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  Well, I hope you guys have had a good week so far.  I went back home for a few days, and kind of spaced out for a bit.  This does not mean I didn't do anything!  I got in a few great workouts, and I just happen to live on a massive hill, so I got in some great hill work.  I really am feeling a great change in my body.  To give you readers an idea of how I used to be, when I started these races I weighed 225...As of this morning, I am a good 190!  I actually fit into a pair of slim fit pants...sorry, my mom would totally be impressed with this seeing she has bought me clothes for years and I have had some thick thighs for a while!  I want to lose 5 more pounds, and 10 pounds being my max.  This is tricky, because I need to up my calorie intake. I have been getting hungry far too often here lately.  The great thing is, I have been getting back into one of the other things I love...cooking!  So, it is very easy to control my cravings that way.  Random thought. The Barbarian is a little over a month away! I hope you guys are ready!  With that being said, workout time!

Workout-

1000 pushups- no certain sets or time, just get them done!
100 pullups- same as above
50 burpees

1 mile run- Pick a street with phone polls, sprint to the first, jog to the next, repeat until mile is complete!  On a leg day, I might use this, but instead of run, jog, run...run, jog, walking lunges, run.

Diet-

My favorite breakfast!- Breakfast burrito- 2 eggs, sauteed bell pepper, one slice low fat cheese, 2 tablespoons salsa, whole grain tortilla.
Snack- Protein shake
Lunch- Turkey chili (even during summer, I love chili! It has the potential to be an ultimate muscle food.)
Snack-Smoothie- 1 scoop protein, 1 banana, 1/2 cup frozen blue berries, 1 cup almond milk
Dinner- Left over chili

My insight to a Barbarian...

  Hey guys, I wanted to do something a little different. I just got off of work, and I thought I would share a little of my thought process with you all.  If I have not mentioned before, I am an advertising major.  I love the creativity to it all.  I like the challenge of trying to find a new way to look at something that it seems has been looked at for countless years from every angle.  One of the tasks of advertising is deciding your psycho graphic. I hate research...but I love to read people.  It seems that I have always been good at this.  I have always been able to tell how people are feeling no matter what face they put on to the world.  I got this from my mom.  My mom and I have an amazing relationship and I am who I am because of her.  The following statements are my own personal insights into the life of Barbarians.  If a company wanted me to describe Barbarians, this is what I would tell them...
 
A barbarian is one who is not restricted by age, sex, or race, but one who lives out the innate desires their body has.  No matter how old they are or become they will always be a child at heart.   They will never be afraid to get dirty!  They are brave.  They will thrive on the self gratification of accomplishments, yet never be surprised at what they are capable of doing.  They will grow each day as they are capable to do things they could not do the day, the week or even the year before.  They are true believers of the statement of doing anything you put your mind to.  They will be very self motivated.  As they relish in their achievements, they will not lose themselves in over glorification of themselves. They will use this opportunity to lift up those around them.  Their achievements hold greater meaning when others accomplish those achievements with them.  They inspire those around them even if they are unaware of it.  They will have pride in their sweat soaked and blood stained shirts.  They will refuse to hide their cuts and bruises, as they hope to have a passerby question them.  Finally, they will have a slightly addictive personality...After they become a "barbarian" they will never stop.  They will be addicted to life.  It will be habit.  They will be the pioneers, as they spread the word without enticement.  They will be leaders as they grow the army and continue to change the world for the better.

Guys, I want to think and hope I am inspiring some of you, and you need to know that you are inspiring those around you.  Even if you don't know it, people are bringing you up in conversations with people about how impressed they are with you.  As barbarians, it is our job to lead and inspire.  You are doing it already.  One day you looked online, and you saw this crazy race...you signed up!  That is not easy for everybody.  You are brave.  This is how I feel about each and every one of you all.  I do not know many of you, but I know you.  I consider us all to be part of a special group, and I hope that I have opened your eyes to maybe a part of you that you did not know was there.  Now that you are aware of it, embrace it.  I hope I have given you all a little insight into my thought process, and shown you a little into my mindset.  These are the reasons I write this blog and do these races.  Thank you all for reading. Goodnight everybody.

I'm back!

