Make it challenging...

My cardio routine is getting much easier, and I no longer dread the 20-40 minutes of time it takes to complete the exercise. We have an elliptical machine at home that we purchased last year for the Andrea and I to use, but mainly for her when she didn't have time to make it to the gym. Andrea also has the 80g IPOD which allows you to watch movies, videos, tv shows, or listen to music while you work out. I've watched "The Italian Job" and "The Bourne Identity" a few times each just while using the elliptical.

When I first started the elliptical, I used the setting for a flat course. On the third session I moved to a rolling hill course, where the tension increases during the uphill, and it lessens on the downhill. I'm going to experiment with other courses that vary with hill height and greater incline and decline. My main objective now though is to push my workouts to range between 30 and 50 minutes each session.

Brian gave me a schedule to use, based on 3-4 workouts a week.
Week1
Day 1 - 20-25 minutes
Day 2 - 25-30 minutes
Day 3 - 30-35 minutes
Day 4 - 35-40 minutes

Week 2
Day 1 - 25-30 minutes
Day 2 - 30-35 minutes
Day 3 - 35-40 minutes
Day 4 - 40-45 minutes

Week 3
Day 1 - 30-35 minutes
Day 2 - 35-40 minutes
Day 3 - 40-45 minutes
Day 4 - 45-50 minutes

and cycle back to Week 1

If I'm trying to lose weight, the sessions can go longer, but always cycle up in length each day, and week, and back to week1 after the third week.

I usually try to drink plenty of water leading up to my cardio and weightlifting exercises. But I will stop during my workout to rehydrate every 10-15 minutes. If I were riding a stationary bike, I would keep riding while re-hydrating.

I think I'm ready to try Wallyball this week...keep your fingers crossed, hopefully no setbacks for my knees. If wallyball works, then I will give racquetball a try!!!

I hope you like the new font size...I know I do. Learn something new every day!!!

"PRO"

skipped Monday for Tuesday...

I skipped my workout on Monday and will workout Tuesday Friday this week. Again, I worked out on the same schedule as last time with dinner around 6pm and starting my workout around 7pm. I was home by 8:15pm, but did not do any cardio yesterday.

My fatigue factor was far less as my third set of each exercise was almost as good as my first. If it works out like this again next week I will move up in weight. My weight gain has leveled off and I actually have lost a couple of pounds since last Friday.

I have not been able to work any golf swings into my post-workout routine, but I do take about 5 minutes each day to make a few swings practicing technique. For those of you who are just starting to read my blog, I am looking to create a workout that will help me improve the swing changes I have made in the last 15 months.

On an unrelated topic, how bout them Cats last night. That was a big win for Gillespie and the players. Not much positive has been found in their play this year, and Gillespie has really made some odd decisions on players, practicing and communication. His madness seems to be working now, but it's still a long way to March! Win or lose last night, they competed and were fun to watch! That's all I can ask!!!

New stats...

Reading through my new GolfWorld magazine and the PGA tour has a new feature debuting in Shotlink giving stats on ball speeds, swing speeds and ball flight. It is amazing what technology can do these days. JB Holmes leads all of the stats that deal with distance: clubhead speed (124.89mph), ball speed (184.22mph) and carry distance (298.8yds). Only two other players, Bubba Watson (294.9) and Dustin Johnson (291.3) were within 15 yards of JB's average



Just for some perspective...298.8 yards of carry on our hole #8 would put him in the middle of the tall grass behind the green. This is just his average in Hawaii (at sea level)...so I'm sure he could carry it further on occasions. Holes #4, 5 and 6 would also be drivable for JB on our front nine. My clubhead speed measured last summer was around 110mph with a ball speed around 165mph which puts me right on the field average for last weeks event at The Sony. Brian Gay is on the other end of the power statitics: clubhead speed (103.76mph), ball speed(151.35mph) trailing all other players in the field.

Another stat that I found interesting was for the highest drive apex: Alex Ching at 125ft. was the highest average and Charles Howell III at 55ft was the lowest. I know Charles can hit a very high ball, so he definitely made a change in his normal swing due to the windy conditions in Hawaii.

"PRO"