What's your hobby?
I had an interesting email from a friend about the post I put up yesterday. This is what she wrote -
Hey, I really like your last post. I like the stuff that makes you think about who you are and what you sub consciously do. Improving self awareness is a good hobby!
She has a really good point! I have never thought about self-improvement as a "hobby", but it makes sense. We invest so much time trying to make ourselves look better by training or buying new clothes, but how much time do we invest in our own well being?
Why don't you give it a go and see if it makes any difference to your day!!!
Cheers
Chris van Hoof
Chisel Fitness Master Trainer
Have you met your training personality???
I have been training pretty hard this week (it's the only way isn't it?) and in doing so have been analysing the above question.
It seems that when I am fully committed to a training program my personality takes on a different role at various times throughout the week.
Early on in the week, once I have completed a really good session, I can become a little too serious and preoccupied. I begin to look towards the next session and spend a lot of time planning and thinking about what I should be doing in terms of recovery, nutrition, sleep etc...
Later in the week once I have completed my final interval session (Thursday) or gym session (Friday) I seem to float out of the gym and regain a new sense of vigour for the coming weekend.
And it's not only me who notices this. My fiance, along with people at work and friends, have all noticed these changes at various times. I am really lucky that my fiance understands me well and therefore knows that if I am pre-occupied during the week it is only because I am focused on achieving my short and long term goals. By the time the weekend comes along I "freshen" up and it's all fun and games.
I think it's important that everyone asks themselves the above question. If you are going to be training hard to achieve your goals you need to know how it affects other area's of your life. This can only result in greater understanding that will help you to become more efficient in your training, and ensure that you enjoy all the benefits of investing in a healthy lifestyle.
So go on....ask yourself......what type of training personality do you have?
Cheers
Chris van Hoof
Chisel Fitness Master Trainer
Chisel Fitness Exclusive!!!!
Some really exciting news for all to keep an eye out for. Chisel Fitness will be making an exclusive announcement next week so check back after the weekend for more news!!!!!
Cheers
Chris van Hoof
Chisel Fitness Master Trainer
Thank God its Friday!!!!
A couple of weeks ago I started a new program that includes high intensity resistance work in the gym and a couple of pretty intense interval running sessions.
I am really enjoying the program and feel that I getting some great results but towards the end of the week I don't have too much left in my tank.
So after a week of getting up at 4.30am to train clients and squeezing in my own sessions, it gives me great pleasure to report the completion of my last session earlier this morning.
With a clear conscience I can enjoy the weekend and possibly fit in a gentle jog or bike ride to cap off a good week.
Cheers
Chris van Hoof
Chisel Fitness Master Trainer
5 Minute Chest & Arms
In yesterday's blog I mentioned a section of my workout that I call 5 Minute Chest and 5 Minute Arms. Here is what they are -
5 MINUTE CHEST - Do this workout set for 5 minutes continuously
Choose a weight that you can usually complete 12-15 DB flys with. Set the bench at a slight incline (no more than 30 degrees) and do one set of eight flys. At the top of the last fly hold the weights for 15 seconds, then do more flys till fatigue.
When fatigue sets in hold the weights at the top for another 15 seconds and then do DB Chest press till fatigue. Hold weights at top for another 15 seconds and repeat until fatigued.
Set the weights down and complete as many wide push ups as you can. Have a rest and continue to do push ups with rest until the full 5 minutes is up!
How does that feel?
5 MINUTE ARMS - As above take 5 minutes to complete this set.
Choose one bicep exercise (EZ bar curls, hammer curls, cable curls etc...) and one tricep exercise (Dips, Rope extensions etc...).
Find a weight for either of them that you can complete 12 reps with. For 5 continuous minutes do 6 reps of one exercise then 6 of the other without rest. Keep moving between the 2 exercises until the 5 minutes is up. Nice!
Include these two work sets at the end of your workouts and you will soon see a difference to chest/arm strength as well as size.
Chris van Hoof
Chisel Fitness Master Trainer
Here he goes again!!!
Well I know I have said this before but here it goes again.....I am going to post my daily exercise on the site for 2 reasons!
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To make sure I do them and don't skip any workouts
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So that I commit some time each day to working on the site and continue developing it
So today I was in the gym - a nice hard whole body workout. Here is what I did -
SUPERSET 1
DB Snatch and Press
BB Squats
Single arm DB row
SUPERSET 2
Deadlift
30sec Burpees
CORE CONDITIONING
Included 007's, Plank, Swiss ball knee tuck, Leg raises
And also a little something I like to call 5 minute chest and 5 minute arms. I will outline exactly what these are at a later date.
Off to bed now in preparation for some intervals tomorrow morning.
Keep training!!!
Chris van Hoof
Chisel Fitness Master Trainer
Exercise & Blog Adherance
Hello again.......after what has been quite a substantial break!
Everytime we start to get into the pattern of regular updates it seems that team at Chisel take on another project that take up more time than intended.
For now we are back into the swing of things, so keep an eye out for some exciting changes to the site in the coming weeks.
In the meantime I will continue to post blogs about my training in the lead up to the Northern Hemisphere summer, as I attempt to increase lean muscle mass and decrease body fat percentage.
Here is what has taken place today so far
INTERVAL RUNS IN THE PARK
5 minute warm up
10 X 30 sec sprint with 90 second recovery.
5 minute warm down and stretch
As well as this I have ridden to and from work each day - in total approximately 20km at moderate intensity.
Stay tuned
Cheers
Chris van Hoof
Chisel Fitness Master Trainer