Make a Resolution to Workout Harder

If you want a simple tip to make your 2010 workouts more effective than those of 2009, here it is in two words: workout harder.

I'm always amazed at the average intensity I see when I go to the gym. A typical observed weightlifting workout involves 8-10 reps at too low a weight, followed by 4-5 minutes of sitting around (waiting for your heart rate to drop from 100 to 80?), repeat, move on to another exercise, etc. Yes, it's better to be in the gym doing something than nothing, but these workouts aren't really doing much for you.

When I started working out seriously back in July or so, I made circuit workouts a regular part of my routine. I choose two exercises that work different muscle groups (for example, pull-ups and lunges), and do supersets (do one set of one exercise, then move immediately to the next) with one minute rests in between. I work out hard enough that my heart is really pumping by the end of each superset. The one minute rest is just enough to bring my heart rate down to a reasonable level before going again. Then I rest for a couple minutes while choosing my next superset.

I've found this type of workout to be much more effective for me than what I did before. Sure, I get what-are-you-crazy stares from people, but I'm sore after almost every workout, and I've gained considerable strength and endurance since starting. Also, this type of circuit training works aerobic capacity as well as strength. But the best thing is that you can literally do a 30 minute workout (including warmup) that works your whole body and leaves you exhausted.

Works for me. Give it a shot!

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영어가 모국어인 사람들은 왜 한국어를 배우기가 어려운 이유

이 포스트는 내 처음 한국어로 블로그 포스트인데, 한국어에 대하니까 잘 어울린다. =) 자, 시작합시다! 왜 외국사람에게 한국어를 배우기가 어렵다? 난 한국어를 배우고 있는 사람이라서 이 문제에 대해 많이 생각하고 있었다. 여러가지 이유가 있는데 오늘 몇 이유만 논할 것이다. 1. 분명히 한국어 문법은 영어에 비해 너무 많이 다른다. 영어는 “오른쪽으로 분지(分枝)의 언어"라고 하는데 한국어는 “왼쪽으로 분지의 언어"이다. 뜻이 무엇이나요? 예를 보면 이해할 수 있을 것이다. 간단한 문장만 말하면 (외국어를 말하는 남들은 간단한 문장의 수준을 지낼 수가 약간 드물다), 간단한 걸 기억해야 돼: 영어는 “SVO”인데 한국어는 “SOV”이다. “I’m going to school”라고 한국어로는 “저는 학교에 가요"라고 말한다. 영어로 똑바로 번역하면 “I’m school to go”이다. 두 언어 다르는 게 목적어와 동사의 곳을 교환해야 한다. 별로 어렵지 않다. 하지만, 조금 더 어렵게 만들자. “I went to the restaurant that we ate at last week.” 한국어로는 “전 우리 지난 주에 갔던 식당에 또 갔어요"라고 말한다. 영어로 똑바로 번역하면 “I we last week went to restaurant to again went”말이다. 한국어가 왼쪽으로 분지 언어라서 문장 중에 왼쪽으로 확대한다! 이렇게 좀 더 쉽게 볼 수 있다: “전 (우리 지난 주에 갔던 식당)에 또 갔어요”. 주제가 “전"이고 동사가 “갔다"이고 목적어가 “우리 지난 주에 갔던 식당"이다. 영어 문장은 오른쪽으로 확대한다: I (S) went (V) to (the restaurant (that we went to (last week))) (O). 그래서 두 숙어 문장 만들고 싶으면 생각속에서도 순서를 변해야 된다. 2. 첫 째 점이니까 다른 사람을 자기 말을 아라들게 하고 싶으면, 충분히...

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