The Consequences of Fitness

[Lost Dog]

appearance is a consequence of fitness - Gym Jones

It took me a long time to come up with a new title. I thought long and hard, and this one was all I could come up with. But, the time had come for that last log to go the way of the dodo.

The past few months, I've had a gradual shift in my way of thinking. So, the quest for abs be damned, time to move on. A full set of abs might as well be the Fountain of Youth, for how close I've gotten. The Conquistadors may have felt on the verge of discovery many times, but from what we can tell, no Fountain was ever discovered.

In fact, my search for "the abs" might be likened to a parable of the search for the Fountain. Many things were discovered along the search, but in the end, and despite the wonderful findings, the quest was deemed a failure. Too bad really, because had the quest been merely about discovery, the explorers would have been deemed heroes, rather than failures.

Lesson learned, right? So, rather than continue on a quest for something that may never be "found," I've decided to alter the quest.

appearance is a consequence of fitness - Gym Jones

The above quote is from Gym Jones. Rather than dream up my own little motto, I've decided that they've got it right in that phrase.

Of course, I still want some more abs to show, but I'm setting that one specific little goal aside for the time being. Time for a loftier goal, even if it's not as visually dramatic: fitness. More specifically, "conditioning."

I've enjoyed beating the shit out of myself trying to keep up with Jill, Jeff, and Tony as they demonstrate that fitness is more than just lifting a weight.

I've been inspired by people like Bill, Zach, and Greg, who've taken charge of themselves again. Fixed things and gotten their bodies to work better for them. Again, not always about moving the weight, but making your body work the way it should, either for the first time or again.

So, it's really about work capacity, conditioning, flexibility, mobility, endurance, agility, and tenacity. I want that. All of it.

I've also been inspired by so many of you people who keep up with your diets so much better than I do. I don't know what's wrong lately. I've had a devil of a time keeping myself on track with my diet. Well, I'll be thinking about you all, as I knuckle down for the next 21 days+. The start of a new habit. 21 days to kick it off.

Workout. Take a look if you like. I'll post the gist in here, like always, but the spreadsheet was a good way to plan progression and also to compare progress from week to week.

It's a lot inspired by Ross Enamait's Infinite Intensity, but modified to include things that I love to do, like the weekly TRX workouts, the Sand Challenge bootcamps, mountain biking, etc. Also, I laid it out on a seven day schedule, since my mind doesn't work well on a rolling five day schedule. I want to know what I'm doing on my weekends, right of the top of my head.

I don't have specific workout/fitness goals, I guess. My next 21 day program is pretty dominated by squatting. I'm tired of a mediocre squat compared to my deadlift. Taking care of that.

I don't want to be a runner, but I would like to run a little more (as in, more often, not longer runs) and a little faster than I do now. No measurements here. Not yet.

My biggest feelings of accomplishment, lately, have been improving on my GPP. I've found that a big part of it is sucking it up and pushing through the horrible feelings that come with working out that hard and that close to the edge of what you are capable of. For instance, I improved dramatically on Infinite Intensity's GPP #4. From 42 minutes to 29 minutes, in two weeks. I'm not really in that much better shape. Instead, I'm more willing and able to tell myself to push on and stop resting so much. But, in pushing closer to the edge, I will get in better shape, faster.

Nutrition. I'm sticking with the low carb-ish approach of TNT. My biggest challenge is splurging. Not just splurging, but having the splurge and not stopping at the one splurge. I'm bad. 21 days should be a good start. There will be times when I will want to eat "normal" food. I will, and I will get right back into it. I have to remember my own motto: Every meal stands alone. Practice what I preach, right?

A big part of this challenge is that I'm an emotional eater. For instance, tonight I dropped my kids off at the airport after having them for the weekend. Sad me. I wanted to eat crap. I did okay. But, it was a challenge that required getting out of the house, getting to the gym, and going to a coffee house, rather than be alone. It worked, this time. One day early... A head start on the 21 Days.

So, with a constantly kicked ass and good nutrition, who knows what will come?

appearance is a consequence of fitness - Gym Jones

[L'ilJ]

Nice! Good luck with your plans. I'm sure you'll tear it up. You know what? Maybe the six pack will happen if you stop making it your primary focus. Stranger things have happened.

