Tag Archives: Fitness

Despite my best intentions to start running again on Saturday 12/11, I deferred for some fun in BackBay to watch and mingle with all the runners in the annual Boston Santa Speedo Run. If you missed it and are curious, you can watch my video here.

The week started very promising with three separate gym visits by Wednesday, but that’s where my focus and discipline left me. My plans are to compensate by getting myself to the gym over the weekend.

Wednesday – December 15th I really did not want to go to the gym today. Boston is absolutely freezing with temps hovering in the high teens. However, if I did not go, I’d have to explain why to my trainer, Stu, so I packed my gym bag and went to the gym grumbling. Today’s workout was all about shoulders and triceps (two muscles I normally loathe to exercise because they tire so quickly). However, today’s workout was killer – Stu had his “A” game getting me to do heavier weights and shortening breaks between reps. I was still a bit tender in the biceps and lower back from Monday’s routine so God only knows what I should expect tomorrow. One thing is for certain – I’ll sleep like a baby tonight.Monday – December 13th Today I had my “date” with my trainer and we focused on back and biceps. We spent about 2/3rds of the workout on back and the final bit on my arms. He had me doing all sorts of whack routines so it’s hard to document the routines but I did do 80lb single arm rows. The bicep portion of the workout was a bit more frustrating – granted I was tired by the time we went to do preacher curls (as Stu calls ’em) but I was not pleased with how I struggled curling 30 and 35lb weights. I guess it gives me something to work on next time. Sunday – December 12th With the exception of my abbreviated workout with my trainer on Friday, I had not lifted a finger since my run on Monday, December 6th. I started with abdominal exercises but after about 15 minutes, my lower abs were screaming so I opted to start my cardio. I’m noting the issue here so I continue to do more abdominal work – I’ve a fairly strong core and I don’t want to lose that. Today’s run was no less ugly than the previous two in P.R., but despite gasping for air with my heart pounding 180+ beats per minute (according to the treadmill), I finished my 3 mile run in 0:31:00 – slightly faster than my previous run. I’m closing in on my goal.

I lost all my momentum and gym mojo from the previous week, but while away in Puerto Rico I did manage to get to the hotel gym for two runs. Coming back to the deep chill that greeted me here in Boston this week (combined with an onslaught of work) provided two excuses rock-solid enough to prevent me from getting to the gym with the exception of my date today with my trainer.

How are you doing with your personal fitness? Are you making time for yourself by going to the gym?

Sunday – December 5th I ran today for the first time since last Tuesday. The past few days have been spent travelling and overindulging to say the least so today’s run was not pretty. In fits and gasps I was able to run 3 miles in 0:32:30 *yuck*

Monday – December 6th Today (my 2nd consecutive day of running on vacation) I managed a slightly faster time despite the run remaining equally ugly. I finished the 3 mile run in 0:31:15. I’m still dripping with sweat while I write this and am anxious to get off to return to my poolside chaise and start sipping another of those frozen rum drinks which seem to go down oh so easily.

Friday – December 10th Today I had a somewhat abbreviated workout with my trainer, Stu. Abbreviated because I had to get back to work and was training during the day. However, we focussed on my chest and was able to squeeze in a few reps for my triceps as well. I’m fairly certain I’ll feel sore tomorrow as I benched a new personal high of 215 pounds.

Since writing my entry Back to the gym prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, I’ve been chatting with a few guys who also want to make a concerted effort to meet personal fitness goals so we’ve been motivating each other with emails through the week to help remind each other how important it is to make time for the gym.
Although I’m in lovely Puerto Rico for my cousin’s wedding, I wanted to be sure I posted this update about my activities. The discipline I exhibited at the start of the week is no where to be found at the moment, but I know when I return to frigid Boston, the gym will beckon again – if only from my feelings of guilt about over-indulging while here.

Saturday – November 27th My trainer, Stu, and I have agreed to change my sessions which primarily comprised of full-body workouts using light weights and kettlebells to free weights to help me build more muscle. So on Saturday, we fixated on chest and back, which kicked my butt. Following the workout I was not as sore as I expected so I’m going to have to ask Stu to push me harder when we meet again on Monday.
Sunday – November 28th I shaved 90 seconds off my second run, which was gratifying but running 3 miles in 0:32:30 still is not something that makes me happy. I’d like to run 3 miles in under 30 minutes and then be able to work up enough endurance to run at that speed for 35-45 minutes 2-3 times a week. I’m pretty confident that this is a manageable goal; its just a matter of getting into shape. I have no intentions of running long distance – rather I just want to build up my cardio and use this exercise to help me tame my waist.
Monday – November 29th I’ve now been to the gym 3 times in as many days. This has to be some sort of record dating back to the summer and it really paid off when I met with my trainer, Stu. Today we spent an hour (with minimal goofing off) working out my shoulders and triceps. I’d like to be able to lift heavier weights but I think I handled myself admirably. In a strange sort of way I’m hoping that I’ll be a bit sore tomorrow – it really is how I judge how solid my work outs have been.
Tuesday – November 30th The incoming emails of encouragement and the fact I will be travelling later this week inspired me to do something unheard of – I went to the gym for a fourth day in a row. Today I just did a quick run and I’m glad to say that despite my heart rate beating away at a 170+, I ran 3 miles in 0:30:30 – that’s 10% faster than my time on Friday, November 26th. Hopefully heading to Puerto Rico for my cousins wedding will not knock me to far off the wagon and I’ll be able to get a run or two in while there.

