Sunday, September 6, 2009

Exercise And Fasting: Day 189

Evolution Three – week One


Sunday, September 6, 2009


Hello Folks,

As some of you may already know I am going to combine the Turbulence Training exercise program with the Eat Stop Eat method by Brad Pilon. He claims that if you fast for short periods of time you won’t kill your metabolism. He also states that if you combine exercise with his eating method (or should I call it the non-eating method?) you can seriously burn some fat.



For many years I have heard how much fasting can really slow down the metabolism, so it is kind of a scary thought to try this method, since I have had a lot of success with 5 meals a day eating protein and veggies. However, I want to see what this will do to my body, so I am willing to try it for 12 weeks.



Frankly, I don’t think this method will work for everyone, some people are not built to fast. I find it pretty easy for me, so I am not afraid to try.



Here is his video on exercise and fasting....







Until next time...







Here are my pictures…





Exercise: 30 minutes spinning, tt



Menu: Protein and veggies







Until next time…







Think, Believe, Act, Adjust, Never Give up







Dakota







Today’s Mantra: So many spiritual leaders have fasted...even Jesus, so why not?

Saturday, September 5, 2009

How To Cheer Yourself Up: Day 188

Evolution Three – week One


Saturday, September 5, 2009



Hello Folks,



I needed to cheer myself up this morning. Last night was a little rough for me. Why is it so hard when you don’t get the sleep that you need.



To cheer myself up I played my violin...which I haven’t played in a while...and it actually worked and I didn’t sound too bad. I also went for a run. It was a short run, because I have a very full day today. Who would have thought running could cheer people up...but for me it has always been that way.



Since I feel a certain amount of freedom moving that fast....not that I am that fast. I also like to drive or go an a road trip. It always cheers me up to go to a destination...something new and exciting.



Sometimes being by myself cheers me up, but also company can do that too!



Anyway...I have a long day ahead of me so I am going to leave you with this video with Lance Armstrong...I wonder how he cheered himself up? LIFE IS TOO SHORT...EH?







Until next time...



Here are my pictures...




Exercise: Running 30 minutes



Menu: Protein and veggies







Until next time…







Think, Believe, Act, Adjust, Never Give up







Dakota







Today’s Mantra: Courage is the discovery that you may not win and still trying.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Arnel. TV And Great Workout Ideas: Day 187

Evolution Three – week One

Friday, September 4, 2009



Hello Folks,

I just found out one of my favorite youtube workout videos by Arnel Ricafranca, who started the I want six pack abs website, have been deleted. I am thinking it is because of copyright issues with music. He uses music for almost all of his workout videos.

He did a sixteen week bodyweight workout that gave him six pack abs and posted them on youtube. His videos have a lot of really good ideas in them for mixing up your workout. He also started a site called ARNEL.TV which is basically a social network. He also does weight loss challenges to help motivate people.

He started a new site with a few new videos to get himself back into youtube.

Click here to check out his Arnel TV site

Here is an example of his workout videos.







These videos were the first ones I looked at when I needed to add some variety to my workout. The only thing I struggle with is that I am not able to do some of them because of my own strength level, so I usually modify them a little. He doesn’t post a lot of videos with modifications, but I think he was beginning to do that.

Here are my pictures…




Exercise: bike 30 mins. interval, turbulance training

Menu: Protein and veggies



Until next time…



Think, Believe, Act, Adjust, Never Give up



Dakota



Today’s Mantra: Focus on the training, not the outcome.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Eat Stop Eat or is it Eat Fast Eat?: Day 186

Evolution Three – week One


Thursday, September 3, 2009



Hello Folks,



I bet you all are wondering what the heck protein and veggies means in the MENU: section of my post. Or maybe not, but I am going to tell you anyway.



Basically, I eat, or at least try to eat, five meals a day that have at least one serving of protein and one serving of vegetables. It doesn’t always work out that way, cuz I am a bigger fan of fruit and protein; So the Menu is partly representing my daily goal. I usually succeed with eating three meals that include protein and veggies and two meals with at least protein.



Truth is...most food has protein in it anyway...even bread has some...so it really isn’t that hard to get some protein into my system.



Anyway, I didn’t get much sleep last night, so I my brain is not up to speed...so I am going to go.



Remind me to tell you sometime about when I was camping in the desert and had a handful of peanuts and what that did to me after a long stretch with eating just rice.



I thought I would throw an interesting video on weight loss using fasting....don't confuse this with anorexia...entirely different....but this particular method tends to work for me, because I tend to have energy whether I fast or not, so it doesn't effect my energy levels....



Here is more by the author of Eat STOP Eat....Brad Pilon.


More later!

