An Experiment

It has been a while since I’ve posted, and likewise, since I’ve exercised. Neither have I been paying attention to my eating habits. The thing is, I’m trying to get as fat and unhealthy as I possibly can so that I may demonstrate the immediate and longterm effects of a healthy lifestyle; That is an Atkins\Paleolithic\Low Carb diet, the prescribed 90 minutes of exercise a day, and the essential inclusion of adequate rest(sleep) and breaks(rest days and a rest week after some time). As we progress through the process, I intend to post a pic of myself, my weight, body fat concentration, body mass index(bmi), as well as insights and descriptions as we come along them on a daily basis. I hope my efforts will be appreciated. I will make separate pages with images of my progress(pictures of me) on a weekly and monthly basis and descriptions of the various exercises. Currently, I’m in the fattening up process and am enjoying the unrestrained intake of carbs and the ongoing progressive development of a huge carb craving throughout the day linked to hunger pangs.

Day 4

Routine

1. Rest Day

Commentary

Though it wasn’t required, I was just feeling lazy and this ended up being a rest day for me. Hope this laziness doesn’t continue and can hit right back at it tomorrow.

Conclusions

I wish I hadn’t, but expect some gains from the rest my body has been given. Rest is essential.

Day 3

Routine  

1. Stance Training(50 seconds):20 minutes
2. Run(1 lap, normal, fast):10 minutes
3. Swim(5 laps):15 minutes
4. Gaiam(Ana Cabán, Pilates Abs Workout):25 Minutes
5. Gaiam(Ana Cabán, Pilates Body Circles):8 Minutes
6. Gaiam(Jonathan Roche, ABSball workout, advance workout):12 Minutes

Commentary

During the Stance Training Session, I was amazed at the body’s ability to adapt;  I WAS FEELING A LOT STRONGER!- And this was just Day 3!  The run was phenomenal;  I went a lot faster than the previous two days and it felt like my legs had grown in strength and my circulatory system had adapted.  Though I posted 10 minutes for the run, it took me 12 minutes to complete in actuality.  I have the exact same changes to report during the swim.  Somehow, the lengthy laps had become much shorter and I wasn’t out of breath as much at the end of a lap.  Maybe my Lungs’ Vital Capacity aren’t as bad as I thought they were yesterday.  The Pilates Abs were rough!  The Pilates Body Circles workout were fun and gave my shoulders and arms a nice burn.  The ABSball workout burned out my abs completely especially after having killed ‘em a few minutes before with the Pilates Abs workout.

Conclusions

I was amazed at the changes I noticed in the Stance Training, Running, and Swimming.  The body is truely exceptional in its ability to adapt.  I am left astounded by it.  This is also a clear sign to me as to how little actually needs to be done to create a significant change in one’s life.  I can’t wait to do the Pilates Abs and the advanced ABSball workout again in the coming days;  I’m certain I’ll be seeing MAJOR changes.  In the mirror, I am already able to notice significant changes.  I’m started to get the structure of that beach bod. that those women all so like.    AND IT’S JUST DAY 3!!!  I must say, I’m truely motivated in the changes I feel as well as in the changes I see.

Day 2

Routine  

1. Gaiam(Seane Corn, Vinyasa Flow Yoga Uniting Movement and Breath Session 1, Disc 1):60 Minutes
2. Run(1 lap, normal, slow):15 minutes
3. Swim(5 laps):15 minutes

Commentary

The Yoga session was exhausting and long, yet relaxing;  My body now has a different feel when sitting, sleeping, standing, reaching, etc.  The Yoga Session serves to open up the tightened muscles from yesterdays Navy Seals Workout.  My run was too slow-In fact it took me not 15, but 18 minutes to run 2.2 km(I just couldn’t move any faster).  Was it because my muscles were tired from the previous days’ workouts or the effects of the yoga session?  The swim was the MOST relazing event in the routine today.  Though, I was left quite breathless between laps;  My lungs really don’t have any capacity(Vital Capacity) right now!

Conclusions

My body is confused;  Completely Exhausted, yet fully Relaxed.  I don’t know whether I will be able to stick to my goal of 90 minutes of exercise tomorrow.  I look forward to a long night of rest.

Day 1

Routine  

1. Stance Training(50 seconds):20 minutes
2. Navy Seals Workout:40 minutes
3. Run(2 laps, trip out, slow):30 minutes

Commentary

For a first day, it was exhaustive.  I started off on a less intensive stance training than the recommended one.  It was a good introduction for my body to exercise again.  The Navy Seals Workout ABSOLUTELY KILLED me!  I didn’t keep pausing the video to take rests as I would’ve previously.  When my body couldn’t handle it, I just paused and took a break while I allowed the video and workout to continue.  Otherwise, with the pauses in between, though I’d more thoroughly complete the video, this workout alone would take about twice the amount of time.  I figure, that the next time I do the Navy Seals workout, I will be able to progress through it with less breaks required.  I finally concluded with an INCREDIBLY SLOW run as, by this time, my body was quite exhausted.  It took me 15 minutes just to run 2.2 km(1.36 miles).  That’s a lousy  34:10 5k time.

Comclusions

This was an excellent introduction to my body to exercise again.  It’ll be interesting to see how things are about this time next week.

90 Minutes of Exercise per a Day

As per a podcast discussions with one of the researchers behind the article from the Lancet, Dated July 22, 2006, there was an interesting conclusion reached regarding the amount of exercise required by children to prevent athersclerotic changes in their arteries;  These changes later lead to heart disease.  The article suggests the following:

Physical activity levels should be higher than the current international guidelines of at least 1 h per day of physical activity of at least moderate intensity to prevent clustering of cardiovascular disease risk factors.

The links to the article are the following:

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673606690752/abstract  PMID: 16860699

And, as per discussion with one of the researchers of the article in the podcast, the following conclusion was reached(link included below, also:

Listen to The Lancet: 22 July 2006

Saturday, July 22, 2006, 5:31:00 AM

Author Lars Bo Andersen discusses how international guidelines need to be changed so that young children are encouraged to take 90 minutes exercise a day to prevent cardiovascular disease.

link to podcast: 9532_22july.mp3

This blog has been enlisted to document and share my efforts to reach that daily requirement of 90 minutes that has been suggested for kids;  I believe that that same requirement of 90 minutes of exercise per day is also required by adults, and thus, I share my experience with you, perhaps to keep us from getting bored and a to promote a motivation to accomplish our goals of 90 minutes of exercise per day.