Is it Time...

I wonder if it is time to start this blog again? I mean, do people still read blogs now that Instagram and Snapchat are so popular? Time will tell I guess. I even thought about changing the title of this blog since I m no longer racing, however, I am still training. I have really gotten into being in the weight room lately.

90 Day Challenge- Join me???

Welcome 2015 and welcome all the "new" me's and better eating habits we will all have this year. As with every January, I have been hit with several challenges to start off 2015 the right way. I really looked into these challenges and I have finally focused on a couple (meaning 3) that I am going to participate in and I have one I want to share with you!!! But here are the two challenges I have accepted for the next 90 days, beginning Jan 5, 2015.

1.  The church I attend has issued a challenge to read one chapter of the Gospels everyday for 90 days. This doesn't sound all that difficult does it? Many years I have always tried to read the Bible through in a year and I have failed. I struggle with finding a quiet time, but I can always find time to train!  That seems messed up right?
2. Drink water with all my meals. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will all have a big O glass of agua to wash it down. (Okay, I count coffee as my water for breakfast). I always agree with people when they say I should drink more water, but somehow I am tricking myself into drinking by saying I am going to have it at meal time, and not totally giving everything else up.
3. 90 Day Plank Challenge or 90 Core Challenge- This is most likely more up your alley as readers. I am going to really work on my planking for the next 90 days to build up my core strength, because I know a strong core will benefit my swimming, my biking and my running, plus it will make me look good! I have thought about doing Day 1 picture and then day 90 pictures, but I make no promises.

Here is how my planking challenge is going to work:

• On Sunday, will do a max out on plank time. Each Sunday, every Sunday.
• Monday through Saturday I will plank 5 times, letting me have one day to rest.
• I will take my max plank time and divide it in half, and then do 3 sets of planks for that time.
• Example: Last night I planked for 2:30. So my weekday workouts, which I will do on MTWTHF will consist of three (3) 1:15 planks, as my max time increases, then my weekly time will also increase!

Sounds simple huh? Will it work? I have no idea. All I know was that when I was serious about my core, I was doing 5 minute planks. I want to go longer. I honestly think I can get to a 10 minute plank. It might take longer than 90 days, but you never know. If I do hit 10 minutes, I will video it and out it on my blog! Who is with me???

FitSnap and Gravity Training

What up Peeps! This blog post is dedicated to two things I am currently digging on. The FitSnap app and my new gravity training system. So let's jump right into these two cool gadgets.

FitSnap:

This is a great app that solves the age old question "how do I post my workout to FB, Instagram or Twitter and still include a cool selfie?" Cause we all know that is what social media is all about, letting the world know how good we have it. In the "old" days, like in the 90's, we had this:

FitSnap let's you do all this in one easy app. It is a great way to document the all important running that we do, and you can also do it with like 50 other activities! If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, then you have seen my FitSnaps. And if you haven't, then go follow me!!!! I like the app and think it is cool. It's free in the App Store and I recommend it.

Gravity Training:

This is basically designed like a TRX system. I have some issues with my wrists which make it tough for me to go lift weights. With the design of the handles, I can use my own body weight to lift. Now I know I will not get huge using this, but for what I want it will be perfect. It is designed to be used on any door frame and is portable. I can position my body at different angles which will increase the "weight" of the exercise. When I was working out with my trainer in early 2014, we used a similar device and I really like it because it did not bother my wrist. I am also going to use it to focus mostly on upper body exercises and it is something I can knock out at home. Time seems to be harder to come by each day, so this is a good fit for me. I will let you know how it goes, but please do not ask for pictures :0 (cause I do not want any certain Redman opponent to get all nervous and because I am vain like that and will probably post them without being asked) I think there is a term for those shots called "belfies", like in a combination of selfie and body shot??

Anyways, those are my two cool finds for the fall of 2014. Let me know if you use them or yout thoughts on gravity training!

I'm Bringing Sexy Back & I know It!

This is how I feel at the weight room

As I alluded to in my last post, I will be working with a trainer in 2014, well at least for the first couple of months anyways. So just beware, I am Bringing Sexy Back!!! (My wife says it never left, at least that is what I interpret her saying when she says I got fluffy) This has put me in a very thought provoking frame of mind, or an uneasy mindset. I am not really afraid about working out with somebody, it's more of the fact that I do not see myself as a weight room type of guy. I am not a weight room loving, lifting weights in the mirror, sleeveless hooded sweatshirt wearing, yelling at myself type of dude! I honestly couldn't tell you the last time I was in a weight room... maybe in college? I am not sure. I walk by the machines and I really have no idea what I am suppose to be working on some of them, so my trainer's work is cut out for her!

I know this will help me greatly in my racing. I know I need a stronger core, and as I learned from last year, doing 10,000 crunches over a couple months did not give me the benefit I was looking for. I know I want to get stronger but not bigger, so basically I am looking to get lean. Which is exactly what I told my trainer, and her response was, well that also comes from diet!  Whoaaa!!! I do not want anyone messing with my diet! I recently read where some dude lost 40 lbs by only eating at McDonalds!!! (2 all beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onions on a sesame seed bun!!!)  So I am assuming I will really need to eat better and healthier, and I should since I am paying for this.

