Another Quick and easy update

Well, it only took 2.5 months, but I've lost 20 pounds! While I said I wasn't going to focus a whole lot on the scale, 20 pounds is a good benchmark for progress. Even if I don't see anything, I can at least look at a 20 pound dumbbell and say "I've lost THAT much weight!" Now let me shoulder press you!

Not much of an update, but... here's something

HI!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. It wasn't that I was busy or anything, I just forgot about here :(

Anyway, I am going to make this quick, then I'll be more detailed later tonight.... but, since Jan 1, 2010, I have lost in the vincinity of 18 pounds! It's probably more then that since I am lifting, but hey.... it's something!

Max Lift Week

Hi everyone!

This week is what is known as "Max Lift Week". What this means is that each day I go to the gym, all I do is one lift and put on as much weight as I can handle for 3-5 reps. Since this is basically the mid-point, it's a good way to see how far I have progressed with the 3 major lifts (Squats, Bench Press, Deadlift). Now, before my injury, I was lifting pretty heavy for those and was VERY hesitant to go heavy since my injury, but seeing as I was progressing really well... I figured, why not? On Tuesday I did squats, and I got 315 lbs for 4 reps. That;s 3 45 pound plates on each side. I tried 335 But after 1 rep I couldn't hold it. But still, I surprised myself there!

Today I did the Bench Press and I got up 235 for 5, then about 45 seconds later I put up 245 for 3. I think I am more impressed with the squat, only because I have to use my back for the squat so it's good to feel that it can hold up. Now because of a birthday party this weekend (mine) I won't be doing Deadlifts until Monday. Now, according to my trainer, I should focus on stuffing enough weight on the bar to lift it up once. As opposed to 3-5 times with the others. This one makes me most nervous because I am worried about my grip holding up. BUT, I am going to dig in and pull up whatever I can possibly do!

Weeeeee

Alright, so I think I'll only be updating this thing once a week, because let's face it, it's going to be a lot of the same "I ATE GOOD AND WORKED OUT GOOD" and I don't think you'd want to read that every 3 days. So anyway, I ate good and worked out good! But I guess the big news is getting a nice new HDTV! I know it's kinda counter-intuitive for what I am trying to accomplish, but who cares, NEW TV!

Actually, I did have my first actually cheat MEAL. I met up with my mom to get my TV and had a Ruby Tuesday chicken BLT on a pretzel roll. I also got fries, but I had like 2 of them. On the PLUS side, I had water, no soda, which a plus. My lifts are continuously going up which I am stoked for. Unfortunately, there's really not much else going on... I haven't tried out any new food, just stickin with chicken, port and lean lean lean beef for protein.

Til next time!

Yikes!

So Friday marked the "2 week" period for this training. I put it in quotes because it isn't technically 2 weeks. 2 days short of it, but my trainer asked I report to him every other Friday with a food log, and a quick questionnaire. Anyway, for you guys I'd rather not spill my details just yet... but I will leave it like this, I got stronger, lost a small bit of weight, and I think I fucked up my measurements when I did them 2 weeks ago as everything was kinda fubared this week. I trust these measurements since I had help, so they're more accurate, and therefore, probably closer to the truth.

I just came back from a gym session and holy cow, am I getting stronger. Last week, when I did the barbell bench press... I got up 185 for 3 sets of 5 reps. The last set was tough, but I got everything up. So I figured this time I'd be ok to move up to 195 and expect the same results. But what actually happened was that I went through all 3 sets preeeeeety easily. (at 195). That was a little freaky in a way. Now, back when I was lifting regularly, I think my max was 255lbs on the bench, which I got 2 good clean reps on. I guess that's eventually my goal, but right now, getting 2 plates for 3x5 seems reasonable.

I also started doing this thing called "complex" which is very P90Xish. I take a barbell with no weights on it. And in order, do 6 reps of the following, with no break inbetween- Deadlifts, Straight Leg Deadlifts, Bent Over Rows, Hang Cleans, Front Squats, Push Press, Back Squats, Good mornings. And that is ONE set. I did that 3 times! That is one fucking pain in the ass, but I can tell it's going to work. Anyway, that's really it, enjoy the Nice weather today and for those who care.... Ravens, Cowboys, Chargers and Card's this weekend.

