Getting In A Small Workout Even In The Process Of Moving

 Fitness isn't just what is possible in the gym, it's what is possible outside of it. If you have moved to a new place more than a few times in your life, you know it's a tough process especially the physical when it comes to hauling boxes, furniture, equipment and among other things. It can be a workout in and of itself doing all that. If you have to climb multiple flights of stairs, that's just another thing to add on. 

Short workouts while in the process of this can help keep energy levels up and keep you alert. Moving is exhausting and at times chaotic but it doesn't mean you can't get a little something out of it. Some of the best workouts I've had throughout this whole move (other than climbing 36 steps up and down multiple times a day) were Isometrics using my trusted Worldfit Iso Trainer. Keeping those muscles strong is a key along with having healthy joints that minimize injury going up stairs. 

Most workouts aren't more than a 10-15 min which is more than enough. If you're going an hour or more and you're running on fumes, more power to you and hope you're not draining your CNS. Those 7-12 second isometric contractions are so intense, it even feels like you're getting a cardio workout in the process. Isometrics are more than just strength training, they're part of a much bigger puzzle in the journey to incredible health. I feel blessed to be able to do these and still maintain solid levels of energy and durability, not just strength.

This is also where having books like Overcoming Isometrics is an incredible asset because it helps you build the knowledge of what variety of exercises you can do that keep you sharp for when it's needed the most. Hell, last night even doing a very intense Hybrid Iso Push-Up, I felt that surge of power in my body that I don't get with a ton of other holds. It is truly one of the best Isometric Exercises in existence (IMHO) and if you haven't done it, give it a go. If you can last 60-90 Seconds, you're not doing too bad. The intensity alone is worth the challenge. 

Low Skilled, Simple & Intense, Isometrics go beyond just a hold and focusing on contracting muscles, you're developing internal power as well along with building strength that makes you last when it counts. These have been a big help in helping me move stuff that need to be moved, hauled, carried or whatever. Be amazingly awesome and keep up with Isometrics, they're game changers.

New Adventure Has Begun

 Shit, it really has been a bit since my last post which really showed some awesome support from very wonderful people. It has been a process otherwise though outside of that and I will be writing more often so get ready for a hell of a rollercoaster ride. 

My wife and I have been looking at places for a long time now and we finally hit a spot that works for us for now. We have moved into a new apartment this past week and most of the stuff we brought with us is here and ready to made into a home. Just a few finishing touches and everything will be complete. It has been chaotic, adrenaline pumping and carrying boxes, trinkets and many other things. We live on a third floor so we have to climb stairs to get to the place. It's a total of 36 steps to get to the apartment and carrying up heavy stuff while going up and down those multiple times a day has been a crazy workout but I'm loving it.

No elevator so that's a bit of a work yet not so bad. Had movers get the couch, entertainment center, some boxes and book cases. They did an amazing job despite setbacks with their truck and we tipped them well. It's a 2 and 2, so we get to have an office that we share, opposite sides of the room so I can do my thing and she can focus on her thing with writing, photography stuff and others. Just need to put books away mostly and get rid of a few boxes but other than that, all gravy. 

The complex has a gym with some basic stuff and used it a couple times so far and I'm enjoying it. A dumbbell rack with some kettlebells, stair master, rower, treadmills and a combo rack of a pullup bar, dip handles and ab work. Living next to the freeway has both perks and a small annoyance but it becomes a blur after a while. The girlie can get to work faster now within 30 minutes instead of an hour so we're both happy about that. If you look past the freeway, there is beautiful Mountains to look at. We're at Stateline between Idaho & Washington and in the middle of a UPS area where they take the trucks and all that. Neighborhood is pretty decent (still better than some of the shit in Santa Cruz LOL) and neighbors are friendly around here. 

Still getting my workouts in, so some of the workouts I've posted recently on Social Media, have been either before the chaos of getting stuff into the apartment or after a long ass day of doing it and still managing workouts like Iso Training, 500 Step Up sessions (in addition to climbing the fucking staircase lol) and a couple sessions in the gym. On a waitlist for a garage which I can put the rest of my equipment in but hey, should be good.

I've also been taking some bad ass Supps lately from Lost Empire that have been a big help in keeping my energy levels up. They've also maintained my strength and focus throughout this whole process. With moving, it can make you crazy at times so I'm grateful to have these. 

Hercules Pre Workout Formula

Shilajit Capsules

Pine Pollen Tincture

Overall, I'm happy and it has been a ride throughout this whole process. Welcoming a new adventure with good times ahead and having a blast with the woman I love. Keep being amazingly awesome everyone. More articles to come.   

