» Thoughts on Training Tools & Diet.
By Vince on July 23, 2012
Everybody loves to get workout equipment. Even me! Or maybe, especially me. Face it, places like Sports Authority would go out of business if it weren’t for folks like us!
Sad to say not all of these tools actually work and are really just a gimmick. Yet certain “tools” do work and have always worked.
Take for example free weights. You really cannot get more simple than that, a shaped weight with specific set weights ranges in either metric or imperial.
By the way, only two countries still use imperial besides the USA: Burma & Liberia.
95% of the rest of the planet has gone to metric.
article courtesy of http://www.science20.com/hammock_physicist/metric_vs_imperial_end_epic_battle
It’s only a matter of time before we cave as well.
But back to tools, basic hand weights are the simplest but also take different aspects. What we are most familiar with are dumb bells and barbells. More recent on the American market are kettle bells and club bells.
All are used in similar methods, basically pushing them up in defiance of gravity. Other tools like bands (Insert pic)
Work by simulating gravity and weight.
We also have fighting enhancement tools, such as heavy bags. These also come in a variety both wall/ceiling mount and floor models.
Speed bags are also popular. ( smaller bag in pic)
Then you have more martial tools: training pads of an infinite variety and training weapons.
Both allow full contact with damaging (too much!) your training partner and or the target you are using. These primarily help with the particular motion used to guide the weapon and targeting the area’s you want to hit.
You are going to ask, “How many of these do YOU actually use?” My answer to you would be “All of them”.
Why?
Because variety is the spice of life?
While that is true, it is also true that variety has been proven to be a great work out. Your body can get just as “bored” with a particular routine as your mind does. Don’t get me wrong any exercise is better than no exercise, but changing up your routine is a fun and creative way to keep you going.
You will be stronger, have better wind so going up those stairs doesn’t leave you puffing and huffing and looking better.
I do have to say that diet is an important part. I’m not talking going on a strict diet, altho that does achieve results, I’m simply talking about watching what you eat, eating correctly such as portion control.
Years ago (1992 to be exact) I stopped drinking soda. More recently I stopped eating bread. I will quantify that by saying that I will still occasionally have pizza (I LOVE pizza!) and the odd hamburger. The key phrase here is OCCASIONALY.
I found out just how hard this is in American society where fast food rules our eating habits because it is so easy to get. Just about EVERYTHING we know, and have grown up with, to have for lunch is some form of sandwich!
Wendy, McDonalds, Subway, Quizno’s,etc. All primarily offer sandwiches. Now me, I’m really not a big salad fan, so unless there really is nothing more to choose from I won’t get one, that or my wife decides we are going to have salad.
A better choice? Chili or a baked potato, if there is no other choice then it will be a burger with no mayo, maybe cheese.
I’ve also learned to eat according to the exertion I expect to output. What does that mean? I ALWAYS eat breakfast and you should too. Remember you’ve just spent roughly 8 hours sleeping and while you haven’t really been exerting yourself while dreaming away, your stomach has been empty. You are no going to go DO something; work, play workout etc. Lunch is HOURS away. Your body has nothing to burn, so even if it’s just a little something you should stoke the furnace.
If it’s a workout day, I’ll have something with more protein in it, never more than a portion equal to my palm size. This is particularly hard to do at restaurants, especially when something tastes REALLY good. I have lately been eating just half the plate and taking the rest home for another meal the next day. Or what my wife and I occasionally do, split the plate. Half for her and half for me.
It’s amazing how just waiting a little bit after you cut yourself off works! The old saying just let your meal “Settle” really is true!
I love beer.
It is an acquired taste and I have definitely acquired a taste for it!
I tend to like full body beers. News flash here folks, if you didn’t know this already, beer is basically liquid bread.
On most folks it goes straight to your gut…and accumulates. Very hard to get rid of.
What did I do?
Did I stop drinking beer? (GASP! Say it ain’t so!)
I cut back. Instead of having a beer (or two) with dinner I now only drink beer on weekends…and then only two per day. I try to make it a Sam Adams Light but I do like variety in tastes and so that varies.
The wait makes those two beers taste soooo much better!
The results after working out for 3 days a week for an hour at a time for 3 months and the above basic diet?
I lost 20 pounds AND my beer belly.
I attribute most of the weight loss to the diet and cutting out the bread, as I’ve always worked out in one form or another even tho I have to say I have become a huge fan of kettlebells!
If I can do it, you can too.
Nike was right, Just do it!