Here are my pictures…





September 3, 2009: Day 186







Exercise: Free



Menu: Protein and veggies







Until next time…







Think, Believe, Act, Adjust, Never Give up







Dakota







Today’s Mantra: Rest the body, the mind, the spirit...and digest less.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Two Best Fortune Telling Sites: Day 185

Evolution Three – week One




Wednesday, September 2, 2009



Hello Folks,



I just went to two of my favorite websites. I have always enjoyed astrology and Tarot, ever since I was a kid and my dad introduced me to them.



I didn’t really start to explore the meaning and history of both of those tools until I was in college, but had an appreciation for their potential to reveal hidden truths. I think of the tarot as a key into your own subconscious. It feels like when ever I do a reading for myself the cards respond to that part of my brain.



The first reading I had that was significant was a reading someone asked me to do for them that turned out to be for me...I made a prediction of my own future by accident. Everything unfolded the way the cards had shown me.



I don’t always trust my readings, because sometimes I want them to say certain things to me, but generally they are accurate.



Astrology goes much deeper into our lives, because it covers more territory I think. The Tarot gives you a snippet of things to come, but astrology gives you the inner workings of your life. It can tell you why you are here, what your strengths and weaknesses are...etc.



Click here for the Tarot site....free samples are included.



Click here for Astrology site....also free readings.



Who knows what you might learn?



PS: I know this doesn't have a lot to do with fitness...unless you are looking for the right "timing" to start your exercise program.



Here are my pictures…




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



Menu: Liquid


Until next time…


Think, Believe, Act, Adjust, Never Give up



Dakota


Today’s Mantra: Patience is the companion of wisdom.


Saint Augustine

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Why do we lose more weight in the first few months: Day 184

Evolution Three – week One

Tuesday, September 1, 2009


Hello Folks,



I am sure there are a few of you out there who understand this weight loss dilemma. Why do we lose more weight in the first few months of making an effort to lose weight?



I have thought about this a lot and here are the top 5 reasons I came up with...



MOTIVATION



When you first start making changes you have so many reasons why you want to lose weight



Want to wear a bathing suit in public and look good



Want to have more energy when you hang out with your highly overactive kids



Want to look more attractive to that potential mate



You might die if you don’t



You feel really bad about yourself and how you let your body go



Anyway...I am sure you can think of many more reasons. There is something really motivating about the possibility of improving your current situation, which brings me to the second reason...



HOPE



You know someone who has done it and think “if they can do it, so can I”



If you have lost weight before, you have it engrained in you that life will be better for you if you do it again



All the folks who are thin look happy (which, we know is a big lie, but anyway, it works)



You will feel better, more confident, healthier....etc. (do you know any skinny people who aren’t healthy or confident and feel like crap?) I do



It is all in the mind...if you think so...then so be it



TOOLS (next to motivation, probably the most important)



You know how to lose weight



Exercise, eat clean, drink lots of water, eat consistently



You have all of the tools to do it



How to eat healthy



How get the most out of exercise



You have read every subject on it and study religiously every day (is that too much?)



BIOLOGY



Your body is built to respond to its environment



Use muscle-gain muscle



Eat clean-feel clean



It is possible to lose weight when you follow the rules



When you are in motion, you can stay in motion



Two weeks to adapt the body to exercise...why do you think you are so sore?



Seriously....I am thinking, why were jumping jacks making me breath heavy back then, but not now.....clearly...it is more work at first and probably takes more calories to do it



FEEDBACK



That’s right, your body is giving you a lot of feedback



No pain no gain sometimes feels good? There is something about having DOMS that makes you feel like you “really” worked out.



Your muscles feel like they are popping (even if you can’t see them), because you are constantly being reminded that they are there (which might not have been the case before)



You actually feel differently as you start to move your body more



You lose weight quickly (water weight...etc...who really cares as long as those numbers go down, right?)



You can finally walk up those stairs with out huffing and puffing



Your friends, family and co-workers comment on how good you look....but can’t always point out why? (why is that?) Perhaps there is some warped sort of mechanism for our brains not to be able to notice until we have something to compare you to...like not seeing you in six months. I suggest bringing in a before and after pic if you want anyone to notice.



And by the way....why does losing weight and LOOKING GOOD always go together...I think it is a twisted part of our society. I think it should be looked at more closely. I know some very good looking folks of all weights...so I am not supporting that type of belief. It should boil down to “are you happy with yourself?”



Here is a video of today’s workout by Craig Ballantyne. I decided to really challenge myself and do his Bodyweight 500 workout. It was much better for where I am at in my fitness level.



Here is the video...





Here are my pictures…









September 1, 2009: Day 184



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: Normally, we do not so much look at things as overlook them....Zen Quote by Alan Watts.

Monday, August 31, 2009

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