For starters, I had an amazing trip!  I love North Carolina, and the drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway is incredible.  We had a couple of days of hiking and beautiful sight seeing.  The weather was perfect, and it only rained on us the night before we left.  I wish I would have had a little more of a chance to do some good trail running, but I got some good exercise in regardless.  I will have some pictures for you guys soon!  I will say, I am happy to get back home and in my routine.  Any of you that are reading this knows what it's like to miss working out.  I got that way on the last day.  I won't say I was stressed in the woods, but I still needed that good solid workout.  On that note, today felt great!  We are getting very close to Gadsden, and I hope you are all as excited as I am!  So, here is today's workout.

Workout-
20x25- Swiss ball push ups(Alternate between hands on and feet on)
10x15- Pull ups(Alternate styles- Close grip, wide grip, and so on...)
10x15- Hanging knee raises
10x20- Crunches

*After work I am going to get in a good 30 minute run

Diet-
Breakfast- 2 hard boiled eggs and wheat toast with peanut butter
Snack- Protein shake
Lunch- Tuna salad(Replace the mayo with plain Greek yogurt! It is a great substitute)
Snack- Almonds and chocolate milk
Dinner- Grilled chicken with steamed vegetables.

*I am thinking about throwing in a Casien protein shake before bed from here on out, but haven't purchased any.

That is all for today guys! I hope you are all getting ready for Gadsden, and if you haven't been running hills...START!  If I have not mentioned it before, the hills in this race are nothing to joke about.  There was nothing in comparison in the Spartan...Thanks for reading guys!

Waterfall hunting!

  Well, after another long break..I have returned. Our internet has been out for a few days, but that does not mean training has stopped! So, today I wanted to talk to you about the Barbarian race in particular.  A lot of us see this as a way to have fun and stay in shape, but let us look at the big picture.  Look at the people that you see do the Barbarian, and look at yourself. We all have a bond at the end of these races.  You make new friends...you live life.  Now, imagine taking this...further.  Alabama is the second fattest state in the country.  Alabama may not be the best state, but I am proud of my home state. The fact that we are so out of shape upsets me.  The Barbarian can not only change a few lives, but states as a whole.  The Barbarian reminded me of the healthy lifestyle, and I know I am not the only one it has done this for.  What I am asking of you reading this, is to help me spread the word.  Help me make Barbarian huge!  I am tired of all of the west coast states hogging the glory of being healthy.  You want a race close to you?  Start a petition! Get signatures!  Show the people at Barbarian that they are wanted, and I believe in all of my heart that it can happen.  The lives that the two races change per year is already amazing!  Just imagine how much 5 races could do...I know the people at Barbarian want to expand and continue to grow.  You can tell the people there care and are passionate about what they do.  I can't be the only one who wants more than 2 races per year...let it be known!  I will start with mine.  Bring the Barbarian to Tuscaloosa!  Leave some comments and let me know some places you would like to see have a Barbarian in the future!
  Now, my roommate is graduating Friday, and we will be leaving Saturday for a weekend in Brevard, NC.  The Land of the Waterfalls is what it is called.  A great training opportunity!  A couple of days of camping with some great trails and beautiful scenery is what I need.  I start getting a little anxious being in the city after a while.  That being said, I will have some great stories and pictures for you guys when I get back.  I will make it a point to get 2 more entries in before I leave. 
  Good workout and clean eating today! Here it is for you guys!

Workout-

Power hour- 12 pushups and 5 pull ups every minute on the minute for 1 hour.
Short and sweet, but a great workout!

Diet-

Breakfast- Oatmeal squares with banana and protein shake
Snack- Almonds and chocolate milk
Lunch- Tuna with brown rice and veggies
Snack- PB and banana sandwich
Dinner- Grilled pork chop with veggies and black beans

I am serious guys, leave comments and tell me where you want a race!  Let's make The Barbarian huge! Thanks for reading guys, and I hope all of your training is going well!

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift."

  These past few weeks have been amazing! Training is all about rhythm, and I have been in one!  There are times when training goes great, and there are times when it feels like you aren't even moving. The key is to never let your mind get out of it.  Besides a time when you are physically injured, is there ever a time you can actually remember where you worked out and felt bad about it?  When it comes down to it, it's not all about the abs and arms. For me personally, it is all about the mental aspect of it all.  Even if I go out for a 15 minute run,  for those 15 minutes nothing else is on my mind but listening to my body and the way it is responding to the pace of my feet hitting the ground.  In case I haven't mentioned it before, I am an advertising major at The University of Alabama, and with today's mini soapbox, I thought I would share two of my favorite ads with you all! 

