Sunday
Today was disappointing. I'm moving backwards in my vertical. This, despite the fact i had a good week of working out and had felt lighter on my feet. Mickey and I agree my mechanics are crap. Maybe the core exercises are messing with me?
I'm not motivated to do a video, but I guess I should, to be consistent...
it's gonna be hard getting out of bed to workout this week. It's one thing to hit a plateau, but to drop backwards is a deflater.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Day 40-42
Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Nothing new to add...My workouts are slightly longer as I add core workouts, but I haven't added as many as I should.
I've felt good this whole week. Hopefully it will translate to more vert.
Nothing new to add...My workouts are slightly longer as I add core workouts, but I haven't added as many as I should.
I've felt good this whole week. Hopefully it will translate to more vert.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Day 39
Wednesday
Had what felt like my best workout in a couple weeks, as far as energy. Strange, because I got up an hour earlier than normal. Let's hope it continues.
Looking forward to integrating my new core exercises. Hope to get it all down for the Sunday benchmark, so I can show people what they are.
Had what felt like my best workout in a couple weeks, as far as energy. Strange, because I got up an hour earlier than normal. Let's hope it continues.
Looking forward to integrating my new core exercises. Hope to get it all down for the Sunday benchmark, so I can show people what they are.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Day 38
Tuesday
Had a decent workout today, was still a little sore. I can always push myself harder, too.
A little bummed, because in order to do the recommended API workouts, I'd have to workout 3 hours a day, something I just can't do. Not sure how to reconcile this.
Here's this week's video. Music is from The Fratellis and Mika. The next week's video should be good, as I'll finally show many of core exercises I learned (minus the ones that require nautilus equipment).
Also, you can see the previous weekly recaps here:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week5
Had a decent workout today, was still a little sore. I can always push myself harder, too.
A little bummed, because in order to do the recommended API workouts, I'd have to workout 3 hours a day, something I just can't do. Not sure how to reconcile this.
Here's this week's video. Music is from The Fratellis and Mika. The next week's video should be good, as I'll finally show many of core exercises I learned (minus the ones that require nautilus equipment).
Also, you can see the previous weekly recaps here:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week5
Day 37
Monday
Because of yesterday's strong workout, I was very sore in my hip tendons, and the right knee tendon (that connects the hamstring to the calf).
I'm behind on the video, hopefully it'll be up late Tuesday night.
The API packet came in, so I'll be able to start the core exercises later in the week.
Because of yesterday's strong workout, I was very sore in my hip tendons, and the right knee tendon (that connects the hamstring to the calf).
I'm behind on the video, hopefully it'll be up late Tuesday night.
The API packet came in, so I'll be able to start the core exercises later in the week.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Day 35-36
Saturday, Sunday
I coulda sworn i blogged yesterday. Well, Saturday was a doghike and nothing else...
Sunday, benchmark day. Went well overall, though the main highlight is this is the first week my knees didn't hurt, and I jumped about 15 times with no side effects!
Hopefully a video up tomorrow.
I coulda sworn i blogged yesterday. Well, Saturday was a doghike and nothing else...
Sunday, benchmark day. Went well overall, though the main highlight is this is the first week my knees didn't hurt, and I jumped about 15 times with no side effects!
Hopefully a video up tomorrow.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Day 33-34
Thursday, Friday
Just 2 regular days of working out. It even rained on Friday, but I slogged right along, all the way through my windsprints — I was like Rocky. Only for dunking, not slugging. I dredged for dunking, not slogged for slugging.
Just 2 regular days of working out. It even rained on Friday, but I slogged right along, all the way through my windsprints — I was like Rocky. Only for dunking, not slugging. I dredged for dunking, not slogged for slugging.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Day 32
Wednesday
Well I finally went to API , at 8am this morning. It's at the Home Depot Center, where the LA Galaxy soccer team plays. Not exactly a primo location, but it's good enough for fantasy football sensation TJ Houshmandzadeh, who's name I saw on the marker board.
