JoelR’s BodyBlog

Well I finally decided on which certification to go for.  I choose ISSA (International Sports Sciences Association).
I chose them over NASM because of their impressive list of CEU courses and they have a lot more specialty certifications.
I liked the format of NASM courses but I just felt “trapped” ?  It looked like it would eventually get difficult to obtain enough CEU credits unless you go to their seminars.  With only one seminar in FL this year (who knows if I would even be interested in the seminar that was being held here) I would have to travel for one.  That would get expensive quick with the price of gas etc. now days.    Time to get moving! 

Well I took the final exam for the fundamentals course (without cheating,,, no looking at the books). It was 100 questions & I missed 3. They were easy questions too. Simple brain farts. LOL

Now, do I want to continue with them, NASM ? The only reason I even question is, I found a couple errors in the course. The answer key was wrong on two separate things.  When I called the # in the book, you follow the prompts as usual but when it gets to the part of “ask someone a question” all it says is “you can also reach us online by going to the contact us page.” Then it goes back to the prompts.
Going to the contact us page, there are like 20 places to choose from, unclear as to who or which one I need to choose, I finally decide to try ask facility a question. It took about 3-4 days for a response. Not exactly the experience I was expecting after reading online about all staff available to help with anything along the way, etc.   Or is that what should be expected from an online type place?????    
They did however respond, it was just not as quick & easy as I would have liked.
 
They are among the top two recommendations for onliners. The other one just doesn’t seem as user friendly & seems more degree cert. oriented.
What to do?
 

Does anyone have any suggestion, input, or advice they would like to share?   This is an expensive decision (for me anyway) and would appreciate any help before I jump into the deep end of the pool. LOL

Well I’ve finally decided what I want to do when I grow up.   Well I’ve been saying I was going to do this for some time now, it’s just that I’ve finally done it!  I’ve started my training to become a Certified Personal Trainer.  I’m going with NASM.  It was a hard decision between them & NSCA.  I chose NASM because their site is much more user friendly and they let you know where the test sites are before you pay.  I didn’t want to find out that the nearest test site is several hundred miles away, after I’ve paid.
 

I’m just starting with the Fundamentals course & I’m glad I did.  I would hope that they do cover this stuff in the main course too.  I can’t imagine that they would skip over this stuff assuming that you already know this info.  LOL  I hope the main course just goes a little more in depth and having done this one makes it a bit easier.
 

What a lot of stuff to learn!  It’s a good thing I loved science in school.  If someone didn’t like science, this is not the path for you. LOL  We all think we know what we’re doing & we’ve got it going on in the gym.  Most of us do well enough but this lets you know how much you really don’t know.   It really makes you wonder, “ If I’d known & followed this info for as long as I’ve been working out, what shape would I be in right now?”
 

I’ll keep posting updates on my progress.

 Joel

I just got back from the gym. I had another great workout. I’m finally getting back to going heavy. I got a couple good ones in last week too. My belly is getting big! It looks like it did in my post surgery pics, when it was all swollen. I don’t know what the heck it is but I’m always hungry and have been having so many cravings. I’m just over all just liking food too much. Well I’ve been worrying myself over it but I decided to take advantage of it and do a bulk. I’ll crank the heavy workouts out and see if I can put a little size on. Then hopefully I’ll click out of this and cut down later??? LOL I just can’t get too big. I can’t do my but & hip areas & I don’t want to get to out of balance. (like I’m not already) Plus muscle weight is not good for my hip either. It’s a balancing act staying active and keeping the "fat" weight off but not putting too much muscle weight on either. What’s a guy to do? One workout at a time.

Well I’m pretty much back in the swing of things, but still not pushing the weight so much.  I’ve got a lot of work to do.  I can’t believe how bad my stomach looks.  I’ve even got love handles going on.  I can’t wait to see how my back looks in a few more weeks though.  I’ve been working the heck out of my back & rear delts with this high reps / low weight workout.   I know I’ve been in need of it because I’ve been working my chest & front delts a lot more than the rear.    I’ve also picked up a few different exercises from watching last seasons Ultimate fighter marathon.   I’m doing a weird push-up / curve dip kind of thing (awesome burn) and a two handed weight plate straight out in front of your head, bringing it around the back of your head to back in front.  Working that both directions.   Just a good new movement.    Not to mention the Total Gym that I haven’t used in quite a while.    Speaking of which,, It’s set up & ready to go.   I’m out. 

