Iron 47’s BodyBlog

Back at weight training after FIVE weeks off. I had been working pretty hard for the last 6 months so I decided I would take a couple weeks off the second week in January. I have done this before when I used to train at local gyms I would always take the first couple of weeks off in January.  My reason for this, as you folks know that train at a public gym it gets pretty crazy those first few weeks of a new year.

Well two weeks became three and three became four and so on.  I was starting to feel a little crummy to say the least. I had been taking my martial arts classes during this period so I wasn’t a complete couch potato. Weight training for me though is a necessity. The first day back I took it fairly easy only did about 3/4 of the sets I usually do and still got sore.  I have gotten three days in this week and will do some light training today. It’s amazing the benefits of lifting weights. I know most people think we do this stuff to improve our bodies and that is true but that’s only a part of the reason. I think most if not all of us who have been at it a wile become addicted to the way it makes us feel mentally. If you going to be an addict I can’t think of anything better to be hooked on.

Happy new year to all, and now that most of the the folks who made resolutions have gone away and your gyms are back to normal train hard your body and mind will thank you for it.

That is a good question. I never have really thought of myself as a bodybuilder. I love to train, lifting weights has been a part of my life for a long time. The other day I was at the doctor office and he ask me if I have ever taken steroids.  This is not the first time I have been asked that question. He’s a pretty cool Doctor so I kinda laughed and told him if I did I would be a hell of a lot bigger than I am. I wasn’t offended by the question but it stated me thinking.

WE ARE ALL BODYBUILDERS! A few years back I stopped training. I had a lot going on in my life and I put my physical condition way down on my priority list. In a few months I gained about 20 pounds of fat. Now I know that is not all that much but it made me feel horrible. I was building a body I didn’t like. My inactivity was building a body of fat and bad habits.

So I stared back and slowly got hooked again on moving my body. Within about three months I was feeling good again and everything improved. Wile the physical change is important, its only the icing on the cake. Its the emotional and mental health that keeps me coming back for more. So lets keep those bodies moving  your spirit will thank you for it.  Take care and train hard. Keith

Dylan Thomas had it right! " Rage , rage against the dying light."

I know that sometimes folks around me wonder why I still love to train the way I do. Well most of you already know why. It just makes us feel to damn good to stop.

I read an add once for some supplement add that stated "You are born small and week and you will most likely die small and week. What you do in between is up to you."  We have become society that places no value in movement. We eat way to much and move way to little.

There is nothing much wrong with most of us that a little physical activity couldn’t help with. I don’t ever remember thinking after a good hard workout gee I wish I hadn’t done that.  On the other hand I have often thought, I wish I had not eaten all of that. Its kinda like the old Alka Seltzer commercial " I can’t believe I ate the whole thing."

So for those of us who are old enough to remember that old Alka Seltzer commercial." Do not go gentle into that goodnight." " Rage, rage against the dying light.  "

Its a good thing I feel pretty good about the shape I am in. The other day someone stopped by my space and said "Nice start keep working at it."

Now I know I haven’t  arrived  at the perfect  body and I never will, thats not even why I train. But I have been lifting weights longer than a lot of folks on here have been alive. I enjoy seeing other peoples progress and sharing how exercise can benefit us in so many ways.

But dang "Nice Start". Oh well I guess I need to up the weight. We can be motivated in so many ways.

I read a blog today about a guy who trained in part to honor his deceased brother, who was once his workout partner. It just got me to thinking how to those of us who have been at this thing a little longer than we might like to admit. How much weight training becomes a part of our lives.

Wile reading his blog memories came back of my brother and I spending countless hours at the gym sweeting, grunting, and sometimes cursing.  But always enjoying every minute of it. For those of you who have had good workout partners you know just what I am talking about.

Very few relationships, aside from our families are more intimate than that of a good workout partner. Over the time I have been training I have had some really good ones. These guys knew how and when to push you. Other than a personal trainer to get you started in the right direction. I can’t think of anything more motivating and important than finding a good workout partner. This is especially true for those just getting started.

One of the few things I miss by training at home is a partner. Having one can really add to the effectiveness of your workout. If anyone is in a slump in the gym it would be a great time to start looking around for a partner. If your lucky enough to hook up with a good one they can really add to the enjoyment of your training.
Best of luck and train hard. Keith

Let me start by saying taking a supplement is a personal decision, and no one should feel any pressure to take them.

First of all most of us on here do not depend on our physical condition for our profession. The decision to take any supplement then would be an aid to our training and nothing more. I have in the past used some supplementation to help me workout harder and longer. And have had some success in doing so. But I have never depended on  any supplement  to the point where I felt like I really needed it to reach my goals.

The question I think we should ask ourselves before we take anything is what do we want in return. The only supplement I currently take is a multi vitamin and the occasional protein shake. And from time to time a dose of Creatine to help with  training duration and intensity.

Now I know this may not be popular but I don’t think any supplement is really all that important. The most important  part of any training program is frequency, intensity, and form. Proper diet and the amount of rest we get are equally important.

Now the question to take or not to take. If I were going to err I would lean toward the not to take side. The human body is a complex working of chemicals. Balance is maintained through hormones,organs and brain chemistry. Any supplement that alters this balance can be troublesome.  Especially if you have existing physical or mental condition.

Unfortunately most of the supplements on the market today simply have not been tested enough to know how they will react on some people. Wile some testing is done it is not known how these products will react on the public at large. And very little information is known about dosing variables. Add to that the practice of mixing supplements and you can run into many problems.

OK, I will get off my soap box now. For me I just want to train hard, eat right, and get enough rest. If I do those things I feel I have succeeded in meeting my fitness goals.
My body and mind let me know if I take time to listen.

Hope I didn’t offend anyone with this rant that was not the intent.

Take care and train hard,  Keith

Well I guess that could have many answers, to look better yes.  To feel better sure.  I guess we all start for different reasons maybe we need to lose a little weight.  Maybe we need to gain a little.  What ever the reason we start,  some of us keep doing it for years and years.  I think after you train a wile it becomes more about the mental benefit than the physical.

We get hooked!  And once that happens it truly becomes a part of you.  I have gone for months without working out but when I get back to it I’m hooked all over again. Well I guess there are worse things to be addicted to.

This is a great sight by the way lots of nice folks really trying to help each other along the journey.

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