Sometimes art and exercise conspire to create a unique and powerful inner storm.
Such was the effect tonight in spin class when the song "Shinedown-Second Chance" coincided with a powerful hill climb.
The resistance was turned to "pain" and the tempo, sprint.
It doesn't take a lot of imagination to realize that oxygen debt and lactic acid will soon have the upper hand.
But then something magical happens, at least for me.
I am transported.
The art and the exercise, like reinforcing waves, lift me out of myself.
I am singing, first in my mind, then out loud.
This is something I don't do, even in church during a solemn high mass.
I don't have the voice to sing.
But there it is, I am singing, out loud, unabashed.
A strong wind is swirling in my soul as it expands, ending the pain and closing off the real world.
I am "blind" to the surroundings.
The music enfolds me and I am no longer spinning but instead floating above the fray, Nirvana, I think the Mystics call it.
Unfortunately it ends too soon.
The endorphins finally quell and the Limbic shore is once again baked in the oven of now.
"Lets do it again", says the trainer.
I want you sucking air at the end, not singing".
"You hear that Ken"?
I mentally bow, "Yes Master, Grasshopper has much to learn".
The music starts and I can't help it, the transport is under way.
This time I sing in my mind.
I can do it louder in "hear" because only I can "here".
Nirvana, still is there.
The endorphins still crash on the Limbic shore.
I hope the trainer goes for number three.
I may just transport out of here forever.
As I go I need to remember to thank her for showing me the portal.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Medicine, Glutamine, Maybe L-arginine, Lots of Protein and Finally Chocolate Milk
Lowering one's Cholesterol is a good thing.
The medicine is very effective but can have side effects such as severe muscle pain and damage.
I went generic.
The symptoms were subtle at first, arm pain, some shoulder weakness, leg cramps and a general feeling of going down the "tubes".
It was at a dinner that some kind lady mentioned all of the muscle issues she had had with a generic statin and it hit like a ton of bricks, "Duh" those were my symptoms.
It seems the side effects may never go away even after going back to the name brand stuff.
Is it time for Red Yeast Rice?
Seems glutamine, a semi-essential amino acid promotes metabolism, protects muscle under stress from breakdown and in my own anecdotal report alleviates muscular pain associated with exercise and has been very helpful in reducing the pain from the statins.
When I forget to take it, I know within three days that I am missing something key in my routine as exercise begins to hurt a whole lot more than usual.
So whence l-arginine?
Seems l-arginine is a big source of Nitric Oxide in the body. NO helps regulate vascular relaxation supports increased blood flow along with oxygen delivery to the end organ, in this case, muscles and has been shown to promote the production of growth hormone plus enhances protein production and fat metabolism.
I have not yet started l-arginine but I am sure it will become part of my new diet.
On to the proteins, 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight per day; this is a tough prescription but if you are going to work out several times a day for several hours, such as a one hour climb on the stair master, a one hour spin, one hour of interval training or one hour of intense weight training then you are going to need a lot of protein.
The body is not particular and if pushed will begin to"burn" the endogenous protein such as your own muscle and you will find increasing weakness over time.
This is the best sign that you are not getting enough protein in your diet.
Good sources of protein; fish, chicken turkey, eggs, yogurt, beans and occasionally lean red meat and if you are still short a Whey Protein Shake can help fill the void.
Remember 5 oz. of salmon provides 34 grams of protein so to get 160 grams would require almost one and one half pounds of salmon per day.
Well, maybe you are a grizzly.
Last but not least, my favorite, low fat chocolate milk: Post-exercise consumption of lowfat chocolate milk was found to provide equal or possibly superior muscle recovery compared to a high-carbohydrate recovery beverage with the same amount of calories.
So you might say, "he has gone off the deep end", and I guess I have but when you feel this good being in the deep end seems OK.
So bring on the Amino Acid Pâté with the Chocolate Milk Spritzers and keep the party going.
The medicine is very effective but can have side effects such as severe muscle pain and damage.
I went generic.
The symptoms were subtle at first, arm pain, some shoulder weakness, leg cramps and a general feeling of going down the "tubes".
It was at a dinner that some kind lady mentioned all of the muscle issues she had had with a generic statin and it hit like a ton of bricks, "Duh" those were my symptoms.
It seems the side effects may never go away even after going back to the name brand stuff.
Is it time for Red Yeast Rice?
Seems glutamine, a semi-essential amino acid promotes metabolism, protects muscle under stress from breakdown and in my own anecdotal report alleviates muscular pain associated with exercise and has been very helpful in reducing the pain from the statins.
When I forget to take it, I know within three days that I am missing something key in my routine as exercise begins to hurt a whole lot more than usual.
So whence l-arginine?
Seems l-arginine is a big source of Nitric Oxide in the body. NO helps regulate vascular relaxation supports increased blood flow along with oxygen delivery to the end organ, in this case, muscles and has been shown to promote the production of growth hormone plus enhances protein production and fat metabolism.
