Weight in at 195 this morning. Mostly trained in martial arts this week, but I got in a gym workout yesterday that consisted of a a 1 mile run with 1 minute sprint blasts, then try to recover to reduce my heart rate down 130bpm in 1 minute, then blast again. I lifted weights, then skipped rope for 10 minutes. I've increased my carbs slightly to see how my body would respond, and I actually dropped weight. Don't think this will last long though, and will go back to lower carbs starting today.
Peeps, this is the best body composition, endurance and power I've ever had - even more than in my 20's (in my mid 40's now). I punch, kick and can explode better than ever. I just can't lift as heavy - but it's not in my goals to bench 405 again. The best thing about all of this, is I don't gas out like I used to when I was big.
I've realized some things:
1) Having been a competitive bodybuilder in the past, bodybuilding exercises (pressing, squatting, etc) in strict, isolation form is really only good for bodybuilding. Our bodies don't move that way naturally - we don't pick up groceries that way, we don't even move our motorcycles around that way. We use our whole body as one unit, leveraging our appendages to use the least amount of energy to accomplish a heavy task. I've created exercises (with help of online resources and with 26 years of being a gym rat) so that I can make my body move - with resistance training - in a way that mimics real life movements. For example - my current favorite exercise are Turkish Get-Ups with a kettlebell. I can only do 5 reps per side and I'm beat. I never do isolation exercises anymore, even something as simple as a bicep curl, I incorporate, with good form, my lower body.
2) Being (muscle) big (like, 210+, muscular, unnatural) sucks for most things. It's good for competitive powerlifting, professional wrestling, knockout fighters and competitive bodybuilding. In my experience of fluctuating my weight from 245 to 170 by manipulating my diet and workouts, nothing good came out of being heavier, with the exception that I could just lift heavier, but see #4.
3) The term "fit" has become synonymous with a cosmetic look. Skinny does not mean fit, nor does big and muscular mean fit. I know plenty of thin people who can't lift a feather, and plenty of huge bodybuilders who gas out 20 seconds on the heavy bag. To me, "fit" means to have a pleasant, generally athletic appearance, but with the ability to exert athleticism equal to - or better than - you look. "Fit" is a state of well being, not just looking good. Looking good is a byproduct of fitness.
4) We think of "strength" as the ability to lift or resist weight, whether it be weights in the traditional sense or body weight (like gymnasts). I think that we often overlook flexibility as a strength. Somebody may be able to rep 225 on military press, but that strength is compromised by being inflexible. Flexibility is it's own form of strength. If somebody can curl the 150lb barbell, but can't touch their toes without bending their knees, that is actually "weak".
Anyway, sorry for the long post
I really want to get into to weight lifting more and I need help. They have a nutritionist, Olympic lifting classes, and CrossFit classes. I start tomorrow on my intro since i know ZERO about all the different moves. But will be doing a body composition assessment, before and after photos, private sessions, group sessions, and a bi-weekly nutrition check-in. Really trying to ramp it up for the next 2 or so mos!
