Quick Post

Yesterday I continued on the bench press Buckeye Program and today is a rest day. Tomorrow will be my first one rep maximum deadlift in a while.

Wednesday Workout:
Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 3 minutes
Weight Training:
Bench Press, Buckeye Program
Plate Loaded Shoulder Press, 3 sets of 8-10 repetitions
Roman Chair Leg Raise, 3 sets of 20 repetitions
Mobility:
Banded Shoulder Stretches
Chest Stretch

Thursday: Rest Day

Have a Great Day!!

Aaron Hernandez and the Wednesday and Thursday Workouts

I am a football fan and I feel like I am a somewhat compassionate human being. I have also spent a good portion of my professional career as a NOLS instructor, field staff supervisor and as a fitness trainer trying to help people live up to their potential. With all of that said, when I heard that Aaron Hernandez, the former tight end for the New England Patriots who was imprisoned for murder was found dead in his cell I was not shocked. In fact, I found my self feeling like, "Yeah. That seems about right." I don't really like feeling that way. It seems like such a waste.

Wednesday:
Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 3 minutes
Weight Training:
Bench Press, Buckeye Program
Plate Loaded Shoulder Press, 3 sets of 6-10 repetitions
Roman Chair Leg Raise, 3 sets of 20 repetitions
Mobility:
Shoulder Stretches
Chest Stretches

Thursday:
Row, 5000m
Mobility:
Quadriceps Stretches
Hamstring Stretches

Have a Great Day!!

Quick Workout Post

Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 2 minutes
Weight Training:
Incline Chest Press, 3 sets of 8-10 repetitions
Preacher EZ Bar Curl, 3 sets of 10 repetitions
Pec-Deck, 3 sets of 10 repetitions
Dip, 3 sets of 12-15 repetitions
Medicine Ball Weighted Sit-up with Ball Toss, 50 repetitions
Mobility:
Chest Stretches
Shoulder Stretches

Have a Great Day!!

Happy Spring and the Workout!!

It is finally the first day of Spring. Our vegetable plants are starting to sprout in the kitchen and we are making plans to start hardening the plants to the life they will have outside. It is very exciting to watch the greening of our first Spring in Chattanooga.

Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 2 minutes
Weight Training:
Clean from the High Block, 4 sets of 3 at 80%
Back Squat, 3 sets of 2 repetitions at 89%, one set of 5 repetitions at 50%
Hang Power Snatch, 2 repetitions at 60%, 65% and 70%. One repetition at 75% and 80%.
Snatch Pull, 4 sets of 3 repetitions at 90%, 95%, 100% and 100%
Leg Press, 3 sets of 10 repetitions
Leg Extension, 3 sets of 10 repetitions
Leg Curl, 3 sets of 10 repetitions
Mobility:
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch

Have a Great Day!!

America First? Couple of Workouts

I am a very proud combat veteran of the United States military. I also consider myself very patriotic and I love America. The new White House has released its plan for its budget and I am wondering how it aligns with the "America First" message that the administration has put out. I am certain that after 16+ years of constant combat that the U.S. military is in need of repair and retooling. I also believe that it is only right to spend money to care for our wounded Veterans. I think that investing in infrastructure projects is wise not only to improve our communities but to put people to work. However, after traveling along the U.S.-Mexico border for a couple of weeks a year for the better part of 17 years, spending a crap ton of money on a wall on our southern border is a colossal waste of money and time. To pay for this, the Trump administration is slashing environmental protections, domestic programs and the State Department? I don't get how that is "America First"?

Wednesday Workout:
Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 2 minutes
PVC Passthrough, 20 repetitions
PVC Wraparound, 20 repetitions
Foam Roller Work
Weight Training:
Snatch from High Blocks, work up to best three repetition weight and then 2 sets of 3 repetitions at 70%
Front Squat, 3 sets of 4 repetitions at 86%, one set of 4 repetitions at 50%
Pull-Up, 4 sets of 7 repetitions
Hang Power Clean, 2 repetitions at 60%, 65% and 70%. Four sets of 1 repetition at 75%
Clean Pull, 3 repetitions at 90% and 95% and 2 sets of 3 repetitions at 100%
Mobility:
Banded Shoulder Stretches
Hamstring Stretch
Quadriceps Stretch

Thursday HIIT Rowing Workout:
Warm-Up:
Row, one minute easy row
HIIT:
12 rounds of 30 seconds of High Intensity row, 1 minute of Low Intensity Row
Cool-Down:
Row, 2 minutes easy row
Mobility:
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch

Have a Great Day!!

March Madness and the Workout

Today is the day that I pretend to know what the hell is going on in college basketball. I do love the NCAA tournament but really, does anyone know who is going to win between Mount Saint Mary's and New Orleans?!

Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 2 minutes
Weight Training:
Clean, 3 repetitions at 60%, 70%, 80% and again at 70%

Super Set: Perform each exercise in order to complete a set. No rest between exercises. Four sets total.
Back Squat, 3 sets of 5 repetitions at 86% and one set of 5 at 60%
Bent Over Row, 6 repetitions

Hang Power Snatch, 2 repetitions at 60%, 65%, 70% and four sets of 1 repetition at 75%
Snatch Pull, 3 repetitions at 90%, 95%, 100% and 100%
Leg Press, 3 sets of 10 repetitions
Leg Extension, 3 sets of 10 repetitions
Leg Curl, 3 sets of 10 repetitions
Mobility:
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch

Have a Great Day!!

Quick Lifting Post

Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 2 minutes
PVC Passthrough, 20 repetitions
PVC Wraparound, 20 repetitions
Foam Roller Work
Weight Training:
Snatch Balance, 3 repetitions at 60%, 2 repetitions at 70% and 75%, 1 repetition at 80%, 85% and 90%
Snatch, 2 repetitions at 60%, 70%, 75%, 80% and 80%
Snatch Pull, 2 sets of 3 repetitions at 95%, 3 repetitions at 100%, 3 repetitions at 105%
Front Squat, 4 sets of 2 repetitions
Mobility:
Banded Shoulder Stretches
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch

Have a Great Day!!

Hours of Work and Training

"It's not the hours you put in your work that counts, it's the work you put in the hours." -Sam Ewing

I had the distinct privilege today to work with two clients that are recovering from traumatic accidents. I obviously cannot go into any kind of details, but I walked away from their training sessions in a bit of awe. Knocking on wood, I have been very blessed to have avoided any medical issues and I try to get at least five days a week of exercise every week. These clients though are working their butts off just to get their lives back to some sort of normalcy. Inspiring.

Sunday: Marathon Training
Run, three hours
Mobility:
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch

Monday:
Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 2 minutes
PVC Passthrough, 20 repetitions
PVC Wraparound, 20 repetitions
Foam Roller Work
Weight Training:
Hang Power Clean and Power Jerk, 3 repetitions at 50%, 60%, 65% and 70%
Clean with 90 seconds rest between sets, 3 repetitions at 60%, 2 repetitions at 70%, 75% and 80%
Clean Pull, 2 sets of 3 repetitions at 95%, 2 repetitions at 100%, 2 repetitions at 105%
Back Squat, 3 sets of 3 repetitions at 70%
Mobility:
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch
Banded Shoulder Stretches

Have a Great Day!!

Annoying Credit Card Fraud and the Workout

First, I want to be clear that I love American Express. At 2:34am I received a text asking if I had made a ONE DOLLAR charge on my credit card. Of course I was sound asleep and had made no such charge. I called the very pleasant customer service rep and they said it was most likely a test charge to see if my card could be used for a larger purchase and that AMEX had denied it. However, they recommended I get a new card. So, because some ass hat stole my card number somehow and made a one dollar charge I am now without my card until Tuesday. End of world? No, of course not. Annoying as hell? Yes. American Express is great though.... they told me not to worry they would happily shift all of my reoccurring charges to the new card. Great customer service.

Thursday:
Run, one and a half hours.
Mobility:
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch

Friday:
Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 2 minutes
PVC Passthrough, 20 repetitions
PVC Wraparound, 20 repetitions
Foam Roller Work
Weight Training:
Back Squat Jump, 3 sets of 5 repetitions at 50%
Snatch, 2 repetitions at 60% and 70%, 1 repetition at 80%, 84%, 88%, 91% and 94%
Clean and Jerk, 4 sets of 2 repetitions at 80%
Romanian Deadlift, 3 sets of 3 repetitions
Mobility:
Banded Shoulder Stretches
Hamstring Stretch
Quadriceps Stretch

Have a Great Day!!

Valentine's Day Rest and Wednesday Lifting

Yesterday for Valentine's Day was the rest day from exercise. Because of our schedule we went to Rembrandt's for breakfast. Rembrandt's was the first place we went to in Chattanooga when Rebecca was interviewing for residency... it was really nice to spend the morning together.

Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 2 minutes
PVC Passthrough, 20 repetitions
PVC Wraparound, 20 repetitions
Foam Roller Work
Weight Training:
Snatch Balance, 3 repetitions at 60%, 2 repetitions at 70%, 2 repetitions at 75%, 1 repetition at 80%, 85% and 90%
Snatch, 2 repetitions at 65%, 75%, 80%, 85% and 75%
Snatch Pull, 2 sets of 3 repetitions at 95%, 2 repetitions at 100%, 2 repetitions at 105%
Front Squat, 3 sets of 2 repetitions at 84%, 1 set of 4 repetitions at 70%
Mobility:
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch

Have a Great Day!!