I have not yet started l-arginine but I am sure it will become part of my new diet.
On to the proteins, 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight per day; this is a tough prescription but if you are going to work out several times a day for several hours, such as a one hour climb on the stair master, a one hour spin, one hour of interval training or one hour of intense weight training then you are going to need a lot of protein.
The body is not particular and if pushed will begin to"burn" the endogenous protein such as your own muscle and you will find increasing weakness over time.
This is the best sign that you are not getting enough protein in your diet.
Good sources of protein; fish, chicken turkey, eggs, yogurt, beans and occasionally lean red meat and if you are still short a Whey Protein Shake can help fill the void.
Remember 5 oz. of salmon provides 34 grams of protein so to get 160 grams would require almost one and one half pounds of salmon per day.
Well, maybe you are a grizzly.
Last but not least, my favorite, low fat chocolate milk: Post-exercise consumption of lowfat chocolate milk was found to provide equal or possibly superior muscle recovery compared to a high-carbohydrate recovery beverage with the same amount of calories.
So you might say, "he has gone off the deep end", and I guess I have but when you feel this good being in the deep end seems OK.
So bring on the Amino Acid Pâté with the Chocolate Milk Spritzers and keep the party going.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Grow Up
We sent you to Washington to cut the deficit.
We sent you to Washington to stop the slide into mediocrity.
We sent you to Washington to put this country back on course.
We did not send you to shut the government down.
We did not send you to worry about your perks and your benefits.
We did not send you to continue the stupidity of the past.
The Moderates, the Conservatives, the Left or whatever you are called need to hear the American People.
We want smaller Government.
We don't want someone telling us how to live.
We want to decide how and where we worship even if it is a quiet prayer in the classroom.
We want our children to pray if they wish to.
We want to decide how to spend our money.
We do not want to have a group Washington Insiders telling us how to believe, how to live, how to raise our children and how to die.
Pay off the debt.
If you have to, raise taxes.
Simplify the Tax Code.
Help Americans earn the Dream.
It is not worth much if it is "given to them".
If you can't make it better then go home.
I will not hate you for failure but I will despise your limited vision of the Future.
If we can no longer dream of the stars couldn't we at least dream of the Inner Planets.
Dream the dream of America, Freedom, Peace, Innovation, Hard Work, Worship and Hope.
If these values fail to inspire then go home and sit in the corner and sulk.
But don't try to remake America.
America is more a vision, more a hope, more a dream than a place and everyone should be allowed to pursue that dream.
We sent you to Washington to stop the slide into mediocrity.
We sent you to Washington to put this country back on course.
We did not send you to shut the government down.
We did not send you to worry about your perks and your benefits.
We did not send you to continue the stupidity of the past.
The Moderates, the Conservatives, the Left or whatever you are called need to hear the American People.
We want smaller Government.
We don't want someone telling us how to live.
We want to decide how and where we worship even if it is a quiet prayer in the classroom.
We want our children to pray if they wish to.
We want to decide how to spend our money.
We do not want to have a group Washington Insiders telling us how to believe, how to live, how to raise our children and how to die.
Pay off the debt.
If you have to, raise taxes.
Simplify the Tax Code.
Help Americans earn the Dream.
It is not worth much if it is "given to them".
If you can't make it better then go home.
I will not hate you for failure but I will despise your limited vision of the Future.
If we can no longer dream of the stars couldn't we at least dream of the Inner Planets.
Dream the dream of America, Freedom, Peace, Innovation, Hard Work, Worship and Hope.
If these values fail to inspire then go home and sit in the corner and sulk.
But don't try to remake America.
America is more a vision, more a hope, more a dream than a place and everyone should be allowed to pursue that dream.
