Also starting in December of last year, I re-upped and expanded my research into bodyweight training and flexibility. During this kick (which I'm still on), I started watching a few Al Kavadlo videos. While I've read a few of his books (
which I am going to go add to the resource post right now...since I forgot last time - DONE!!), I hadn't done much research into his other articles or videos. One of the things I found that really resonated with me was some of the things he said about the mindset to cultivate. It reminds me like a mix of stoicism and zen, and ties in with a lot of the awareness and in-the-momentness that is written about over on Raptitude. I'll talk more about why I chose bodyweight training in the S&F thread, but the important part in this context is that Kavadlo focuses a lot on listening to your body as you work out in order to avoid injury. There are also overtones of avoiding Destination goals so that one doesn't get discouraged. Listening to your body, and enjoying the workouts just for the sake of being healthy and strong, that's what he is all about. And this spoke to me. One of the reasons I chose bodyweight training is because it can be done anywhere, and without any equipment. While I do have Journey and Destination goals, I really just want to do this so that bodyweight work becomes a core part of my week. Even once I catch FIRE, I'll continue. I'm just fighting with my brain currently.
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So I wrote about this a bit in my Journal, as a way to kind of get my thoughts in order. It didn't turn out exactly how I wanted it, though, and I think that's because of the method I was going about, along with all kinds of things going on in my brain. Even though I've broken goals down into Journey and Destination goals, there is something else that I'm working on. If I think about it long enough, I'm sure I can make it some type of Journey-like Destination goal, but I'm not certain that I want to do that. It boils down to creation in life, specifically what
I want to create in
my life. Running the ANW course would be an incredible experience. Being able to do the american flag on any horizontal bar at a whim would be great. Being able to have enough core strength to cross a
crazy cable bridge in Laos (or walk my damn slackline) while still being able to enjoy everything around me would be outstanding. These are reasons I want to get fit and strong, but not goals in and of themselves. They are important to remember, though. That ties in with what I was commenting about earlier (in regards to outrunning a bear or something). One thing that I love about the beginning of the year, is that I take what I want to accomplish, and do a metric shitload of research. Reading books/articles, watching videos and the like, and combining all of this newly gained knowledge to come up with a plan. This research kick a few years back is what led me to choosing bodyweight training.
To that end, I'm going to take a minute and write about why I made the choice to pursue bodyweight training. To begin with, I hadn't even realized the potential that bodyweight training has. Difficult progressions, and the different levels of difficult tasks (one-armed handstand pushups anybody?) took care of one concern I had. I incorrectly assumed that you can only go so far, and then it's all about maintenance. Bodyweight also takes the holistic approach to muscle groups. No isolation excercises at all, and using the groups of muscle to perform useful tasks. Who needs to curl a car if someone is trapped under it? One lifts and pushes using all of the available muscles. I like the idea of every step one takes is about functional strength. It's not specifically about looking a certain way (although vanity goals have a tendency to hide awesome health based goals), it's about accomplishing reall life things. Amazing feats of functional strength, which, let's be honest, look way cooler that weightlifting accomplishments. Now, please do not take this as a judgemental of weightlifting, because I don't mean to, it's just not for me personally. Also, the idea of creating a habit of working out, building functional strength, and looking damn good is something I want to develop. I want it to be like my morning cup of coffee. Wake up, whenever I do, do a few minutes of strength training using my environment and my body, and move on with my day. Also, with my relatively extreme method of saving (at least when I have a job), I should be catching FIRE relatively soon (~ < 5 years), and once I have this habit in place, I don't want the availability of a gym (or equipment) to dictate anything about my life or my location. Doing things in an AirBnB room, or on the street, or whatever, really appeals to me. So that's pretty much why I went with bodyweight training: Freedom!!
So yesterday, in preperation for my workout, and with some of these ideas in mind, I decided to warm up by taking a walk around the lake by my house. This lake has all kinds of bodyweight training gear that I will hopefully use by the time I hit Step 5 (I love the idea of working out outside, regardless of the weather - makes me feel like a badass). So before I left, I tried to get into the headspace of appreciating the workout for the sake of the workout. While I was outside, I wanted to create an awareness of things around me. So instead of a few exercises for people to try out (which I think was part of the issue I had in my journal), I'm just going to write my experience of my workout from yesterday. I'm going to wax-poetic for a bit, since I do love my wordsmithing, and it's the way my brain works in a sense of awareness. It also gets the idea across that things around us are beautiful and amazing, if we only have the eyes to look.
