Jen B Essentials One from Marc Bryan on Vimeo.

Monday, July 28, 2007I've been making a run at the Essentials test here lately. I've been doing pretty well with it, so I decided to video it today. Naturally I flubbed it up a bit. The push-presses are just the way I have to do it right now. The other exercises fatigue my arms too much for me to straight press at that point in the game. During the right hand swings, my hand just got so sweaty the bell flew clean out of my hand. Then on the descending TGU, I had a brain fart and stepped back on the wrong foot and royally screwed that up. For some reason starting the get-up from that position plays with my head. I really do know how to do it right.

I thought long and hard about whether or not I wanted to post this. First, it's just embarrassing that I fucked it up. I look like a newbie. Second, I have a knot in the pit of my stomach at the realization that I still look like I do. The picture of myself that resides in my head is much different. I see myself as much more muscularly defined. I've had myself convinced that another 15-20 pounds was going to put me where I need to be. Now I'm not so sure. Maybe that's why I'm stalled like I am. I've known for a while that I need to take photos more regularly because they're such a reality check, but I guess that's exactly why I have difficulty with doing it. The truth is hard to see--especially when I feel like I'm working so hard to keep my nutrition straight. As my mentor liked to tell me..."Balls up. Watcha gonna do?"

TODAY'S WORKOUT: The Essentials test above with the 16kg.

10 rounds of: 12 kg Snatch 30 sec R, Rest 30 sec, Snatch 30 sec L, Rest 30 sec.

Variation On A Theme

Monday, July 27, 2008
158.5#
Work 6p-8a
Slept 5.5 hours

Tracy Rif had a stroke of genius that is used more than I think she could have ever imagined when she decided to cut up a tube sock and use it to protect her hands. For those of you unfamiliar with this, please see her idea here: http://tracyrif.blogspot.com/search?q=sock+sleeve.

As I was using these one day, my cheapo tube socks had a strange weave to them that was biting into my hand when I used the heavier 16kg bell. So I went in search of something softer. As I was rummaging through my sock drawer, I tripped up on some Nike ankle socks with the elastic in the arches. I cut out the elastic area in the middle, put the cushey part that is supposed to be on the bottom of the foot in the palm of my hand, and went to work. I liked it so much, I found the other pair of socks I had like that and made some more. I decided to take pictures and share with that one, though. The downfall to this style of these is that you have to find just the right sock with an elastic that is wide enough and soft enough, and even then, I'm not sure they would be wide enough for people with big hands to use. When I rip a callous and have to protect it to get my workout in, this are my go-to now. I hope you find this useful.

WORKOUT 2:
I was running a little behind, so I changed the rest scheme on this workout. I liked it quite a bit this way, so I think I'll just do it this way from now on (barring David's putting the kaibash on that idea).

6 Rounds of the following:

8kg Split squat-30 sec R/30sec L (consistently got 4-5/side/set)

Pushup-30 sec (consistently got 10-12 wide leg pushups per set which is improving because until today I've had to drop to the knees for at least one set)

Deck Squats for 30 sec (First 2 rounds weighted with 8kg. No weight on last 4. I still think it's probably more difficult without the weight, at least at the bottom. I got 4-5 per set.)

Double 12kg C&P-30 sec (3-4 per set)

Rest 30 sec.

Then 10 sets of double 12kg snatches. I got 8 reps on each of these sets but two in which I got 7. The best I've been able to do here is 9 per set for pretty much the whole round. I couldn't find that rhythm today, though.

Time Flies

Saturday, July 26, 2008
158.5#
Work 6p-8a

Time has flown by this week. I turned around all of a sudden and realized that it's been five days since I posted anything. Sometimes the speed with which life passes frightens me. Even now, I look in the mirror and see lines that seem as if they appeared over-night, and I wonder how I missed whatever it was that put them there. I think some day I'll look up into a mirror at a face I don't even know, and I'll wonder where I went.

