My Moment of Zen

Monday night reading the Workout of the Day at Crossfit for the next morning I was scared, and was about to bag it when I saw the following:

This was posted on Sherri’s facebook page, who I met at the Biggest Loser Resort in Malibu.  Seeing that someone had taken something I had written and turned into a motivational poster was a fantastic feeling.

It made me realize that I am not alone in this struggle, further that there are those out there who someone draw inspiration from a large angry Asian person, and the fact I could impact someone’s life enough that they would take my words and use them as fuel was inspiring.

It’s the single reason why I decided I wanted to do the WoD, and use a treadmill.  There’s a poster that is up at Potomac Crossfit which lists a series of rules entitled Athletes Expectations and one of them is that you work on the areas which you are weakest. 

Running to me is about as enjoyable as sticking my fist in a blender while pureeing some hot spicy vegetables.  I would rather have someone paddle me like Kevin Bacon in Animal House than run a few miles, after about ten minutes of running I always find myself asking “What’s the point of this?”, which is funny because I can get on the Arc Trainer and really spend an hour without an issue. 

So with the WoD I wanted to push myself even if that pushing came from a third party in this case an inanimate third party the treadmill.  It also why with my evening workout I added three more sprints at a faster pace.

Seeing that picture posted was partially a pat on the back and a slap in the face.  It gave me what I needed, so thanks Sherri.

08/02/2011 Daily Recap

In an effort to improve my running, I decided to do the WoD at home today.  It involved two runs one of 800 meters and one of 400 meters, the last time I did a WoD with running I wasn’t happy about how I ran, rather than pushing myself I ended up using it as a way to actively recover. 

I decided doing the workout at home with a treadmill would give me a more optimum workout.  It involved three rounds of 10 chest to bar pull ups, 25 push-ups, and 10 kettle bell swings, followed by an 800 meter run, then two rounds of 10 pull ups, 15 push-ups, and 10 kettle bell swings with a 400 meter run, and then another round of pull ups, push-ups, and kettle bell swings. 

I am still not able to do a regular pull up so during the first three rounds I used the pull-up bar in my home gym to do jump pull ups, and during the second three rounds of work I did back rows using a bench bar.  During the runs I set the pace at 6.2-6.5 mph.  I was able to complete the 800 meters in 5 minutes, and the 400 meters in 2 minutes and 26 seconds. 

When I did the kettle bell swings I did 12 each of the first three rounds, and 15 during two of the second three finishing with 21 on the final round of work.  I added more kettle bell swings because I only have a 45 lbs kettle bell, and I figured it would make the difference for the higher weight which was prescribed for the WoD. 

I was able to complete the entire workout in 20:24.  All things considered I think I did pretty well, I felt exhausted.  I was actually wiped out most of the day, my brain was in a fog and I felt as if the feet of my brain neurons were walking through sand.

In the evening I did another short intense workout.  I felt I needed more chest and back work so I did the following for three rounds:

• Resistance Ball Chest Press 15 x 50 lbs dumbbells
• Kettle bell swings 15 x 45 lbs kettle bell
• Triceps Extension Roman Bar 10 x 75 lbs
• Close Grip Chest Press 20 x 75 lbs
• Lat Pull Down 15 x 85 lbs
• 1 Minute Sprint 7.5 mph

After three rounds of above I did three sets of super sets doing the following:

• Bench Press Smith Machine 12 x 135 lbs
• Standing Cable Row 12 x 85 lbs
• Bench Press Smith Machine 10 x 165 lbs
• Standing Cable Row 10 x 105 lbs
• Bench Press Smith Machine 8 x 185 lbs
• Standing Cable Row 8 x 125 lbs

I don’t feel great, but I don’t feel like shit either, I think I need to take some time away.  I’m back at that pace of life where you don’t have a chance to catch your breath; I’ve lost the vigor which I had when I first returned from Malibu. 

I don’t know what to say other than that being fat sucks, and trying to get thin from being fat is about as much fun as having my testicles put into a vice and squeezed like a lemon.  Welcome to August, hope you have a nice day!