Day 19: Embrace the Pain

Back in the saddle, and boy am I enjoying it.  I got myself a good hard workout today.

Nothing beats a good sweat!

Afterwards though, it was quite cold.

Headlights anyone?

Anyways, after a long day at work and a video audition, I've decided to call it an early night.  Let's check out what I did:

***Static Hold: Chin Over Bar: 3 times for as long as possible: 40 seconds; 23 seconds; 26 seconds
***Suitcase Deadlift: 5 sets of 6; 2x 65 pound dumbbells
***Octagon Pushup: 2 sets
***Box Jump: 5 sets of 15
***Low Pushup Pump: 3 sets of 30 seconds
Dead Clean and Press: 4 sets of 15; 35 pound kettlebell
***Weight Drag: 4 sets of 125 feet; dragging 100 pounds
***Burpees: 5 sets of 40 seconds on/20 seconds rest
Thoughts:
Static Hold: You would think that holding the top position of a pull up would be a piece of cake.  The truth is: unless you're Superman or a chimpanzee, it's gonna be a bit of a challenge.  I felt myself hurting after the first 15 seconds, and my biceps were bulging; so much pain, but it was pretty cool to feel "above it all" so to speak.

Hold it...

Suitcase Deadlift: Oye, more of this lifting of heavy weights.  I have to say I'm not a fan of it, but now I'm starting to get used to it, and realizing that it's got a lot of merit to it.  Just gotta keep at it. 

Octagon Pushup: This is a lovely little devil of my own invention (I love doing things like that).  You go into a pushup, and as you go up, you push your entire body (yes, your hands and feet) off of the ground. But that's not all!  You also have to move your position.  I call it the octagon pushup because you take 8 pushups to complete a circle, ideally landing in each point of your personal "octagon" after every one.  Then when you're done, you have to even things out!  So you go back.  

Here's a video of the exercise.  Note how I'm really exhaling while pushing off; it gives you a bit more "oomph" I think.

Insanity anyone?

Box Jump: The box jumps this time around were meant to tire me out, and to think more about pacing.  Mission accomplished.  Rather than go for explosive speed, I was focusing more on finishing each set, each box jump, with the best form as possible.  I really started to get in my own head for this one.

Low Pushup Pump: I love doing the PP, simply because it really makes you focus on the exercise and the form.  It allows you to get really deeply into yourself.  It makes for a very therapeutic experience.

Dead Clean and Press: Oomph, more pain.  I was really struggling by the time reps 14 and 15 came around.  But then I really got into my own head, and started to reach a deeper meaning of that Wall (for more on The Wall, click here).  I started to embrace the pain.  It was hard, and I didn't fully grab onto it, but I got a step closer; and that's all that matters.

Weight Drag: I took a 100 pound dumbbell (yes my gym has those) and pulled it.  It seemed relatively easy until I upped my speed; that evened it out.

Burpees: Every time you do burpees, you think you've got it all figured out.  Then the burpee takes that idea, and quashes it into a million little tiny pieces, then sucks up those pieces into a vacuum cleaner and throws the back into the river.  Burpees aren't nice; you just gotta suck it up and embrace the pain.

Of course, it's a Friday, which means I did extra stuff:

6x30 Pushups
6x30/side Bicycle Crunches
6x6 Pull Ups
And I did my lovely little abdominal set:
(Spartan Leg Raise x7, Hanging Knee Raise x5) x2
(Spartan Leg Raise x1, Clockwork Leg Raise x6, Spartan Leg Raise x1, Hanging Knee Raise x5) x1
(Twisting Knee Raise x6, Hanging Knee Raise x5) x2
Check out that bad boy of a video of just the first set:

Get that six-pack!

Tomorrow, I'm hitting the gym even harder.  And, whether permitting, I'm doing a little acting as well.  More on that tomorrow.  Take care all!  Don't drink too much ;-)