The week has been fairly eventful, occupied with both small things and big. The hubby and I caught a couple of movies. The Dark Knight is definitely worth a trip to the theater; it's just outstanding. Journey to the Center of the Earth is another to see while it's in theaters mostly because it's in 3D at some places. Since I missed the 3D phase in the previous century, I truly enjoyed it this time. It's novel and pretty fun, actually. We bought a new bed--got a TempurPedic. I'm hoping this decreases the number of times per sleep cycle that I wake up. And I registered for the October RKC. I'm pretty excited about this for lots of reasons. The RKC itself, of course, but also, hopefully, the opportunity the meet some of the folks whose blogs I read on a regular basis. Then there's just the fun of seeing a place I've not seen since I was about 8 or 9 years old. Should be a good time.

I have kept up with my workouts as scheduled, but my eating and sleeping have been another story. I've eaten appropriate things, just not enough of them. My calories have been too low at least two days this week. That has been a direct result of my schizophrenic sleep schedule. I'm back at work, now, though, so I'll be back on a regular schedule. Hopefully like in the ER will not be so crazy that I can't get my calories in.

TODAY'S WORKOUT:
16kg Essentials Test minus the TGU at the beginning and end.
This amounts to 30 sec each of:
High pull/Snatch alternated
Press
Squat
Clean
Swing.... all with the right hand.
Figure 8 to a hold
Swing
Clean
Squat
Press
High Pull/Snatch... all with the left hand.

I can do it except that I have to do a pushpress for the presses.
I'm supposed to be doing 1 min of 16kg snatches here then 1 min rest for 4 rounds. I figure it's a good swap. I'll go back to the snatches later.

Then... 30 sec 12kg snatch R, 30 sec rest, 30 sec 12kg snatch L, 30 sec rest for a total of 10 rounds. I didn't manage to get but 13 per round most rounds today. I just wasn't seeming to hit that rhythm that I did on Wednesday.

NO WORKOUT FRIDAY=OFF DAY

THURSDAY'S WORKOUT: Workout 1
6 rounds of 16kg:
3tgu/side
row 30 sec each arm
thruster w/kb in steering wheel position
rest 30 sec

Then...swing ladder 10, 20, 30 i go/you go schizo style (I have to imagine the other person). I usually do this with the 16kg but today I decided to go for the 20kg. I made it except for the last 2 swings when my grip just gave up.

WEDNESDAY'S WORKOUT: Same as today except I was rockin' and got 14 per 30 sec round on t he 12kg snatches.

TUESDAY'S WORKOUT: Workout 2
6 rounds of
8kg split squat 30 sec/side
pushup 30 sec
rest 30 sec

6 rounds of
8kg deck squat for 30 sec
double 12kg C&P for 30 sec
rest 30 sec

Then...Double 12 kg snatch 30 sec work/1 min rest for 10 rounds.

You Are What You Eat

Monday, July 21, 2008
159.5#
Work 6p-8a
Slept 6 hours.

The human body is in a constant state of regeneration. Skin cells live only a month or so. Stomach cells only a couple of days. Colon cells 3-4 days. Red blood cells 4 months. White blood cells 10 days to a year, depending on the type. Every organ other than the brain is replacing itself one cell at a time. The skin, the gut, the liver, the pancreas, the heart, the blood vessels: they are all slowly repairing, building their replacements. The only building blocks the body has to form these new cells and the organs they form is the food that we eat and the fluids we drink. Really think about that for a minute. What have you eaten today? Is what you ate going to provide the appropriate building blocks for the cells your body is creating to form your new organs?