The workout facility is underneath, where the stadium tunnels are. There I met my contact Adam, and it was off to get flexibility tests. This just consisted of stretcing my boy, mostly on a trainers table. Turns out my left leg, the leg I jump from, is more flexible. I already knew it was a little.
Next up, I learned all the strengthening exercises to do, which primarily strengthen my core. And by core, we're talking about the region between your belly button and your groin. It includes the abdominals, but the deep ones, not the rectus abdominals, or your "six pack". Another major player of the core muscles is the glutes (butt), and hips. I learned about 30 exercises and have no idea if i'll remember half of them. Most of them have some form of squatting and flexing of the glutes. As long as I focussed on keeping my weight directly over my flat feet, it meant that my body was in the right position. But I often forgot and wound up on my toes or heels...
There were also several exercises with a medicine ball, where I took different squatting stances and would hurl the ball against a wall.
I finished up with an endurance test, where I ran on a treadmill with an oxygen mask and a remote heart monitor in a band around my chest. I couldn't tell if the trainer was just being supportive, but I think I surprised him with how long and hard I could run. I'll bet a lot of the pro athletes don't even run 3 miles a day like me. Oh well, a boy can dream...
Oh, and at the end, I thought I saw TJ Houshmandzadeh. I asked a trainer after we left the training room, and he told me it was Isaiah Stanback, one of my cousin's players! I even put Isaiah's DVD highlight reel together. Though I've never met him, I didn't want to bug him while he was getting treated. The dude is HUGE, unlike the usual QB. I hope he gets drafted in the mid-rounds.
So the overall experience was good, but still feels incomplete, though I get a follow up consultation at some date in the future. Throughout the experience, all of the staff were totally cool, professional, and positive. They had told us we could film everything as long as they got to see the edit, but the main trainer who showed me the exercises said it's against company policy, and I didn't want to argue or make him uncomfortable. So all the high-priced exercises I learned might be forgotten. Also, we never specifically discussed dunking. They didn't even watch my jump to discuss my mechanics. I should point out, they haven't even sent me my review/results packet. So I'll look at that, and then give em some questions relating to my quest.
But I'm not too concerned, because I think the core exercises are what i need. Before, when I squatted, my knees totally hurt. But when done properly, by accessing the core, I was using my hips and ass, and my knees didn't hurt at all! So this is very promising. If I build a strong and stable core, everything flows from that. I will better mechanics, and less pain, and more strength!
The only real challenge from this new experience is 2 parts: 1. There were players there who do this workout as prescribed, 4 days a week. They work hard for hours, and need the 3 days off. But I have a job and that's just not possible... and 2. I don't belong to a gym, and not many of the exercises require a squatting bar or nautilus ( cool side note - their nautilus equipment is driven by compressed air, not weights...totally cool). So Mickey and I are gonna go over the list and figure out what I can do with my time and resources. I don't think I need to join a gym, but I may need to buy some basic free weights.
Either way, I wouldn't start these exercises until probably this Sunday.
Another thing about today, I didn't feel too dweeby, despite all the top physical specimens using the same facility, so I thank the staff for making me feel welcome. I'm sure I'll have a few more thoughts to add about API, but this should do for now.
Well I finally went to API , at 8am this morning. It's at the Home Depot Center, where the LA Galaxy soccer team plays. Not exactly a primo location, but it's good enough for fantasy football sensation TJ Houshmandzadeh, who's name I saw on the marker board.
The workout facility is underneath, where the stadium tunnels are. There I met my contact Adam, and it was off to get flexibility tests. This just consisted of stretcing my boy, mostly on a trainers table. Turns out my left leg, the leg I jump from, is more flexible. I already knew it was a little.
