Topic: jag-jit's journal (Take 2)

[gadget23]

hey everyone. it's gadget23 (formerly J_T_K_007). i had started a journal a while ago, but i sorta left it alone, so I am starting a new one now. feels kinda refreshing 

About me:
Name: Jagjit
Age: 14
Location: FL
Height: about 5'8"
Weight: 165lbs 

[gadget23]

Ok. So here are some very short term goals I would like accomplished:

Run 2 miles
Do 25 pushups
Do 10 pullups
Do 5 dips

Long term goals:

Decrease mile time
Increase agility
Increase my general strength
Lose fat

Concerning short term goals:
I can run about 1.5 mi now. I have decided to follow this: http://runnersworld.com/cda/smartcoach/beginner/0,7146,s6-238-277-278-0,00.html It caters to running two miles within 8 weeks, at a slow pace. I skipped ahead to week 2, because I thought week 1 would be too easy.
I can do about 5 pushups now, and I will probably GTG to increase that
Pullups=Pushups (except i can only do 1 pullup)
Dips: I can do like half a dip, i'll work on getting to 1, and then GTG from there.

All this and more pretty much explained in this thread: http://www.americanparkour.com/smf/index.php?topic=8869.0 

[gadget23]

3/24

I did 2min running, 1min walking, repeated 10x. It was insanely harder than I thought it would. But it felt good to finish.

That's all for today, I will diversify my workouts soon.

[gadget23]

3/25

Hanging (sort of?) leg raises 10x4
Pushups 5x4
Chinups (not pullups) 5 total: 2 regular, 3 negative
Dips: I tried as hard as I could, and I managed to do like half a dip. Twice. I think my arms were too sore from the pushups...

Feel kind of sore now. Cardio again tomorrow, can't wait.

question: For the pushups, i do 20 total. Does the whole add-1-every-day thing work? because i might try it out.

[gadget23]

3/26

I felt got sick today, so I skipped my workout. Plus i gotta study for midterms tomorrow.

I'll double up tomorrow, cuz its the beginning of break. woo! 

[gadget23]

3/27

Hanging leg raises 10x4 +1
Pushups 5x4 +1
Chinups (on a proper bar this time) 1x5 +1

didn't dip or do cardio like i said i would... 

[gadget23]

3/28

I didn't run, but i got some insane cardio, i screwed around in the pool for a couple of hours.

[gadget23]

3/29

rest day.

[gadget23]

3/30

another rest day.

[gadget23]

Ok i've got a problem. As you can see, last week I didn't stick to my routine as well as I was supposed to. So i'm going to revamp my effort.

I am going to start on week 1 of the runner's world beginner program: http://runnersworld.com/cda/smartcoach/beginner/0,7146,s6-238-277-278-0,00.html
I also will have to do it twice every time, once at my pace, then once so my sister can workout with me at a slower pace.

Also, concerning the strength training: I'm afraid of the "plateau effect," so I am going to switch up my workout a little. So it'll look like this:

Strength training

Week 1
Tues:  Bodyweight
Thurs:  Bodyweight
Sat:  Bodyweight

Week 2
Tues:  Bodyweight again
Thurs:  Bodyweight again
Sat:  Bodyweight again

Week 3
Tues:  Weights
Thurs:  Weights
Sat:  Weights

And repeat... this'll make it so I don't get bored.

With bodyweight: Pushups, pullups, leg raises, dips, squats, and i'll add a rep every day i workout.
With weights: Benching, rowing, curling (yeah i know its iso...), squatting, and those other leg workouts that I have to figure out (cleans, snatches, jerks or whatever)

Also: i need to get my diet in order. For breakfast, i had cookies and leftover pizza. Now i feel sick.

Hopefully that cardio will be enough to get me 65 miles this month, because I committed myself to that, here:  http://www.americanparkour.com/smf/index.php?topic=9045.0

[gadget23]

3/31

http://runnersworld.com/cda/smartcoach/beginner/0,7146,s6-238-277-278-0,00.html

I followed day 1 perfectly. Plus, it wasn't too hard.

I wanted to go again w/ my sister, but she was tired, so I went out again for about 15 minutes with my friend.

[David Glass]

Also, concerning the strength training: I'm afraid of the "plateau effect," so I am going to switch up my workout a little. So it'll look like this:

Gadget,

Why are you concerned about the plateu effect? Is this from a strength perspective, or do you feel at your age in will hinder growth?

Please ellaborate

[gadget23]

No, it's purely from a strength perspective. The plateau effect is this: if you do the same thing over and over, the effect of that stimulus will "stabilize" over time.

For example, if I do 10 squats a day, 3 days a week, after a while, my legs will get used to it, and the muscle gain will become minimal. So in order to keep gaining muscle, I must change up the routine, so that my muscles don't get used to the workout.

The plateau effect can be applied to many things, including weight loss, muscle gain, drug use, etc.

Hope this helps 

[gadget23]

4/1

Hanging leg raises 10x4 +2
Pushups 5x4 +2
Chinups (on a proper bar this time) 1x5 +2
Squats 10x2

I ran 2.02 miles today, the first day i've gone above 1.5 miles. I think that was the hardest half mile of my life.

[gadget23]

4/2

I had to babysit my little cousins, so I was stuck at home all day. They are annoying as hell...

Since I couldn't follow the training program, I'll do it tomorrow.

[David Glass]

No, it's purely from a strength perspective. The plateau effect is this: if you do the same thing over and over, the effect of that stimulus will "stabilize" over time.

For example, if I do 10 squats a day, 3 days a week, after a while, my legs will get used to it, and the muscle gain will become minimal. So in order to keep gaining muscle, I must change up the routine, so that my muscles don't get used to the workout.

The plateau effect can be applied to many things, including weight loss, muscle gain, drug use, etc.

Hope this helps 

OK, perfect. Then you are right by switching it around. 

[gadget23]

4/3

Hanging leg raises 10x4 +3
Pushups 5x4 +3
Chinups 1x5 +3
Squats 10x2

Plus 2.07 miles split up throughout the day.

[gadget23]

4/4

I followed the 8 wk program effectively for this day, except for this: I stopped at 20 minutes, because I think i'm getting shin splints.

It was about 1.5 mi total, .5 of them running.

[gadget23]

4/5

I followed the training program properly. walk 2 min, run 1 min. repeat 10x.

I will soon start doing strength training on saturdays aswell.

[gadget23]

4/6

rest day. stupid homework...