You: "Name one workout that is scarier than push ups"
Me: " TRICEPS DIPS!!!"
Day 18 consists of 100 Triceps dips and 50 squat jumps. I was supposed to do this at 6am, like I always do. However, today I overslept. Somehow I snoozed the alarm and the moment when I gained conscious again, it was already 7am and I have 10 minutes left to get ready to go to work.
So, today I came home earlier. The first thing I did was to go straight to my room, and started my workout. I knew it's almost impossible for me to do the 100 triceps dips, so I decided to break it into 2 sessions. I planned to do 50 triceps dips, 50 squat jumps, and 50 triceps dips again. Well, plan is just a plan.
Reality: 25 triceps dips - break - 10 triceps dips - break - 15 triceps dips - 50 squat jumps - 25 triceps dips - break - 15 triceps dips - break - 10 triceps dips
Now, while I'm typing this blog post, I can feel my muscles screaming for help. THIS is definitely scarier than push ups!
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Tuesday, 17 December 2013
Day 17 - Getting Better, Even in Push Ups
When I say I'm getting better, I am not really good at this yet, but at least I'm better than I were before. Very low benchmark, I know, but don't day say "the only person you should try to be better than, is the person you were yesterday"?
When I saw "35 push ups", I almost wanted to give up. Sound impossible. I don't know how my arms can survive the session. Worse still, "35 push ups" are combined with "100 mountain climbers". Arms workout overloaded! I couldn't decide which one to start first.
At the end, I decided that instead of focusing on what I cannot do, I should focus on the possible. So I started my workout with "100 mountain climbers". To my surprise, I have totally no problem with this. 100 without break, with alternate speed of fast and slow in between.
After the 100 mountain climbers, here come the real challenge: 35 push ups. I can't really do the push ups with the correct posture. I can't keep my elbows tight into the torso. They keep on flaring out during ascending and descending. However, I don't care. I only want to make sure I can survive the 35 push ups, with or without correct posture.
Without focusing on the posture, I have my mind fixed on drawing all energy to my arms. I went up and down, up and down, and without realising I already did 15 push ups! By 18th, I really couldn't do it anymore so I switched to the easier variation with my knees on the floor and completed the rest. I know, I still haven't completed the whole workout as it was designed, but, still, I'm proud of my progress :)
When I saw "35 push ups", I almost wanted to give up. Sound impossible. I don't know how my arms can survive the session. Worse still, "35 push ups" are combined with "100 mountain climbers". Arms workout overloaded! I couldn't decide which one to start first.
At the end, I decided that instead of focusing on what I cannot do, I should focus on the possible. So I started my workout with "100 mountain climbers". To my surprise, I have totally no problem with this. 100 without break, with alternate speed of fast and slow in between.
After the 100 mountain climbers, here come the real challenge: 35 push ups. I can't really do the push ups with the correct posture. I can't keep my elbows tight into the torso. They keep on flaring out during ascending and descending. However, I don't care. I only want to make sure I can survive the 35 push ups, with or without correct posture.
Without focusing on the posture, I have my mind fixed on drawing all energy to my arms. I went up and down, up and down, and without realising I already did 15 push ups! By 18th, I really couldn't do it anymore so I switched to the easier variation with my knees on the floor and completed the rest. I know, I still haven't completed the whole workout as it was designed, but, still, I'm proud of my progress :)
Monday, 16 December 2013
Day 16 - Good Momentum
I started to suspect that the workouts seem easier these days because of the momentum. I'm on day 16 now. My muscles are trained to understand that they cannot stay in the relax mode all the time like what they did for the past few years. So one by one, they started to cooperate, and some of the workouts become easier and easier.
My "big aunty" is visiting. I skipped my normal stretching routine, did some simple warm up, then started Day 16, which designed as 50 donkey kicks and 50 curtesy lunges.
Donkey kicks are pretty easy for me. I have no problem completing 25 on each leg. After the 50 donkey kicks, I even added another 10 in each leg with dumbbells.
Curtesy lunges are fun. I prefer this than the normal lunges. The workout steps are smoother compare to the lunges that I always having problem to link each steps together. Again, I successfully completed the 50 without breaks in between :)
My "big aunty" is visiting. I skipped my normal stretching routine, did some simple warm up, then started Day 16, which designed as 50 donkey kicks and 50 curtesy lunges.