Next up, I learned all the strengthening exercises to do, which primarily strengthen my core. And by core, we're talking about the region between your belly button and your groin. It includes the abdominals, but the deep ones, not the rectus abdominals, or your "six pack". Another major player of the core muscles is the glutes (butt), and hips. I learned about 30 exercises and have no idea if i'll remember half of them. Most of them have some form of squatting and flexing of the glutes. As long as I focussed on keeping my weight directly over my flat feet, it meant that my body was in the right position. But I often forgot and wound up on my toes or heels...
There were also several exercises with a medicine ball, where I took different squatting stances and would hurl the ball against a wall.
I finished up with an endurance test, where I ran on a treadmill with an oxygen mask and a remote heart monitor in a band around my chest. I couldn't tell if the trainer was just being supportive, but I think I surprised him with how long and hard I could run. I'll bet a lot of the pro athletes don't even run 3 miles a day like me. Oh well, a boy can dream...
Oh, and at the end, I thought I saw TJ Houshmandzadeh. I asked a trainer after we left the training room, and he told me it was Isaiah Stanback, one of my cousin's players! I even put Isaiah's DVD highlight reel together. Though I've never met him, I didn't want to bug him while he was getting treated. The dude is HUGE, unlike the usual QB. I hope he gets drafted in the mid-rounds.
So the overall experience was good, but still feels incomplete, though I get a follow up consultation at some date in the future. Throughout the experience, all of the staff were totally cool, professional, and positive. They had told us we could film everything as long as they got to see the edit, but the main trainer who showed me the exercises said it's against company policy, and I didn't want to argue or make him uncomfortable. So all the high-priced exercises I learned might be forgotten. Also, we never specifically discussed dunking. They didn't even watch my jump to discuss my mechanics. I should point out, they haven't even sent me my review/results packet. So I'll look at that, and then give em some questions relating to my quest.
But I'm not too concerned, because I think the core exercises are what i need. Before, when I squatted, my knees totally hurt. But when done properly, by accessing the core, I was using my hips and ass, and my knees didn't hurt at all! So this is very promising. If I build a strong and stable core, everything flows from that. I will better mechanics, and less pain, and more strength!
The only real challenge from this new experience is 2 parts: 1. There were players there who do this workout as prescribed, 4 days a week. They work hard for hours, and need the 3 days off. But I have a job and that's just not possible... and 2. I don't belong to a gym, and not many of the exercises require a squatting bar or nautilus ( cool side note - their nautilus equipment is driven by compressed air, not weights...totally cool). So Mickey and I are gonna go over the list and figure out what I can do with my time and resources. I don't think I need to join a gym, but I may need to buy some basic free weights.
Either way, I wouldn't start these exercises until probably this Sunday.
Another thing about today, I didn't feel too dweeby, despite all the top physical specimens using the same facility, so I thank the staff for making me feel welcome. I'm sure I'll have a few more thoughts to add about API, but this should do for now.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Day 31
Tuesday
Huge News!!!
First, out of nowhere, I got an appointment at the elite API , Wednesday morning. (This is the place where NBA and NFL draftees and current players train). It's gonna take 2 hours to evaluate me and devise a workout for the quest, and Mickey will be there to listen and film it. This, while a very expensive thing to do, could be a huge boost to my vertical....literally. Don't expect video of this till the weekend though.
Today's workout was fair. I did my jog/run sprints with no side effects. Watching myself in the video where I "sprint" is kinda embarrassing, so i have a side quest now, which is to look like I'm sprinting when I feel like I'm sprinting! Gotta raise those knees!
PS- Thanks to those who comment about the importance of stretching. I agree, and that support will get me through the extra few seconds of holding a stretch till it hurts.
Huge News!!!
First, out of nowhere, I got an appointment at the elite API , Wednesday morning. (This is the place where NBA and NFL draftees and current players train). It's gonna take 2 hours to evaluate me and devise a workout for the quest, and Mickey will be there to listen and film it. This, while a very expensive thing to do, could be a huge boost to my vertical....literally. Don't expect video of this till the weekend though.
