Health and Fitness Cult!

You want to get surgery on them?? Do they cause back pain and stuff? If this is too personal, you don't have to answer.

And believe me, I know the scales are scary, but once you begin to see consistent loss on them, you'll like them.

Yep, back pain, unwanted attention and a misery when it comes to clothes shopping.

I did inquire if I could get NHS surgery but they're not big enough to qualify, apparently. Grr! I will have to suffer until I'm rich.

... not big enough? Wat.

Geez. And yeah, if you were here in Paris, you'd be so angry all the time, because of the scummy men here.

There are scummy men everywhere and you don't have to have big boobs to get catcalled. If I wear a knee-length skirt I get whistled a few times before I even get to the cable car, and that's only a couple minutes away.

I have to say, catcalling and aggressive hitting-on was something I didn't see a lot of in Florida. Sure, it happened on the rare occasion, but perhaps because a lot of girls dress in a way that shows a lot more skin, we're used to it.

I agree with this.

In London, black and south asian guys are the worst for catcalling (from my experience).

You don't even have to show skin to be whistled around here. I can be wearing jeans and be up to my neck in a jacket and still be catcalled. It's why I don't go out at night unless I'm with my friend who drives or unless I feel like getting a cab.

Wow, that's kind of sad.

Here in Paris it's Middle Eastern guys who are particularly notorious for it.

I don't mind whistles, as long as it's in the day time or in a pub. Lewd comments are always horrible and make you sound like a rapist though.

i ran to work today. stinking gross but healthy and fit to be tied.

I liked how in Colombia, the way they say "catcall" is "set the dogs on."

"That guy totally released the hounds on her." I loved it. It reminded me of Mr Burns.

On topic health shit: I've been eating a lot of spinach lately so I'm basically just waiting to turn into Pete.

Give it time.

Today's workout - Chest and Abs

- Bench Press - 3 sets warm-up, 3 heavy working sets of 6 reps
-- last set, took 30 percent of weight off and did another 10 reps

- Incline Dumbbell Presses - 3 sets of 6 reps
-- last set, triple drop set

- Weighted Dips - 3 sets of 6
-- last set, triple drop set

- Hammer Incline Press - 3 Sets of 10, 8, 6 reps
-- super-setted with
- High Cable Flyes - 3 Sets of 12, 10, 10
-- last set of Hammer Inclines - did each side seperately so my other arm could help push the weight up to allow me to do heavy negatives.
-- last set of Cable Flyes, I lowered the cables to the floor and did as many as I could, then raised them up a few notches and did until I couldn't do any more, then I raised them up halfway - continuing until them were at the top of the cable stand.
-- then went right into doing as many push-ups as I could.

REST BREAK

- Cable Crunches - 3 Sets of 12 Reps
-- super-setted with
- Push-Ups - 3 Sets to failure

Ab Circuit - all back to back until failure
- Leg Raise Pulse Ups
- Crunches
- Windshield Wipers
- Leg Raises
- Crunches
- Twists

That's awesome! Failure is the finish line. Never thought to work out until I drop. But will try that a little, when I start up again with workout. Thanks for the new phrase.

Don't start with doing that. Ease in. I want you to be able to move the next day. haha

I will start with:
Rest Break to failure.

I can't stop laughing at that.

Hah! Yeah, getting an appointment to nose doctor to patch up the leaky vessel. Then I can start yoga and running again. Fingers crossed!
Gonna start the Skinny Bitch diet soon, too.

Today's body part - BACK!

(I'm trying to figure out a format that works on here...)

Heavy Deadlifts - 3 sets warm-up, 3 Sets of 4-6 Reps

1 Arm Dumbbell Rows - 3 Sets of 4-6
- Last set drop set 12 Reps

Reverse Grip Pull-downs - 3 Sets 4-6 Reps, Triple drop sets every set

Tri-Set (these 3 exercises, back to back)
- Seated Close-Grip Cable Rows - 3 Sets of 6-8 (last set, did 1 Arm so other arm could help do negative reps)
- Standing Straight-Arm Pull-downs - 3 Sets of 15-25
- Seated Wide-Grip Pull-downs - 3 Sets of 10-20

Hammer Strength Row Machine - 3 Sets of 6-8 (went back and forth between arms with no rest, helping with other hand on the last set)

Assisted Pull-ups, 1 Arm- 1 Set until failure, alternating arms each time on the negative (pull-up both arms, negative with 1 arm)

If you look here you see that my workouts generally start with a pretty heavy power move. I give myself like 2 minutes rest between sets on that and go heavy with low reps. And then as the workout gets going I have less and less rest between sets. And add more and more reps. The workout goes from being a mass builder, to a fat burner. Working out like that makes having to do cardio and weights pointless. (at least in theory - it really depends on how hard you are willing to push yourself lol).