Donkey kicks are pretty easy for me. I have no problem completing 25 on each leg. After the 50 donkey kicks, I even added another 10 in each leg with dumbbells.
Curtesy lunges are fun. I prefer this than the normal lunges. The workout steps are smoother compare to the lunges that I always having problem to link each steps together. Again, I successfully completed the 50 without breaks in between :)
Sunday, 15 December 2013
Day 15 - Proud of Myself
Day 15 consists of 4x 60s planks and 100 Russian twists. To my surprise, I made it!! I managed to complete the 4x 60s planks and 100 Russian twists as per the program designed. No unnecessary breaks in between. I'm so proud of myself :)
The plank is still as as hard as it normally is, but this round I have enough strength to hold myself for full 60s each time. Really can't hide my excitement :)
The plank is still as as hard as it normally is, but this round I have enough strength to hold myself for full 60s each time. Really can't hide my excitement :)
Saturday, 14 December 2013
Day 14 - How Much Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck
Day 14 = 50 Wood Chops + 50 Squat Jumps
I decided to start my day with squat jumps because today I have relatively shorter time for my workouts. So after my warm ups, I prefer to have something that can pump the heart then follow by something easier to cool down.
Squat jumps are high intensity workout. As always, I can't finished the said numbers in one go. I broke these 50 into 3 sets of 20-20-20. Still, my quad muscles sore! I doubted if I can still walk after the session but apparently it was not that bad after all.
Wood chops are easier than it seems on the video clip. I like the fact that I can feel my abdominal muscle and my arm muscle working hard while I myself not really suffering (rare case!) And this is also one of the few workouts that I can do the required number without break and rest.
The only problem (for me only la~) with this workout is the name - wood chops. I can't stop smiling when "chopping".
This work out reminded me of my crazy cousin, Mathew, who can't stop laughing when he watched the following video clip. I agree that this tongue twister is fun, but it's him that made everyone of us wanted to learn this tongue twister too.
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
He would chuck, he would, as much as he could, and chuck as much as a woodchuck would if a woodchuck could chuck wood.
I decided to start my day with squat jumps because today I have relatively shorter time for my workouts. So after my warm ups, I prefer to have something that can pump the heart then follow by something easier to cool down.
Squat jumps are high intensity workout. As always, I can't finished the said numbers in one go. I broke these 50 into 3 sets of 20-20-20. Still, my quad muscles sore! I doubted if I can still walk after the session but apparently it was not that bad after all.
Wood chops are easier than it seems on the video clip. I like the fact that I can feel my abdominal muscle and my arm muscle working hard while I myself not really suffering (rare case!) And this is also one of the few workouts that I can do the required number without break and rest.
This work out reminded me of my crazy cousin, Mathew, who can't stop laughing when he watched the following video clip. I agree that this tongue twister is fun, but it's him that made everyone of us wanted to learn this tongue twister too.
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
He would chuck, he would, as much as he could, and chuck as much as a woodchuck would if a woodchuck could chuck wood.
Friday, 13 December 2013
Day 13 - Fooled by Own Perception
I thought Day 13 should be easy. At least, from the videos, Day 13 seems easy.
Since I'm not working today, I allow myself to snooze the alarm for 2 times before I get up to my Hour of Power. "I can finish the 30 Day Beach Body Challenge in few minutes so I can steal a few minutes to sleep", that's my own excuse when I snoozed my alarm.
I started my 30 Day Beach Body Challenge with 50 forward lunges. I stopped at first 10 because I found this easy. I continued the another 40 with dumbbells.
Everything seems according to plan until I started the plank walks.....
When I first saw the name of the workout, I imagined it involving moving around while planking. But when i watched the video, it shows movements on that same spot, seems super easy. Besides, I have done many planks by now. "How hard can this be?" I asked myself.
Well, it is not something that I can handle. Instead of doing continuously 50 in a few minutes like I imagined, I have to take a break after every 10 plank walks and it took me almost 15 minutes to finally complete all 50!!
This is exactly why The Wise One told us to practice non-judgement. One can easily fooled by own perception.
Since I'm not working today, I allow myself to snooze the alarm for 2 times before I get up to my Hour of Power. "I can finish the 30 Day Beach Body Challenge in few minutes so I can steal a few minutes to sleep", that's my own excuse when I snoozed my alarm.
