I must say this is the one of the busiest weeks I have had in a long time…but…it’s all good!  Coming off the heels of the fitness conference last weekend I have been swamped with clients, I was highlighted in a regional newpaper special pull out section and I have refocused my goals with blogging.

I will continue to give commentary as usual.  I will also be adding more pertinent information on how to reach your fitness goals at home.  More articles, tips, and videos each and every week.  I have purposely been writing about the human side of things and how that relates to fitness.  That will not change as I believe without talking about that side of the coin – we will all be in trouble.

I have been “practicing” my video skills lately so here is my first go at it.  This was a short video I took with the Flip Video Camera.  Wow have things changed!  It’s so easy!  I uploaded this onto my YouTube Channel in about 10 minutes.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBYWdqgyxMw]

Now for todays tip for working out at home…

Read the rest of this entry »

When talking about “failure” in relation to a workout I would like to explain more about relative intensity first.

Relative intensity allows ANYONE to perform a certain amount of work within a certain period of time.  Some more – some less.  It depends on the individual, experience, strength, endurance, energy level, sleep, etc.  Taking what your body will give you is paramount to success in any exercise program, no matter what the goal.

Many people have used “forced reps” as a training technique especially in the realm of body building and in the pursuit of a “bigger bench press”. The though of failure as it pertains to anything is not usually associated with anything good or positive.

Failure during a set of push ups, for example, is very positive and a great way to get through a plateau.

Appy this principle to any workout.  Here is a clear example, and possibly the best way to explain what I am trying to convey:

1.)  Push ups
2.)  Pull ups or assisted pull ups

Complete as many reps as possible (to failure) for 5 sets.  Done.

If you neet to increase the intensity from there…complete the 5 sets in as little time as possible.

As a side note:  I have not gone near anything even related to a bench press in over 6 months, but instead have been consistently performing my 10 minute whole body workouts and workouts like the one above.

Yesterday I did 5 sets of dumbbell presses (flat) with 80 pound dumbbells for 10-10-8-6-4 reps AFTER sets of pull ups to failure.  By no means is this impressive to half the guys reading this but for me, who never reached the 225 mark on a flat bench…it’s huge!

Dare to fail.  Succeed.  Win

Dave
www.homeofficeworkouts.com

Surprisingly, last week I was notified by the biggest article directory service on the net that that I had been upgraded to Expert Author Status. 

My articles will be on their high traffic home page and they will also be sent to their exclusive RSS feed and to their proprietary email alert system which is a member service use by thousands upon thousands of people including the media outlets.

I am not telling you this to boast.

The truth is I used to hate writing.  I had no writing skills and I had no confidence in my ability, or lack there of, to put any thoughts in text what so ever.

In the past when I had to write because of necessity, the first thing I would do is ask my wife Andrea to proof read it so she could basically tear it apart and start over.  9 times out of 10 when Andrea would show me the finished product very little of what I had written was left.  I still think she is better at it than I am.

So what happened?

I had a goal.  A dream if you will. 

I have a strong desire to share my thoughts on fitness and life for that matter with the world.  I want to contribute.  I want to leave a mark.  If just one person out of the many all over the world who read my posts and articles can benefit…I am a happy man.

With this desire – I started.  I stayed consistent.  I became better.

Many people have the fear of never reaching their weight loss or fitness goals so they never begin the journey.  Who knows what will happen.  If you never start – you will never know.

Start.  Get better.  Win.

Dave
www.homeofficeworkouts.com