Another Built-In Excuse...

I like to read the news.  I think I need to stop.  It seems an endless stream of propaganda is spewing from even the most so-called unbiased media outlets.  That being said, I still tend to read as much as I can.

In my never ending search for better health I read anything related to fitness, overall health or weight loss.  Usually this is a mind numbing effort leaving me more aggravated than before I began, but I try to use this rage ensuing blather to fuel my next workout. 

Today began like many others when reading Google’s news related to Health, much ado about the new Healthcare reform and other political crap.  Then…

Compulsive gorging on junk food similar to drug addiction: A Study

I almost screamed.

I had to investigate further.  The article was a quick reference to a study published by Nature Neuroscience.   (http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/vaop/ncurrent/pdf/nn.2519.pdf)

I read, what I could understand, but it is not the study itself or the validity of the study that has my panties in a wad, it is the idea of the study and what I perceive to be the reaction to a study such as this. 

I grew up listening to the so-called findings of the newest craze derived by any number of medical associations, and let’s face it, most of these have been revoked. (egg yokes, red wine, fats…) 

So I am pre-disposed to questioning anything put out that is a new medical fact.  In addition, my undergraduate degree was in Information Systems so I of course have my doubts about anything published in the internet.

However, after reading the article and looking back at the Google News Search, more than four other online sources had toted the study as the latest and greatest in the fight against FAT AMERICA.

But what does this accomplish.  I will tell you…

“I am not fat because I don’t exercise, eat McDonald’s daily or take the elevator, I am fat because I am addicted, it’s a disease, didn’t you hear?”

Thank you to all the people and rats who worked on this study, however, I think you just built-in another excuse to all of the lazy people of the world.  Your study may be conclusive for a certain type of individual, but the masses will generate excuse after excuse from this! 

I am sure there are those that will seek treatment for this disease, for me, I am thinking a good hard, shin breaking prescription of deadlifts is order.

The Cheat Day???

What is the “CHEAT DAY?”

I have either heard or personally experienced every facet of this well known and usually overly utilized dieting fallacy. 

How many times have I heard / said…

“It’s my cheat day!  I can eat that [INSERT AB DESTROYING, METABLOLISM KILLING CRAP]!”

  I am no saint when it comes to the “clean living / eating thing.”  I have had my Taco Bell binges, or my late night rush on anything resembling processed carbohydrates or grease laden meats!  I deal with these horrendous urges constantly, the desire to gorge myself on those sweet little Wendy’s nuggets haunts my sleep.

However,

Lately I have been strong(er).  I have kept what I now consider to be cheat items to a minimum.  But the idea that I DESERVE a cheat day hovers like the devil on my shoulder.  What is that?  I deserve to get fat?  I deserve to feel like hell?  Why?  How can I go from the most adamant fighter for clean foods, high in plain old good for you stuff to the slob I used to be, inhaling upwards of $20 in dollar menu items from McDonald’s?  I can.  I can change my mind an allow myself to eat like that 400lb man I once was.  One day I will figure out why.

Till then I scrape and pull my way to the way I want to be.  That unyielding, clean, strong and lean man resides somewhere within this body, he will be found one day.

 I will DESERVE that cheat day when and only when I don’t want it!

Warrior Dash | Home

Warrior Dash | Home

This will be mine next year, oh yes, this will be mine!

Oh Thank You Sweet Jesus!

IT’S MONDAY!!!!! 

Not usually met with great anticipation, this traditionally first day of the work week has a crucial role in my week.  Not only is spring break over, not only am I gearing up for the last half of my semester…

The most important part about THIS Monday is…

I GET TO GO TO THE GYM.

I haven’t been in two weeks (surgery) and have been itching like a fiend since I missed workout number one two weeks ago today (ask my wife, I am sure she is ready for me to go hurt myself too!)

I have been dreaming and amping up since 4:22 this morning when I got out of bed 8 minutes before my alarm.  The whole drive into work I have been running through my workout yet to come this afternoon:

*Morning Boxer Tabata Cardio first (DONE)

1.       Power Cleans: good wake up and power move
2.       Deadlift: I love these, everything hurts when you are done!
3.       Overhead Shoulder Press BB: time to grow these puppies!
4.       Weighted Pull Ups: BIG BACK BABY
5.       Leg Triad: Extensions, Curls and Caves!
6.       Additional Shoulder: Complex of some type
7.       Direct Arm Work: Usually a mix of cables, DBs, dips and close grip pull ups
8.       Direct Abs: finish strong with some resistance abs and burn out!

