April 5, 2007
fatblogging update
Readers of gapingvoid will be pleased to know that yes, I’m keeping up with my weightlifting regime.
Yes, there is definite progress. Yes, it seems I’m getting A LOT stronger, even after only a few weeks, thanks to the “muscle memory” kicking in.
The gym I go to, for whatever reason has a lot of Russian and Jamaican members. A good proportion of them look like they hurt people for a living. It’s not really a bodybuilding “What do you think of my fabulous abs” kinda gym. Nor is it a metrosexual “I don’t eat carbs after 3pm” kinda gym. It’s more of a blue collar, “Hello, my name is Yakov and I am going to rip your lungs from your chest” kinda gym. I like that.
I see the personal trainer once or twice a week, depending on what kind of week I’m having. And I’ll also visit the gym once or twice a week by myself, again, depending on what kind of week I’m having.
My only trouble is I’m not digging the cardio regime. Face it: I don’t like running, and I like treadmills even less.
When I lived in New York [the last time I took physical exercise REALLY seriously], I got my cardio ration by going to a pretty hardcore Kung Fu class, three times a week, which I really enjoyed [and I was working out in the gym four times a week at the same time, as well]. This time round, I think I’ll keep it simple. So I’m having a boxing lesson this weekend, and see where it takes me. Punching a bag a few times a week is something I can see myself getting really into.
I did a wee bit of boxing in the past, before getting into King Fu. It’s harder than it looks.
But it’s the free weights that give me the biggest buzz. There is something so satisfying about hefting a large piece of iron around. Especially the squats. The latter takes your body into a zone that most people don’t even know exists. The funny thing is with squats is not how tired you get whilst doing them [and you do get tired, believe me]; it’s how much more tired you feel afterwards. It’s off the scale. Because you use your whole body, if you’ve done it properly, your whole body is completely exhausted by the end of it. You feel so utterly depleted on so many levels.
Right now I’m just using fairly light weights, while my body acclimatizes to the new regime. By year’s end I hope to be on the big boys’ stuff again, after a seven-year break. Wish me luck.
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All the best Hugh! I myself have started circuit training after you got serious about your gym. I am quite happy to see the results on my body. I never thought I would be able to do 60 – 70 push-ups. Will get into weight-training next month. The only thing I am concerned about is the sustenance part. Like you left it for a long time. I hope to hit a plan that I can sustain for life.
Keep on with your weights and let us know of your progress. It is motivating!
Well yeah! Look at you now: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elleeseymour/446592958/ compared to you at the same event last year: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lloyd-davis/125020424
*and* you have a new fleece
Have you every tried Ashtanga Yoga?
It’s a powerful and dynamic form of yoga. Yes, it’s got all the holistic and meditative zen bits in it, but actually it was developed in ancient India (Mysore, to be precise), to train young boys minds and bodies to become warriors. So that might appeal to the “hardcore” Kung Fu, boxing and other martial arts in you.
You will be lifting lots of weight and doing balancing as well, i.e. lift your OWN weight using just your fingertips! OK, your abs have to look like the Spartans in “300”, but that’s your goal, right?!
Cheers, Susi
Good for you on the boxing. I did that for about a year, hitting the heavy bag. It was just as great emotionally as physically. Just getting out and punching something is a great stress reliever, as well a very good workout.
I had to quit because I injured my shoulder from repeatedly hitting the bag too hard. So, be careful.
Best of luck, Hugh! I think its great you’re getting into lifting and boxing!
The “‘Hello, my name is Yakov and I am going to rip your lungs from your chest’ kinda gym” is what we call in the Philippines an askal gym, which is short for asong kalye, which in turn means “street dog”. I like those kinds of gyms too — none o’ that vain, ab-conscious prettyboy stuff, nor the calorie-watching carb-starving crowd. Heheh.
Anyway, good luck and have fun!
Congrats on keeping up with the regime, Hugh.
Speaking of Kung Fu, I just finished reading Matthew Polly’s “American Shaolin” about his time studying at the Wushu Center at Shaolin. Pretty cool read.
I was just going to recommend Astanga yoga, and then I saw Susi’s comment above also recommending it. Interesting!
