Sometimes, less is more

Image from Flickr, by sierrafit

I said I needed to kick my training into high gear, and as I woke up this morning, I hit on exactly how to do just that.

You see, it's like the old saying goes, "less is more" sometimes.

Let me explain.

I had been doing all my exercises for one minute at a time, then transitioning to the next exercise.  I was becoming flustered because it seemed like I was getting less reps in during that minute.  What I realized was that I was pushing for to long at a time.  My muscles were giving up, and I was probably depleting glycogen stores rather quickly, so I was getting less done.

So, I decided to change things up.

Ouch!!

Image from Flickr, by Instant Vantage

Alright, I hurt.

It's the good kind of hurt though.  The soreness that accompanies a tough workout is a welcome friend to an extent, but like a Christmas guest that's still hanging out at your at Valentine's Day, I'm ready for it to go.

It was a killer workout yesterday, with the results just being here today.  However, it's worth it.

No matter how much you want it otherwise, great things don't come easily.  If they did, they wouldn't be worth a thing.  The soreness I feel?  That's just the price I pay for getting where I want to be.

Today's workout and how I screwed up

So, yesterday I outlined my workout.  Unfortunately, the version that actually got published wasn't what I meant to be published.  No, that version was really to much.  Um...oops?

Yeah, I'm sorry about that one guys.

You see, that was a first draft, but after a bit more research, I found that I had too many exercises.  This is a potential problem when you're creating on your own.  Luckily, I continued to research and realized that I might be overdoing it with that.

Here's what was published yesterday:

The only easy day

Image from Flickr, by Rennett Stowe

I'm a Navy man.  You may not have known that about me, but I am.  I did my enlistment as a Navy Hospital Corpsman, but there was a part of me that dreamed about becoming a Navy SEAL.  During their training, there is a sign that says "The only easy day was yesterday."  The idea is that each and every day is progressively more difficult.

What does this have to do with your training?

How about the fact that you need to embrace the same philosophy, for starters.

Exercise Breakdown: Kettlebell Goblet Squat

Kettlebells are great for upper body workouts, but what about legs?  Can you really get a good lower body workout with kettlebells? 

Well folks, my legs are telling me today that you can.

Let me introduce you to the Kettlebell Goblet Squat:

It's a simple exercise that's very similar to the front squat.  Just like regular squats, this is a compound exercise.  However, in my opinion, the kettlebell goblet squat offers some advantages.

Exercise Breakdown: Kettlebell Swing

The Kettlebell swing is one of the first kettlebell exercises someone should learn if they're going to actually use a kettlebell.  The kettlebell swing serves as the basis for several other exercises and, frankly, it makes a hell of a warm up if nothing else.

First, let's take a look at the swing and how it's done, then we can get into some of what I've learned about this exercise from doing it.

Yes, this is a woman.  Guys, get over it.  The exercise is no different, and frankly this is a pretty good video.  Now, for some things I've experienced.

My Kettlebell Workout

Image from Flickr, by andrewmalone

I've spent most of my time talking about diet, because that's what I know better.  I lost that 35 lbs that I keep prattling on about purely through diet.  This was during the time of having a newborn baby in the house, running a business, and taking care of not just my home by helping my mother out as well.

However, being thin isn't being fit.  To be fit, you must perform some kind of exercise.

To Gym or Not To Gym

Part of any healthy lifestyle requires exercise.  There are two choices on that front, which is whether to hit the gym or to exercise at home.  There are advantages to each, as well as disadvantages to each.  Obviously, everyone will list their own which may vary a bit from mine but theirs are wrong.

Why I opted for kettlebells

For years, I banged away with regular free weights.  Back in high school, I was a whopping 135 lbs and hit the free weights in an effort to bulk up.  Well, it turns out that bacon cheeseburgers accomplished that much easier.  However, now that my goals have shifted, I've turned to kettlebells as the tool for the job.