Training with Mike Mahler

I've decided to start training with Mike Mahler during my off-season. We are working on conditioning, fat loss, and muscular endurance. We have alot of great things planned, and I start the 3-month journey this week! Cheers!

This evening, instead of working out, I spent some QT with my DSO. We have been really enjoying each other's company lately, spending alot of time talking and just appreciating one another. Being in love is good stuff, especially when you know you're with the right person!

Tuesday, Nov 6

PM: 30 mins cardio (10 mins elliptical wearing 10lb weight vest; 20 mins step, 5 mins with weight vest).

Monday, Nov 5 Workout

AM: 22 mins elliptical - got a really good sweat going. I've missed using my elliptical trainer regularly.

Sunday's WOD

Well, I was inspired to create my own workout of the day - a little bit of Crossfit, AoS, and lots o' fitness forums this week :-). Here goes....bring on the pain....

Warm-Up: Joint mobility drills, 15 mins elliptical), light stretching

Workout
For time.......
20 Pushups
20 DB Thrusters (use 20lb dumbells)
10 Band-assisted pull-ups
20 Double Swings @ 12kg
20 Snatches @ 12kg (10R, 10L)
20 alt "dip & switch" cleans (use 15lb dumbells)
20 Dbl Static Rows @ 12kg
10 burpees
10 deck squats @ 12kg
10 Band-assited pull-ups

The entire workout took me 14:24.

Cool Down: Stretch

This was a challenging workout. Thrusters always wind me! I actually only did 10 DB thrusters, 4x20lbs and 6x15lbs. I also modified the deck squats.

Tonight's Workout - the 300

8 min warmup - jogging, heavy bag, light stretches

Workout
25 jumping jacks
25 pushups
25 KB front squats (switch hands after 13 reps, and do 12 reps w/other hand)
25 one hand swings (LEFT HAND)
25 bent over rows (switch hands after 13 reps, and do 12 w/ other hand)
25 snatches (Switch hands after 13 reps, and do 12 reps w/other hand)
25 figure 8's into hold.
25 presses (switch hands every 3 reps)
25 one hand swings (RIGHT HAND)
25 cleans (switch hands after 13 reps, and do 12 w/other hand)
25 snatches (switch hands after 13 reps, and do 12 w/other hand)
10 windmills (5 each side)
15 burpees

Used a 9kg for windmills, 1/2 of the cleans, and 1/2 of the presses. Used 12kg on all other kettlebell exercises. Entire thing took me 27:50, including 45-60 seconds rest in between each exercise and water breaks. The burpees at the end were killer. GREAT workout! I closed with russian twists, bridge, sit-ups, and stretching.

A Little Morning Cardio

Admittedly the most difficult thing for me to do is workout first thing in the morning, mostly because I'd rather be sleeping. So, any time that I actually get a morning, pre-breakfast workout in is a day that I feel good about. I'm usually not able to get enough energy in the early morning to push to any high level of intensity, but I do the best I can. This morning I hit the bike for 25 minutes, doing some interval training. It was a nice workout, and I got a good sweat going. I'd contemplated doing Providence, but I definitely don't train well with the bells in the morning. Tonight I will either do Providence or P90X Shoulders & Arms. My shoulders and arms need a little bulking up. Over the next 7 weeks, my focus will be on fat loss and conditioning. I may train shoulders & arms a little heavier, but it's usually counter productive (and unrealistic) to strive for fat loss, conditioning, and mass building at the same time. I'm also considering giving Performance Nutrition a run...still thinking on that....

Have a great day ahead, and I'll check in tonight.

My 2007 Santa Wish List

Well, I thought I'd post my "Santa please bring me the following for my gym" list:

1) ROPES - I'm itching to try rope training, thanks to Anthony's latest MOS and Kettlebell Athletics' youtube posts of rope training....looks like so much fun! I really want to try those jumping pullups and jumping armbars shown on KBA.

2) Agility Rings

3) Agility Ladder

4) Concept 2 Rower

5) Kettlebell storage rack

6) New rubber flooring

7) Mirrors

8) Heavier Kettlebells 24kg, a better quality 9kg (like Perform Better, Lifeline, or Ader), and maybe a second 16kg



Gosh, I feel greedy writing it all out..... :-) Maybe I'll ask my parents for some of this for my birthday as well (am I too old to be doing that??? - LOL)