Archive for July, 2009
Workout Sense
OK, here’s my quandary.
Most fitness experts say that, as regards weight lifting, you should alternate days–either doing a full-body workout every other day, or by alternating upper body and lower body workouts.
Now, I get how that works, and why it works, is your goal is to bulk up. But if your goal is to actually get functionally stronger, doesn’t it make more sense to do a little of everything every day?
Consider manual labor professions. Those sexy, dirt-and-grime encrusted construction workers who used to come into the Subway when I worked the lunch shift weren’t taking every other day off. The ultimate fighter (now Mixed Martial Arts, but this was several years ago) who came in so addled he could barely finish his order–he was probably altnernating days. But for a functional, normal-human, nicely toned body, I contend that it makes more sense to perform a sensible workout every day rather than kill yourself every day.
So that’s what I’m trying. We’ll see how it goes.
The New Plan – East, Meet West
Yoga has done wonders for me. Won-ders. But, while continuing to challenge myself through yoga, I’m interested in a little higher octane fitness regimen.
My husband and I just joined a Snap Fitness within walking distance of our apartment, which means we are officially out of excuses. Weight lifting has commenced.
I’ve gone twice now. The first night I felt I had greatly irritated an already pissy series of joints and discs in my body, throwing their delicate balance off-kilter with the grunting and heaving involved in weight lifting. “Now I remember why I quit this…”
But yesterday I went armed with a workout plan that would work opposing muscle groups without arching my back or straining my neck, which is always my downfall. I’d say I was 90% successful in avoiding trauma while still challenging myself.
One thing is for sure, though. If I don’t continue to practice yoga in conjunction with this new endeavor, it’s all for naught. Already my knee is objecting. But whereas I’ve always tried to muscle through my various fitness routines, yoga has taught me how to feel out each exercise. If I can manage a Western regimen of body building/toning with an Eastern/yoga mindset, this might actually work…
