another place for rantings and ravings of kettlebells, sandbags, odd object lifting & old school strength from a stoopid boy.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

coffee.


coffee.

another shorty blog here.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

proactive.


proactive.

posted a shorty blog here

Thursday, July 16, 2009

time.


time.

busy, frantic, hectic, rapid movement of work, the moving process and long commutes.

time management really becomes important, something i've been attempting to improve and become better at. i'm learning to prioritize, actually creating and utilizing to-do lists, setting up small goals and reaching them if not surpassing them beyond expectations.

as work has become extremely, you must determine where the work/life balance is, right? as much as we all take pride in any activity we do, we cannot devote all of our time to "the job" (as much as i love mine), we still need to enjoy life - things including spending time with family and friends, maintaining good habits such as working out, acknowledging people, responding to emails, reciprocating to tweets, facebook, etc.

the moving process - well, it requires time as it's so involved. you come to the realization that you have collected a lot of garbage and random things you no longer need or want. however, you also find treasures - photo albums opening doors to fond memories, books that have affected your life on so many levels. it's demanding yet so rewarding.

the long, daily commute. aaargh. the drive can be horrific as heavy traffic can really pull and tear away at your sanity. or you can make it a positive experience. i've learned to stay in a better frame of mind, concentrating on the good things, positive energy to bring more positive energy. every morning, i make a list of goals for the day, create my plan of attack, and do it.

you need to look at things from different angles, can't let stress or anger affect your thinking. i feel stronger, more focused with goals, priorities and life.

let's do this.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

rotater.

rotater.

The Rotater: A Shoulder Rehabilitation, Shoulder Stretching and Shoulder Flexibility Device

the rotater is something i stumbled upon on twitter. a device made for a particular purpose - to maximize your shoulder performance. a very simple looking apparatus made by joint mechanix.

i'm learning that rotator cuff injuries are very common which can be caused by falling and repetitive overhead lifting to repetitive arm movements or something as common as carrying a child in your arms. nobody wants to hear they may have shoulder tears, irritation or possibly damage to their rotator cuff muscles or tendons.

common symptoms can be pain and tenderness in your shoulder when reaching overhead, lifting and pulling. i know my left shoulder felt discomfort when reaching behind my back, which may also have contributed to some shoulder weakness when compared to my right.
this made me very concerned and troubled as i do a lot of overhead lifting with kettlebells, sandbags, stones and other implements. tendinitis, strains and tears are risks with any regular athletic activities and movements.

i'm glad to say that since using the rotater, i've significantly improved my shoulder flexibility and range of motion. this is especially noticed in the internal rotation of my left shoulder. i injured my shoulder many years ago, been dealing with the slight discomfort ever since. as i get older, i need to take care of myself more. being conscious, making more of an effort to stay strong and healthy. you have to, right?



i highly recommend the rotater to anyone engaged with consistent and regular athletic activities, especially with overhead and repetitive movements e.g. kettlebells or barbells.
i've been in contact with chris melton who has been amazing, educative and informational.
take care of your shoulders. do it.

happy independence day.