The alarm goes off at 5:30am.. hit snooze again. Maybe I hit it one or two more times, but who's counting. Finally roll out about 5:55am.
This seems harder than it was yesterday. At least yesterday had the promise of something "new"... today its just a workout. Amazing how fast something you don't want to do becomes routine, boring and painful (that's me... Mr. Positive... yeah!).
I wake up my wife. No mention of "the ticket" this morning (what do you think I'm that stupid?). We head down stairs to read our motivational kick start from Jorge. I guess its the sarcasm in me, but its a little tough to read some motivational rant about imagining my perfect body at 6am in the morning... but hey it usually gives me some good material to crack a joke and make my wife laugh.. I am always looking for new material for jokes.
We then head into the warm up routine. For some reason instead of running in place to warm up, we end up actually jogging around the house. Into the kitchen, around the island counter, into the living room, around the coffee table, etc. Kind of like a little morning parade... oh this is so much fun!
Not sure how this became the warm up but I sure hope our neighbors don't see us. Oh yeah, that's right.. its 6am...Who the hell would be looking in my windows at this time of the morning anyways. I peek out the front.. just to be sure.... I never did trust my neighbors.... small hands, smell like cabbage (Austin Powers for those of you not as dorky as I am).
We jump right into the exercises - Shoulders and Abs today. The shoulder exercise uses the dumbbells and you know about the abs... just your standard pain in the rear crunches. Takes me back to the glory days of Middle School, and failing the Presidential Fitness Test... again.
Once again its over before I know it and I am putting the weights back in the garage and hitting the shower. I really do think I can do this. Wait a second.. is that an actual positive comment on this program with no sarcasm what so ever.... it is. Now that is impressive.
One note on the "8 Minutes" thing. Its really more like 15-18 min. After you warm up, do the exercises and stretch, but I just don't think "15-18 Minutes, give or take a few here or there in the Morning" tested well with the focus groups. So "8 Minutes" it is.
** Stay tuned for Day 3 when I realize why this program is so effective.......
Friday, April 27, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Day 1 - "Damn you Jorge...."
Alarm goes off at 5:30 am.... I hit snooze of course. Alarm goes off again at 5:45 am. I manage to pull my raggedy self out of bed.
The interesting thing is that this is about the same time I wake up almost every day for work... but for some odd reason today seems a little harder to get going. Oh, that's right... today is the FIRST DAY OF MY WORKOUT PLAN! I begin to curse Jorge, the author of 8 Minutes in the Morning... I mean, c'mon.. what kind of mad man creates a workout program that only takes 8 minutes! Now I don't have any excuse NOT to work out. It is either pure genius or insidious... I am currently reserving judgement.
So I try and wake up my wife so we can start this "fun" journey together, so I gently shake her. No response. I shake her a little harder and she tells me "no, I'm waiting for the ticket".
I laugh and ask, what ticket? She says, "The ticket from the lady". Now I really start laughing.... big mistake apparently (Note to self: do not laugh at my wonderful wife before she is awake.. it seems to make her pretty upset). You would think I would learn this after over 8 years of marriage but after all I am male, and therefore not very sharp.
After a short conversation about why I should not be laughing right now (which makes me laugh even more.. another bad idea by the way) we head downstairs to begin our "8 minutes in the morning". (BTW - the "ticket" that she was waiting for was apparently at Oprah's airport and the whole family was trying to get on a plane to go home..... wish I was at Oprah's airport and not heading downstairs to work out)
So back to Day 1. We head downstairs and gather our weights and open the 8 Minutes book to "Week 1, Day 1". There is a short motivational page.. something about visualizing your new body or something like that. I am currently visualizing my nice warm and cozy bed, but I would much rather be starting a workout plan of course (BTW - not sure if I mentioned this, but I am arguably one of the most sarcastic people on the face of the earth. Not sure if that comes through in writing but I just thought you should be aware).
