{"id":1430,"date":"2014-12-03T19:50:06","date_gmt":"2014-12-04T00:50:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/amentorwalkswithme.com\/?p=1430"},"modified":"2014-12-05T12:20:38","modified_gmt":"2014-12-05T17:20:38","slug":"power-number","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/amentorwalkswithme.com\/?p=1430","title":{"rendered":"Power Number"},"content":{"rendered":"

I wrote recently about the balancing of yang and yin forces in life as a way to find a sense of inner power and feelings of flowing-with-life. I often think of it also as a balance of (1) acting in a manner that manifests your\u00a0best self, and (2)\u00a0understanding and accepting who you naturally are.<\/p>\n

So, understanding that I am inspired by long-term and big-picture perspectives, and knowing that I desire to maintain a perspective of my life in which my best self improves with age, I thought I’d come up with a strength training formula that might help me measure my progress.<\/p>\n

Someone out there has probably already come up with something similar, but I came up with the following way of tracking my progress.<\/p>\n

Perhaps, it might also be a way to level the playing field regarding age and inspire increased performance each year for the rest of my life (and disprove the assumption that our power\u00a0peaks somewhere in mid-life)!<\/p>\n

So here it is. (Yes, I am a numbers guy, too…)<\/p>\n

Take your age and divide it by 10, and call it your age-factor. For me, 5.69.<\/p>\n

For a given day of power measurements (performed within 90 minutes), measure your weight. For me, 184 pounds.<\/p>\n

Measure your 3-rep maximum weight for the following power-lifting movements and calculate weight-to-bodyweight ratio:<\/p>\n

Barbell (not Smith machine) Bench Press. For me, 200 lbs; 1.09.<\/p>\n

Back Squat (thighs parallel to floor). For me, 300 lbs; 1.63.<\/p>\n

Weighted Chin-Up (suspended weight above\u00a0body weight). For me, 70 lbs; 0.38.<\/p>\n

Barbell Deadlift. For me, 360 lbs; 1.96.<\/p>\n

Add the ratios together and multiply the sum by your age-factor. For me, today: my “power number” equals 5.06 x 5.69 = 28.79!<\/p>\n

Can I make this number get bigger and bigger for the rest of my life?<\/p>\n

I know if I can maintain these power lifting numbers and keep my weight the same, the “Power Number” will increase with my age. That’s okay, as I see it. An upward trend is always satisfying and motivating.<\/p>\n

But can I make this number increase at a faster rate than my age? And, can I do it for the rest of my life? The “Power Number” would motivate me to maintain or decrease my weight while getting stronger continuously while I get older… or even increase my strength at a faster rate than my age!<\/p>\n

Maybe I’ll start with a goal of 30.00 for my next birthday in 3 weeks, and see if this Power Number exercise seems reasonable, and measure again every 1\/10 of a year.<\/p>\n

Thoughts?<\/p>\n

I know this appears very yang-based, with a focus on strength and effort. \u00a0It is my perspective, however, that the internally-motivated factors which will drive improved yearly measurements will only thrive if I understand and accept myself as I am, and maintain a balanced perspective and a connected mind-body-spirit presence.<\/p>\n

\"Boomer<\/a><\/p>\n

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