"Running ... My Struggle"

So I went running today.  I really hate running.  I can do all other forms of cardio for a decent amount of time without “hating” it.  But running … I am miserable within the first five minutes.  As soon as I start I realize that my lungs are being taxed in a way that other forms of cardio just don’t cause.  I can almost feel every joint in my body as I take each stride – pound pound pound!  To make it worse I did this outside so I had to deal with the what goes down must come up phenomena.  That is, when I find an area of downhill that is a little easier, inevitably I know that an uphill area is coming.  I always sweat more outside and I have to wipe the sweat with my t-shirt.  And if I feel like I need to walk, just for a second, I feel like everyone in their houses or cars is watching me thinking I am a slacker.   And finally, to make matters worse.  I had one of those rare mornings where I woke up and felt like jumping out of bed to take on the world, and cardio before breakfast is always a sure fire way to fire that metabolism up and make you caloric burning machine.  Of course I had lost a bit of that enthusiasm about 20 minutes into my uphill climb number 3.  And then, because I believe many people including bigger men shouldn’t run much because of our weight and as such you really need to do solid stretches after and even a little before your run, the whole ordeal took like 45 minutes.  Yeah yeah – it felt great after I was done … I had accomplished great feat for the morning …I started my day off right … I hate running.

So why did I run?  Some may know that I am trying to get to 200 lbs. by summers end.  At this point – I might need to clarify that summer does not end until September 21^st or so.  Yes I am struggling.  Actually my workouts have been quite productive.  My issues have had more to do with “consumption” than output if you catch my drift.  I have a great workout partner and we are on a solid muscle maintaining/fat burning lifting schedule with a solid 30 minutes of cardio 6 days a week.   But those darned old weekends come along and with them comes “social gatherings”, a “drink” here and there, a nice dinner out and next thing you know I have all but negated much of what I accomplished over the week. 

My point with all this rambling is that it comes down to understanding that calories in and calories out is still very important.  If you have a desired goal – you have to have a plan of attack to tackle that goal.  We all have our struggles and even when we know the right things to do (even though a lot of us don’t) it is hard to consistently put into practice all of those principles.  However, when you feel that you have been struggling to reach your goals and even working against yourself at times, you may need to give yourself a kick in the rear and do something that you don’t really like doing just once or twice to remind yourself of what it is that you are working for and what you are trying to avoid.  And finally, don’t run unless you know how to take care of your body before and after. 

Thanks for reading

Andy

Keep Hammerin it Home ...

So I was watching Big Brother (guilty pleasure) and just in case you weren't keeping up with it, there is a former contestant competing on the show again this year.  He is a bodybuilder who actually has a really aesthetically pleasing physique.  I have actually seen this guy in person and he keeps himself in great condition and should be commended for that.  He is also incredibly arrogant and annoying a lot of the time and doesn't do himself a lot of favors with his attitude.  But I digress.   Another contestant made a comment about not working out for like 8 years and how he felt intimidated about being around this bodybuilder guy or something like that.  That made me think about the extremes we see in the "fitness world".

 I can't imagine not working out for a month much less year/s.  But I also realize this guy that made the statement about not working out for so long definitely represents a population that is out there.  This individual wasn't heavy and didn't look "out of shape" but you could tell they hadn't lifted a weight in a LONG time.  I realize there are people out there that just don't get it - they just don't do it.

          And then you have this other extreme.  The bodybuilder puts amazing amounts of effort into how he looks.  His diet and weight training and cardio have to be absolutely flawless.  Even if he was blessed with great genetics, this guy still has an upper caliber physique.  I know the difference between just a nice build and a really well crafted body.  I can guarantee you that this guy doesn't go more than a couple of days, maybe a week - without working out.  

 So you have these extremes.  You have these two guys, roughly the same age, both Americans (I assume) and both with the ambition to audition and make it on to a reality show.  And at the same time there perception/experience regarding working out that couldn't be more different.  For one, the thought of going into a gym and starting weight training probably would feel like going to a foreign country.  And for the other you have a guy who would feel as if their lifeblood was being drained if they didn't have the gym as a daily ritual.

 My take on this is that I think we have folks out there that still see the idea of exercise and especially weight training as an all or nothing thing.  You have people that feel like only big "weight lifters" or bodybuilders should be in the weight area of a gym.  Or you have the people that drift far far away from the daily habit of keeping their muscle and skeletal systems strong and functional.  And when they do "get back into it" (as I hear a lot) they have this all or nothing mentality.  Which inevitably leads to some hurdle coming along and getting them "off track".  And of course you also have the other extreme; those individuals who almost let their time in the gym consume them to a point where other thing get sacrificed.  

 I guess the point to all this is that there has to be a middle ground.  There has to be an understanding that EVERYONE needs to be doing work to keep themselves strong and functional.  That doesn't mean you have to obsess about it and spend hours a day in the gym "weight lifting".  But some resistance training at least 3 days a week is absolutely crucial.  And taking weeks, months, or (gasp) even years off from the gym is just irresponsible and lazy.   Sorry to be so cutting but I continue to run into people who I haven't seen for weeks or even months and then their responses about why they haven't been "on track" are just excuses for the fact that they have not given that part of their life the importance it deserves.  And on a final note - I will again continue to hammer home the fact that everyone needs to learn how to lift some weights properly and appropriately for their own bodies and do it regularly.  The benefits (which I need to just do a whole post on) are numerous and important.  

 Thanks for reading,

Andy