I'm at war with the full justify trend - fight the ignorance! Left!

[vicarz]

Yesterday's workout was good but weird. I drove the hell out of myself, but everywhere I turned I saw flaws. Strength is my goal for the weights I did yesterday, but every time I checked form in the mirror I saw my flub. I wore out after only about an hour or an hour point 5, but kept going. Now on non-workout days I'll be running a couple or a few miles just to keep cardio going. I also have found that my back, which has a curve ugh, is bending backwards on my ball abs workout - so I'm trying to redesign my abs workout and really watch to make sure I'm working the front and not the back.

So no, I don't just look this way because of genetics. It really does take work, discipline, planning, and sacrifice. I would love to eat curry and ice-cream and play video games all day, but if I did I wouldn't look like this or have the abilities I do.

I wonder if not studying all the time has a caloric impact - was I getting a strange brain-eating-calorie workout when I studied and went to class? Or is my theory that eating at the India Curry House can be balanced out by skipping dinner a crock?

VJ was/is always saying core training is key. It seems that is getting a far wider audience - lots of very fit people are doing weird exercises shaking skis, balancing on balls, doing push-ups on chains, throwing cowbells around, and otherwise doing stamina and core training. I get a good amount of that from the boxing workout, but I have my eye on that area.

EDIT - job stuff: just got a call from my old boss, who is now in homeland security and loving, loving, loving life. They have flexitime, an hour for lunch, don't yell, don't constantly demand immediate responses on piddly personal projects, and in short - treat her like an adult. I have heard a very similar report from a coworker who went there. I may not be a fan of the homeland security group, but working there might be a dream. Yes, i'm keeping my eyes open and maintaining those connections (which is easy to do - I like both of them).

Comments

[transentient.livejournal.com]

Yep...I've got to the point where I am doing tabata intervals of front squats and stuff like that.

Though I don't go down very far.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

I have squatty troubles (wow that sounds foul) because of my knees. I'm re-training my knees with weights right now, but trying to find the balance between strength, stamina, and damage to the joints.

[bentrazor.livejournal.com]

let me know more about that, because I'm planning a trip to the doctor to get my knee(s) looked at.

I've all but completely cut out leg exercises from my weight regimen because lunges and squats totally cash my knee out most of the time.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

I have oddly fussy knees but oddly good strength. I do 400lbs without much effort on the leg press, but I don't let my knees go more than 90 degrees, and I never lock the knees at the top.

[bentrazor.livejournal.com]

re: form, It might not be, tho the biggest problem area seems to come from lunges. Since it's generally only my right knee I have to wonder.

Running or dancing other cardio doesn't seem to bother it tho.

[ex-dasboot.livejournal.com]

I'm all for core training, but those swiss balls seem really gimmicky. Having to keep yourself balanced, even when weighted, doesn't seem like it can cause sufficient microtrauma to promote muscle growth.

Then again, my litmus test is that if the hack trainers at my Gold's are promoting it, it's gotta be worthless.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

The irony there is one of the longest term trainers in Gold's Rosslyn gym is "Hack." He only works with fit people, and does get results (I've seen).

Having to keep yourself balanced takes practice, and unlike strength training, is more designed for the stamina (slow-twitch) muscles. I understand it seems gimmicky, and am generally skeptical, but through boxing I've learned the value of training stamina muscles rather than just strength. You can't just slop 100lbs on your abs to make your core stable - you actually need to do those annoying hundreds of situps with and without weights from 20 difference positions.

Mountain hiking is actually good core training as you have to constantly adjust your angle of incline small bits over several hours.

[ex-dasboot.livejournal.com]

That's kinda what I mean, you need to do those situps, which still provide resistence, rather than take the latest shortcut trend. I'm sure the balls help for a few things, but adding them to any random exercise like db shoulder presses, bench, or curls (seriously) seems like a way to do nothing more than gimp that exercise. Balancing takes practice, but I'm curious if that's more muscle memory than muscle development, know what I mean?

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Some of both I'm sure, some of which is useful. I think of the difference between free weights vs. free bar vs. machines. Machines teach the smallest number of muscles, while dumbells require all sorts of sub-groups to stabilize. The small movements you do get more practiced, that's the memory, but I think the stamina required is probably leading to development.

I agree there are some insane things out there, and I've seen plenty a non-fit person being taught exercises that only seemed designed to create a dependence on the trainer i.e. they couldn't be done alone and no one else does them. However, what's winning me over is seeing very muscular people signing up to do these things, some of whom I've seen over time improving.

[dhairya.livejournal.com]

That's because his last name is Hackley.

[coronalrain.livejournal.com]

I have always been a fan of working the core muscles. I have some old back problems and it helps to keep things nice and stable:>

So I have a question for you, how do you fight gym burnout? I have been hitting the gym for going on 15 years now and well I am starting to really have to force myself. I used to love it, but lately it feels like torture. And I vary my workout all the time to prevent boredom. So what to do you do to prevent burnout?

[vicar.livejournal.com]

I...don't know. I wish I had more time for the gym. Vanity? Lots of mirror attention? Picturing myself as/doing porn? Being insecure and always thinking of the application of those muscles to a fighting scenario?

I don't know - I don't get burnout. I enjoy the gym, the pain, the hours of mindless stuff in my life. Perhaps going to law school prevents burnout in the gym?

[coronalrain.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I like the mindless part where I can zone out and focus on something else, but I guess I am just getting burned out about it. I still go cause of my crazy insecurities and all that, but it is definitely getting hard

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Well boxing hooked me - maybe you need to do a class where someone else takes control and you just follow orders, but unlike work it's good for you and otherwise doesn't suck? I hear spinning is a real ass kicker and fun to do.

[coronalrain.livejournal.com]

That's what my dance classes and yoga classes are for. I am trying to up my dance classes but with the work schedule it can sometimes be a bit of a juggle;> I have wanted to try spinning. They offer a few classes at my gym. I should check it out

[vicar.livejournal.com]

That may be a really good answer, one I hadn't thought of. I do work out in the gym, but it is very varied. I box twice a week and lift once or twice a week, but then I'm outside running twice a week (or biking) and hiking as well. So there is a lot of different stuff going on - I think if I did the same class 4 times I'd go nuts.

[coronalrain.livejournal.com]

The thing is with my recent travel schedule I have gotten a bunch of 1 - 2 week breaks. When I am on travel I mainly rely on lots of walking and yoga/pilates since there is no gym there. You would think that would help break it up huh? Maybe I will try taking the breaks at home too. Tony does want to get some bikes....