I get two beautiful afternoons in the gym and love to push my limits.  I am not looking at a specific set/rep protocol, just as intense as I can go for as long as I can go.

Time to get it done!

I Love This &%^$ !!

I love this…

All of this… 

I can say I even love the food (thanks to my amazing wife and her super abilities of making previously un-edible vegetables and clean foods taste like they were slathered in sweet succulent butter!)

I wasn’t aware of my own level of addiction until the recently. Two events (at least in my head) brought this to fruition.

I finally got home from work last night, wasn’t too late, around 6pm.  My wife had grilled fish filets (tilapia I think even though she doesn’t eat fish), the kids were about to eat.  Instead of just plopping on the couch and molding into those pillowy cushions, we decided to go on a run.  This may not seem like much, but here we are both exhausted, torn down and beaten, and what do we do, we take the kids, my daughter on her bike, her friend on the scooter and my 1 yr old in his stroller.  We run to the local park at which point we do a barrage of dips and pull ups on the equipment, then run back feeling better than ever for having done it!  It is like CRACK for the soul!

The second event and really the point when I realized that I might need help (kidding), was this morning.  The baby wakes up at 4:20am so I just turn off the alarm set for 4:30am.  Get the baby fed and get out the door for the office by 4:35am.  I should be tired, should be dreary eyed and dreaming of that first cup of coffee only a short hour and a half drive away.  However, these things do not enter my mind.  I am mentally preparing myself for my new morning ritual (been a few weeks of it now) of morning tabata cardio.  I just crave that utter lung burning, gasping feeling of death at the end of the 4 mins.  

Today it was brupees! 

It was at this point of realization that I was getting excited for hurting myself that makes me think I may need professional help.

Or I can just keep going and releasing the endorphins!

I LOVE THIS &$^#!!

A comment on The Biggest Loser

I just wanted to add a quick comment about The Biggest Loser. 

I absolutely loathe reality TV!

That being said, my wife and I have become followers (like most of America according to the latest ratings) of The Biggest Loser.  WHY?

This show really does seem to be helping people.  These contestants (most of them) are an inspiration to thousands of loyal fans, obese or not.  I am watching for one reason, well two… 

Cousins Sam and Koli.

I have watched these two push, scratch, jump, run, sweat and bleed their ways through this competition.   Now I have played football for more years than I care to count, through college at least, I have been a part of what I would consider a fitness / gym environment since 5^th grade.  I have known people like Sam and Koli.  The real motivators, the ones everyone turns to for inspiration and most importantly the ones that LEAD BY EXAMPLE!

Pay attention to the last one!  This is a growing theme.  This is also just another reason Bob and Jillian (the Biggest Loser trainers) have all my respect, Jillian especially! Being a FFB (former fat boy) I can relate to these contestants, I know the absolute determination it takes to lose 100lbs.  (Koli did this in 9 weeks!)  I also know what it is like to drop below 300lbs for the first time in years, down from the 400s!  It is a feeling that cannot be replaced.  There is a real sense of accomplishment in losing weight and changing your self-image, but when you hit a milestone like these, it changes you.  At least it did for me!

I watched Koli break these barriers last night and was reminded of my own battle.  I was shoved back into that world of the 300+ pounders, how much I HATED LIFE!  How much I felt sick, tired, lazy and just plain BLAH for years.  (playing sports, working 50+hour weeks didn’t matter!)  I could not help but feel re-inspired to push harder, being reminded of these times has that affect on me.

I just thought this was a good time to say Thank You to the boys from The Biggest Loser.

More on The Biggest Loser later...  I am sure...

HIIT vs. Steady State Cardio

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): A cardio exercise strategy involving short very high intensity bursts, usually performed in a 2:1 ratio with a rest or another medium intensity exercise.  This strategy is very effective for fat loss and general cardiovascular performance. (

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_interval_training)

Steady State Cardio: A generally accepted cardio strategy also known as Long Slow Distance (LSD) strategy designed for improved cardiovascular performance as well as increased skeletal muscle development.

 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_slow_distance)

Now that we are clear on the definition, I have a question for you, which do you choose? 

Think about it for a bit before you make your decision.  If you could only do one type of cardio for the rest of your life would it be riddled with short fat incinerating bursts or excess melting long steady sessions?

What does it matter you ask???

Nothing…EVERYTHING

Let me re-phrase the question.

