Punch Matrix

While doing Newport today, I realized that I needed some work on the Punch Matrix and to revisit the form & intention of the exercise. I went back and watched an old AoS video clip where Anthony discussed how & why he created the matrix and gave some variations on the exercise. I'm looking forward to trying it with the kettlebells. In case you haven't seen it, here it is:

Weekend Recap

Saturday: On Saturday, I tried to do Newport out at the track, but it was wicked hot. So, I decided to go for a nice walk in the evening when it cooled off. I walked about 4.5 miles, and made sure that the route included some nice hills. I took long, deliberate strides, squeezing my glutes along the way. I enjoyed the scenic hill country view and got a good night's sleep once I got home. I started my walk around dusk and got back home just after the sun set.

Sunday: I took Sunday off and used it as a day of rest and restoration.

Today, it's Newport (finally) and then training with Jerry. I'll let you know how I make out with Newport, and I'll be using my new Lifeline Kettlebell. WHOOHOO!

Be fit!

Take time to notice the little things

Originally, I wrote this post as a simple entry on my workout today. However, after visiting the Punch forums and posting on there about goal setting, it dawned on me that I've finally reached one of the goals that I have been stressing about for the past 14 months. I achieved it when I stopped stressing out about it and just enjoyed the hard work. I've been back in my normal clothes size for about the past 7 weeks, am still losing inches, and getting closer to my "competition prep" size. I am getting back to my normal workout schedule of 5-6 days per week of activity. Although the numbers on the scale still aren't anywhere close to "normal," my body is back there. I'm feeling happier. I am loving the fact that it's summer time, and I'm able to get back to my focus on training. I feel alot like my friend Anthony described on his blog a few days ago about feeling proud of himself for working out 4 days in a row, getting closer to his normal 5. Changing jobs at work has been the turning point for me. All of the extraordinary stress that I felt has dissipated, and I am enjoying learning something new professionally. Most importantly, I'm enjoying the journey - the feeling of hard work, the joy of accomplishing goals, the pride of honoring the commitment to myself. Today has been a great day, and even though I still have a long way to go before I reach my goal of stepping on the competition stage again, I'm using this moment to sit back, smile, and be proud of myself, to love myself, to respect the hard work and dedication. Now, back to my original post :-)

7:40PM - 8:15PM - Nice, easy bike ride after work. The weather was nice, sun was going down so it wasn't quite as hot, so I rode around the neighborhoods and enjoyed the scenery. I was going to do Newport afterwards, but I just want to relax. Have a nice evening! Maybe I'll do Newport in the morning and then hit a yoga class :-).

A workout and a finisher

I'm going to append this finisher (courtsey of Crossfit Philly) to one of my workouts this week/weekend.
1 Swing
1 Burpee
2 Swings
2 Burpees

Ladder up to 10 Swings,10 burpees in under 5 Minutes. Kicka$$!!

Already feeling alot better

That yoga class last night did wonders! Although still tight, I do feel my muscles and joints are noticeably less tense. I'd planned on working out tonight, but a friend stopped by and needed my help with something. Our meeting lasted longer than I'd expected and I still have work to finish in order to prep for some meetings tomorrow. Soooo, no workout today. I do plan to get in some cardio and yoga tomorrow, though, to compensate.

Have a great evening!

A Bike Ride and Bikram Yoga

5:30-6:30PM - Tonight, I rode my bike for 50 minutes on the road. I burned about 500 calories and explored a closeby neighborhood. I wanted to ride longer, but I was in a rush to get home and shower/change for Bikram Yoga. I wore my cycling shoes and didn't fall off my bike today :-) I also was able to relatively comfortably navigate through traffic without getting too scared. I was in a neighborhood that was deep in the canyons, so I encountered some major hills on my journey today. They were so steep that at parts, I had to dismount my bike and walk it until I reached a point where I felt comfortable getting back on. My fear is that I'll have to climb some steep hill, will be wearing my cycling shoes, will not generate enough force to turn the wheels, and fall over. Not to mention that I've mostly been riding on flats to get used to my bike, and this was my first real venture into hilly territory. I'll build up to it slowly :-)

7:00-8:30PM - I went to Bikram Yoga class tonight, and I am so glad that I did. My body and muscles are really tight. It's been about a year since I did Bikram, so my body isn't really used to it anymore. I'm going to try to get 3-4 sessions in per week for the next month, in addition to the rest of my training. I am horrible about doing any type of dedicated stretching on my own, and it's starting to catch up with me. I usually stretch after I workout, but I really need to get better about devoting sessions (45-60 mins) strictly to stretching. My body will thank me for it one day, and I know it will do wonders for the stress I endure throughout the day (and the long hours hunched over a computer). Overall, I had a nice workout. I'm looking forward to tomrrow, and I'm definitely going to sleep well.

Today's workout

Well, poor Jerry has a kidney infection, so I doubt we'll train together this week. That isn't such a bad thing because I'm still really sore. I did a 60 minute cycling class (endurance) followed by 25 minutes of high grade incline walking this evening after work. I think that I might take a Bikram class tomorrow night to help alleviate some of this soreness. I also plan to get in 2 days of KB training this week since I'm on my own :-)

Have a good one!