One meal couldn't possibly make that much difference in the grand scheme of things. Surely the average of our intake is what makes the greatest overall impact on the integrity of our health. After all, the entire vascular system does not regenerate in 24 hours' time. Ultimately, there is a great deal of truth in these statements. The overall picture matters more than any individual brush stroke, but each and every brush stroke is important. After just one meal high in saturated fats and carbohydrates, a person's risk of cardiovascular events increases as their body attempts to process all of those macronutrients and their resultant hormone cascades. The blood vessels actually become more likely to form a life-altering blockage during that time. (Just as for 30 minutes after taking the final puff of a cigarette, one's risk for heart attack and stroke is measurably increased.)

My last patient this morning provided me with an excellent illustration for how profoundly a day or two of extremely poor intake could affect the body. Keep in mind, this did not happen in a vaccum, and the details of why this was so dramatic are beyond what you want to hear. Regardless, the tube on the left is her blood. That on the right is "normal" blood. The layer of white fluid at the top of her tube is a layer of lipids--pure fat. When the blood came out of her arm, you could see the droplets of fat falling into the tube. NOTHING was added to or taken from this tube. A little more clear now how dramatically a few meals can affect a person, isn't it? Picture the insides of her blood vessels, the difficulty her lungs would have exchanging oxygen into that blood, the problems her brain, heart and other tissues would have getting oxygen and other nutrients from it. Dramatic, indeed.


TODAY'S WORKOUT: Finally, it felt STRONG! Don't get me wrong, I still didn't want to drag my butt out of bed this morning. And I stood looking at my toes for about 5 minutes before I made myself pick up a bell, but when I did, it didn't feel like I was picking up a small car. Today was the first time in over a week that my numbers of reps were back to normal and actually felt strong. Thank goodness!

3 min 12kg warm-up just keeping the bell off the ground.

4 rounds of
16 kg snatch 30 sec R, 30 sec L, rest 1 min. I consistently got 10 per side each round.

10 rounds of
12kg Snatch R 30 sec
Rest 30 sec
12kg Snatch L 30 sec
Rest 30 sec
I consistently got 12 reps during the 30 sec.

Competition

Sunday, July 20, 2008
159#
Work 6p-8a

Competition coupled with pride is an amazing thing. It can simultaneously drive me further than I ever believed I could go and make me feel horribly inferior, making me want to give up entirely at my pathetic effort.

After reading a post on a forum about a woman who snatches the 24kg for reps, I've thought a lot this weekend about how competitive I am. My initial reaction to her post was to be embarassed and seriously pissed at myself. After all, I'm proud just to snatch the 16 for reps. I thought I was doing something banging out 10 reps of double 12kg snatches like there was no tomorrow. How pathetic. Proud of such pitiful effort. I can't even snatch the 20 kg for more than one rep. Who cares that she's 6 feet 1 friggin' inch tall? That just means I should be at a height advantage--don't have to move the weight as far. And I'm She-Ra Princess of Power! I should be able to out-swing, out-snatch, out-jump, out- run every other non-professional female athlete out there. What a puss! I should just go back to the couch.

WTF?!!!

I AM ME. (See definition at right.) I am a better, healthier me than I was a year ago, 6 months ago. Somewhere out there, there will always be someone who is stronger, faster, smarter, more personable, better looking, a better doctor. Maybe even all of that "more" is encompassed out there in one person. But there will never be another me. Right now, I go out there, give everything I have, and I keep getting better, stronger. That's all I can ask of myself. Maybe one day snatching the 24 for reps will come easily. I certainly never dreamed of the day I'd be snatching the 16.

So instead of feeling inferior when I hear of what awesome thing someone else has achieved with their strength and/or endurance, I will be inspired. I will contemplate their effort and see if what they are doing is something I would like to do. If it is, I will work toward it. If not, I will be happy for them and happy to be me.

WORKOUT: I went heavy again today because I went to a friend's house last night and they prepared a good ol' Southern feast for me straight out of their garden. Finished it off with homeade ice cream. It was fine. Now back to work.

Today was the first time in a week that I haven't been just completely wiped out from the moment I got up to the second I went to sleep again.