Today's workout was fair. I did my jog/run sprints with no side effects. Watching myself in the video where I "sprint" is kinda embarrassing, so i have a side quest now, which is to look like I'm sprinting when I feel like I'm sprinting! Gotta raise those knees!
PS- Thanks to those who comment about the importance of stretching. I agree, and that support will get me through the extra few seconds of holding a stretch till it hurts.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Day 30
Monday
Wasn't really sore today, but my body was broken down and exhausted from the good Sunday workout. I remembered at the last second I need to alternate days on my jog/run, so as not to pull my quads again. So I will do them again on Tuesday.
Here's my video for beginning of week 5 (end of week 4). I decided to change things up and go with all hot new Swedish music, that of Peter, Bjorn, & John, and The Tough Alliance. Enjoy.
(by the way, my video is out of sync, AGAIN. What's up, youtube???)
update:
got the sync to work, with .mp4...but the picture quality stinks now...oh well...i'll figure it out
Also, you can see the previous weekly recaps here:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Wasn't really sore today, but my body was broken down and exhausted from the good Sunday workout. I remembered at the last second I need to alternate days on my jog/run, so as not to pull my quads again. So I will do them again on Tuesday.
Here's my video for beginning of week 5 (end of week 4). I decided to change things up and go with all hot new Swedish music, that of Peter, Bjorn, & John, and The Tough Alliance. Enjoy.
(by the way, my video is out of sync, AGAIN. What's up, youtube???)
update:
got the sync to work, with .mp4...but the picture quality stinks now...oh well...i'll figure it out
Also, you can see the previous weekly recaps here:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Day 29
Sunday
Benchmark Day
Today went well. I'll hopefully have a video up by Tuesday morning.
I'm going to add a little more stretching and jumping jacks to my routine, and re-introduce the jog/sprint drill.
I weighed 195 today, the lowest yet! I think I finally got all the peanut butter and matzah from Passover out of my system.
Benchmark Day
Today went well. I'll hopefully have a video up by Tuesday morning.
I'm going to add a little more stretching and jumping jacks to my routine, and re-introduce the jog/sprint drill.
I weighed 195 today, the lowest yet! I think I finally got all the peanut butter and matzah from Passover out of my system.
Day 28
Saturday
Didn't jog today, but I hiked. I still did jumprope, and because I had more energy without the jog, it was my best jumprope yet. It's only been 2 weeks of it, so any change is good!
Tomorrow is a benchmark day. We're not even sure what I should be doing, since my joints are bugging me. All our efforts to talk to different trainers have strangely hit road blocks, although I expect those blocks to clear up this week. We'll do something on Sunday, and capture it on video.
Didn't jog today, but I hiked. I still did jumprope, and because I had more energy without the jog, it was my best jumprope yet. It's only been 2 weeks of it, so any change is good!
Tomorrow is a benchmark day. We're not even sure what I should be doing, since my joints are bugging me. All our efforts to talk to different trainers have strangely hit road blocks, although I expect those blocks to clear up this week. We'll do something on Sunday, and capture it on video.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Day 27
Friday
Woke up and my weight is still 199. I felt dejected and didn't feel like running. I still feel heavy, there's no pep, and my joints hurt. But i said screw it and ran even harder still. Tomorrow, I repeat.
Woke up and my weight is still 199. I felt dejected and didn't feel like running. I still feel heavy, there's no pep, and my joints hurt. But i said screw it and ran even harder still. Tomorrow, I repeat.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Day 24
Tuesday
Another fine workout today. That's it. Trying to figure out how much to push it, and how much to be careful with my knees.
Another fine workout today. That's it. Trying to figure out how much to push it, and how much to be careful with my knees.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Day 22-23
Sunday, Monday
Yesterday and today were good basic workouts. I'm feeling good. With the caveat that my knees are definitely not happy, but trooping along.
Yesterday i put in 15 hours at work and didn't get home till 3am. Nonetheless, I woke up and worked out after six hours of sleep! I don't know that I've ever done that! Being dedicated is fun. Except for the days when it's a grind. Sometimes when I'm jogging, I wish I had undertaken this quest in college...or better yet...done more exploring on jump mechanics in highschool when i was 3 inches away.