[Lost Dog]

8/26/2007. Actually last night's workout. I'm swapping TRX for my dynamic day, this week. TRX is sort of "alone time," but I didn't feel like being alone. I had my kids for the weekend, then dropped them off. Didn't feel like going home. Gym, instead. Julie's TRX Revenge will be tonight.

Dynamic Strength Day

A: Anderson Squats, 5x3, 205

B: Depth Jumps, 5x3, from a 24" box

4 Circuits
C1, Wall Sits, 60s, bw
C2, Squat Jumps, 10 reps, bw
rest 120s before C3
C3, Pushup Holds, 30s, bw
C4, Depth Pushups, 5 reps, bw
rest 120s before C1

D: Finisher: 100 MB Slams, 4:24

E1, Towel Stretch/3-way Pec Stretch
E2, YTWLs, 12/10/8, 5lbs
E3, Band Pullaparts, 3x15

Anderson Squats are where you start at the bottom, from a dead stop, and squat the weight up.

[stingo]

Congrats on your new log - opening a new epoch of self-torture.

[UpNorth]

Great story (opening statement, article, whatever you call the first post...)! I especially like the "mental toughness" component of your approach. For me overcoming those mental hurdles where I feel I'm at my limit but still push through not only helps me physically but helps out in so many other aspects of life.

Personally, I've never been a fan of the aesthetic goal. I find the struggle to get better at something, anything, much more rewarding. And, if you want to know, I have the secret to abs... its really simple... want it? OK, here goes... two words... hunger strike. That's it. Just stop eating and voila! You'd be amazed how quick those abs come when you don't eat.

The workout plan looks really good. I wish I had the knowledge and patience to do up a plan like that. It should provide a great platform for gains on a number of your goals.

[SpacecityPaula]

Good statement of goals Roland. Makes it easier to achieve them when you have them written down and in place.

[gobbla]

Here's to the journey

[RobLL]

Interesting post. Your workouts almost scare me, but you seem to handle them with ease, maybe that should have a haha on it. Anyway I am impressed, and will enjoy watching the progress.

[UConnJulie]

Nice, very nice! Now I have something to live up to when I start my new log next week ...

[RacerBill]

That's probably the most literary log intro I've seen. Nice bit of writing, especially the parallel with the Conquistadores.

As Gobbla succinctly put it, here's to the journey. I'm sure much will be accomplished along the way.

[Steve-O-68]

T'was too long for me to read... but good luck anyway!

[Egham]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

So, it's really about work capacity, conditioning, flexibility, mobility, endurance, agility, and tenacity. I want that. All of it.

This is precisely what I am seeking and why I have been re-evaluating my own approach lately.

That has lead me to Infinite Intensity. I haven't finished reading through it yet, but I am already better understanding what I've been seeing you, Jill, Tony and a couple of others doing and why. I'm not nearly as far along as you or the others, but I'm heading in the same direction. It's great to have some good people out there ahead of me. I will learn from you.

[LisaS]

Originally Posted by RacerBill

That's probably the most literary log intro I've seen. Nice bit of writing, especially the parallel with the Conquistadores.

great - now I've got that song stuck in my head

good start Roland -

[gregl515]

The things you do to yourself are frightening to behold!

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

My biggest feelings of accomplishment, lately, have been improving on my GPP. I've found that a big part of it is sucking it up and pushing through the horrible feelings that come with working out that hard and that close to the edge of what you are capable of. For instance, I improved dramatically on Infinite Intensity's GPP #4. From 42 minutes to 29 minutes, in two weeks. I'm not really in that much better shape. Instead, I'm more willing and able to tell myself to push on and stop resting so much. But, in pushing closer to the edge, I will get in better shape, faster.

!

Best of luck, LD! You've thought everything through (I love when you think out loud!) and have a great plan. Now go git 'em!!!

[Lost Dog]

This was actually yesterday...

A Corner Squat/Push Press 3x8 bar+90

B1 Depth Pushups/Feet Raised 3xMax bw
B2 BB BO Row 3x? 165

C1 Running Man Curls 3x8 30
C2 Serratus Crunch 3xMax 45
C3 Woodchoppers 3xMax 45

GPP later today...

[gregl515]

What are running man curls?