It has been quite a while since I've been to the gym. Well, I take that back. I went to the gym a couple of days ago and did a lifting workout after doing a run outside. I went back today because "the weather outside looks frightful". I have found myself turning in to a fair weather runner. Getting out in the frigid cold just does not appeal to me anymore to further my quest for fitness. I have recently started running again and have been ramping up the miles. Today I decided to do a 5 mile run on the treadmill. My only saving grace is listening to Pandora on my phone. Treadmill running is just so tedious. As the tenths of miles tick down minute by minute, all I am looking forward to is pushing the big, red, emergency stop button. I sure hope that on my way towards getting prepared for the 2013 mountain bike season that my tenacity pushes me through where my motivation perhaps may fail me. The goal must always be in mind. Treadmill running is certainly not the most exciting part of my day but a necessary evil to the finish line of success.
What does everyone do in the winter time? Does your go to workout change with the cold? Do you still do workouts outside? Or do you start heading inside?
Let me know with your comments below.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
what if??
I don't know if anyone else has ever thought, "what would I do if I won the lottery?" I know that I have this thought every single time I see a billboard. Promoting the lottery. With the michigan powerball at over $300 million it really makes me think. I know what I would do because I think about it all the time.
This subject comes to mind because yesterday I had a co-worker show me his "winning" ticket. The thought of having the winning ticket like Charlie did in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory can get you excited. For others though its just a pie in the sky. Some people thinnk that the lottery is their only "ticket" to a better life and they don't even play the lottery because they will never win it.
Why think that way? Why settle for average? Why dxont we let ourselves think about the better life? For me I want the better things in life. I want to travel and see the world. I want to do things first class andhave the nice things. How would your life be different if you won $300 million dollars tomorrow? What makes you think that you will never have those things or do those things or live that life unless you win the lottery? Start dreaming again. Find something that will allow you to have the "better" life.work for it. Know what you want and do whatever it takes to get it.
You can have anything you want in life if you believe you can have it.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Running to Train for Cycling
I have been running a considerable amount lately to get ready for the fast approaching Mountain Biking season. With my first race scheduled at Yankee Springs on April 22 I have been really focusing on my training. I did not do this last year as I was slightly unmotivated until I realized how much I enjoyed the sport. I did fairly well for my first season registered in the sport class. However, I have bumbed into the expert class and realize that I will be needing to do way more prior training than I did last year (I trained very little prior to last season.)
My background athletically is in running. I was a better than average High School runner that was pretty versatile doing the 400M, 800M, 1600M, and ran cross country as well. I was good enough to be a walk on to Grand Valley State University's Men's running program where I trained in the fall with the cross country team and focused on running the 800M during indoor and outdoor track season. I had done some biking in high school when I was injured for a season but never competed. As I have been readying for this summer's mountain bike season I reverted back to what I know and that is running. The thought of riding a bike outside in the winter time in Michigan going 20+ MPH with ice cold wind blowing in my uncovered face is not my idea of a good time. Neither is running outside in the cold for that matter either. My MVP gym membership solves this issue for me.
One thing that is so very difficult for me is to train on a treadmill or a stationary bike. It is taxing on me mentally. When I'm outside I get to see new scenery and have a change in terrain. I get to explore new places and I can feel like I'm getting somewhere. This really helps with taking my mind off the actual ride/run and actually somewhat enjoy the workout. When I'm inside and not going anywhere it makes it very difficult for me as I'm sure is the same for many people. This may be why so many people decide to opt out of their new years resolutions after less than a month (see previous blog posting).
I have found however, that running on a treadmill is "easier" for me to stay motivated about training in the gym then riding a stationary bike. I have been increasing my milage beginning since mid-November and will be looking to get into the low to mid 30's for this week in 6 days.
After beginning this consistency in running and building up my body physically the only way I know how, I began to wonder if all of this running would be doing me any good for the upcoming Mountain Bike Season. I have found through my very little research so far that my cardio may be buildling up but that I am not necessarily training my muscles used for biking. In all that I've read so far, I've been shown that running is a good way to cross train for cycling. But it seems that it may not be the best to completely train just running in order to be good at cycling. There has to be at least some carry over. My intentions are to work in a good base for another month until I am able to hit 40 miles a week on 6 days. I will then incorporate more and more cycling into the mix as it gets closer to the beginning of the season. Also, the weather will be getting better to ride outside rather than training inside.
I have started a "note" on my facebook page documenting my training schedule. I will post this in a later post and work on keeping it updated. Who knows, maybe i'm doing things all wrong. But who knows, maybe I'm doing it all right.
My background athletically is in running. I was a better than average High School runner that was pretty versatile doing the 400M, 800M, 1600M, and ran cross country as well. I was good enough to be a walk on to Grand Valley State University's Men's running program where I trained in the fall with the cross country team and focused on running the 800M during indoor and outdoor track season. I had done some biking in high school when I was injured for a season but never competed. As I have been readying for this summer's mountain bike season I reverted back to what I know and that is running. The thought of riding a bike outside in the winter time in Michigan going 20+ MPH with ice cold wind blowing in my uncovered face is not my idea of a good time. Neither is running outside in the cold for that matter either. My MVP gym membership solves this issue for me.
