I Am Doing the Weight Room Wrong...

So, for the past few months, I have been hitting the weight room pretty consistently. I can really feel myself getting stronger than I was and it has been a good change of pace from the typical S/B/R that I have been doing for the last 8 years or so. It has been fun and I wish I could figure out a way to continue to lift on the same schedule and get all triathlon training, but who has that sort of time? So I plan to continue to got to the gym for the rest of the year, while working in some swimming, and maybe the elliptical machine to try and lose some pounds.

And, I will admit, the weight room has had its "eye opening" moments. Sometimes I think I am doing it all wrong and if I cared, it might even be intimidating. Let me list out the Top 10 things I am doing wrong at the weight room.

1. I don't wear all black. Now I like to wear a sleeveless shirt when I lift to let the guns shine in the light, but it seems I should be wearing all black. Shorts, shoes, hoodie, headband or hat. I know black is supposed to make you look thinner, but I thought the whole point of going to the gym was to get swole!
2. I am wearing the wrong headphones. I have been wearing my in ear buds, like the ones I use when I go running, but apparently that's not right. It seems that I should be rocking Beats by Dre headphones, wireless beats by Dre headphones when I lift. I gues it gives you that extra umpffttt when you need it.
3. I don't have a duffle bag I carry. I am not sure what hey all have in the bag, but I don't have one. I just walk right in and get to work.
4. I also don't carry around a shaker cup. You know the cup that people have to shake before they can drink out of it. Maybe they don't know about the water fountain right outside the door, maybe it is some super supplement that helps them recover faster, I don't know. But I think I need to get one pretty soon.
5. I don't slam the bar down on the ground and grunt. Ok, I get this one, really I do. We all want people to think we are strong at the gym and what better way to let them know then to make a lot of noise and let the weights come crashing down? That way they have to look over at us in admiration or utter fear of our strength, but come on, is that necessary?
6. I only use one machine at a time. I have seen many "bros" setting up multiple machines so they can really get that burn going. It's weird cause they do about 3 reps and move to the next one and repeat.
7. I don't sue a mouthpiece. Yeah, I am not sure about this one at all.
8. I have never taken a selfie while working out. Instagram is full of weight room selfies, and I dunno, maybe it's like taking a picture of your dinner on FB, but I think its odd to have someone film you or snap a picture.
9. I re-rack my weights when I am done! Nothing is more frustrating than having to take off plates from some lunkhead that was using the machine before me. there are signs posted for a reason "bros" so take the time and re-rack them please.
10. I work legs.

So do you have any weight room shenanigans going on at your gym? If so, let me know what you are doing wrong!  But, always remember this:

A Triathlete in the gym...

Yesterday my wife and I went to lift weights at our local gym. This is probably the 2nd time I have set foot in the weight room this year. I have just never really been into weights, it's been all about the swim, bike and run for me. Besides, when training for a race, who has time to add weights to the mix?

Well, races are over for me this year, and I am gaining some weight, so I need to do something. I am not interested in large miles running  (more than 5) right now and I am not interested in sitting on my trainer, so that leaves swimming and short runs. I thought about trying to start another run streak, then I thought about trying to make it into a run/swim streak for 30 days but running just for a streak doesn't really motivate me, but then the gym happened.

I actually enjoyed lifting yesterday. Now my wife had to show me how to work some of the stations and how to make the right adjustments, which did not make me feel weird at all, but it was fun. There were several machines that I think can really benefit me, mainly the machine that works your hip abductors. (I have never seen another guy on that machine, but who cares right? And now you know which machine I mean)

So today, Monday, I am already feeling it from yesterday, which I suppose is a good thing. It is also surprising how little strength I have. I admit I am weak. So what I am lifting is not important to this post, but I think I am going to work out a swim/run/lift plan. It seems so foreign to me as a triathlete to not work out everyday, and I am not sure how to work out the lift/run, swim/run or lift/swim days of the workout. So it all could change. But this is my plan (you should know by now that I am big on planning)

Sunday- Run, lift run

Monday- Run, swim, run

Tuesday- Run, lift run

Wednesday- Run, swim, run

Thursday- Run, lift run

Friday- nothing

Saturday- run (4 miles)

With this schedule, I can run to the gym, which is about a mile each way. This would give me about 12 miles running a week, I could swim 2500 yards a week and lift weights 3 times a week. I am not sure about you, but that looks like a recipe for success. Now if I can only eat better...

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!!!!