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Well, that’s all for the week. Wednesday was my last day in the office before leaving for Puerto Rico and I spent the night at the Garden cheering on the Celtics with my Dad and then Thursday I boarded my morning flight to Puerto Rico. More to share about working out and life outside the gym will follow later next week after I return home.

Be well and feel free to email me if you want to talk about meeting your own personal fitness goals.

After spending the past two days with family, over-indulging with all the fantastic food, I made good on my promise from my post earlier this week, Back to the gym and made sure I went to the gym for what I anticipated would be a nice run on the treadmill.

Imagine my surprise / disapointment when it took me 34 minutes to run a measley 3 miles. The more frustrating news was according to the machine my pulse was racing at 174. Oh, the horror! the horror! Sorry to make a literary reference, but my struggles with this run was a sad confirmation of my epiphany from earlier in the week.

Alan Ilagan, Gay Guy and WranglerMan all had nice words of sympathy in my previous post and mentioned helping encourage each other to stay true to these personal goals. I’m game if you are – shoot me an email so we can correspond directly.

Friday, Nov. 26th stats:
3 mi. in 34 mins
174 pulse rate
Avg speed 5.2
OMG – I better be able to do better
BTW – none of these guys are me. they are merely the “eye candy” I require to remain motivated. Its really that simple with me.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve become lazy about getting myself to the gym on days I’m not seeing my trainer, Stu. Part of the problem stems from the fact that getting meningitis once in September and then again in October really threw me out of my routine and I’ve been slow to get back to working out as much / often as I should. The other part of the equation is seasonal – I simply work out harder and more often in the spring and summer months.

Today’s workout with Stu was great, but it was disapointing to see how much I struggled through sets I could do easily this summer. The two bouts of meningitis not only took me away from the gym, but when I’ve returned it has been slow going to get back into the swing of things and lately we’ve been doing full-body exercises; shying away from lifting.

I want to get serious about getting back into shape and want to focus on this now – not in January after I’ve packed on weight from the holidays. We’ll see how good I am at keeping my word, but I’d really like to get to the gym 1-2 days a week to run for 30-45 minutes. Cardio has always helped me slim down and it helps me with my weight training which can often leave me gasping for breathe after a tough set.

Like I said, “We’ll see”… I’ll write more about this in the weeks that follow to try and keep this on my radar and not slack-off.

For 18 months I’ve been working out with a personal trainer to help keep me focused and disciplined about going to the gym but last month I used up all my training sessions. With the exception of when I had contracted meningitis last spring and when I went to Australia for 3-weeks last November and December, I’ve been pretty faithful about going to the gym to meet my trainer.

My partner is currently unemployed so I seriously debated not purchasing anymore sessions for the remainder of the summer, but I’m so glad I re-signed. Three weeks ago, my trainer, Stu, took his first vacation since I’ve met him. He was great to give me work-outs I could do while he was away, but tonight I realized that I’ve only been to the gym twice in nearly 21-days (and not once did I do one of his suggested workouts). To compound matters, while I was in Provincetown I ate and drank like it was Thanksgiving everyday. I’m not saying that I was in as tough shape as this guy… but I would love to have this guy’s shape if you know what I mean. Unfortunately my non-existent diet and inactivity doesn’t seem to be working.

Despite my commitment to the gym, I’d been unable to drop the weight I wanted so a few weeks ago I opted to modify my diet to augement my efforts in the gym.  In mid-to-late June I stopped eating meat and increased my in-take of fruit and veggies.  After one week I dropped 7 lbs. I’m not really sure that anyone could see the difference, but psychologically it was a huge boost. 

Of course, after spending the weekend in Provincetown over the 4th of July, I was humbled by the number of defined abdominals and the general fitness level of the guys there so I’ve redoubled my efforts with my personal trainer Stu. 

How are you doing with your diet and work out routine?  Do you work out regularly? I’m in pretty good shape, but I would like to continue to build muscle mass and shrink my waist with which I seem to be permanently at war.  I plan on maintaining my ‘vegetarian’ status through the summer since it has helped me shave off a few extra pounds, but I’m interested to hear if you have any fitness or diet tips.

I turn 40 in a matter of days, but I think I might be in better shape now than I was when I first entered my 30s.  I started working out with my trainer, Stu, in February 2009 and this week I just re-signed for another 24 1-hour sessions. To paraphrase Brokeback Mountain, “I just can’t quit Stu.”  Ha… I doubt he would appreciate the reference but that isn’t quite what I meant by it either.  I’ve noticed that without the commitment of meeting him twice a week I rarely get to the gym and even on those rare weeks that I do go the work outs are never as intense.

