Slow Carbin' It Up, 2018!

I write this from an airplane, thousands of miles in the air....Headed back to Boston for a few days with my family. I survived the holidays, the excesses of wine and alcohol, all kinds of cheeses and breads, cakes and pies. It's like an onslaught from Halloween until New Year's- and its sort of sad that the weeks after January 1 are the peak times for new gym memberships, new fitness endeavors. I do them all year round- or I try. Cannelle and I are starting Slow Carb again. It's coming up on the end of Week 2- and it hasn't been too bad. Thin kit's tough for Cannelle- as she loves pasta- and has limited cooking time with a 915 job and hour commute each way.

I've also been doing Ferris' KB workout- primarily 3 sets of swings on M and F, and a shoulder, chest, back, bi workout on Wednesday. I need to do the ice bath or cold shower component however. Also- I miss Paleo- and working out some. I feel like my body is eating my muscle, especially in my shoulders and arms, because it's such a light workout. There are also two abs exercises, the Cat Vomit exercise and an ab crunch on a ball. He says he achieved visible abs in 3 weeks with the combo of Slow Carb, Abs exercises, and ice baths. I feel somewhat more svelte- but somehow, the motivation is eluding me. I've been working more myself- up to 30 hours and beyond of delivery driving fro restaurants around LA. It's a lot of driving- and at peak times. One benefit of this exercise programis you can do it at home- which saves a trip to the gym. The kettelbell is 45 lbs or so, 53 kgs, and pretty heavy. It's essentially a hinge exercise- and has been bugging my lower back some on off days. Nevertheless, for the 15 min it takes, it seems effective. I've also thrown in some pull ups, push ups, and planks for good measure.

Found a 4 Hour Cookbook pdf on my computer- so I'm interested to cook some new dishes while in Boston.

Miss you all-
Gabe

Last Post...follow the new blog!!

Out with the old...In with the new!!As of today, Jan 4th, this blog had 9505 page views and this is the 96th post. Not bad for a couple fitness enthusiasts. Nevertheless, I've decided to jump ship and start my own blog: www.primalworkout.blogspot.com

It's been a fun journey with Joe- but gotta do my own thing...

Gabe

Monday Before New Year's

The holidays!! Relentless....

It's always something though...

Back at the gym today...hit bench hard. 205 in sets of 4. 135 too x 15 reps.
Chin ups. Dips. Goblet squat. Sit ups.

It actually is on. 2016 will be a good year fitness-wise. Gotten stronger during my time away from pakeo.

Xmas

1:15am and I hear the sirens blasting outside my window as I write this. Tearing down the 10, pulling over drinkers, parties, revelers. Could be the worst Xmas for them ever....You decide your reality though. I stayed in tonight. Watched a movie. Relaxed. Xmas...It's a cool holiday if you do it right; emphasize time w family and friends, a break before the last week of the year. Same with New Year's. Why can't it just be a chill, festive time? A time to recharge?

I got LL Cool J's Platinum workout book out of the library again. It's from 2006, by Rodale. LL is pretty amazing- and in amazing shape. My old partner, Joe, never went in for his workout book. By the time I started working out with him, he was off Men's Health workouts and into strength training for longevity. Cosgrove provided some templates we worked through- but neither of us got super ripped. I think everyone who works out, at some level, would like to look like a model. That's how I discovered Owen McKibbin's book- The Cover Model workout- from Rodale, the publisher for Men's Health. Joe always thought Owen was a hack and that bodybuilders were a joke, but Owen was on the cover of MH about 50 times in his career. The only time I ever got cut at all was doing Owen's workout book followed by his product, the Rack. June 2013. I liked Owen's emphasis on high reps over super-heavy weights. I've always had back and shoulder issues.

I like LL's approach though- seems motivational and to have a real attitude adjustment component. I'd need a partner who was committed to make it happen. His workouts usually end up 5-6x/week. But just reading his intro- it's like...well, how good to you want to be? Which is more important- drinking and chips- or rest and health? If you think in terms of 6mos goals and one year goals; you can really make some major improvements to your physique and your life. I'm 18 mos from being 40- crazy right? Imagine I hit 40 in the best shape of my life- an inspiration to friends and family? That's what you gotta think about...what kind of future do you want?