Workout 1 w/ the 16kg:
TGU x 3L
TGU x 3 R
Row 30sec R
Row 30sec L
Thruster 30sec
Rest 30 sec
...total of 6 times.

16kg swing ladders 10, 20, 30 for 5 rounds.

YESTERDAY'S WORKOUT:
Workout 2
8kg split squat 30 sec R
8kg split squat 30sec L
Pushup 30 sec.
...total of 6 times.

Deck Squat for 30 sec
Double 12kg c&P 30 sec
Rest 30 sec
... total of 6 times.

12kg double snatches 30 sec work/60 sec rest for 10 rounds.

I did the deck squat without weight for all but one round when I used a 12kg. I think Anthony C is right. It just might be harder without the weight, so I stuck with that.


FRIDAY'S WORKOUT: NONE.

Thursday, July 17, 2008
158.5#
Work 6p-8a
6 hous sleep.

I sat for a few minutes this morning fighting the pull of the warm spot in my bed. I was stiff, my eyelids heavy, and for the briefest of moments, I was prepared to ditch my workout in favor of another hour of sleep. Excuse after excuse marched through my thoughts, but in the end, I decided to just get out and make it happen. The fatigue must have been more than mere perception because my reps were slow and labored causing my grip to suffer and rub a couple new small blisters on the hands. I got it done, though, and felt better for it in the end. I can't remember ever regretting going ahead with a workout.

WORKOUT:
3 minute free-form workout with 12kg

4 rounds of...
16 kg snatch 1min
rest 1 min

10 rounds of ...
12kg snatch x 30 sec R
12kg snatch x 30 sec L
rest 30 sec.

It's a Full Moon

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

157.5#
Work 6p-8a



You might have heard from loved ones in law enforcement or health care that full moons make people crazy. I've read a few articles that say this is not demonstrated by objective research. HORSE PUCKEY. Full moons do something to the psyche, make people apeshit, and I've fought them all night long. At least some of them have been entertaining.


As an interesting aside...did you know that not all cultures see the man in the moon? Koreans in particular see a rabbit carrying a bundle of straw. I taught English at a university for a little while before med school and had several Korean students in my classes. In the course of my friendship with them, I got a few glimpses of their beautiful culture, and this was one of those glimpses. Though that was over 12 years ago, I still see the rabbit before the man.


WORKOUT 1:
6 rounds of ...
3 16kg TGU per side
30 sec of 16kg rows/side
30 sec of 16kg thrusters with the bell held at steering wheel position.

Then... 5 rounds of 16kg swing ladders 10, 20, 30 I go/you go style.

Took me right at an hour.

Okay, It's a Little Metaphysical

Tuesday, July 15, 2008
158.5#
Off-Slept 6 hours.

I'm beginning to understand that part of becoming who I want to be involves believing I can be that person, actually visualizing myself as that person. I won't bore you with what that involves other than its relation to fitness, but the part that is pertinent here is the lean part. So I am working to restructure my thinking to more productive lines, referring to what I want more in the present tense than in terms of "When I" or "I want". I try to feel what it will be like to be as lean as I want, what the movement of my muscles will feel like, what my clothes will feel like, what my mind and heart will feel like.
Part of what is so difficult about this is pressing away the fear, the nagging idea, that when I do get to where I'm going I won't be able to stay there. So today I decided to live like I will be here/there forever. Though I've given away all of the regular clothes that are too big for me (honestly, that doesn't amount to much since I'm always in scrubs), until today I had hung on to my scrubs because they comprise the largest part of my wardrobe, and I really didn't want to buy more big ones. Today, however,I threw away all the scrubs that are too big for me. Because I won't need them ever again.

WORKOUT: A cop friend of mine asked me to show him and his daughter a bit about kettlebells today. They brought along a couple of friends, and we set about showing them how to swing and clean and get their kettlebell groove on. We had a great time. I hope they come back for more.

WARMUP: 3 minutes of keeping the 12kg up and going

16kg snatch 1 min work, 1 min rest for 4 rounds.

