perldiver

 Woof.  Try this workout, the next time you're feeling energetic in the morning.  It's not going to hurt you, but it will sure have you puffing and panting, unless you are already in much better shape than I am.

• Do the following set twice:
  • Full body crunches until your stomach starts to ache, then 10 more.   (Sit on the edge of your bed with your body in a pretty-much straight line at 45 degrees, hands loosely at your sides.  Then, bring your knees and chest together so they meet over your center of gravity.)  
  • Hindu pushups  Only do 5 of them, but do them with good form.  Watch the video several times, then try to do one, then check the video again.
  • 30 lat crunches on each side .  (Lie on your back, thighs pointing straight up and knees parallel to the ground.  Lift your head and neck off the ground using your chest muscles NOT YOUR NECK.  Lace your fingers behind your neck for support, but DON'T PULL ON YOUR NECK.  Lift your right elbow toward your left knee using only your lower abdominal muscles.  You don't need to actually make contact, just go enough to lift your shoulder blade off the floor.)
  • High stepping for 1 minute.  Set up a low object in front of you, then run in place, tapping your foot on the top of the object with each step. (I used an office chair on minimum height.)  Try to get in 90-120 taps per minute.

It goes pretty quick and does both strength and cardio, all of which are good things. 

I'm not so worried about my weight or my pure strength, but my shape (specifically, the spare tire) and lack of wind bother me.  Really what I should do is set up another rules-bound  commitment to myself, like I did with Carrot and Stick.  That should probably involve take such shirtless pictures and buying a scale so I can track progress.

 [Edit:  Also, French Toast with cinnamon and honey ROCKS MY WORLD!!]

So, remember I was commenting about needing to find some more exercises, because my routine was getting stale?  I didn't work out this morning and just now I was feeling lazy and gelatinous, so I decided to do something right then and there.  I went googling and saw this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMe8M0x0OhI

Here's the thought process and sequence of events:

"Well, I like the video--the people look like fit humans, not freakish anatomy models.  Also, they talk like knowledgeable humans, not like Aerobics Barbies.  And, this is something different from what I've been doing.  Sure, give it a shot.  Just 10 minutes though, huh?  Even my wimpiest workouts were longer than that.  Well, whatever.  Make today a light day.  Hmmm...don't own a dumbbell, what can I substitute?  How about big heavy books in a bag?"

<rummage, rummage, pile books into bag, zip, set timer for 10 minutes>

Midway through first round, first arm:  "Hey, these are fun!  Look at me go, crankin' 'em out, yeehah!"

Midway through first round, second arm:  "Yep, this is cool.  I can do this.  Ten minutes, huh?  Ok.  Wonder what I should do after that?...maybe some crunches?...maybe some yoga for stretching?"

Midway through second round, first arm:  "HOLY CRAP, MY ARM FELL OFF!!"

I made myself finish three complete sets and then I turned the friggin' timer off and congratulated myself on surviving--albeit as a stump-waving double amputee.  As I post this, my typing-with-my-feet skill is improving steadily, and I'm up to about 3 wpm.  Go me!


Seriously, they aren't kidding about this being a total body workout.  I can feel it in my arms, core, thighs, and even my calves.  I will continue to work on this.  I will conquer it!