Eagleanchors’s BodyBlog

So first things first……noticing HUGE increases in strength (thanks to NO-Explode and some attention to core work), stamina, and starting to see some definite definition, but ZERO weight gain!  Patience is a virtue, but not one I am particularly blessed with! 

That being said, I’ve set what may seem like a silly new goal, but it helps to keep me movitated and moving forward.  For those of you unitiated into the wonders of College Football, I am a HUGE fan.  My favorite team is my alma mater, Oregon State University.  Their mascot is the mighty fighting Beaver!  Yes, a Beaver!  They have a phenom on their squad named Jacquizz Rogers. He started the 2008 season at 5′ 8" and 187 pounds, but is a terror!  Small, but lighting fast, he is not only elusive, but amazingly strong.  It so happens that I am 5′ 9", and my new weight goal is 185. Additionally, when a budding College Player works out at the NFL Combine, the measuring stick for determing strentgth is the number of times a player can lift 225 pounds in one sitting.  So although I am WAY to small and slow to ever be drafted, I am working to get draft worthy numbers!

So I am curious as to the thoughts of my fellow iron addicts…..where do you draw the line between being hurt versus being injured?  If you’ve every participated in a sport, especially a team sport, you know the difference.  If you’re hurt, you suck it up and push through.  If you’re injured, you take some time off and heal.  And even though lifting is a solo activity at the end of the day, the same principles apply.  I have been fighting some issues with my lower back…..part of getting old(er) and a long history of abusing my poor body.  Doc says I should probably take it easy……but easy doesn’t get the job done.  She confirmed that as long as I watch my form on all lifts that compress the spine (i.e. squats, overhead press, etc) I won’t cause anymore damage.  That to me says I’m hurt, not injured.  Overall it has some negative mental effect, and cuts down on some of the aerobic benefit as I have to stop and stretch between sets, but it won’t kill me. So where’s your line? 

So maybe it’s just the podunk, redneck town I live in, but lately going grocery shopping just makes me sad.  Let me qualify my remarks by noting I have only been eating healthy now for about 8 months, and my glass house is still WAAYYY to big to be throwing rocks, but seeing how people eat just hurts.  Ran out last night to grab some shake essentials (yogurt, soymilk, bannanas, and tropical fruit), and couldn’t help but notice what other folks were buying.  The lady in front of me in the check out line was 3 bills plus.  Her cart was CRAMMED with frozen deep fried dinners, doughnuts, Coke, and sugary cereal.  I just wanted to hug her, tell  her it was alright, and walk her to the produce aisle.  I could see she was unhappy,  and it sure looked like her drug of choice was sugar and fat.  Behind me was a man who was about the same size, and he had given up walking altogether.  He was in a scooter, and was buying beer, bologna, and cigarettes.  He had the look of simply not wanting to try anymore.  Looking around I noticed these two were more the rule than the exception.  Broke my heart.  I left the store feeling not superior, but blessed.  Blessed to have taken control of my life, my diet, and my body.  Blessed to have so many wonderful and positive influences here.  Wonder if I can do my grocery shopping online from now on?