12kg snatch 30 sec L, 30 sec rest, 30 sec R, 30 sec rest for 10 rounds--getting 12 per 30 sec.

YESTERDAY'S WORKOUT: Workout 2
8kg Split Squat 30 sec R
30 sec L
Pushup 30 sec
for 6 rounds.

Deck Squat 30 sec (Started with the 8kg, did the last 4 rounds with the 12kg)
Double 12kg C&P 30 sec
Rest 30 sec
for 6 rounds.

12kg Double Snatch 30 sec work, 60 sec rest for 10 reps. Got 9 in all but 2 sets.

Saturday, July 12, 2008
161#
Work 6p-8a

Been really tired the last few days, just seriously dragging. I even checked my blood sugar a couple of times to make sure I wasn't having some freak hypoglycemic episode. It was normal, though. I guess I'm just not getting enough rest. I'll try to rectify that over the next few days while I'm off.
Between that and work being completely apeshit, I've been spotty on keeping up with everybody. I think I mostly got caught up tonight, though.

TODAY'S WORKOUT: WORKOUT 2
12kg Split Squat R for 30 sec (6-7 reps)
L for 30 sec (6-7 reps)
Pushup for 30 sec (7-12 reps depending on position)
RREst 30 sec
Perform a total of 6 times.

Then...Deck squat 30 sec (b/w3 and 6 reps)
Double 12kg C&P x 30 sec (3-4)
Perform a total of 6 times.
This was the first time I've ever done deck squats. They were very interesting. I did themt he first couple of rounds with no weight then added in the 8kg. I'll think about going up to the 12 next time.

Then double snatch teh 12's 30 sec on/1 min off for 10 rounds. I mostly got 8 per round, but got 9 on a couple of them when my timing was perfect.

YESTERDAY: I decided not to workout Friday and shift my workouts by a day instead. My right delt was extremely sore from giving my all to try ot press the 24 on wednesday. I decided a day to heal would be a better option.

THURSDAY: 3 min warmup with the 12--keeping it moving the entire time with whatever strikes my fancy.
4 rounds of 1 min 16kg snatch/1 min rest

10 rounds of
30 sec 12kg R snatch
30 sec rest
30 sec 12kg L snatch
30 sec rest
Mostly I was getting 11 reps per 30 sec, but I got 12 on one round.

You Might Be A Redneck If... (and a PR)

Wednesday, July 9, 2008
5w1d to pics--159#
Off
Slept 3.5 hours

...the 4th of July involves chopping wood for the family pit BBQ.

The hubbie and I celebrated our 4th with my family at the farm. My sister organized an enormous BBQ for which her husband very generously spent the night and day cooking. Aunts, uncles, siblings, nieces, nephews and family friends from as far away as New Mexico showed up and had a grand time. Entertainment for the afternoon included watching some of the guys chopping wood for the BBQ pit.
Here my dad tries to teach my nephew Sean the fine art of using a wedge and sledge to split wood. Obviously, Sean isn't quite getting the drift,and Daddy finally gave up trying to describe it, eventually taking the sledge away and giving it a few swings himself. For a second, I could see my dad 25 years ago, with arms that looked like tree trunks, going about his day on the farm. I remember seeing him push a fence post back and forth a few times, wrap his arms around it, and yank it out of the ground by hand. In his day, he was one strong dude.




The hubby, born and bred a city boy, even gave it a try after seeing what a hard time the kid was having. Bless him for trying, he finally got it done but did it the hard way. Anybody can pick up some serious "good ol' boy" or girl points if they can tell me what all is wrong with this picture. :)



















My brother-in-law is manning part of the spread here, chicken on the pit and ribs and butts in the cooker. He did a fantastic job.
If you've never had a chance to go to a real Southern BBQ, you should add it to your bucket list. There is truly nothing like it.


















