Blue Hawaii.

Music by ASTR.

This week was amazeballs.

That is not a word.

So because I deploy a lot, when I get back from deployment I get what's called post-deployment leave. That's up to three free days of leave. Yes, I said free. What that meant for me this past week was that I worked Monday and I worked Friday - I did not have to go in for that obnoxious middle part.
Whaaaaat?! Yes. That happened.

What did I do with all that time? Oh, I just went snowboarding every single day. Yeah, I did that. And it was a much needed vacation.

Suffice it to say, I met my workout quota of the week.

Also, I spent a majority of the time with a GoPro strapped to my chest or in my hand. I got a lot of video footage of myself and some friends boarding (read: wiping out) that I am now piecing together in an epic montage.

(Huge thanks to youtube for providing me with how-to videos)
Alright, back to my corner to work on this editing bit.
-Jamie

Gooey.

Music by Glass Animals.

Why doesn't everyone love exercise?! I don't get it. It's hard, I get that much. You tire easily, you don't want to lift heavy things right now, you don't want to get sweaty, you don't have the money to be part of a gym, etc. I've heard so many excuses. But.. but.. it's FUN. Well, not the act of it.

The results. I absolutely love seeing the results of my hard work. They make themselves known when I set a personal record during a 5k road race. They show up when I don't get out of breath walking up ten flights of stairs. They appear magically when I have to lift a 50-70lb box off the ground to put it on a shelf. It's not even about looking good... though that certainly is appealing to me. It's about knowing my body will carry me through life and not break down through non-use. It's knowing that I did everything I could to make my body work to its design.

I got into a bit of a tiff with my younger bro over Skype last night. He works in a kitchen as one of the top guys and claims that his shifts there are definitely workout enough. I disagreed, to which he got very offended- because I "don't know the half of his job." No, I know little to absolutely nothing about working on the line in a kitchen. But I do know the physical demands of working on a flight line and in a plane for about 14 hours a day. I know what physically demanding jobs are. Though now that I'm reviewing the conversation in my head, he did have a point. My brother doesn't spend an hour almost every day at the gym a week. He hasn't been working out consistently for the past two or three years like I have. So maybe this job is as demanding as he can take right now. That's okay.

The conversation actually started because I think he should be doing something else in his free time other than going into his job early. Cool that you love your job, bro, but you need a hobby.

Gettin' ripped is my hobby. For now.
Anyway, progress update- set a personal record for my deadlift (#245).

And for the next week, I'll get to snowboard four times. How lucky am I?!
Go fitness!
-Jamie

March: Get fit(ter).

March

Get fit(ter).

- Work out at least five times a week.

- Incorporate more cardio.

- Vary between biking, running, and swimming.

- Monitor weight fluctuation.

- Keep tabs on personal records.

Okay okay, so this month will be an easy one for me. I love working out. I love getting sweaty, walking around the sweaty gym, staring at all the sweaty people on their sweaty machines, etc.

A few years ago I got into crossfit because a friend of mine had his certification to instruct. So I went. I spent an hour learning how to throw a kettlebell around, squatting as they say people in third world countries do naturally during every day activities, and participating in my very first miniature WOD (workout of the day). I walked away from that building with a desire to be fit.

Skipping all the other things that led me into a life of fitness, since I'm saving that speech for when I complete my first marathon (this December), I will say that the path I've traversed has been a fun one. Living in Hawaii taught me appreciation for things like hiking and surfing, while my last relationship found me participating in cycling and running events. These days I'm much more into free weights and Olympic lifting, and I just set a PR for my deadlift at #245... My fitness world is varied.

Since I started cutting out wheat products last June and dedicating more time to consistent workouts, I've lost roughly 15lbs and stay around that weight normally. However, recently I've begun slipping from that controlled 'diet,' and the workouts are no longer as intense as before.

Not this month! I will not promise to workout every day, because I've already broken that, and sometimes a girl just needs some rest. But I do promise to make my absolute best effort in working out at least five, if not six times a week. These workouts will be intense some days and light on others. I just really need to get back into that dedication and hard work frame of mind.

Plus, I'm going to Australia at the end of the month to visit a friend.

I need to look fit.

Oh, and I signed up for that silly marathon at the end of the year... should probably really get into running shape.

-Jamie