2014 Kia Soul Hamster Commercial (Lady Gaga "Applause" Official Song)
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Is it the shoes?
Running shoes?
Nike Free 3.0
Nike Dual Fusion
Training Shoes?
Puma Saloh
Adidas Adipure Trainer 360
Ideally, if you get the technique right, I should be able to do both with training shoes, in fact, I should be able to do both without the shoes.
Nike Free 3.0
Nike Dual Fusion
Training Shoes?
Puma Saloh
Adidas Adipure Trainer 360
Ideally, if you get the technique right, I should be able to do both with training shoes, in fact, I should be able to do both without the shoes.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Wednesday, October 16
Was supposed to do this yesterday. Totally missed it. Cause hey, Eid!
Oh, which reminds me, Eid Mubarak!
Oh, which reminds me, Eid Mubarak!
Squat 80 lbI remember just a month ago I was struggling, struggling a bit too much with lifting only 50 lb. And today I couldn't even feel 80 lb on my legs. I could feel it on my back, but not on my back. Why? The technique. I learned about it, I tried to get it right. And this time, I didn't even implement the technique 100%... as in, I wasn't entirely mindful of it. But it worked. So technique it is. Rowing, Press and Deadlift need more reading. Bench is getting out of hands as the load is increasing. Will see about that...
Bench 40 lb
Rowing 60 lb
Curling 60 lb
Monday, October 14, 2013
Eating Tips
This is an ongoing list of articles, tidbits, recipes, all in one place, focused towards healthier eating habits.
http://stronglifts.com/breakfast-recipes-fat-loss/
http://stronglifts.com/breakfast-recipes-fat-loss/
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Sunday, October 13
Sixth week of the workout begins now! And things are getting tough. Especially on the press front.
Squat 75 lb
Press 35 lb
Deadlift 120 lb
Curling 40 lb
Squateth
I think - again no claims here - I think I have the squat form nailed now. It's not in my muscle memory though. Which means I will have to research, read up, and watch videos for a good ten minutes before every workout for the next few workouts, to get the form memorized. I hope it will be after that. At least, I did today's workout with correct squat form. No knee pain in the first set (That's the only time I felt the pain though, never felt in the consequent sets. And today's squat was heaviest ever I have done. 75 lbs)
Last workout, I think - think - I nailed the form for bench press. Now this is an exercise I have been doing for... eight years? Still, in recent 6 weeks I have really discovered there are two correct ways of doing this exercise for the goal of chest alone. And if you want to shift target muscles, variations are unlimited. And in the last workout, I really really did it the right way. Full range of motion. Bodybuilding style, not power-lifting style. And could get all the reps done. And I am still sore from that. How do I know it was a correct form. I felt the right muscles. I could feel the levers and mechanics of the body to produce a smooth motion that contracted and stretched the muscles that felt natural. No pain in wrists etc.
A week before I had a workout in which I had done rowing and deadlifts with what I think was good enough form. But after that, haven't been able to do that. I was wrong in assuming that I will get this form right by the sixth week, and then I will be able to afford to do these mindlessly. But no. I have to tense my entire body. Read up, think up. Watch videos before workout, and stay very very mindful of what I am doing. I still don't think I have deadlift and rowing under control.
As for the press. Well, I thought I knew the exercise. But once again, on all the other exercises, I was progressing naturally. But on this one I was struggling. So I thought maybe I don't have the technique right. So I started reading up on this, and I discovered that in the top position you had to move all the way up. To the point where you even compressed your traps. Now this is something that a guy coming from isolation mindset wouldn't think of. Anyway, so that's what I did. I couldn't get past the first two sets. I had to do around 5 sets. Very well. I complete the workout, and to compensate for the missed sets, I did press with dumbbells, with very very light weights. I was struggling with even that. But I did it, and that's the only part of my body that got tired from the workout, other than the back of course, from the deadlift.
Last workout, I think - think - I nailed the form for bench press. Now this is an exercise I have been doing for... eight years? Still, in recent 6 weeks I have really discovered there are two correct ways of doing this exercise for the goal of chest alone. And if you want to shift target muscles, variations are unlimited. And in the last workout, I really really did it the right way. Full range of motion. Bodybuilding style, not power-lifting style. And could get all the reps done. And I am still sore from that. How do I know it was a correct form. I felt the right muscles. I could feel the levers and mechanics of the body to produce a smooth motion that contracted and stretched the muscles that felt natural. No pain in wrists etc.
A week before I had a workout in which I had done rowing and deadlifts with what I think was good enough form. But after that, haven't been able to do that. I was wrong in assuming that I will get this form right by the sixth week, and then I will be able to afford to do these mindlessly. But no. I have to tense my entire body. Read up, think up. Watch videos before workout, and stay very very mindful of what I am doing. I still don't think I have deadlift and rowing under control.
