The Southpaw Journal #02

Getting Started

Anytime you’re jumping into a new exercise program, it’s best not to go ham on the first session. That being said, Coach Eddie introduced me to what will be our base exercise for each strength & conditioning training session. I’d like to call it the 100x100 (there’s no official name for it…yet!). It consists of 100 pushups and 100 pullups.

My first thought was, “Okay, that doesn’t seem so bad.” Let’s just say I had a change of heart the next day when my chest and lats felt properly abused. And this is just the beginning. Over the next few months, the 100x100 will be one of the first and/or last things we do for each session. It’s something I’ll also need to do outside of the gym to get my body acclimated quickly to the exercise and to get stronger.

To supplement these strength and conditioning sessions, I’ll be increasing my cardio workouts on off days. Currently, I run to and from the gym which typically clocks in around 4.8 miles. On off days, I’ll run around 3 miles.

Goodbye Comfort Foods

My diet was never terrible to begin with and most of the food I prepare at home is healthy. But like everything else, it’s all about the details and the “sum of all parts”. Over the next few months, I’ll be making small adjustments and substitutions to my daily diet. Tiny things like eating more salads for lunch or eating more chicken breasts instead of legs and thighs will move the needle. And for drinking, no more sips of the ‘ol wine or scotch in the evenings.