Bitten by Negativity

It’s been a challenging and funny last few days for me. I have had some good workouts and a couple not so good. But the biggest obstacle I’ve faced has been the negativity bug that has attempted to take me down. This has been more than just a humbling bug, which we all can use sometimes, its been an all out take you down you suck type of bug. The obstacle beast will prevail, I just need to fight this with positivity and accomplishments.

What has me down the most is that I have spent the last few days with some very negative people. Negativity is like a virus and can spread before you even know you have been infected. Rather than get into all of the details, mostly to save those who may one day stumble across my blog, thought that’s not likely, I just have to say that gossip combined with hate and negative thoughts, just eats a person from the inside out.

I’m in the gym tomorrow and I’m going to kill it!! I ran today and am still feeling a lot of the negative energy so I’m going to beat up some iron tomorrow and shake this crap off me. I also have another 5K this weekend where I am damned determined to get under 30 minutes. If you remember, I had one the weekend before last and got in at 31:16 with a third place finish for my age group. I realize that this race will be bigger and my age group will be more competitive, but I don’t give a damn who’s out there, this is competition with myself and the obstacle within! I’m out there, I’m doing it, and I’m breaking personal records!!

Some people thrive on drama and negativity. They’re toxic individuals who only want to bring you down to their level and take away your accomplishments. Either they don’t have the same or because they’re not willing/able to find the accomplishments in their own life. Fight that stuff off. Get back out there and remember that today is your day and you can only LET people make you feel bad. If the negativity bug gets you, recognize it and move on. The cure lies in working hard, being proud of yourself and who you are, and focusing on your personal obstacles in front of you.

I am a beast, and I will dominate THIS obstacle too!!

Weekend of the Beast

Since I had a 5K this weekend, I kept my intensity in my workout down last week to try and make sure I was fresh for the race. I didn’t get my under 30 minute time but I still got a personal record at 31:16 and later that evening learned that I had received a medal for third place in my age group, 30-34. Wow!!!!! I ran a great race, course was super hilly and on a cold day. Went home and changed into golf attire and proceeded to play a round with my in laws!!! I AM a beast!!!!

During family dinner yesterday, my in laws asked me if I was still into the “crazy” races… I was all too excited to share that I am doing the Spartan Trifecta next year and that I’m in continuous training!!! They all thought it was really interesting, especially that I PAY to do this stuff!! Haha. What can I say, I enjoy being an Obstacle Beast!!! :-).

Coming from a severe couch addict and evolving into this athletic determined person has bean such an amazing journey!! For the first time in my life I feel like I’m healthy, will live to see my boys grow, and can do ANYTHING!!! I’m comfortable in my physique, I’m strong, I’m in shape, and I’m proud!!!!

See your goal and take a step to it everyday. When you trip, don’t stay down, but get up and try another step. We are all works in progress, no matter where we are in our journey.

the power of a new shirt

Its amazing what a new shirt/shoes/gear can do to a workout. I recently purchased a new under armour shirt and got to wear it for the first time today. (I have a small obsession with this company) I had an excellent workout, felt extremely pumped, and was able to really push myself.

Its one of those shirts that you just like how you look in it. I felt good, so I worked harder, and I saw my muscles taking to the effort. I used to think that it was jut crap that people wrote for popular articles, that a new outfit or shoes can improve your workout/likelihood to get in the gym. I will say unequivocally, that it’s not crap and that taking care of yourself, like buying a new shirt, is a good way to jumpstart a workout.

I will say that I was a little disappointed in myself at the end of my workout. I got on the treadmill to run a mile, after lifting for 45 minutes, and after about a quarter-mile I just stopped. I decided that I was too tired and didn’t really “want” to run anymore. This is an obstacle that I will need to continue to work out, but I won’t let it take away from the intensity of my workout before I got on the treadmill. My problem with running on the treadmill lately is that it causes my ankles to be extremely sore for the rest of that day and the next. I don’t know if I’m trying to run too hard on it or if its something that most people face on treadmills or if it has to do with my shoes or something. I hope that I will be able to get an outdoor run in on Thursday or Friday, which isn’t as hard on my ankles and knees. I do have another 5K scheduled for the 19th, so I don’t want to risk a sore ankle for that. My hope is that I will get an under 30 minute 5k. I know that’s not lightening quick, but considering where I have come from, its pretty darn impressive for me!! 🙂 Remember, this is a work in process and I’m still pushing it!

