My NROL Experience

[RacerBill]

Merry Christmas!

[mel]

Tom, I am totally with you on the hunger issues. So much of this is about mind control, even more than it is about food control. The very fact that you are conscious of this is a big step in the right direction!

mel

[stingo]

Thanks everyone for your well wishes this holiday season. Good stuff.

[stingo]

Clean and Jerk 1x10@20, 2x10@25

Squat 2x20@15

Lat Pulldown 2x15@50 (?)

Single arm incline bench press/Single arm row 2x10@25, 1x10@30

Deadlift and Clean 3x10@25

Sandbag Walk x2

Weighted Pull (which consisted of me pulling the trainer across the gymnastics mat, with him providing variable resistance)

Sandbag Walk x1

Steps 3 Floors x 2

Notes:

This was a fun workout - I got to try some different things that I'd never done before, namely the sand bag walk, the weight pull and the deadlift and clean. I was challenged, but everything was doable. And I felt great afterwards, as it was my first workout since a week ago. Food was also much better than the past week too, so things are looking up, and I think I'm getting back into the groove.

[Lost Dog]

That looks like a fun workout. Interesting exercises in there.

[Cynic]

Originally Posted by stingo

Weighted Pull (which consisted of me pulling the trainer across the gymnastics mat, with him providing variable resistance)

Focus, man. The Iditarod is just around the corner. Mush Stingo.

Looks more fun than my dungeon workouts.

[Victoria]

That's a cool looking workout, Tom. It seems like your trainer gets very involved in your routine, which is a good thing, I would think. Better than him just standing there and barking out orders to you.

Way to get back on that wagon. It feels good, doesn't it?

[stingo]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

That looks like a fun workout. Interesting exercises in there.

Yeah I thought I was going to be doing the workout he'd given me but this was pretty cool. When I saw the sandbag in the gymnastics room I immediately thought of you, and wondered if we were going to use it. And we did lol.

[stingo]

Originally Posted by Cynic

Focus, man. The Iditarod is just around the corner. Mush Stingo.

Looks more fun than my dungeon workouts.

Heh it was really tough going as the gymnastics mat had some springiness to it, which I think caused my calves to cramp up big time. Still, it was a great exercise - I can now see why Lou uses that example (tug-of-war) for a total body exercise.

[stingo]

Originally Posted by Victoria

That's a cool looking workout, Tom. It seems like your trainer gets very involved in your routine, which is a good thing, I would think. Better than him just standing there and barking out orders to you.

Way to get back on that wagon. It feels good, doesn't it?

Yes it does. As I said in a post in cjk's log, I needed to fall off the wagon to appreciate being on it. (The logic here being that you appreciate the peaks more when you've been in the valleys.)

As for the trainer, I was sceptical after my first workout, but I was surprised that we did nearly a totally new workout yesterday. Some stuff was similar but other stuff (as I said) was totally new. He's not an order-barker, but he will provide motivation as needed. Our next and for now last session is on Wednesday. I'm still on the fence as to whether purchase more sessions, but based on yesterday's experience I'm certainly more predisposed to it.

[Lost Dog]

Sounds like a trainer worth paying for, Tom. I'm glad you're liking the sessions.

[Biskit]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

Sounds like a trainer worth paying for, Tom. I'm glad you're liking the sessions.

I agree. Maybe worth paying for another round just to see how you feel then.

Deb

[lance02]

Great to hear about the fun you're having with your workouts!

[stingo]

Originally Posted by lance02

Great to hear about the fun you're having with your workouts!

Thanks - I think if nothing else, the workouts he's devised for me so far have resulted in DOMS over a good portion of my body. So I can only conclude/hope that they're working.

On a related note, I selected a pair of pants to wear today which have traditionally been a bit tight. Considering my time off from the wagon, I rather expected them to be a bit tighter. However when putting them on, they actually felt a little more comfortable. Another indicator is the jacket I mentioned - while I can wear it, it is a little snug. It has two buttons on the bottom (under the zipper) which I typically button up. When my weight is on the higher side, I've noticed them opening up more. When my weight is down, they stay closed. Well, they've been staying closed of late, which I take as a good sign things are working.

[stingo]

All rests 30 secs, all weights per hand (dumbbells) unless otherwise noted.

A: DB Clean & Jerk: 2x8@25

B: Stairs (2 at a time): 3 Flights x 4 - 5:10

C: Plank, 30 secs, 45 secs, 2 minutes (see below)

D: Renegade Row: 2x8@10

E: Lat Pull/Shoulder Press Combo 2x15@60/20

F: Saxon Side Bend 2x10@10

G: Medicine Ball Lift (from Bosu) 2x10@12

Notes:

DB Clean and Jerk - went much more slowly with these to get the technique and the form down, particularly to make sure I was doing a full squat. The movement does feel smoother so I might up the weights next week.

Stairs - not much new to report here, but it is the first time that I timed it. Hoping to improve as I keep doing it.

Plank - did the 30 secs and 45 secs, and had to do the two minutes in two 1 minute intervals. Still, this is a far cry from the last workout, so I'm feeling optimistic about this one.

Renegade Row - still can't add in the pushups, as this one is still tough, but not as tough as it was last time. So, progress again.

Lat Pulldown/Shoulder Press Combo - brought the weight up to 60/20 respectively for both sets, so progress here too.

Saxon Side Bend - kept this one at 10 to be sure I'd not risk form, but might upgrade a little to 12 next time.

Medicine Ball Lift - This went well, so well that I'm considering exchanging the bosu ball for a lower riser. I tried doing the exercise lifting the ball from the floor but that was not happening. Still, the opportunity for more progress though.

Overall - I'm happier with this workout now that I'm getting into the groove of it. I hope to soon add challenge by adding weights, once the initial period of getting used to the movements is over. The good thing is, if my trainer continues to do a different workout with me on Wednesdays, I think that will give enough variation so as to give this current workout more longevity. Still, I don't plan doing this same workout for more than a month, two months max. Will see how things go, but for now I'm pleased.

[stingo]

It looks like the corporate gym I workout it was good this year, as it got a present - an assisted dip/chin station. I got a little preview of how to use it, but I've not actually used it myself.