Readers Challenge Me
Not saying that I am a challenged reader – I hope I am quite proficient – but that several of you have had interesting experiments for me to try! The first two come from the erudite Kirez:
The Handstand from Heck (we did the “purgatory lite” version) Workout: Kirez’s special take on a CrossFit-type workout. Basically you do a handstand against the wall (missed that part the first time around) and hold it as long as you can. The goal is to do at least 180 seconds (3 minutes) but up to 300 seconds (5 minutes). Every time you have to come out of
the handstand, the clock stops and you have to do 50 situps or 50 pushups or 50 squats. And then you go back up on the wall again.
At first we all thought it sounded ridiculously easy and paid no heed to his “very difficult” warning. We soon learned better. Gym Buddy Allison lasted the longest at a full two-minute arm-shaking handstand. I did 3 one-minute handstands (alternated with squats and situps) while Gym Buddy Megan did 30 second intervals up to two minutes. Allison was very, very sore the next day:)
The best part though was we had to do it in a stairwell at the Y (don’t ask) and so managed to surprise about a dozen Silver Sneaker Seniors coming down the stairs. I do not think that was good for their pace makers.
Definitely give this one a shot! It doesn’t take long and it’s a heck of a shoulder workout:)
Drinking Olive Oil: Something about being a good post-workout drink with lots of salutatory benefits. So I loaded up a shot glass of EVOO. I’ll try anything once.
One word: ick.
Two words: NEVER AGAIN.
This one is up to your own discretion but I don’t recommend it. Then again, I’m also not 105 so what do I know?
Resting Reps: This one came to me via the Crankalicious Crabby McSlacker.
She has discovered a tip to squeezing out one or two more reps after muscle failure: take a little rest (Edited: put the weights down if you need to) and then try again – just for one more. Sure I was beet red in the face but my biceps loved every drawn-out second of it:)
Surely give this one a go – if Crabby does it, it’s good enough for me!
Jillian Michaels
Not quite a week into it and already there is confusion. The Gym Buddies and I unanimously agree that her circuits are too easy. All that blather at the beginning about being in shape before starting and this book isn’t for wusses, blah, blah, blah and then you only have to hold your plank for 10 seconds?? Not to denigrate anyone who is doing this and thinks the workouts are good – it’s just not as crazy hard as I had thought they would be.
Jillian says the circuits should be done once through with no rest in between and should take you about 45 minutes. They took us about 20 minutes the first day and 30 the next because we were trying hard to slow it down and really max out our reps. But, my excitement was restored when Gena pointed out in the comments that Jillian says you can do the circuits twice through if you want a more intense workout. I love you Gena!!
As for the diet part of it, I’m actually find it quite hard to stick to my prescribed macronutrient ratio. I’ve been trying to avoid grains for so long that apparently I don’t know how to eat them anymore. At the end of the day I’m ending up way over my fat & protein allotments and sadly under on carbs. Hopefully it won’t screw up my results. I’ll try and be better! I need deprogramming.
PS> I had no idea that Linda Hamilton was such a role model for you people! Almost makes me wish I’d seen the movie…
And For Kicks And Giggles
What happens when you do the Infamous Shape Move wrong:
In Italy, you have to sniff the oil, and taste it with your finger. It’s a whole process of enjoying the oil. I was pretty grossed out at the time, but the OIL is so much better there than it is here.
Love that You Tube clip. Laughed my butt off.
charlotte? come over any time.
my fantastic hubby bought me a cell from the T2 movie (ages ago…like 12 years I think?) and it still hangs in my office.
it’s linda and her boy beater and her ‘guns’—-the happy trio 🙂
M.
Glad I could help! One time through was way too easy, but two times made me sore. I hate mountain climbers!
So, I cook with olive oil a lot, and dip bread in it and stuff, but I don’t think I could drink it. That just sounds nasty.
Funny how something so yummy in context can be totally gross if consumed in excess. (And I’m talking about OLIVE OIL, not Linda Hamilton…)
And about the extra reps–actually, sorry, I explained that wrong. I think it’s supposed to work best with exercises where you’re NOT still holding the weights, so you can completely rest for those few seconds. So something like a leg press or bench press machine where you can stop and take the weight off works better than, say, bicep curls where you’re still holding the weights so you’re not really resting. At least according to the magazine article I stole the tip from!
A few years ago I tried this wierd fad diet called The Shangri-La diet. He recommended drinking olive oil or sugar water a few times a day for some reason that I can’t remember. Grossest thing ever. Extra light EVOO doesn’t really taste like anything but that slimy slick oily feeling going down your throat is gag-worthy.
Handstand in a stairwell? That could be DANGEROUS if you somehow overbalanced from leaning against the wall!
you did NOT down a shot of olive oil!!
That reminds me of the scene in Stand By me when the kid drives all that oil right before the pie-eating contest.
At least you’ll have a nice, shiny coat!
when i was 12 i went on the hamburger meat & water diet…there was also the hot dog & eggo waffle diet…and the pickle juice diet…give these a go??
That video is horrible-hilarious, might have made my morning.
I think I will have to try the handstand test this week with my workout partner, but maybe without the stairwell.
My copy of the Jilliam Michaels book comes on Monday, so I’m glad I got to read your feedback before hand.
OMG I shouldn’t laugh at this. POOR WOMAN LOL