Taking the Time for Fun and the Workout

I went to the gym and had a great lifting session and then came home for lunch. After eating I was about to enter the blogosphere and Rebecca was about to go back to her studies when I looked out the window and noticed what a beautiful day it was here in Red Bank. We grabbed the football and went outside and tossed the pigskin around for 15-20 minutes. It was a short break but it was a lot of fun and the heelers laid in the grass happy to have the whole family outside together!!

Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 2 minutes
PVC Passthrough, 20 repetitions
PVC Wraparound, 20 repetitions
Foam Roller Work
Weight Training:
Hang Power Clean and Power Jerk, 3 repetitions each at 50%, 60%, 65% and 70%
Clean, 3 repetitions at 60%, 2 repetitions at 70%, 75% and 80%, 1 repetition at 84%, 88% and 88%
Clean Pull, 3 repetitions at 90% and 95%, 2 repetitions at 100% and 105%
Back Squat, 3 sets of 3 at 84%, one set of 5 repetitions at 70%
Mobility:
Banded Shoulder Stretches
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch

Have a Great Day!!

Big Strength Training Wednesday

Today, I have transitioned to working out in the mornings and I have also made a few changes to my weight training. I am continuing to do my Olympic lifting and I have added in some machine and power training. It is a bit weird to flip my schedule almost completely.... though tomorrow UPS has asked me to come in at 4:40am and I will be running tomorrow afternoon prior to work training folks at the gym?! Old dog is having to learn new tricks.... and then go back to old tricks?!

Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 2 minutes
PVC Passthrough, 20 repetitions
PVC Wraparound, 20 repetitions
Foam Roller Work
Weight Training:
Snatch Balance, 3 repetitions at 60%, 3 repetitions at 70%, 2 repetitions at 75%, 2 repetitions at 80%, 2 repetitions at 80%
Snatch, 3 repetitions at 60%, 2 repetitions at 70%, 2 repetitions at 75%, 2 repetitions at 80%, 1 repetition at 84%, 1 repetition at 88%, 1 repetition at 88%
Snatch Pull, 4 sets of 3 at 95%, 95%, 100% and 100%
Front Squat, 3 sets of 2 at 80%, 1 set of 4 at 65%
Deadlift, 5 sets of 1-2 repetitions
Leg Press, 3 sets of 8-10 repetitions
Leg Extension, 3 sets of 8-10 repetitions
Leg Curl, 3 sets of 8-10 repetitions
Mobility:
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch
Shoulder Stretches

Have a Great Day!!

Thursday and Friday Workouts and Keeping One's Word

Today I landed another personal trainer job which I am very excited about. I have been working at UPS and I had committed to working there through the peak season of November and December. While I was at UPS, I was offered a training gig but I did not take that job because I had given my word that I would stay as a package handler until January. Today I was able to land a well paying trainer job and give my UPS supervisor a two week notice that I will be leaving. A person is only as good as their word and bridges are much more effective when they are not burned.

Thursday: Marathon Training
Run, one and a half hours
Mobility:
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch

Friday: Weight Training
Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 2 minutes
PVC Passthrough, 20 repetitions
PVC Wraparound, 20 repetitions
Foam Roller Work
Weight Training:
Back Squat Jump, 3 sets of 5 repetitions at 50% of 1-RM
Snatch, 5 sets of 3 repetitions at 60% of 1-RM
Clean and Jerk, 5 sets of 3 repetitions at 60% of 1-RM
Barbell Romanian Deadlift, 3 sets of 7 repetitions
Mobility:
Banded Shoulder Stretches
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch

Have a Great Day!!

Hump Day Workout!!

Work put a good whooping on me today but I still managed to get into the gym today to lift. Just a quick post to get my butt to bed at a reasonable time.

Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 2 minutes
PVC Wraparound, 20 repetitions
PVC Passthrough, 20 repetitions
Foam Roller Work
Weight Training:
Snatch Balance, 4 sets of 3 repetitions at 60% of 1-RM
Snatch, 5 sets of 2 repetitions at 80% of 1-RM
Snatch Pull, 4 sets of 5 repetitions at 90% of 1-RM
Front Squat, 4 sets of 3 repetitions at 75% of 1-RM
Mobility:
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch

Have a Great Day!!

Sunday and Monday Posts

I was able to get my long marathon training run in yesterday with weather in the high 30s prior to it raining late Sunday morning. Today I had a good lifting session at the gym. Great couple of days!

