For the past six months I've been a part of the Men's Challenge here on the forums with 20 other dudes. Some guys wanted to lose fat, others wanted to bulk. I simply wanted to exercise, heavy and hard, at least three times a week and see what would happen if I stayed ultra-consistent in my training.
I saw what happened. I broke. Hips, knees, shoulders... even with lots of prehab and care, my 31yo body actually is pretty old in training age and just couldn't take the barbell/dumbell strength and hypertrophy styles of workouts. I've spent most of the past six months rehabbing and healing. I played sports for 20 years, and with all that wear and tear on the joints, the risk/reward just isn't there for me anymore for doing heavy squats, deads, cleans, etc...
On top of that, I suck at weightlifing. Even after several years of it, and working hard at it, I'm just not very strong in the weight room. I kick ass on the sports field and excel in athletic movements, but can't move big iron in a linear plane. Conventional wisdom says to focus on your weaknesses, but I think it's time to do what I'm good at. Maybe my body is telling me that I still suck at squats and deads because I shouldn't be doing them. Sort of a self-limiting safety mechanism to keep me from breaking again.
So it's time to do something different. Something movement-focused, conditioning-focused, lighter in absolute weight, longer in reps/duration and perhaps better in line with my natural abilities. It's time for kettlebells. RedWifey's parents just bought some and they're just three doors down from me, so I'll be doing after-work training in their backyard. On days that won't happen, I'll try to do some DB work in my small company gym, or swim at the YMCA. Here are the main principles I'm envisioning:
Training -- kettlebells, bodyweight work, DB complexes, swimming, general activity (pushing/pulling the kids in their wagon). More activity, more often, but maybe only 10-20 minutes per day. A lifestyle of movement, rather than 3 heavy weekly workouts in the middle of a week of rest and recovery.
Nutrition -- whole foods. I've gotten into a weird thing of avoiding fruit over the past year like a carbophobe. Stupid. Fruit is healthy. I won't focus on macro ratios and won't count calories. Just eat real food. Meat, dairy, fruit, veggies... real food, the stuff without long, scientific words on the ingredient list. Maybe some intermittent fasting from time to time, who knows. Weekends will surely be higher-calorie and more lenient, and it's worth it. I'm not giving up my family's Friday night tradition of pizza/movie/ice cream. It's too precious.
Screech was one of my nicknames in high school, I assume because I was tall, skinny, thick-haired, brilliant and hung like a rhino. Who wants to be that? Hopefully the next few months will transform me into A.C. Slater, who was smooth-skinned, tan, muscular, a great dresser and good dancer. Wait a minute...
It's worth a shot anyway.
__________________ Megaloi -- My Blog
"Every society honors its live conformists and its dead troublemakers."
- Mignon McLaughlin
I think a tan will be a bigger challenge than strength and mobility. I'm still trying to figure out if you're being snarky or not with the rhino package comment. Knowing you, I vote yes.
Best of luck. Prepare for unfettered mockery.
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My Movember page (yes, I'm slacking on pictures)
Weekends will surely be higher-calorie and more lenient, and it's worth it. I'm not giving up my family's Friday night tradition of pizza/movie/ice cream. It's too precious.
This is so true. Our family does the same thing. Weekends are just this around my house too. Watching movies, playing video games together or whatever is precious. We all know that our kids grow up so fast. But anyways, Good Luck with your new plan, Red Lefty. Seems like you have it all figured out. Have Fun!
A lifestyle of movement, rather than 3 heavy weekly workouts in the middle of a week of rest and recovery.
On to a winner here, I think
Quote:
Originally Posted by RedLefty
Nutrition -- whole foods. I've gotten into a weird thing of avoiding fruit over the past year like a carbophobe. Stupid. Fruit is healthy. I won't focus on macro ratios and won't count calories. Just eat real food. Meat, dairy, fruit, veggies... real food, the stuff without long, scientific words on the ingredient list. Maybe some intermittent fasting from time to time, who knows. Weekends will surely be higher-calorie and more lenient, and it's worth it. I'm not giving up [weekend meals/drinks with friends (for me)]. It's too precious.
Pretty much what i'm starting to realise.
Good luck, mate
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I'm still trying to figure out if you're being snarky or not with the rhino package comment. Knowing you, I vote yes.
He was in a "movie." Apparently the rhino thing is true. At least, that's what I hear. Personally, Dustin Diamond makes me want to puke just looking at him.