The next step in the daily plan is to "warm up". Jorge suggests in the book to "run in place" for few minutes. As my wife and I begin to do this.. and looking pretty ridiculous in the process.. I go on a short tirade and curse Jorge once again for his diabolical "8 minute" plan.
Today's exercise consists of a bench press like motion laying on the floor and a bent over row with the dumbbells. Once we got going it was not really that bad, in fact it was rather easy. As with most things it is the act of starting.... a rolling stone and all of that.
And then just like that it was over.... weird. It almost didn't feel like "working out", and I should know because I usually have a sever allergic reaction to working out (I get hives and turn all blotchy I think).
So after Day 1 I am feeling pretty good... maybe this will work after all.
The interesting thing is that this is about the same time I wake up almost every day for work... but for some odd reason today seems a little harder to get going. Oh, that's right... today is the FIRST DAY OF MY WORKOUT PLAN! I begin to curse Jorge, the author of 8 Minutes in the Morning... I mean, c'mon.. what kind of mad man creates a workout program that only takes 8 minutes! Now I don't have any excuse NOT to work out. It is either pure genius or insidious... I am currently reserving judgement.
So I try and wake up my wife so we can start this "fun" journey together, so I gently shake her. No response. I shake her a little harder and she tells me "no, I'm waiting for the ticket".
I laugh and ask, what ticket? She says, "The ticket from the lady". Now I really start laughing.... big mistake apparently (Note to self: do not laugh at my wonderful wife before she is awake.. it seems to make her pretty upset). You would think I would learn this after over 8 years of marriage but after all I am male, and therefore not very sharp.
After a short conversation about why I should not be laughing right now (which makes me laugh even more.. another bad idea by the way) we head downstairs to begin our "8 minutes in the morning". (BTW - the "ticket" that she was waiting for was apparently at Oprah's airport and the whole family was trying to get on a plane to go home..... wish I was at Oprah's airport and not heading downstairs to work out)
So back to Day 1. We head downstairs and gather our weights and open the 8 Minutes book to "Week 1, Day 1". There is a short motivational page.. something about visualizing your new body or something like that. I am currently visualizing my nice warm and cozy bed, but I would much rather be starting a workout plan of course (BTW - not sure if I mentioned this, but I am arguably one of the most sarcastic people on the face of the earth. Not sure if that comes through in writing but I just thought you should be aware).
The next step in the daily plan is to "warm up". Jorge suggests in the book to "run in place" for few minutes. As my wife and I begin to do this.. and looking pretty ridiculous in the process.. I go on a short tirade and curse Jorge once again for his diabolical "8 minute" plan.
Today's exercise consists of a bench press like motion laying on the floor and a bent over row with the dumbbells. Once we got going it was not really that bad, in fact it was rather easy. As with most things it is the act of starting.... a rolling stone and all of that.
And then just like that it was over.... weird. It almost didn't feel like "working out", and I should know because I usually have a sever allergic reaction to working out (I get hives and turn all blotchy I think).
So after Day 1 I am feeling pretty good... maybe this will work after all.
Review of "8 Minutes in the Morning"
As I mentioned in the previous post, we have decided to use a book by Jorge Cruise called "8 Minutes in the Morning: A Simple Way to Shed up to 2 Pounds a Week Guaranteed".
We selected this book based on some research and the fact that we have very busy/hectic lives - we both work full time and have two VERY active young children (as well as a perverse need for a few hours of sleep every night). So the whole 8 minutes thing really appealed to us. If we can't devote 8 minutes a day to our health then we should just throw in the towel and eat bon bon's and lard right out of the tub.
The program consists of:
Cruise explains that aerobic exercise (running, cycling, etc.) is great from burning calories while you are exercising, but adding muscle revs up your metabolism and burns fat throughout the day. In fact, every pound of muscle you gain burns and extra 50 calories per day.
