Lifting Him up

My progress

I am currently in week 4 of Bill Starr's 5 x 5. I am both pleased and discouraged. I have progressed in each lift, though struggled with my bench this week. I am still having a nagging shoulder issue so I have had to make some adjustments. I find most of the pain when doing military style presses so I am subbing those with Standing Dumbbell Arnold Presses.

5 Minutes of Glory Update

After my first week of integrating 5 Minutes of Glory, I wanted to give a brief update. At first glance, the prinicipal looks easy: do as many 8 rep sets as possible, as quickly as possible, with good form in 5 minutes. After the first week, I have to say that it is not as easy as it looks. I am trying to use antagonistic sets, meaning I use movements that are opposites as part of the superset. For instance, if I do a horizontal press, I will do a horizontal pull superset with it for 5 minutes. I have found that this really pushes me. I am enjoying the short burst toward a goal, but must admit, I have failed to reach it twice. Twice I have just run out of steam at the 3 minute mark. That said, I am really enjoying the test. It is allowing me to work faster, giving me a little cardio blast at the same time. I will let you know of my results in a few weeks.

When will this ever work?

Today I had an epiphany (a moment of sudden revelation or insight). I have been frustrated as I have read log after log, discussion after discussion about gains. It seemed that everyone was getting ripped and strong but me. I began my journey in November of 08 with a goal of losing weight and bringing my cholesterol numbers down. I did that in 12 weeks and set new goals; to get to 180 and get the "you have been to the gym" look.

I have watched my diet, tried to maintain a caloric deficit, worked hard. Frustration has set in, "why am I not seeing changes?" To make matters worse, I weighed myself yesterday and found I have gained almost 20 lbs. While there is a slight snugness on some of my pants, my waist line has not really changed. I am beginning to finally see some body composition changes that point to my work and have seen some strength gains. Then today, epiphany.

I realized that I was getting frustrated looking for changes that take most folks months if not years to attain. My first year on TNT I worked out with body weight or dumbbell exercises. I did not lift my first heavy weight until near the end of January 2009. The reality is that I have only been doing heavy squats and dead lifts for five months. I have been frustrated because I wasn't looking like the guys who have been training for years, and I have only been training for a few months. The lesson learned? Work hard, eat right and be patient!

I Do Not Choose to Be a Common Man

It is my right to be uncommon—if I can.

I seek opportunity—not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.

I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.

I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia.

I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat.

It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, “This I have done.”

By Dean Alfange

*Originally published in This Week Magazine. Later printed in The Reader’s Digest, October 1952 and January 1954.

A great quote and a link

"When the Lord turns the light strong upon us, we soon see the spots in our raiment. How shall an unholy God send out unholy messengers? An unsanctified minister is an unsent minister. An unholy missionary is a pest to the tribe he visits. An unholy teacher is an injury rather than a blessing to his students."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

What is God seeing as He shines His light upon you?

Here is another article to check out. Staying Ripped 

A pleasant Surprise

I ran my desire to get a personal trainer certification by my wife, expecting to get some questions, concerns and poo poos. I was surprised that she was not against it. She was concerned about where I would train folks and possible compromising situations. Not thrilled with the idea that I might work with "gym bunnies." Legitimate concerns.

My desire is not to work with the fit people, but with those who are not fit but want to be. After beginning my journey, I have become burdened for those who are over weight and needing help to get in shape. I think the greater challenge is to take lump of clay and mold it into a beautiful sculpture than to take a beautiful sculpture and tweak it up a bit. I want the satisfaction of being able to look at the smile on someone's face when they look in the mirror and say, "is that really me?" To me, that is a challenge I want to handle.

Discipline

My wife and I were having a discussion recently about relationships, with each other, our children and God. She made a statement that hurt at first, but upon reflection is enlightening. "If you put as much discipline into everything else as you do into working out, things would be so much better." I confess, I did not like hearing that. I look upon my training as something I am doing as much for her and the kids as I am for me. I started training for health reasons and admit, I am often consumed by it. I love thinking about it, researching better ways to train and eat, creating schedules and entering statistics. I HAVE become more disciplined in this area of my life... too the neglect in some ways of other areas.

Paul writes, 1Co 9:27* But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. I have looked at my training all wrong. I was seeing it as something I do for me, for Cathy for the kids. The reality is that I am training for God. How I treat myself is a testimony of how I will treat others and God. To that end, to the degree I am disciplined in caring for my body, I should also be disciplined in caring for my mind and soul. God forbid that I should be disqualified because I cared so much for my body, that I failed to care for that which is most important, my relationship with God and then my family.

What are you doing to maintain the same level of discipline you have in the gym in every are of your life?

Jumping Rope

I have been in search of a cardio/Tabata exercise I can do on my off days. While I have been able to jump rope, and was quite good when younger, when others are holding ropes, I have never been able to jump rope solo. Today I determined to teach myself how to jump rope. I am happy to say that I have accomplished my goal. While my consistency still needs to develop, as well as my speed, I can now jump rope. I will not begin using the jump rope tabata style for my cardio workouts.

Look for more to come.

Press on as you Press Forward

1Co 9:27* But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

"Let me tell you something you already know... The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows... It's a very mean and nasty place, and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You-Me-Nobody can hit as hard as life. Only it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward... That's how winnin' is done!" -Rocky Balboa.

While Paul and Rocky have differing views on how to deal with the over all aspects of life, they have one thing in common, when it comes to training and accomplishing your goals. The work won't be easy, it won't be short, it may take a life time but you must keep moving forward. Whether preaching the gospel, as I am called to do, or preaching about good health, you must be self disciplined and keep your goal in mind. An undisciplined life can be a disqualifier. You keep the final goal in mind and continue to press on. As Rocky said, "That's how winnin' is done!" Paul puts it like this, "Php 3:12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Php 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus".

That's My King

Easter is upon us. This classic from Dr. S.M. Lockridge reminds us of whose we are.