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So what have you been up to??

Apr 15, 2021 Eric Toussaint 6 Comments

Sorry it’s been so long since I blogged last!! I just wanted to check in with everyone to see what’s up? What have you been doing to keep yourself physically fit and busy during the pandemic?

I personally am now going back to the gym three times a week with a bare bones three day split. I can’t remember a time when haven’t hit the iron and it’s really nice to be back in a gym environment.

Otherwise I have been doing 2-3 days of elliptical a week and I try to get a least two days of marital arts training. Fortunately with the coming of Spring I can get back to more full fledged martial arts workouts outdoors. I also stretch for about 45 min at least twice a week.

I’d be curious to know what has been keeping you busy?? Some things to consider are beefing up your home gym, personal training by Zoom or FaceTime. Peloton’s have become very popular (my wife loves hers). We are in Spring now so biking, hiking, walking, running, jogging, roller blading (which I do whenever I can with my kids) and of course the all time favorite – yard work are great options!!

Anyway keep pushing hard and try to keep yourself healthy.

Train Hard, Train Safe!!

What are your must haves for your exercise routines?!

Oct 22, 2020 Eric Toussaint 6 Comments

Everyone has their kit, gym bag, equipment etc. that they need and use regularly. Personally if don’t have just what I need or am used to using I am ornery.

If I’m lifting I will always have my belt, straps, elbow compression sleeves, knee wraps, bar clips and flat soled shoes. I may not use all of them for every workout but they are just must haves.

If I’m practicing martial arts I like wearing wrestling shoes and knee braces. If I am practicing sticking and kicking, I of course need one or more heavy bags. By far my favorite heavy bags are the long Century Wave bags.

When doing cardio, which after all my knee surgeries is mainly the elliptical or the bike, I need my iWatch, iPad, iPhone, and AirPods or some combination of them.

I am also usually always listening to music, AirPods make it possible to not have your iPhone close to your person (I’m sure there are Android options as well – I just happen to be all in with Apple products). 

And maybe most important items (especially these days), my water bottle and a mask if at the gym. I like the hidrate spark 3 water bottle and I am currently using the Under Armour mask.

I’m curious what does your kit look like?

Train Hard, Train Safe!!

JETT

Testing out some new neck training equipment

What do you do to help get you through your workouts?

Oct 5, 2020 Eric Toussaint 6 Comments

Having been an exercise enthusiast all my life there are times when it can be a bit of a grind. So what’s to be done to help with boredom or need for motivation?

My first go to is of course music…if it drives I listen. Have a play list ready, and work on updating it every so often to keep it fresh.

On occasion I might try a new supplement or revisit an old one. I’m actually about to try Animal Paks again.

New fitness gear and clothing are great go to as well. New outfits, especially new t-shirts are top for me. Then of course any new fitness gear is epic, I am now trying out some new neck training equipment.

I also like to use fitness trackers, and diet apps they are great ways to track progress and viewing the results of your efforts. One of my favorites is LoseIt.

And last but not least I like doing research – getting books on exercise theories and techniques and checking out YouTube.

What do you like to do to keep yourself motivated I’m curious let me know.

Train Hard, Train Safe

-JETT

What is enough?

Sep 17, 2020 Eric Toussaint 6 Comments

How much exercise do we need? You hear it all the time one hour of cardio day, make sure to lift weights, stretch, and so on.

Well I’ll just let you know I do, and it’s not necessarily what I recommend as everyone is different but here it anyway.

I like to lift three days a week, I usually will train a three day split routine that I vary every six weeks or so. 

I train martial arts two to three times a week, which is a challenge these days as our school is still not open unfortunately.

I will stretch on average two days a week, I could use more!!

Cardio will usually be two to three days a week, that has been a little less since I am still in physical therapy for my partial knee replacement but can do about twenty-five minutes on the elliptical so far.

Is this enough…I don’t know but its a routine I like and it makes me feel good and that is as important as anything else.

Let me know what you like to do?!

Train Hard, Train Safe!!

JETT

The New Knee

Aug 31, 2020 Eric Toussaint 6 Comments

It seems that my favorite thing to blog about are my knees. So here’s the latest update. I just recently 7/27/20 had a Mako partial knee replace in my right knee (https://bit.ly/2YQGk76). 

Within the past year I had both of my knees scoped to repair the meniscus. I was down to fifty percent of my cartilage left in my right knee and the medial aspect was bone on bone. The pain that it causing just got to a point where I had to make a move.

It’s been a little over a month and my physical therapy is going well and I have no more joint pain. Of course I was in a lot of pain for the first week and physical does hurt but less and less every day.

I’m told that I should be able to get back all the range of motion I had with my real knee and am looking forward to getting back to my martial arts training and hopefully squatting again some day.

So far so good…I’ll keep you posted as I am more able.

Train Hard, Train Safe!! 

