Hello guys! Happy Marvelous Monday!
It's Monday. Which means in about 2 hours I have to get my butt back up to school. Oh joy! This year has already gotten crazy. AP Language & Composition along with AP U.S. History are proving to be very challenging, but I can handle it because those are my two favorite subjects!
Anyways, let's get to the main point...
On Saturday, I went up to the gym for one of my non-traditional workouts. It was a little CrossFit like which I don't mind. I did hanging leg raises, reverse hyperextensions on a bench (so good for the booty), weighted battle rope pulls (which I significantly increased the weight on and man, it was actually a piece of cake), and finally medicine ball slams (which I upped the reps for).
The reverse hyperextension. I did these on by hanging on the back of a bench. They are so good for the booty! (Source)
...Dang. I just keep improving! It makes me so happy to see that. I am getting stronger, and with that, I am gaining more confidence than I could have ever imagined.
After that heart-pounding workout, I hopped on the stairmill. Guys, I have not been on that thing longer than about 10 minutes just to add a bit of shape to my legs. I haven't done any cardio except for occasionally running a few sprints.
So why did I try to bust 20 minutes on that thing? Well I have a motive...
At school, we have the dreaded heart rate monitors. Blegh. Basically, we are required to get 20 minutes in our "zone" to earn our grades. This means our heart rates have to be in the 130-180 range for 20 minutes.
Here's the problem: the kids that are more out of shape (and I am NOT picking on them, so don't go there) get their 20 minutes 10x faster than the more athletic kids. Why? Well, when you're more out of shape, your heart rate tends to get going a little bit faster than when you are in shape. Therefore, the out of shape kids can get to 130 with no problem.
Now, on the other hand... the more athletic kids literally (and excuse my French) have to bust their ass to get their heart rate to at least 130. I remember last year in the bike lab (where there were the stationary bikes), I literally had to put the level up to 10 and go so fast on that thing to get my heart rate to at least 130. Some of the other kids didn't have to pedal much and they got their 20 minutes.
Needless to say, this has caused a lot of problems in my school. So, they are trying to make it easier on the athletic kids. We are being tested with the pacer test, which if you are unaware of what that is, it's basically a test that measures your endurance by running back and forth to a certain point before you hear a beep. As you run back and forth more times, the beeps become much faster.
I want to pass this test. I have to get to a certain number of beeps to be declared eligible to get my heart rate monitor requirements moved down. If we get to that certain number, our monitors will be fixed so that we only have to get our heart rates to 120 for the minutes to start ticking down to be in our zone.
...Phew. You still with me?
Anyways, I went on the stairmill to test my endurance. I ended up alternating intervals at level 18 for 30 seconds and then going to level 10 for 30 seconds. It worked well and I was able to keep pushing, and I am sorry guys but by the time I got to 15 minutes, I was bored out of my mind. I simply just DON'T like doing cardio anymore besides sprints and plyometrics (LOVE my box jumps).
It's amazing, huh? I went from forcing myself to spend a whole HOUR on the elliptical a year ago to not even being able to do 20 minutes on the (more fun, in my opinion) stairmill out of sheer boredom. Seriously, weightlifting has completely changed me as a person. I kid you not. I didn't stop because I wasn't capable of going on, I stopped because I was so bored!
But at least I know that limiting my cardio has not had much of an effect on my endurance. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to knock this pacer test out of the park. If anything, I'm pretty good with willpower so even if I feel like I am really dying doing the test, knowing me I will probably just keep going until I get to the set number and then go puke my brains outs. Although, and I am not trying to come off as conceited, I think I'll be able to get to the set number and *hopefully* then some. Who knows? Maybe I'll go on for much longer than the required number.
Well I am done with my rambling now. I hope you all have a fantastic start to this new week!
Questions: Have you ever done a pacer test? Are you a cardio junkie or are you more into the weights like me?
Oh. It's been eons since I've do e reverse hypers!!
ReplyDeleteOh hey maybe you should try them this week ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely into lifting weights. Unfortunately, my gym is closed this week, so I may be upping my cardio a bit more than I like...I find cardio sometimes to be boring! But, there will variety in my day at least.