The Eating Card Plan
Cruise's plan focuses on eating more complex carbs, high quality protein, vegetable and "good" fats (omega fats), while eating less dairy, fruits and "treats". He helps you do this by using an "Eating Card System" with specific portions of each food group you are allowed to eat each day.
This is one area where we are going to alter Cruise's plan a little as our family has been really focusing on "eating healthier" for a few years now. We have eliminated "trans fats" and high fructose corn syrup and have greatly increased our intake of vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids. We feel like we have a good handle on the "eating right" and just don't think the "card system" would work with two little ones running around.
As the healthy eating area is one that I feel we have learned a lot about the last few years, I am planning on adding some posts around this topic. Some ideas would be, the dangers of trans fats and high fructose corn syrup, benefits of grass fed beef, benefits of fish oil, etc. I can honestly say that if it was not for us changing our eating habits over the last few years I would easily be about 260 lbs. minimum.
While some of this may sound a little "granola" I think you will be amazed when you actually read some of the research around these topics.
Overall Thoughts on 8 minutes in the morning
At this point I think 8 Minutes is a great idea, but we will have to see what the results are at the end of this. Since the hardest part of any workout plan is starting and staying on it, the idea of it only taking 8 minutes is pretty motivating. What I am hoping is that after just doing the 8 minutes for a few weeks and "getting in shape" it will be much easier to do a little more and a little more.... and "suddenly" you can do 20 min.... 30 min.... and Bam! You are now in shape.
* I will try and come back and update this review as I get further into the program and have more results.
We selected this book based on some research and the fact that we have very busy/hectic lives - we both work full time and have two VERY active young children (as well as a perverse need for a few hours of sleep every night). So the whole 8 minutes thing really appealed to us. If we can't devote 8 minutes a day to our health then we should just throw in the towel and eat bon bon's and lard right out of the tub.
The program consists of:
- An inspirational "wake-up talk"
- kind of like a Tony Robbins pep talk every morning to get you motivated
- 8 minutes of strength training each morning
- a 28-day program of illustrated exercises using dumbbells, you focus on 2 muscle groups per day
- Build muscle mass and by doing it in the morning you increase your metabolism for the rest of the day
- Eating according to his "eating card" program
- focus is on a "healthy diet", including more "good" fats
- Lose about 2 pounds per week.. and keep it off.
- Cruise claims you will "change your shape and gain muscle mass and energy"
Cruise explains that aerobic exercise (running, cycling, etc.) is great from burning calories while you are exercising, but adding muscle revs up your metabolism and burns fat throughout the day. In fact, every pound of muscle you gain burns and extra 50 calories per day.
The Eating Card Plan
Cruise's plan focuses on eating more complex carbs, high quality protein, vegetable and "good" fats (omega fats), while eating less dairy, fruits and "treats". He helps you do this by using an "Eating Card System" with specific portions of each food group you are allowed to eat each day.
This is one area where we are going to alter Cruise's plan a little as our family has been really focusing on "eating healthier" for a few years now. We have eliminated "trans fats" and high fructose corn syrup and have greatly increased our intake of vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids. We feel like we have a good handle on the "eating right" and just don't think the "card system" would work with two little ones running around.
As the healthy eating area is one that I feel we have learned a lot about the last few years, I am planning on adding some posts around this topic. Some ideas would be, the dangers of trans fats and high fructose corn syrup, benefits of grass fed beef, benefits of fish oil, etc. I can honestly say that if it was not for us changing our eating habits over the last few years I would easily be about 260 lbs. minimum.
While some of this may sound a little "granola" I think you will be amazed when you actually read some of the research around these topics.
Overall Thoughts on 8 minutes in the morning
At this point I think 8 Minutes is a great idea, but we will have to see what the results are at the end of this. Since the hardest part of any workout plan is starting and staying on it, the idea of it only taking 8 minutes is pretty motivating. What I am hoping is that after just doing the 8 minutes for a few weeks and "getting in shape" it will be much easier to do a little more and a little more.... and "suddenly" you can do 20 min.... 30 min.... and Bam! You are now in shape.
