Workout Log 337 - Sharing The Fat

Today was suppose to be review day, but seeing that June 15th (1 year review) lands on a Tuesday, I have decided to reserve the next update for this Tuesday instead.

Anyhow, moving on....I was speaking with a colleague of mine where we both bumped into an Imperial Beverage and Snacks guy who was filling up the vending machine. After our freindly talk with him, he offered us a free bag of chips. I'm thinkin, cool, free bag of Lays Chips! ;-) Then reality kicked in.....If  I eat this, it's 330 calories for the bag and just loaded with bad carbs and fat.

So what did I do? I had my cake(or chips in my case) and ate it too... I put aside 10 chips for myself and walked around my office department asking if they wanted any chips..I think it was about 30 seconds and the bag was done. Meanwhile all my colleagues are thinkin', hey he's pretty generous.. hehehe if they only knew I was sharing the fat....

Sharing the fat aside, I took a day off today from workouts as I got really busy in the evening hangin with a few buds. Tomorrow will resume with some cardio. Weather should be good in the am.

Mission 4 Commitments - Status of the Day

 

Workout Log 336 - Damn you TTC !

Geeesh...Whatta a sh*tty day. It all starts with the am commute to work...

Today was a trial period to see if taking the Toronto TTC (Toronto Transit) will be a benefit to my regular commute, instead of my previous days challenging the rush hour highway traffic. Two simple words can describe my experience...Never Again.

The 'short and skinny' of what happened, is that I took the wrong bus(apparently they have letters after the number and I didn't notice -eg. 115a,b,c or d - ya, now I know...), I therefore had to walk 3km to get to work, came in 45 min late and then had 'the talk' with the manager about coming in late. Wonderful eh?  I think it's obviously this 'trial' ain't gonna work seeing that it took me over 2 hours to get into work(usually a 25 min drive w/ no traffic)...

So with the above just making my blood boil for the most of the day, in the evening I blew off some steam in the gym working on chest, traps, back, calves, triceps and abs...The only cardio I got today was from the 'unexpected' 3km brisk walk from the wrong bus stop to work. If I would give a review for the TTC, it would be a thumbs down due to the long commute (even though I took the wrong bus and extended my time by 15 min).....

Tomorrow is weight training again, but may just use that day for cardio as my shoulder is kinda hurtin'...Will have to play it by ear...

Mission 4 Commitments - Status of the Day

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Click here for information on the nutritional & workout plan I use

Workout Log 335 - Rise and Shine

Since looking forward to this moment the night before, I took my 1st early morning blade for the year at 6am sharp.

Watching the sun rise was a pretty cool experience along with the warm spring/summer breeze hitting me as I shredded the pavement taking zero breaks. My only regret going this early is that time is limited to no more than 1 hour(or I'll be late for work). If I had more time, trust me - I would have rolled around for another 2 hours.....So yes, the weather did indeed hold up as promised , but not so nice in the evening when the thunderstorms rolled in (as promised).

So today was an overall healthy and progressive day. For tomorrow, it's back to weight training and abs. Will see what I can do in getting some cardio in there if I can manage my time well...Lookin' forward to it.

Mission 4 Commitments - Status of the Day

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Workout Log 334 - Stuck in Traffic

With a huge determination to get on the blades in the evening, I unfortunately ended up in bumper to bumper traffic for almost an hour where at most times it would have taken only 5 minutes to get home... 

Yes, a real bummer....But I did however complete my weight training in the morning working on biceps, shoulders, triceps, hams and abs. Good thing for morning workouts! =) 

Scheduled for tomorrow is 30 min of cardio. Will try to get out in the am and go for a blade as the evening will be pretty crummy with thunderstorms. Look'n forward to it.. ;)

Mission 4 Commitments - Status of the Day

See here for last weeks picture and status results

Workout Log 333 - Benefits of an Early Morning Workout

With today as a start of a new work schedule, I've changed my workout schedule to the mornings. Waking up early at 5:45am to go the gym was not an easy one, but there are some benefits to it.

