Ok, let's talk supplements! I've worked out off and on for several years, but never really did much in the way of supplementation other than whey protein shakes. In addition to the shakes, I now supplement with a GNC brand multivitamin and fish oil (for omega 3). When I first got started, I also used Lipo6 (a thermogenic fat-burner) to start cutting off some of the excess fluff. I used it for about eight weeks and in combination with diet and exercise, it really did a nice job.
That's still not a lot of supplementation, I'd think. I'm curious as to what anyone else out there may have tried and what they might recommend in addition to what I'm already taking.
I've also decided that it's about time I started posting progress pictures. This will help me keep track of my advances and help serve as motivation, as well. I'll be posting once a month (it's really difficult to see much any more often than that), and the first set will be up on September 1.
Thanks to everyone for the support!
C-
Monday, August 27, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Progress on the road to Midoriyama
Greetings all,
I'm still working hard and making progress as I continue to take small steps along the long and winding road to the base of Midoriyama. My body fat continues to drop (I'm down about another 1/2 inch in the waist) and I'm still advancing on most of my lifts. However, something I read earlier this week has made me reevaluate my lifting strategy.
I read this article on MSN health and have adjusted my lifting plan accordingly. I've gone from four sets of 10 reps of moderate to heavy weight, to five sets: two moderate sets of 8-10 reps, two heavy sets of 3-6 reps, and a light set of 15-20 reps. I can definitely feel a difference, as I'm MUCH more sore after these sessions than I have been since I first started lifting.
The idea of training for muscle endurance has a special appeal from a Sasuke standpoint. Over the next few weeks, I'll likely be shifting more of my workout in this direction, as I work to slim down even further. Although I'm leaner, the strength training has pushed my weight up to 176. Ideally, I'd like to compete at around 160.
C-
I'm still working hard and making progress as I continue to take small steps along the long and winding road to the base of Midoriyama. My body fat continues to drop (I'm down about another 1/2 inch in the waist) and I'm still advancing on most of my lifts. However, something I read earlier this week has made me reevaluate my lifting strategy.
I read this article on MSN health and have adjusted my lifting plan accordingly. I've gone from four sets of 10 reps of moderate to heavy weight, to five sets: two moderate sets of 8-10 reps, two heavy sets of 3-6 reps, and a light set of 15-20 reps. I can definitely feel a difference, as I'm MUCH more sore after these sessions than I have been since I first started lifting.
The idea of training for muscle endurance has a special appeal from a Sasuke standpoint. Over the next few weeks, I'll likely be shifting more of my workout in this direction, as I work to slim down even further. Although I'm leaner, the strength training has pushed my weight up to 176. Ideally, I'd like to compete at around 160.
C-
Saturday, August 11, 2007
New Equipment!
I opened my mailbox today and was pleased to find the "Iron Woody" brand hand gripper I won off of Ebay (pictured at right). It's a rather hardcore contraption for improving grip strength. It can be adjusted all the way up to 350 lbs of resistance! Hopefully, this will help prepare me for obstacles like the Cliffhanger.Chris
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Workout Hell
It's 11:35 PM Central Time in Dallas as I begin typing this message, and I have just returned home from ... you guessed it ... the gym. A light workout tonight and only my second of the day as opposed to what would usually be my third. I was too worn out and sore to get out of bed this morning and elected some extra rest over my usual morning cardio session. Welcome to my life in workout Hell.
I usually put in three sessions per day in training for Sasuke. Mornings, I hit the gym on the way to work (luckily, it's across the street from my office) for 25-30 minutes of cardio and some ab work. I like doing cardio first thing, as I'm working on an empty stomach and (in theory) burning only stored calories. Lunchtime and it's back to the gym for an hour to hour and 1/2 of lifting: arms on Monday, chest on Tuesday, lats and back on Wednesday, legs on Thursday, and shoulders on Friday. Around 10:00-11:00 PM, I head for the exercise room here at my apartment complex and touch up on a bit of everything I've done during the day, a mixed session with lifting and cardio. This usually lasts about an hour to an hour and 1/4. I go lighter on the weekends, usually doing one hour to hour and 1/2 session, comprised of cardio and ab work.
It seems to be going well so far. I'm lifting between 50 and 70 lbs. heavier on every lift than what I was back in February. My max on the bench is up to 260lbs. My waist is down about two inches and I've lowered my overall body fat to around 9-10%. I need to be at about 6% by March. Extra unnecessary weight will kill you on the course. Throughout everything is the nagging enormity of how far I still have to go.