I started my 30 Day Beach Body Challenge with 50 forward lunges. I stopped at first 10 because I found this easy. I continued the another 40 with dumbbells.
Everything seems according to plan until I started the plank walks.....
When I first saw the name of the workout, I imagined it involving moving around while planking. But when i watched the video, it shows movements on that same spot, seems super easy. Besides, I have done many planks by now. "How hard can this be?" I asked myself.
Well, it is not something that I can handle. Instead of doing continuously 50 in a few minutes like I imagined, I have to take a break after every 10 plank walks and it took me almost 15 minutes to finally complete all 50!!
This is exactly why The Wise One told us to practice non-judgement. One can easily fooled by own perception.
Thursday, 12 December 2013
Day 12 - One of the Easiest
Day 12 = 200 punches + 200 butt kicks
I can't imagine how to do punches since the "30 Day Beach Body Workout" website doesn't provide any video or instruction on how to do this. So I went to Youtube and did a quick search. This is what I found, and this is REALLY easy, even for someone like me. I think I will add in some variation next time, maybe using dumbbells instead.
While I was punching to the air, I can't help but thinking of how old folks call Mahjong an exercise. Really, these 2 "exercises" have a lot in common. First of all, you don't move other parts of your body except your hands. Secondly, you do virtual exercise. While punches are basically punching air, Mahjong is a virtual swimming. So next time your parents or grandparents tell you they have to go exercise, don't laugh, they are telling the truth!
After the easy warmup, I started the 200 butt kicks. When I read the instruction of How to Do Butt Kickers Exercise link provided by the "30 Day Beach Body Workout", it mentions "butt kicks are effective warmup exercise". I imagined this as something easy. I was too lazy to read so I skipped the instruction and go straight to the video provided. To my surprise, the video instruction shows that butt kickers are not easy at all. The video is 10 full minutes. I decided I can come back to this when I have time in the future so I stop watching after 2 variations. I decided only stick to these two.
The first variation is quite hard. I have problem even for the balancing but I managed to do 50 kicks on each leg. After 100 kicks of this, I decided to move to the side-butt-kicks but then I decided that 10 kicks on each leg is good enough for today.
So what did I do after total 120 of butt kickers? I decided that I must find something easier to follow for today. So I search again and found this on YouTube, and I totally agree that THIS is an effective warmup exercise. Much easier, and the heart started to pump at higher rate in seconds. Love this! I think I'm going to keep this for my future routine too :)
I can't imagine how to do punches since the "30 Day Beach Body Workout" website doesn't provide any video or instruction on how to do this. So I went to Youtube and did a quick search. This is what I found, and this is REALLY easy, even for someone like me. I think I will add in some variation next time, maybe using dumbbells instead.
While I was punching to the air, I can't help but thinking of how old folks call Mahjong an exercise. Really, these 2 "exercises" have a lot in common. First of all, you don't move other parts of your body except your hands. Secondly, you do virtual exercise. While punches are basically punching air, Mahjong is a virtual swimming. So next time your parents or grandparents tell you they have to go exercise, don't laugh, they are telling the truth!
After the easy warmup, I started the 200 butt kicks. When I read the instruction of How to Do Butt Kickers Exercise link provided by the "30 Day Beach Body Workout", it mentions "butt kicks are effective warmup exercise". I imagined this as something easy. I was too lazy to read so I skipped the instruction and go straight to the video provided. To my surprise, the video instruction shows that butt kickers are not easy at all. The video is 10 full minutes. I decided I can come back to this when I have time in the future so I stop watching after 2 variations. I decided only stick to these two.
The first variation is quite hard. I have problem even for the balancing but I managed to do 50 kicks on each leg. After 100 kicks of this, I decided to move to the side-butt-kicks but then I decided that 10 kicks on each leg is good enough for today.
So what did I do after total 120 of butt kickers? I decided that I must find something easier to follow for today. So I search again and found this on YouTube, and I totally agree that THIS is an effective warmup exercise. Much easier, and the heart started to pump at higher rate in seconds. Love this! I think I'm going to keep this for my future routine too :)
Day 11 - I'm So Weak!
I know I'm weak, but I don't know I'm THIS weak.
