Shoulder day

I don't have a lot of time to write today, since work is extremely busy, but I had a great day at the gym. Shoulders went well, and I impressed myself with a few things. Tomorrow is legs and I'm looking forward to not being able to walk Saturday :)

On a side note, have folks stopped reading this? I know I'm getting much fewer comments, so I'm curious. Please let me know, ok?

Sore today, and it feels GREAT!

Today is a day off for me, just from working out, not from eating right. And I have to tell you, it's needed! My biceps, triceps, and chest are SORE! I can definately tell I moved some weight this week, and it really feels good. I'm not just someone who wanted to be healthier, I wanted to be truly BUFF! To meet that end, I have to add muscle in some places and remove fat in others. So far, I get the feeling I'm doing just that!

I felt wierd not going to the gym today, so I'll probably do cardio on these days in the future. I hate cardio, but it's part of what I need. In all honesty, I took the day off because I didn't want to do cardio. That's it, at least in hindsight. Next wednesday will be cardio.

Tomorrow is shoulders and abs. Yep, that's all. Why? Because the deltiod has three different heads, and then you throw on the traps and you've got a pretty full schedule. Abs are pretty easy to work, since I'll just do one set to failure at the end of the workout. I can hardly wait to hit the gym!

Each day I feel stronger than the day before. Ever since January, I've been getting stronger and stronger. I will do nothing short of pushing myself farther and farther, into greater and greater deeds. Bards will sing songs of my prowess with the Iron Obsticles. I will be FEARED by the weights, as well as by Death itself.

I have a message to Death! You want me to go easy? Well, you missed your chance. Now? You've got the toughest fight you've ever imagined ahead of you!

So far, so good

Oh man, what a workout! My arms are exhausted even an hour after the workout. I LOVE IT!!! So far it looks like the new program is a winner, which makes me happy all over since I cooked it up myself. I know, go me!

I was doing some assisted pullups, and was getting upset. It was embarassing, working out with Marines who do pullups unassisted before they can even enlist, and here I am needing all the assitance I can get. Then it hit me, so what? What's embarassing is the number of people who can't get their butts to a gym, or do anything else even close to exercise. What's embarassing is the weight problem in this country. What's embarassing is that I was embarassed about needing the assist, when my ass was at least IN THERE!

I've actually heard people say that they aren't in good enough shape to go to a gym. WTF????? You go to a gym to get IN shape, you don't get in shape to go to a gym. I understand what they mean, and why they feel that way, but it's still messed up. I know that the gym is full of fit, beautiful people. However, they didn't get that way over night! They worked at it. They busted their butts 5-6 days per week, moving weight, plodding along on a treadmill, whatever it took. Then one day, someone walked into the gym and said, "I wish I could look like THAT guy/girl." Meanwhile, that person who they want to emulate looks at themselves in the mirrors that surround the gym and say, "Come on! You can do more weight than this! PUSH IT!"

Almost no one in the gym is completely satisfied with how they look or feel, that's why they keep pushing. They want X amount more on their benchpress. They want X:XX more minutes on that eliptical machine. They want to lose X more pounds. They want to GAIN X more pounds. It doesn't matter. They all are still trying to accomplish something. Now, I'm in there every morning and pushing myself harder and harder. I might be one of those who now lend themselves to the thinking that you have to be in shape to go to the gym.

They don't see me without a shirt though ;)

New Week, New Challenge

Well, a new challenge so to speak. My current program doesn't look much like BFL at all. I'm still eating food that BFLers eat, but bodybuilders eat that way as well. I'm definately a fitness person for life, and my new program deals more with my likes and dislikes than BFL did.

Today was chest and triceps and I hit them hard. I did 4 sets of 6 reps with heavy weight, but not heavy enough. I'll go up by 5 lbs next week when I hit these muscles next. I had a blast. I burned, and I was proud of myself. It was hard to get up this morning, but I didn't have a choice.

Before anyone asks, I still think BFL is a great program. If it's what you're looking for, then by all means, have fun with it. Me? I like more exercises per muscle. On shoulder day, it'll really pay off since I'll be able to hit all three heads of the deltoids, rather than just one. I'm really looking forward to it! This is a personal preference, so don't get upset about it or anything.

The important thing is that BFL works, and did wonders for me as it has for millions off other people throughout the world. Now, I just feel it's time to move onto a new fitness program. If you stick with the same program indefinately, you'll get static and will get no results. I'm loving the results I'm getting and can't wait to get more. Time will tell just how far I can go.

I think the most important thing in fitness is to find what works for YOU. BFL wouldn't keep working for me because I got bored with it. I wanted something different, which is what I've got now. You do whatever works for you, and screw anyone who tells you that you shouldn't! As long as it works and doesn't cause you any harm, who has a right to squash it?

