks. When I get up to 5, I'll start doing them more regularly.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mac_/]

I second the Starting Strength recommendation and I have a copy that I would be happy to lend you if you have any trouble getting it through interlibrary.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

OoooOOO! Thank you! I haven't heard back from ILL yet, but if it gets denied, I will take you up on that offer. Thank you!

[poincaraux.livejournal.com]

(This isn't really a reply to your comment, but I thought I'd mention it here in case you're interested.)

In addition to the book, there are lots of good resources at

http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/Starting_Strength_Wiki

The google docs version of the logbook calculator and warmup calculator (left side, supplemental material --> tools and downloads) are particularly nice.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you! I love online calculators.

[yavaphun.livejournal.com]

I started this insanity in June. I have to tell you it is worth it but you are still crazy. Good luck. No white foods and no dairy plus working out. I feel very good and years younger. Good luck you are a stronger person than I you will be fine.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Woo! Thank you for the vote of confidence. I know I should give up dairy. It's going to be hard.

[saintwhocares.livejournal.com]

I've been doing crossfit for around 3 years now. It's far more good then bad. If you just accept the workouts and ignore any silliness, it's a great way to get into shape and feel better about... well, everything.

That said, I just had shoulder surgery (not directly crossfit related, I think), so I've had to take a little time off and will now have to seriously modify my workouts to strictly lower body movements for a while. It's very depressing not to be able to participate fully.

Good luck.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

If you just accept the workouts and ignore any silliness, it's a great way to get into shape and feel better about... well, everything

If there was an affordable gym near me that offered CrossFit I would still check it out. It just seems so ... motivational.