See below for the benefits of working out early in the am :

• You start off the day feeling Energized - Maybe not enough to give up coffee in the morning, but you'll definitely feel a great deal of accomplishment and more awake/alert when you get to work.
  

• The workout is out of the way. No more excuses throughout your day to derail your workout plans.

• Since you burn calories all night while sleeping, now you can burn more calories and more fat in the morning since there was nothing in the stomach. Calories burned at this time are taken from your stored fat.  

• You'll really look forward to breakfast (instead of missing breakfast) Trust me, you will be very hungry after your workout. Just remember - no bacon and other greasy foods. Lots of protein in the am to help repair and build those muscles.

• It opens the option of participating in an activity/sport in the evening to get even more exercise. For example, I now have the opportunity to blade in the evening or join a sport or two and get even more cardio for the day.

• You are more likely to choose healthier foods during the day. As an example, knowing that you just finished an hour on the treadmill for the day, I am sure you wouldn't want to ruin such a good workout, right?

• If you don't make it in the gym in the am, then the evening is available. Providing 2 chances to committing to the workout.

• There are far less people at the gym in the morning. No waiting for machines, exercise ball, workout bench or free-weights.

So, you must be convinced now that morning workouts does have it's benefits. If so, great...but expect an adjustment period. The same way you're jet-lagged after an overseas trip or drowsy when you suddenly have to switch from the graveyard shift to a regular 9 to 5 shift, working out in the morning will require some some getting used to.

Here are a few tips that will help you get started in getting up in the morning :

• Go to bed an hour earlier.  

• Get a good alarm clock - get 2 alarms if needed be(cellphone & alarm clock to wake you up).

• Get a timer that turns on the lights for you. Walmart...Homedepot.. 20 bux.

• Brush your teeth and wash your face. Don't mean to sound like your mother, but this will help you feel a lot fresher in the morning.

• Have your workout schedule ready the night before. Organization and preparation is always key.

• Have your workout clothes prepared the night before. - Imagine waking up in the early am wasting many precious minutes scrambling looking for clothes, shoes, water bottle and etc. This step eliminates that possibility.

• Stretch! – Since you just woke up, your muscles need a good stretch. Learn from my mistake for not stretching as I was previously forced to take 4 days off due to pains in my legs and back. Don’t be a victim.

So with all being said above, I completed 45 min in the gym working on chest, back, calves,  glutes and of course the abs. I wanted to get some cardio later on the evening, but with the rain pouring down it was not a possibility. All healthy meals and all meals on-time...Overall good progressive day.

 Tomorrow is the same drill - weight training and abs. If the weather is promising as it suppose to be, I'll be hitting the pavement in the evening with the blades. Lookin forward to it...  ;)

 Mission 4 Commitments - Status of the Day

See here for last weeks picture and status results

Workout Log 331 - Ya Dig?

Since today was a scheduled reward meal day and rest day, I spent most of my time outside helping the mother create a garden, then finishing the day chowing down on various Caribbean dishes (since our culture is Trinidadian).

To give you an idea about the amount of calories consumed in one sitting, I would say at least 2000 calories for that 1 meal. Needless to say, this was not a healthy meal and the salad that was served on the buffet table was left untouched.

With all the digging and the placement of soil within the hole I created, I at least burned approximately 300-400 calories easy...I worked on the 'floral project' for at least 3 hours and I'm still suffering with blisters on my hands from the shovel. Oh well, since it's for my mother, I guess it was well worth it... ;)

Tomorrow is scheduled rest day as well, but may go outside as it will be quite nice.

 Mission 4 Commitments - Status of the Day

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Workout Log 332 - Roller Lessons

With today as a scheduled rest day, I instead spent approx. 1 hour rollerblading showing the wifey how to blade. As painful as it was to watch her fall, I finally called it quits and will have to resume further lessons next weekend.

All healthy meals were met today, but unfortunately did not eat enough. Funny thing is, I forgot to eat...Oh well..what's done, is done...

Tomorrow is weight training and abs...Lookin forward to it. ;)

 Mission 4 Commitments - Status of the Day

See here for last weeks picture and status results