Days 69 and 70 - The Winter Season Begins

Training for hockey, or any specific sport, should go through different stages of periodization.  To make clear that sentence up better, I will break down 365 days in the life of a hockey referee this way:

1. Winter Season - this is the "real deal" season.  This is where you are working to continually conquer the league you are at (trademark, Terry Gregson).  This is the "true season".  This is the one where you DEFINITELY want to work the Championship game and/or Finals.

2. Off Season Development Games - I characterize these games as end-of-thee-season all star festivals, Advanced 15/16/17 tryouts, Elite I and Elite II games, etc.  These are hockey games/tournaments where (a) there is REAL coaching (not just some parent volunteer, etc.).

3. Off Season Training - This is what you do to train your body hard for the upcoming Winter season.

Of all of these seasons, the Off Season Training is where you push yourself the hardest.  You do Need to have a period of recovery/relaxation in your routine (I'd suggest 3 weeks on/1 week off...even 3 most HARD, 1 month "Coast" -- something to keep it "fresh" and avoid "burnout").

Soooo....

I am now in Season #1 up there.  I limit my workouts on game days.  I will go from 6 days a week with fervor and drive, to 4-5 days of maintenance.  This is not necessarily a time to push yourself to unbelieveable gains.  This is a time to "keep your edge".

I am going to stop at this point, because this is kind of like trying to describe archetecture through print.  Tough.  Check out [Jack instead].

email me if you want more info: info@ultimateofficials.com

Day 68 - P90(Not!)

Boy, I haven't used the phrase "NOT!" in awhile...

PHhhttt!













That's what I felt like last night and that's what I did today. No workout today for me. After the Treadmill training last night, I was completely gassed. I don't know if it's because I did (3) workouts yesterday, or if it's because I tried the ultra-discipline thing of fasting on Wednesday. Yep, I had NOTHING to eat all day (don't ask me why...I got the idea from a golf book, believe it or not---ask me about it, if you really want to know. Somehow, I can weave Gary Player into the story).

I am also a bit nervous of doing 3 HS Elite II games on Saturday and 3 on Sunday. I want to absolutely ROCK IT on the ice.

Normal workouts for me next week, and more talk about really following my new stricter diet

Day 67 - P90X - 2-a-Day

First workout = Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps

Why can I kill the push ups in the Chest and Back workout and this workout brings me to my knees?? Seriously.... I am so gassed that doing 5-6 push ups from my knees is tough. However, I did manage some decent (that number being 4 total) one-handed push ups!

(she looks a LOT better than me!)












I love the muscle build using the resistance bands. Yeah, baby!
















Work out #2: Kenpo X:

Bonk-City...I tried something new. I did the workout in the same hightop basketball shoes I do the muscle building workouts in...too heavy. I thought, "Yeah, I will get a little extra weight resistance when I do all of my kicks!" I'm going back to barefoot.

I will be more focused next time. I also need to do the cardio workouts first and then do the muscle build ones second, if I am doing a 2-a-day workout.

2 down...22 to go for this Round of P90X!

Day 66 - P90X - Planning Prep Planning

90 -66 = 24 Days

I have 24 days left in my 90 day round. I have made a couple of changes to a stricter eating plan...I have made a few changes in my schedule, because I am no longer in "off season" mode...and I have made a new change in my mindset...

ALL FOR THE BETTER!

1. Planning
2. Preparation
3. Planning

I have 24 days to get in 24 workouts = 4 weeks with 6 workouts per week.

At first blush, it would look like I can't take a day off. I will. I will not work as hard on hockey days. Ohhh, I will still workout. Just different.

I have become pretty adept at 2-a-day workouts, and I will use them quite a bit during this last "push".

Therefore, I am not working today due to my schedule change. My routine will become more balanced, and I can't wait until I hit the ice this Saturday for my first Elite II games.

BRING IT!!

Day 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 - Gone Fishing

I will be at our family cabin for the Labor Day Weekend. No internet, no phones (text messaging only)...just me and God's country.

I vouch to do (2) workouts over this 5 day span = Kenpo X and Legs and Back

Have a great weekend!!

Day 60 - Two a Days PLUS Treadmill Tonite!!

I'm working two-a-days again today. Why?

1. Planning
2. Preparation
3. Planning*

(*) I had a short week because (a) I worked the DOS in Blaine on Sunday and (b) I'm going to the cabin for the Labor Day weekend tonight, after the treadmill session.

Legs and Back

Delicious! This is one my faves, because there are no repeating exercises (that can be annoying, especially when you hated it the first time!), and the leg exercises are ALL HOCKEY REFEREE SPECIFIC. Sweet!

Remember when I was dead doing the "Sneaky Lunges"?? No more. Bring IT!

Shoulders and Arms

This is the only workout that I skip ahead during each exercise. I mean...come on...they allow like 50 seconds per exercise, and if you are doing 8-10 reps, it doesn't take that long.

So I skip to the next session. And I skip the ballistic stretching. And I skip the Bonus Round.

And it takes me 35 minutes to do the workout. And I love it! (And if Mrs. Sheridan, my 10th grade English teacher, knew I was writing like this, using "And" before multiple sentences, she'd be all over my case-- Sorry, Mrs. S!).

Day 59 - Thighs of Friggin' Steel

Yoga X

That's how I view this workout...knee-bender's delight! This is all about getting low.

I tried something different today and would suggest it for you (if you aren't easily hurt).

Try a workout with your shirt off/just in jog bra.

Talk about psychological...I thought the "before" picture was motivating...now I will rethink some of my choices in life. Man...watching what I thought was a trim stomach do all that flabby stuff...it made me want to put my shirt back on! Kind of like when you see a dude at the beach in Speedo's, who has absolutely no business wearing Speedo's.