Keep it fresh, and you'll keep being eager to hit the gym! You and I both know that unless you get into the gym/homegym area, you'll never get anywhere. What happens if you don't do anything? Nothing. Precisely zip. Do what you've got to do to keep motivated, and you'll do fine!

Back in the Saddle Again!

I appear to be 100 percent recovered from my injury last week, which is good. I had a pretty good upper body workout, my last for Challenge 1. It's wierd, with just two cardio sessions and one lower body workout, the challenge is almost over. I don't know what to think about it right now. On one hand, it's great to finally finish a challenge. On the other, it's ending with more of a whimper. I was in a deep depression this week which made me oversleep Monday and Tuesday and miss those workouts. I did get some bike time in on Tuesday, but who knows if it was really enough. I was peddling in near total darkness (the stationary bike is in my unlit garage in the back yard), so I may have actually done nothing.

However, I'm not letting this get to me. For the past twelve weeks, I have pushed myself and accomplished more than I had ever thought was really possible. I set lofty goals for myself, sure that I wouldn't actually reach them, and then proved myself wrong! I not only reached them, I even SHATTERED a few!

Now I gear up for next challenge, in which my exercise program won't be very BFLish, but it'll be a healthy lifestyle and I will definately see more progress. I can't wait!

Last night I visited a martial arts school here in town. My son has gotten interested in Power Rangers, and does punches and kicks in the living room floor trying to be like them, and I have always had an interest in the martial arts. I found this school, which is actually the "small" school here in town, and was VERY impressed. I see this as being a good cardio outlet for me, extra cardio if you will. Further, it'll help move me closer to my Superhero-dom!

More and more, I'll be pushing myself to greater and greater things. I hope you're all still along to read about it!!

Almost Healed

Well, the injury is almost healed, but I still had to cut my upper body workout a bit short. It's ok though, better to cut it short now and work out hard later, than to work out hard and not be able to workout at all later!

Last Friday night, I spent it partying with a buddy of mine from work and some of his friends. I actually was able to wear a shirt with horizontal stripes (green ones for St. Patty's Day) and it not look like crap on me. Well, this Friday is a sequal and I picked up a new shirt to celebrate! It looks great on me, and I'm so thrilled to actually be able to wear trendy clothing again!

I opted to NOT weigh and measure myself this week, since I'm just as likely to get upset at the numbers. I had visions of dropping insane weight in the last four weeks, but that just hasn't happened. Hopefully, I can make myself happy by the end of next week. Time will tell.

Next challenge will start just around the corner, and I'm eager. I will work out in a manner that I actually enjoy more than the "by the book" BFL workout. That one does work, but I enjoy breaking the bodyparts down a bit more. It'll be fun to get back to that. I'm looking forward to being able to do bodyweight exercises again, which is hard when your bodyweight is the same as the weight of an SUV. Still, like I have said about my weight and bodyfat since the start, it's a temporary condition.

I don't know if I told you all, but I finally picked up an mp3 player last weekend, and it really helped with cardio yesterday! It was great, my legs pumping to the music. I rode harder and faster than I ever have before, and it felt pretty damn good! Now, cardio isn't so bad! I'm actually looking forward to cardio tomorrow!

Take THAT!

So the Fates have conspired against me? They are in league with Death to take me down? They think that by me pulling a muscle they will make me weak? I hate to break it to them, I'm STILL a badass mo-fo who will kick Death in the junk and make him beg me for more!

I had a GREAT leg workout today. I stuck to machines to keep from antagonizing the pulled muscle and I killed my legs. I feel like I'm walking around with iron in my legs, it's fucking GREAT! Big Red and I diverged workouts for the first time and it went fairly quick. We both see that and will capatilize on it next challenge.

I could have let this injury sidetrack me, and I sort of did yesterday. I ate totally off-plan, but it's cool. You know why? Because I'm back on plan today. I felt guilty and pathetic for taking the easy way out yesterday and I won't tolerate that within myself anymore. I am not going to be what I want to be by taking the easy path. The easy path is what leads millions of Americans to buy crap products that supposedly will make them lose weight rather than just....oh I don't know, work out maybe???

I am the superhero I've always dreamt of being. I am The Animal. I am the only one who can stand between mediocrity and excellence. I am the defender of Greatness. I stand against Death, and should he ever take me before my time, I will give him one HELL of a fight in the process. I want Death to bring it. I'll kick his ass NOW and later. I fear no man anymore! Fear is that which keeps us from reaching for the stars, and it holds no sway over me anymore.

I have my arch-enemy. He's Death. I have minor villians, like Fate and Laziness and Slacker Guy. I stand against them in the name of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I am the Wall between Apathy and Greatness. I will push that wall until Apathy finds itself falling into the ocean, so that Greatness rules all of me.

I am The Animal. You hear me Death? I'm waiting for you. Just make sure you bring your OWN bodybag, because I won't be going ANYWHERE with you, you pathetic little punk!