As for the press. Well, I thought I knew the exercise. But once again, on all the other exercises, I was progressing naturally. But on this one I was struggling. So I thought maybe I don't have the technique right. So I started reading up on this, and I discovered that in the top position you had to move all the way up. To the point where you even compressed your traps. Now this is something that a guy coming from isolation mindset wouldn't think of. Anyway, so that's what I did. I couldn't get past the first two sets. I had to do around 5 sets. Very well. I complete the workout, and to compensate for the missed sets, I did press with dumbbells, with very very light weights. I was struggling with even that. But I did it, and that's the only part of my body that got tired from the workout, other than the back of course, from the deadlift.
Lions, Tigers, Bears... Oh My!
Squats, dead-lifts, rows... oh my!
Straight back
Knees shouldn't go past toes
All the weight should be on heels. Imagine driving your heels in the ground while getting up.
Entire body should be tense at all times, specially back and core.
"Spread the floor" - http://www.inthecave.com/blog/?p=4861
Breath in - descend - ascend - breath out
Do them barefoot if your shoes don't work for you.
Use your hips.
Bend knees only in the first 1/3 of the squat, then leave them fixed there.
Bar should be over mid-foot through out entire movement.
Mid-foot should be right below the bar.
Squat down till shins touch the bar
Grip just outside shoulder width.
Chest out.
Stand up straight, drive by hip.
Descend with hip, bend knees only in the last 1/3 of the movement.
Squat
Wide stanceStraight back
Knees shouldn't go past toes
All the weight should be on heels. Imagine driving your heels in the ground while getting up.
Entire body should be tense at all times, specially back and core.
"Spread the floor" - http://www.inthecave.com/blog/?p=4861
Breath in - descend - ascend - breath out
Do them barefoot if your shoes don't work for you.
Use your hips.
Bend knees only in the first 1/3 of the squat, then leave them fixed there.
Bar should be over mid-foot through out entire movement.
Deadlift
Plan feet just outside shoulder widthMid-foot should be right below the bar.
Squat down till shins touch the bar
Grip just outside shoulder width.
Chest out.
Stand up straight, drive by hip.
Descend with hip, bend knees only in the last 1/3 of the movement.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
October 11, Friday
Since I had missed a couple of workouts because I went to Austin, I thought I would continue doing, and instead of taking the weekly two-day gap, I would take one-day gap, because of which I would be back on track. However, that didn't happen. What happened, that I ended up taking even more two-day gaps. Sometimes it was this, sometimes it was that. Anyway, I still have kept on the workout plan, so far.
On Friday I did
On Friday I did
Squat 5x5 70 lb
Bench 5x5 35 lb
Rowing 5x5 55 lb
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Tuesday, October 8
I did the workout alright! And I did well.. I think. This is what I did:
From tomorrow onward, I won't do anything extra. And if I need the 'feel' I will make my form even more strict. That's what I will do.
Squats 65 lbI know I shouldn't be mixing stuff up with 5x5, but well, the reason is that I don't feel enough of what I want to feel. And Mehdi, being the educated informant that he is, has warned it times and again that exercise and workouts is not about feeling sore, it's about growing strong and fit, but well, what can I do? I wanted my pump. I am struggling with two of my exercises - rowing and press - and it is these that I do extra. And if I think about it, I am doing exactly the opposite of what I should. The flawed reasoning says workout these muscles more so you get more stronger next workout. But the truth is, since I am increasing weight every workout, I need to give my muscles enough time to recover, hence I shouldn't be doing anything extra if I want to complete my sets well. That also means nothing extra for biceps as well.
Press 30 lb
Deadlift 110 lb
Dumbbell Press 25 lb
From tomorrow onward, I won't do anything extra. And if I need the 'feel' I will make my form even more strict. That's what I will do.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Sunday, October 6
Squat 60 lb
Bench 30 lb
Rowing 50 lb
Lat pull-downs - some random weight just so I feel something in my back
Curling - 40 lb
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Running is fun, if you can run
Ah well just a quick note. I didn't get time to do my usual planned workout. So I just did a thirty minute run-as-much-as-you-can-then-start-as-soon-as-possible thing. It was fun, got the heart beat going for a good thirty minutes. That's what the goal is, If I can develop this habit of working out for thirty minutes everyday, I am a success. That's all I want.
Hopefully, I will do Squats, Bench, Rowing tomorrow with 60, 30, 50 lbs. Let's see.
There's so much to do man!
S.
Hopefully, I will do Squats, Bench, Rowing tomorrow with 60, 30, 50 lbs. Let's see.
There's so much to do man!
S.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Thursday, October 3, 2013
The heart wants to talk a lot - but the rule is that the logs labeled as Log are to be kept clean :)
It was 10:00 pm already and I hadn't worked out the entire day. The gym was about to close in an hour. And I had to run to it in the dark of the night, and with all these people telling me it's not safe, I didn't feel good about it. But I went, and I worked out, and I came back. This is what I did:
After the Deadlift I made a mistake. I did something the 5x5 specifically tells you not to do; I did an isolation exercise. The temptation was too much. I has been ages since I have felt something in my biceps. So I just did:
It was 10:00 pm already and I hadn't worked out the entire day. The gym was about to close in an hour. And I had to run to it in the dark of the night, and with all these people telling me it's not safe, I didn't feel good about it. But I went, and I worked out, and I came back. This is what I did:
10 minutes jog to the gym
5x5 Squat 55 lb
5x5 Press 25 lb
1x5 Deadlift 100 lb
3x5 Curling 60 lb
10 minutes jog from the gym.