Or...

Since it is State Fair time here...seeing a girl in spandex shorts that should NEVER be in spandex shorts.

Those of you skipping your photos...your before and afters...your measurements...your just short-changing yourself!

(I could have posted a REAL nasty picture here...):

Day 58 - P90X - It Seems to Be Everywhere!

1. Planning
2. Preparation
3. Planning

This week I have 4 days to get in 6 workouts....

Doing the (2) cardio killers today:

Plyos X

Can you believe that I get through this workout without thinking the Good Lord is punishing me for my sins???

That's what continually bringing it does.

Now off to workout #2:

Kenpo X

{see you in 50 minutes - and I ain't changing shirts :)

OK...now I think I'm being punished.

THIS IS WHY THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE MENTAL SIDE, and for you Referees, HOW-TO ELEVATE YOUR GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL...

I tried to quit three times. I actually shut the DVD player off twice, walked out of the room, and was going to say, "One P90 workout today is enough." I knew my accountability...I knew I had to answer as to why I couldn't meet my goals, and I pushed play again.

I'm dead...but, YEAH BABY!!!!!!!!

Day 57 - Phase 3 - P90X (5 Weeks to Go!!)

This 12 week Transformation (90 days is actually 13 weeks, but that's an unlucky number and 12 sounds better than 13) ends for me on Oct 3...and then things really start.

Chest and Back

The first and most basic routine that as added more muscle to me than weeks of bench presses, barbells and dumbbells ever did!

Here's my end of Phase 2 Picture:













Not much change from the end of Phase 1 picture:













Here's to even greater gains (and losses!) in this last phase. Bring It!

Day 54, 55, and 56 - Minnesota DOS

No workouts this weekend. I knew that coming in to the weekend, and got my 5 scheduled workout in prior (more like 4.5 -- and I chose to skip Stretch X, because I don't really care for it. At all.)

This week is another abbreviated week -- 4 days to workout...6 FULL workouts...two (2) a days.

I am into Phase 3, which is a HUGE, HUGE push! It's the last 5 weeks of the program. My season starts in 12 days. I am pumped to "Bring It" off the ice and on the ice.

Day 53 - Abbreviated Workout - pre DOS

Core Synergistics

So...I got up at 2:00 am this morning to cut a bunch of video clips for the District Officiating Seminar(DOS) in Blaine, MN this weekend, and I still had to do an abbreviated workout due to time restraints.

Now, I know that I have been harping on 1. Planning, 2. Preparation, and 3. Planning...but...seriously...should I have gotten up at 1:00 am instead??? Two hours of sleep???

However you look at it, I feel comfortable with the outcome because it is recovery week. I have been feeling really good lately (minus the sore butt cheeks from doing two rounds of Yoga X this week).

My family is off to the State Fair today. Yum, yum (there will no following of any type of diet today!). Deep fried Snickers Bar, here I come!!

Day 52 - P90X - I'm Tellin' Ya

Yoga X

Here's what I have been doing with this workout for (2) reasons:

1. I only the the first half of the workout, because I am concentrating on NAILING all of those poses.

(I am almost there. I have to "come out" of some of the right angle poses for a bit to rest, and Warrior 3...all I can say is, "Do your best, and forget the rest.")

2. It's a LONG workout. I'm a busy guy. 45 minutes is enough for me to be super concentrated (is that a word?). Otherwise, it's like trying to do 25 reps of every Ab Ripper move...I just get all sloppy and can only think about getting the damn thing over with!

When I concentrate for 45 minutes, my quality is MUCH better. And those are the hockey referee-specific moves I want to master.

I love this explanation. So true. The results prove it!:

Day 51 - P90X - (Recovery Day = Ugh!)

Core Synergistics

Boy do I sweat doing this workout. I always have to remember to breathe, so I don't blow a gasket!

Here's my successes:

1. Did 10 Chatarunga Steps on the PLANK TO CHATARUNGA RUN followed by 5 Chatarunga Steps and then 7 Chatarungas...all while doing the plank runs inbetween!

2. I am always so gassed after that, that there is no way I can do the Walking Push Ups...I always choose to do a plank for 1 minute...I did it!

3. I did 8 Prison Cell Push ups = ugh!

Here's my not-so success -- Not even close on the Dreya Roll (stupid move!!!...makes me feel like a clod!!!)

Day 50 - Somehow I Got My Day Count Off

The chart on the wall in my workout room says, "Aug 24 = Day 50"

I will have to go back through my posts and see where I goofed...(I have now done that and realized it happened way back on day 7...so, from now on, I'll just use the correct Day and Date)

RECOVERY WEEK!!

Yoga X

As I was going through the different types of poses that put some MAJOR STRESS on your thighs, creating big-time burn (and BIG-TIME muscle build, too!), I realized that this workout is PERFECT for building skating legs.

I was thinking back to last Thursday when I was on the skating treadmill. Tony, the instructor, said, "Have you videotaped yourself skating lately? You've gotten really low on your knee bend."

Answer = I have not skated on the treadmill for a full training session since June 25. In that time frame I have been doing no on-ice training...ONLY P90X...and the Yoga poses are perfect for building that deep knee bend.

I Love It! And you should, too!

Warrior 1 Pose:

Day 46, 47, and 48

Day 46 = Rest Day/Cheat Day

Had the Zebra Open Golf Tourney Today...imbibed in some beverages...had some good ol' fashioned picnic food, and had a GREAT time with 53 people who took "A Swing at Cancer".

Day 47 and 48 = Ultimate Officials Training Camp

Watched hockey all day on Saturday (over 14 hours worth at the rink!), ate very well in regards to being disciplined.

Sunday I used as a "chill out" day. No workouts...ate sensibly. Enjoyed the day.