Train To Move

           The power of movement is essential to everyday life. In fitness when people think of movement, they think roaming on elipticals, moving weights around, aerobic exercise and other types of stuff. That’s all good in some cases but what I’m talking about by movement is using different functions of the body that keeps you healthy, free and open to channel the body by squatting, running, jumping, climbing, lifting and carrying weight and making the habit to be practical and utilizing every inch of your body to it’s potential. Functional Movement is precise in what brings the body as a whole as you move through various patterns, using as many muscles as possible in any given time.

            When it comes to sitting, we usually bring ourselves to sitting in chairs or our beds sometimes but never take the time to actually squat and sit that way or move in the squat. This exercise can help build the tendons and ligaments in the knees and build strength in those muscles. Jumping has become a meaning to use in sports or in other endeavors but never for any real fun anymore, when was the last time you felt like jumping and playing hopscotch or something? Lifting doesn’t always mean heavy but it means picking up an object of certain weight, moving with the weight by carrying it is pretty fun to do, think of carrying a heavy backpack or picking a 50 pound rock and carrying it a certain distance then tossing it. We all know how running goes, personally I’m not a fan of running but I like to sprint and amp up my body’s metabolism so that’s a form of running.

            Some movements are in awkward positions like moving in an animal type fashion like Bear Crawls, hanging and swinging like an ape or climbing like a gecko, your body was meant to move in all sorts of directions granted how you’re structured and the way your body can operate in a certain movement. Even walking in an awkward terrain or non-flatted areas is moving in an awkward position and changing directions as you go along. When you can move in an awkward position, you’re utilizing other muscles you normally don’t use.

            When you move, you have a greater chance of having a longer, healthier life if you practice enough to where you’re using practical movements, progressing and utilizing your mind at the same time. I love moving around even when I’m out in the snow hitting a tire with my Sledgehammer; I’m giving my body strength and heading towards specific goals of movement. I even love to just move around in the living room, stretching my body out and jumping & crawling just for the fun of it. 

          To understand the fun of movement, look to what Mary Poppins says by “in every job that must be done there’s an element of fun. You find the fun and snap the job’s a game.” This applies the same way as moving in your training, you learn to imagine having fun with what you’re doing and making it more enjoyable instead of feeling like you have to punish yourself. This helps having a longer life by using your imagination and building a happy attitude to what you do and incorporate it to other things in your life.

What Is My Fascination With Tarzan????

             Ever since I was little watching guys like Arnold, Stallone, Ford, Van Damme, Jet Li, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and others, I always wondered what a picture perfect athlete would be like. Yes I even got a kick out of Brendan Fraser in George Of The Jungle being a Tarzan wanna-be. As I got older and transitioned from a weightlifter to a bodyweight guy I loved the way certain athletes moved through the air like a gymnast or an acrobat in the circus and how they’re built not like a bodybuilder but like a real and graceful athlete. In reality (contradiction I know) Tarzan to me is the picture perfect athlete.

            The beauty of Tarzan’s development is that he is forced to adapt to his environment in the jungle, swinging, climbing, moving in awkward positions and being free out in the open. There have been a lot of Tarzans in films over the years from Johnny Weissmuller to George Scott to even the original Highlander Christopher Lambert. To train is to think and very rarely you see that today in your commercial gyms and health spas because too many people just go through the motions, hop on the treadmill reading a book or watching TV, even blasting their ipods while lifting weights not even paying attention at times to what they're doing.  

            When it comes down to it, they say the lion is the king of the jungle but I believe when it comes to sheer power, size, forced to adapt and having the most powerful grip strength pound for pound are the primates like Apes and Monkeys. You won't see a lion swing through trees jumping from place to place, he'll run, chase and wrestle you to the floor but an Ape can crush your bones just by squeezing them and have tendon strength that most animals don't have. The Wrestlers of the Jungle are the Gorillas and Chimps, the acrobats are the Gibbons and smaller primates. They move with power yet with grace at the same time. Yes they're structure is a little different but yet we can adapt to what can work for us.

            Training shouldn't be a hassle or something you need to punish yourself with but what it can be is an adventure. Think about it, being out in the open, having fun, putting yourself in different situations with practical application and having the time of your life. If you can't get outside due to bad weather or there’s trouble out or whatever, you can still have fun inside and maybe not move so much like a wild animal but adapt to what you have and the space you have to do what you can. Karl Gotch once said “adapt and improvise” this meant that you can do things anywhere at anytime but yet improvise with what you have to make use of what you can do. Be open to ideas and have some fun.