Day 11 consists of 25 push ups and 75 tricep dips. My arm can only support my weight for less than 5 push ups. To prevent myself from giving up, and also due to time constrain, I choose to convert the balance 20 into something easier: push ups from my knees.
However, the actual nightmare comes after the pushups. The tricep dips are much harder than I have imagined. My tricep just not strong enough to support my own weight for 75 times of full dips. I ended up splitting this into 15-10-10-10-10-20. Can you imagine? I almost cried when doing this. Can't believe I have let my body performance deviated until this level.
Must work harder!
Day 11 consists of 25 push ups and 75 tricep dips. My arm can only support my weight for less than 5 push ups. To prevent myself from giving up, and also due to time constrain, I choose to convert the balance 20 into something easier: push ups from my knees.
However, the actual nightmare comes after the pushups. The tricep dips are much harder than I have imagined. My tricep just not strong enough to support my own weight for 75 times of full dips. I ended up splitting this into 15-10-10-10-10-20. Can you imagine? I almost cried when doing this. Can't believe I have let my body performance deviated until this level.
Must work harder!
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
Day 10 - It's All About Strategy
I almost wanted to cry when I see 200 crunches last night. Yes, Day 10 means 200 crunches and 50 squat jumps. While squat jumps is something new to learn today, thinking of the 200 crunches still makes me wanted to cry.
I know I cannot do 200 crunches at current fitness level, so I decided to split into 100 crunches, 50 squat jumps and 100 crunches again.
When I tried to execute this, still too ambitious. I can survive until 70 crunches. That's it! So I have to do 50 squat jumps first, then only come back to the balance 130.
I changed my strategy. I used a few songs with different tempo so that I can complete my 130 crunches with fast-slow-fast pace and I survived the balance 130 in one go!! :)
It's all about strategy I guess :)
I know I cannot do 200 crunches at current fitness level, so I decided to split into 100 crunches, 50 squat jumps and 100 crunches again.
When I tried to execute this, still too ambitious. I can survive until 70 crunches. That's it! So I have to do 50 squat jumps first, then only come back to the balance 130.
I changed my strategy. I used a few songs with different tempo so that I can complete my 130 crunches with fast-slow-fast pace and I survived the balance 130 in one go!! :)
It's all about strategy I guess :)
Monday, 9 December 2013
Day 9 - My Mum is Always Right
My mum told me that the ache on my shoulder was not muscle pain. Now I confirm she is right.
I had fever started yesterday evening. I guess my body must have worked very hard to fight all the toxic in the system. Around midnight, I recovered from fever and started to have diarrhea, flushing out the toxic I think.
I had fever started yesterday evening. I guess my body must have worked very hard to fight all the toxic in the system. Around midnight, I recovered from fever and started to have diarrhea, flushing out the toxic I think.
This morning, I woke up at 6am. Still doing my stretching, still continue the 30 Days Beach Body Challenge. Day 9 is easy. 25 squats and 100 skaters. I made it 50 skaters, 25 squats, and 50 skaters with dumbbells. Everything is easier than I thought until after I finished my workout. The shoulder angel and shoulder devil were debating again, should I or should I not, to get an mc and rest at home. (Well, you know the outcome of this debate since I'm now resting in the garden, writing this blog post.)
I went to Taman Mutiara after shower. I thought there are 24-hours clinics but apparently most of them open at 8am. I was early. I had 30 minutes to kill. Luckily I'm smart enough to bring my new novel along :)
I have forgotten how quiet is Taman Mutiara in the morning. Most shops are closed. The only 2 coffee shops that are operating also have only about half of the food stalls open. I ordered a bowl of porridge and happily reading my novel. About 20 minutes later, that area started to come alive. More and more stalls owners arrived and start to get prepared. More and more customers walk in, some with uniform, some don't.
I went to Taman Mutiara after shower. I thought there are 24-hours clinics but apparently most of them open at 8am. I was early. I had 30 minutes to kill. Luckily I'm smart enough to bring my new novel along :)
I walked back to the clinic after my breakfast and I'm the doctor's first customer of the day. Everything went so smooth that I completed the whole process in about 10 minutes :)
And here I am, resting in the garden, writing this blog, while my body continue to release gasses from my mouth and you-know-where.
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