One thing that is so very difficult for me is to train on a treadmill or a stationary bike. It is taxing on me mentally. When I'm outside I get to see new scenery and have a change in terrain. I get to explore new places and I can feel like I'm getting somewhere. This really helps with taking my mind off the actual ride/run and actually somewhat enjoy the workout. When I'm inside and not going anywhere it makes it very difficult for me as I'm sure is the same for many people. This may be why so many people decide to opt out of their new years resolutions after less than a month (see previous blog posting).
I have found however, that running on a treadmill is "easier" for me to stay motivated about training in the gym then riding a stationary bike. I have been increasing my milage beginning since mid-November and will be looking to get into the low to mid 30's for this week in 6 days.
After beginning this consistency in running and building up my body physically the only way I know how, I began to wonder if all of this running would be doing me any good for the upcoming Mountain Bike Season. I have found through my very little research so far that my cardio may be buildling up but that I am not necessarily training my muscles used for biking. In all that I've read so far, I've been shown that running is a good way to cross train for cycling. But it seems that it may not be the best to completely train just running in order to be good at cycling. There has to be at least some carry over. My intentions are to work in a good base for another month until I am able to hit 40 miles a week on 6 days. I will then incorporate more and more cycling into the mix as it gets closer to the beginning of the season. Also, the weather will be getting better to ride outside rather than training inside.
I have started a "note" on my facebook page documenting my training schedule. I will post this in a later post and work on keeping it updated. Who knows, maybe i'm doing things all wrong. But who knows, maybe I'm doing it all right.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
New Years Resolutions
This a fairly typical post for this time of year. I'm sure there are many bloggers out there that are making fun of all the people who have made their new years resolutions and are now cramming into the gyms. I don't care though, I had to comment on it. I went to the gym the last two nights and was amazed at the lack of parking spaces that I had to choose from. My wife and I went at our usual time and prior to the new year we have never had issues with finding a space within site of the entrance. Last night was especially bad however, with us having to park on the side of the building. I was just amazed that not more than a week ago this was not the case. A week ago we could park close to the front entrance of the gym and walk in with out having to wait in line to scan in. In the locker room I could actually find an open locker without having some dude accidently brushing his naked butt against me. I could even go to where the treadmills are and find one that is open without having to wait and wipe off the previous user's gross dried sweat before jumping on myself.
I'm not writing about the fact that there are too many people at the gym and it's too cramped and I wish it would "go back to how it was". What I'm writing about is the fact that I find it very odd that in one week everyone in Grand Rapids is all of a sudden a work out fiend. I find it very interesting how with a simple change of the year that people become motivated. It's almost as if it's a full moon where strange things happen.
I don't want the newly motivated individuals who have made their new years resolutions to quit. I want quite the opposite actually. What I don't want to see is in 30 days from now all of these newly motivated people to have lost the motivation. Health and fitness is not about a 30 day craze. It's about consistency. Stick to your goals. I understand having a busy couple of days or a week where life just throws you off track, but get back on the train after that. Please don't be motivated through the beginning or middle of February and then come bathing suit season say to yourself, "I have 2 weeks to get into beach shape". You should have thought about that the 4 months prior. Stay consistent with your health goals. Find someone to keep you accountable. It is easier to build up little by little and create a habit with your fitness objectives than it is to start and stop and try to "get back into it" once more. You can only start over again so many times before you begin to think that victory will never be possible.
For all of you first time gym go'ers, congratulations and welcome to the beginning of a new you. (I know it's cliche but it fits!!) For all of you who have let life's busy ways get the best of you in the past and are now getting back on track, way to go. And for those of you who can't understand why you all of a sudden can't find a parking spot in what used to be the empty desert of the gym parking lot. . .just give it a couple of weeks, things will be back to normal soon!
I'm not writing about the fact that there are too many people at the gym and it's too cramped and I wish it would "go back to how it was". What I'm writing about is the fact that I find it very odd that in one week everyone in Grand Rapids is all of a sudden a work out fiend. I find it very interesting how with a simple change of the year that people become motivated. It's almost as if it's a full moon where strange things happen.
I don't want the newly motivated individuals who have made their new years resolutions to quit. I want quite the opposite actually. What I don't want to see is in 30 days from now all of these newly motivated people to have lost the motivation. Health and fitness is not about a 30 day craze. It's about consistency. Stick to your goals. I understand having a busy couple of days or a week where life just throws you off track, but get back on the train after that. Please don't be motivated through the beginning or middle of February and then come bathing suit season say to yourself, "I have 2 weeks to get into beach shape". You should have thought about that the 4 months prior. Stay consistent with your health goals. Find someone to keep you accountable. It is easier to build up little by little and create a habit with your fitness objectives than it is to start and stop and try to "get back into it" once more. You can only start over again so many times before you begin to think that victory will never be possible.
