Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Pressed for Time? Try This

It's billed as the Ultimate Warrior Workout Challenge and what it consists of of the maximum amount of push ups, pull ups, sit ups and dips that you can perform in a minute each consecutively.  The exercises are performed in the exact order listed and there are no rest periods, so the complete challenge takes exactly four minutes to complete.

I don't know that I'd use it as a regular workout, but if your were extremely pressed for time and still wanted to get in as kick butt a workout as possible - this would certainly be a good way to do it.

The video below features Nate Green, of The Nate Green Experience, and has been out for almost two months so some of you may have already come across it.  Yesterday was the first time i actually gave it a shot, and I gotta tell you, it's harder than Nate makes it look.  If you actually push as hard as you can and use proper (like that displayed in the video) without cheating, you will be surprised at just how intense those four minutes can be.

Check out the video here:

Monday, June 28, 2010

Scorching Hot Weekend

It didn't take long for the Dog Days of Summer to hit us in the Northeast.  It was in the mid 90s with high humidity yesterday and it looks like Mother Nature has more of the same planned for us today.  When the extreme weather hits, lots of people use that as an excuse to bag their workout - I hear lots of "it's too hot to run," or "I can't ride my bike in the rain," but don't fall into this pattern.

Once you start making excuses to skip workouts, even if they seem perfectly viable, it only gets easier to make an excuse to skip the next one.  You can still workout in the heat, in the cold or in the rain if you take the proper precautions to ensure that you are prepared.

According to the ever reliable weather people, it felt like around 99 degrees yesterday at noon but I didn't use that as an excuse to alter my plans.  I strapped on my running shoes and set out on a four+ mile run any, I knew it was hot so I made sure I had more than enough water to get me through the workout and I stuck a little closer to home.

If you've got to alter your plans a little to get in a workout - do it.  There is no need to blow off a workout just because it's warmer, cooler or wetter than you had hoped.  Take the proper precautions to be safe and get the workout in regardless of what the elements throw at you.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Only a Few Days Left of Work

July 1st marks the first day of my life as a full time freelance writer - it also marks the first week day of the last several months that I won't be responsible working 8-10 hours doing sales then following that up with anywhere from 2-5 hours of writing.

I'm excited to say the least, this endeavor is going to mean more time with my family, less stress and a whole lot more time for working out.  Though I've managed to get pretty good at squeezing the highest work load possible out of the shortest amount of time when it comes to my workouts of late, having that extra time to really focus on achieving goals is going to be great.  I've got an arm's length list of goals that I have been compiling and now I'll actually get to tackle them head on without taking even more attention away from my wife and kids. 

I've been busy, very busy, but I never used that as an excuse to ignore my health - there is always time to be made during a given day to get in some physical activity.  I didn't have 2-3 hours a day set aside for working out but I manged, even on the busiest days, to do something to make myself stronger, faster or healthier.  This new career path is going to allow me more freedom to train, but that doesn't mean that I couldn't make the time if things had stayed the same.

Instead of making exuses about having too little time or being too tired, use that fifteen minutes you would have used griping to get in a short workout.  Then do it again tomorrow and the next day, even the longest journeys start with a single step - take that step today and do something to make yourself healthier.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Kickin' it Old School

I don't know if it's all the World Cup action we've been watching or the fact that two of her cousins are active in the sport, but lately my daughter has been talking more and more about playing soccer.  Registration is coming up soon and we have been kicking a ball around a bit of late, and yesterday I took out a footbag (hacky sack) for her to try some kicks on.

I know the two sports are different, but there is nothing like kicking a footbag to develop the dexterity and foot/eye coordination required to excel in soccer.  I spent plenty of time every day during middle and high school kicking both by myself and with who ever was around, and at that time I had no problem what so ever handling a soccer ball.

It took her a few minutes to grasp the concept, but once she made contact a few times she seemed to really enjoy it.  It's been a good fifteen years since I've had an eager footbag partner - if she keeps up interest this could be good for my cardio and flexibility.

For those of you who don't have a whole lot of familiarity with the sport of footbag, or haven't seen what's been going on in this still pretty underground activity - here's a video of what some of these outrageously talented individuals are capable of with nothing more than their feet and  filled bag not much bigger than a golf ball...

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Get Reflective

I'm the parent of two young children and that means that I have to get creative sometimes when I workout. Of course they come down to the gym with me and go on bike rides, but I can't very well take both of them with me on a ten mile run - so that means that I have to wait until after my wife gets home from work to hit the road.

Back in the old days I wasn't much for safety equipment, but all of that changed when I started a family. So now, at 10:30 p.m., when I strap on my running shoes - I also strap on some reflective gear to make me visible to drivers.

I've tried a number of different nighttime running apparatus: everything from blinking lights to arm bands and vests to hats and I've certainly been able to pick out a few favorites and a few that I'd rather skip the road and stay home for a run on the treadmill than wear again.

The Amphipod Luminous-Lite Reflective Vest is the vest that I use when I head out on late night runs for a few reasons...

Number one - It's super lightweight, allows for total freedom of movement and it stays where it's supposed to, making it the most comfortable vest on the market - in all seriousness I barely even notice that I'm wearing it.

Number two - It's super easy to put on and take off, the last thing you want to do when your exciting about getting out on a run is to struggle for ten minutes fighting on an ill fitting vest and the last thing you want to do after a brutal ten miler in the heat is struggle with anything.

Number three - It will make you noticeable without making you a spectacle. This vest is easy to see from all angles, which will keep you safe, but there are no big flashing lights or bells and whistles that will draw undue attention or distract you while you are trying to focus on your run.

For these reason, the Luminous-Lite Vest from Amphipod takes home top honors on the list of Best Reflective Running Gear: