VPIV’s BodyBlog

I am sure that all of us are going through the agonies and extacies of training. I love to be in the gym working out, I hate the thought of going, but once there it’s a different story.  I now am having to go to three different gyms for specific workouts due to the lack of equipment they have. It’s a pain in the rear end, but we all have to make the best of things.

I am pleased as far as my Hammer weight workouts are going and the barbell workouts. each time I try to push the limits that little bit further, either in reps or weight. Like everyone here on this site, I just want to do my personal best for myself, and get to the end goals.

Today is no exeption, I will go to the gym(s) and do more. It’s a natural drug that I wish more people would take. The obesity levels in this country and back home in the Uk are sooooooo out of control. It’s sad.

My lower back is sore, and my calves are still screaming at me, even though it’s been a couple of hours since I ran! I’ts a good feeling to know that getting out there and getting it done is not so much a chore, but a welcome reprieve from day to day things. Once I am out there running, the world seems a distant place, with just me and the music and the sound of my feet hitting the ground.

Sunday is 12K day. Well actually 12.23K. The other days I’ll do either 2.6 miles or 5.2 miles. Tomorrow is an hour of weight lifting class at college and after that is my normal workout. So, no doubt the rest of my body is going to be sore, a the joy!!!

Have a good one, in whatever you do.

Happy thanksgiving to all. I don’t really celebrate it, coming from the UK, it’s not something I do. I am thankfull though of many aspects of my life.

Today to me was just like any other day. I went for a 2.6 mile run and found it nice to see so many cars in other peoples driveways. Obviously family and friends celebrating the holiday. Americans are a much closer bonded nation than some I ahve lived in. You rally round, help when it is needed, go out your way to do things for each other, even if you’ve not been asked to.  It is honestly great to see complete strangers doing something for others with no thought of payment or admiration.

Running around the route I take I really wish people in other countries, even my own could see what I see and take a leaf out of the American way of holding family and community together through whatever life has to throw at them. I feel at home here.

Happy Thanksgiving 

Sunday’s for me is cardio day. I love cold weather road running and cycling. There is nothing better to get multiple layers on,  good music to listen to and just get out there and run/cycle. Last winter when it was minus whatever and blizzard weather, I was out there. This fall/winter will be no exception. I do have to get a new bike since the last one was stolen from my front yard!

I usually do a 7.2 mile multi-terrain run and then get straight on my bike to do the same route in as fast a time as I can. The foot run I measure with a polar heart rate monitor and the bike run with a bike lap/speed tracker. 

I do not understand the mentallity of people not to track their workouts? I have seen, and I am sure you have to, the amount of people wandering around the gym without knowing what the hell they are doing, or what they done last week! I want to know where I started from and where I am going with my workouts. If you dont track your progress, I suggest you start, it will save you a lot of second guessing!

Anyway, I am off to have a good run…keep in there.  

I had to be at the college for a couple of clients that had personal training sessions at 5.30pm. So I went earlier to have a workout for myself. If you go to my workout history you will find it there.

Pushing yourself in every exercise is a good feeling to have. It makes you feel empowered and that you have achieved something. Even when I’ve done an exercise and not been able to either do the required reps or not the required weight as before, it makes me want to do better the next time.

One of the best cardio workouts I do with my clients and for myself is the rower. It is by far one of the best cardio pieces of equipment out there. It not oly helps with the heatr, lungs and cardio vascular system, it also incorporates upper and lower body function as well. Most of the large muscle groups are used. I usually incline the rower with at least 2 cardio steppers and have the strokes per minute up to 30+. The time is usually set at either 2-5 minutes. It works for me!

 Another thing I do for myself and my clients is exercise variations. It is always good to adapt and change exercises, even though it’s for the same body part. I have seen individuals do the same routines every time they are in the gym, and they wonder why they are not making any headway.

I enjoy my workouts, I enjoy finding new and different exercises to help me help myself and others. Variation and experimentation may lead to having a better and more successful workout and outcome.

Stay with it, every little bit counts to where you want to go.

Just finished with another weight lifting class at the college. So far on the five bits of Hammer equipment I am using I am doing fine. Leg press 450lbs x 4 reps x 3 sets. Hi Lo 280lbs x 4 reps x 3 sets, Lateral seated row 240lbs x 4 reps x 3 sets, hand gripper 200lbs x 4 reps x 3 sets and lastly the bench press 230lbs x 4 reps x 3 sets.

I will be going back in to the fitness room for another workout. i am enjoying the fact that I can concentrate on MY workouts. Dont get me wrong, I love doing my job and seeing the changes in people that I help, but working on my own body is a task I have not been able to do for a while now due to work constraints.

So here I am, yet again trying to do what I have done before, lose weight in general, tone in general and be in as good shape and health as I can possibly be.

Over the last few months I have let myself go, to such an extent that I feel physically sick when I look at my body. Some may say it’s my age, just genetics kicking in, others may say that my workload has done it. I say it’s a bit of both and the added fridge grazing that I’ve been doing.

 Let me tell you something, no matter how good you are at keeping fit and healthy, some times you fall off the wagon and hit the ground with a thump. I know the problems, I know what I have to do do, and I know that it’s just down to me to get back up there and be the best I know I can be.

I should know better that most and but maybe less than others, I have been in the fitness industry for over 5 years now. I have taught fitness classes, been a personal trainer (still am) and been a college fitness coordinator. I am ex-military, ex-EMT, and played sports for most of my life.

I will over come and be the person I was before, it may take a bit of doing, but thats whats we are all here for. To be the best that we can as individuals.