The Intro 3: Electric Boogaloo.

Taking a look back, I never thought that I would take 11 months in between posts. Now, I realize I am going to writing this for an audience of like 3, but it doesn't really matter to me, I just need the forum to write to get shit down that's in my head.

But the question is, where have I been the last 10.5 months? Well the last post was April 11, 2010, talking about another 3 months of training. Which I completed but as my lack of posting can attest to, there was a lack of intensity. I got it done just to get it done. My diet started to crack and by the end I was just glad to be done. The main thing I was trying to accomplish was being able to continue doing what I had been doing after my sessions had finished. I last maybe another 2 weeks, at least diet wise before I did a swan dive off the wagon. I still went to the gym, but instead of going 5 or 6 times a week, it became 4 or 5 (Still pretty good... buuuttt) then it became 3 or 4. Then it became 2 times... then I'd go 2 times a week, then not go for a week and a half before going again. Then for about 2 months I went probably 3 times total. Needless to say, it got to the point where I pretty much just threw those first 6 months of 2010 out the window. It's been humbling and humiliating. It wasn't an outlier, it's pretty typical of me.

The problem was that I basically just let it happen. I could have gone to the gym whenever I wanted to. I chose not to. I could have cooked some pork or chicken with veggies instead of calling in for a pizza. I chose not to. Hell, it didn't snow until the middle of January, I could have walked around the block or something. I chose not to. I get very apathetic and lazy, it's just "how I roll."

But the good news, I've found what I'm assuming is my 20th wind for doing this stuff. Actually, I've started to go back to the gym regularly about 2 or 3 weeks ago. I'm not drastically changing my diet (yet) I am just going to change the real bad habits. Going back to cooking meals myself 5 or 6 days a week. Cutting back on soda, drinking more water (and try to do the 5 meal a day thing again, that always took the most effort, believe it or not). Beer/alcohol? I don't know yet. Everyone should have a vice to keep them sane. For the time being, that will be mine. If I need to drop it in order to accomplish goals, so be it. I guess that's why it took so long for me to write this. I kinda knew by doing it, I'd be locking myself into everything I want to do, officially.

In order to make this more fun for me (blogging) I'm going to be making more posts just on random shit too. Because I'm sure you guys were just as bored reading that as I was writing. I'm a baseball fan, so I'll write about baseball once in a while. I like TV, so I'll write about that occasionally.

The intro: Part 2

At the start of the New year, I made a promise to not go back to my old ways of being a fatty. To not care about what I eat and to start giving a damn about my appearance (again, after breaking my back, I kinda got lazy for a while). Twelve weeks I spent on a program that helped motivate me to eat right and bust my ass in the gym. The latter, I can do with ease, I love the gym, I love lifting weights and I love going on the elliptical or bike if it's a shitty day outside. The former, like I've said before, has ALWAYS been my problem. I'd eat well for 4 or 5 days, and then I'd give up and just eat shitty foods for 2 weeks. Blah blah blah, you've heard it before. But in twelve weeks, I was able to drop something in the area of 15-20 pounds (it's fluctuated) and about 4-4.5 inches off my waist (again, fluctuated). And all of this was done with the help of a guy I've never met.

Anyway, my trainer came back to me and offered me an additional 12 weeks at a (very) discounted rate since he wanted to try something new (it should be added his focus is on athletic training. Here's his gym - http://genesis-ap.com/ ) So I have motivated myself yet again to jump back in it. (I'll be honest, the last 2 weeks have been rather not as intense. That's changing) Especially with summer right around the corner. This program would get me finished around the middle/end of July. I don't know what my goals are going to be yet. Losing X number of pounds is silly, because that's not a completely solid answer/result. Same thing with lifting. Granted, I would like to go down in pounds on the stomach and up in pounds on the iron bar, but I don't really want to put certain numbers on it.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to tomorrow, which I intent to start the new regiment. It's a bit more athletic based and not strictly lifting, which should be interesting. Also, my eating is going to change, not drastically, but enough to where I have to rethink my meal planning.

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.