GymMouse45’s BodyBlog

I have taken my workout outdoors to take advantage of the summer heat. I am using TRX straps to do pushups, rows, curls, and triceps extensions, my trusty kettlebell to do swings, snatches, and cleans, and then finishing up with sprints around a school track. It feels great to change things up and get away from all of that "conditioned air." I think it must be the southerner in me.

I picked up a great idea from the hotel gym on my vacation. The gym kept a small refrigerator with wet hand towels in the workout room. It felt great to pause between sets and wipe down my face and neck with an icy towel. I have started putting a wet washcloth in a plastic lidded box in my fridge a couple of hours before my workout.  Try it, it feels great!

Spent last week in the Florida Keys soaking in the sun.  While I was lounging around the pool, I would estimate I saw between three and four hundred different people in their swimsuits. Out of all of those people, the number who exhibited thick, lean muscle was…one.  There were a few young guys who were lean (its easier to have a six-pack before you are old enough to drink a six-pack).  Curiously, among the over-thirty year olds at the pool, all of the fit and lean people were women.  When you spend an hour a day at the gym and look at the photos on this site, its easy to forget that even modest fitness accomplishments will place you among the physical elite of the general population.

Nothing is more motivating to my fitness program than a looming beach vacation.  When I was younger, it was the vanity aspect of wanting to peel off my t-shirt with pride.  Now, at my age, I have long accepted the reality that most of the girls on the beach just view it as gross when an "old man" like me walks into view.  I do, however, want to have boundless energy and strength to bodysurf, swim, kayak, and hike trails, so that is my new motivation. Of course, it doesn’t hurt if I catch some forty- or fifty-something, buff woman giving me an appreciative glance.

I was reading an article on President Obama’s fitness program. It seems he works out early morning, six days a week for 45 minutes or so, alternating weights and cardio.  I think he looks great.  I am rethinking the kind of body I want to achieve, and President Obama and former President Bush are a heavy dose of inspiration.  So, I am now aiming for "presidential fitness" which I am defining as more of a lean, athletic physique rather than a bulky muscular look.  Less "Marine Corps sergeant" and more "leader of the free world."  Less Roman centurion and more commander of the legion.  I think the new look will be more achievable in light of my work and family obligations.  And, I might finally look good in a nice suit!

Alright, I have to rant.  For the past couple of weeks, I have read a flood of bodyblogs and comments making fun of "the January people," the "newbies", etc. with everyone rolling their eyes and making fun of them.  I just want to point out that we should be encouraging people to better themselves.  Every one of us was a newbie at some point.  Some of those "January people" will stick with it and turn into "year round people."  So, let’s cut them some slack and try to be a little more welcoming.  There, I am done ranting, hopefully for the year.

I made progress last year but it was a lot slower than I had hoped.  This year, I am going to set more modest goals so I can enjoy the "thrill of victory" more often. Its time to get started. The year is already one percent over! (more…)

Life intrudes. So busy at work this week, I could only manage three short workouts. Tried to make them hardcore but felt guilty sneaking out of the gym with only a few beads of sweat staining my clean, dry shirt.  Next week will be different (or so I hope)!

Had to do an extra strength workout this morning to make up for the chicken wings I had for dinner last night (yes, I had fries too).  Anyway, boxing this morning and the treadmill this evening will, hopefully, train away my sins.

I want to graduate to running (slowly) on the treadmill so I went out and bought a pair of expensive running shoes.  Now, I feel like I am running on fluffy clouds as I shuffle along.  Life is good until I get the credit card bill.