New Equipment for New Workout April 27, 2008
Posted by regimit in Activities, Workouts.1 comment so far
So, I’ve talked about how I want to run but I have bad knees, the weather sucks, etc. The solution has been discovered. Yesterday I went to the mall and had some time to walk around by myself. I wound up in the sporting good store where an elliptical machine was on sale for well under what I’ve ever seen them go for. It’s not a top of the line machine, it’s the store brand, but they said they hadn’t received any complaints about it. And I don’t need (and can’t afford) a thousand dollar beast, anyway. The sale ended yesterday, so after a call to the husband, I bought it. Then he, being the wonderful guy that he is, drove over an hour to come pick it up for me because it didn’t fit in my little car. He put it together for me this morning, and I just finished my first workout. I love it. There are 6 built-in workouts, or I can manually control the resistance. I did 20 minutes of the weight loss workout, which was pretty intense. The levels went from 1 (least) to 5 (pretty tough). It shifted resistances up and down every minute or two, which was nice. I wound up keeping a quicker pace than I do when I walk or jog outside, and I feel great. The machine keeps track of the pulse rate, too, so I can make sure to keep that in range. I got a pretty good workout at the bottom of my range (95). I plan to do another 20 minutes tonight and hope to work up to doing the complete 30 minute workout by the end of the week. My legs couldn’t take it today because of the resistance. Oh, and I’ve lost four pounds just doing my regular walking routine and taking the magical weight loss vitamins. I know the only reason those are helping is the extra caffeine – I’m not too tired to do what I need to do! My goal with this new machine is to work out 4+ times a week until I get to my target weight and then keep it up at least three times a week.
I had to move some books around in order to help get the spot for the machine set up. I found some old zines I was published in (anyone remember Redsine?), and it was funny to see things like an ad for Black Petals boasting a story by Mike Oliveri. Ah, those were the days…
Loaded Push-Ups April 23, 2008
Posted by Mike Oliveri in Activities, Workouts.Tags: class, karate, kids, push-ups
1 comment so far
A great way to boost your push-up performance and shake up the routine is to do weighted push-ups, or what I like to call loaded push-ups. As you’d expect, you simply add some extra weight to your body for the push-up by placing something on your back. This can be a backpack, a weight plate (you may need a partner), or even a small child.
That’s right, a child. I’ve done push-ups with the Midget or the Squirt on my back, and they weigh (at last measure) 56 and 43 pounds respectively. They get a giggle out of it, and I get a tougher workout in my arms and chest.
I never expected to have to do this in karate class, though.
I was working with our gold (top end of white) belts in class, leading them through ippon kumite kata #1. This is a simple set of moves with a couple of blocks, a kick, and some hand techniques. One of our little guys strayed too close to me, however, and I couldn’t see him with my block up. When I brought down my block, my elbow knocked him on the head.
Long story short, the kid started crying and ended up in the back room, and I felt horrible. A few moments later, our sensei brought him out and hit me with 10 push-ups. Not unexpected, but as I turned my belt to the side and dropped down, he threw me a curveball.
“Celestino, get on Mike’s back!”
The little dude, already giggling, came running up and scrambled aboard. He’s a little heavier than my boys, but I’ll tell ya, nothing makes a man work harder for a push-up than when a class of 30 students, his sensei, and 10-15 spectators are all watching to see how this situation plays out.
They weren’t perfect push-ups, but I busted out all 10, jumped up and high-fived Celestino. We were buddies again and all was right with the world.
And I definitely felt it in my arms. No pain, just that surge of blood that makes you feel like Schwarzenegger.
Loaded push-ups: they do a body good.
SUCCESS! April 20, 2008
Posted by Mike Oliveri in Routine.Tags: goals, nikeplus, running
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I set a goal of 10 runs in 4 weeks, and today I made it! Check it out.
I thought I blew it because today the goal window said “0 days remaining.” A run Friday would have made the goal with time to spare, but I was out all day. I thought I’d make up for it Saturday, but once again, I was out all day.
This morning the timer still said “1 day remaining,” but by the time I woke up the Wife was already getting ready for church and I didn’t have time. I went out in the afternoon, but the track coach was prepping the track for a meet and someone was hitting golf balls in the field. We took the kids out instead, and by the time I checked the goal again it said 0 days.
That bummed me out, but rather than just start a new week tomorrow, I told myself to get out on the track and get it done anyway. I’m glad I did, because it looks like I had the time after all. It felt great to upload today’s run and see “CONGRATULATIONS!” show up on the goal window.
