2018-05-21: Addition by Addition (aka the limits of elimination)

grolelo (53)in #blog • 6 years ago

Shallow Thoughts

If anyone ever asks you the best way to train grip strength, the answer is "pulling weeds":

I have no idea what this weed is called, but it's in the grass family, so it can't be killed with typical broadleaf weed killers (i.e. Roundup) and get stronger with every mow. The only way to kill it is to pull it, and I've got the technique down to a science. . . gather the stolons, grip as close to the base with you bare hands, and pull and twist. It helps if the ground is wet. Clearing a lawn of this menace probably gives the grim the same workout as a kettlebell session, and you get that wonderful sense of satisfaction that comes with a job well done.

Deep Thoughts

I've been trying to hack myself lately by eliminating unnecessary things:

Coffee - down to one per day, morning only, switched lunch to black tea
Sugar - down to one piece of chocolate bark per day, with lunch
Dinner carbs - switched to a potato or small serving of "standard" carbs
Sleep - kids stopped waking up, so I'm sleeping through the night, and without apnea
Alcohol - down to one beer per week, always on Friday or Saturday

With all these changes, I felt a bit better, but still lacked energy and engagement. And then I realized something that I had slipped by the wayside during this extreme elimination. . . exercise. I hadn't had a proper workout in several weeks. I told myself that all the dog walks and yard work counted, but I realize now that I'm lying to myself. If I don't get a REAL strength training session in daily, I don't get the biochemical boost that comes with it. I forced a kettlebell workout between my morning meetings today and feel MUCH better for the effort.

Now to make it consistent...