Day One Turbulance Training Contest: One Pack Ab: Day 183

Evolution Three – week One

Monday, August 31, 2009

Hello Folks,



Strange as it may sound, today begins my journey toward six pack abs. If you read my post - Does Buddha Really Have A Belly? – Then you know this will be quite a feat for me.



This morning I kicked off my new Evolution with Craig Ballantyne’s workout called bodyweight 250. I think I am going to have to amp it up a bit next time...the only thing that was really hard for me to do were the push-ups and pull-ups.



Click here if you want to know how many pull-ups I can do and what I do to compensate for my inability to do many pull-ups or push-ups.



Here is the turbulence training video workout that I used for today...







I also became a member of Bodybuilding.com. I am planning on using that site to keep track of my statistics. They have a section called bodyspace for anyone who wants to record their fitness progress. I especially like to get ideas from other body builders.



Time to get some rest....apparently sleeping is really good for weight loss....go figure...is that why Gandhi is so skinny? Oh, that’s right, he fasted a lot and walked a lot....and made his own clothing....I was thinking he meditated a lot, which could be considered, for some folks, sleeping!

Exercise: bike 30 minutes, turbulance training, ankle stretches (it never ends)


Menu: Protein and veggies



Until next time…


Think, Believe, Act, Adjust, Never Give up



Dakota



Today’s Mantra: Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. ~Gandhi

Turbulance Training Contest Starts Tomorrow: Day 182

Evolution Two – week Fourteen




Sunday, August 30, 2009







Hello Folks,



I decided to kick off the new month – September that is – by entering a contest put on by Craig Ballantyne. He is a highly qualified fitness expert who has not only published many e-books, but also written articles for magazines and started several web sites. He also puts out exercise videos like crazy.



I am particularly happy with his bodyweight ideas for exercise. I like being able to take my workout anywhere I go. In fact, when I was on vacation I adopted many of his ideas for my workout.



What I like also about his workouts is that they are so ridiculously hard you know you are getting a good workout! I am always sweating and breathing heavy while doing his exercises...even with six months interval training behind my belt....and there is no end to the variations of exercises.



Push-ups and pull-ups are still really challenging for me, so I know I am benefitting from bodyweight training; and forget those spider push-ups Craig demonstrates—I am not there yet! I have found my own way to compensate for my inability to do more than 2 pull-ups or 25 push-ups.



I do what I call JUMP PULL-UPS or ASSISTED PULL-UPS







JUMP PULLUPS



I basically do a squat (while holding the pull-up bar), then jump up while I pull myself up, then slowly lower myself down and keep on doing that for a minute.



ASSISTED PULL-UPS



I pull my self up and then lower my self until one foot touches the ground for a split second and then pull myself back up again.



For those of you who have heard of a Total Gym....I also use my total gym to do pull-up. How it works is that you are pulling yourself up at an angle that makes it so you are only pulling a percentage of you bodyweight instead of your whole body weight.



For PUSH-UPS I do what I call PLANK PUSH-UPS, ANGLE PUSHUPS, and KNEE ASSISTED PUSH-UPS...



PLANK PUSH-UPS



When I can’t do another push-up I hold myself in a plank position until I feel ready to do more push-ups



ANGLE PUSHUPS



I do push-ups with my hands on a bench and my feet on the ground



KNEE ASSISTED PUSH-UPS



I drop my knees to the ground when I lower myself down, and then I straighten my knees when I push up.



Here is an example of a popular Turbulance Training workout...












PS: Tomorrow marks the beginning of evolution Three -----Turbulance Training 12 week transformation Contest Body Evolution.






Exercise: bike 30 minutes, 250 bodyweight workout, ankle stretches (it never ends)



Menu: Protein and veggies







Until next time…







Think, Believe, Act, Adjust, Never Give up







Dakota







Today’s Mantra: You may believe that you are responsible for what you do, but not for what you think. The truth is that you are responsible for what you think, because it is only at this level that you can exercise choice. What you do comes from what you think.