Now to set the next goal.
Activities April 16, 2008
Posted by regimit in Activities.add a comment
Well, I’ve been combining a bit of light jogging with my walks and workouts. For the first time ever, I’m not sore. This is because I finally learned to stretch when I’m done 
It really does make a difference. I also started taking these, which seem to be giving me more energy. I guess there’s caffeine in them, which is fine with me since I cut out sodas and don’t drink coffee. I do drink tea, but usually herbal. No weight loss – I’ve actually gained a couple of pounds, but I don’t really care. I feel good, and that is what’s important at this point.
Whatever you do… April 16, 2008
Posted by Mike Oliveri in Advice.add a comment
…don’t eat this.
That is all.
Two Left Feet April 15, 2008
Posted by Mike Oliveri in Fitness.Tags: calf pain, karate, muscles, pain, running, stride, walking
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Does anyone else worry about their stride?
It’s hard to imagine something as simple and intuitive as walking or running can be so difficult. I’ve known my stride is a little screwy for some time, and there are two reasons for that: 1) I have a slight tilt to my pelvis, which makes it appear as though I have one leg shorter than the other ; 2) problems with both of my feet resulted in my walking on the outside edges of my feet. I try to correct it when I think about it, but it often takes conscious effort. When I run, my thoughts frequently stray.
I think my gait contributed to a problem I used to have before I started karate. When I walked longer distances or tried to walk fast, the muscles along the outside of my calves would tighten up. If I pushed through the pain, they’d tighten up so bad that the pain would last for hours. Stretching helped a little, but there were times I could barely extend my foot.
As I said, this improved with karate. Four months after I started, I walked a good two miles or so with my family and some relatives. Most of them walk considerably faster than I, and I’m used to falling behind and sometimes having to stop and stretch my calves from time to time (thus falling behind even farther). Instead, this time I was at the front of the pack. Even carrying a load from a picnic. I attributed the improvement to a loss of weight and an improvement in leg strength, and it hasn’t bothered me since.
Until last night. My calf muscles — on the back side — were a bit sore from moving furniture all weekend, but I went out for my run anyway. A little more than halfway through, I started to feel the familiar sting along the outside of my calves. By the end of my run, they had tightened up pretty good. Not as bad as in the past, and not bad enough to put me on my butt, but plenty irritating.
It’s got me wondering if it’s more than just my stride. I try to stay hydrated, and I take vitamins so I can’t imagine it’s a magnesium or calcium deficiency as suggested here. I may have to re-evaluate my pre-workout stretching and see if that makes a difference.
If not, I guess it will be time to chat up my doctor or chiropractor, or perhaps an orthopoedist.
Overcoming Inertia April 10, 2008
Posted by Mike Oliveri in Advice, Routine, Workouts.Tags: discipline, inertia, laziness, physics, quitting
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I skipped Monday’s run to get some karate practice in before Tuesday night’s review (I did get promoted, by the way). Tuesday night a storm blew through, so I couldn’t run after karate. The weather turned on us again, and last night was cold and wet. My calves felt a bit sore, and I’ve been staying up way too late all week. On top of it all, I was just feeling plain lazy.
I ran anyway.
As Jack said, it’s a matter of discipline. If I bail now, it’ll set a precedent for bailing again and quitting will just get that much easier. I’m not about to let that happen.
The trick for me is just getting started. It’s Newton’s First Law: a body at rest tends to stay at rest and a body in motion tends to stay in motion unless influenced by an outside force. Sure, he was talking physics, but it applies to fitness as well.
If you’re sitting on the couch watching TV, it’s tough to get up and get started. My old man even calls it “overcoming inertia.” You’re comfortable, you’re content, and you don’t want to disturb that. It takes an outside force — in this case your mind — to jack things up and get you in gear. Once you’re up and running, it’s not so bad and the workout is over before you know it.
I feel that all the time. I may not be in the mood for karate practice some nights, but as soon as I start our normal warmup routine, my body knows what’s coming next. Next thing I know 45 minutes or so have passed and I’ve worked up a good sweat.
Running last night worked the same way: I dragged my feet while I got dressed, and I even plunked my ass back down on the couch to talk to the wife a bit.
“You’re just stalling,” she said. “Get out there!”
I couldn’t argue with that, so I walked out onto the porch, took a deep breath and a stretch, then hit the start button on the iPod and started my warm-up walk out to the track. It only took a few steps to feel the energy, and next thing I knew I was jogging.
