Hi Guys. Firstly, let me say how blown away I was by the response we had to yesterday’s (Your Turn to Teach) post. Yowzer – you guys are awesome and I truly appreciate the effort many of you made. Some of those comments were longer than most of my posts! But, well worth the read. Thanks for sharing, caring and taking the time. I will announce the winners of free stuff in the next day. Or so.
Today will be something of a random and atypical instalment from me. No single theme, no life-changing secrets, no motivational sermon, just a few bits and pieces, some news, some weird stuff and some stuff I’ve been thinking about.
Road Testing a Weight Vest
Over the last few days I’ve been road-testing a weight vest (I wrote about them recently) from a company here in Oz called Strengthpoint. The point of the testing was for me to be able to deliver a ‘report’ for my Tuesday night radio gig – where I often ‘road-test’ (provide a review of) health, fitness and/or sporting products. While I’ve used vests before, they were mostly cheapies which had a max weight-carrying capacity of around 16 kgs (35lbs). Strengthpoint supply vests which carry up to (are you sitting down?) 64kgs (140lbs!). Ridiculous, I know. I’ve been using the pissy little 
90lb vest for the last few days and have loved it. The weight definitely takes some getting used to but the benefits are certainly there: overall strength, power and muscular endurance, aerobic benefits, increased energy expenditure, great core workout, convenience, variety and fun.
Over three days, I have tried a range of workouts from walking outdoors (sand, stairs, hills, dirt, concrete) through to body-weight (plus vest) exercises (dips, squats, lunges, push-ups, chins, supine pull-ups). I graduated the weight (loaded in the jacket) from 40lbs to 90lbs, depending on the activity. I didn’t do anything too power-focused (plyometrics, running etc.) as I’m still looking after my dodgy lower back. Weight vests have a broad range of applications for anyone from the beginner (starting with as little as 2kgs), to the middle-aged-wanna-be (whose name starts with C), to the elite athlete. If you live in the Land Down Under and you’re interested in securing yourself such a vest, the good folk at Strengthpoint are offering me-dot-com readers (that’s you) a 10% discount off their range. Just go to their website and enter reader10 into the discount box when (if) you make a purchase. And, no, I have no affiliation with (and get no kickback from) the company. I do, however, endorse good products.
My Weird Body
Lately my body has been a little weird. And you thought my weirdness was limited to my mind. No, apparently it extends further. And let’s not even think about addressing my (numerous) emotional issues. What commitment problem? You do.
Shut up.
My Back
Anyhoozle, as most of you know, last week I injured my back dead-lifting. For ten minutes (post-injury) I was literally on the gym floor and couldn’t get up. I looked like one of those beetles that gets stuck on its back. But not quite as pretty. When my (hysterically laughing) staff finally hoisted me into a vertical position, I was restricted to one-inch steps and an upper body which was locked in the five minutes to six position. Which made the trip to my car somewhat slow. And painful. And amusing for the passers-by. Then there was the getting in and out (of the car) fiasco. Not pretty. Or fun. When I finally got home, it took me an agonizing fifteen minutes to get from my car, through the gate, in the front door, up the stairs and into my office. My back hurt so much that I couldn’t concentrate to do any work, so I wandered aimlessly around the house moaning and feeling sorry for myself for a while (alpha-male that I am) until I awkwardly and slowly maneuvered my way into bed.
The next morning (Wednesday), my back was no better. At all. It took me ten minutes to fling my pathetic self out of bed – not unlike a mackerel flipping around on the floor of a boat. I went to the physio (physical therapist) and he told me I had a bulging disc or two. No shit, Sherlock. Having had the same injury several times before, I knew what to expect: a week of pain and very restricted movement, another week or two of being careful and little or no training and (hopefully) back to normal in about four(ish) weeks. Or six. I hobbled around like a bear with a thorn in his foot for the remainder of the day and then threw myself into bed earlier than normal. I spent about thirty minutes before I fell asleep picturing my body healing itself – a topic I explored in this post not too long ago.
That night I slept for nearly ten hours (something I never do).
The next morning (Thursday) I woke up and to my total astonishment (can you have partial astonishment?), my pain had subsided from a ‘nine out of ten’ (on the Craig Harper pain scale), to a two – something that would normally happen over weeks. My movement had gone from extremely limited and slow to about seventy-five percent of my normal function. I was amazed and pretty stoked at the same time. Since that day (Thursday last week), my body has continued to heal and improve at an inexplicably fast rate. Yesterday (one week after my injury), I did some light dead-lifts and felt fine. This is unheard for this type of injury. Maybe that whole self-healing thing ain’t a crock after all? Hmmm. Your thoughts?