Tonight we started with core exercises to help me work off my mid-section (what I would give to drop one more waist size).  We then moved to Chest & Tricep followed by Back & Bicep exercises.  The entire routine flowed so easily – not the actual lifting mind you – just the progression of work outs.  When I’m on my own this is never the case and this is why I think Stu is worth every penny.

Today’s work out was particularly gratifying because without realizing it I set some personal records with weights which if left on my own – I would have never tried. Using the cable machine, I was able to curl 150lbs and earlier in the routine while working my chest I was able to lift two 75lb dumbells for presses.  I have a feeling I’m going to be quite sore tomorrow.  Perhaps not as sore as all the Boston marathon runners, but sore all the same.  If you’re working out or struggling to work out – shoot me an e-mail or drop a comment.  I do get inspiration from others and like to know I’m not the only one obsessing about this.

This evening I was perusing one of my favorite blogs WGB (Mom you wouldn’t like it) and there was a post about this being his 4th day working out and dieting; no doubt to get into shape before the warmer weather gets here. It made me realize the last time I referenced my work outs was in late January in my Resolutions Revisited post.

I’m quite pleased to say that I’ve been fairly disciplined going to the gym and meeting with my trainer, Stu, twice a week. Tonight I lifted 85lb dumb bells (the heaviest I’ve done to date) for single arm rows. Since I had no idea what this back exercise was prior to working out with Stu, I’ve included a photograph..

I’ve not been quite as good about going to the gym when I don’t have a standing apppointment with Stu, but I’m working on getting better and plan to try and get in a cardio work out 1-2 days a week.  I’ll keep you posted.  If you’re also struggling to make time for your work out let me know – misery enjoys company.

I have not commented on on my gym routine since mid-July when I wrote about how I finally felt back in form after recovering from a bout of meningitis.  Rather than revisit that uncomfortable time, you can read more about my most recent episode of contracting meningitis (yes, I said “most recent”) and my sincere appreciation for percoset in my entry, Thank goodness for percoset.

I’ve relied heavily on my training sessions with Stu at the BSC-South End to keep me focussed. Much to my dismay (if I’m really being honest here) I’ve only gone to the gym when I’ve had an appointment with Stu.  It is for that reason I re-signed for 20 more sessions with Stu just a week ago.  I realized that without him there to push me I would likely fall into my routine of sorry-ass excuses for not going to the gym. 

Tonight I had my second session from the 20-pack and he really pushed me hard.  Today was all about the back and abdominals.  I can’t begin to tell you how envious I am of those who have abdominal definition.  I started working out with Stu so I could gain better tummy definition and to essentially bulk up to avoid potential injury in my back. So despite the fact that he kicked my you know what today – I eagerly crunched, lifted and gasped my way through the entire workout.  

I suppose my gym routines are meant to both mitigate all the french fries which I seem to willingly say yes to at restaurants when the waiter asks, “fries or salad?”  As well as an attempt to show how much I truly do value my health.  I make so many decisions each day, which in hindsight probably are not in the best interest of my personal health so these sessions with Stu are really meant to help me make up for some of my transgressions (like my love for ice cream).

I do hope to get better about going to the gym and made a very serious promise to myself as I gasped my way through today’s workout that I would definitely, certainly, absolutely, positively get myself to the gym for a killer workout at least one more time this week. Please send me your positive thoughts and wish me luck, because I know what my calendar looks like this week and how weak I am when it comes to self-discipline.

I have not commented much on my gym routine since early May. At that point I was feeling very confident and was writing to document my progress, but a few weeks later (over Memorial Day weekend) I came down with meningitis and it took me a few weeks before I was able to recover sufficiently to go back to the gym. Unfortunately, I could not pick up from where I left off and it took me awhile before my work out could return to the same level of intensity as before. A couple of weeks ago, I felt like I had finally returned to where I had been before getting ill.

My routines at the gym have progressed and now my trainer has me focusing approximately 1+ hour on one muscle group at a time. I have not been as faithful when it has come to going to the gym on my off-days (when I’m meant to work out on my own). However, I recently asked Stu to create a cardio workout for me to help build endurance (surprisingly, lifting weights can leave me out of breath gasping for air). I feel like if I can build my cardio I’ll be better able to manage the crazy work outs he creates for me.

I’m not sure when I’ll get the chance to add this to my gym routine since I don’t think it is likely I’ll be getting there (with the exception of my standing appointment with Stu on Wednesday) until the weekend, but I’ll try to comment and let you know if it was too easy or left me gasping for air.

Suggested Cardio Routine
Warm up at 4.5 for 5 minutes
Run at level 6 for 15 sec.
Jog at level 5 for 25 sec.
Run at level 8 for 15 sec.
Jog at level 6 for 25 sec.
Cool down for 3 minutes at 4.5
Run at level 9 for 15 sec.
Jog at level 7 for 20 sec.
Run at level 10 for 10 sec.
Jog at level 8 for 15 sec.
Cool down at level 5 for 3 min

Make sure the incline of the treadmill is at 4-6 and adjust accordingly.