Gone Primal

As my beautiful wife documented in her blog we have decided that with this new year we would start The Primal Blueprint 21-Day Total Body Transformation as outlined in the book of the same name... (If you buy the book through that link I supposedly get money... but nobody ever has so I don't expect to!)

If you've never checked out Mark's Daily Apple - you really should! (I don't get anything if you click on that link)

It is a valuable resource for anybody interested in health regardless what you believe on the whole Caveman/Primal idea. Some of the articles get a bit wordy but I don't think they are anywhere near as bad as Mercola for wordiness!

For an intro to what 'Primal' is, check it out here.

I've mentioned before how my biggest issues in my quest for physical perfection (ha ha) were the 3 S's:
Sleep, Sugar and Soda
This lifestyle change removes the 2 consumables (no sugar which pretty much cuts out the soda for me cuz I don't do diet!) and has some strong suggestions for improving sleep (Turn off electronics earlier and go to BED). That is really hard. I think the sleep is actually harder than avoiding sugar, as my night time ritual of staring at the computer screen is currently my wind down time and my "Me-time" with no kids running around peeking over my shoulder, etc.

So far (day 3 of the 21 day challenge, then after that you modify it to fit your personal needs) I feel great! I'm probably sleeping better already (although the first night I stayed up too late...) and it hasn't been THAT hard to avoid the candy and Mt. Dew (although MAN it is tempting at the grocery store checkout lines!) We got some decent sparkling water at Costco and I picked up some surprisingly delectable High Cocoa content Dark Chocolates so I think that helps!

After work today my fitness challenge is to do 2 rounds of as many pushups, squats, pullups and plank (for time) as I can. I'm pretty good at all of those so we'll see how I do after work!

Finally, I've started a Tumblr photo blog for ease of cool inspirational picture sharing (Fitness, Yoga, Personal progress in Fitness and Yoga, Pirates, Steampunk. You know, the usual!)
Feel free to follow me over at warlordblade.tumblr.com

Fitness Updates!

Finally updated my even more neglected Fitness Blog - Check it out if you'd like!

New Fitness Goal

As you can see over on my sadly neglected Fitness Blog, I have a new Ab goal. So this is right next to Muscle Ups!

Full Ab Roll extensions from standing! Like this guy:



Wow!

New Workout Everybody Should Consider

Videos seem to be the theme this Month

Which is really fine by me!

I've seen this before, but for some reason I thought I had posted it here. Strange.

Oh well! After the MacAskill videos, we need some non-bicycle parkour too!



(there is some language at the end... that guy wasn't very smart! Plan ahead if you're going to do this!)

New Fitness Blog

Usually I think one blog is plenty for anybody to deal with.

Lately I've been feeling the need to get motivated to focus more on fitness, so I decided I'd try a 2nd blog to be my Fitness record/thoughts/motivation.

The Fitness Adventures of Warlord Blade

This blog will still focus on all the other random things I usually blog about.

Thoughts, advice, suggestions, desires are all welcome. Thanks!

Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay

Two weekends ago I participated in the Ragnar Relay's Utah race, The Wasatch Back with my awesome team.
"We Arrrrr Pirates Out Chasin' Booty!"

The course runs 188.2 miles from Logan, Utah down through the mountains and lakes of Northern Utah ending in Park City. Teams of 12 runners switch off running 3 legs each for an average of about 15 miles per runner.

(Read on after the break)

Post Sickness Workout

Like I mentioned yesterday, the Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back race is one week from tomorrow, and being sick was majorly cutting into my training.

So even though I didn't think I was feeling 100% physically (although mentally keeping that positivity!) I made myself run (in my VFF Sprints today - still not quite used to 'em yet):



Ran up through my old neighborhood and talked to the parents of one of my childhood friends. With a rainstorm approaching it was really a VERY nice run. I was also trying out a knee strap to see if it helps my knee. It did help, but didn't completely remove the problem. So today I'm going to try a more traditional knee brace sleeve.

I felt REALLY good, a bit tired at times, but I was able to keep a *MUCH* better pace than even before I was sick. I think a big reason is that finally I've been able to REST more than I have been, closer to the amount of rest I should be getting.

As I was cooling down so I didn't need a shower after my shower, I decided I should do some pull ups, so I did 15 wide handed pull ups, 15 close handed chin ups, 10 parallel pull ups, and 10 more close handed pull ups for a total of 50! I was pretty happy with that!

So I guess the moral of the story is - make sure you get enough rest. It'll improve your overall energy, your MOOD will majorly improve, your stress will go down, and life will be GREAT.

Now if I can just take that advice myself for the next week! Maybe I'll have to implement a bedtime for the next few days!

The Terrible Two S's

In my attempt at physical perfection (hahaha), I have been fairly successful, but I still have a long way to go.

There are two major obstacles to achieving my ideal - and that's what I call "The Two S's"

SUGAR and SLEEP

Too much of one, not enough of the other.