My Sleeping Habits
Sleep is one of those interesting, misunderstood and underestimated performance variables. And be assured, it does affect performance – on many levels. Lately, my body has been telling me it needs less, and sometimes more, sleep. So I’m doing my best to pay attention. As I said above, the other night I had ten hours sleep which is unheard of for me. Yesterday (Tuesday, I’m writing this Wednesday), I woke up at one-thirty (am) after going to sleep at around midnight. I was wide awake and felt refreshed so I decided to get up, do some writing and then to head back to bed an hour or two later. Well, the hours passed, the words flowed (on my new book) but the tiredness never arrived. By five-thirty, I decided to stay up and simply have a nap through the day when the wave of exhaustion hit. It never did. I worked a normal day (on ninety minutes sleep) and felt totally energized and upbeat all day. I went to bed last night at eleven(ish), had a normal sleep and woke up this morning feeling great. As I’ve said many times, bodies are amazing things. I don’t know why I need drastically less sleep sometimes but I do know that when I pay attention to my body, it never lets me down. Have you had a similar experience or perhaps you have some amazing sleep strategy you’d like to share with us?
A New Program
A little news… In August (20-22) I will be facilitating a different kind of personal development program here in Victoria. It will run from Friday night (the 20th) until Sunday afternoon (the 22nd). While most of my programs are the sit down, pay attention, take notes, have a few laughs, ask a few questions kind of affair, this will be quite different in that it will be a combination of hiking (and general outdoorsy stuff) and personal development lessons (in 45-60 minute instalments) in one of Australia’s most beautiful wilderness and coastal regions: Wilson’s Promontory. While there will be a reasonable amount of hiking and physical stuff, it’s definitely not a fitness program (as such) and anyone with a reasonable fitness level should manage comfortably. Yes, you will sleep in huts (in a warm bed). Yes, you will (probably) get wet. Yes, you will get stinky and sweaty. Yes, you will get (mildly) uncomfortable. Yes, you will have fun. Yes, you will learn. Yes, you should stay at home if you’re a Princess. And yes, I will protect you from the big scary animals. Unless, of course, they eat me.
All the details will be posted next week. I’m a little bit excited. And you RYLers know what that means.
I guess that’s about it for the time being… Group Hug x
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Craig,
Great posts. Sorry to hear about your back, but I’m very happy to hear that it is so much better! That’s wonderful!
I am an MAT (Muscle Activation Techniques) Specialist. I’ve worked with a wide variety of clients ranging from the pro athlete to the stay at home mom. I’ve noticed in my treatments that three things contribute to muscles shutting down: Stress, Overuse, and Injury.
Stress is the one of the biggest factors in the treatment process. I’ve seen my patient’s muscles shut down due to lack of sleep, disagreements with their spouses, too much alcohol, too little water, and psychological stress.
The body has an amazing process of healing and protecting itself when it is injured. Yes, I definitely agree with your post regarding thinking and visualizing yourself healthy. I use this visualization in addition to my MAT treatment with my patients and it works great.
Thanks for the post!
“I looked like one of those beetles that gets stuck on its back. But not quite as pretty.”
I love the way you write Craig. You’re a funny fu***r. Thanks for keeping me smiling and entertained. I’m pretty interested in the wilderness program so get those details up!
Sal
Hi Craig. When are you coming to the States to run some workshops? Pretty please.
Hey Nate – you’re welcome. I’m a fan of MAT – it’s great stuff. I got introduced to it by some of the PTonthenet boys at the first Meeting of the Minds in Colorado. Thanks for stopping by and for sharing your thoughts
Will do Sal…
Hi Kinny. Just get 999 of your closest friends together and I’ll be there! Seriously, I’d love to but I still don’t have a profile (as a speaker) in the States… I’m working on it! One day
Hey Craig,
Glad to hear the back has improved. Take it easy with it now, won’t you? … What am I saying? Of course you won’t!!
It’s great to hear your news – the sleep bit really interested me. I am always very envious of people who can get by on not much sleep. I’d love to have a 5-hour turnaround … but I’m more in the realms of 8-9 hours. A 10-hour night is not uncommon for me … neither is me occassionally dragging myself off to bed at 7.30pm (the same time as my 3-year-old!). And I can’t seem to do back-to-back not-much-sleep nights (sorry about the hyphens!).
Basically, I’m jealous … so stop showing off!!!
Can’t wait to hear about the August program (don’t like my chances of making it though … doh!).
Em
( ) x
I’ve just come across a very interesting BBC/UK website specifically relating to Sleep, take time to even check out some of the tests – http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/
Auntie Edie (( ))
1. How do I know when it’s time to consider a career change (what are the indicators)? lack of drive, poor customer service, loss of inititive, realisation that no pay increase could improve your negative feelings to your job.