Well, the Total Gym workout went well.   I think the most strain on my belly was getting in from the garage & back again.  I sure can feel it today.  My shoulders & chest are hurting a little.  It’s the good hurt though. 

I do have a little twinge in my shoulder.  I had some kind of tendonitis or something going on in both my shoulder and my forearm on my right side.  The forearm thing kind of drifted more to the inside of my elbow and I can still fee the shoulder thing going on.  I was hoping it would have worked itself out with the time off.  I guess it might have if I had waited the 6 weeks, like I was supposed to??   I’ll work through it. 

Well I couldn’t take it.  Just after 2 weeks of no working out, I was growing a waddle.  That kind of freaked me out so I worked out a bit.  I used my smith machine (the cable portion) and loaded it with very small weights and did rows & pull downs.   I also used some dumb bells and did lateral raises & curls.   The weights I used were small enough to do sets of 100.   Well, not the lateral raises or curls but with the cables I did.   I did it on Fri & again on Mon.   On Mon. I did more & I’m actually sore from it.  While doing it, it feels insufficient because of the low weights but today I’m feeling it.   I guess it works out because I haven’t done any high rep work in a long time.  I guess I was due for it.
I still have to be very careful not to overdo it or do anything that will cause much of any stress on my belly.   I do not want this thing to pop out again.
I might pull out my Total Gym tomorrow and do some stuff on a low level.   I’ll post an update on how it goes.

Well they fixed my belly button on 22 Aug.  I’m not supposed to lift anything over 10lbs. for 6 weeks!  I’m going nuts as I watch love handles grow.   I can’t ride my bike, incase I wipeout.  I can’t hit my heavy bag, too much core involvement.  I can’t run because of my hip.  What the heck am I supposed to do?   
I told myself leading up to this, how I’m going to have to watch what I eat, etc.  but I don’t know what the heck it is, I am having soooo many bad cravings.  Sadly I’m giving in to them.    I need to stop, I know.
Okay, so not so much a blog, more of a rant.  LOL

Well I knew I was lopsided but this pic really shows it!  The new workout is helping with size but it looks like just one side. LOL
When I was in High school I messed up my right shoulder playing football.  I separated it and somehow broke the little piece of bone that the collar bone attaches to.
Anyway, it didn’t heal right.  Some of the neck muscles that attach just in front of the collar bone didn’t make it back to the right spot.  Now my body compensates in a weird way.  If you drawl an imaginary X across my chest you can see the compensation at work.
My left neck and right lat are big but my right neck and left lat are small.   As if I didn’t have enough to work around with the metal hip and all??????
I wouldn’t even worry about it but it’s looking just plain weird now.  It’s not nearly as noticeable when I’m not as big.  Should I just lay off and not worry so much about size, and just stay in the “fit” range?
Man this is discouraging!   Any input would be greatly appreciated. 
Thanks.
Joel
 

3-15-07 

Well I posted this in the over 35 forum and got some positive feedback.  I’m going to take their advise and not cut back but rather to try to fix it.
I’ve started with some dumbbell work on that right trap.  I’ll see if I can boost it up a bit.  I am afraid that too much stuff healed in the wrong spots when it was messed up.
I’ll keep trying though.
 

My dang belly button is popping out!!!!! It’s been working it’s way out for a while now. It’s just the top part & hasn’t been to bad, I’ve only not been able to do reverse crunches (which I love). Wed. after eating dinner it was burning & itching and is sticking out more.
Does anyone know an aprox. lay up time for a repair job?
I’ve been doing so good & just changed up my workouts and I’m on a mission. I hate to have to start over again. We all know how fast it melts away.

I’ll be making an appt. as soon as I can.  This thing is starting to hurt

I’ve got an appt. on Fri.