no1stunna’s BodyBlog

Several posts ago I wrote about running with an awkward object in hand.  Well, this morning I was at it again - with a twist. 

I ran this morning with my rubik’s cube.  I have solved it several times and know several basic ways of doing it.  However, solving it when running was a completely different creature - in fact, I did not even come close.  Runing was more difficult as well.  I ran 3 miles, really slow, and while looking up at the street and down at the cube - back and forth, back and forth….

Needless to say, the run was very frustrating and difficult.  It was mentally challenging and took a lot of focus.  Also, it was physically challenging because I was unable to use my arms for three miles.

no1stunna

Give it a try.

Well, the Shamrock Shuffle is complete. My goal was to run the last mile (5mile race) in under 7:00. I don’t know if I did that yet, but will soon when I get some more detailed results. All-in-all, the race went well and I am happy with my results.

This was my first race and there were 35,000 participants. My final time was 36:49; I finished 1901 out of 35,000+ runners. Perhaps, what I am most happy about is that despite giving it my all I had great recovery and am confident that I could have ran some more that day.

I have decided that based on the race, I am going to run a a half marathon this summer as well as compete in my first triatholon.

Legs tonight - and shadow boxing.

No1StunnA

Is it just me, or is there some intersting competition going on with regards to the "most visited" bodyspace page?

Here is today’s workout:  10 mile fast bike.  4 sets of the following: 1/4 mile run; 10 squats; 10 lunges per leg; 40 calf raises; 50 left crunches; 50 right crunches.  Today I went light weight with everything and jogged the quarter mile runs.  I really want to run the race well Sunday so I am trying to go in with fresh legs.

I am four weeks away from a much needed break from weights.  A few days ago I had one of those "I don’t want to be here" days in the gym.  Since then I have had two good workouts, but I can just feel that drag coming.  I gave up sweats for lent and my body is surely missing sugar.  I need to start eating some peanut butter and whole wheat bread somewhere in my day.

A few posts ago I also wrote about running with an awkward object in hand - excellent workout.  I am going to run with something in my hand tomorrow to supplement an otherwise slow short run.

No1stunna

For the first time, in a long time, I had one of those days when I just did not want to be there. Actually, more precisely, I did not mind being at the gym, I just struggled mentally and physically with every rep! I hate that!

Here was my workout: 10 minute fast bike. 2 sets of the following with as little rest possible between exercising: max pull-ups; 25 incline; max push-ups in 30 secs; 30 squats with heels raised (bar only); 15 dips; 15 lunges per leg; 50 crunches; 25 side crunches per side; 15 military press; 20 barbell curls; 20 triceps extensions; 20 hammer curls; max sit-ups in 2 minutes; 20 incline sit-ups.

That full body circuit was tough - even tougher because of my state of mind.

I have discovered that working out is sometimes a lot like examining fine wine (not that I know a lot about it though). And here is why: To me, for the most part wine is wine - I have a hard time tasting fine distinctions. So basically, when I drink a glass of wine at a nice restaurant I am getting a colorful drink and a quick buzz. A friend of mine is a wine connoisseur. He certainly digs on wines. He exclaims, and I believe him, that when he focuses on the wine in his glass, not only does the wine taste better, but there is a lasting and lingering taste as well. Moreover, the wine brings out flavor in the food that is otherwise unnoticeable. My bud certainly does not drink wine for that romantic buzz.

What I suppose I am getting at, in a long-winded kind of way is that lifting weights and taking care of your body is not or should not be about that quick little pump or bicep peak - like wine is not just about the quick buzz. Instead, I am finding out that lifting weights, like wine, has secrets. When you focus on a barbell curl and forget about "how much weight you are doing;" when you think about your form, how you breath, and think about going all the way up and all the way down - that little curl affects your body in lots of ways; much like how focus takes a sip of wine from ordinary to extraordinary. Like how my friend enjoys all of his hidden wine taste secrets, focus helps me enjoy weight lifting’s secrets i.e. that a well performed curl will get my bicep larger, but more importantly stronger, which will in turn help my should, which will in turn help my chest, which will in turn help my back… .

So, next time you lift, bring a bottle of Shiraz with you. Stunned

I gained a pound, the world must be ending - run!

Here is today’s workout.  2 mile run (completed in 12:20 - personal best).  3 sets of the following:  25 flat bench; 50 crunches; 20 military press; 20 tricep extensions; 20 incline pushs; 12 arnold press.  2 sets of the following: 25 crunches; 25 leg lifts; 25 left crunches; 25 right crunces; 25 double crunches.

Today’s workout was not that tough.  I did get a great sweat from from the run, however.  I believe that I am fully recovered from the milk incident now.  I cannot believe how long bad milk stays in your system.  I think what might amaze me the most with regards to the entire milk episode is just how well the Muscle Milk was able to cover up the sour and rotten taste.  Muscle Milk should consider my story for a new promotional marketing scheme.  I would do it for little cost.

