James Piper, Author

Movies Watched in June 2009 1. 2009/06/01 Once Upon a Time in Mexico. Action. (2003, 102 mins.) NR 2. 2009/06/01 Edison. Crime. (2005, 97 mins.) NR 3. 2009/06/02 Disturbia. Thriller. (2007, 105 mins.) NR 4. 2009/06/02 Johnny Dangerously. Comedy. (1984, 90 mins.) NR 5. 2009/06/03 A Love Song for Bobby Long. Drama. (2004, 119 mins.) NR 6. 2009/06/03 The Natural. Drama. (1984, 134 mins.) NR 7. 2009/06/04 Zulu. War. (1964, 138 mins.) NR 8. 2009/06/04 Death of a President. Drama. (2006, 97 mins.) NR 9. 2009/06/05 Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Romantic Comedy. (2008, 111 mins.) NR 10. 2009/06/05 The Secret Life of Words. Drama. (2005, 115 mins.) NR 11. 2009/06/05 Deja Vu. Thriller. (2006, 126 mins.) NR 12. 2009/06/06 Paranoid Park. Drama. (2007, 85 mins.) NR 13. 2009/06/06 Don't Say a Word. Thriller. (2001, 113 mins.) NR 14. 2009/06/06 National Treasure. Action. (2004, 131 mins.) NR 15. 2009/06/06 Duct Tape Forever. Comedy. (2002, 90 mins.) NR 16. 2009/06/07 Th...

Monday, June 29, 2009 ... reached a new level ... I n the last three plus years, I've been disciplined and organized about my exercise, about trips to the gym. I've seen results in weight loss, toner muscles, endurance etc. Today I discovered another result: a lower at rest heart rate--in the low sixties. I was surprised and proud. In the past it was in the seventies to low eighties. To me that's a sign of fitness, but I should also test my recovery time. I would like to know what it is these days. I suspect it's a low number as well. Because I've seen such results and can't improve on them, I realized today I don't need to push as hard as I've been doing. There's going to be days of rest each week and instead of 9 rotations, I only did 6 today. Six is plenty. As usual I'll have to rework my routine to fit in a five day a week routine instead of six or seven days. Posted 2009/06/29 at 19h37ET in Exercise.

Thursday, June 18, 2009 ... cardio only for a change ... A month ago today's workout would have been typical. Come to the gym and do 30 minutes on the elliptical machine. I changed it by adding in stretching and stomach crunches then bicep curls then chest presses. After 25 straight days of exercising my body said take it easier (my mind as well). As a result, it was cardio only. Tomorrow I expect to take the day off. Probably. Either that or Sunday. We shall see. Posted 2009/06/18 at 20h51ET in Exercise.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 ... rushed for time ... I had a board meeting in the late afternoon and it seemed as if I wouldn't get to the gym at all; however, I realized I could squeeze in some weights or cardio and I decided on weights. I thought I could do 9 sets, but I had to stop after 6 even with the rushing. It was still a workout. Today was 24 days in a row. Not bad, but I think I'm going to take Friday off. I'm at 89.5KG on consecutive days and it would be good to rest my body. I've averaged 6.3 days a week in 2009. My long-term average is 6.02. I can afford to take a few days off and still be above six. Stomach Crunches on Swiss Ball: 40 reps x 6 sets with 3KG medicine ball (Right/Left/Centre). Bicep Curls on Swiss Ball: 9kg x 20 reps x 6 sets. Chest Press on Swiss Ball: 9kg x 30 reps x 6 sets. No Leg Lunges. No Squats Lots of stretching. Posted 2009/06/17 at 18h45ET in Exercise.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 ... a cardio day with weights ... I 've said it before but my exercise routine changes and evolves as I learn new things, discover news things or simply get too used to a particular weight amount. Today it was about consciously doing stomach crunches in three different motions instead of simply back and forth through the middle. The first set is to the right to work the obliques. The second set is to the middle to work the abdominals. The third set is to the left to work the obliques. When I say "work" I mean a more concentration of effort on those muscles. All those muscles are working during a stomach, just some more than others. We'll see how that goes. I'm finding it too easy to do stomach crunches and I'm wondering what is next. I keep doing more reps but there comes a point where you can't do anymore reps. We shall see. In talking with someone at the gym today I was told I was to eat protein with every mea...

Monday, June 15, 2009 ... Never stop learning and adjusting my workout ... I 've been doing so many stomach crunches with a 3KG medicine ball (9 sets with 40 reps) day after day that it has become too easy. I think I have to do 50 reps or as many as needed to "feel the burn." I also realized I was concentrating on my abdominals and ignored my obliques. The former run down the middle, the later on each side. You have to do a different motion to get a full workout of the obliques. I've adjusted. Today was a full weights day (i.e., heavier weights). For time reasons, to save time, I didn't do any leg lunges or leg squats. I'm not sure how many times I should do these exercises each week. Once or twice, max three times a week. Bench Press: 14kg x 25 reps x 3 sets Inclined Bench Press: 14kg x 20 reps x 3 sets. Tricep Presses on Swiss Ball: 18kg x 20 reps x 3 sets. Stomach Crunches on Swiss Ball: 40 reps x 9 sets with 3KG medicine ball. 3...

Thursday, June 11, 2009 ... eighteen days in a row ... M y exercise routine continues to change based on new information. For example on Monday, after seven days in a row of leg lunges and leg squats, I woke up to an aching pain in the top of my knees. Nothing painful, just enough to let me know they were there. A few bends of my leg and the ache was gone. I think I know what is happening and it's nothing too serious. Age is creeping up and knees tend to take a punishment over the years. There is nothing wrong with my form, it's simply too much use. As a result I decided to stop doing leg lunges and squats. That was Monday and Tuesday. I should have got back to it yesterday since it was a none cardio day but only realized it afterwards. Today was a cardio day, 30 minutes on the elliptical machine so it didn't make any sense to me to do any today. Tomorrow I will. In the future I won't do 630 reps of leg squats during one week, especially not every s...