- I am on a sleep schedule
- I need to eat every few hours
- I wake up for a 2 or 3am "feeding"
- I’m getting bigger & bigger
- I am on a high protein diet that consists of a number of liquid meals
- I’ve had meals (like most of us) out of something like this:

…which eeriely resembles a "sippy cup"

I mean, all that is missing is for Mrs. B to burp me!!!! LOLOLOLOL!!!

848|88 & 10410|1010

Its not the da Vinci code or anything, but they do stand for something. The 848|88 is for Straight Leg Dead Lifts. The 10410|1010 is for Rack Deadlifts.

The numbers mean "8 plates for (get it? "for") 8 reps by August 8th" & "10 plates for 10 reps by October 10th."

10410 is history. Last Thursday it went down.

On my favorite training day (Back Day) my Rack Pulls progressed like this (bar just below knees):

Warm Up: Bar x 10 WU, 225×10 WO, 295×5, 365×5, 425×5

The last WU set felt good. I usually do 3. Did 5. I was scheduled for a working set of 485 in that I had opened with 475×10 last time. But I felt good, Metallica was blarin’, so I went for it.

Got 11. 10411! 495×11!

Felt awesome.

Finished up with 515×5 & 535×2 (a new PR for me)

One down, one to go.

And on the 848 a week ago I finally pulled (after working sets of 365×8 & 385×4) 405×1. First time I have been able to lock out 8 plates straight leg.

So the chase for 848 is on.

I’m already thinking that 12412|1212 sounds cool….

My Day:

Middle of the night snack (aka "when nature calls"):
1 scoop protein powder
2 cups skim milk

1st thing upon waking:
1 scoop protein powder
2 cups skim milk

Breakfast:
"fistful o’ pills" (will list upon request)
6 whole eggs
3/4 cup steel cut oats
8 almonds & 2 walnuts, chopped
1/2 tsp cinnamon, pinch of nutmeg
1 tbsp raw honey
1 stevia packet
1 medium grapefruit
2 cups water
22oz black coffee

Pre Training Meal: (4x week, 20-30 minutes before training)
8oz over baked sweet potato, peeled
1/2 cup skim milk
1 cup water
1 scoop protein powder
5g creatine monohydrate
2g L-Arginine (on Leg or Back days I will add 2g Glutamine)
1 tsp non-akaline cocoa powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 stevia packet
1 tray ice cubes

All in blender. Drink up

Post Training Meal: (4x week, 10 minutes after training)
See Pre Training Meal

Lunch: (on training days, typically within 45-60 minutes of training)
12oz pre-cooked weight chicken breast
1 cup brown veggie rice
8oz fresh veggies
2 cups water
8 almonds & 2 walnuts (only on non-training days)

Snack: (on non-training days before Lunch, on training days after)
1 scoop protein powder
2 6oz FF plain yogurts
1 large apple
8 almonds & 2 walnuts (only on training days)

2nd Snack:
See Snack

Dinner:
See Non-Training LUNCH

Pre-Bed Meal: (right before bed)
1 cup FF no salt cottage cheese
2 tsps non-akaline cocoa powder
1 tbsp natural peanut butter
1 stevia packet
1g L-Arginine
500mg Glutamine

"Grazing": Who knows? Kids don’t finish a Eggo, a PB sandwich, bake sale at the school, occassional slice of thin crust cheese pizza, a bagel, granola bar, slice of banana bread, etc.

When I work I sip black coffee all day.

My Macros:

Non-Training Day:
CALS: 3726
CARBS: 408g/1632cal (43.8%)
PRO: 339g/1356cal (36.4%)
FAT: 82g/738cal (16g sat) (19.8%)

Training Days (combined total w/ above):
CALS: +963 (4814)
CARBS: +141g (559g/2236cal) (46.4%)
PRO: +92g (451g/1804cal) (37.5%)
FAT: +4g (2g sat) (86g/774cal - 18g sat) (16.1%)

Holy $#@! do I eat a LOT! LOL!!!

My Friend

If you get a chance, swing by his Bodyspace and send some good Mojo his way as he heads off to Nationals

Monochrome Chuck Taylors bay-bee!

Up to now I had been wearing an oldddddddddddddd pair of Reebok hightops that have seen much better days. The sole of the right one has gone kablooey, so I am really looking forward to safely pulling some deads & doing some squats while stylin’!!!

