MovNat - Natural Exercise

This is an interesting video... there's a mix of barefooting, primal/paleo, martial arts, and natural exercise! Pretty cool!



Looking into MovNat more and it looks like a pretty cool philosophy!

Reading into what the paleo/primal/cavemen, barefooters, vegans, vegetarians, muscle-heads, and everybody else has to say is very interesting.... BUT, in my mind every one of them is a bit too extreme in one way or the other. Each one of them has something to offer, but won't open their minds to other possibilities. I want the benefits of each, without giving up the blessings/advancements of technology, etc. And I do think that is possible! The human body is probably the MOST amazing thing that exists, and I want to utilize it to the fullest!

Quote of the Week - 31

"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair."

- Douglas Adams

Insanity Week 7 - Fit Test 4

I had to wimp out of the Max Interval Circuit today... after the fit test I was DEAD. I think I'm getting a bit sick, or getting over something.

I went shopping with my wife and got a HEAVY set of shelves that I had to bring in by myself since I definitely didn't want my wife who is 40 weeks pregnant to help!

Here are the results of the latest test:

• Switch Kicks - 129 - 130 - 140 - 156
• Power Jacks - 63 - 68 - 67 - 79
• Power Knees - 106 - 113 - 122 - 118
• Power Jumps - 65 - 65 - 75 - 79
• Globe Jumps - 11 - 12 - 14 - 14
• Suicide Jumps - 20 - 24 - 25 - 26
• Push-up Jacks - 44 - 44 - 47 - 50
• Low Plank Obliques - 92 - 100 - 107 - 110

I was surprised I improved in the areas I did. On the Power Knees I was on track to do better, but then suddenly I got a strange ache in my weird shoulder and couldn't do it as hard as I had been.

The past two weeks have been crazy good workouts, but also very strange since we are expecting this baby to come ANY moment and it is causing problems with timing. Hopefully soon!

The Last Airbender Trailer

I recently started watching Avatar: The Last Airbender again, I'm on the last couple of episodes. It's a great show that I enjoy watching on my own or with my kids.

So I hope that M. Night Shyamalan does a good job with this!

From the Olympics:


From the Superbowl:


We'll see in July!

A Man Should Smell Like Jetfighters and Punching!

I really do like Old Spice Products - but I like them even more since these commercials came out.



I also suggest going to OldSpice.com and then checking out their tips on romancing your lady. Awesome, Man!

Now THAT's a Snowblower!

This is definitely something I need soon.



Unless I move away from Winter, which would also be nice.

Heck I'd take one anyway!

(via The Great White Snark)

Spiderman!

While this is definitely cannot compare to Baman Piderman, this is real life - AWESOME!





Maybe I shouldn't have thrown away those old vacuums I had. Now I'm sad.

Quote of the Week - 30

"People who get nostalgic about childhood were obviously never children."

- Bill Watterson

Bouldering at Home

I need to do this in my house.



Okay that would most likely be difficult to patch up when I move though...

I definitely want to boulder more though!

Awesome!

(from Zoomdoggle)

Everybody Gets Knocked Down

How quick are you going to get up?


Human Chain from NikeSportswear on Vimeo.

(via Bloody Elbow)

MORE Ukulele Action!

I could have sworn that I had posted Videos of Jake Shimabukuro and other Ukulele amazingness before, but I might not have. So I'm imagining things again...

In my defense I'm ridiculously tired from late night barf-clean up duties

Ah HA!  I found the post I was thinking of.

So here we see him again - this time performing "Bohemian Rhapsody"



Amazing!

And cuz just ONE Ukulele video isn't enough - Here are some Ukulele-ing Crochet animals!

Angry Scubaists and Beaker! Oh and Old Spice...

I just think this is very funny!

Drag the little street view guy to the spot and RUN AWAY!!! Awesome!

And it's time we got us some more Beaker!



Aww... Poor Beaker!

Finally - this commercial is awesome.


I need to find the deoderant commercials they're pretty funny too...

Quote of the Week - 29

"Shut out all of your past except that which will help you weather your tomorrows."

- Sir William Osler

Insanity: Fit Test #3 and Max Interval Circuit

WOW.

I am SO tired. Beat. Dead.

I decided that I would start going back to the Ab workout class at work. Today, being one of the days that class happens (M, W, F) I'm wondering if that was such a good idea. Great ab workout, but adding that on top of Insanity is just MORE insanity!

I'll see how this week goes then re-assess my situation then.

So today's Insanity Schedule was to do the 3rd Fit Test, followed by Max Interval Circuit (great review there) - the first of the TRULY Insane 2nd month of workouts. YOW!

First, here are the results of this Fit Test (Exercise - 1 - 2 - 3, you get the drill!):

• Switch Kicks - 129 - 130 - 140
• Power Jacks - 63 - 68 - 67
• Power Knees - 106 - 113 - 122
• Power Jumps - 65 - 65 - 75
• Globe Jumps - 11 - 12 - 14
• Suicide Jumps - 20 - 24 - 25
• Push-up Jacks - 44 - 44 - 47
• Low Plank Obliques - 92 - 100 - 107

I actually did better than I thought I would considering how tired I've been today! Except of course for those Power Jacks.  I'm not sure how I could have gone faster than I did today last time... but oh well. Overall I'd say the improvements are satisfactory.

