Master Your Body: 2007-11-25

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Take Action To Better Yourself

"Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better."
-Pat Riley

You will find that there may be a time where you will not be able to perform a certain exercise. It takes a lot of patience and hard work to master any advanced exercise. You must believe that with practice and determination you will achieve that exercise in time. NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER SELL YOURSELF SHORT! As a trainer, I have heard so many people say I can never do that or I don't have an athletic body to do that exercise or that exercise is impossible for me. ALL THOSE STATEMENTS ARE WRONG! I believe that EVERYBODY has the potential to do ANYTHING! YOU JUST HAVE TO WANT IT! YOU MUST BELIEVE THAT WITH PRACTICE AND HARD WORK, YOU WILL MASTER ANYTHING!

The concept of motivation will help you to do better and to strive to perform any advanced exercise. Refuse to believe that you are incapable of anything. YOU ARE CAPABLE- the ability to overcome extreme physical obstacles. And of course my favorite concept, intensity allows you to accomplish many difficult goals that were previously out of your reach. DO NOT VIEW ANYTHING AS IMPOSSIBLE. So I leave you with these words to begin working on yourself both physically and mentally.

"There are no great people in this world, only great challenges which ordinary people rise to meet."
-Frederick Halsey, Jr.

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."
-T.S. Elliot

Workout Chest Challenge: Go Down The Line Without Resting
1) Windjammer- 6 minute Race- High Resistance Level
2) Peek-A-Boo Lying Chest Press (palms facing face/palms facing ears/palms facing away from face-shift at the bottom)- 3=1>10 times/Moderate Weight
3) Push-Ups- 10 times
4) Traveling Forward Burpees- 15 times/Rest 45 seconds
5) Peek-A-Boo Lying Chest Press (same as #2/shift at the bottom/complete 2 reps for each position)-
6=1>8 times/Moderate Weight
6) Two-Motion Push-ups- (2=1)-10 times
7) Traveling Backward Burpees- 15 times/Rest 45 seconds
8) Peek-A-Boo Lying Chest Press (same as #2 & #5/shift at the bottom/complete 3 reps for each position)- 9=1>6 times/Moderate Weight
9) Three-Motion Push-ups- (3=1)- 10 times
10) Traveling Forward & Backward Burpees- 15 times each/Do All Your Forward And Then Do All Your Backward

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: You have only about thirty to forty-five minutes after a hard workout to optimally replenish your stores of muscle glycogen (the stored form of carbohydrate) and halt the cellular damage that occurs as a natural consequence of exercise. The consumption of right nutrients within forty-five minutes after you exercise can dramatically improve how your muscles recover and, most important, how they perform the next time you work out.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Well-Rounded And Always Capable

"You cannot just tell people you're committed- You cannot just say you're dedicated- You cannot simply talk about your strength, your grit, your perseverance- You have to prove it..." -Lance Armstrong

I really like this quote and I believe that it is important to note that you should never prove yourself to anyone but YOURSELF! Your reward is KNOWING THAT YOU COULD! I especially like the ending part to this quote because I think that each and every one of you can fill in your own words and create a sentence that applies to you specifically.

Today, I want to touch on a few concepts that play a huge part to your SUCCESS IN FITNESS. The first is the concept of limitations when training your body. I was brought up to believe that you should never limit yourself...if you have a dream or a goal...don't second guess yourself, just go for it! When it comes to training, I think it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you do not limit yourself to one training tool or regimen. Always mix it up, always challenge your body in new ways, expand your training regimen as you improve, and ALWAYS STRIVE toward PERSONAL IMPROVEMENTS!

The next concept is variety when you train. I believe that variety is important because it always keeps your body guessing. Without variety training, your body will adapt to the exercise regimen and results will begin to plateau. Not to mention exercise will become downright BORING! You should always welcome new challenges and push yourself to new goals. You want your mind to remain fresh, excited, and motivated in order to achieve this.

And my last concept is a blend of strength and conditioning at the same time. Many have believed that you should concentrate on one area (strength) and then switch to the next area (conditioning). I feel that if this training style works for you, don't change it. I believe that training is an individual thing and I have always trained with high volume and a blend of strength and conditioning. I believe that you can get maximal results with minimal rest. I live by it and I guarantee that if you try this for 6 weeks, you will see a TREMENDOUS CHANGE! I think it is important to be WELL-ROUNDED at all times and ALWAYS capable of going the distance.