Whatever your activity, choose your slogan — “just do it,” “git ‘er done,” whatever — and heed its advice. Once you get up and moving, you won’t regret it.
Discipline, Part 2 April 9, 2008
Posted by jackdrew in Advice, Routine.Tags: effort, goals, motivation, running, walking
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I know exactly why I did it and it’s not just the “because I can” mantra of mountain climbers. I did it because I was visiting the doctor today and wanted to prove to him and to myself that I am improving.
So I took the usual 5 minute brisk walk in the beginning this morning. That walk brings me to the top of my development and I mean the top – it’s an uphill climb when you get towards the last 200 yards. Once at the top, I cross the street, hit a brand new tune on the pathetic excuse for an mp3 player and I started to jog back down the hill and through my development.
And this morning I didn’t stop for 15 solid minutes.
I basically pushed myself to a limit (I won’t say my limit just yet – I think I’ve got a *bit* more in me till I totally break) and came out way further than I thought. Was I tired? Sure. Beat to hell. But I got 15 minutes in without a break. I didn’t even zombie-walk (which I tend to find myself doing in between jogs later in the hour).
I brisk-walked afterward for three minutes to allow myself to feel a little less wobbly and then I proceeded to run again. I was aimed at another 15 minutes to see what would happen but 5 minutes in, I stopped. I couldn’t do it anymore. I was physically spent. Couldn’t even walk but forced the legs to move their zombie walk back to the house (yeah, i skipped my remainder 20 minute walk due to exhaustion).
I’m not recommending this for everyone (hell, I’m not sure I’m recommending I do it again). But here’s the cool thing. Every time I go out there, I set up a challenge for myself. This one I didn’t even lay out ahead of time. I just said, “Let’s see how far we can go” and I went.
I don’t know if this applies to anyone else reading this but I tend to find myself bored by routine after a little while. Mike, I tip my hat to you and the track. I’d go bonkers in that situation after 2 days. I just like scenery too much. Or the pretty girls walking to the commuter’s lot. I’m not sure which I like more.
But if you find yourself bored of the routine, set up a different goal for yourself and see what you can do. You’ll surprise yourself. See that corner up ahead? I’m not stopping till I round it. The next day? I’m not stopping until 3 houses after it. The day after that? I’m not stopping till I get 6 houses past.
Pretty soon, the corner will be a distant memory (“I once jogged *just* to here???”). And you’ll be that much farther.
Off to bed so I can see 6am again!
L8r,
-Jack
The Art of Discipline April 7, 2008
Posted by jackdrew in Routine.Tags: fiction, running, walking
4 comments
So, I have a big problem: I’m a lazy sack.
It rained Friday and Saturday morning and I didn’t jog because I’m a lazy sack.
I wrote all night Saturday night and I didn’t jog because I’m a lazy sack.
I got up this morning and went out jogging …
… and did 6 minute jogs followed by 3 minute walks for 24 minutes because I’m a lazy sack.
There were times I thought for sure I was gonna hurl (but didn’t!) and I was wiped when I got to work this morning (coffee never tasted so good!) but I did 6 minute jogs three times!!
If I can keep doing that for the next week, I think I’ll be ready to bridge them together into a 12 minute jog at the very least (and an almost 20 minute jog on the outside).
One thing I’ve noticed, though. I was hoping to take the time I jog and use it creatively to help with the writing but once I start jogging, I’m focused only on that. Music distracts from the “I think I’m gonna die” thoughts and all, and that’s great. But all I find myself doing when I’m out there is counting breaths in and breaths out and making sure I’m getting enough oxygen. I don’t think about characters, I don’t think about plot or pacing or twists. Hell, I barely think about the cars on the road as I cross the street. I’m barely standing up most mornings.
Well, at least I’ll be thin and un-published.
-Jack
Feature Request April 6, 2008
Posted by Mike Oliveri in Activities.Tags: ipod, nikeplus, running
1 comment so far
I’m digging the Nike+iPod thing. Being able to share my runs online rocks, and I like getting real-time feedback on time, distance and pace, as it helps me make sure my walking is not drifting off between runs. I also get the benefit of an iPod for music listening, and the PowerSong and spoken feedback are just a nice bonus.
What would be nice, though, is a programmable prompt for workout changes. For example, if I could punch in the timings for my run/walk circuits based on the running plan and have it alert me somehow, I wouldn’t feel compelled to check the time as often as I do. I would also be able to strap the iPod to my arm instead of carry it in my hand.
You listening, Apple? Make it happen.
Please.