For all of you first time gym go'ers, congratulations and welcome to the beginning of a new you. (I know it's cliche but it fits!!) For all of you who have let life's busy ways get the best of you in the past and are now getting back on track, way to go. And for those of you who can't understand why you all of a sudden can't find a parking spot in what used to be the empty desert of the gym parking lot. . .just give it a couple of weeks, things will be back to normal soon!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Health Managment vs. Weight Managment
With the new year coming up everyone will be making their infamous new year resolutions. The promises people make to themselves to finally keep and change their life around in one or more areas. Typically this is in the categories of addictions, money management, health, etc. Health is the one I hear the most. Every year I listen to people tell me that as of 12:00 am January 1st they will officially start their journey towards losing XX amount of weight. Gym memberships sell like "hot cakes" every year at this time in anticipation of these goals.
I feel like I'm getting off the main topic that I intended on voicing in this post. I came across an article this morning that can be found on the Salt Lake Tribune website. I remember taking courses at Grand Valley State University and having a profound revelation when I heard that many people focus on losing weight as the key indicator for health rather than overall health/wellness as the key indicator. There are many discouraged people and wasted gym memberships by the end of January when individuals don't see the numbers decreasing on the scale daily. Most people think that if there is no weight loss then they are not accomplishing anything and their hard work in the gym is all for naught. This is not the case. It will be difficult but there needs to be a change in mentality of people in regards to health. When someone begins working out for the first time in awhile they most likely are buildling muscle at the same time they are losing fat. If they lose 5 pounds of fat but gain 5 pounds of muscle is this a good thing? Of course it is but the scale does not reflect any positive reinforcement. We need to begin to focus on managing health instead of managing weight. If we can start doing this then the weight loss will inevitably occur. Muscle burns more energy then fat does. As we develop more muscle we will expend more energy in our regular day to day activities, which will in turn speed up the weight loss process. But it needs to be realized as a process. Until we can understand that health managment is the goal and weight management is the by-product then failure will be a regular occurance.
Stay consistent. Don't lose your motivation. Find different ways other than weight to focus on in order to gauge the effectiveness of your work. Enjoy the process. Find someone to enjoy it with. Strive to be healthier in all categories of health, not just in that of weight.
I feel like I'm getting off the main topic that I intended on voicing in this post. I came across an article this morning that can be found on the Salt Lake Tribune website. I remember taking courses at Grand Valley State University and having a profound revelation when I heard that many people focus on losing weight as the key indicator for health rather than overall health/wellness as the key indicator. There are many discouraged people and wasted gym memberships by the end of January when individuals don't see the numbers decreasing on the scale daily. Most people think that if there is no weight loss then they are not accomplishing anything and their hard work in the gym is all for naught. This is not the case. It will be difficult but there needs to be a change in mentality of people in regards to health. When someone begins working out for the first time in awhile they most likely are buildling muscle at the same time they are losing fat. If they lose 5 pounds of fat but gain 5 pounds of muscle is this a good thing? Of course it is but the scale does not reflect any positive reinforcement. We need to begin to focus on managing health instead of managing weight. If we can start doing this then the weight loss will inevitably occur. Muscle burns more energy then fat does. As we develop more muscle we will expend more energy in our regular day to day activities, which will in turn speed up the weight loss process. But it needs to be realized as a process. Until we can understand that health managment is the goal and weight management is the by-product then failure will be a regular occurance.
Stay consistent. Don't lose your motivation. Find different ways other than weight to focus on in order to gauge the effectiveness of your work. Enjoy the process. Find someone to enjoy it with. Strive to be healthier in all categories of health, not just in that of weight.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Getting Started
It seems that there are so many blogs out there that it doesn't seem worth it to even start one. What is the purpose to start one though? Some people use them to merely write their thoughts and use it as a journal. Blogs give some people a vessel to release and vent and purge all of the things that come at them that they no longer want to think about. It's just like when you want to say something nasty to someone and decide to write a letter/note to that person to tell them how you feel and once you complete it you tear it up and throw it away. At least you got to vent. Others use it to write about what they are passionate about. It is an opportunity to share with anyone who will listen the joy and excitement of a product or business or lifestyle that has truly made an impact in their lives. Blogs can also be used to promote a business or a product or any number of things to increase sales, visibility, knowledge. The possibilities are endless. Who knows if anyone will listen (read). Who know if anyone will care. For me, I have no idea where to start. I don't know if there is anything in particular that I want to share or talk about. I don't even know if I have anything worth someone else taking the time to read. For now I think I'll start with a mish-mash of topics and see where it takes me. Possibly start with some day to day happenings in my life. Or even start with some hobbies. It's worh a start at least!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)