Yesterday I worked out - SHOULDERS

This was an awesome workout. I was in the zone. I feel like I wrote a perfect program this time. It flowed nicely and I was drenched in sweat. It's hard to get out of breath working out shoulders.

Standing Shoulder Presses - 3 sets warm-up, 3 Sets of 6 Reps

Seated 1 Arm Palms-In Dumbbell Press - 3 Sets. You press with one arm until failure and then switch arms. You do this 3 times back and forth with no rest. (Reps were 12,10,6) That's one set. I did 3 sets like that.

1 Arm Dumbbell Side Raises - 3 Sets of 6 Reps
- supersetted with -
1 Arm Cable Side Raises - 3 Sets of 8 Reps
(Did the DB Raises with left arm, immediately did cable raises with left arm. Repeat with right arm. rest 30 seconds and go again.)

Bent Over Dumbbell Lateral Raises (Or Rear Delt Flyes) 3 Sets of 15 Reps
- supersetted with -
Rear Delt Cable Flyes - 3 Sets of 6 Reps (wanted to do more reps, but I was fried!)

Upright Rows - 3 Sets of 6 Reps
- supersetted with -
Cable Face-Pulls - 3 Sets of 15 Reps

Abs:
Cable Crunches - 3 Sets of 12 Reps

Leg Lifts - 3 Sets of 25 Reps
- supersetted with -
Crunches - 3 Sets of 25 Reps

We are going to need a video of this. To,...*ahem* uh for um, instructional reasons. Yeah, that's it! Instructional video, because I'm such a fitness enthusiast.

Instructional Purposes Pete. It is essential for our health.

I took a two and a half hour walk with the kids up and down hills and over fields and I feel great!

I'm not cool enough to have somebody record me working out. But my training style is pretty much just like fitness model Joe Donnelly. Though I think he's got almost 40 lbs on me. haha

I think this is the last one. I did legs already and that's my next workout. None of my workouts are ever the same. But they are all based on similar principles - supersets, heavy weight, keeping it moving.

Today was ARMS

Alternating Dumbbell Curls - 3 Sets Warm-up, 3 Sets of 6 Reps
- supersetted with -
Tricep Pressdowns - 3 Sets Warm-up, 3 Sets of 6 Reps

Barbell Curls - 3 Sets of 6 Reps
- supersetted with -
Overhead Dumbbell Extension - 3 Sets of 7 Reps

Rope Tricep Pushdowns (hands spread) - 3 Sets of 12 Reps
- supersetted with -
Rope Tricep Pushdowns (hands together) - 3 Sets of 8 Reps
- supersetted with -
Rope Cable Curls - 3 Sets of 10 Reps

Bicep 21s - 3 Sets of (7 bottom half reps, 7 top half reps, 7 full reps = 1 Set)
- supersetted with -
1 arm cable kick backs - 3 Sets of 10 Reps

We were objectifying you Pete.

We wanted footage of you because it is you and you are a hottie.

Joking aside. I really am impressed with your dedication to health. I find it inspiring.

I keep telling him he should open up his own gym and quit giving people health tips for free. I bet you people would actually take your advice if you charged them for it and had your shirt off well selling it to them hehe I couldn't help myself.

oh I knew what you guys were doing. I was deflecting lol.

I thought I was boring everybody with my workout posts. It's just that I really enjoy it. If you guys find it inspiring, I can post more. Or if there are subjects you rather have me tackle or questions you have, feel free to make suggestions. Because for now my information and knowledge is free until Jaz convinced me otherwise.

And really you guys don't want to see me work out. I get sweaty in a bad way. not attractive at all. skin splotchy, face red, on the verge of passing out way.

I'm convinced dodging compliments is Pete's real cardio.

You're pretty and people want to look at you! There's nothing you can do about it!

Anyway. I went to the gym for the last time before spring break today. I did that thing that's like stairs but you don't go anywhere. I love that. I imagine I'm running away from some catastrophe and the ground is melting under me. If I stop, I die!

leg day:
warm-up
run +3 mile in 30min
weights
jog 1 mile cool
stretch
*EAT & DRINK!

I really enjoyed my qigong session last night and am getting better at doing the exercises, including the splits (still can't do them properly, but I can stretch further than I could before).