By A Course in Miracles

Woman Who Inspire: Day 181

Evolution Two – week Fourteen

Saturday, August 29, 2009



Hello Folks,

Many years ago I met two people that have forever impacted my life. Even though we no longer see each other or talk to each other, every once in a while they come to my mind.

I used to live in Colorado almost ten years ago and that is where I met Shiloh Sophia McCloud and Isaiah. I ran into them while I was working. We became fast friends. One of the things that I really appreciated about Shiloh and Isaiah was how warm and welcoming they were with all kinds of people. They would have community gatherings that were spiritually inspiring.

Shiloh’s art work is also amazing. During the time Shiloh was just beginning to create her life’s dream, she was studying to become a minister. I remember witnessing her through her process with her studies. She was very certain that her life’s mission was to bring the feminine energy to her spiritual teachings. To share with the world the value of the feminine in Christianity.

Eventually she moved away to California and we lost touch.

Thanks to the internet I am able to keep track of her amazing journey toward reaching her dreams. I remember when we met she was telling me about how important it was for me to create my life and live my dreams. She encouraged me to pursue what I love and make a difference in the world.

As I have followed all of the projects and things that she has done, I see that she has become a model for all women to pursue their dreams...She is truly inspiring to me.

So....here is yet another inspiring video made by Shiloh.....who is proof of the law of attraction in action....and a model for all women who believe in their potential....

Thank you Shiloh and Isaiah for being in my life and pursuing your dreams....







If you want to learn more about Shiloh her sight is http://www.wisdomhousecatalog.com/welcometowisdomhousegallery.html

Here are my pictures…




August 29, 2009: Day 181



Exercise: bike 30 minutes, resistance training, ankle stretches (it never ends)

Menu: Protein and veggies



Until next time…



Think, Believe, Act, Adjust, Never Give up



Dakota



Today’s Mantra: Be the change that you want to see in the world. ~Ghandi

Michael Jordan Inspires: Day 180

Evolution Two – week Fourteen

Friday, August 28, 2009



Hello Folks,

I am still cleaning out the crusties in my eyes from last night. Sleep deprivation is quite a challenge. I figure that everything must happen for a reason or life wouldn’t be that interesting. Since I am a sucker for inspiration I found a video that has that kind of flavor from the back door.

I am like a teeter totter when it comes to hope and despair...well not exactly a teeter totter, but you know what I mean. Since yesterday’s practice of rolling with the punches started off pretty well and ended with a bang I need a little inspiration to get me going again.

I am also a believer in striking a balance...this particular video is a prime example of how attitude is a big part of success...

This post is a little tribute to Michael Jordon for inspiring the masses. It is hard to believe he was cut from the varsity team his sophomore year for being too short.








Exercise: bike 30 minutes, resistance training, ankle stretches (it never ends)

Menu: Protein and veggies



Until next time…



Think, Believe, Act, Adjust, Never Give up



Dakota



Today’s Mantra: Failure and success are complementary.

Taking A New Attitude Sucks: Day 179

Evolution Two – week Fourteen

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Hello Folks,

I have had one of those days that is tough at work, only because my plans were thrown off by the plans that the universe had for me. It is funny how that works out. I wasn’t supposed to work tonight and I ended up being on call. I decided to take a new attitude and convert a stifling job situation to one of joy.

At first it was easy, because I made a conscious decision to roll with the punches. It was actually kind of perfect too. I just assumed that I was meant to be doing this at that time...and it did work out at first. But then I got thrown more monkey wrenches. You see, usually when I am on call it is not that busy, but for some reason tonight that isn’t the case.

So here I am still trying to blog and about to go out again on call. I am using it as a practice for today, but as you can see I am not as humorous as usual....oh well. I better get going....so all I have left to say is here are my pics...

Exercise: Free, ankle stretches (it never ends), and I biked up a very steep hill, but not on purpose.

Menu: Free day

Until next time…

Think, Believe, Act, Adjust, Never Give up

Dakota

Today’s Mantra: Take a new attitude and convert a stifling job situation to one of joy.

