Rebuild Archives - Ageless Shred

What are you doing right now?

October 19, 2018 By John Butz Leave a Comment

What are you doing right now?

What a simplistic, yet complicated question.

I’m not necessarily talking about what you may be doing in this moment.

Maybe you are having dinner, maybe breakfast. Maybe you are studying, maybe doing laundry, maybe you are getting wasted, maybe watching your favorite team, maybe nailing a PR, maybe something else, maybe you are watching your show, maybe you are cleaning up a mess, or possibly someone else’s mess, maybe you are working, nursing a injury or illness, contemplating a new job, maybe leaving a current job, maybe a doctors appointment, maybe prepping for some important endeavor tomorrow, maybe trying to figure things out, maybe going on a first date, maybe a last date, worrying about someone, having someone worry about you, maybe listening to your favorite song, maybe the worst song you ever heard, maybe contemplating life/death? I could go on.

This question has layers.

Are you where you envisioned yourself to be, let’s say one. three, five years ago? (those of us that trend older are probably on the one year plan.) It is very easy to get “caught up.”

But, if you squelch the background noise, the distraction, (and there are all sorts of distractions to squelch)

This is a somewhat friendly reminder that YOUR time on this planet is limited.

Now, that doesn’t mean to throw absolute caution to the wind and not give a shit. Most of us are going to be here for a while, most likely quite a bit longer than we think or realize.

It is my belief that we all have unique gifts, exclusive, exquisite talents that are individual as our very DNA.

What are you good at?
What motivates you?
What would you get up early to do?
What would you stay up late at night for?
What is your passion?
What do you truly value?
What excites you?

This is of utmost importance. I have found that when you are congruently living/doing what you are good at and what is of value to people/society, there is a power. A power that the equivalent to what may be considered an unstoppable force. Possibly even against the strongest modern army/force. Your confidence exudes and is actually contagious. The lifeblood is very powerful. If you have felt this, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

What do you think?

What might currently seem like a “job” may actually be a vehicle to your ultimate passion. Sometimes the mundane, the doldrums, are actually a super-charged vehicle to bigger and better things. Sometimes, despite what we think are undesirable situations and circumstances, in the end are actually the very building blocks, the learning curve, the education, the experience that we need to realize our ultimate destiny. Even a job that you dread may actually be your “labor of love” if it satisfies what you value, such as making a difference, providing to those you love, serving, etc. The etc is just as important as the the rest.

For the rest.

Maybe you dream of starting a business. Moving across the country. Maybe devoting your time to something that is important to you. Going above and beyond, shocking the world, and maybe even yourself….;

Maybe you envision becoming a better husband, wife, friend, parent, brother, sister.

The days will go on and on. This year will soon become next year.

What are you doing right now?

Farmers Walks Until The Cows Come Home.

November 15, 2017 By John Butz Leave a Comment

For many years, I have been including farmers walks in some way, shape or form in my training.

Thinking back, I actually can’t recall when I first started to utilize them, but I do remember when I did give them the due diligence that they deserve.

It was probably about 8 years ago.

I would load up 2 adjustable dumbbells to the hilt.

100, 120, 140 #’s, 150 #’s and just “grit” as far as I possible could, fighting to add more weight, more distance, more agony.

Top-end farmers are a truest testament of will.

I have performed them in my basement, outside, even in the commercial gym–which adds an element of responsibility to not drop the bells on a unsuspecting paying member’s foot as they do dumbbell flyes.

This morning, I decided to pay homage, but not so much in weight, but more so in time.

Here was the session:

Farmers:

15’s x 3 minute carry.

20’s x 3 minute carry.

25’s x 2 minute carry.

30’s x 2 minute carry.

35’s x 1 minute carry.

40’s x 1 minute carry.

45’s x 1 minute carry.

50’s x 1 minute carry.

Light weight, but semi-challenging in terms of time under tension. I’m going to push this idea in the coming weeks.

Why I Quit Intermittent Fasting In Late-2017.

November 6, 2017 By John Butz Leave a Comment

Why I Quit Intermittent Fasting In Late-2017.

Have you ever found yourself on the path, going about your business, pushing hard, getting results and seeing some progression, but instinctively, intuitively had a recurring thought or voice in your head that may be faint initially, but is increasingly, persistently telling you to change your course?

It could be something very crucial in the scheme of things, it may be minutia, but nonetheless, the internal voice and the message just won’t go away…….

For the better part of this past decade, I have utilized what I consider an awesome tool of calorie management and weight loss, that being Intermittent Fasting.

Like any diet technique worth its “weight,” Intermittent Fasting is ultimately effective because it helps those that are compatible with its norms and parameters to control calories.

While there are a ton of other physiological and possibly psychological benefits, every single diet is inevitably successful due to either being in deficit (weight-loss) or excess (weight-gain) dependent upon goals in place.

I used IF for all I could.

I enjoyed the benefits, the flexibility, the structure. It was exactly what I needed to get to and maintain 10%,– single-digit body fat percentage, year-round, as a natural strength and aesthetic enthusiast.

But, as I have advanced in age and have made IF a lifestyle, through my own experimentation as a regular working stiff in this real world, I have noticed subtle changes.

The changes, while faint, were obviously and unequivocally progressive.

My body fat percentage was consistently low, hovering around the range I mentioned above for years. I was enjoying success in my sphere, but gains were becoming increasingly difficult despite my experience, effort and application. I pushed, pulled, lifted, carried, but just couldn’t bring what I knew I could. My heart, my spirit, was eclipsing my true effort. I reached for more, but my usual, dependable reserve was nowhere to be found.

Was I washed-up?

Plummeting over the hill?

Father time waiting at the very bottom to kick my ass?

Maybe.

Aging is inevitable, you are never going to be younger than you were yesterday.

But, I believe as a natural trainee, the regression is certainly somewhat proportionate to a function of not only your heart, your effort, but also application.

Intuitively, even though I was/am an advocate of IF, I knew in my current life situation, my demands, and my body fat percentage, if I was to take things to a next level, at 46, I needed a change.

It sort of hit me out of the blue.

At my current state of nation, homeostasis, and body fat percentage, I needed fuel.

On November 2, 2017, I ate breakfast before training, something I haven’t done for several years.

Nothing heavy, just a protein shake and a piece of multi-grain toast, but early returns are very encouraging. I had one of the very best sessions I have had in years.

And the pump. WOW!

To be continued…….