Albert K. Park

Get it Shawty!


The ridiculous aroma of sweat, metal and rubber from the 500 pound tire gets me every time, provoking muscles to quiver and shake in ways muscles were never meant to move. Guys laying down rolling out soar muscles on foam rollers was the typical scene as DMX, a gym favorite, serenaded in the background. I love the feeling of walking into an environment where your mind, body, and soul feel so comfortable, like walking in the front door of your parent’s house. For athletes it might be the pool, the court, the field, or in this case a warehouse. Either way, Home sweet Home.

After the what’s ups and getting some shit from the guys for being away so long, my eyes caught the white board where the day’s workout was written. Euphoria was quickly flushed out by a cocktail of fear, adrenaline, and prayer. Regardless of your conditioning, strength, and will power, if you have been away for more than a week your ego will quickly get put into check around here. Sometimes, pushing your body to the razor thin edge is the exact remedy you need in life to aid with work stress, life’s dramas, and the crazy person you turn into when all these things work against you. Your mind shuts up and focuses on the task at hand, such as an external oblique abdominal throw with a 30 lb dead weight medicine ball. Yeah! Try thinking about the girl/guy that is just not that into you now!

The workout crushes me in the best way, if that makes any sense.

Sledge Hammer swings + Heavy benching and rowing + Heavy Ab work = Recharged

My drive home gave me time to think, really think and was also accompanied by T-pain’s album that my friend insisted on I listen to. I think I like track 5. But anyways here are 5 things that came to mind that you need to know! Again! Thanks T-Pain.

1.) Workout with training Partners
I have always been a solitary creature in the gym, I don’t know why? Probably because a lot of the people I have lifted with were just not on the same chapter as me and didn’t really want to work out. I’ve always been stuck with the guy who talks to every single kid or just doesn’t give a damn. When you do find some people that are on the same mind set I strongly advise to workout with them. Training with a group or a partner provides so much then just someone to gossip with about the other people in the gym.

- You have the opportunity to work to failure since there is always someone there to spot you.
- The two of you start to push each other to work harder through competition.
- You can learn a lot about form from watching each other do it wrong. HAHA
- Also it’s just fun to workout with friends whether your lifting, running, hiking, or just doing anything active.

So, get out there and find somebody.


2.) Drink WATER!
I never realized how much I naturally sweat, especially during the summer time. Just because you don’t get drenched with sweat doesn’t mean your body isn’t sweating. It took me a tough workout to realize my lack of water intake. With even a 2% decrease in water levels, your body starts to go into survival mode and retains water. So the less water you drink the more you will retain water. Water weight doesn’t look to good at the beach by the way. So drink fluids.

Albert tip: Try coconut water for those looking for a great source of fluids and energy. Better than Gatorade because it uses natural sugars with the same if not more amount of goodies in it.

3,) Eat something Healthy after you Workout. PLEEEAASEE!
You just busted your ass sweating, screaming, and wincing in pain. Why would you stop by Jack in the Box on the way home to get a Jumbo Jack Ass and some tummy blubber fries. Take care of yourself and eat something that tastes good and is healthy. Try staying away from processed foods for a start by eating food that is fresh like lean meats, fresh veggies, and some good carbs.

My dinner after tonight’s workout:
8 egg and turkey omelet. ( I don’t think that’s how you spell it, damn.)
3 whole eggs and 5 egg whites. A pinch of Johnny’s seasoning salt and some fresh cracked pepper. Wash it down with some grape juice and WATER!!.

Does it taste good? Yeah, I like it. Will you? Probably not at first, it grows on you, trust me. (Insert my smiling face here) But remember, your body needs proper fuel to repair the great trauma you put your body through so you can do it all over again, but better.

4.) Stay Consistent
I know this and all the other topics have been things you already know, but they are such no brainers, your brain often overlooks them. Things so easy to do, you don’t. Weird huh! But really consistency is the key with everything. Don’t overwork your body with crazy circuits 6 days a week for a month, because I guarantee that after a month, if you make it, we won’t see you in a gym for 6 months. Just be consistent don’t burn out. Maybe two or three times a week of lifting or two glasses of water per days instead of carrying around a gallon like a body builder. (I promise you will look like an idiot, I know because I used to ) Take it slow and steady.

5.) Sleep
This is another one of those no brainers. Just remember that your body actually grows the most sleeping, so if you are only getting 5 hours a night, your missing out on 3 more quality bicep growing hours. I won’t write anymore on this because it’s so simple and you don’t need to hear it from me when you probably hear it all the time in infomercials, magazine articles, and all that krap.

WRAP it UP!
Yeah I know, those 5 things were so ordinary. Not cutting edge stuff right? Wrong! These are things that I have been kind of putting aside myself because of how simple and easy they are. It’s like saying don’t forget to floss every night. Yeah I know it’s important but I don’t do it everyday. (It’s okay one of my best friends will be a dentist in a few years) Really take a look at the list and see if you are following these SIMPLE things. It took me a gut wrenching conditioning workout to open my eyes and see why I was struggling so much. Oh yeah and t-pain on the drive home. Eu -freaking-reaka!