Fear the Crab

It’s been one year since the big festivities that ushered in the new aspect of my life. Suffice to say, a lot has changed. I’ve used that time to work out a reasonable budget for day-to-day living, and I think we’re doing okay despite the weak economy. We’re not able to set aside as much money as we’d like, but we do what we can. I’ve also established a routine for going to work, handling the chores, and taking care of the general house. Not to say that I’m doing the domestic thing solo, but I try to do my part when I can.

The one thing that I’ve made less progress in is my exercise. I first started serious training back in January 2008, but after bowing out in late June due to prohibitive costs, I’ve tried to make do at home. I bought a small set of dumbbells ranging from pairs of 5 to 30 pounds, and used an inflatable exercise ball as a bench. With those I could do most exercises targeting specific areas, so I was happy. I also started working my way through a 100-pushup program, but really, I wasn’t making much progress.

This past February, I purchased a weight bench and barbell set. I’ve been hitting those weights pretty hard since then, three days a week, with rest in-between. I focus on specific areas on those different days; upper body one day, legs the next, back and abs the day after. Combining the dumbbells with the heavier weight plates really broadens my regimen, and I use the different exercises listed on Exrx.net for ideas and instruction. I don’t actually do all the exercises listed, but focus on the so-called “standard” series of core routines: bench press, squats, deadlifts, etc. I also like Stumptuous.com for further form instruction and inspiration.

Since late March, I’ve expanded my workouts to include a 5-day/week program of weighted ab crunches and 10-lb. sledgehammer swings with my Shovelglove. The crunches are meant to strengthen my core, of course, which is something that has been sorely lacking in my life. The sledgehammer is a mix of cardio and light strength-training, since it’s more about mimicking the activities of… well, shoveling, and chopping wood, and pounding fence posts, and cutting down trees. I figure, when the apocalypse rears its four ugly heads, I’ll be quite prepared in shoring up my home defenses.

Also since March, I’ve been taking the dog for a walk every weekday. I try to up the pace to a light jog, and towards that end I bought a new pair of Saucony running shoes. I started with a warm-up walk, jogged on the flats, and walked up and down the hills in my neighborhood, with the intent of building up to a full jog. Today, I was able to jog most of the way. I’m fairly certain the dog doesn’t mind the speed. Eventually I hope to go farther, on a continual run.

In the interest of maintaining this workout regimen of weights thrice a week, I’ve decided to post my progress here. This is by no means an indication of a new direction with this blog, but rather a new direction in my life of trying to be healthier and, ultimately, stronger. I’m tired of being a weak no-can-do-nothing, and hopefully there can be some accountability if I know that other people might be monitoring my progress.

Bench Press: 140@12, 145@10, 150@5
Dumbbell Fly: 30@10, 30@8, 30@8
Barbell Shrugs: 140@12, 150@10, 140@12
Sledgehammer Swings
Weighted Ab Crunches
Cardio

Yeah, the weight may not seem like much when compared to most men my age, but I basically started from nothing over a year ago. I couldn’t even do one pushup. Now I think the most I am able to do in one sitting is 50. That’s saying something for a year’s worth of on-and-off workouts.