Day off tomorrow…so see you all on Sunday.

Regars, No1Stunna

Ok…I did not die, but, if you look at my weight chart is sure looks like I did!

Today was my second day of boxing.  No sparring tonight, but a lot of shadow boxing - man does that is some work out!  I also signed up for swimming today.  I know how to, I think, but I am trying to mix up my cardio work outs to get max results.  I start in one month, one day before my week long Vegas trip - at which, I might really die - a week in Vegas!  Yikes!

Today’s workout: Boxing class (1 hour)

10 minute bike, max pull-ups, 20 curls, 15 curls, 10 curls (increasing weight), 20 wide-grip pill-downs, max pull-ups, 20 narrow grip pull-downs,  max pull-ups, 20 reverse pull-downs 20 curls, 15 curls, 10 curls (increasing weight).

50 crunches, 50 leg lifts, 50 double crunches, 50 left/right sit-ups.

4 mile run (completed with a 6:40 avg. mile - fastest four mile run)

With my race just over a week away I was very happy with my run.  I felt like I could have gone a bit faster too - so that’ good.

(Have I used too many hyphens in this post?)

Tomorrow is a tough day - and it’s a Friday so…

Anyway, off to watch the NCAA tourney.  I picked UNC.

stunned

Well, it’s been a tough week in a lot of ways.  I guess I’ll start with this: I found that the easiest way to cut-up is to get food poison.  Unfortunatley for me, I drank bad milk with my Muscle Milk…..nasty….just nasty!  I spent the week eating all easily digestible carbs like bread and banans.

Yesterday I did get back into the gym and it was an excellent workout.  Here it is: 15 minute run followed by 3 sets of the following: 20 hammer curls; 20 tricep extensions;  20 cable curls; 20 military press; 20 inclinde push-ups.  3 sets of max push-ups in 1minute, max sit-ups in 1minute. 3 sets of max push-ups in 30 seconds; max push-ups in 15 seconds; maxsit-ups in 15 seonds.

Last night I also had a great workout as well at a great spot in Chicago called Nine.  Here it is: 1 ceaser salad; 1 caviar; 1 porterhouse; side of steamed mushrooms; side of sauteed spininch; sampling of apple pie; sampling of pecan pine; cotton candy; and miniture ice cream cones.

I am still stuffed.

I also started boxing this week.  That is just and incredable workout.  I must say I love it.  Sparring is awesome, but awkward at first.  I will right more about this later.

#1stunna

last easy workout for a while:  max pull ups until 75 total, in between sets for rest I did the following (after 1st set 2 sets of leg extensions, after second set 2 sets of leg curls, after the third set 15 squats; after the fourth set 5 dead lifts; after the fifth set 50 sit-ups with a 10lb weight)

This took me about 25 minutes.  It did get my heart rate up, which provided a nice, but not crazy sweat.  I had the day off today, the third Monday in four that I had off…it can be nice working for the govt!
I am excited about running my 5 miles tomorrow, I want to see what I can do.

stunned out with some 6 inch diameter shades

Despite eating over 3000 cals yesterday, I lose 3lbs… I am writing this one off based on the fact that I weighed in about 6 hours earlier than I normailly do, but still…come on!

Today was an extremely tough workout:  [4 circuit sets of]: 1/2 mile sprint, 30 squats, 15 lunges per leg.  [4 circut sets of]: max pull-ups, 10 leg extensions, 15 leg extensions, 10 wide grip pull-downs, 10 reverse grip pull-downs, 10 squats, 20 bicep curls, max sit-ups in a minute.

This one took a while, and took a lot out of me.  It was quite the leg and back workout though.  The good news for me though is that the workouts get no easier this week:)

stunned

Ok, if anyone wants a killer workout, here it is.  But be forewarned, drink your prework out energizer, get your rocky playlist rockin, and slap your face a few times before starting!

workout: 15 minute jog; 3 sets of the following with 30 rest between each excersise: 25 bench press; 20 tricep extensions; 20 push-ups;  max push-ups in one minute; 20 military press; 50 crunches; 20 tricep push-ups;  20 dumbell push-ups.  next, 2 sets of the following: 50 crunches, 50 left knee crunches; 50 right knee crunches; 50 reverse crunches; 50 double crunches.  Last, 3 mile run.

Damn that was hard…but good.  It is the fast pace that really gets to ya and makes you take some deep breaths.

The next two weeks are full of tought workouts for me.  These next few workouts are going to push my limits. What is great is that I am running an 8k titled the Shamrock Shuffle in downtown Chicago on the 25th, which means after a few weeks of tough workouts, I can rest a bit the week before the race…perfect.

the stunna#1