How do you approach life in general?  Too vague, ok.

How do you approach all of your goals, business, personal or fitness?  Still too vague?

This is my take.  You can learn quite a bit about people by the way they state, work and commit to their goals, in any aspect of life.  Lately I have been pondering the difference between certain attitudes.  There, of course are a thousand different types of attitudes, grey areas if you will, that muddy the waters when categorizing anything, especially people.  However, when really thinking about a persons’ general attitude (yes, I have roughly 4 hours of daily commuting, time to think) I always drift toward their overall drive and how they handle personal goals and obstacles.  Ignore it if you will, but this is my long winded take on how we live our lives per our choices in cardio…

HIIT Trainer:

Push harder, faster longer as long as the intensity is there!  Sweat, blood and most likely some excrement are sure signs this true believer was here.  You got a challenge, we’ve got the answer!  Go big or go home! Do it ‘till it doesn’t suck! I love this attitude!  Whether this is about a physical challenge, or testing the limits of your brain, there is little middle ground for this group.

Steady-State Trainer:

Do it right the first time.  Measure twice, cut once.  The goal is in sight, but the road to get there is much longer and riddled with pitfalls, so, of course the best way is a very distinct plan that takes all aspects into account.  Would rather take my time than go nuts like our HIIT cousins, we will get there, may take a bit longer but we will be there regardless.  These tortoises are good friends to have, always driven, maybe not as furiously as the afore mentioned, but they will get there. 

Now I am sure no one fits exactly into either of these categories…  Me?

I am dominant HIIT with a bit of Steady pulling up.  I actually do HIIT cardio 90% of the time and love that I can destroy any fiber holding my lungs / heart / lower intestine together in almost no time.

Just some thoughts…

Chicken, Tuna and Front Squats

I cannot count how many times I have been asked by friends, family or random strangers, “how did you lose the weight?”  (Usually referring to my massive weight loss of over 200lbs during my undergraduate years)

I will admit, at first this was always taken as a compliment and I would go on and on about the hours destroying myself in the gym, the strict dieting and supplementation I was doing… boring stuff, but nonetheless 

I would just ramble on thinking, hey maybe this person will get some good out of what I am talking about.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that these questions were more self-serving than anything else.  No one listened, no one really cared and of course no one changed.

Soon my answer became the same every time, quick and to the point…

Chicken, tuna and front squats.

This of course would illicit some type of odd looking reaction, confusion across the face of some poor soul expecting to get some lavish story they could pretend to listen too just to make themselves look and feel better for having done so.  …”WHAT?”

As if they didn't hear me… ha!

I would repeat myself with this little rant, usually ending the conversation and returning me to whatever it was keeping me occupied at the time.

Chicken, tuna and front squats.  I hate chicken, tuna and front squats, yet I am constantly eating baked or canned chicken, tuna straight out of the can and doing front squats until I puke!  You want to know how you lose weight, get stronger and look better.  Take the foods / exercises / life choices you don’t like, you know the ones, the choice to not go bar hoping, to put down you sixth hot dog or the do some deadlifts, and here is the kicker…  DO THEM!

And don’t do them for a week or two, do them like your new life is directly related to how many of these you do.

That is how I changed, that is how I am changing and that is how I live…

Much happier now…

Welcome Back

I have done this before. 

I have fought through these feelings, jumped this hurtle, lost this weight, gotten out of the quicksand just in the nick of time. 

This will not be the first time; I have will re-teach myself things like pain, righteous anger, misplaced hate and most of all fear. 

Sound a bit dramatic?  It is.

That is not to say it is not momentarily true.

I am back to where I did not want to be, fighting again to reach goals set in place so long ago.

After almost a year of what I would call blood pumping, muscle tearing and fat shredding I made the same mistake…  I got happy.  I allowed myself to begin to justify actions I previously would not accept.  The voices were back  ..”you earned this (enter great tasting yet massively caloric heart stopping food item(s) here)…”  or the infamous “you can afford to skip today’s sacrifice to the temple of sweat, blood and tears.”

I am cutting the bloodletting short this time, not waiting until all 80 of the lbs of I have lost jump on me like I would an all you can eat burrito contest.

So back to the gym, warehouse, concrete, wood and any and other surface or space I can find to hurt myself on.

Back to the tabata, HIIT and all out iron destruction

Back to the chicken from the can, salads and tuna cans

Back to happy

Back to growth

Back to getting it done

And finally back to being the me I have to, need to and want to be!