Wednesday's Workout

It feels like it's been forever since I last worked out. Sure, it was only a week and a half ago, and I've been engaged in a fair amount of strenuous physical activity (namely, carrying small children around Disneyland and the CrossFit Games in the sweltering heat). And I'm still dutifully cranking out push-ups every day as part of our 100-day push-up challenge. But it wasn't the same as pushing through a workout at CrossFit Palo Alto with the rest of the 5 a.m. crew.

I was particularly excited to get to the gym to check out the new Rogue pull-up rig that Tim and others installed last week. Would we get to do pull-ups today?

I hoped so. Pull-ups are infinitely preferable to box jumps or double-unders right now. Unfortunately, my left Achilles tendon and calf continue to bug me. Until further notice, I'm going to have to refrain from jumping off my left leg, and generally take it easier on myself. (For me, sadly, that's easier said than done.)

Strength Skill:

• Kettlebell Cleans & Presses (5-5-5-5-5)

This has quickly become one of my favorite movements. Before we left for SoCal, I'd practiced cleans and presses at home, and found myself missing my kettlebells while we were traveling. So I was happy that we kicked off our homecoming workout with KB cleans and presses -- even though I was sweating profusely by the time I wrapped up my final set. Twenty-five reps per side doesn't sound like much, but I certainly felt toasty afterwards.

Metcon:

No pull-ups!

For time:

3 rounds of:

• 20 medicine ball snatches (20lb / 14lb)
• 10 medicine ball V-ups

Then, 3 rounds of:

• 20 wall balls
• 20 Russian twists

Yeesh. The last time we did something similar, I wrote that the "wall balls continue to magically suck the energy out of my body," and today was no different. Tim noticed that my knees were collapsing inward during the squat portion of the wall balls, though, which may explain why I continue to be terrible at this movement. I tried keeping an image of Tommy Hackenbruck's Karen performance in my head for inspiration, but it didn't take.

Result: 10:52 as RXed. We'll get 'em next time.

Round 3 / Day 55: One-on-One with Tony Horton - Fountain of Youth

I was glad to greet the morning with yoga -- especially after enduring a grueling workout the night before. Rather than just going through the motions, I took the time to really focus on maintaining good form today, and it paid off: I felt great afterwards. Or maybe it's just because I knew I wouldn't have to get on Pirates of the Caribbean for the 13th time today.

(In case you're interested, the L.A. Times recently ran a piece on how to make sure your yoga form is correct, and also featured a photo slideshow on yoga do's and don'ts. Check it out.)

Round 3 / Day 52: One-on-One with Tony Horton - Killer Abs

I know, I know -- I'm a weasel for settling for a quick ab workout today. But you try working out on a hotel room floor with the lights out and your spouse and two kids sleeping less than ten feet away.

And while I know it's not an Insanity workout or anything, lugging a wriggling two-year-old and herding a punchy five-year-old around Disneyland isn't a cakewalk, either.

Round 3 / Day 50: Chest & Ab Special

My five-year-old would be perfectly happy if Disneyland consisted of just two rides: Star Tours and Pirates of the Caribbean. In two and a half days, we've sat through each at least a half-dozen times. (I lost count after six.)

Me? I'd be content if Disney's Grand Californian Hotel had a fitness center that stayed open past 8 p.m., so that M and I could take turns working out after the kids went to bed.

But even at Disneyland, wishes don't always come true. So tonight, after another tiring (but fun!) day at the amusement park, we tucked the boys in bed, turned out the lights, and waited until the little ones fell asleep. M and I then quietly slipped into our workout wear, laid two bath towels on the floor of our hotel room, and proceeded to silently exercise in the dark.

I know that a lot of people might consider this ridiculous, but to us, our day's not complete if we haven't done something that requires us to mop up our sweat.

Without weights available, I decided to alternate between push-up variations (all pulled from P90X and Insanity) and Ab Ripper X exercises. I did twenty reps of each exercise below (except as otherwise indicated):

• Standard Push-Ups
• In & Outs
• Military Push-Ups
• Seated Bicycles - Forward
• Plange Push-Ups
• Seated Bicycles - Reverse
• Sphinx Push-Ups
• Crunchy Frogs
• Pike Presses
• Wide-Leg Sit-Ups
• Squat Push-Ups
• Fifer Scissors
• 2-Speed Twitch Push-Ups
• Hip Rock & Raises
• Diamond Push-Ups
• Pulse-Ups
• Prison Cell Push-Ups (10 reps)
• V-Up Roll-Ups
• Decline Push-Ups
• Oblique V-Ups - Left Side
• One-Arm Balance Push-Ups
• Oblique V-Ups - Right Side
• Dive Bombers (10 reps)
• Leg Climbs
• Ab Push-Ups
• Mason Twists (40 reps)
• Balance Push-Ups

The most challenging part? Trying to stay quiet.

I think I'm ready to pass out now.

Round 3 / Day 49: Rest(?)

Exhausted.

M and I took turns escorting each of our boys through Disneyland and California Adventures, and I had a blast with them both. But 12 hours straight on my feet -- save for those precious few minutes on rides or at meals -- have worn me out.

(Speaking of food, we've managed to stick to our high-protein, low-grain diets while at Disneyland by: (1) not purchasing snacks and other between-meal treats at the parks, (2) being pains in the asses and ordering sauces and dressings on the side, and (3) subbing out the ubiquitous sides of potatoes -- in the form of fries, hash browns, etc. -- for other vegetables or fruit. So far, so good, though the kids are naturally pigging out on everything kids should gorge on when at Disneyland.)

Only three more days of this. I hope I survive.

Disneyland Eats

Don't tell my kids -- it's a surprise! -- but we're driving down to Disneyland tomorrow. When we visited the Happiest (Money-Sucking) Place on Earth with our five-year-old last year, we had a great time seeing the park through his eyes. Of course, this year, we're also bringing our travel-unfriendly two-year-old, which terrifies me.

All kidding aside, it should be fun (albeit exhausting) to herd the boys through the park, and M and I certainly should be getting more than enough exercise rushing from attraction to attraction with two small children in tow. But I have a feeling I won't be finding lots of food at Disneyland that I'll actually want to eat. (I think I'll pass on the battered-and-fried Blue Bayou Monte Cristo sandwich, thankyouverymuch.) Looks like I'm just going to have to stick with the skewers at Bengal Barbecue in Adventureland. (And a pocket full of trail mix and beef jerky.)