Make it work

Friday is here capping off anothter light week of work.  Heading into the final weekend before our trip, so very excited about that.  Spent a lot of the extra time learning about writing resources online, thanks to my sister-in-law's generous help.  I was surprised at how advanced our library system is with all of it's online access to materials.  I guess that's some indication of how long it's been since i've been there.  Still, next week I'm planning to make a physical trip there and check some things out to take with me perhaps.

Fit Topic of the Day
Getting it in - My workouts went pretty well this week, as I got in all the ones I wanted to.  However, I did get derailed a bit on one day and so I shortened my plan for that day.  If you've been keeping a workout log or enjoy a specific routine that you or your fitness pro wrote for you that's great.  One of the more common things said to me is, "I had everything ready to workout until...."

Stuff happens, believe me I get it and can completely relate.  You send Billy outside so you can workout in peace only to have Billy come back inside crying because he stepped in some nice mushy dog shit that is now tracked in through your back door.  Perhaps your 1/2 hour at lunch was interrupted by someone else's incompetence which you have to now fix.  Whatever the reason you got kicked off of your schedule and have maybe 1/4 of the original time you alotted.

Instead of losing the whole days workout lets find some truth in the saying, "something is better than nothing."  Choose the most challenging exercises on your plan and just do those.  You won't like them any better than if you'd had the whole time available and if my client's grumblings are any indication they're usually the best one's for you to be doing.

Shorten the number of sets you are supposed to do.  Even if that means you only get through the workout 1x for each exercise, that's ok.  Your joints, tendons, muscles, and brain all got a little lubrication and satisfaction from the activity.

Me and My Ipod:
Squats, 6 count (slow) pushups, Ball crunch with Dumbbell.
WTF with Marc Maron: Richard Lewis episode

Rediculously Fit person of the day:
Namdi Asomugah - Cornerback for the Oakland Raiders Philadelphia Eagles.  So long Namdi, it was nice having you on the team but, I completely understand why you left.
Apparently, according to a Yahoo piece on the trade, this guy is so crazy good(and Fit) that they have to lower their standards to calculate how often opposing quarterbacks throw to him.

I knew you would read this

Once again, another light day.  I'm not usually one to complain about a lack of work but it's getting rather ridiculous(HA).  It's not all bad though, I believe I may have psychic abilities.  I came back down to the studio early for a workout thinking the whole time that my client was going to call and cancel, which, in fact, he did.

Is it possible that I manifested this ocurrence via my negative thought energy leaking out into the cosmic consciousness and then transmuting itself into depleted battery acid in his car?  Or did the cosmos know that I wouldn't have made sure to get my own workout in if I knew he wasn't going to come in?

Fit Topic of the day
Personal Motivation.  Planning and getting started are the most difficult parts of beginning and maintaining and exercise routine.  I'm not usually one for bulletin board quotations but I felt truly inspired by this one.

It's an f-ing brilliant quote from my favorite(only) podcast, "WTF with Marc Maron".  He interviewed Comedian Nick Thune who expressed feeling uneasy about getting an hour long spot at a big festival when he was still relatively new.  Worried that others felt he hadn't waited in line long enough to deserve this spot, Marc interrupted with this gem, "There is no line.....only waiting."

If you believe there is a line to wait in, you will always be waiting in that line.  I can't start my exercise program until I do 'X'.  As you probably have found out, in addition to 'X' there are a whole set of letters  waiting to be completed.   Instead, try telling yourself that there is no line, there is no need to wait to begin anything.

Stew on that young padawan.

Me and My Ipod:
Forward to Reverse Lunge Alt legs, Dumbbell Fly on Ball, Seated CHEK press, Standing Deltoid raise x3 sets
Treadmill 20 min - Genius mix: The Heavy, UNKLE, Snow Patrol, Kasabian etc.

Heal Thyself

What's going on with me today?
Thanks for asking.  Today was a pretty good day all around.  Worked a couple of hours in the AM with my Saturday regulars, then came home to get ready for a golf day with my dad.  I haven't been able to play as much as I'd like to so it was great to get out.  Hot day but not too bad with a nice breeze most of the afternoon.  Shot a good score for me but we won't put that out into the ether just yet.  Let's just say that I know how to build a better golfer but a lesson or ten wouldn't hurt.  Below the national average for men though so take that!