My dad was all too happy to have his picture made with me. LOL. I'm looking a bit rough here. You can tell this was not a "wear your hat and newest dress"/Steel Magnolias/Gone With the Wind BBQ. I'll guarantee, though, that it was a lot more fun.




My sister-in-law is SuperMom. Three of these four belong to her, and there is an 11-year-old you don't see whom she home schools. They are truly brilliant, beautiful children--mirrors of their parents. In moments of pure insanity that would cause anyone else to throw up her hands in dispair, this woman calmly manages the situation and moves on, completely nonplussed.










Most of the pictures I took were just mediocre, but I came out with a few that I really like. This one is my favorite.










I have the most amazing, wonderful family in the world, each member unique in his or her own way. Every time I think of them I am overwhelmed and humbled to realize that I have been granted such a precious gift. I could share a dozen more pictures, but I'll spare you.

WORKOUT: I drove to Nashville today to work with David and, as always, came away with arms and legs like noodles and endorphins to die for as reward. We did heavy work, double cleans and presses, double squats, double swings, all with 16's. And my PR for the day was double snatching the 16's...a few times! Doing it took me a couple of tries, and the end results weren't the prettiest snatches you've ever seen, but they counted, fully extended. BOOYAH! Then we did swings from hell starting with the 24 and moving around to various lower weights. Needless to say, in the end I was completely smoked, but it was great.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

5w2d to pics--159#

Off

Slept 8 hours.

WORKOUT: 

Warmup with 3 minutes of "freestyle" with the 12kg. Basically, I did some swings, some snatches, some figure 8's, some hand-to-hand, not setting the bell down for 3 minutes.

Now...

4 rounds of 1 min of snatches with the 16kg, switching when I got tired then 1 min of rest.

Then...

10 rounds of 30 sec 12kg snatch R, 30 sec rest, 30 sec L, 30 sec rest. I was getting 10-12 snatches in per 30 sec.

I like this one.

New Program

Monday, July 7, 2008
5w 2d to pics--160.5#
Work 6p-8a
Slept 6 hours.

Today was the day to start my next 4 week run of workouts from David. I didn't know how long to allow for this workout and actually didn't allow enough time. Took me and hour today. The TGU's really take a while, especially doing them outside. The entire yard is quite pock-marked and uneven, so I really have to take them slowly and concentrate. Good for the stabilizers, but it takes a while to get done. And then I'm all rashey from the grass. Look like I've got cooties. Matches the callouses.:)

I'm hoping David will have some time Wednesday to give me good beat-down in person.

WORKOUT 1: With the 16kg
(I had the 12kg standing by in case I needed to decrease, but turns out the 16 was fine.)

TGU 3rep R/ 3rep L
In rounds 4 and 5, I ended up doing 2r/2l 1r/1l and then did 1R/1L 3 times for the final round.
Row 30 sec R/30 sec L
Thruster with KB in steering wheel position x 30 sec.
(I really liked this position for the thruster. Doing a press from this position felt really good in the upper/mid back.)
Rest 30 sec.
This ended up being a little longer as I tried to wipe all the sweat away so I could see, get a quick drink then reposition. I'll have to work on that part.
x 6 rounds.

Then...Swing x10, 20, 30 for 5 rounds.
I did this i go/you go style, but I had to pretend the other person was there. Good thing I have schizophrenic tendencies.

Pushup Challenge: I did the 2 week test yesterday and got 15 (up from 10 on day 1). That puts me in the 1st column for Weeks 2 and 3--wuss territory. OH WELL. Push-ups are my arch nemesis. I'll do that short little workout before bed this morning.

Cooking Lesson for the Day

Sunday, July 6, 2008
5w4d to pics--159.5#
work 6p-8a
slept 7 nightmare-filled hours

Today's cooking lesson is...

Eggwhites do NOT cook well in the microwave. Makes me want to vomit just thinking about how bad they were! I was short on time and thought I'd just give it a run. Lesson learned.

