4 weeks & 2 days out....

Weight in: 186.2 (goal 185.5)

Not at my goal, but made up some time. Strength is still solid (in the squat, anyway) and I don't look like a reject from the biggest loser.

Today's workout....

Not much time to work out today (got caught in a fun but ultimately useless conversation).

Legs:
* Box Squats: 135, 185, 225 x 1 x 2, 245 x 2 x 2, 265 x 4 x 2, 285 x 4 x 2
==> Felt really strong...
* Stiff Legged Deadlifts: 135 x 1 x 8, 185 x 1 x 8, 235 x 1 x 8, 285 x 1 x 12
==> While only two exercise, still more foot-lbs than most people do in two hours

Gave a massage for 45 minutes. Good practice, but takes a lot of energy

Evening:
Poor man's HoC, 1 song of DDR alternated with a KB exercise (40 minutes)

Bowling: 227-152-214 - 593 (I feel that I am ready for this weekend). Good week of practice and feeling confident.

Made turkey burgers, turkey mash and garbage bread today.

Weigh in

Weight in last night: 186.2 (slightly dry)...

I think that puts me a good shape for Friday's weigh in.

Leg day today

Bowling; Working Out; DDR

My back is still killing me, but only after I wake up or sit for over 15 minutes....Not looking forward to Friday's weigh in.

Today's workout:
9:40 -- Took pictures for Kettlebell marketing material
It only took about 25 minutes, but I was soaked. It was about 90F, and I did all of the basic (and some not so basic) KB exercises an took about 400 picture. Thanks again for taking them Heather! The one I saw looked awesome. Looking forward to making some new fliers and putting a slideshow up in the future.

5:00 -- 1 hours of DDR
After my back loosened up, I was really smooth on the Dance Pad. I set some new PRs, including and Expert-level 168 combos. Hit 39,000,000 for the first time ever. "Breaking Records and Taking Names." I have said this a number of times, but DDR has gotten more people in shape than P90X and Tae Bo combined.

8:30 -- post-client KB workout at the new Studio
KB MP
24kg x 1 x 5
24kg + 15lb x 1 x 5
24kg + 20lb x 4 x 5
24kg + 16kg x 1 x 1L (glad I got this)

Short Barbell TGU:
20lb x 1 x 1
60lb x 1 x 1
80lb x 1 x 1

KB TGU
24kg + 20lb x 2 x 1

KB armbars: 24kg x 2

KB armbar press: 24kg x 1 x 10 (great exercise)

Intervals:
On the 1:30
24kg x 8 x 10 snatches left/10 snatches right/10 swings
==> This was really cool
160 snatches and 80 swings in 12 minutes
Finished each set between 55 and 60 seconds (at 2s/snatch and 1.5s/swing -- that is 55 seconds nominal time)
Hands felt good
I really liked this....

11:30 45 minutes DDR.

Looking forward to the PBA regional. Practice round is at 10:30 in the morning, and I can make it. I have been doing some work on my external rotator cuff muscles to improve armswing. Need to keep up with ball fit and changing lane conditions.

Today's update....

Weighed in this morning at 188.2. Still should make a walking around weight of 185.5, but I gotta stay clean.

Today's workouts:
Early Morning (chest):
Machine Press: Worked up to triples with the stack
DB Incline Press: Worked up to 80lb x 1 x 18
Machine Flyes: 3 x 10
Serr Ant: 3 x 10
Ball Plank Pushups: 10 s in between reps x 10

Mid Morning (Triceps):
Pressdowns: Stack x 12
Close Grip Bench: Worked up to 235 x 1
Single arm reverse grip pulldowns: 3 x 12

Mid-afternoon:
Bowling - 10 games
Keys for PBA Regional (looking to finish in top 1/3):
1) Ball fit -- keep thumb flat
2) Good release -- on fingers w/o grab
3) Balance -- no fast feet
4) Spares -- focus

diet update...

Diet is still going well -- currently 187.5, want to get down to 185.5 before Friday. My back has been bothering me, so the workouts are not intense.

Today I played 45min of DDR in the morning
10 games of bowling in the afternoon.

If you look over to the left side of the blog page, I put up some new KB pictures, with more to follow. I really like the background and the red in the shirt really pops.

Don't forget, the TSC is coming up on Sept 26. Don't leave your preparation to chance. Get you customized training program to help prepare for it. There is a pay Pal link in the upper left of my blog. Even the best athletes have coaches. If you are thinking of getting into the top five -- read my reviews (definitely outside of the box yet effective training).

Bowling was hit and miss. Bowled well in my sport league and in practice, but poorly in the tournament. I have a PBA regional this weekend -- wish me luck.

