Dragonfather’s BodyBlog

Well I was doing good on the diet and excercise before Ike B@#ch slap us down here in Texas. Then after that, I was having a tough time getting back on track. Well the hits just keep on coming. Ok where do I starts. Ok before Ike my main concern was my oldest (13 yr. old) step-daughters scoliosis, she has a 65 degree bend on the upper part of her back. She is preparing for surgeory in December. Then I found out I was pre-diabetic, so that is when I found a nutritionist and got on a good program. And this when I started doing well, then Ike came around and that throw me off. Then started having school trouble with my 2 step daughters, which became a hugh distraction. Then we have to deal with a bout of the crud that had 4 out of the 5 of my family down with flu like symptons. The had more blood work done, and found out that not only did my lapse in diet and excercise keep me pre-diabetic, but now it appears that I have fatty liver disease, so now its more doctors, more tests. And while I was dealing with that my other step-daughter (12 yrs. old) broke her foot!

All of this just makes it a bit tough to stay focused on me. I’ve never been good at being selfish. To me my family has always come first. Because on top of all of that, I’m an assistant coach for my (8 yrs old) sons baseball team, and the cubmaster for his cub scout troop. With all the school work that they all have, the only time I have to hit the gym is @ 4:00 am in the morning. But if I happen to wake up a bit late, that throws the whole schedule off.

AGGGGGHHHH Ok feeling better, just need to vent.

After reading a similar post by adina, I thought I would share my similar story. A similar thing happen last week at my 8 year old son’s baseball game. His team hadn’t one a game all season, and most of the time they would be in the dugout, playing around and not caring. But last week, we were playing the best team and the league, and our team was playing better than they had ever played before. It was great to see them cheering each other on, and really putting everything they had into the game, my son, had one of the best games he had ever had.

Now earlier in the season, my son decided he wanted to quit. Well I told him that it was his decision, usually I don’t let him quit, what he starts, but I’ve pushed him a bit before and felt this time I needed to let him decide. Well before this game, he was asked if he would play one more game, because his team was short a player. Well the practice before the game our kids were all over the place. Not focused, not wanted to do what we asked, and all wanting to quit if they didn’t get to do what they wanted them to do. Well we sat the boys down and I explained that baseball was a team sport and that when the would give up because they didn’t get to do what they wanted to do, that they weren’t just quitting, that they were quitting on their team. I then got them chanting their name as a team, and had them finish their workout as a team running in unison. etc.

I can’t tell you the pride I had in my kids going run for run with the leagues best team. Seeing the pride well up inside of them was worth a million dollars to me, and better than watching my favorite baseball team winning the world series! A memory I will never forget. Well have way throw the game my son went up to talk to the coach, and came to sit back down, I asked him if everything was ok, and he said yup it sure was, he said that he went to go tell the coach that he would finish out the season. I asked him if it was because he was having the best game of his life, he said, nope its because of what I had told him the day before, he said that he didn’t want to quit on his friends and his team, and then said but that his best game didn’t hurt either.

Well it was the last inning and everyone on our team had hit the ball, except for the one girl on our team. Well it was the last out in the last inning, and it was her turn to hit. Well it was so great to see ALL of the boys on the team standing there clapping and cheering as then never have done before, they all wanted Jessica to get a hit. Well on the second pitch she did, a line drive to first base, well you would have thought that she had hit a grand slam, but she didn’t she was tagged out on first. But it didn’t matter to anyone on our team. Parents were on their feet, and the entire team ran out and helped her celebrate her hit. It was an amazing game!

Ok guys, i’ve decided that just working out to get in better shape isn’t doing it for me. My motivation still comes and goes. Now I’ve always done better when I’ve had a definite deadline, that’s how graphic designers work best under pressure. There are some friends of mine that are going to be putting on a FAME sponsored show here in houston next may. And thats when I’ve decided to step on stage for the first time. Wish me luck. I will be posting more, and updating more to get input from my friends here. So wish me luck. So that gives me 9 months to drop @ 60+ lbs and see what I can do.

Ok over the past weekend, I actually realized how many fitness informercials there were, and all I have to say is man, how can anyone really figure out what will work for them. From 10 minute workouts to body transformation programs, to all kinds of gadgets, pilates, yoga, dancing, etc. it was nuts! And as I watched some of these things and shook my head, thinking why can’t people just workout, eat right, and get in shape the old fashion way over time! I have in the past jumped from program to program, probably not letting them work the way they should have wanting the quick fix. But instead of changing my program, it has come to me that I need to change my thinking! Because no matter what your program is, if you don’t change the way you think about fitness and nutrition, you are doomed to repeat the history you have.

So this weekend I tried to think and speak of fitness and nutrition differently, when I went to go hit the gym, I told my family I was going to go out and play! My son looked at me puzzled and asked what was I going to do. I told him I was going to the gym, and he said but you said you were going out to play? I explained to him that when I was a kid, getting out and running, or working up a sweat was called PLAYING!

The sad thing is that I know that most of those informercials and programs will end up in someones closet and not even opened or used, but those same people will be the ones that buy the next one, and think, this one will get me off of the couch and in shape. But I think for me I’m going to have to slow down and just do the right thing workout, eat right, get rest and try and enjoy the process.

