Bluedam’s BodyBlog

I have been going to the gym at least four times a week for the past few monhs and hit another plateau. So I decided something needed to be done. I did a trial for a kickboxing class tonight. It was some workout and requires phenomenal levels of fitness. I enjoyed it but I am in two minds on whether to continue.

It consists of three hour classes a week and to me that it is a lot of time to give up. Now you may say watching a game of soccer takes two hours, which has become something I have gotten really bored of doing but it is all the rushing to a session and the time afterwards. However its winter time more or less in Ireland now and all people seem to do is watch soaps or booze and although I never watched soaps (they rot minds you see) I have also gotten bored with boozing (very surprisingly).

The other thing I am struggling with is cardio is my first love and something I enjoy immensley. However I have hugely taken to this bodybuilding lifestyle (while not yet achieving anywhere near a physique I am happy with). Im a believer in sticking at something until I achieve it so in a way I am answering my own question. Maybe that’s the beauty of these blogs and teasing things out or not to wimp out to put it another way.

The other thing is lifting weights is the only other thing I will even attempt to get up for at six in the morning for. Come to think of it I have that to look forward to tomorrow morning. It really has been worthwhile recently. Its pitch dark when I start out, I get to wear my black hat intact with skull to the gym( to ward off evil spirits you see and keep the heat in). I have the gym to myself, none of the chatters or posers to distract me and work out to the sun coming up. Something very special and liberating about that I find. Yes the workout’s win by a landslide.

Turning Thirty

I turned thirty this Sunday and have decided to embrace it and push on with my goals as much as possible. I had a small blow out as I went away for it and have now returned and am ready to push on with my exercise regime.

The brake has done my body good, but I am already itching to get back at the weights and cardio. I have discovered that my program is a little to much of the same and I need to be exerting myself a lot more than I currently do. Put simply it is time to get that shoulder to the wheel.

Turning thirty gives you pause for reflection. I am generally a happy go lucky sort of guy and though I have some regrets, but I would not change anything. It has made me the person I am today and shaped my chartacter and body flaws and all. I have a huge amount to be thankful for and intend to get stuck in. So its less of the thirsty thirty, dirty thirty and more of the lets get busy thirty going forward.

I have had a bad dose of man flu, namely a chest infection the past few days. Thought I was past them since giving up the ciggarettes nine months ago. However as I am getting older, I am beginning to listen and headed along to the doc straight away. Not so long ago I would just stick my head in the sand and expect it to go all away by itself. Yes I am a misguided stubborn alpha male. 

He has put me on a course of antibiotics, so my training has been scuppered for the past few days. I am trying to feel upbeat and take the positives out of the cabin fever I have had. It has allowed me to appreciate that my health is important not only to me but how it affects my dependents ie my beautiful wife and my career. I need to relax at times and slow down to focus the small brain matter I have on what is important. 

Im also signed up for kickboxing classes that start in a months time and that is something I am so eager to do. How I will manage I am unsure as I have the co-ordination of a drunken monkey and am not half as good looking.

Speaking of which I gave up alcohol for a month back as well and it was one of the best months I’ve had in 2008. There are reasons not to this month in that I turn 30 and am heading to Portugal on a short break. However there are always reasons not to so Im going to give it a go again. I dont drink massively or always to excess just cant deal with the hang overs and I suppose there is a bit of been there done that as well. I love the mindless self uindulgence sometimes but this is something I have been thinking about a while. Keep ya’s posted on my progress.

I had noticed lately with all my working out, myself and my wife haven’t been doing any activities together. We used to play squash until she got an ankle injury ( it was a stunning shot of mine in the back corner of the court that led to it). So we have decided to sign up for a Kick Fit class which is basically an hour or so workout through throwing kickboxing combos.

We are starting this in six weeks, but she doesnt want to hit it cold, as she hasnt done anything for th past few months. I was just wondering if any BBers had advice on prep she could do so as to get the most out of classes when they start. 

Felt pain before even opening my eyes this morning. Reason being I played an 11 a side football match on a hockey pitch last night. It has bunched up my training today but I think if I went to the gym I could do myself an injury. We lost five - three but I was happy enough with my own performance in that I kept going right to the end and didnt fade. That’s my cardio fulfilled for the week.