First Weekend report

So I am pretty much finished with my first weekend on my new plan and this whole week has been pretty... easy. The only thing that sucked was the pain I was in during the middle of the week in my legs. That was awful. But outside of that... my routines were tough, but doable... as was my diet. I did stray off a little bit on Saturday. I went to the movies and got some popcorn with some butter on it. So the worst thing I had this weekend was about a shot and a half worth of artificial flavoring. I think I did pretty well! I also prepared more food for myself this week then I have in like any 6 month span. I am also domesticating myself, what the shit?

I also overcame another big hurdle in this, as I kinda had to do. To explain this, I need to give a bit of a background, although for most of you reading this, you probably already know the story. Back in August I encountered a little tumble. And by little tumble I mean I fell off a roof. I wasn't drinking or anything, I was helping a friend who was repairing their roof. What ended up happening was that I fractured my L-1 vertebrae which is essentially the middle of the spine. I was out of work for about 3 weeks I believe. My doctor cleared me to lift back at the start of October, but warned me to work myself up to heavy lifting (I've felt really good since about mid Nov which was good timing for this program I am on). One of my big worries was the deadlift. A very important lift, but the main area it hits is the mid/lower back. I didn't do the lift since I went back to the gym since I had some weird feeling I was going to re-break my back. BUT, on the docket today was indeed deadlift. Sooooooo, it was either do or die.

And do I did. It felt really good to have the confidence back in the lift, since like I mentioned before, is really important.

I am also trying to plan my meals out a little better. I am about to cook a boat load of chicken, which will probably last until Wednesday, haha. Hopefully I can do this frequently.

Anyway, I will leave you with one link- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ2-83QBy4I

Ah the weekend!

Alright, so I did manage enough will power to start blog number 2. I start off by answering a question asked in the comments section. Basically why I am on the diet I am on and who gave it to me. Well I kinda took the advice of a trainer that was recommended to me. I answered a survey/questionnaire, explained what I wanted to accomplish and was given what I gave to you. It's not a diet in the sense of giving me step by step instructions on specific meals, but I was given an outline of everything I could and SHOULD eat. The focus on protein is because I am starting to lift heavy. And one of the things I, and most people, under-estimate is protein. So my meals are supposed to focus on protein. Here's what I had today-

Meal 1 - 3 jumbo egg omelet with green peppers and onions and feta cheese. Multi-grain bagel and one scoop of whey protein powder. This was at 6:45am.

At around 9:45am I had a rice cake with 1.5 tablespoons of natural Peanut butter, 2 scoops of whey and 2.5oz baby carrots.

Meal 3 was at 12:50pm and was 1 can of tuna with a teaspoon of olive oil based mayo and 1.5 tablespoons of virgin olive oil (I didn't expect it to be good, but here we are) on romaine lettuce and a... thing of string cheese

Meal 4 was at 3:40 and was 4.7oz of roast beef with cheddar cheese on rye bread and a scoop of whey

I INTERRUPT THIS BORING LIST WITH A DIFFERENT BORING LIST BECAUSE IT WAS HERE I WENT TO THE GYM!

Bench Press 3 sets of 5 reps - I got 185lbs, which is ok. Before my injury I was able to hit 245 lbs on the bench

Incline DB Bench - 4(sets)x8(reps) I did 55lbs, which again, is ok. This my first attempt at lifting with these weights, so I just wanted to get a base. I can probably go heavier next time.

Standing BB Shoulder Press - 3x8 I did 60 lbs, which was harder then I thought. I might have to try the weight again to see if I got it stronger.

Skullcrushers - Yeah, it's a bad-ass sounding lift, isn't it? It's a tricep lift and I had 40 pounds on the bar, which is the smaller, EZ bar. I can probably add a bit more.

Then I finished with weighted decline situps.

BACK TO THE OTHER BORING LIST

6:40pm-ish - 3 scoops of whey protein and a multi-grain bagel

9:20pm - MOTHERFUCKING 96% LEAN BEEF TACOS ON RYE BREAD MOTHERFUCKERS. With lettuce, tomato, onions and cheddar cheese. THAT was awesome.

And water, lots and lots of water. To keep things interesting, I obviously will not be making each post like I did above, but it's just an idea of what I am dealing with. Also, the "diet" I am on is going to last about 2 weeks, then my trainer is going to make a more detailed plan that is probably going to revolve around the same ideas. Please, continue to comment or question if you wiiiiilllllllll