It’s a good day to be the beast; great workout, good eating so far today, and nice fall weather outside!!

Dont let one aspect of a workout, whether good or bad, dictate how you feel about the entire workout. If you were in there, lifting those weights or running those miles,and you can feel yourself improving, you win. Consider the obstacle of the day ran down and live to run another mile!! 🙂

Supplement Review 10/2/13

I want to first say that I think of myself as a “natural” workout Beast. I look for supplements to increase muscle production or stamina, but always trying to use only the ones with natural ingredients. I know that is not always possible, but I do trust GNC to not provide me with anything that would be deemed “illegal” or “dangerous”. I realize that there are people who will say that to be natural, you can’t take anything. Well, they can read somebody elses blog because this is mine and I’ll discuss what I want to and I still consider myself natural! 😉

I will say that some of the results I have seen from these supplements may have been the placebo effect. But that can come with any program. Also, none of these are effective without a LOT of hard work!!

For a little over a year now I have been pretty steady with my Whey intake. I have a shake for breakfast 6 days a week.

I have found that the name brand doesn’t have much of an effect for me. I will use Max Fortress 100% Whey or Isolates. I have found that I get the best “feel” from the isolates as they don’t make me feel heavy or bloated. Its supper affordable and can be picked up at my local Kroger. I have just started to add GNC pro performance Amp 60, but it’s too early to call on how it works, so far so good though. I have also used several flavors of GNC Whey Isolates with great success.

As far as actually dietary supplements, I have the following reviews:

GNC Men’s Daily Multivitamin Sport:
Pros: Seems to work very well as far as a multivitamin goes. Provides more than I need of all of my daily requirements.
Cons: Each dose is two pills and I need to take them at night or they hurt my stomach. They also make my pee a cool bright yellow, almost neon, color in the morning.
Overall: I keep this product in my daily routine and am happy with it.

Animal Pack Cuts:
Pros: good energy burst, the diuretic seemed to work well, I did notice some water loss
Cons: too much caffeine for me, WAY too many pills and they’re required TWICE a day.
Overall: I would not recommend this product as it didn’t seem to be worth the trouble of caffeine side effects for the results, not to mention the extreme amount of pills.

GNC Pro Performance Amp Ripped Vitapack:
Pros: No caffeine high, good workout energy
Cons: I didn’t get much out of this product so I discontinued using it after one cycle.
Overall: GNC will say that it is one of their best products, but I personally didn’t get much out of it.

GNC Pro Performance Amp strength:
Pros: good energy, boosted workouts and strength, no side effects, muscles seem to “respond”
Cons: Several pills and kinda expensive if you don’t catch it on sale.
Overall: next to whey, this is the only product that I liked enough to use for several cycles and add back into my regimen later.

All of these products are advertised as “natural” and if you look at the ingredients, the Animal Cuts is the only one that caused me any concern. I would not try Animal again, nor will I add anything with caffeine back into my workout. Feel free to ask my any questions about these as I have done extensive research before trying them. But you should always check with your doctor, as I am not one, before trying any supplements!!

Your body is a machine, find the fuel that works for you!!

It’s My Birthday and I’ll Beast if I want to!!

I never would have thought that I would be the guy at the gym on his birthday ripping it out. I turned 32 today and, other than some aches and pains, I feel better than I did 10 years ago. 🙂

Today, rather than saying “its my birthday, I’m taking a day off”, I got in there and worked it. I made sure not to be too intense but made it a “fun” workout. I did the exercises that I like the most, ran a little but not too extreme, and tried to smile a lot at my wife who was walking on the treadmill. (she’s the real beast, in the gym with me when she’s 7 months pregnant!!!) I also tried a few new workouts, a couple of ab exercises, and left feeling like I had really accomplished something, even if I mainly worked “beach” muscles. Afterall, it is MY day! I get to work what I want! 🙂

I worked hard but allowed myself freedom to work it however I wanted to, with no thought of connecting different workouts to each other. It was an awesome workout, great sweat, and I am feeling it a few hours later. It’s good to change things up like this sometimes.

