The Best Shape of My Life!

This time of the year is always the best and the worst for me. I love the holidays (Christmas and New Year) because it gives me a chance to refocus my energy on the things that are most important in my life. I get to celebrate the reason for life in Jesus Christ, and give him honor, glory, and praise. I’m reminded at Christmas and New Year how special and unique I really am, and that I have a Creator that cares about me and that wants me to live well.

It’s also a wonderful time for me because I get to spend time with family I don’t get to see very often. My wife and I are fortunate to be from the same town, and so every time we go "home" we get to see both sides of the family. This Christmas, we got to see some extended relatives that we hadn’t seen in years (a couple of them, literally, years). So it’s such a great time of the year. Our daughter loves all the family…of course, at 17 months, she loves anyone who will spend time with her. 

Of course, it’s also a great time of the year because my wife and I are on break from work. So for us, it’s a time of relaxation and refocus, and just being with each other.

But, with all the good, there’s also the not-so-good. This time of year is the worst time for me as far as fitness and health are concerned. Most everyone that celebrates Christmas and New Year’s probably has this problem. Though I think I eat fairly well during the holidays (considering what I could eat), my diet pretty much flies out the window. Not only that, but the only workouts I do are usually just short flexibility workouts so that my body doesn’t totally stiffen up. I say this is the not-so-good because I wish I could get in a couple of really intense workouts. But it just doesn’t work out that way. Oh well. If this is the "worst" thing about this time of the year, I think I’m doing okay. I always pick it back up when I return to work in January. A week and a half isn’t going to destroy everything.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and I wish the best for everyone in 2008!

I did decide to go heavy with the weights at Bodypump yesterday. I couldn’t let a great workout go by the wayside, and since I had the opportunity not only for myself, but for the participants in my class, I went as strong as I could. Granted, I’m still not using a whole lot of weight, but for the type of workout it is, it’s not bad. Lifting a small amount of weight for 5 minutes straight at various tempos is more work than one might initially think.  

Squats = 30 kg
Chest = 22 kg, drop set to 20 kg
Back = 20 kg
Triceps = 15 kg
Biceps = 10 kg
Lunges = 5 kg plate (stabilizer work), Bodyweight
Shoulders = 2.5 kgs plate, 10 kg bar
Abs = Bodyweight, 10 kg bar

Saturday, I’m teaching another BP class. My gym is launching the new one. How exciting! I don’t know if I like the music as much for the new one as the one I was using, but oh well. It’s the workout that matters. Having inspiring music helps, though.

Have a great weekend!

1. Posted some new pics. Let me know what you think. They’re not the best…..

2. Upper body workout yesterday. A little sore, but not too bad. Switched up the exercises.

3. Lower body workout today. Again, switching up the exercises.

4. BodyPump will be Thursday for me this week. I had to switch classes at the gym, so I didn’t teach it yesterday. I might go really light on the weights this week so I can focus on the strength and stability in my own routine. Depends on how I feel Thursday I guess.

5. Enjoying a snow day right now. It’s freezing cold outside with drizzle and rain that will most likely turn into ice. Yipppppeeeeeeeeee! Of course, this means another day added in May. AGGGGHHHH!

Didn’t do as great as I could have, but it was late at night, my energy was gone, and I had to get through all the muscle groups. I’ve also changed the exercises that I do, so had to lower the weight a bit to make sure I didn’t injure myself.

Overall, though, it was a good workout, and I’m feeling tight in several places. So we’ll see how I feel tomorrow, and if I can, I’ll try to get another one in on Saturday.

Today’s Monday…..BodyPump day!

Warmup = 15 kg
Squats = 30 kg
Chest = 25 kg/20kg (drop set technique)
Back = 20 kg
Triceps = 15 kg
Biceps = 10 kg
Lunges = 5 kg (plate only option)
Shoulders = 2.5 kg plate, 10 kg bar
Abs = bodyweight, 10 kg bar

Tried to smack a racquetball around a bit afterwards, but I was too worn out. I’ve increased the weights for a lot of the major exercises, and I lose all energy and focus afterward. I guess that’s what a workout is supposed to do. At any rate, I’ll most likely be sore tomorrow.

Yippppeeeeeeee!

My racquetball partner is out of town today, and I don’t want to lift weights. I have BodyPump tomorrow, and it’s pretty intense, so I don’t want to get sore/worn out today. I guess I could get off my lazy butt and go run, or go to the gym and hit a ball around by myself…but I hate doing anything cardio-related by myself. I can bike by myself, that’s ok, but it’s so windy today that biking really wouldn’t be that much fun.

I know…I should do some cardio. It would really help the small gut that still protrudes past my waistline. But, just like most guys, I am really going to fight myself on doing cardio, unless I can find someone to go run/play with.

And, I have to take care of my daughter anyway. She’s taking a nap right now (that sounds like a great idea for me, too), and once she wakes up, I’ll need to give her all my attention anyway. So I think I’ll just relax today, maybe think about a new workout program, maybe run a bit on my own treadmill, and maybe just take a nap.

………….???????