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Abdominal Challenge #1

NO REST Between Exercises/Keep hands on your head at ALL TIMES when you perform each Sit-up/Keep your legs bent on all Sit-ups/Watch your form and make sure you engage your belly button AT ALL TIMES/Control your motion and DO NOT USE MOMENTUM!
Unassisted Sit-ups- 10x/Hold #10 at the Halfway Mark for 20sec
Core Plank- 30 seconds
Unassisted Sit-ups- 15x/Hold #15 at the Halfway Mark for 20sec
Core Plank- 1 minute
Unassisted Sit-ups- 20x/Hold #20 at the Halfway Mark for 20sec
Core Plank- 1 minute 30 sec
Unassisted Sit-ups- 25x/Hold #25 at the Halfway Mark for 20sec
Core Plank- 2 minutes

Abdominal Challenge #2

DO NOT REST BETWEEN EXERCISES UNLESS IT IS STATED/USE THE SAME RULES FOR ABDOMINAL CHALLENGE #1/Substitute One Crunch + One Sit-up Twist/Twist for Plate Stand-ups if needed/Substitute Roman Chair Leg Raises for Hanging Leg Raises if needed
Medicine Ball Sit-ups (Unassisted)- 25 times/Explosive on the UP- 10 second count on the DOWN/Keep M.B. on your chest AT ALL TIMES
Hanging Bent Leg Raises- 3x15/Rest 10 seconds between sets/DO NOT SWING
Plate Standups/25 times/DO NOT MOVE YOUR FEET/Tempo- Moderate Pace/The lighter the plate the harder the exercise...CHALLENGE/PUSH!
Side Core Plank- Hold 30 seconds/25 Ups and Downs/Do one side at a time
Hanging Straight Leg Raises- 3x15/Rest 10 seconds between sets/DO NOT SWING
Plate Stand-ups + Sit-ups/(2=1) 35 times/DO NOT MOVE YOUR FEET/Tempo- Moderate Pace/The lighter the plate the harder the exercise...CHALLENGE YOURSELF
Side Core Plank- Hold 1 minute/35 Ups and Downs/Do one side at a time

CONDITIONING DRILL #4

In order to MASTER this conditioning drill, each exercise must be performed with perfect form and without STOPPING!

**Be sure that the BURPEES are ALL EXPLOSIVE...JUMP AS HIGH AS YOU CAN AT THE START/LAND IN A LOW PUSH-UP POSITION/EXPLODE BACK UP, LEADING WITH YOUR LEGS

**Make sure that the SQUAT HOLDS ARE LOW (THINK OF AN L-SHAPE/DO NOT LET YOUR BUTT FALL TOO CLOSE TO THE FLOOR)...SIT BACK ON YOUR HEELS AND ALWAYS KEEP YOUR BACK STRAIGHT

1) BURPEES- 15 TIMES
2)LOW SQUAT HOLD (15TH BURPEE)- 10 SECONDS
3) BURPEES- 12 TIMES
4) LOW SQUAT HOLD (12TH BURPEE)- 10 SECONDS
5) BURPEES- 10 TIMES
6) LOW SQUAT HOLD (10TH BURPEE)- 15 SECONDS
7) BURPEES- 8 TIMES
8) LOW SQUAT HOLD (8TH BURPEE)- 15 SECONDS
9) BURPEES- 6 TIMES
10) LOW SQUAT HOLD (6TH BURPEE)- 20 SECONDS
11) BURPEES- 4 TIMES
12) LOW SQUAT HOLD (4TH BURPEE)- 20 SECONDS
13) BURPEE- 2 TIMES
14) LOW SQUAT HOLD (2ND BURPEE)- 20 SECONDS