ESPN's Sportsguy put up a great jumping link of a Kansas City Royals OF jumping over cars.
Yesterday and today were good basic workouts. I'm feeling good. With the caveat that my knees are definitely not happy, but trooping along.
Yesterday i put in 15 hours at work and didn't get home till 3am. Nonetheless, I woke up and worked out after six hours of sleep! I don't know that I've ever done that! Being dedicated is fun. Except for the days when it's a grind. Sometimes when I'm jogging, I wish I had undertaken this quest in college...or better yet...done more exploring on jump mechanics in highschool when i was 3 inches away.
ESPN's Sportsguy put up a great jumping link of a Kansas City Royals OF jumping over cars.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Day 21
Saturday
Just did a good hike with dogs today, and then ran out of time and had to go into work. Knees are definitely an issue, and i need to find some flexibility exercises to do. Overall though, I'm feeling healthier and peppier. It'll be only 3 weeks on Sunday, afterall.
I'm putting in at least a 10 hour workday tomorrow, so I'm gonna try to workout, hike dogs, then go into work.
Probably no video this week....though there's a chance I'll have a video surprise midweek...
Just did a good hike with dogs today, and then ran out of time and had to go into work. Knees are definitely an issue, and i need to find some flexibility exercises to do. Overall though, I'm feeling healthier and peppier. It'll be only 3 weeks on Sunday, afterall.
I'm putting in at least a 10 hour workday tomorrow, so I'm gonna try to workout, hike dogs, then go into work.
Probably no video this week....though there's a chance I'll have a video surprise midweek...
Friday, April 6, 2007
Day 20
Friday
Good workout today - I'm getting better at jumprope, albeit in small increments. I can also do the squeeze grip thingy better than 3 weeks ago.
After watching the videos of myself, and after working out for a few weeks now, one thing is clear: I only have a fraction of my old flexibility. Heck, I tried to squat today for the first time, and it hurt when I went down about the quarter of the way. This would explain why my knees are so sore. Why didn't I try a squatting test in the beginning of this quest? I have no idea. Although, I often enter ignorantly into large undertakings, or else I would never do them.
Looks like there won't be a video this week. Not only am I not jump testing, I don't think I'll do an official workout, because I'll be sitting in front of a computer at work all weekend. I will do my basic workouts though....I might film a flexibility test for a trainer to analyze, in which case I'd post it for comedy purposes.
Good workout today - I'm getting better at jumprope, albeit in small increments. I can also do the squeeze grip thingy better than 3 weeks ago.
After watching the videos of myself, and after working out for a few weeks now, one thing is clear: I only have a fraction of my old flexibility. Heck, I tried to squat today for the first time, and it hurt when I went down about the quarter of the way. This would explain why my knees are so sore. Why didn't I try a squatting test in the beginning of this quest? I have no idea. Although, I often enter ignorantly into large undertakings, or else I would never do them.
Looks like there won't be a video this week. Not only am I not jump testing, I don't think I'll do an official workout, because I'll be sitting in front of a computer at work all weekend. I will do my basic workouts though....I might film a flexibility test for a trainer to analyze, in which case I'd post it for comedy purposes.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Day 18-19
Wednesday, Thursday
Today I made some good scratch on the stock market during my jog. If that's not incentive, what is? Oh yeah, the glory of the dunk!
The last 2 days have been good basic workouts:
1. Jog
2. Sideways Run
3. Stability Squats
4. Jumprope
The jumprope is gonna take time to get good and in shape, but it's much less impactful than any kind of plyometric training. I feel good about continuing this program for another week. I'm also considering cancelling my jumptest this Sunday, to give more rest to my knee.
I also have family in town, and have to work this weekend. I will still exercise though! This whole busy-with-work threat should die down after Monday....should...OK, it's 9pm, so back to work for a couple of more hours...poo..