Friday, April 1, 2011
An Exercise of the Mind
Alter-egos danced last night
Neath a Moon that shined so bright
Too soon forgot their daytime face
Too soon forgot their daytime place
Found again youth now past
Balanced on a chasm, vast
Toyed with things now best forgone
Hearing now the Siren’s song
Hearing sounds of crashing waves
The keening wind through hollow caves
The song of nature sings to them
They enjoin the primal hymn
The clothes of shame now fell away
They danced on sands
Where they would lay
Drinking in night’s misty dew
Spinning drunk on life renewed
Felt the surge of passions fire
Would too soon burn on that pyre
Glistening forms now intertwined
Flames on flames jumping higher
Breathless sighs and silent moans
Hearing now loves true tones
Enchanted by the living poem
When at last the embers dying
They found release both in crying
For all the time now gone and spent
For all the dreams torn and rent
Then finding finally, renewing sleep
As the night turned ere more deep
The Sun was first to find them there
Covered by the seas own hair
Just Impressions on the beach
Where alter-egos strove to reach
Existence beyond dreams at night
Where silent hopes could take flight
But shattered in the new days light
Neath a Moon that shined so bright
Too soon forgot their daytime face
Too soon forgot their daytime place
Found again youth now past
Balanced on a chasm, vast
Toyed with things now best forgone
Hearing now the Siren’s song
Hearing sounds of crashing waves
The keening wind through hollow caves
The song of nature sings to them
They enjoin the primal hymn
The clothes of shame now fell away
They danced on sands
Where they would lay
Drinking in night’s misty dew
Spinning drunk on life renewed
Felt the surge of passions fire
Would too soon burn on that pyre
Glistening forms now intertwined
Flames on flames jumping higher
Breathless sighs and silent moans
Hearing now loves true tones
Enchanted by the living poem
When at last the embers dying
They found release both in crying
For all the time now gone and spent
For all the dreams torn and rent
Then finding finally, renewing sleep
As the night turned ere more deep
The Sun was first to find them there
Covered by the seas own hair
Just Impressions on the beach
Where alter-egos strove to reach
Existence beyond dreams at night
Where silent hopes could take flight
But shattered in the new days light
Thursday, March 17, 2011
So Now I Have to be a Gymnast?
Just imagine that I am hanging from a High Bar and have been able to hold my legs up in the “Pike” position, (curved like a U with feet higher than my head).
Now further imagine that I am able to rotate my legs from the hips, first to the right and then to the left, 15 times each side for a total of thirty rotations.
This is one of the “ab” exercises that Sparta has surfaced as a new challenge in the gym. (This same exercise was also featured in the movie, The Fighter)
I have to work on this one and basically become a gymnast.
I have started hanging from a high bar, raising my legs at the hip until my feet are above my head and then I try to hold this position for at least 15 seconds and try to repeat this 15 times.
This is a chunk of work and as of yet I remain unsuccessful.
The second new “ab” exercise is just as wicked.
Imagine lying on a bench with just the back of your head, neck and shoulders touching the bench while your body is at a 45 degree angle, suspended on a hope, a few fragile ligaments and mainly muscle.
The shoulders, neck and especially the upper “abs” all feel the pain in this exercise.
Supposedly, the local record for this exercise stands at 45 seconds.
This also requires one to become a gymnast.
The question, can you become a gymnast at age 46 (transposed 64).
I think, yes, Hell Yes.
It is interesting, the amount of pain one can endure, it is s lot more than anyone would expect and becoming a gymnast does require some pain.
I guess I have always wanted to be a gymnast and now I have the opportunity at 64 (transposed 46) or 8 which is the square root of 64 or 24 which is the product of multiplying 6 times 4.
Hell, who really needs to know the age at this point, once you have decided to get it done.
Now further imagine that I am able to rotate my legs from the hips, first to the right and then to the left, 15 times each side for a total of thirty rotations.
This is one of the “ab” exercises that Sparta has surfaced as a new challenge in the gym. (This same exercise was also featured in the movie, The Fighter)
I have to work on this one and basically become a gymnast.
I have started hanging from a high bar, raising my legs at the hip until my feet are above my head and then I try to hold this position for at least 15 seconds and try to repeat this 15 times.
This is a chunk of work and as of yet I remain unsuccessful.
The second new “ab” exercise is just as wicked.
Imagine lying on a bench with just the back of your head, neck and shoulders touching the bench while your body is at a 45 degree angle, suspended on a hope, a few fragile ligaments and mainly muscle.
The shoulders, neck and especially the upper “abs” all feel the pain in this exercise.
Supposedly, the local record for this exercise stands at 45 seconds.
This also requires one to become a gymnast.
The question, can you become a gymnast at age 46 (transposed 64).
I think, yes, Hell Yes.
It is interesting, the amount of pain one can endure, it is s lot more than anyone would expect and becoming a gymnast does require some pain.
I guess I have always wanted to be a gymnast and now I have the opportunity at 64 (transposed 46) or 8 which is the square root of 64 or 24 which is the product of multiplying 6 times 4.
Hell, who really needs to know the age at this point, once you have decided to get it done.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Spinning 110, Degrees That Is
The Spin Room is a circular room about 20 feet (give or take a few feet) in diameter.
It has at least a 9 foot ceiling.
There is a ceiling fan and three floor fans.
There are 12 bikes each placed about 2 to 3 feet apart.
The circumference of the room is 78 feet, (give or take a few feet), giving each bike a space of about 6 feet including the bike.
Volume of the room is calculated by the equation 4/3*Pi*r3.
The volume is approximately 4800 cubic feet.
The ambient room temperature at the beginning of class is 75 degrees, (give or take a few degrees), at the end of class the temperature approaches that of a South American Rain Forest, humidity and all.
I have never taken the actual temperature at he end of class but it is something I want to do.
