Hurricane Sandy Perspective and Training

First and foremost, I feel the need to say that I am damn lucky to be able to write this post about something I'm passionate about.  While a large portion of New Jersey and New York has spent the last week and a half without power, without gas, displaced from their homes, or without a home at all, I have been lucky enough to have a house with power and the time to concentrate on something like training which is a privilege.  Some of my friends weren't so lucky.  I have friends who have lost their homes and spent the last week trying to help friends and neighbors clean up from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.  I count myself lucky that my friends and family are healthy and that we have a roof over our heads.  I wish my friends and their families who weren't so fortunate the best of luck for a speedy recovery.  Stay strong and know that this too, will pass.  Jersey Strong.

Due to the fact that the hurricane has shut down school and therefore, football for the past week and a half, I've had plenty of time and energy to get back to high intensity strength training.  I don't just train for football, (we have one game left in the season) I train for life.  As many of you who have read my blog before know, Zach even Esh is a huge inspiration on me.  So here's a full body strength and power workout that I cranked out today.  Forget all the bodybuilding bullshit!  This is how you train if you want to put on serious muscle that's functional and will turn heads at the same time!

Zach Even Esh 530 lb Trap Bar DL

Foam Rolling
General Warmup
Dynamic Warmup

Light Sled Pull/Push Warmup

1) KB/DB Snatch--3x5 each arm

5 Rounds--Increase weight on deadlifts each round; 70 pound KB
2a) Deadlift Variation (Trap Bar Deadlift)--3 reps (worked up to 395 pounds)
2b) KB Swings--6 reps

3 Rounds--
3a) Single Arm Rack Position Reverse KB Lunge--8 each leg
3b) Hand over hand rope sled pull, low sled push x 2

Hand Over Hand Sled Pulls; gotta buy one 

3 Rounds
4a) Band Tricep Extensions--Failure
4b) Hand over hand rope sled pull, low sled push x 2

Between football and having my body beat up every single week this season I haven't been able to train like this in a long time, and it felt great to get back to it.  With over a week off, I finally feel healthy and able to lift heavy and train hard.  Don't forget though, training is just a part of life.  It falls well behind family, health, and friends.  In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, I gained a great deal of perspective on how lucky I am and how much we take for granted.  Even when you're down, and nothing seems to be going right, we still have a great deal to be thankful for, and I won't forget that.

The Punt Shield From Left to Right--Me, Rizz, and our big grizzly bear CJ Vines

I'd also like to give a shout out to big Jim Rizz, who will be my first client this offseason.  I've played football with him for four years now and he's been FDU's starting right tackle for three seasons.  He asked me to help him cut some weight and pack on muscle and strength this offseason.  Lookin' forward to gettin after it when the season is over.  If ANYONE else is looking for someone to help them train or program their training regardless of their goal, hit me up at 856-669-8841 or email me at skij333@comcast.net.