Health & Fitness

[spiritwind]

GOAL: To fit comfortably is size 38 waist jeans by Thanksgiving.

I've been working toward this end and making steady progress for a while now. I thank pierini for introducing me to this place.

Today's Routine
Upper body mix of free weights and weight machines. This is the second time I've trained with weights in about 2 years. Last Friday I did it for the first time in 2 years.

I didn't dilly dally, so there was a decent cardio component to the training, although I wasn't doing circuit training.
(Monday August 11, 2008)

spiritwind. I'm so glad you have started your training journal in our Online Journal forum.

I have followed your progress elsewhere and will be watching your further progress like a hawk. You'll get great support here from me and others. If you haven't already done so, I encourage you to start a food journal like others here have done. I have used www.fitday.com in the past and just finished a 12-day food journal to help me achieve a short-term weight reduction goal which I achieved.

I'll be privately cheering for you and offering you training tidbits and encouragement. In exchange, I ask that you give me your old pants when they no longer fit so my wife can use them to make some curtins for our family room.

Have a great day!

[spiritwind]

Thanks for the greeting. Congrats on your accomplishments yesterday. Your hard work paid off.

I'll think about the food journal.

[LiftGirl]

Hi and welcome to DF! Looking forward to seeing you around the forums.

Please feel free to jump in and ask any questions you may have. You'll get great advice here!

[minime]

hey spiritwind, welcome to the forum!

[Bob44]

Hi Spiritwind,

Welcome to df, you will like it here. There are a great group of people and they are very willing to help. I am another pierini recruit from a couple of years ago.

Bob

[spiritwind]

Thanks for the warm greeting folks.

Today's Routine
Very simple. I'm experimenting with short/intense cardio. I woke up this morning and did about 5 minutes of quasi-intense motion, mostly poorly executed tang soo do moves and some ab work. I say "quasi-intense" because I've never done such a workout immediately upon rising. It was the best I could muster today.

Before dinner I did 5 minutes of bodyweight squats, jumping, and running in place.

I'm not sure what I'm gonna do tomorrow. I want to give my upper body another day of rest. I learned long ago that my body reacts best to weights if I give it around 72 hours (or more) before lifting again. I am going to buy a new belt tomorrow. This is the first time I've bought a belt because the old one is too big!

Your short workout is a good example of my mantra that "something is better than nothing."

Early morning training has served me well. So has shorter-duration workouts at the higher end of the anaerobic training range. I am finally learning of the recuperative powers of rest days too.

Keep the pedal to the metal!

[spiritwind]

Yesterday's Routine
I woke up planning to do a day of complete rest, but decided in the evening to do some light to moderate self-resistance work for upper body.

I plan to do some cardio/leg work today. I plan to lift weights for upper body Friday.

[.V.]

Hello and welcome to DF. Best wishes for continued success towards your goal.

[spiritwind]

First off, it is great to meet you fine folks.

Today's Routine
I did bodyweight leg work, mostly partial squats, as many as I could do.

I did 20 minutes of interval cardio by brisk walking in my neighborhood and taking advantage of the hills. The last couple of minutes I added some sprints to really kick it in.

All in all, a good day's work.

[CliffA74]

Hey, Spiritwind! I know you! Good to see you here!

Originally Posted by spiritwind

I did 20 minutes of interval cardio by brisk walking in my neighborhood and taking advantage of the hills. The last couple of minutes I added some sprints to really kick it in.

Hill sprints offer great physiological and psychological benefits. I am a fan.

Keep it up!

-Cliff

[spiritwind]

It is good to see you again Cliff.

[spiritwind]

Today's Routine
Amazing workout! I decided to use only machines for a change as I did upper body weights today. It has been about five years since I've really used top of the line machines. They have improved with all of this rotary stuff.

Anyhoo, I gave it my all. I didn't dawdle, so there was a pretty darn good cardio element to the workout. I was beat when I was finished. I'm glad it is Friday. I came home and plan to crash!

[spiritwind]

Today's Routine
Today is Saturday. I did legs with weights for the first time in years. I was very careful and stayed pretty light. The workout was a good one though. I also did a little core work.

Tomorrow is a family party for my parent's 45th wedding anniversary. (It is actually Monday, but Sunday is better for the get together.) I won't exercise and I will eat chips and pizza.