KIcked in the Balls By Bacteria!

Well what can I say even a "Man of Action" gets sick and has to take a break from the grind. So here I sit battling what seems to bean ass kicker of a Sinus Infection! My heads foggy like San Francisco in the summer time and I am spitting green goo like the girl in the movie "The Exorcist". It's truly maddening to live a life of activity then have what seemed like a standard cold suddenly kick you in the nuts and take you down hard.

So over the past few days as I have been fighting through the constant congestion, dizzy spells, fever and ringing in the ears. I am reminded of how good health is so important to the overall vitality of life and the ongoing pursuit of greatness. I will admit I am not ruling out the antibiotics. You never know this thing may want to go the distance. But, for now I am thinking like a Man Of Action and taking matters in to my own hands. I am going Homeopathic! OK so not totally I will admit Ibuprofen and a good decongestant go along way and make the homeopathic approach a little bit more bearable. So after 4 days of trying to work through this, a trip to the Pharmaca in Novato was necessary. Thank the adventure gods I ran in to my herbal guru Kelly I knew I was in good hands and would be all set to knock this thing out and get back in the mix.

$40 later I walked out with "Nutribiotics" Grapefruit seed extract which has all natural antibacterial, antiviral and anti fungal properties. How is that possible it isn't an antibiotic! Wait that's right most of the drugs we use today are derived from natural plant sources ahhhh yes now were on to something. She also turned me on to alcohol free golden seal to put in my nasal irrigation system and an herb mix to put in the 5-7 liters of water I have been drinking each day.

So here are few things that have seemed to work so far:

Nasal Irrigation System aka Neti Pot
Sure it's a little uncomfortable...I mean who really wants to shoot salty water up your nasal passages? Trust me once the mild stinging stops and you can actually take deep breath through the your nose you'll be looking for someone to throw up a high 5 to!

Well I was doing this with just the salt water hoping that Dr Volin's home remedy system would work like it always does but not this time. The salt water just didn't seem to touch it. Kelly my herbal guru suggested to use the Golden seal in the neti pot along with a saline solution. So I gave it a whirl. Whoooo wheeeee I think I over dosed a bit the sudden urge to puke came over from the smell. Wait the smell? I hadn't been able to experience that in days! Awesome now were headed in the right direction. So after a full on phlem exstrapalation complete with ear unintended Valsalva maneuver I was ready for the gentle mist of the "Nutribiotic" grapefruit seed extract. I shot this stuff up and it felt oily almost in my nasal passages. But after 3 solid squirts in each nostril I feel the stuff working right away! It started clearing the green and yellow goo because I could feel it sliding down the back of my throat. Sounds gross and it felt worse but, it meant the goo was on the move rather than just sitting there. Finally, some forward progress and a few good solid deep breaths.

Well, here I am 24 hours later and have repeated the process about 6 times total and am happy to report that the sinus passages are staying relatively clear the green and yellow goo is starting to go clear and my ears aren't pounding from the pressure on my ear drum. Although I am still experiencing the ringing sounds aka tinnitus. In my research this should pass once the fluid is completely drained.

Conclusion keep your fingers out of your nose! That's usually how these things start you leave the gym forgetting to wash your hands and perform what is a classic farmer blow all over your face and t-shirt. Well, what's a Man of Action to do? Wipe off your nose with your unwashed hand gently placing bacteria close enough to ear nose or throat where it can invade the body and kick you in the balls! Or so it feels because your nuts swell up like a couple ripened plums ready to be picked from the over production of white blood cells ready to fight the infection.

Next time you are tempted to drink champagne with a beautiful women stick with the beer and get her to bed early!