WORKOUT: Walk 40 min.

SATURDAY'S WORKOUT: None. Went to the farm for the family 4th of July Cookout. Photos to come.

FRIDAY'S WORKOUT: Double 12kg C&P/Row AMAP in 15 min--I got 60, same as last time.

Then...12kg snatch 1minR/1minL/1min rest x 5 rounds.
I started off doing better iwth 20-22 per side for the first couple of rounds, but I think the all-out effort got me,and I decreased to 15/side by the last round.

A Mental Exercise

Thursday, July 3, 2008

6w to pics (GRRRRR!)

Off to the movies...

Slept 9 hours.

Just wanted to give you a picture of what it's like to LOVE life... This is my nephew. Isn't he adorable?! I can't help but chuckle when I see this picture, so I wanted to share it with y'all. That's home-grown corn BTW.

We went to see THREE movies today to get a little "us" time away from the temptation of computers, phones, etc. We had a wonderful time. I thought I'd make a couple of recommendations based on today's venture.  Hancock is pretty good. Wil Smith is an amazing physical specimen. Charlize Theron is about the same as usual. Overall, it's not an absolute must-see for the theater but definitely one to catch at some point. Ditto Wanted, and for the record, Angelina Jolie is running a little cachectic right now. BUT WALL-E is definitely up to Pixar standards. I couldn't imagine what kind of comment on the social situation they could pull off with a little robot, but they did it, beautifully. The comment made is right up all our alleys. Take a couple hours and go enjoy yourself.

Now, to comment on my mental exercise for  the next few days... David saw my blog on "Fiending" and dropped me an e-mail with a couple of interesting things (as always). First, he mentioned that he felt like I was subconsciously self-sabotaging, like subconsciously I don't believe I deserve to reach this particular goal. This thought has occurred to me in the past, but I have never been able to figure out why I would feel such a way. I will again place some energy in this area and give a more focused attempt at figuring this one out. He also presented an exercise to help me get past this subconscious block. He wants me to stand in front of a mirror and ask myself 2 questions aloud. 1. Why do I have the body I want? 2. Why am I strong, lean, and beautiful? My immediate impulse was that he had make a couple of  typos. Surely he meant "Why do I NOT have the body I want?" and "Why am I NOT strong, lean and beautiful?" Certainly only the "strong" part of that currently applies. Then the dim little light bulb went on and I understood.  I am supposed to believe. And I felt like I had been punched in the gut.  This exercise is painful to me on a visceral level. I find it almost impossible to look myself in my reflected eye and ask these questions, which, I suppose, is exactly why I need to do it. So I will.

TODAY'S WORKOUT:  After the movies, 0330

Workout A-

16kg x 5 rounds

Row 30 sec R

Row 30 sec L

Rest 30 sec

Pushup 30 sec

Plank 3-0 sec

Rest 30 sec

Reverse lunge r 30 sec

Reverse lunge L 30 sec

REst 30sec

Then... 12 sets of double 12kg snatches--started at the top of the minute.

"Our Supersized Kids"--This week's TIME

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

6w1d to pics--159#

Off

Slept 11 hours (playing catch-up)

I was wandering around the magazines in the grocery store this afternoon, killing time, when I tripped up on this week's special health issue of TIME. I don't usually buy this mag, but I couldn't resist this particular draw. It's a subject that intrigues me. We are a nation growing ever fatter, leading the way for the rest of the world who is catching up fast. As usual, the medical community is behind the 8-ball, scrambling around trying to catch up with an epidemic grown out of control and getting worse. And, unfortunately, it's a medical community that, by-and-large, not only has no arsenal with which to fight, has lost the battle of the bulge themselves.