Marathon Training:
Run, Three and a half hours
Mobility:
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch

Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 2 minutes
PVC Passthrough, 20 repetitions
PVC Wraparound, 20 repetitions
Foam Roller Work
Weight Training:
Power Clean Plus Push Press, 4 sets of 3 repetitions at 60% of 1-RM
Clean, 5 sets of 2 repetitions at 80% of 1-RM
Clean Pull, 4 sets of 5 repetitions at 90% of Clean 1-RM
Back Squat, 5 sets of 5 repetitions at 75% of 1-RM
Mobility and Abdominal Work:
AbMat Sit-Up, 50 repetitions
Shoulder Stretches
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch

Have a Great Day!!

Clean Training Friday

Went into the gym and did a clean focused Olympic lifting session.

Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 2 minutes
PVC Passthrough, 20 repetitions
PVC Wraparound, 20 repetitions
Foam Roller Work
Weight Training:
Barbell Hang Clean Muscle Up, 4 sets of 3 repetitions
Hang Clean, 4 sets of 2 repetitions at 75% of 1-RM
Clean Pull, 3 sets of 3 repetitions at 105% of 1-RM
Front Squat, 3 sets of 2 repetitions at 90% of 1-RM
Push Press, 4 sets of 3 repetitions
Mobility:
Banded Shoulder Stretches
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch

Have a Great Day!!

Quick Workout Post

Options at the gym to keep from going crazy are show up before 5pm or sometime after 6:30pm to avoid the crowds. Tonight I went in later to make sure that the family all got dinner then it it was off to lift. This makes this post kind of late and I need to crank it out and get some sleep before my 3:40am wake-up?!

Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 2 minutes
PVC Passthrough, 20 repetitions
PVC Wraparound, 20 repetitions
Foam Roller Work
Weight Training:
Barbell Hang Snatch Muscle Up, 4 sets of 3 repetitions
Hang Snatch, 4 sets of 2 repetitions at 75% of 1-RM
Snatch Pull, 3 sets of 3 repetitions at 105% of 1-RM
Front Squat, 3 sets of 2 repetitions at 90% of 1-RM
Standing Military Press, 4 sets of 3 repetitions
Mobility:
Banded Shoulder Stretches
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch

Have a Great Day!!

All in on the Falcons and the Workout

Well, surprise surprise... Tom Brady and Bill Belichick once again have the New England Patriots in the Superbowl. What is interesting though is that representing the NFC are the Atlanta Falcons. The eventual number one scoring offense in the NFL was a 150 to 1 long shot of reaching the Superbowl at the beginning of the season. Since my Washington Redskins once again bumbled and stumbled their way out of contention for a championship, I am going to pull for the Falcons to win their first Superbowl.

Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 2 minutes
PVC Passthrough, 20 repetitions
PVC Wraparound, 20 repetitions
Foam Roller Work
Weight Training:
Power Clean Plus Push Press, 4 sets of 3 repetitions at 65%, 70%, 75% and 75% of 1-RM
Hang Clean, 4 sets of 2 repetitions at 65%, 70%, 75% and 70% of 1-RM
Clean Pull, 3 sets of 2 repetitions at 110% of Clean 1-RM
Back Squat, 3 sets of 2 repetitions at 92% of 1-RM
Mobility and Abdominal Work:
AbMat Sit-Up, 50 repetitions
Shoulder Stretches
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch

Have a Great Day!!

Quick Workout Post Today

Yesterday was a well deserved rest day and today was back to the Olympic lifting. Great workout today with the legs feeling really, really good!!

Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 2 minutes
PVC Passthrough, 20 repetitions
PVC Wraparound, 20 repetitions
Foam Roller Work
Weight Training:
Barbell Hang Snatch Muscle Up, 4 sets of 3 repetitions
Hang Snatch, 4 sets of 2 repetitions at 75% of 1-RM
Snatch Pull, 3 sets of 3 repetitions at 105% of 1-RM
Front Squat, 3 sets of 2 repetitions at 90% of 1-RM
Standing Military Press, 4 sets of 3 repetitions
Mobility:
Banded Shoulder Stretches
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch

Have a Great Day!!

Legs of Lead Back at the Gym

Running for three hours and a delayed NFL playoff game Sunday, and a crack of dawn reporting time at work Monday all led to a tough workout at the gym today. My legs were pretty heavy, but by the time I was done with the warm-up they were feeling a whole lot better.

Warm-Up:
Airdyne, 2 minutes
PVC Passthrough, 20 repetitions
PVC Wraparound, 20 repetitions
Foam Roller Work
Weight Training:
Power Clean and Push Press, 4 sets of the three repetitions at 60%, 65%, 70% and 75% of 1-RM
Hang Clean, 4 sets of 2 repetitions at 75% of 1-RM
Clean Pull, 3 sets of 2 repetitions at 105% of 1-RM
Back Squat, 3 sets of 3 repetitions at 88% of 1-RM
Mobility:
Quadriceps Stretch
Hamstring Stretch

Have a Great Day!!