Meditation In Motion: Day 178

Evolution Two – week Fourteen

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Hello Folks,

I decided to run this morning for the first time since I sprained my ankle. It was definitely an EXERCISE in the art of meditation. Why meditation? Because I had to stay really present and focused in order to do it. My ankle is not quite to full capacity just yet...getting there, but I fear spraining it again before it heals.

Since I prefer to run on the trails instead of pavement (to save my knees) the chances of mis-stepping go up.

But like a very GOOD meditator I did not falter.....and what is a good meditator? Someone who loses their mind while finding their body (sounds crazy, doesn’t it?). It is amazing what a little fear and focus can do for your practice. I see meditation as a break from discursive thinking...a way to get away from the minds many detours from reality. Exercising and running can bring the mind back to the body---hopefully—otherwise you might sprain your ankle.

Because of my ankle injury, my mind is naturally drawn to the body. The same could be true for any type of pain the body is experiencing. It is hard to concentrate (THINK) while you are in pain.

Fortunately for me, I wasn’t exactly in pain, but just more acutely aware of my ankle than usual....thus my mind was quiet while I focused on the body.

I suppose that is why one popular meditation practice is to focus on the breath (it’s part of the body), and another popular practice is to go into the body and notice what you are feeling when you have thoughts that are disturbing.

The power of now and meditation are soooo easy....right? Just sprain your ankle, watch your breath, have some kind of pain in your body....who needs a meditation cushion and incense when we have all of these other earthly things to drop us into the present moment? And it is One more thing where I can SAVE money (meditation cushion)...hmmm that’s about 40 dollars...enough money to buy Turbulance Training E-book by Craig Ballantyne.

PS: Since I am on a roll I am going to say BODY one more time....ANYBODY Object?
Here are my pictures…


Exercise:run 20 minutes, resistance training, ankle stretches (it never ends)

Menu: Liquid Day

Until next time…

Think, Believe, Act, Adjust, Never Give up

Dakota

Today’s Mantra: In many spiritual traditions, repeatedly asking yourself the question “Who am I?” or a variation such as “Who is carrying this body?” is the central practice offered for awakening. ~ Jack Kornfield

Evolution Two – week Fourteen

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Hello Folks,

I have been thinking....which is nothing new for me or my overactive brain. When I think it can either be hugely inspiring or a total downer. Today it (my brain that is) was inspiring me to plan for my next experiment. As you can tell from my pics I have not necessarily made progress or degressed or is it digressed?...anyway...for someone who has always yo yo-ed with weight, that IS Progress for me.

I have had many emotional challenges recently and still managed to continue on, and the only thing I can think of that is keeping me on track is my desire to never go back and , more importantly, my desire to see more progress....my love of the experiment.

I am now finding comfort with where I am at physically, but, because I love to experiment, I am curious to see what I can do next with my goal. My goal is to see my abs for the first time by my 40th birthday and not starve myself to do it!
Since I was very little I have always been known for my belly. Check out this baby pic of me!

Buddha Belly Baby

Is that not an awesome belly? The primary question being is it a blessing or a curse? Some might say I was a youngster with a Buddha belly...since I am a spiritual enthusiast I might enjoy that kind of association.

But....when it comes to seeing my abs, I have no clue what they would look like! Unless you check out my Face in Hole pic....lots of exposed abs there! Too bad they aren’t really mine yet....yet being the operative word. Since I lean toward the side of optimism I will just assume for a moment that I already can see my six pack....but wait...i don’t drink....so do I really need a six pack?

Who coined that phrase anyway?....probably a beer commercial that went something like “you can enjoy a refreshing drink on the beach and still wear a tiny bathing suit.” (juxtaposed with a shot of two folks with six pack abs holding six packs of beer). A nice subliminal message -- “not only won’t you gain weight drinking our beer, but you will look like these folks with their six pack abs.” --NOT.

Alright, enough with that topic....I am a believer in clean living....eating...sleeping...so back to work I guess and my overactive imagination...for now...


Exercise: bike 30 minutes, resistance training, ankle stretches (it never ends)

Menu: Protein and veggies

Until next time…

Think, Believe, Act, Adjust, Never Give up

Dakota

Today’s Mantra: Does Buddha really have a belly?