I step outside, onto the porch. Through my feet, I feel the texture of the concrete. Since my neighbor is the one I hired to do it, I see those stamps every time I walk outside. I am reminded of my trip to Iowa a few years back, and the fun times we had on the deck of one of the SOs friend. That trip is what motivated me and the other half to invest in nice outdoor furniture. It's time to head off to the park. I start the trek (walking fast...since I do hate running). I begin walking up my street, a sense of hyper-awareness flowing through my body. I notice the young brindled mastiff to my left, who is one of the most skittish and scared dogs I've ever seen. Of course he makes eye contact, and slowly backs up just in case he needs to run for it. His lack of barking lets me hear the flock of geese flying above, honking as they coast down. I know they are going to the lake to rest for the rest of the day. So am I. I continue walking, feeling the ground beneath my feet. With every step I take, I feel the way my foot hits. Heel first, and then as I move forward, I roll forward onto the ball of my foot. The shock being absorbed by my ankle and knees. I cross a section of sidewalk, buckling from underneath, and sloping upwards. I see the tree next to it, and know that the inexorable passage of time made the roots of that tree grow, buckling one of the strongest materials we have break. I continue on to the park. I pass a house and as usual, their kitten climbs the tree on the corner, perfect walk-by height to pet him. So I do. The soft fur going running through my fingers, the look of perfect satisfaction. I feel like I did the right thing. I come to the intersection before the park. The green lights create a bit of a glow, as people drive by in their little climate controlled boxes. I cross the street and start my loop. I pass the body curls, seeing the cracked wood, the handles to lift up your entire body. I can just imagine the feel of the wood against my back, once I'm strong enough to work out at the park. I pass the pull up section, seeing the bars, almost wishing I could just do something on them. My breathing is getting a bit heavier, and as I inhale, I can feel the air filling my lungs. This is the feeling I loved most about smoking. The lungs expanding, the rib cage stretching. As I exhale, I feel the hairs on my face trembling in the wind. It's nice. I can write forever about just the walk, but let's skip ahead a little bit. I arrive at the house, and remove my jacket. My heart rate is already up a bit, so I feel like it was a good warmup. Today is for pullups and squats. I angle myself and reach out to grab my bar. The feel of the bar slightly pulling against the skin of my hand is like a friend I haven't seen in a while. I tighten my shoulders, feeling the threads of what little muscle I have contracting. I then pull, moving my entire body towards the bar. I pause at the top for a 1 count, and slowly move back to my nuetral position. It's not hard, but going that slow feels like work. I can't wait.
That being said, it's now up to everyone else to get the infamous Jon_Snow to post a before pic. He's so shy. :)
Honestly, I'm straight as all get out, but all of my (relatively successful) attempts at poking fun at JS come across like I have a man-crush. I'm fine with it though.
I am shy. And it just feels weird to post half naked pictures of oneself online - I hummed and hawed about posting arm pics for gawdsakes...
And JR...if your man-crush were indeed real...I don't think that would creep me out. Much. ;)
This recent talk of posting before/after pics had me going back into my visual archives. I found shirtless photos of myself in late 2014...about a month after I had FIRE'd. At that point I had probably already lost 10 of the 60 pounds I eventually shed - I still looked decidedly "doughy" (I will spare the forum by not sharing this pic). Of course, there is the infamous "sexy farmer" pic, taken in June of 2015...which shows in stark fashion how I changed my body in those six months. More recently I posted a Baja-beach arm pic from December 2015...increased vascularity (veins more prominent in arms and even in shoulder) evidence that I had reduced my BF% further. This has also resulted in the fact that I always seem to be damn COLD these days. Unsurprisingly, stomach fat is proving to be the last hold out.
It'd be fun to see some good before pics, and I really like the term doughy (at least better than tubby). I know the fitness aspect of your FIRE'd experience has got a lot of people motivated. Numbers don't have the same impact as photos!!
I'm considering buying a Groupon for a local gym. They do 30 minute boot camp classes 5+ times a day M-F. Three weeks of unlimited classes is $35 and five weeks of unlimited classes is $55. They don't list normal prices online but according to Groupon the 5 week one is normally over $300. I think that paying for it will motivate me to go and I know that I would push myself harder than working out alone.
Has anyone here tried one of these?
I have known people who successfully used memberships to motivate themselves, but it's all about your personality.
I did about 15 mins on my rebounder today and pilates machine with my strengthening exercises for the arms and legs. I will get on my "real" rebounder later this evening for 15 mins and then 20 kettlebell swings. I need to approach exercising slowly so I don't injure myself but I really want to go full force.
Jordanread - wow, ANW - that is great. Good luck.
So, after a quick bit of googling when you initially mentioned a rebounder, I understand it's a trampoline. What is the difference between your 'fake' and your 'real' one though?