As a rabid college football fan, the Alabama Crimson Tide is my team (I'm originally from Homewood, AL, just outside of Birminhgam). Whenever I start to reflect on how crazy I am to be doing all this, I remember one of my favorite lines from legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant: “If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride, and never quit, you'll be a winner. The price of victory is high, but so are the rewards.”
Victory for me right now is just being accepted to compete. I'll worry about the rest when (if) I get there.
Chris
I usually put in three sessions per day in training for Sasuke. Mornings, I hit the gym on the way to work (luckily, it's across the street from my office) for 25-30 minutes of cardio and some ab work. I like doing cardio first thing, as I'm working on an empty stomach and (in theory) burning only stored calories. Lunchtime and it's back to the gym for an hour to hour and 1/2 of lifting: arms on Monday, chest on Tuesday, lats and back on Wednesday, legs on Thursday, and shoulders on Friday. Around 10:00-11:00 PM, I head for the exercise room here at my apartment complex and touch up on a bit of everything I've done during the day, a mixed session with lifting and cardio. This usually lasts about an hour to an hour and 1/4. I go lighter on the weekends, usually doing one hour to hour and 1/2 session, comprised of cardio and ab work.
It seems to be going well so far. I'm lifting between 50 and 70 lbs. heavier on every lift than what I was back in February. My max on the bench is up to 260lbs. My waist is down about two inches and I've lowered my overall body fat to around 9-10%. I need to be at about 6% by March. Extra unnecessary weight will kill you on the course. Throughout everything is the nagging enormity of how far I still have to go.
As a rabid college football fan, the Alabama Crimson Tide is my team (I'm originally from Homewood, AL, just outside of Birminhgam). Whenever I start to reflect on how crazy I am to be doing all this, I remember one of my favorite lines from legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant: “If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride, and never quit, you'll be a winner. The price of victory is high, but so are the rewards.”
Victory for me right now is just being accepted to compete. I'll worry about the rest when (if) I get there.
Chris
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
My "Way of the Ninja"
Greetings everyone. For those of you new to the site (which is pretty much everyone, considering this is my first post), my name is Chris and I'm a 37 year-old Dallas, TX area web/software interface designer. I've set a goal for myself and it's a considerable one: to be accepted to compete in Sasuke 20 in March.
What is Sasuke, you ask? You may have seen it on G4 Tech TV under the American title of Ninja Warrior. It's a televised extreme physical challenge competition held twice a year at Midoriyama Studios in Yokohama, Japan. One hundred competitors are selected to take on four grueling stages of complex obstacles. Eighteen competitions have been held to date (with the nineteenth scheduled for next month) and of the 1800 individuals to take on the challenge thus far, fewer than 200 have ever reached the second stage, only about 100 have attempted the third stage, and only thirteen have advanced to take on the final stage (only three have done so more than once). Only two men, Kazuhiko Akiyama, and Makoto Nagano, have completed the final stage and achieved total victory.
So like I said, it's quite a considerable goal I've set for myself. As you might imagine, I'm spending a lot of time in the gym each day. I'm putting in about three hours a day right now, spread out over three sessions, and that's only going to increase as March approaches. I'm worn out and sore, but it will all be worth it if I can somehow achieve my goal.
I've created this blog to share some of my highs, lows, achievements, and frustrations as I go about preparing for the competition. Hopefully, some of you will tag along for the ride.
Coming next: Workout Hell
What is Sasuke, you ask? You may have seen it on G4 Tech TV under the American title of Ninja Warrior. It's a televised extreme physical challenge competition held twice a year at Midoriyama Studios in Yokohama, Japan. One hundred competitors are selected to take on four grueling stages of complex obstacles. Eighteen competitions have been held to date (with the nineteenth scheduled for next month) and of the 1800 individuals to take on the challenge thus far, fewer than 200 have ever reached the second stage, only about 100 have attempted the third stage, and only thirteen have advanced to take on the final stage (only three have done so more than once). Only two men, Kazuhiko Akiyama, and Makoto Nagano, have completed the final stage and achieved total victory.
So like I said, it's quite a considerable goal I've set for myself. As you might imagine, I'm spending a lot of time in the gym each day. I'm putting in about three hours a day right now, spread out over three sessions, and that's only going to increase as March approaches. I'm worn out and sore, but it will all be worth it if I can somehow achieve my goal.
I've created this blog to share some of my highs, lows, achievements, and frustrations as I go about preparing for the competition. Hopefully, some of you will tag along for the ride.
Coming next: Workout Hell
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