To say I was stunned is an understatement. All measurements done via the BB protocol (same as last time):

To keep things in the big picture, I’m inlcuding my 1st measurements from last June 1st in ( ) when I started weight training:

Weight: 215lbs! (195.5") - Got as low as 186.5 last November. I’ve gained almost 30lbs since Thanksgiving!
BF: 15% - Got an electrostatic BMI & added 7% for variance
Chest: 45" (40.75") - Going on 10 months of 100% incline work
Arms: 16"!  (14.5") I have been at 15" FOREVER!!!! WOOHOO!!!
Hips: 37" (38.5") - This got as low as 34.5" last year, but this new booty can’t be denied!
Waist: 36" (34.75") - This got as low as 33.5" last year. Gotta have a lil’ fat to make gains
Thighs: 24" (22.25") - Hopefully these will go up big time soon
Calves: 17.25" (16") - They say these should be 1:1 with arms…I wish!
Forearms: 12" (9.75") - Ab wheel & planks
Shoulders: 51" (47.5") - Finally getting a lil’ width
Neck: 17" (14.75) - Shrugs? I dunno

This has really helped to re-ignite that fire that has been embers lately!

I am currently running on fumes spiritually. It happens from time to time. I often think of myself as an inspirational junkie, running from stories to movies to tunes, etc, to get a quick "fix" to get me thru that day’s training, that week’s efforts, etc. And, just like any other stimulant, you start to get acclimated to it & need bigger, stronger "doses", if you will.

So, what do you do to replenish the inner batteries, to keep the mind sharp & spirit soaring, to break a "plateau" of inspiration?

I’m a very private person. I keep to myself. But every now & then something happens that I feel warrants sharing.

Last Saturday, after my 3rd training session in a row, I was driving to work afterwards. I had already awoken much earlier than I usually do on a Saturday to get everything done that was going to need to get done in order to allow me to train, clean up & change, eat & get to work by 9:30am.

I had just finished a huge Back Day. After 2 rough sessions I was still able to set a new PR for a weight lifted. I was physically beat up & tired, mentally worn down, sore all over, hungry & a lil’ anxious to keep ahead of the clock as I drove off.

I’m not sure if you believe in a higher presence, a guiding force, etc, or for that matter in angels. Not necessarily the halo/winged kind, but someone/something watching over you. I have come to, and whomever/whatever they are/were, they knew I needed a lil’ help at that moment.

Not a few seconds on the road this song came on. I channel flip a lot. The odds of my hitting this song just as it started at that moment….who knows.

But it hit me like a tidal wave. Time stood still. The lyrics just overwhelmed me. They summed up the past year of my life so eloquently, so deeply, so painfully. The beginning of the weight loss, all the effort, shame, hard work, sweat, it all came back. The rebirth, the start of a new life, the even harder work, focusing toward a goal of trading over 3 years of my life for 120 seconds on a stage.

I don’t remember the drive to work at all. All I know is that I got there & the song was over and I was a different person than I was a few minutes earlier.

These are the lyrics. I am sure he was singing about something other that what I went thru & what I am doing, but it summed up my journey so well:

Then the rainstorm came over me
And I felt my spirit break
I had lost all of my belief you see
And realize my mistake
But time threw a prayer to me
And all around me became still

Through the rainstorm came sanctuary
And I felt my spirit fly
I had found all of my reality
I realize what it takes  

Here is the official video. I can’t find it on YouTube.

http://www.mtv.com/videos/seal/33701/loves-divine.jhtml

I did Back Squats.

I’ll type r-e-a-l s-l-o-w now to allow that to sink in (or give you time to wipe the spewed coffee off your monitor).

To put this in perspective, the last time I had a BB on my shoulders:
- M*A*S*H aired its final episode
- The song of the year was "Rosana" by Toto
- North Carolina State shocked the "Phi Slamma Jamma" Houston Cougars for the NCAA basketball championship
- Nintendo was brand new
- The FCC gave Motorola the OK to start testing these things called cell phones

I am now working with an online coach to help me get "da wheelz". Short n’ sweet, if you want the wheelz you gotta pay the band. I’ve been doing Front & Zerchers, Hacks & Leg Press. But today I started what I will call "Dime A Dance"  . In short, I replaced my current squat selection with these. The plan is to add a dime every session as long as I can move that load in GOOD form. It is the same routine my coach used, and if I can get the same results….

The load was very light, but that is by design. Learn good, controlled form, then up the tonnage.

Now, today gets even better. You may remember my mentioning previously that I found out that world class (and BP record holder at his weight & age) powerlifter Tony Petrino trains at the same fitness center I do.

He was there this AM. He’s NEVER there then! What are the odds that on the first day in 25 years I’m gonna do Back Squats a guy who can squat 900lbs is there????

So, I got a one on one training session with him.   He spotted me on my 2nd working set, critiqued my form (caught a mistake on knee flare which I fixed on the 3rd set), gave me a great 5-10 minute mini-clinic and then watched me do the entire 3rd set with more feedback. He saw immediately that my form suffered slightly around rep 7 or 8, and even in my uber-noobness I felt it & agreed 100%. Priceless. This will really help me a lot!

I’ll have to say a novenna to the patron saint of squats this evening. Someone was watching over me today.

Cool day….