All the best- be safe-
Gabe

Xmas Eve

How'd you do out there? Last post was Monday...dared you to lay off alcohol, to walk 20min a day, and to be positive. Not huge goals...

I did alright...but haha, no alcohol this week, not gonna happen- at least my current lifestyle. But had a great week- got a lot done, and sometimes it's good to let loose re: diet. You gotta live a little. And if you swing wide like everyone else, well, guess what- you have 51 weeks to change your course before next Xmas.

It is worth thinking about briefly what you ate, it's lure, and how you felt afterwards. Basically- beer continues to be a lure. It's cheap, less alcohol content than liquor, and easy, cold, and refreshing. But after, the next day- super bloated and gross feeling. You really notice them when you haven't been drinking it.

Another lure is nachos...chips w melted cheese and protein isn't the worst- but it's not great either. Chips in general have crept into my diet in a big way. Not cool overall. You feel ill later.

Various proteins in bread...like a breakfast sandwich at Starbucks or a meatball sub. This happens a lot the next day after a late night.

Bagels. Obviously not cool.

Cheese- specifically cottage cheese and cream cheese too. Not cool but it's become a staple.

Anyway- super fun Xmas in Ojai...but too many carbs.
Be safe out there ;)
G

Side note- I wonder sometimes if binge carb eating is actually good for you. I notice that if I have a bunch of breads and sugars, I'll feel crappy for a while, but after getting it out of my system, will feel better and more energized- as well as stronger. I fed crave them in the mornings and when I've also poorly.

Monday Before Christmas

'Twas the Monday before Christmas and all through the house- not a creature was dieting, not even a mouse....Damn right. No one is on their game right now. Holiday parties. Airport lines. Traffic. People with Star Wars fever munching on candy lightsaber...Here's the thing, it's your passion that trumps it all...You have to get obsessed and stay obsessed,  and find your passion for fitness.

Truthfully, it's so awesome to be able to move well, to have energy, and feel good. Even that soreness you get after lifting is nice... Recently, I've had a messed up ankle. I rolled it on some stairs stupidly, wearing flip flops. It hurt massively and turned blue but I still walked on it and travelled to NY and Boston over Thanksgiving. Reinjured it. There was a pop :/ So now I'm actually icing it and wearing a brace and taking Advil...But the point is, if you can move, you're so lucky. To me, exercise and diet facilitate life. It's been a tough year overall- a lot of changes and challenges, but some real accomplishments too. And 2016 should bring more opportunities to shine and kick ass.

Have a great holiday week!
Gabe

HOME WORKOUT!

So- picture this....

It's 5pm and you're due for your Friday workout....but outside your doorstep in Palms is a wall of traffic- a line of cars so thick, so dense, you'll be sitting in your car for thirty minutes before you move 5 feet.

Imagine you fight traffic, listening to NWA the whole way, avoiding listening to NPR and the hum drum voice of Warren Only (unsure on spelling). You cross traffic on Pico, get your parking ticket, park the car, go down two flights, type in your phone number, greet the greeter, go to the locker room- all the lockers are taken and you forgot your lock.. You go to the floor and there's a self-lock locker left. You grab it, put your stuff in... hit the weight benches. They're all taken. You stretch...aka Friday at the gym sucks...

So what is the alternative, Gabe, you ask??? HOME WORKOUT!

Get psyched, gentle reader....It's Friday. Forget traffic. Go to your dvd player (your what??!!) and insert any movie you want (preferably something dumb- action is good- or lame comedy). Some favorites include Mark Harmon's Summer School, Ghostbusters, or most stuff with Jason Statham (Bank Job is good). But, Gabe- you say- I don't have heavy weights in my home....What shall I use??? Well, gentle reader, go get your 20 lb dumbbell because I got a circuit for you! Drop fat. Get excited. Stay stoked! Here goes...(But Gabe, I have a busted ankle?! Just do it, gentle reader). Rest 2-3min between circuits.

Here's today's routine:
1- Goblet Squat- 10x
2- 1 Arm Snatch- 10x
3- Dumbbell Row- 10x each arm
4- Arnold Press- 10x
5- Single- Leg Straight- Leg Deadlift- 10x each   

And here's today's movie rec- Tapeheads w/ John Cusack and Tim Robbins (who has an actor's studio in Culver btw). Pop the dvd in... and let's get jazzercising!