Compound it

One of the things I have really come to appreciate about Crossfit is how important the compound exercises really are. Most body building/workout programs are geared towards isolating muscle groups. This is especially true of workout machines. In the real world, our bodies rarely work that way. Our muscles work together symbiotically when we lift something heavy or walk or run...or do just about anything for that matter. If you are a competitive bodybuilder and need to isolate a muscle that is lagging, that's one thing. But for everyday people? Nonsense. Forget those stupid machines, and focus on compound exercises. I can handle ridiculous amounts of weights on a leg press machine, but my (full range of motion) squats are quite modest in comparison. Why? My back is the weak link. You will only be a strong as your weakest link, just like a chain. Work the compounds, and build your capacity in each area at the same time.

Aesthetics

The other day, my wife told me she was jealous that I "had the time" to work out every day. I MAKE the time by building my workouts into my schedule and by not allowing them to be squeezed out. It all comes from a belief that maintaining and improving my health is of critical importance. If you only tie an exercise and eating program into how you look aesthetically, you can easily end up feeling guilty about putting vanity before more important things in your life...and so will those people around you. Besides, as we age, those aesthetics will change for the worse as nature runs it's course. It is only when you realize and believe that healthy living is a necessity that it becomes much easier to maintain and stick with. And go figure...the aesthetics follow anyway!

Quotes

I stick with a nutrition and exercise program because I put my health first, and appearance second. Do that, and everything else falls into place. -me

Goals: A reminder

I guess it was about a year ago when I set a goal to bench press 300 pounds by my birthday this year. I don't really know what my 1RM is, but I'm guessing it's in the range of 245-250 based upon my workouts.

My failure to get there has highlighted a couple of important lessons to keep in mind while setting goals. First, make sure you really want to accomplish the goal, that it's reasonable, and you have a good reason for wanting to acheive it. The second, and perhaps more important lesson, is to have a PLAN to reach the goal. A detailed plan. I didn't. My plan was to keep on working out and raising the weight on occassion. What I should have done was build a schedule of lifting weights that would have worked me up to my goal within the time frame allotted. I didn't do that, so should I really be surprised that I fell short? I guess not.

There were other factors that contributed to the shortfall, but the lack of a plan was the biggest one. Need to remember that.