And you know that the best way to get motivated for any race is to pay the entry fee, I am all in. I am ready for Bosu balls (I think, sounds a little scary), ropes, body weight activities, kettle ball, medicine ball and stability balls. I will be sure and whine blog about my workouts, to keep everyone up to speed, and give you fair warning, cause summer will be here before you know it!

A Speedo on the beach this year!!!!

This Time is For Real! I Mean it!

I am serious this time. I have started mentoring a group on BeginnerTriathlete.com with Bradleyd3 from Brad's Ironman Journey. The group has been really cool and we have all levels of triathletes that have joined, so it will be great encouraging, answering questions and watching them hit their goals for the race season. So we decided as a group to have a group challenge for February. Several ideas were kicked around, but we came up with a core/ab challenge for February.

So what does that mean? It means that I (along with the others member of the group) will be selecting either a number of crunches we will commit do doing in the month of February, or we will commit to a certain numbers of minutes spent planking! Simple enough right? Well the hard part is coming up with that number or that time goal! So that is my struggle right now.

This idea came to me when my bride said her trainer challenged her to do 1000 crunches by their next session, which will be Monday. That works out to 250 crunches a day. That's a lot of crunches, but my bride can totally do it, so that has definitely influenced my choice between the two options.

Another blog I read always talks about doing core work. The author is a marathon runner, fast marathon runner that also does a huge focus on core work. I know that a strong core will really help me when I S/B/R. According to their blog, they do a ton of planking and crunches to strengthen their core and help them run better. So I have been really thinking over my goal for February in regards to the group, and based on the challenge my bride accepted, I think know I can get her to join me, so I really have some accountability going on up here! So with all that, I say this:

My goal is going to be 7,000 crunches in the month of February. That breaks out to 250 a day (which will have to be split up, I can't do all that in one session), or 1750 a week. My plan involves doing 250 in the morning and 250 in the evening, alternating every other day. I have no idea if this is doable or not, but in my head I am totally going to rock this. Regular crunches, side crunches, crunches with a stability ball will all count.

I am also going to photograph my before and after shots to see if I can see any difference! (and I better after 7,000 crunches!) So, I know what you are thinking, but to afraid to ask... I do not know if I will post them on the blog or not. Maybe is all I am ready to commit to at this time.

So throw the cokes out the window, start drinking tons of water, getting plenty of sleep, eating smartly and continuing on my training plan, and I "should" be ready by the time May gets here!

40 with a 6 pack???

I know most 40 year olds think of 6 packs having to do with beer, but that is not what I am talking about. I am talking about this old guy rockin a 6 pack. Is it doable? I don't know, but I don't know why it wouldn't be possible! Soooo, like I said in my last post, April is going to have an extra focus on abs!  The old abba dabbas! (Remember Body by Jake)

I have committed to adding an ab/core workout every other day to my triathlon training in the month of April. This is going to consist of the P90X Ab Ripper X, the Perfect Ab Workout (which is basically hanging leg raises) and some of the ab workouts that can be found on http://www.bodyrocktv.com/.  So I will be mixing up these three workouts in hopes of toning up the old abba dabbas!

Ab Ropper X, Hanging leg raises and BodyRockTV.com

But not so fast my friend, this is not the first time I have had this goal in mind. I think everyone has this grand idea on January 1, or when Spring Break is coming, or when we are going to the beach this summer!  All worthy reasons for wanting to lose the gut (it's not so much a gut right now either, let me be clear), but I have never achieved 6 pack status. So why will this be any different you may ask?

So, what am I going to do differently? I am going to focus on my diet as well this time and I am going to add these other 5 steps that I found on Livestrong.com. I have never focused on all of these things at once before. I always just started trying to bust out crunches, but I have a new plan, and I am going to lay it out right before your very eyes.

Step 1: Clean up my diet. Easier said than done I will tell you right now. According to Livestrong.com, all I need to do is avoid deep fried foods, processed foods, refined foods and foods high in saturated fats. Instead, eat foods that are nutrient-dense, high in fiber and low in fat, such as lean meats, low fat dairy, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and legumes.

Step 2: Get rid of liquid calories. Easier said than done my friends! I need to eliminate useless calories in the form of heavily sugared beverages such as cokes, sweetened teas and coffee. Instead, drink water, as it hydrates the body and has zero calories. This may be the easiest of them all actually.

Step 3: Work your ab muscles. Instead of just working the upper abs, do exercises that focus on the whole core in order to promote symmetry. As long as symmetry means my wife can do our laundry on my abs, then I'm down Livestrong.com, I am down!

Step 4: Cardio! Engage in cardiovascular training. If you intend on seeing your six pack after one month, you'll have to incorporate cardiovascular training to burn the layer of fat that covers your ab muscles. I think I have this covered.

Step 5: Get enough sleep. AMEN!  More sleep, yes!

So I know many of you are thinking that this post is worthless without pictures, and there might be some at the end of April if it works.

P.S. I started Monday night with the AB Ripper X DVD, and Holy Catfish I am hurting today, so that means it is working right? or it means I have a hernia!