Its funny, “gifting” myself a workout like this. 🙂

Dont be afraid to “gift” yourself a day like this. It doesn’t have to be your birthday, it could just be a random Tuesday, but don’t be so restricted that you can’t have fun with your workout plan!! It’s a nice reward after working so hard; a choice workout rather than an extra serving of pizza as a reward. 🙂

How did you spend your birthday??!! 😉

Obstacle Torn Down!!

It’s always nice when I can say that an obstacle wasn’t just climbed over, but was TORN DOWN!!

I had one of those days today at the gym where, not only was I feeling it, I allowed myself to run on adrenalin and take on obstacles I hadn’t seen or known about. Felt great, did my full workout and then some, but as I was re-racking the weights I still felt like my body wanted more. I listened and jumped on the treadmill for a very respectable 9 minute mile. Mind you, that was AFTER lifting very heavy for 40 minutes.

It’s important to feed off the energy of whats around you. I felt like people were noticing my hard work today, so I rolled with it. I’m sure it was in my head, but does it matter as long as the weight got lifted and the run got completed?

One goal that I would love to add to my daily workout would be to add a run to the end of my lifts. My reasoning is that it raises my cardio, burns some extra calories, gets me more prepared for my Spartan Trifecta next year, and makes me feel like a real BEAST!!

I was able to accomplish that goal today. Today was a win and I tore that mother bleeping obstacle down, stood over it, and laughed at how much stronger I am!!

What a good day!! If you get a day that allows you to finish your workout feeling like you have really accomplished something; hold onto that feeling because it needs to be used as motivation on days that the wall is too strong to tear down but not too big that you can’t go over it.

The Obstacle of Blahhh

Got to the gym today planning on doing a nice chest workout, and since I’m usually very pumped on Monday, I was feeling pretty excited. unfortunately as I walked onto the weight floor, I felt like I hit a wall. It wasnt that I felt week, just achy and unmotivated. I did a few exercises, bench, incline, a couple of free-weights, and still just wasnt feeling it. Just one of those days I suppose. I almost headed back to the locker room when it occurred to me to try a change of gears.

I jumped down and did a set of 15 burpees that really got the heart rate going. I did some quick lifting of low weights, an interval set. But I still wasnt feeling the lifting, so I decided that a short run might get me feeling good. As I reached the treadmills, I paused and nearly walked to the locker room, just going to call it a day and count it as a loss. I forced myself over that wall, landed on the other side with a grin on my face as I jumped on the treadmill. I just did a quick 9 minute mile but it felt pretty good.

Sometimes your body is telling you that it doesn’t want to do certain exercises. Today, my body did not want to lift too many weights. However, I saved my workout with some pretty strenuous burpee intervals and a nice run. The sweat was rolling and I felt accomplished. Not because I had the best workout, had lifted a ton of weight, or had the best run. I felt accomplished because I could have quit anytime and I didn’t. My plan was to lift hard. My body’s plan was to be achy, sore, and to lack motivation. I didn’t give in though.

Staying on course with training requires me to be flexible and creative. Rather than risk injury or frustration with pushing through my lifting workout, I called an audible and blasted some good cardio. We’ll see what tomorrow brings!!!

I’ll count it as a win and an obstacle beat!! 🙂

The power of Sunday

Sunday is my day to rest the body and refuel the soul. I drop all shakes, structure, and workouts, eat sensibly of course, but really just relax. The family and I go to church, have lunch together, and enjoy the day. Sometimes I will play a round of golf or we will take a long walk, but that’s it.

Days like this are as important to the process as days in the gym. The body needs to be shut down and recharge regularly.

When it starts to feel like punishment, motivation won’t last.

Sunday, a day of much needed rest in the world of conquering obstacles.