Homecoming Hauke Park Mill Valley, CA

Every great team loves a good homecoming. Well, the Man of Action team found themselves knee deep in grass roots of Hauke Park. Yes we made our way back to the familiar territory of one of the busiest parks in the area. This is also where the basics of Achieveing Total Fitness's adventure fitness program got it's kick start back in the Spring of 2008. Sitting on the outskirts of beautiful Mill Valley, CA this park has a pristine grass soccer field and an incredibel view of Magnificent Mt Tamalpias. We're used to enjoying the sunrise as it casts it's first light through the fog and on to the East Peak. Today we got a late start. The team has been working hard accomplishing the tasks at hand but a Man of Action knows his breaking point. So rather than push and risk an injury better to take the time and prepare properly. Plus, what a magnificent day to be out and about in Norethern California! With the typical Saturday crowd in attendance starting off the afternoon "Yuppie Dog fights" near the swing set (Oh Now don't you worry your organic mind set not a drop of Chai was spilled during the skirmish). Yoga girl stretching on the picnic table and more than enough of the bike geeks and their piss poor regard for trail etiquette, all in attendance. I love the "I want to be a free spirit" vibe a typical Saturday seems to generate. I guess everone else needs thier day in the park too. Well, imagine the look on everyone's face when a 35# Kettle bell became the focal point for this incredible workout! Two Men of Action throwing around a solid piece of steel with our scout pup and her ball fetish weaving in and out of the mix.

Wind Mill Kettle Bell Swings 1 minute

Explosive Kettle bell swings over head 10 reps

Wind Mill Kettle Bell Swings 2 minute

Explosive Kettle bell swings over head 10 reps

Windmill Kettle Bell swings 2 minutes

Explosive Kettle Bell swings 1 arm 5 reps each arm

3 rounds

4 minutes of High intensity football catch
1st round focus accurracy and speed
2nd round focus Hands and power
3rd round Off balance throws and mobil throws

Circuit

5 air squats
5 pushups
5 Bosu Jumps
5 Ball Slams

200 yard run
3 rounds

The adventure continues...

2-3-09 The Dipsea Stairs Mill Valley CA

Since the weather here in Northern California has been so nice it's allowed the Man of Action Team to get really creative with workouts. Today we met at the base of the Dipsea Stairs to challenge our wits and endurance on what seems like an endless barrage of stairs that starts of this grueling race of strength speed endurance and balance as you run up an amazing landscape on your way to Stinson Beach and the Pacific Ocean. 676 stairs of pure heart pounding bliss!

1st leg was a double stair warm up which we walked vigorously to get warmed up. We ran back down took a quick drink of H2o then proceeded to sprint 10 stairs drop and do 5 push ups all the way to the first wide landing.

2nd leg was a balance drill walking back wards up makeshift steps made out of boulders. Once at the top knocked out some Burpees then back down to the Midway landing. The a double stair sprint up the stair until we reached the boulder stairs then we did 1 legged jumps up the stairs at a sprint pace then dropped and pumped out 8 explosive push ups at the top of the Hill.

3rd leg was a walk up the road about 50 yards perfect for a recovery Then we did a double stair walk to the top at a quick pace. Dropped did pushups Came back down Turned around and Did Bear Crawls to the top non stop and finished off with Reverse Lunges.

4th leg was sprints! single step sprints push ups at the top (1.5 minute) 2 times
Double step sprints with push ups at the top ( 1 minute) 1 time
Triple step walk up (which felt as tough as any sprint) Push ups at the top

Total work time 1 hour

Sunrise at Kirby Cove 1-31-09

Another Kick ass workout in one of the most amazing places ever! Kirby Cove...

We ran down the Fire road through campground. To the World War II bunker. The last series of defense against attack for the Golden Gate Bridge. We ran around the bunker doing various forms of push ups, jumps and agility maneuvers. Our Scout dog Mokie was constantly on watch for any form of unwanted guests who might disrupt our workout. After a quick look at a passing ship we headed down to the beach and performed a series of Flying Burpees from the surf to the soft sand. As we finished the set of grueling movements the sun came up over the San Francisco skyline and under the Golden Gate Bridge. We then prodceeded to the "incoming drill" We ran 100 yard sprints on marble sized gravel along the shore and as the instructor screamed "INCOMING" we dove in to the gravel for a brief second and then jumped back up and proceded with our sprint through the gravel. 4 sets was enough to get the legs shaking, the heart pounding and breakfast a little restless. No scramblers today but close. Then we did an exploratory move through a drain pipe climbed back to the top of the bunker stretched a bit enjoyed the sunshine and prepared for the full on run out of the cove back to the car. No one left behind...