If only I could have the same enthusiasm for the new softball season coming up. I really don't like the newly promoted Vice Captain - he's really full of himself and just seems intent on shagging as many girls in the league as possible (I don't think he's succeeding, anyway). They also want to practise on Sundays which is a bit of a ball-ache. I don't mind practising in the week at all, but Sunday is my day of waking up late and chilling out in my pajamas. Last weekend at the social our Captain said we would probably only have to go to a session once every other Sunday, but there would be one on every Sunday. Seeing as our team is barely 10 people, I just said "Why don't we make it once every other Sunday then, so we don't get awkward numbers?" The Vice Captain then had a go at me, making me out to be some sort of fascist bitch. FFS! This kind of thing just makes me not want to play full-stop.

Anyway, sorry for the buzzkill. On the plus side, I've managed to persuade L to come swimming with me tonight. Most weeks I go alone, but it's fun having races in the pool and then finishing off (not a euphenism I promise) in the steam room and sauna.

I wish I was more flexible. That's one thing I've never been able to improve much. I'm sure mostly due to hardly trying. I guess I'm not even sure the right way to go about it. I have a couple books that people say are excellent. But I'm terrible at it.

Hattie, that's cool you get to exercise. I hope they pull their heads out of their asses soon.
Can't wait to get into exercise again. Would love to do an old lady league of soccer. Team sports are fun.

did a good job today.
upper stuff
followed by 30mins of lap swim
then 4mins in the champagne hot tub

time to mathturbate

I'm hoping that's a typo.

Edit. I've changed my mind. I'm hoping that's not a typo.

Hey Pete,

I'm taking a health class this semester and we're having a nutrition throwdown, I was wondering what sites or books you would recommend for recipes, information about protein. I know a few things but I want to to get some reliable sources and not just google protein.

Hattie, what kind of exercises does your qigong consist of ? It is the first time I hear of splits (except in Shaolin style qigong).

Also, what position do you play in your softball team ?

My first taijiquan teacher gave up our lesson to his colleague because he needs to concentrate on his exams, so we are adjusting to the new teaching style. I have learned about half of the 24-posture form, so I am still at a very basic level, but it is very interesting if not too challenging physically.

The splits is more of a warm up my friend likes us to do before we start the qigong. I haven't really read the book that she takes our workout from, but it's this one, by Shaolin monk Shifu Yan Lei:

RE: softball, I mostly played catcher last season, although occasionally outfield. I would still like to play catcher, but I have a feeling my captain wants to change team tactics and may want to swap people. As I only played from mid June onwards, I'm still new to the game so I especially need to prove myself.

It has pretty solid nutrition advice. And all of the recipes are really good.
http://www.amazon.com/Mens-Health-Muscle-Chow-Workouts/dp/1594865485/ref...

Also - browse around bodybuilding.com
Just read the articles posting on the main site. Don't go in the forums - 90% of the stuff in the forums is broscience. Unless your knowledgeable already, it's easy to get confused.

Joe Donnelly has some decent information in the notes to his page. Keep in mind, what you learn in school will work for most people. Protein needs and calorie needs go way up once you start working out. So the numbers you learn are going to seem quite small compared to the numbers you read about on the fitness sites.

https://www.facebook.com/joeydfitness?ref=stream

Since we're talking about Joe D, I try not to post his workouts unless he does first because you have to pay to be a member of his site, and it would basically be stealing or something. But he posted up his most recent chest workout on youtube. It's insane. I did it and I'm freaking sore!

Joe Weider passed away this morning. He's done more for bodybuilding and weight training than anybody on the planet. He created The Olympia. He started Muscle & Fitness magazine. He made Arnold a household name. He invented so many principles that we use in the gym. He will be missed by many.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/joe-weider-tribute.htm?mcid=face

Before I found this out, I was going to post this hilarious gym video. Now it doesn't seem appropriate... Guess I'll post it tomorrow or Monday.

I appreciate the cover of Muscle & Fitness. Thanks for all the great covers and muscled guys, Joe.
RIP

The training principles I work on in Taijiquan appear in this video :

Here's an interesting video of Shaolin style (shifu Yan Lei).

Today was my second day out playing volleyball. Today I played on the "big boys" court. I'm gonna be hurting tomorrow. It was pretty low key because they were messing around more than anything but I also could barely move. My muscles are no longer used to the movement and I get stuck. It's sooo awkward. I swear all the youngins felt bad for me or something. It doesn't matter because I'm having fun while working on my cardio and volleyball is a full body workout if you play right.

I love volleyball! I'm not very good at it, but that doesn't ruin my fun.

I love volleyball too. I was never the best player but I had a lot of heart, I was a great defensive player. I can't wait to go back and play again.