Random Reading

Intensity (in Ten Cities)
"Secrets" to Gaining Muscle
T-Nation on Getting Ready for the Oly-Lifts
Is Exercise Important?
The Role of Post-Exercise Nutrition
Uni-Lateral Leg Strength
The Squat: It could be good for your vertical jump
Does Exercise Keep Kids Off of Drugs?
The New Yorker: Mark Zuckerberg

Enjoy!

Slip Up

Whoops. I’ve been doing pretty well with my clean eating project. Only eating desserts at appropriate times and not daily. But today was a slip up day. Free donuts and an ice cream sandwich. Let’s see if I can stop myself before I get started.

In other news: 2 weeks left on this cycle. Still going strong. 4x4 day sucked, especially in the Larchmont NYSC. Because of my ADD I’m getting antsy to start a new cycle but I have to be patient for 2 more weeks so that I can test my new 1-RM’s.

Update

I'm 3 weeks (half way) through the 6-week Russian Program. I'm beat and a little sore but I feel great. The 6x2 recovery days at 80% are feeling light and easy. Next week starts the increased weight portion. Should be interesting. I'll try to give updates as I go along. Big thanks to Tanner yesterday for showing up and keeping me motivated. He didn't have to do any yelling and hollering, just showing up and keeping me accountable was necesssary. It's amazing how a head ache can go away when you actually want to do something.

So far, the "better" eating is going fairly well. No desserts as of yet. Banana Nut Bread French Toast with some bacon, sausage and eggs for breakfast this morning.

30-Day Plan

Lately (or for the past 25 years) my diet has been crap. This is no secret. I enjoy DQ Blizzards, I enjoy awful burgers (the Vandross) and on occasion, a donut. All of these are facts. But recently, mostly over the course of this summer, I have been enjoying these a little too much. I know how I should eat. Lean meats, lots of veggies, fruits… But that just hasn’t been happening.

So, I’ve decided to do a 30-day clean diet challenge. From 9/2 to 10/2 I will be eating much cleaner. It’s a sad day, really. This isn’t so much for a body composition transformation (although, admittedly, I should probably start wearing a B-Cup) as much as it is a project to make me feel better. I’m becoming lethargic, practically falling asleep at work. I don’t have as much motivation around the house or to do fun things with my wife.

Rules:

1. Quantity of food is immaterial, only food quality

2. Dairy is OK. I need to replace the lost calories from potato chips

3. I will have dessert during “couples night”

4. No soda, not even diet

That’s about it. Stuffing myself to the rafters with shrimp and asparagus cooked in coconut milk (quite possibly tonight’s dinner) is A-OK.

I will try to keep an accurate food journal to see how progress goes.

Testosterone Rises When Lifting Weights

Denise Minger on 'The China Study'