This issue goes in depth into rates of childhood obesity and recent hypotheses about its source and eventual cure. I would propose that our children are fat because we are fat. Rates of childhood obesity mirror those of adulthood obesity, following the same geographic, racial and socioeconomic trends. Working in the ER, and before when I had a clinic, seeing an obese child with a pair of normal-weighted parents was almost unheard of. The child almost always mirrors the parents' body habitus, which reflects his or her mirroring their physical and nutritional habits. Because the problem starts with the parents, I do not believe we can fully help these children without first educating and helping the parents. One will come about as a natural progression of the other.

But who will do this? Theoretically, if not moved by the media, the parents would be urged by their primary care providers to lose weight and be more active. Almost every plan for eliminating the scourge of obesity begins with healthcare providers. Herein lies the biggest part of the problem. Painfully few healthcare providers are healthy themselves, and even fewer of them have the foggiest idea how to lead another into a healthy lifestyle. When I graduated from medical school in 2000, I had had exactly one half of a semester of education on nutrition, taught by the least respected professor in the system and declared by my classmate who was a PhD in nutrition to be decades out-of-date and woefully inaccurate. We had no education on physical fitness--none. Everything I have learned about the treatments for obesity, nutrition, and physical fitness, I have done through independent study. And preventive medicine? We'll have none of that either.

The American Academy of Family Physicians has begun to address this issue with the AIM (Americans In Motion) Challenge which began in 2004 with a 3 phase program. In 2004, the Academy went to each state's scientific assembly to promote its AIM Challenge and gather research data about its physicians. That year, they encouraged physicians to become fit themselves. The second stage of the initiative was to get clinic staff involved. And, finally, after they had become role models, themselves, they could begin to change the lives of patients. This was later joined by the Ready, Set, Fit! program targeting schools and school-age children. As far as I know, this is the only medical academy that has taken responsibility for its personal role as models of fitness for patients. Unfortunately, support systems, further education, and follow-thru have been lacking. But it is a start.

I think about this issue a lot. Wanting to be a role model for patients and the community in which I live is a large part of the reason I started this difficult journey of weight loss yet again over a year ago now. Though I was active and fit, my words of wisdom about weight loss and physical activity often fell on deaf ears as people looked at me and doubted that I could possibly be as active as I claimed. Now, co-workers and patients who haven't seen me in a while ask me what I have done to get these results, and listen intently as I try to share as effectively as possible. I have opened a door otherwise closed to me and created an opportunity to effect some change in others. As I slowly approach my perceived endpoint,my thoughts now are turning to how I can use my own successes to influence others and begin to spread the joy a little.

Here are some links to the TIME articles:

"It's Not Just Genetics"

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1813984,00.html

"How America's Children Packed On The Pounds"

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1813700,00.html

"Weighty Issues for Parents"

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1813953,00.html

"Living Large"

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1813962,00.html

WORKOUTS

TODAY: Elliptical for 35 min. Week 2, Day 2 of push-ups.

YESTERDAY'S WORKOUT:

Double 12kg C&P/Row: AMAP in 15 min.

I upped it by one this time and hit 60. That was humping it, though.

Then...12kg snatch, 1 min L/1 min R/1 min rest for 5 rounds.

I got 18-19 snatches each 1 min round which is down a couple or three reps for me. I was favoring that healing blister on my left hand, and for some reason the R wasn't going too fast, either. I'll do better Friday.

MONDAY'S WORKOUT:

16kg Workout A

5 rounds of...

Row 30 sec L, then R

Rest 30 sec

Pushup 30 sec

Plank 30 sec

Rest 30 sec

Reverse Lunge L 30 sec, then R

Rest 30 sec.

Overall, this felt pretty strong, but my numbers aren't going up a lot. The change is coming in that they are consistent through the 5 rounds now where they dropped off a whole lot more during the first week or so.

Then... 12 sets of 5 double 12 kg snatches--Each started dead at the top of the minute.

Before bed I also did Week2 Day 1 of the pushup challenge. My max was 10, the minimum. I still believe I have a major brain block for these, but hopefully this exercise will get me past that.

SUNDAY'S WORKOUT: Walk 35 min.