ReplyDeleteHehe I think cardio can be fun when you do HIIT intervals mixing in things like burpees, box jumps, jump squats, etc. :) Have fun!
DeleteI know i think it is crazy how when you are more fit it is harder to build up further endurance and muscle. good luck at school and what a great monday .... did you check out my blog? you probably should...
ReplyDeleteI LOVE YOU ALEX. THANK YOU :D
DeleteThat must be so frustrating!! For once the unathletic kids are winning ;)
ReplyDeleteIsnt getting stronger and stronger just the most amazing thing ever? I actually found a photo of myself pre-lifting the other day - it scared me, i'm naturally soooooo skinny. And these days i'm getting stronger and stronger - love it.(posted it on my blog if you're interested :))
Hahaha right?! And yes, it is SO amazing. Doing legs today, I could SEE my quad separation. There's nothing like it. I will DEFINITELY check that out my friend :)
DeleteThat is crazy you guys have to do that!? I remember pace test in 6th I got 60+, top 10 in school (: Good luck and obviously I am a cardio junkie I wish I was a lifter :(
ReplyDeleteNice! My goal is at least 40 but my gym teacher thinks that 40 is ridiculous and that I could get to at least 60... eek!
DeleteYou can do it(: if you TRY!(; Good luck! I only have to have two pe credits and I do summer gym to get class space!(:
DeleteI love lifting and cardio!
ReplyDeleteI prefer just lifting but if I'm ever going to compete one day, I better start liking cardio ;)
DeleteCan't believe you got up early enough to write this post. Props to you! ;)
ReplyDeleteGood luck on that pace test! I know how it is with that heart rate stuff-- I hope you pass, so that your requirements go down! It'd stink to have to do more cardio than you'd want!
You already know me.. I'm no expert runner or lifter.. I just dabble with both. ;)
I wake up at 5:30 on the dot every morning. :)
DeleteThank you. You give me so much faith in myself! I hate doing cardio as it is so I don't want to have to bust my butt again!
You are one universal chick. :)
Hahaha I remember pacers! ew. at my school i only had to do 2 years of pe as a requirement so i am so done with those (and fitness testing in general)!!! But as long as you stick it out you'll do fine.
ReplyDeleteI tend to lean more towards cardio, but mostly I do classes (zumba, kick box, ya know) and the occasional nice, long run (especially in the early morning, its therapeutic because of how calm the world is). I don't really lift, but I do use weights in some classes.
Good luck on APUSH and AP Lang!! I'm right there with ya!
Ugh I wish I went to your school lol! Thank you for the encouragement. :) I keep hearing how therapeutic running is so I seriously need to get into it. And hey! If you ever have any questions regarding those subjects just shoot me an e-mail! :)
DeleteWhat?? Is this a thing in schools now? That just seems outrageous, random and completely useless in terms of teaching kids anything real about wellness. I think they just don't know what to do because obesity is happening so young. I just think that is weirdest thing ever.
ReplyDeleteI know right! They do not acknowledge that we are ALL at different fitness levels. The fact that they generalize us as all the same irritates me! I completely agree.
DeleteWhat is this requirement, this seems so absurd to me! This is certainly not the way to teach kids about wellness... yes interventions need to happen in order to counteract our generally unhealthy society, but this does not seem to be the way to do it
ReplyDeleteI know! I hate it. And it just stresses kids out. We should be ENJOYING gym class and having fun but instead we are so worried about getting our minutes so that we maintain a good grade that gym is no longer enjoyable!
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ReplyDeleteOmg! I know exactly what you mean about weight lifting taking over the cardio aspect of life! Its so much BETTER. Its not like endless and each day is different. I've traded in my swim goggles and 13 hour a week swim schedule solely for Crossfit (like 5 times a week) and man am I loving it. I feel stronger and its so much more mentally and physically rewarding than plain old cardio. Sorry cardio, we're over.
ReplyDeleteHahaha dude you are 100% correct! I think we are easily able to turn into cardio bunnies from a young age. So glad that there are people my age out there that no what's actually more beneficial--STRENGTH! I am happy that you have found your niche in CrossFit. It seems like it really fits you :)
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