After the Deadlift I made a mistake. I did something the 5x5 specifically tells you not to do; I did an isolation exercise. The temptation was too much. I has been ages since I have felt something in my biceps. So I just did:
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Actuallllly back on track, weightwise too!
Okay, so it's not like I've magically lost seven pounds in seven days while I wasn't even trying (which would have been a really bad thing if it had happened) but today, October 3, when I weighed myself, I stood at 119 pounds... That's two less than last week. Good.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
What happens when you miss a workout!
And a friend shared article with me on facebook, I thought it's a good motivational article :p
Though I don't notice any scientific rigor in this article. I would like to see some citation for the so bold numbers that are posted there, but anyway, the article is a good motivation.
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=893&sid=3329829
Though I don't notice any scientific rigor in this article. I would like to see some citation for the so bold numbers that are posted there, but anyway, the article is a good motivation.
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=893&sid=3329829
Back on Track
So I got back on track, so to speak.
Though if we consider the original workout plan I had, the Stronglifts 5x5 one, I am lagging behind by only one week (I did the workout scheduled for Sep 25 on Oct 1). But if we consider the weight loss milestones I had set for myself, then I am wayyy behind. I was supposed to weigh 196 lbs on Oct 1, and instead of losing weight, I have sort of put on some weight, 2 lbs. Now, there are no surprises there. A trip to Austin came in, I hit a mild rut, where I got stressed, and just ate and slept, ate and slept, and ate and slept. That's all I did. I am well out of it now, but still I am not in an ideal, organized schedule. Though that will happen soon, inshallah. I just need to be more determined.
So, time to ditch my original mile stones for weight loss. It's tough, and unhealthy to aim to catch back to him. My plan is the same. Lose one pound per week.
I should weigh around 220 lbs on Oct 7, that's a Monday, so I will use the university weight machine and take a snap too :)
Lastly, just some additional bit. Today was not my workout day, according to SL plan, but I went for a run. And Man it felt awesome! It just took half an hour of my time. I ran/jogged for ten minutes, walked for five minutes, then ran for ten minutes, then jogged/ran for 10 ten minutes. A total of thirty minutes, and I was back home! I went to Medina store, which is a halal meat store near my house. And I loved the entire experience. From tomorrow inshallah, that's what I will do. If it's not my workout day, or if I am afraid I will miss my workout, I will simply go for a run, and do some rope-skipping after coming back, and would do the scheduled workout on the next free day. Though this is bound to hurt my progress in the SL program, but well, I am taking steps to get organized. And while I am not there, I need to put nets for when I fall down again. Cause I do fall down.
Today's workout:
Last workout:
Next workout
Next cardio? Cardio will be same. Just run/jog/walk for 30 minutes, and keep increasing the intensity to a point till I can run, not jog, for 30 minutes solid.
May Allah protect us All.
Though if we consider the original workout plan I had, the Stronglifts 5x5 one, I am lagging behind by only one week (I did the workout scheduled for Sep 25 on Oct 1). But if we consider the weight loss milestones I had set for myself, then I am wayyy behind. I was supposed to weigh 196 lbs on Oct 1, and instead of losing weight, I have sort of put on some weight, 2 lbs. Now, there are no surprises there. A trip to Austin came in, I hit a mild rut, where I got stressed, and just ate and slept, ate and slept, and ate and slept. That's all I did. I am well out of it now, but still I am not in an ideal, organized schedule. Though that will happen soon, inshallah. I just need to be more determined.
So, time to ditch my original mile stones for weight loss. It's tough, and unhealthy to aim to catch back to him. My plan is the same. Lose one pound per week.
I should weigh around 220 lbs on Oct 7, that's a Monday, so I will use the university weight machine and take a snap too :)
Lastly, just some additional bit. Today was not my workout day, according to SL plan, but I went for a run. And Man it felt awesome! It just took half an hour of my time. I ran/jogged for ten minutes, walked for five minutes, then ran for ten minutes, then jogged/ran for 10 ten minutes. A total of thirty minutes, and I was back home! I went to Medina store, which is a halal meat store near my house. And I loved the entire experience. From tomorrow inshallah, that's what I will do. If it's not my workout day, or if I am afraid I will miss my workout, I will simply go for a run, and do some rope-skipping after coming back, and would do the scheduled workout on the next free day. Though this is bound to hurt my progress in the SL program, but well, I am taking steps to get organized. And while I am not there, I need to put nets for when I fall down again. Cause I do fall down.
Today's workout:
10 min run
5 min walk
10 min run
5 min run
5 min of rope skipping with breaks
Last workout:
Squat 50 lb
Bench 25 lb
Rowing 45 lb
Next workout
Squat 55 lbs
Press 25 lbs
DL 100 (Whoa!)
Next cardio? Cardio will be same. Just run/jog/walk for 30 minutes, and keep increasing the intensity to a point till I can run, not jog, for 30 minutes solid.
May Allah protect us All.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)