Two Bears Dadda? Two Bears Benno, just two. ______________________________ ___________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
Yep, you gotta find what works and feels best for your body.
If you want any ideas for KB programming just holler. I'd be more than happy to help.
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
If you want any ideas for KB programming just holler. I'd be more than happy to help.
Thanks man, you've already been a great help in that area. Now that you've offered I'll probably hit you up for some more.
I worked out today at our office gym:
Warmup (Cotter stuff from the summit)
Cable squat rows -- 50 pounds, 20 reps
DB swings -- 30 pounds, 30 seconds each side, 2 rounds
Renegade row pushups -- 30 pounds, 4 reps each side
Single-leg bridges -- leg on upside-down bosu ball, 2 sets of 10
Cable PNF -- 10 pounds, 12 reps each arm. 2 sets for left side since it's always been weaker and more unstable (and yes, I was a left-handed baseball player).
Total time: 12 minutes
Food today was a 5 egg scramble with shiitake mushrooms, spinach and cheese. Our standard breakfast at least three times a week. Skipped lunch. Had shake around workout period. Bigass bowl of spaghetti (whole wheat noodles with RedWifey's healthy homemade meat sauce) with some watermelon for dinner. Might have some kind of snack before bed.
__________________ Megaloi -- My Blog
"Every society honors its live conformists and its dead troublemakers."
- Mignon McLaughlin
Did you make sure to do the all-important splitting of the pants during today's gym workout? 'Cause that's the final straw in putting you over the top, ya know.
Yeah, I know... [\cheesy Cliff Huxtable imitation]
Good goals. KBs and bodyweight stuff can still kick butt and be a solid workout. I got Steve Cotter's BW DVD at the Summit and it's a wealth of info.
Rock on!
__________________ The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same. -- Carlos Castaneda
Jealous much? Groaners make the whole thing more exciting. Wait... are we talking about the same thing?
Also, I forgot that I did some roman chair leg lift thingies yesterday. Will try to do a quick workout today before leaving, but might have to wing something late tonight at home. RedWifey's Vacation Bible School ends tonight (finally) and that's been a schedule killer.
__________________ Megaloi -- My Blog
"Every society honors its live conformists and its dead troublemakers."
- Mignon McLaughlin
RL, for KB technique Cotter as some good instructionals on youtube (his long cycle lecture is really good) -if you don't have his DVDs. World kettlebell club on youtube has some great material too.
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
VBS was a schedule-killer this week. And both kids have had a stomach bug -- Samantha on Tuesday and Jack today. The "foe-ups". And I'm still catching up at work from our vacation last week.
Still, I did a quick workout in the company gym yesterday. Cleans, snatches, single-leg deadlifts, farmer's walks. Simple and short.
Food yesterday was oatmeal (+ protein powder and blueberries), chicken breast with green beans and corn, two Lindt 60% truffles, Chipotle salad (greens, black beans, steak, tomato salsa) and a few sips of an Oreo milkshake from James Coney Island.
I won't list food everyday, but it's interesting to do now and then.
VBS is over so I may try to sneak in a quick KB playtime at the in-laws' house tonight.
__________________ Megaloi -- My Blog
"Every society honors its live conformists and its dead troublemakers."
- Mignon McLaughlin
Did lots of stuff in the company gym today. Difficult stuff. Kick-my-own-ass stuff. DB's, bodyweight complexes, joint prehab... constant movement. Felt good.
Tonight is pizza, ice cream and Enchanted on Blu-Ray with the kids. I'm ready!
p.s. -- Our pizza and ice cream choices do indeed count as "real food" for me. We get the hearty, real-ingredient types. For example, our ice cream from Marble Slab has eggs, milk, cream, natural flavors... you get the picture. None of that hydrolyzed bicarbonate supersodiupinate gelatin. Sometime I'll have to show you a picture of our pizza from Star Pizza here in Houston. Loaded. Awesome.
__________________ Megaloi -- My Blog
"Every society honors its live conformists and its dead troublemakers."
- Mignon McLaughlin
Why don't you two get a room already!!?? Or a house...and two kids...whichever...
__________________
Two Bears Dadda? Two Bears Benno, just two. ______________________________ ___________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
Why don't you two get a room already!!?? Or a house...and two kids...whichever...
Will you pay for it, 'cause I am totally up for getting a room??? And this is his log...if he wants me to quit I will, but until then you'll have to put up with it!
From Screech to Slater -- Saved by the Kettlebell
Linear Mode
