Push-ups and sit-ups is the foundation for a basic calisthenics routine for many people. These two exercises help to develop and strengthen the core, arms, chest, and back. The general thinking on sit-ups is that they can be done every day of the week because this type of training is more along the lines of developing flexibility than strength training and doesn’t require as much time to recover (https://www.outsideonline.com/1769271/should-you-do-push-ups-and-sit-ups-every-day). In addition to the core development, doing sit-ups regularly can help improve balance, posture, and diaphamatic strength, while also reducing back, hip, and pain and stiffness (https://www.healthline.com/health/sit-ups-benefits). Push-ups, on the other hand, also help develop strength in the lower back and posture, while building the arm muscles and protecting the shoulder as push ups call upon stabilizing muscles, which surround the rotator cuff joint, this area of the body is strengthened and conditioned for dynamic movements (https://www.keepinspiring.me/10-massive-benefits-of-push-ups/). Push-ups and sit-ups, because of their bodyweight focus, don’t overload the muscle groups with hypertrophy and can be done nearly every day without needing to skip a day before doing the same exercise again.
Day 7:
If I hadn’t done the 50/50 right when I got home tonight, I wouldn’t have done it at all. The 15 reps followed by 10 was successfully completed, although the last 10 were difficult and my form started to be sacrificed. Instead of the crunches, I tried to do the full sit-ups slowly, while tensing my abs.
Day 8:
Fridays are those days of the week that completely sap all of the rest of my energy and leave me scrambling for ice cream as a pacifier to my broken soul. This Friday, specifically, there were two almost-fights in the school. The first of these involved chasing from pod to pod a young girl as she screamed, “I’m going to f#{€ing kick her f#$€ing a$$!” This was during lunch and students gathered around the areas of the school as if they had come to see gladiators battle to the death. She was only stopped after I managed to grab her jacket sleeve and direct the forward energy of her momentum into a wall to stop her from continuing and then getting her to move into a room. The second incident involved a boy yelling at his former girlfriend that he wouldn’t have any problem punching a girl for her mouth, and the girl responding with insults about his insufficient masculinity (except in a less eloquent fashion). By the time I reported to the classroom where the boy was sitting in class, and I asked him to come talk to me about the incident, he said that he didn’t have to listen to a thing I had to say and wouldn’t be going anywhere. His mother has already sent me text messages this week saying that she doesn’t ever want to be contacted, “about some stupid BS,” so I expected this treasure of a moment. To say that I was drained from the day is an understatement, but I still completed my 50/50 challenge.
Day 9:
I just barely made it to doing the sets tonight. The kept delaying and delaying until it was 11:50 PM, and finally I busted them out. Damn laziness getting ahead of my productivity.
Day 10:
The weekends...the time when I let the every day hustle fall by the wayside. I almost forgot to do the 50/50 today only just remembering before bed. Even though I had completed a hot yoga session, I still managed to complete 25 of the elbow out pushups, and a full 20 in the first shot with the elbows tucked into the side.
Day 11:
Completion of the 50/50 is taking far less time, even when I’m tired and full of food. While a break of a day or two may help the muscles repair faster and for me to get stronger, I don’t believe doing this low level exercise and repetition is drastically hurting my body. I almost completed the set of 25 repetitions with the elbows tucked in (I did 24 and then couldn’t do another). The next goal to complete will be to see if I can get 50 pushups in one set, first with the elbows out, then in.
Day 12:
I never know how truly lazy I am until I get home from a full day and want to do nothing. Honestly, if it weren’t for the daily 50/50 goal right now, I wouldn’t have done any exercise today. This is probably why so many people workout in the mornings before work. The problem I have is that I also love to sleep, so waking up early is always a challenge in itself.
Vegan Baked Eggplant Rawmesan with Fried Zucchini and Polenta
Ingredients
Polenta:
2 cups water
2 cups almond milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup corn meal
2 tablespoons olive oil butter
fresh cracked black pepper
Eggplant and Fried Zucchini
2 medium eggplants (large enough to get 6 to 8 1/2-inch slices)
1 cup all-purpose flour - put into a bowl
1 tablespoon sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper
12 oz JUST Egg, 100% Plant-Based - put into a 2nd bowl
1 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs - put into a 3rd bowl
3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/3 cup rawmesan "cheese", plus more for topping
olive oil for coating1
(14-ounce) can diced tomato
4 roma tomatoes diced into tiny 1/4 inch cubes
1/4 cup of white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 tbs Italian seasoning
3 mediums green zucchini squash sliced in 1/2 inch slices
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Garlic salt to taste
How to cook it up
1. Heat oven to 375 F. Prepare two large baking sheets with baking parchment paper.
2. Dip each slice of eggplant into the JUST Egg bowl, followed by the flour, then the bread crumbs. Place the slices then on the baking sheet.
3. Scatter rawmesan "cheese" on top of each slice. Drizzle olive oil across the tops of each.
4. Bake in oven for 30 minutes.
5. While eggplant is baking, in a medium saucepan add diced tomatoes, canned tomatoes, sugar, and white wine vinegar. Set to medium heat and cook for 30 minutes. Remove when complete
6. In another medium sauce pan, mix all ingredients for polenta and set to medium heat. This needs constant supervision and regular stirring until polenta gets to be a more softly solid consistency. Remove from heat at this point.
7. In frying pan, place vegetable oil and set to medium heat.
8. After a few minutes add a layer of zucchini slices. Cook each side for about 3 minutes or until slightly browned. Flip and cook on other side.
9. Remove squash slices from oil and place on paper towel. Sparingly add garlic salt to tops of slices.
10. Make a bowl with the polenta, squash, and eggplant. Layer tomato sauce on top.
ENJOY!