Thanks for checking out my former blog.  My new homebase can be found at http://ellsworthy.com.  I recently also released an ebook called the Total Recall Method:  A Short Guide to Hacking Your Confidence Instantly.  Please check out my new site and ebook.

Thanks,

Ells

I am busier than usual today so for now, here are a couple good links to check out.

I have been listening to a couple podcasts recently; TheFitcast.com for one.  Kevin Larrabee is on his 123rd show.  Kevin is very knowledgable on his own, and he also has a lot of experts come on the show and answer questions about their products and about individual training.  A great resource.

Mike Boyle’s Strengthcoach.com podcast, is also a great resource.  Mike Boyle is very respected and very smart.  I have learned a lot from Mike and this podcast keeps bringing up great current knowledge.

If you are looking to waste time instead of getting smarter, check out Armor Games.  Great flash games that can take up some time.  I really like Warlords and Warfare 1917.  Enjoy not getting your work done.

Wow, so I thought Phase 1 in Maximum Strength had some really tough days.  The first two days in Phase 2 have both been long and tough, starting each day with cluster training.  Cluster training is a tool to build strength and size by doing reps at a higher percentage of your 1 rep max.  For instance, it could be sets of (4×1)x5 with 10 seconds rest.  This means I would unrack the weight, do 1 rep and rerack the weight.  Then I would count to 10 seconds, and do another rep.  I do this 4 times with 10 seconds between each rep, which is the 4×1 part of the equation and is 1 set.  So total, I would do that 5 times.  Since I have the 10 seconds of rest in there, I should be able to do around 80% of my 1 rep max, and benefit from doing more reps than I could without rest.  Though there is a big difference between the lower body and upper body cluster training.  The lower body portions have been more draining and I am out of breath when I finish a set.  Upper body is more along the lines of CNS and muscle failure, but I don’t feel winded.  This makes sense because the squats require more from the entire body than say, bench press.  I will say this though, the clusters are at the beginning of the day and after finishing those exercises, I feel like I should be done for the night.  Nap time.

I was excited to see clusters in the program because I had heard a lot about them.  Here is a more in depth article that describes some of the major benefits of Cluster training.  If you are interested in taking cluster training to the next level, check out Christian Thibaudeau’s Cluster Training product.  Check out all of his products for that matter, and gain some real knowledge.

Just remember, before your first day of clusters, get your pre-game pump up going because it will be a tough tough workout if you do it right.

So it has been a long time, hasn’t it?  Rest assured, I finally have some things to blog about.  I have been getting back into weight training to be in shape for ultimate.  I have always like lifting weights, but I haven’t been consistent about lifting.  I haven’t lifted for a month straight or longer, for at least 4 years.  Back then, I first started lifting in 2005 and stayed with it for 6 or 7 months at least.  Since then, I have had a couple spurts here and there.  I am just capping off my 5th week of training for strength and the upcoming ultimate season.  It feels damn good!  Besides the lifting, I have been reading and watching anything I can get my hands, that has anything to do with training.  That has also been very awesome.

Friday January, 9th 2009; I did some strength tests or 1 Rep Max tests for the Maximum Strength program by Eric Cressey.  I am starting the program tonight, and I am very excited because Eric is at the top of the game.  And here are my test results for the Packing Day:

Body Weight:  175 lbs.

Vertical Jump:  28″

Broad Jump:  104.5″ (8′ 8.5″)

Box Squat:  345 lbs.

Bench Press:  195 lbs.

Deadlift:  395 lbs.

3-Rep Chin Up Max:  200 (BW + 25)

I was extremely happy with these results for a lot of reasons.  Right now I am probably the strongest that I have ever been, and I have been making significant gains in almost every workout.  I know that I will start to plateau and it will be harder to make gains, so I am living it up right now.  Last year I measured my vertical around this time of year and it was 24″.  Since then I had a full season of ultimate and the recent lifting that I have done, so it was a pleasant surprise to see it go up 4″.  The deadlift was a pleasant surprise as well, I did it for the first time when I started lifting 4 weeks ago.  Now, it is definitely one of my favorite exercises.  I am at the mercy of my grip though.  I put up 400 lbs. but I couldn’t lock it out because my grip was failing.

All in all, I am excited to start this program tonight.  Hopefully, in 16 weeks I will put up some big gains.

I have stayed pretty quiet about politics for a bit now, but I thought that this link was pretty funny.  Rex Sorgatz at Fimoculous, posted a link to a “Sarah Palin” search on Google…in the year 2001.  I think the 2001 search is a recent development from Google, at least as far as I know.  Anyways,  the results are pretty funny.  The Sarah Palin 2k1 search, and the Obama 2k1 search.

Seth Rogen is in Donnie Darko.

Seth Rogen in Donnie Darko

Most notable quote from the movie, ” I like your boobs.”  Great job Seth!  Seth was also once on Dawson’s Creek.  He has come a long way to creating my favorite movie in 2008, Pineapple Express.  Has Pineapple Express made it to the cheap theaters yet?  Time for Round 4 maybe?

Tryouts are in 2 hours.  I am just excited to play some good ultimate.  I am sure it will be the best ultimate that I have played since I got here.  I am about to make some oatmeal, hydrate some more, and watch some Nationals 07 Disc.  This is a free ticket to ride the pump up train.  Perhaps I will include some thoughts later on how tryouts went.

On a related note, Madcow Tryouts are starting soon.  Who’s with me?

The Machine Girl, sucka.

Check out KittyWigs.com for the fashionable kittens this year.  If someone buys one of these….Awesome.