31

Welcome to my new fitness and life blog! Sometimes it will be very fitness, sometimes just my random musings (probably more often random, but I'll try my best!)

Today is my 31st Bday. It puts a lot of things in perspective. For example, all of the 30 somethings who I used to make fun of as being old when I was a 20 something. I still remember being a kid when Michael Jordan turned 30 and thinking "oh my god, Jordan is Thirrrrrteeeeeee??? Holy crap, his career is over!"

I've been working out hard lately but the holidays and eating have been rendering my self imposed weight loss project stagnant. At 6'3" I can carry 240lbs without much issue but my new found mistress who goes by the name of Golf tells me that Tiger only weighs about 205. Since I'm 2 inches taller than him I think 225 is a good number. So today I decided that I needed a major changeup.

I started out with a 3.1 mile run (get it 31 years old 3.1 miles?). Those of you who know me know that I HATE CARDIO in the gym. I repeat, I am a personal trainer who HATES DOING CARDIO IN THE GYM! I banged this out in under 30 minutes and then went to the weights. The run wasn't so bad. I ran it 5 minutes slower than I would in my 20's but why rush perfection? If I'm not perfect at 31, I'm never gonna get there!

Today was chest day for me. I usually do a split routine as follows:
Day 1: Legs
Day 2: Back and Biceps
Day 3: Chest and Triceps
This is a pretty basic and standard routine for many. Old habits die hard and I tend to still workout as if I'm working the door at the Uptown Lounge or trying out to replace Teddy Bruschi. Translation: 6-8 reps, heavy weight 2 min 30 seconds rest between sets.

Today I flipped it; 15 reps with 30 seconds rest in between. The goal was to find a weight that would get me to failure. I started with 50 lbs on the incline bench press. What a joke! After 30 seconds I did it again and it still felt like a joke until I got to the 7th rep and thought I was going to die! I muscled out 5 more reps and called myself a failure. 30 more seconds rest and this time I did something I would NEVER have done in my 20's; I dropped down to the 30lb dumbells. Good decision. I was barely able to crank out rep # 15!

I continued on in this manner. It was quite a sight to see. Keep in mind I live and work out at Planet Fitness in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx where everyone thinks they are tough! Castle Hill is best known for J-Lo and St. Raymonds High School which churns out College and NBA players. I'm one of the biggest guys in the gym and on my last set on the bench press I had a measly 95 lbs on the bar and struggled to do the last rep, and grunting in the process. Planet Fitness has a strict "No Lunks" policy and a "Lunk Alarm". A lunk is apparently one who grunts and groans while working out. Fortunately, I was not reprimanded.

When all was said and done, I felt great! John Legend and Andre 3000 were playing through my mind (I'm ready to go right now.....I'm ready to go right now!!!) Ready to go to Blue Smoke tonight and polish off a rack of ribs and a couple of Bourbons! Rachel (my beautiful GF who is taking me there) is going to need a govt bailout after the tab I run up tonight!

The moral of the story is:
1. Cardio in the gym SUCKS, but if you tough it out you will feel better after.
2. You don't have to go hard ALL THE TIME. My run was much more enjoyable because I started out easy and just went with the flow.
3. Throw yourself a curveball. Break out of the same old same old. Keep your body wondering whats going to happen next! This works great in life as well!

COMING TOMORROW: THE HANGOVER!!!! (just kidding)