Max Interval Circuit is 59 minutes long. I would suggest reading the review linked above - it explains it very well. I will say that 59 minutes is LONG, but it really is bearable and quick enough that you don't feel TOO bad at the end. I'm surprised I made it through!

Now for the scary part - just past half way pictures. These were taken when I had about 20 minutes left, so you can see how difficult this workout is!

I was trying to show the improvements in my quads in a couple pictures, which is why my shorts look funny, but there you have it. Sorry you had to witness that!

Week SIX Begins!

I just finished the 3rd Fit Test - which you do BEFORE you start today's workout.

YIKES!

I'm SO tired. Not to mention I did the Abdominal Workout Class at work today too!

Results and thoughts tonight, with (kinda) mid-point pictures as well!

Violence in the Superbowl!?

I never would have guessed...

Oh the COMMERCIALS you say?

That's all right then!

Art Blogs! (Yeah... I forgot...)

Somehow - I'm not sure how really, my most recent list of new blogs I'm following did not include the section that has grown the most! ART! I can't believe it. There are so many that I won't link them here - but a few I really really like I will link.

And here they are:

• The Pencil Test -Sci-fi and Fantasy Awesomeness. Seriously every time this guy posts I'm VERY impressed.
• Art Order - This blog is a good source for new art and blogs - it's the blog of the Sr. Art Director for Wizard's of the Coast, or Dungeons and Dragons - contests and tips galore it's really cool.
• Avalanche Software Art Blog - Collaborations of a company - they come up with some really cool stuff, and again a way to find more inspirations! They have themes they do that are really fun. The most recent, Disney Princesses!
• Cosmo Animato - Awesome Characters and Illustrations
• Crayon Box of Doom - One of my favorite blog titles - amazing landscapes and illustrations, also found occasionally on the Avalanche Blog as well. The artist's 'Sketchpad of Doom' blog is pretty dang cool too!
• Don Kenn Gallery - I really really dig the spooky and quirky old-time feel to his drawings!
• Garrett Hanna's Art Blog - A really good mix of different styles - this guy is definitely well rounded.
• Gurney Journey - James Gurney, the creator of Dinotopia, has a really cool and informative blog. I love seeing how and where he gets(got) his ideas. I loved the art of Dinotopia when I was younger (and still do now) so I was excited to see he is still busy (and good!)
• I Am ADDam - another Avalancher - I really like his ideas.

Halfway through the alphabet I think I am done for today. As you can see by (especially) the last description - my brain is starting to stop working! ((if it ever started in the first place!)) So I'll leave this list and continue with the second half later!

Barefoot and Persistence Running

Some interesting videos on Barefoot Running:



and Persistence Hunting (or 'WHY we were built to run'):

Quote of the Week - 28

"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience."

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Some New Blogs I'm Really Enjoying

If you follow me on Twitter you may have noticed a few days back I mentioned there are WAY too many blogs out there that are just amazing.  I figured it was about time I shared some of them with you.

Health, Fitness & Well-Being Blogs/Sites:

• Mark's Daily Apple - This blog is seriously impressing me. TONS of information about the 'Primal' Lifestyle which is definitely interesting - but overall there is just a lot of really good information about health and making healthy choices. The video from the previous entry was first seen by me on this entry about 'Health Suicide' which is a good list of things NOT to do.
• Zen Habits - According to Wikipedia (Yay Wiki!) Zen Habits is one of the MOST visited blogs on the internet. Crazy. It's new to me! So hopefully you'll find some good stuff here as well. The newest entry on 'How Not to Hurry' is really good. We all need to slow down - plus I love the Lao Tzu quote there! (yeah it'll be on a QOTW sometime!) I also found a lot of these sites on this list from this entry. I almost don't need to finish this article because the worst (and best) thing about finding one good blog, is you usually find LOTS more once you find one. They link to each other!
• Zen to Fitness - This blog (more Zen? I'm really liking the philosophies lately - Balance, Minimalism, Flow) is a great source of finding balance in a healthy lifestyle.
• Fitness Blackbook - This site is a bit more contemporary - Hollywood, if you will - but still has a lot of really good stuff.
• Fitness Spotlight - Currently Fitness spotlight is at the end of a 30 Day Challenge with GREAT tips throughout those entries. I recommend checking them out.

 Mixed Martial Arts Blogs:

• Bloody Elbow - There are lots of MMA blogs out there - lots of good ones. Good commentary, analysis, etc etc. Bloody Elbow is just one of them - really the information doesn't differ a lot from site to site, so I'll just list a few of them here that you can check out if you want. If you like MMA I would suggest checking them out and finding the one whose 'voice' you like best.
• Cage Potato
• Five Ounces of Pain
• MMA For Real
• MMA Mania

 Random, Fun, or Funny Blogs:

• Awkward Family Photos - Holy Cow! People are crazy,creepy, hilarious, scary, weird and just plain nuts! This site really makes me laugh.
• Awkward Stock Photos - Not as funny as AFP above, but still awkwardly silly. Most of the time.
• Passive Aggressive Notes - It's funny to see the many forms of passive aggressiveness. (Sometimes some language, cuz people ARE jerks sometimes!)
• There, I Fixed It - You've probably had Family, Friends or Coworkers email you pictures from this site. It's awesome!

AAaaaaannd I think that's all for today. I hope you can find something you enjoy, and Happy Reading!

It's February!!!

Wow this year sure is zipping right along!

To motivate you a little bit - and mostly to remind myself to stop making excuses...



Wow. I love Nike commercials!