Well its been a while since I’ve been around these parts, but I felt it was time to get back in the game. For the past few months, I’ve been dealing with personal stuff, that had me in and out of the gym, there was no consistancy to my schedule, and boy do I feel it. But now its time to get back in the grove and focus, bare down, and reach my goals. Just hit 43 last friday, and I’ve realized that I’m just not living the type of life that I could be. My energy level has dropped, and I’ve been putting everyone in my life ahead of myself. Which isn’t doing anyone anygood. So thought I would come back and see if I could crack the top profiles comments area within 3-6months. Wish me luck.

Ok now I know that a lot of what I need to do is CLEAN UP THE DIET! But the question that I have is to get ripped, not necessarily bigger, should I do more of the full body conditioning workouts? While watching shows like the biggest loser I noticed that they are doing more conditioning workouts, not the traditional bodypart bodybuilding workouts. Does anyone have any suggestions on full body workouts?

Well its another year, and time to re-evaluate my health and fitness. They say that you should write down your goals and share them with others to make yourself more accountable. Well here goes. I want to drop 70 lbs by my 43 birthday in June! That averages about 3lbs per week. I’m taking new before shots this week. Now my weight has gone up since last year, but I dropped 3 % bf and added 4 lbs of lbm. Now how will I do this. Well I realize that I need to make fitness a bigger part of my lifestyle.

Well to accomplish this I’ve taken a part-time sales job with my gym, and I’ve decided to get my NASM certification to become a personal trainer. This past weekend I took a leadership program for my cub scout position. And one of the things we discussed was that whether or not we want to be we are all role models. And that is what my motivation is. I want my family, friends, community to see me as a fitness role model. And what a better way to demonstrate that, than by slaying the weight dragon, that has had me in its grasp until now. I realize it will be a day by day struggle, but I think that with spending more time in the gym environment and by working towards a trainer certification, and by just being around fitness minded people I will have a better chance at hitting my goals. So wish me luck on my journer. Thanks for listening.

First off to all my friends hear. Have a happy 2008! Now as I look back on 2008, there are several positives.  My family is healthy and happy (well most of the time)! Got my first house!  Found a lot of friends hear! I have a good job Celebrated my 9th anniversary with my wife.  But there are also some low points. Had a few injuries and health issues that slowed my progress. Had some problems with school with the stepdaughters Had a few relatives pass away  But overall I’ve come out of this year ready to Bring Dragonfather back to the mix. Now how am I going to achieve this in 2008. Well one is to get back to being more active here. 2. Take one day at a time with the nutrition, and training. 3. Train smarter to try and avoid injuries. Now another thing I did at the end of this year that will help is that I’ve take a part time job with the gym I go to. I’m going to do sales part time and work on my NASM certification. I want to be around more people in that enviroment, and I know that by helping others reach their goals will help me stay on target so that I can become a role model to my family, and in  my community.  Now speaking of that. I want to challenge the BB.com community to do just that. Don’t be QUITE!!! Speak loudly in your neighborhood. Teach, talk and spread the before and after stories of your success. Voluteer at a community center to teach a class to kids, adults or senior citizens! Voluteer at your churches schools. And especially TEACH our children! They are in danger of becoming the first generation that won’t outlive their parents! Teach your kids, and if you don’t have children teach your nieces, nephews, grandkids, etc. Be the healthy influence! Teach them how to eat and to be active. Take them to the gym or for a run! Take an active involvement in what the government is doing when it comes to the health and fitness industry and our lifestyle! We need to become as loud as the groups of people that want us to believe that its ok to become unhealthy! We need to make bodybuilding the majority! We can all help! Thanks guys and expect more from me in 2008. More progress pictures and more updates, and more blogs!

Well like some others on the boards sometimes life can find a way to test who you are. Well last night I was given some news that is going to impact my life. I have 3 children 1 natural my son 7, and 2 stepdaughters 11,12. I’ve been in their lives since they were 2,3.

Well yesterday we were told that my 12 year old is possibly suffering from turrets syndrome. On top of her Asperger Syndrome, and  ADD. Having a Special needs child can be difficult and sometimes tough on a relationship, but its the decision I made from the beginning. The problem is only compounded by a biological father that to this day denies, that there is any problem, at all. I’m not sure what’s going to happen next, but we’ll see. So I’m going to have to really balance my needs with being there for my family. Its usually when things like this come up that I get so wrapped up in those issues that I wane from my goals for my fitness. But I have to remember that without my health I won’t be here to help my step daughter. So to any parent out there with special needs children, hell to any person taking care of kids, parents, family, etc. My hats off to you for either getting fit or staying there. Thanks for the inspiration.

Ok got my body stats yesterday and was about the same, but that’s not a bad thing. Though my weight stayed the same, I did manage to lose some bodyfat. But I didn’t lose any muscle mass. Now I had my calories at 2600. Which means that seems to be about right for maintenance.  Now I need some help from you mad body scientists! Now when looking at this equation, remember that my body seems to enjoy burning muscle first. I’ve got stubborn BF.  

Now here is the question. To continue to lose bf and keep the muscle, should I:
A: Drop the calories
B: Up the intensity of my workouts and cardio

I’ve got about 55 lbs to lose. I’m at 198 lbm! and want to keep it. Please help.