* I will try and come back and update this review as I get further into the program and have more results.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
What's this "health journey" all about?
So the first question I guess I would have to answer is why they heck am I doing this? After a little soul searching I have come up with two very different reasons:
Nothing like a good combination of altruism and pure selfishness to motivate you to do something.
With these goals in mind I plan on documenting my daily routine to "get back in shape" and along the way add in some resources and items of interest for others who may be going down the same path. Hopefully, my daily ramblings will help motivate folks and the other health related articles will provide a solid backdrop for discussion.
A little more about me:
I am a 36 year old father of two and happily married. I used to be very active and played multiple sports including volleyball, basketball and hockey. As is the case with most folks, in the last 10 years I have slowly put on weight and have not been able to find the time to play sports or exercise in any way. Blame it on the desk job, lack of time, lack of motivation, whatever.... the end result is that I am now getting pretty darn overweight!
The Plan:
So once I decided to do this I of course had to come up with a plan, as I am extremely "plan" oriented. As I researched.. and researched... and researched the "best" way to get back in shape I began to realize that this was yet another way to avoid the actual doing.
About this time, my wife suggested that we both start doing a new program she found called "8 Minutes in the Morning: A Simple Way to Shed up to 2 Pounds a Week Guaranteed" by Jorge Cruise (remember this name.. it will come up in later posts).
Of course my first thought was "8 minutes.. yeah right". My next thought was "8 minutes.... I just might be able to manage that". So we purchased the book and began reading the intro chapters and learing about the program.
I will probably do a more thorough review in a latter post, but the 20 second review goes something like this:
- To create a dialogue and hopefully educate others on health related issues that I have been learning about,
- To create a line in the sand and motivation to stay on my new "get back in shape" plan.
Nothing like a good combination of altruism and pure selfishness to motivate you to do something.
With these goals in mind I plan on documenting my daily routine to "get back in shape" and along the way add in some resources and items of interest for others who may be going down the same path. Hopefully, my daily ramblings will help motivate folks and the other health related articles will provide a solid backdrop for discussion.
A little more about me:
I am a 36 year old father of two and happily married. I used to be very active and played multiple sports including volleyball, basketball and hockey. As is the case with most folks, in the last 10 years I have slowly put on weight and have not been able to find the time to play sports or exercise in any way. Blame it on the desk job, lack of time, lack of motivation, whatever.... the end result is that I am now getting pretty darn overweight!
Tale of the tape
Height - 6' 2"
Weight - 210 lbs.
Waist - 42"
Chest - 41 3/4"
Bicep - 13"
Height - 6' 2"
Weight - 210 lbs.
Waist - 42"
Chest - 41 3/4"
Bicep - 13"
Not severely overweight, but I do have a nice sized "beer belly" (as I do love beer!) and have started to notice my energy level go way down. I figured it was time to get a handle on this or it would quickly spiral out of control and I would begin to see other more serious health problems. Hence, the idea to "get back in shape"... and for some odd reason start a blog to talk about it.
The Plan:
So once I decided to do this I of course had to come up with a plan, as I am extremely "plan" oriented. As I researched.. and researched... and researched the "best" way to get back in shape I began to realize that this was yet another way to avoid the actual doing.
About this time, my wife suggested that we both start doing a new program she found called "8 Minutes in the Morning: A Simple Way to Shed up to 2 Pounds a Week Guaranteed" by Jorge Cruise (remember this name.. it will come up in later posts).
Of course my first thought was "8 minutes.. yeah right". My next thought was "8 minutes.... I just might be able to manage that". So we purchased the book and began reading the intro chapters and learing about the program.
I will probably do a more thorough review in a latter post, but the 20 second review goes something like this:
- Do just 8 minutes of strength training each day
- Build muscle mass and thus increase your matabolism
- Eating a more healthy diet, including more "good" fats
- Lose about 2 pounds per week.. and keep it off.
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