"Nothing is the same after you run."

  This morning we were supposed to film some video...we got up a little too early for mother nature.  It was too dark to film, and my roommate had to go to class. Have no fear! We will work on this tomorrow. This doesn't mean I didn't get my workout in for the day! So, here is today's workout!

Workout-
5x20-Squats with sand bag and weighted vest
5x20- Walking lunges with sand bag and weighted vest
5x10- 36inch box jump
10x15- push ups with weight vest
5x20- toe touches with log
5x20- ab rotation with log
5x10- hanging leg raises
15x30 second wind sprints

Diet-
Breakfast-2 eggs and oatmeal squares with fruit. (I hate oatmeal, but I am addicted to these.)
Snack-Protein shake (1 scoop protein, 1 cup almond milk), Handful of frozen blueberries
Lunch-Hamburger Helper...before the "unhealthy" comments come out, I am a college student and sometimes you do what you have to do. I did use the whole wheat with low fat milk and ground turkey instead of beef.  I try and make substitutions whenever I can.
Snack- PB& banana on wheat
Dinner- 1 can of tuna with mixed greens

Thank you guys for reading! I hope you have been enjoying it, and continue to read! If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Long time!

Hey guys, sorry about the break!  I was going to write yesterday, but the internet was out at the house, and it's a pain to try and type one of these things on my phone.  It was a hectic weekend! Training got pushed to the back with work and one of my best friends getting married.  I hit it pretty hard yesterday and today, and it felt great!  I was going crazy waiting to get back out and run. 
  Before I get into today's workout, I was going to give you all a little info that I had been questioned about.  The main thing I have been asked about it footwear...The thing I prefer to run the races in, are my New Balance Minimus Trails.  I do not like this year's model, so I am trying out some Merrel True Gloves.  They seem pretty decent so far, but I am still leaning towards my Minimus.  The second thing is the type of protein I use.  I use Muscle Pharm Combat Powder. It is only 120 calories with 23 grams of protein and 4 carbs.  It is a little pricey, but I have just become used to it.  Leave some comments, and let me know what you guys use!
 Now, on to the workout!  I missed my logs this morning, so I reacquainted myself with them! This workout was quick, but a killer on the upper body.

Workout-
Start at 20 and work your way down with super sets.
20x overhead/chest press with biggest log you can manage then immediately drop into 
20x push ups
Rest 15-20 seconds
19x overhead/chest press with biggest log you can manage then immediately drop into 
19x push ups
18....you get the picture!
*Change up the push up variation each set!

I also took the pup out for a little jog and played a little frisbee. Like I said before, just get outside and have fun!

Diet-

Breakfast- Oatmeal squares with almond milk and sliced banana. Protein shake
Snack- Peanut butter and banana on wheat
Lunch- Tuna with black beans and rice
Snack- Turkey sandwich
Dinner- Grilled lamb gyro with fruit

Thanks for reading guys! Feel free to ask any questions you have for me!  Tomorrow, me and my roommate are going to film one of our workouts and hopefully that video will be up soon!

Relax!

  Alright ladies and gentlemen, sorry for the late post, but today was pretty busy with work and what not. The title for today is relax for a reason.  Today was my off day, and I want to share a philosophy with you all.  I read an article in Men's Health once, that really put things into perspective for me. The guy explained that he did not have an eight pack. He had a four pack and a six pack in the fridge.  He then said that he believed you should enjoy life and not nitpick at every aspect of your life.  Have your beer every once in a while and let loose.  Even if you look at actor/actress interviews, they say they decrease their load when not working on a role because it is too stressful to deal with on a normal basis.  You can enjoy a cheeseburger and beer and still live a very healthy lifestyle. The key is moderation! I went out tonight, and I had a few beers and some southwest egg rolls...it was great.  What is the point to having this amazing body and looking great if you are not enjoying the small things in life along the way?  Don't waste your life worrying about the number of abs you have.  Drink that beer and eat that burger guys! You know what you do next? Get up and work your butt off the next day! Just don't make a habit of it.  When you live like this, you don't feel guilty when you have nights like this.  You can enjoy them and know that tomorrow is a new day, and I will work this off and more!
  Now that I am off my soap box, here is the workout...I said it was my off day, but that doesn't mean I am not active!
  Thanks for reading guys, and I hope I am helping a few of you out there!
Workout-
30 minutes- Yoga
10 minutes- easy jog