The official GR Weightloss/Exercise/Work out diary thread.

[chocolate cake]

I just took my second PowerFlex class, feels great.
My shoulders and arms stayed sore for around 5 days last time.

[wnoodle]

A 67 year old man provides a little inspiration for us:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WOxdNaOygk&fmt=18

[premium]

Originally posted by wnoodle
And sometimes if you feel hungry, drink a glass of water instead. We often mistake thirst for hunger, so instead of satisfying the actual craving we take in unnecessary calories.

^^this is too true.

I've been drinking veggie/fruit combination juice at least once a day.

I don't get a lot of veggies in my diet so this has helped me get some of the vitamins that I know I'm not getting.

it tastes like fruit juice but leaves a veggie aftertaste. kinda strange...

also, trainer had me doing handstand pushups last night.

I didn't know I had something like that in me!

now I know the next time I get drunk at a party, I'm going to be crawling up a wall backwards to show off, LOL.

[funboy]

I wish I didn't hate exercise so much. The best I can do regularly is walk for about 40 minutes, 3-5 nights a week, over hilly ground. It's good exercise, but I wish I could really start working out. I am just too lazy and I won't be able to make myself do it alone. But I have discovered that once I cut certain bad foods out of my life (I mean most of the time, without banning them outright) I don't even miss them. I haven't had bread, cheese, chocolate or pizza in a couple months- and I am fine. Not going all crazy and shit. I'm proud of myself, because I found out my blood pressure was higher than normal last year, and now I probably won't have to take meds for it. By my birthday in March, it's possible I'll have to start eating more so I don't go too far and become too skinny. That will be nice, I've been too out of shape for my liking.

[wnoodle]

Originally posted by premium
also, trainer had me doing handstand pushups last night.

I didn't know I had something like that in me!

The gorilla and shark say it all:



I find it really gratifying when I suddenly find myself able to do something I never thought I'd be able to do previously. It's good motivation.

Made an appointment with the previously mentioned trainer today, will meet with him on Thursday. Then I'll see just how fit I am

[premium]

it IS good motivation.

now i have a new goal...walking on my hands, lol.

speaking of trainers and fitness,

i'd like my trainer to work out with me.

have her do everything that she has me do.

just to see if it even phases her.

[wnoodle]

^ That's something I think about too. If a trainer is putting me through the wringer, I expect them to be able to do better or at least keep up, otherwise credibility begins to come into question. It's a point I make sure to address whenever I've worked out with friends, or been asked to train them, I'll never ask them to do anything I wouldn't do myself.

Today I tried out the 'Crazy 8' workout, a small routine by Craig Ballantyne of Turbulence Training. Consists of 3 circuits of the following with a 1 minute break between circuits:

60 x Jumping Jacks - done as fast as possible
20 x Spiderman Pushups
20 x Walking Lunges (10/side)
20 x Spiderman Climb (10/side)

Wall Squat - hold for 60 seconds
Planks - hold for 60 seconds

5 x Burpees
50 x High Knees (25/side)

See the entire routine's instructional here

Surprisingly leg intensive but felt pretty good afterwards.

[oxfarmer]

Does anyone know good cross-body exercises? I just found out about this and it seems interesting but I don't know much about working out.

[premium]

not sure what "cross-body" means...

sounds interesting.

[premium]

Originally posted by wnoodle
I'll never ask them to do anything I wouldn't do myself.

My trainer has actually said "Now, I can't do these, but I know that you can."

made me laugh. to be fair though, she's only like 5'2" and probably 90 lbs.

[premium]

Originally posted by wnoodle
See the entire routine's instructional here

ha, he's wearing chuck taylors.

also, he really JUMPS when he does burpees.

i feel like i'm jumping high when i do them,

but i know i'm not jumping as high as he is.

guess i gotta step it up.

[oxfarmer]

not sure what "cross-body" means...

sounds interesting.

Not really sure myself. I guess it has something to do with the connection between hand and opposite foot. I know that's really general but that's all I know.

[wnoodle]

A quick Googling of "cross body" turned up a bunch of exercises that basically incorporates a rotational aspect. For instance, a standard dumbbell bicep curl travels on a vertical plane, instead, perform the curl from your standard starting position upwards to the opposite side shoulder while rotating your torso in that direction. This concept can be taken further to incorporate more of the body, an example would be woodchoppers (two variations here and here); it's a nice way to bring one's core into play while working out but don't dismiss other training methods, everything brings something to the table... Except for those that cause permanent injury

Originally posted by premium
ha, he's wearing chuck taylors.

also, he really JUMPS when he does burpees.

i feel like i'm jumping high when i do them,

but i know i'm not jumping as high as he is.

guess i gotta step it up.

Chucks are the weight-lifters shoe of choice, but not so much for other things (I'm one to talk, I exercise barefoot). A few weeks ago I saw pics of CrossFitters wearing Chucks and wondered "why those shoes?", then I learned it's cuz they're flat and stable for heavier lifting, and you won't blow out any air sacs or whatnot if you overload on weight.

I don't max out my jump either, partly cuz I'm trying to conserve strength but mostly cuz I don't want to pound the floor too hard and disturb the people downstairs

[premium]

kind of the impression i got from googling the term.

one exercise that might fit the bill is this:

lay on your back with one leg in the air and the other leg flat out on the ground.

loop a red stretch band around your foot and hold it tight right up next to your laces with the hand on the same side of the body as the one that has the leg in the air.

reach up and touch that toe with your opposite hand while holding your leg straight.

i've come to realize that i really suck at describing exercises.

[shammy718]

cannot wait for my lunchtime workout!