What are you doing at home?

Apr 30, 2020 Eric Toussaint 6 Comments

First and foremost I hope that you and your family are well and safe.

What are you doing at home? Let me know!!

Here is my humble home program:

Monday and Friday

Knuckle push-ups 25 reps

TRX rows – 30 reps

Horse stance 1:30 sec

5 sets

Stretch for 35 min

Tuesday and Thursday

Kung Fun training 1 hour

Wednesday 

Kettlebell swings 200x each side

Saturday

Yard work

What are your stats?

Sep 25, 2018 Eric Toussaint 6 Comments

Dear All,

Sorry it’s been an age since I’ve blogged, but I thought I’d get some feedback from your guys.

Here are my stats currently:

Age: 47

Height 6 feet

Weight 176lb.

Bench: 225lb.

Squat 315lb.

Kung training: 2-3x a week

Stretching: 2-3x a week

Cardio: When I can get it, admittedly lacking in that department currently

So not it’s your turn…

What are your stats and what are you up to physically?

Train Hard, Train Safe!!

JETT

How is your Stamina?

Apr 5, 2018 Eric Toussaint 6 Comments

What type of exercise do you engage in? Weights, Yoga, Pilates, running, elliptical and the list goes on. Is one better than the other?! Tough question, with no easy answer. The answer may be in another question – How is your stamina? Whatever type of exercise program you follow does it provide you the ability to sustain prolonged physical effort?

If you do lost of cardio you will have a well developed cardiovascular system but may not be able to lift heavy weights; if you only lift (body building/split routines) you can lift heavy weights but will have almost no stamina. The Yoga and Pilates genre is great for flexibility, some strength and slightly better when it comes to stamina but not great.

So what is the approach needed if you want true stamina beyond just being able to run/do cardio mile after mile?

Well from a class or group exercise standpoint it would have to be crossfit. It’s a perfect blend of strength and stamina work. However there is a steep learning curve and chance of injury. But the answer was aforementioned – you need a blend.

Good examples of athletes that have the “blend” are boxers and MMA fighters. They have a great combination of strength and stamina. Surprise, surprise I have been doing martial arts for 30 years.

My current program is 3-4 days of martial arts training, 2-3 days of cardio and 1-2 days of lifting but when I lift it is a non stop burn, sort of like a MetCon in crossfit but longer and I hope safer.

I’m not advising anyone to fight round after round, but do you have the stamina to do it? Strive for that type of stamina and I promise you, your level of fitness will be superior!!

The knees seem to be in good order…

Mar 6, 2018 Eric Toussaint 6 Comments

Here is quick update on my knees. I have started back with my martial arts training and all is going well, actually no aches and pains at all so far.

I recently changed my whole workout routine and will be avoiding heavy squats, with a much greater focus on functional movements and calisthenics. This type of training is surely still a test of my knee(s) integrity but more from a volume standpoint. That being said, I have been sore and tired after these workouts but again no issues with my knees.

I also just started my “kick/punch” training (12-15 rounds of heavy bag work, with both punches and kicks) and so far the knees feel good as well.

The only thing I haven’t tried is running, my cardio work has been all elliptical. Running in my last bout of knee issues was absolutely the main driving factor. Seeing as how this current regimen is working, I don’t feel like rocking the boat so l’ll stick with the current regimen.

Long story short it seems that the Synvisc One shots (http://bit.ly/2oz6x7P) are working.

Knees good, me good, all good!!

Time to Change it Up (No resting on your laurels)

Feb 23, 2018 Eric Toussaint 6 Comments

So as I was training one of my clients the other day, it hit me that I may actually not be able to keep up with him/my programming. It was certainly bitter sweet seeing one of “pupils” doing so well but this also came on the tails of starting to feel winded while training martial arts and a realization that I can’t rest on my laurels.

It then dawned on me that since my last 10k race and my knee issues I have done zero cardio and only split routines for weight lifting. This would be great if I was a bodybuilder doing mass work in the winter but it doesn’t do much for my physical fitness and martial arts training. Am I in shape, yes certainly, am I fit…I think not currently.

That being said today was day one of my new training program and programming will be roughly as follows.

Two days of lifting focusing are minimal rest, lots of calisthenics, kettlebell work and functional movements.

Here is an example:

Warm-Up

Rope
Band
Halo
Squats
Side shuffle
Grapevine

30 Push-ups*
50 Squats*
1000 m row

3 Rounds

Chins 5 sets (3 overhand 2 underhand) of 10 sets with 30 bicycles in b/w

Complete in 50 min

*with weight vest

Other days will be filled with cardio – elliptical, some running if my knees can handle it, and as much stretching as possible (at least 3 days a week), I really want to finally achieve a lotus position.

I will also try to maintain my current Kung Fu training at 3-4 days a week.

I’ll keep you posted…

Train Hard, Train Safe!!

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