I am sure the temperature is approaching "110" or maybe 89 degrees with 100% humidity.
It feels like late August in the swamps or Evansville.
Every article of clothing is soaked through and through.
If I was smart enough I could get some heat transfer equations and use the specific heat of air to calculate the average energy flow but this is beyond me.
Take it from me though, a lot of energy and heat transfer is occurring.
Twelve people burning anywhere from 12,000 to 15,000 calories in one hour in a closed box, it does get close and sometimes the odors are less than "White Shoulders".
But I will keep going back, where else can you go for a ride in a sauna, through a rain forest with great music and a leader who likes to ride up mountains.
"Steamed Spin" certainly beats "Hot Yoga" with fewer residual calories.
It has at least a 9 foot ceiling.
There is a ceiling fan and three floor fans.
There are 12 bikes each placed about 2 to 3 feet apart.
The circumference of the room is 78 feet, (give or take a few feet), giving each bike a space of about 6 feet including the bike.
Volume of the room is calculated by the equation 4/3*Pi*r3.
The volume is approximately 4800 cubic feet.
The ambient room temperature at the beginning of class is 75 degrees, (give or take a few degrees), at the end of class the temperature approaches that of a South American Rain Forest, humidity and all.
I have never taken the actual temperature at he end of class but it is something I want to do.
I am sure the temperature is approaching "110" or maybe 89 degrees with 100% humidity.
It feels like late August in the swamps or Evansville.
Every article of clothing is soaked through and through.
If I was smart enough I could get some heat transfer equations and use the specific heat of air to calculate the average energy flow but this is beyond me.
Take it from me though, a lot of energy and heat transfer is occurring.
Twelve people burning anywhere from 12,000 to 15,000 calories in one hour in a closed box, it does get close and sometimes the odors are less than "White Shoulders".
But I will keep going back, where else can you go for a ride in a sauna, through a rain forest with great music and a leader who likes to ride up mountains.
"Steamed Spin" certainly beats "Hot Yoga" with fewer residual calories.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Chasing Sparta
Someone said it tonight, to Sparta following a rather vigorous Spin Class, "I don't see how you keep doing this same "shit" day after day".
She was heading down to do a Power Pump class.
I interpreted the comment to say, "Wow, how do exercise hour after hour and keep going"?
The answer was quick, "Sitting behind a desk is harder and it kills much faster."
Great interchange, great discourse, great concise conversation.
It was all there, either use it or lose it, either try or die.
The real answer is movement, continuous, lots of it.
Stay still and the bad things overtake you.
Obviously this is an oversimplification but even in Genesis it states, "Thy shall earn thy keep by the sweat of thy brow".
No where does it say, "He who lives the sedentary life style shall find life everlasting".
So today in Boot Camp, at least 34 participants all eager to "kill" themselves for Sparta.
So who is relevant in all of this.
Everyone is relevant, all of the participants, all of the people looking in, wanting to join, (had a conversation at dinner with a gentleman), "I am trying to get to the point I can join Sparta's Boot Camp".
Sparta is relevant.
She is the reason all of these people are wanting to join.
I looked at her today as I was running my two laps, as I was hitting the mitts and I saw complete commitment to training, to improving the lot of we, the less fortunate.
She has some spectacular genes, I have no doubt of this, but if we could all follow her discipline, her program, genes or no genes, we would all be much richer in health and fitness.
Will we live longer, I don't know, don't care.
All I want now is to do what she is trying to teach.
Go hard or go home.
Don't waste time, she is giving us her best.
She was heading down to do a Power Pump class.
I interpreted the comment to say, "Wow, how do exercise hour after hour and keep going"?
The answer was quick, "Sitting behind a desk is harder and it kills much faster."
Great interchange, great discourse, great concise conversation.
It was all there, either use it or lose it, either try or die.
The real answer is movement, continuous, lots of it.
Stay still and the bad things overtake you.
Obviously this is an oversimplification but even in Genesis it states, "Thy shall earn thy keep by the sweat of thy brow".
No where does it say, "He who lives the sedentary life style shall find life everlasting".
So today in Boot Camp, at least 34 participants all eager to "kill" themselves for Sparta.
So who is relevant in all of this.
Everyone is relevant, all of the participants, all of the people looking in, wanting to join, (had a conversation at dinner with a gentleman), "I am trying to get to the point I can join Sparta's Boot Camp".
Sparta is relevant.
She is the reason all of these people are wanting to join.
I looked at her today as I was running my two laps, as I was hitting the mitts and I saw complete commitment to training, to improving the lot of we, the less fortunate.
She has some spectacular genes, I have no doubt of this, but if we could all follow her discipline, her program, genes or no genes, we would all be much richer in health and fitness.
Will we live longer, I don't know, don't care.
All I want now is to do what she is trying to teach.
Go hard or go home.
Don't waste time, she is giving us her best.
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