Shift Happens

I've had a few shifts in the past few weeks.  Some changes, albeit small ones, have occurred.  In retrospect, the small changes have allowed me to change trajectory, which has led to a break from routine thinking and actions.

This caused some distress at the time.  For example, throughout March and early April, I was traveling a lot and performing in a local theater production.  All of this had impeded my ability to train consistently.  When the chaos of traveling and performing slowed, I injured my wrist.

Add to that a crazy number of papers to grade, assessments to develop, and a few projects to orchestrate at work, and I have found myself experiencing overload without my usual training there to work out my stress.

All of this has provided me the opportunity to take actions based on the data and to see the results of those actions.  I've seen myself stay calm even though I couldn't train.  I've even decided not to train, even though I've had the time, without feeling guilt.  That is a new one for me.

I've watched first-hand as the world did not come crumbling down because I didn't move over 100,000 lbs. in a week.  I'm really quite shocked at my serenity about it all.

I'm learning more about myself that allows me to take some risks, try some new paths.  As a result, I find my thought processes are shifting.

My thinking can consume me.  I get so wrapped up in my internal workings that I often tune out the external stimuli right in front of me.  Every time I look externally to guide my decisions and get out of the spiraling inward focus, I do better.

Every time I do better, I become better at making changes that are positive.  I can't wait until the newest Gym Movement course Bio Psychology.  Yeah, I'm going to totally eat all of that up.

And come back for seconds and thirds.  Can't wait to see what Frankie Faires is cooking up in Movement Kitchen!

A Little Poetry

One of my favorite cartoon strips has been The Far Side.  Remember those? The following Far Side strip has stuck with me for a couple decades.  I believe I first came across it in college.  As an English major and poet, I found it particularly hilarious. 

Imagine a cow's deepest desires.  Now imagine if that cow could express those desires. That, my friends, is "Cow Poetry:"

Honestly, does it get any better than this?

After what happened to me last week, I feel compelled to write my own poem in the tradition of "Cow Poetry."

Distant Bells

The kettlebells call to me.

Their black smoothness seduces my heart.

Oh how I want to snatch and swing.

Oh how I want to clean and press.

Alas, I cannot.

Damn the Cheer bottle!

Damn the Cheer bottle!

Huh?  Cheer bottle?

Yep.  I pushed through the elements of effort when trying to open a bottle of Cheer detergent.  (I swear the thing was super glued shut.)  As a result, I messed up my right wrist. 

I didn't think it was so bad, just a little strain on it.  Then I moved furniture this weekend - mattresses, a couch, tables, recliners, chairs, totes full of household items.  Yeeeee Ouch!!!!!!!!

So, I'm forced to rest my wrist.  That means non-specific movement for me for awhile.  I've been doing some contra-specific movement, which has definitely helped.

Alas! I've learned to be aware of the elements of effort in everyday life as well as in the gym.  Damn the Cheer bottle!

What! No Swings?

Today was the first day in a long time swings did not test well.  Bummer!  I was hoping for a large poundage moved today.  Body weight drills were all the rage with my ROM today. 

Circuit - 4 Rounds - 22 min. 30 secs 

Overhead Lunges - 12 kg 
Left - 32 reps
Right - 32 reps

Jumping Squats  

60 reps

1 Leg TRX Pushups 

40 reps

1 Leg TRX Squats 

Left - 32 reps
Right - 32 reps

1 Arm Inverted TRX Rows
Left - 40 reps
Right - 40 reps

Tomorrow there will be no training.  I'll shoot for Thursday again.  Perhaps I'll get to swing big then!

Sunday Fun Day

My bootcamp gang and I got together again for another fun training session on Sunday.  Two of the guys in the group are in a local weight loss competition.  They are looking so good!  So far, they are in second place for weight loss and third for activity minutes. 

We did a deck of cards workout using four movements that tested well.  Eights were wild cards, as were jokers.  When a wild card comes up, we do an animal or primal movement.

Diamonds - Swings - 170 lbs. 
87 reps = 14,790 lbs.

Hearts - Pushups 
87 reps = 6525 lbs. 

Clubs - Rows - 16 kg 
87 reps each arm = 6090 lbs.

Spades - Burpees  

87 reps = 6525 lbs.

Wild Cards - Animals / Primals  

40 yards of bear crawl, crabwalk, bunny hops, lizard crawls
30 seconds of planks, mountain climbers, pike jump to jump up, falls
175 reps of slalom jumps

Obviously, we put the wild cards back in the deck and did them more than once.  This deck took us 45 minutes to complete.  I moved nearly 34,000 lbs. with the regular drills.  Add the animals and primals and I'm over 40,000 lbs.

That 45 minutes made my whole week.  I needed that workout to feel like myself again.  Thanks to the gang!

On With the Show - This Is It

Overture. Light the lights.  This is it.  We'll hit the heights.

Opening night of the play.  Let the fun begin! I got in a quick training session after work, so now I am ready. 

Circuit - 12 Rounds - 25 minutes

I alternated Swings with other drills.  I'd do 15 swings followed by a set of another drill.  Here's the final tally.

Swings - 170 lbs. 
180 reps = 30,600 lbs. 

1 Arm Rows - 20 kg (44 lbs.) 
Left - 18 reps, Right - 18 reps = 1584 lbs. 

Reverse Lunge to High Kick

Left - 30 reps, Right - 30 reps 

1 Leg Pushups 
36 reps

Windmills - 16 kg (35 lbs.)
Left - 24 reps, Right - 24 reps = 1680 lbs.

The Play's the Thing

Whereby I'll spend five nights this spring. 

This is the week of performance for the play I'm in.  Tuesday-Saturday.  It's so fun, but so time-consuming.  Once Saturday gets here, I'll be wishing it were Tuesday again.  *Sigh* 

I did squeeze in a quick training session today.  I'll be happy if I can get in a couple more this week. 

Burpee - Swing  Circuit - 17 minutes

1. Burpees - 100 reps

2. Swings - 170 lbs. - 150 reps