Fit Topic of the Day
Been having a little trouble with some IT band syndrome recently.  Not a big deal but it's a creeping reminder for me to make sure I'm stretching regularly.  The IT band is a thick length of tendon-like tissue which runs down the outside of the thigh attaching at the top outside edge of the tibia in your lower leg.  It's generally involved in assisting larger muscles with knee flexion.

For a lot of runners, ITS can manifest as knee pain.  For me it is more connected with the outside of my left hip.  The band connects with the Tensor Fascia Latae muscle and is responsible for abduction thigh and flexion of the hip.  Experiencing pain at either location, however, can usually be treated using the same technique.

Grab that foam log that nobody uses at your local gym.  Lie on your side with the foam roller under the outside edge of your knee.  Press as much of your body weight as you can stand onto the roller bracing yourself on your elbow.  Slowly begin sliding your leg up the roller keeping as much pressure as you can onto the outside of the thigh.  If you feel a particularly painful spot on the way up, stay on it for 10 seconds before moving on.  In total it should take you about 30 seconds to go from the knee to the hip.

In my case it was sore enough to be painful to sleep on.  Rolled it out 2x day for 2 days and did a lot of stretching for my booty and was good to go for 18 holes.  Slept like a foam roller last night too.

Me and My Ipod:
18 holes of golf - no ipod
Dog walking and yardwork - Metalica, Iron Maiden, the Sword etc.

Ridiculously fit person of the day
Ronde Barber - Cornerback Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  14 years in the NFL?  You have to be in some ridiculous shape for that.  Seems like a much better guy than his twin brother Tiki also.

Better late than never

Uhh....good afternoon (taps microphone sheepishly).  Welcome to ridiculously fit!  I'm Jason, and this is my first time doing a blog so we'll see how this all goes as a group.  What is 'ridiculously fit'?  Well, it's been something bubbling in my mind for a while now and it's finally evolved from a smelly soupy goo into an almost coherent idea.

What's going on with me today?
Today was a light day amongst an ongoing set of light days.  I'm not too worried, clients are still speaking to me but it seems like everyone is going out of town at the same time lately.  Makes for long boring days of 2 clients in the morning and 2 clients in the evening.  That middle part of the day is getting to be a yawner.

However, you benefit by being witness to the birth of my multimedia empire.  Here is my first blogger word salad post.  I am also writing up a piece about golf fitness for potential publication (fingers crossed).

Fit topic of the day 
Resistance training.  I know I shouldn't, and I'll feel bad about it later, but I'm going to generalize for a moment.  If you are looking for a blog about fitness training you may have already begun some type of exercise program.  If so, in my experience, it consists of about 99% cardio training.  After trudging down to the basement, you throw on some 'Mad Men' or 'Battlestar Galactica' DVDs and off you go for 35 or 40 minutes.

Great job!  However, you are leaving out a whole host of fat burning exercises which can get you results quickly.  Incorporating some basic, even body weight, exercises into your routine can greatly improve the level of post exercise burn.  Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) is your body replenishing the energy consumed, removing waste, and lowering your body temperature to pre-exercise levels.  When you are still sweating at your desk an hour after your lunchtime workout you may have been feeling some EPOC effects.

You can achieve a high level of (EPOC) from cardiovascular training alone, or by incorporating a few resistance circuits to your workout you can get a much bigger spike.  Perform single sets of squats, pushups, lunges, planks with a faster paced 10 minute cardio interval 3 or 4 times in your 40 minute block and you will be pitting out your shirts all day long.  An extra stick of deodorant can take up space in that candy drawer you keep telling yourself not to replenish as a bonus.

I would enjoy some audience participation so send me an email with a question, rant, or pleasant thoughts.

Me and my Ipod:  Back Squats, Chest press on ball, static lunge with cable twist, side flexion on ball - x3 sets
20 minutes on treadmill - WTF with Marc Maron - Christopher Titus episode.

Ridiculously Fit Person of the day
Pro Golfer - Camilo Villegas