Today I made some good scratch on the stock market during my jog. If that's not incentive, what is? Oh yeah, the glory of the dunk!
The last 2 days have been good basic workouts:
1. Jog
2. Sideways Run
3. Stability Squats
4. Jumprope
The jumprope is gonna take time to get good and in shape, but it's much less impactful than any kind of plyometric training. I feel good about continuing this program for another week. I'm also considering cancelling my jumptest this Sunday, to give more rest to my knee.
I also have family in town, and have to work this weekend. I will still exercise though! This whole busy-with-work threat should die down after Monday....should...OK, it's 9pm, so back to work for a couple of more hours...poo..
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Day17
Tuesday
OK, so, I had a shoot today, it went great. All they ordered for lunch was In-n-Out, so I got an "animal style" protein, which means really sloppy burger with lettuce instead of a bun (Passover). Then for dinner i pigged out on sushe and beef. This can't be good for the quest.
Oh, and i haven't worked out for 2 days. This morning I weighed more, at 201
So I start again tomorrow... But this is all part of the divine plan, to help my knee.
OK, so, I had a shoot today, it went great. All they ordered for lunch was In-n-Out, so I got an "animal style" protein, which means really sloppy burger with lettuce instead of a bun (Passover). Then for dinner i pigged out on sushe and beef. This can't be good for the quest.
Oh, and i haven't worked out for 2 days. This morning I weighed more, at 201
So I start again tomorrow... But this is all part of the divine plan, to help my knee.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Day 16
Monday
Just like last week, today was my true day off, and i didn't work out. My knee is definitely not as sore, though it's popping like a knuckle a lot, something it's never done....And I do not like that.
Unfortunately, tomorrow might be my first missed workout day related to work, because I'm directing some spots for Discovery Channel. Maybe the shoot will finish early? But I'll be on my feet all day, and should probably not push it....again. I feel like I'm falling a week behind. Though, it's only been 2 weeks as it is. Gotta keep some perspective.
Here's the TK link of the designer here in LA who was a pro-baller in Asia.
Just like last week, today was my true day off, and i didn't work out. My knee is definitely not as sore, though it's popping like a knuckle a lot, something it's never done....And I do not like that.
Unfortunately, tomorrow might be my first missed workout day related to work, because I'm directing some spots for Discovery Channel. Maybe the shoot will finish early? But I'll be on my feet all day, and should probably not push it....again. I feel like I'm falling a week behind. Though, it's only been 2 weeks as it is. Gotta keep some perspective.
Here's the TK link of the designer here in LA who was a pro-baller in Asia.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Day 14
Saturday
Saturday is supposed to be my "day off", according to educated guesses and not a professional, as I haven't met with one yet. But I still did the dog hike (we hiked to the top of Griffith Park and saw choppers cycling through constantly to load up with water to put out the Universal City brushfire), and I jogged. Maybe the gods didn't want me jogging, because at the end a bird shit on my wristwatch and shirt.
I also did sideways running, some call it "grapevine", to make sure i don't underdevelop my side stability muscles.
I'm still being vexed by dunk videos. I found out an illustrator/designer in my motion graphics industry was a pro basketball star in Asia. Ohhhh, they make it look so easy. (lost the link momentarily)...here it is .
Saturday is supposed to be my "day off", according to educated guesses and not a professional, as I haven't met with one yet. But I still did the dog hike (we hiked to the top of Griffith Park and saw choppers cycling through constantly to load up with water to put out the Universal City brushfire), and I jogged. Maybe the gods didn't want me jogging, because at the end a bird shit on my wristwatch and shirt.
I also did sideways running, some call it "grapevine", to make sure i don't underdevelop my side stability muscles.
I'm still being vexed by dunk videos. I found out an illustrator/designer in my motion graphics industry was a pro basketball star in Asia. Ohhhh, they make it look so easy. (lost the link momentarily)...here it is .
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