So, I HIGHLY recommend it. All of the cardio training without all of the running. I was introduced to it through a runner’s club, and most members of the class were men the instructor called her “iron butterflies” — tough, muscle-covered dudes battling back from athletic injuries and trying to regain their flexibility. It worked.
Really amazing stuff. Powerful spiritually, too.
I used to be a serious runner but my knees gave out after 20 years. I’ve found cycling a great alternative, but it takes more time and depends on where you live (smog can be a bummer). Also, you might want to try a rowing machine. Hang in there.
I go to a gym near my office, but I like playing outside more. The “cool thing” that I have been working on is making plans to build a tree house. I did my best thinking in my tree-house when I was a kid. Maybe by the end of summer I will be commenting on gapingvoid from my “new office”.
The last gentleman in my life asked me why I try so hard to be different. My answer was, ” I don’t. Everyone else tries hard to be the same.“
If being a weight-lifting, hard-body, kung fu, boxing, brilliant man is what you want to be…go for it! Take pictures, too. As a former high-school cheerleader (geek-wannabe), I’ll join the ranks of your many atheletic supporters. We are all here (and there) for you!
I go to a gym near my office, but I like playing outside more. The “cool thing” that I have been working on is making plans to build a tree house. I did my best thinking in my tree-house when I was a kid. Maybe by the end of summer I will be commenting on gapingvoid from my “new office”.
The last gentleman in my life asked me why I try so hard to be different. My answer was, ” I don’t. Everyone else tries hard to be the same.“
If being a weight-lifting, hard-body, kung fu, boxing, brilliant man is what you want to be…go for it! Take pictures, too. As a former high-school cheerleader (geek-wannabe), I’ll join the ranks of your many atheletic supporters. We are all here (and there) for you!
I too have got back into the gym and hate running. Don’t know why, just do. makes me feel bad.
Have you tried the cross-trainer? It’s like vertical swimming, tiring but strangely relaxing at the same time…It’s been my saviour.
If you’re based in London, you should try this place:
http://www.trfc.tv/GymViewInfo.html
White Collar Boxing — i.e. sparring with fat city workers, rather than 17 year old hod carriers that want to turn pro.
Hello Hugh,
It sounds like you are on the right track. Training must be something that challenges us, yet it has to be something that we look forward to. It also has to fit into our lives rather than having to “fit in in”.
I’ve been a personal trainer for over 13 years, and my favorite type of training is a mix of intense cardio, power lifting, body weight calestehnics, and kettlebells. You can see more of this type of training at http://www.crossfit.com. (I have no affiliation with this site, but I find their style of training very effective, and I use it specifically with my clients.)
I so wish that you were here in the Los Angeles area, as I’d glady trade your marketing ideas for personal training.
If I can be of any help with tweaking your training program, I’d love to help…as I’ve gained a lot of enjoyment from your writing and cartoons.
Best,
Coop
Gosh… finally a man with muscles who has some brains ;0)
Good Luck you!
Congratulations! I know what it’s like to fall of out of a fitness routine. I’m trying to get back into it too, so reading stuff like this is inspiring.
As a former yoga instructor, I too was going to recommend Ashtanga, but also combined with some basic Iyengar yoga, so that you learn how to do the poses without injuring yourself. Some Ashtanga instructors don’t provide alignment instructions or adjustments to newbies. That can be a turn off, not to mention a bit dangerous if you don’t know how to place your body or how to forgo extremes.
Iyengar is also fantastic for everything that ails computer people because it makes you aware on how to specifically release tension in the neck, shoulders and wrists and also how to correct posture.
You might enjoy Budokon, which combines the best of both worlds, martial arts and yoga.
My belief though: find something you love that inspires you to go back. Consistency over time is key.
well if you want to take up kung fu again I can recommend a really good club in London…I go 2/3 times a week.
if you’re interested drop me a line.
Good luck with the fitness tip Hugh — remember you don’t have to do it all in one day, but just do something every day even if you don’t feel like it. I find it helps to do something I enjoy like some kind of sport…anyway good luck.
As for women secretly hating beta males…I don’t know about that — beta women like beta males
Plus nobody likes good looking people.
Oh! I so much can see you punching a bag on a regular basis! Oh my!
From one hard core scrawny ass, to a … well you know, a man has to do, what a man has to do.
Hej!
Check this out!
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At last…
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