Amazingly this week I have been able to keep myself from Soda and candy, but it is really hard. Right now I am really wanting some Mt. Dew or Skittles.

I have been meaning to write this post for quite some time - and I think I'm finally doing it now because I need it to HELP me stay strong!

I plan on researching more on Sleep and Sugar and putting what I find here. If you have any tips on how to stop snacking I would appreciate it. Honestly what's the point in replacing one with more snack type food even if it is healthy?

Our society has made it seem like we need to be eating or snacking constantly! I don't think that's a good thing.

Power, Grace, Control

As I get older (yesterday, or just an hour ago, was my 31st Birthday) I feel like I'm not able to move as well as I used to.

However, at the same time, in some ways, I am stronger and able to move in ways that I never could 10 years ago! So I need to remember that I am actually better now than I was then.

This video is an amazing display of a Ukrainian handstand artist. Powerful. Graceful, Such control! It makes me want to be stronger and in better control of my body.

PULL UPS!!!

I love pull ups.

In some ways I'm good at them, but that's just BASIC pull ups. No bells, whistles, oohs or ahhs.

I may have mentioned this blog before - but there is an interesting blog pretty much dedicated to pullups. Bar-barians

They just posted these two videos that show some things/pull-up moves I definitely am striving for.

AWESOME.





Sorry I am posting so many videos lately and not having many other posts... It's been pretty busy lately!

Of these moves my first goal is definitely the 'Muscle Up' - It's HARD!

A Mile in Shoes

You often hear the adage "Walk a mile in his shoes" - as a means to understanding.

I ran a pretty quick mile (for me!) in my new shoes last night and I definitely don't understand them yet!

They are very light and quite lower profile than even my Nike Free's I've been wearing for too long.

I wonder how long it will take before I'm loving these shoes? I don't dislike them now, it's just taking a while to get used to them.

Final Fit Test

I finally got off my lazy butt and completed the final Insanity Fit Test - only 3 days later than I was supposed to do it - but gimme a break, had a newborn and a sick two year old I was dealing with (more the two year old!)

So here are the results:

• Switch Kicks - 129 - 130 - 140 - 156 - 157
• Power Jacks - 63 - 68 - 67 - 79 - 80
• Power Knees - 106 - 113 - 122 - 118 - 125
• Power Jumps - 65 - 65 - 75 - 79 - 85
• Globe Jumps - 11 - 12 - 14 - 14 - 15
• Suicide Jumps - 20 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 28
• Push-up Jacks - 44 - 44 - 47 - 50 - 58
• Low Plank Obliques - 92 - 100 - 107 - 110 - 124

 Not bad if I say so myself.

*HOWEVER*

I must admit that I think the biggest improvement is actually in the INTENSITY at which I push myself to do these workouts. Beating your previous 'score' is a pretty good motivator to 'improve'. Still, I am glad that I consistently improved in these areas. It was definitely tough!

When my wife does it in a month or so I don't think I'll do the FULL program but I'll definitely do a LOT of it. I'm not sure there is much point in my doing the fit tests with her every time.

We'll see!

Awesome Workout

I really like that workout... That type of workout is very intriguing to me. Hopefully I can use interesting surroundings to get a good workout as well!

I found this on Mark's Daily Apple, which I've mentioned before. I just found out the other day he was the guy who formulated the P90X supplements and is on the videos after some of the workouts. I guess he's not affiliated with Beachbody anymore (as a side note I'm not currently affiliated with anybody and never have been if you've wondered! No benefits to blogging for me!) but I thought he looked somewhat familiar.

The END of INSANITY!

Such a good movie.

The 60 days of Insanity are DONE. Almost. All I have left is the final fit test which I might do tomorrow, but I might wait until Monday.

Insanity is a great program - I really enjoyed getting my butt kicked every day of these past 60 days, and it's a bit daunting to me that it is done and I don't have a program to follow again. Going forward I think I will concentrate on some quick runs (3 Miles or Less), pull ups, and Workouts of the Day from American Parkour and others. When my wife recovers a bit more from having a baby less than a WEEK ago (!!! My girls are SO amazing and adorable !!!) she is planning on doing Insanity - I am going to do it with her, but possibly not 100% of the program. I have the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay in June I'm preparing for, so I want to mix stuff up a LOT. Another round of Insanity definitely wouldn't hurt though. :)

So on to the scary part now.

After Pictures! I attempted to make a before-mid-after collage, and I'll get 'em eventually, but for now... Here are the after-pictures!!

((WARNING)))

((SCARY!!!))

SEE - Don't say I didn't warn you!

There really was a significant change in my mind - so I am quite happy with the results of Insanity. I'm not completely satisfied with MY progress yet though, so I gotta keep going!!

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!

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!

Everybody Gets Knocked Down

How quick are you going to get up?


Human Chain from NikeSportswear on Vimeo.

(via Bloody Elbow)

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!