            As some of you know, one of my favorite styles of training is moving like an animal in the jungle, stalking its prey, jumping and speeding up on an object, using my imagination to make things more exciting. As of late I've been trying different things and one of them is a system called MovNat which is using only your body and the environment to create different situations which are used in crawling, jumping, running, lifting, climbing and carrying different things to build your body from adaptation. Erwan Le Corre is the founder of this type of training and is one of the fittest guys in the world today. It’s pretty interesting considering some of the things he does is almost a spitting image of Tarzan. Check out some of his Youtube stuff. It gives you a different perspective to how you move and put yourself in different ways to adapt and improvise in a practical and safe way.

Getting Back To Nature

           The most beautiful things in life happen in Nature. We get so caught up with our lives that we forget that nature brings a real connection, wild, crazy and simplicity to what we need to have in our life. It’s the roots of the earth that give its biggest love. Now I know I sound like a Hippie but far from it, I like connecting myself to nature (mostly in training) and it feels awesome.

            Just imagine being free and open, moving however you want wherever you want. If you can find a way, you can climb, run, chase, crawl, push, pull, lift, carry things and just have a blast. Nature can be very beneficial to your health and well being but at the same time, you have to be careful with nature, it can bite you in the ass if you don’t keep yourself at bay in certain times.

            At times, Nature will prevent you from being outside so do what you can to make it count. When the time is right, get your ass out there and make the best of it because we never know how long we’ll be alive so at best, get yourself healthy and strong as best as you can with plenty of awesome food, sleep and good old fashion fun (training). Being indoors isn't all bad but its not always good either. Keep in touch with nature when you can, its all worth it once you learn find it.

            Life can get complicated sometimes but the more complicated you make it; the more it’s going to haunt you. Live, Love and Laugh. It’s that simple, live with a purpose, love those around you and the things you love doing and laugh your ass off as much as you can because life is too damn short to feel sad the majority of the time. Nature can make you feel good, be alive and more accelerating than you can ever imagine, listen to the sounds of nature, even if its on a CD and you live in a metropolis like New York, LA or Detroit for examples it still gives you that mindset of where you want to be, the real thing is the best but if you can find a way to make due, go for it.

            Being consistent is tough but it has its rewards. Keep yourself happy as you train, even in nature, you want to be happy and pushing forward with what you want to achieve. In nature, move like a wild animal, run with the wind, breathe into the wilderness and breathe deeply. Stay consistent and good things will happen, progress and bring in life to what you do. It’s all about what comes natural to you.



Be sure to check out my friend Logan's House Sale he's holding. Still have 4 days to get the best deals.

Making The World Your Little Playground

            It doesn't matter if you’re locked in a cell or have the freedom to run around outside, you can find a way to adapt to training any way you want. A lot of people look at exercise as a closed minded ordeal that you have to be in a gym in order to get results. There are guys in prisons that have very limited space and yet some of them do some basic training methods like push-ups, squats and Isometrics yet are pretty damn fit. What about those who have an outdoor lifestyle, they don’t use smith machines or leg extensions, they use trees, the water, the playgrounds and benches. Imagination is a key to developing the type of fitness you want.

            Anybody can move some kind of weight but if they can’t move their bodies well and handle awkward positions it’s going to bite them in the ass one day. To move with power and grace is essential, you don’t have to move like your instructor exactly to the T but you want to be able to move your body naturally according to the realms of your structure, moving like a wild animal is a great example of this . Move the way you can handle and if you need to progress in certain stages than do so but the more your body moves in a natural state, the stronger and healthier you get.

            A key component in developing your fitness is to find ways to gain that positional strength to help with your Range Of Motion and nothing does that better than Isometrics. When you’re in a locked position, your muscle fibers fire off harder than anything else and because you’re pushing/pulling against an immovable object, your body’s nervous system shifts into overdrive and it causes the fibers to shoot at a higher rate, thus building strength in various positions and building muscle from odd angles that you can’t get anywhere else.

            No matter where you are, you have the world as your playground, in your imagination, you can create anything you want. Believing what you can do can accelerate your progress by 10 fold. If you live on a beach, your imagination can run wild, if you happen to be in prison, it’s a bit tougher but you can still be fit and strong so use what you have but make it count no excuses. Your imagination can work wonders and help you unlock the powers of your potential. There’s no excuse for finding some form of training but the more natural the exercise, the better off you’ll be.