Diet update....

Got a little off track with the diet. Allegies hit and I was run down for Sunday and Monday. Hit it hard since then. Here were my workouts.

Wednesday:
* Morning (legs)
- Good Mornings: 135, 225, 275 x 1 x 5; 325, 375 x 1 x 3; 395, 415 x 1 x 1 (feel awesome)
- Leg Presses: 6,8 x 15; 9 x 10 (The leg press at Choice Fitness sucks ass)
- Leg Curls: Stack x 12
- Adduction/Abduction: Stack x 20
- Lunges: 85,115,135 x 5 x 5 (felt good)
- Renegade Rows: 32kg x 5 x 5

DDR:
1:15 of DDR to attempt to loosen the hips and lower back

Evening:
- KB presses: 24kg x 1 x 5; (24kg + 6kg) x 4 x 5; 24kg x 1 x 10
- Barbell TGU: 60lb x 1 x 1
- Hurt my back stepping in a hole walking home

Thursday:
Morning (back):
Lower back still stiff.
Lat Pull Downs: Stack x 12
Single arm rows: 120 x 2 x 10
Pullovers
Single arm pulldown

Afternoon (needed to see if I could bowl league)
* Bowled 10 games in 1:05

Early Evening:
* Took pictures for kettlebell marketing material
* Bowling League -- bowled well, but did not score real well, looking forward to tournament this weekend.


Friday (Chest/Tris)
* Speed Bench: 135, 175 x 1 x 3; 185 x 3 x 3; 195 x 4 x 3; 205 x 2 x 3 (good)
* Incline DB Presses: 60, 75, 90 x 1 x 10; 100 x 1 x 7
* Machine flys
* Dips: BW x 1 x 20; 25lb, 45lb x 1 x 10
* Close Grip: worked up to 225 x 1 x 1
* Tricep Press

Cardio: DDR

Update....

176 Challenged: Weighed in at 187.5 earlier this week. Diet and exercise were off after Wednesday because of schedule and allergies. I should be able to bring it around. Next weight in: Monday.

Made some garbage bread on sunday. Garbage bread has the same ingredients as pizza, but you roll it up like a pinwheel for a special treat.

Workouts this weeks:
Friday: Back/KBs only
* Renegade Rows: 32kg x 6 x 5, 32kg x 2 x 10
* Single arm rows: 32kg x 4 x 7
* Double Rows: 32kg x 3 x 10
* Snatches: 24kg x 20L/20R; 24kg x 5 x 10L/10R without putting bell down in under 4:00
* Swings: 32kg x 6 x 20

Saturday:
* Snatches: 32kg x 10L/10R, 32kg x 4 x 5L/5R without putting bell down
* Dead cleans: 24kg x 10 (too correct RC lateral rotation per Kenneth Jay, MRKC)
* Swings: 40kg x 3 x 15
* KB Burpees: (2 x 32kg) x 2 x 15

Today's blog - bowling, workout, 176 challenge....

Today's workouts:

Morning:
* TGU: 32kg x 10:00
* Renegade Row: 32kg x 6 x 5

Late afternoon (Legs):
* Box Squats: 135, 185, 225 x 1 x 2; 265 x 6 x 2; 285 x 4 x 2 (felt good)
* Leg Presses: 6, 8, 9 plates x 1 x 10
* Abductors/Adductors: Stack x 20
* Leg Curls: Stack x 12
> I have some retard trainer at the gym tell me if I don't slow the negative that I would hyperextend my knee, even though I was about 10 degrees from locking it out. What a douche.
* Front Squat: 135, 185, 225, 245 x 1 x 3 (ATG); 265 x 1 (Parallel)
* Tire Flips: ~400lb tire x 2 x 18
==> 50 minutes

Bowling (PBA Experience League):
191 (dump a 4 pin in the 10th to tie my opponent, who is a pro w/his own shop)
181 (Struck in the 11th to win by 3 pins)
204 (Doubled in the 10th to get 200)
576 (only three opens, really battled)
==> The flatter pattern reward shotmaking, mental toughness, and decision making. Actually feels like a real sport. The ego takes a hit since I am only average 180

I am looking forward to two PBA style events
* Scratch Sweeper (7/25 at Regal Lanes)
* PBA Regional (7/31-8/1 in Spring Hill)
Need to practice more.

176 Challenge:
Per previous blog posts, my goal is to be at 176lbs by the end of August. Weighed in today at 187.5. It was a bad week, missed two workouts and had a cold. Need to keep it up over the weekend.

Here is a Happy Birthday Shout Out to my nephew Pierce (Philadelphia, PA). He is 8.