DEFINITION OF EXERCISES/LANGUAGE IN EXERCISE

1) Straight-legged to Heels-to-Butt Sit-ups- lie flat on the ground with your legs straight and your hands on your head. As you start to do a sit-up bring your heels in to your butt and tap the floor (*the closer the heels come to the butt the harder). As you come out of your sit-up and begin to roll-down straighten out your legs and make sure the heels touch the floor. It should be a smooth, contolled one motion.
2) Burpee In Place-start by jumping straight in the air and then landing in a squat position with hands on the ground. Kick your feet back into the downward position of a push-up. Thrust the feet up and push up with the arms simultaneously.
3) Traveling Forward Burpee- the same concept as the Burpee In Place the only difference is jump forward instead of straight up.
4) Traveling Backward Burpee- the same concept as the Burpee In Place the only difference is jump backward instead of jumping straight up.
5) Burp- also known as a stripped down burpee. Start low and tucked toward the floor. Kick feet out to the bottom portion of a pushup. Then, push with your hands, while thrusting the feet back to the beginnning position (which is low and tucked toward the floor). It is only a half way motion minus without the jump in the air.
6) M.B. or Plate Stand-Ups- lie flat on the ground with your feet planted on the ground. Beginners should use two dumbbells and place on feet. Hold a m.b. or plate over your head (*the heavier the db/plate the easier...the lighter the db/plate or no weight the harder). Quickly move your arms forward and start to sit up. It is very important that you use your arms for momentum and engage your abdominals. Once your arms pass your knees, quickly push forward with your legs, moving into a standing position.
7) Mountain Climbers- start with your body in a push-up plank position. With the hands stationary, alternate the feet back and forth. One leg should be tucked with the knee coming close to your chest and the opposite leg extended. Make sure to place your weight on the balls of the feet.
8) Grasshoppers- your body will begin in the same position you used for mountain climbers. The movement starts by bringing your left foot underneath the body until it touches your right hand. After touching your hand, return the left foot to the starting position and repeat the movement by bringing your right foot across the body to your left hand. You will be on the balls of your feet but when you bring your foot toward your hand you will land on the side of your foot.
9) Wall Sit- place yourself up against a wall and squat down until the thighs are parallel to the floor. Think about forming an L with the bottom portion of your body. Your back is supported against the wall. Hold this position for time. Do not place your hands on your thighs because this takes off the pressure in your legs. Absolutely no movement with this exercise.
10) Bridge- a great exercise that will develop strength and flexibility. It is a static hold that helps improve lower back strength. Start by lying down on the floor with your knees bent and your hands on the floor close to your ears. Lift yourself up with your abdomen pointing upward and with only the hands and the feet on the floor. Your body should create an arched position and you will maintain the upright position for time.
11) Aerobic exercise- means with oxygen. An activity in which demands of muscle for oxygen are met by circulation of oxygen in blood. Distance running, cross-country, skiing, distance cycling are all examples of aerobic activities.
12) Anaerobic Exercise- means without oxygen. Activity in which oxygen demands of muscles are so high that they rely upon an internal metabolic process for oxygen. Short burts of "all-out" activities such as sprinting or weightlifting are examples of anerobic exercises.
13) Burn- also known as "going for the burn." For instance, in endurance exercise, working muscles until lactic acid buildup causes a burning sensation.
14) Concentric- when muscles contract or shorten.
15) Delts- an abbreviation for deltoids, the large triangular muscles of the shoulder which raise the arm away from the body and perform other functions.
16) Eccentric- when muscles lengthen while maintaining tension.
17) Fast-Twitch- refers to muscle cells that fire quickly and are utilized in anaerobic activites like sprinting and powerlifting.
18) Glycogen- can be referred to as a full tank full of stored carbohydrates. Some of it is stored in the liver and some of it is stored in the muscles themselves.
19) Hybrid Lift- is two or more exercise done in one single movement. It is the inverse of a combo lift. For istance, performing a bicep curl while lunging.
20) Interval Training- is a short, high-intensity cardio exercise alternated with longer periods of lower-intensity cardio. It allows you to burn more calories, increase your speed, improve your power, and much more. It is more effective at burning fat while maintaining muscle mass. Combine this type of training with intensity will also increase your metabolic rate to amazing levels. This is because the work you do utilizes a greater percent of the body's muscles.

POWER THOUGHT OF THE DAY

TRADE AFFIRMATION FOR ACCOMPLISHMENT: Accolades fade quickly, but your accomplishments have the potential to make a positive impact on the lives of others.

TRADE IMMEDIATE PLEASURE FOR PERSONAL GROWTH: It takes an oak tree decades to grow, but it takes a squash only weeks. Which do you want to be?

TRADE EXPLORATION FOR FOCUS: The younger you are, the more experimenting you should do. But once you have found what you were created to do, STICK WITH IT!

TRADE QUANTITY OF LIFE FOR QUALITY OF LIFE: Your life is not a dress rehearsal. Give it your best because you won't get another chance.