How I Did It (The Workouts)

Follow up to my blog "Why I Did It" is the details on HOW, the Workouts Edition.

Well first off, it wasn't easy, it took time and dedication, but I also didn't do anything weird, or a crazy diet, or completely cut anything out of my life. I mean most of my friends probably didn't even notice most of the lifestyle changes. So let me walk you through it.

Spinning, Push Ups and Yoga.

I had been a member at the O'Brien Fitness Center for about a year... but used it maybe once or twice a week. So in September, I started 4 to 5 days per week. I also started traveling with workout clothes. I travel a lot, so missing those days hurts, and I actually find working out on the road easier and a commitment since I don't have my kids I need to be up, and working hard.

SPINNING
I was going to the gym around 5:30AM during the week and riding a spin bike (upright) for 20 minutes each time at the gym. I like the bike, cause man you get sweaty, and lets be real, if you aren't sweating, you aren't losing. I also like it, cause in between times of pushing myself I could check my social media, lets be honest, I love to multitask.

PUSH UPS
After a month or so the progress was starting to show and I started stepping it up. I started doing push ups before bed. The first night, I could barely do 15 straight, and did 50 total. Today, I do push ups throughout the day, or if I do them at once I ramp down in between other workouts. I now do 50 before I leave the house, then 40 before riding the bike, 40 after, then 30 in between my stretching, 30 after stretching, and then throw in another 20 somewhere. So I try to do between 160-200 push ups daily. I will admit, I don't get my elbows to 90 degrees, my elbow pops, so I get close so that I don't hurt my elbow. It took my 4-5 months to work up to the amount of push ups I do now.

At the same time I worked in some curls, presses, and tricep lifts. I was originally curling 15 pounds per hand, and started with 2 sets of 12, then 2 sets of 15, and then 3 sets of 12. About two months ago I upped the weight to 20 pounds per hand, and built up about the same way. I am not fully able to do 3 sets of 12, but I am close.

So I spend about 45 minutes to an hour at the gym, 4-5 days per week. On the days off I still do push ups, or some curls at home with my weights. Or somedays join my wife in one of her workouts at home and I started a weekly Yoga class. I usually try to get my son to do some with me, or like last Friday I took both the younger ones with me to a Zumba class.

My next blog will be the "How I Did It: Meals Edition" about how I changed my diet to get it done. Post coming soon...