2. What if I hate what I do but I don’t have the financial freedom to explore other options? I come from a real estate/accounting family. They have forced me into working at their real estate firm and studying to become an accountant, I wanted to study law at the time. I am still doing my Bcom, but have now applied to do part time after hours jobs in the health industry and do the odd dance performance at parties. I am also applying for courses to become a Personal Trainer and to conduct groups. I am in the process of being trained to run a weightloss group as well. At my real estate job I have new found zest and all of a sudden I am making a lot more sales, seems I am funnelling the excitement of a job I love into one I have become bored with!
3. What’s the most intelligent way to transition from one career to another? As mentioned above, start slowly, go to classes, talk to people in the industry you want to move to, get a mentor – I have one in my dancing teacher. Start part time, after hours if your job allows, get experience and qualifications if you need them. This process may not happen over night, infact it may take a year, maybe even two or three, but rather 3 years then never at all! If you can get envolved in the process you will find the motivation to continue – but you have to start and you have to have a plan! Often referred to as your EXIT STRATEGY in real estate…
4. How do I discover what I’m ‘meant’ to be doing (if that’s even possible)? Some times you are drawn to it by interest – ie me by law. Or you are sucked into it by chance – ie I lost 74kgs and became a total health freak! You can not plan life, it is life that has a plan for you, you just have to notice the signs and be willing to work really hard to achieve all you are capable of!
5. How do I know when my ‘relationship’ with my current job is unhealthy (even if I love it)? When you go to bed thinking about it, when you stay awake thinking about it, when you lay in bed after your alarm has gone off thinking about it. When you choose work over a family outing, when you put unnecessary effort into the job – ie the task could have been done in an hour – you took 3 as you added extra details you did not need! Your hand is glued to your blackberry, you worry you will lose a deal if you are unable to answer your phone, check your mail etc immediately, every 2 seconds. Other signs are poor health, extreme stress, poor eating habits.
6. How old is too old to study or change careers? My family believe you learn until the day you die, that as you grow life will carry you along and show you what you are meant to do. My grandmother started out as a hairdresser, then accountant, then went onto IT – yes in THOSE days, then outsourcing, then, then, and now real estate. She is still working… and still learning. She believes you learn from everyone, and taught us as children to never look down upon any job, and encouraged us to do tasks which we felt beneath us, cleaning at work, filing, etc. She says every sole trading business owner should be able to perform every task in their business with grace and ease.
7. Where and how do I start this change process (step one)? Investigation. Talk to people in the industry, google, try it first hand if you can – do you really like it? Nothing is more powerful than knowledge!
I look forward to hearing from you – even you “I don’t comment, I just read” folk!
P.S. You may have a question of your own (relating to your situation). Feel free to ask it. Someone will have an answer for you. If not, I’ll give it a crack.
As you can see from my answers, I am working really long hours. I am getting so tired, starting to eat poorly, not going to gym or running, as I am putting in a lot of hours into the other avenues. I do practice dancing a lot, as I have started performing but it is not the same.
My question is, how do you draw the energy, the motivation to keep on going when you are getting sick all the time, and forever tired? Better time planning? Maybe help on how to keep up time management when you tired and busy and crazy? Motivation can only take you so far at times… I will not give up but I do need advice on making it easier -
Will we be able to use our GHD’s in the wilderness?
Oh so what you are implying is that is we don’t live in Victoria we are princesses for not attending
Re sleep it is stange but i’m 45 now and it’s very up and down some weeks I need 9 hours others 4 hours. Interesting.
Good question Kate!! hehe
I think I’m in for August, just checked my calender. I’ve always wanted to hike, just never had the nerve to try it before. Looking forward to some more details.
The hiking program in August sounds great. Hell, I’d even be prepared to pay to attend that. Ironic, I purchased a pair of hiking boots only yesterday. Alas, I’ll be treking in or near a jungle at that time. I’ll make sure to take regular breaks & give myself 50 to 60 minute motivational talks. LOL.
Hope the back’s healing swiftly. Re a related but tangential matter: I was only reflecting today on our mortality and how getting too much into our bodies can distract us from what really matters. It’s like we get caught up in the “reality” of the physical world & forget that there’s actually an eternity we need to address. I realized that, when confronted with eternity and mortality, my body fat percentage is quite inconsequential.
Julia – we are so asking the right questions…
Robyn I so hope you are right
I was just thinking that this must be the 1 year anniversary of the RYL1 weekend.
Hmmmm, where was I 12 months ago, where am I now and where am I going?
I was an absolute stress ball 12 months ago in my new paramedic job in Melbourne… now, I’m an ironman triathlete… with no career in Queensland! Ha. That’s the watered down version.