In fairness Ive been happy with my training this week considering how busy it was. I had to play golf for work on Tuesday. Can I just say I hate golf with a passion. It’s a selfish sport more so than training as far as I’m concerned. The reason I think it is so self centered is it just gives people an opportunity to constantly talk about themselves and what shot they played. I find it futile. A good walk spoiled!

On wednesday I was at Metallica who were awesome. I didn’t drink and enjoyed it all the more for not doing so. It meant I didnt have to cue at bars, use the portaloos and remembered all the concert. I was also fresh and able to work out Thursday morning.

So Im watching the olympics boxing finals which is probably my favourite thing to do. I have to give a big up to Ken Egan who is fighting tomorrow in the light heaveyweight final. He is from where I live and the whole country is buzzing, so if you get a chance tune in and hopefully we will see him take gold.

The sense of achievement is something I relish. Absolutely relish. I have been working out consistently now for about 8 months. Ive cut back on alcohol, given up ciggarettes, and succeeeded somewhat in my job. However as always I feel I am less than 10% there. So as such I’m going to check back on this in the next few months. So here goes,

1)  Less Cardio, More Weights.

2) Take a picture and post each month.

3) Cut back on alcohol even more.

4) Try a new excercise and build on it each month.

5) Improve at golf.

6) Work harder not longer at everything I do.

Not the most riveting of reads Im sure, but this one is a selfish post and we need to do that at times I think. 

I started using the cable machine this morning and put into practice some of the excercises that are given on this site and I have to say I am really feeling the dom doms at the moment.

It was one of those workouts where you just love the feeling of working out. I had the gym to myself, and as the sun came up it just cast light all over the gym. Top class. If in another life I was a fim director that would be used in the next Rocky, although in fairness if there is another one, it is more than likely going to take place in an old folks home.

The other thing which I have been pondering and would appreciate some feedbck on, is I am thinking of adding some creatine into the mix and wonder which product is best and is not going to bloat. Reasonably priced will help as well. Any feedback would be most welcome! 

Working out has been an absolute joy lately and I am thoroughly thankful as I know the times its a struggle. The thing is I have som major activities coming up in a few weeks and I’m going to have to stay strong as they are major drinking sessions and I need to pace and avoid while keeping my routine going.

I suppose everyone faces these challenges week in week out but two Irish weddings, a Metallica concert, a weekend in Achill and a weekend in Sligo where my uncle owns a pub and people replace milk with Guinness. Seriously I am surprised they dont poor it on the cornflakes. My intention is to stay as strong and focused as possible, and keep the workout routine I have going. BB members feel free to give me any encouragement although it is all down to me. 

Putting pen to paper helps and I have decided this is something I can achieve, I want and nothing not even lovely pints of Guinness are getting in my way.

I am one of those people that never get things right first time. To be honest I can make a tit of it second time as well. As of late I just dont care. I am willing to give anything a go.

Let me clarify somewhat. When I first joined the gym I almost sneaked around my program. I was afraid to try different machines, how I would look if I was not lifting an acceptable amount of weights or doing a certain amount of reps. Acceptable to who??

So the last few weeks at the gym I have decided to go at everything that I have wanted to and face the fear! I was using the cable machine this morning. Now that’s something I really had shyed away from. I had pictured myself getting tangled up like an unwilling bondage victim in the cables. I quiet enjoyed using it when I got the hang of it and get your mind out of the gutter, it was purely excercise that I was using it for. 

The other thing I copped is any time a newbie joins the gym, the majority of people want to see them do well and embrace things. Sure there are the usual few clowns who try and intimidate, but life aint ideal, so for every amateur out there, there is relief, give that machine or excercise a go you have always put off. You’ll wonder why you ever did in the first place.

A fellow BB member helped me out no end by suggesting the above. It has become my mantra in the last few weeks and as such I seem to be making gains, where beforehand I had the physique of a cast member of return of the nerds. I had been plugging away at the same program for roughly a year and it may be obvious but if things don’t change they stay the same.

No doubt other people working would sigh ground hog day as I went through the same program again and again.  Now I am trying to work smarter not longer. Cardio that I do is intensive as opposed to prolonged.

The last month or so I have noticed a difference, in that I feel physically much stronger and am progressively moving up the weights in exercises. I squatted 80 lbs yesterday repeatedly and I felt fantastic about that. I am conscious that this cannot be the peak that I have to strive to constantly do more and that is my intention. It is now time that I step things up a notch. I will keep you posted.