Kool-Breeze’s BodyBlog

I dont know about you but ever since I’ve made it a point to hit the gym and get in better shape I’ve been getting a lot of advice from people on what exercises I should do and what I should eat…whether I asked for it or not.  But I know I dont know everything, so I appreciate good advice from CREDIBLE sources…its the other sources I sometimes have an issue with.  When I say “credible”, I dont mean only people with degrees or certification in physical training…I just mean people who look as if they have experience working out and eating right…and not only workout, but look like they’re actually seeing some successful results from their workouts and diet. 
 

The problem I have is with the out of shape people who haven’t stepped foot into a gym in years, who either never go on a diet or never sticks to one for more than a month…and having the audacity to tell me what I should do to get in tip top shape (not to mention I’m already in far better shape than them).  All I’m saying is either practice FIRST before you preach…or just dont preach.  Its hard enough motivating myself to go to the gym on a regular basis and eat the right food consistently…but I really could do without the HELP of NON-professionals.

I finally graduated in May ‘07 with my mechanical engineering degree (one of the hardest things i’ve ever had to do).  And now I’m working full time as a Design Engineer.  I was under the impression that once I graduated and had a more fixed schedule, I would be even more successful with my fitness goals… I WAS WRONG.  After losing 30 LBS for my graduation (217 down to 187), there was celebration breakfast, lunches and dinners.  And with my family in town, I got side tracked from going to the gym like I normally would.  Now you would think that after they left a few days later I would go right back to my gym schedule… no such luck.  I managed to avoid the gym like the plague some how, after getting so much praises for looking better, somehow I got complacent and didnt continue to push.  I found myself constantly saying, "its just one day, i’ll go tommorow and work a little harder to make up for not going (to the gym)".  Needless to say 3 months later and 14LBS heavier, enough was enough.  I’ve been back to the gym fairly consistenly since September, but I had lost most of the strength I had gain, so I had to start off real slow with the weights.  Then I decided to do more cardio instead to burn some fat quickly, but since my diet was the best (lower caloric intake, but meals still composed mostly of fat and carbs)…I started burning fat and muscle mass.  In october, I finally got tired of my muscles feeling like mash potatoes, and I decided to step the weight up and after a week, I pretty much was back into the flow of things. 

Currently im at about 193-4 and I plan to spend this whole week doing cardio only (at least 1 hr on the arc trainer and 20 mins on the stair climber) in attempts to get down to 190 by next monday.  Im trying to slowly ween off sodas (my vice) cause I doubt I can quit cold turkey.  And im eating meals consisting more of protein and lean fats.  By next monday October 29th, I plan to do weights hardcore for 8 weeks with 30 mins of cardio after a workout.  Then the week before new years I plan to do strictly cardio again to shread up right before new years.  WISH ME LUCK!!!

I graduate with my Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering in May.  That means Im going to have family coming to my graduation and lots of pictures are going to be taken.  Needless to say I want to leave college looking even better than when I came in.  I was 217lbs around june of 2006 when I started in the gym (at least seriously) and after a few good and bad weeks of gym attendace, im now down to 192lbs.  With this 25lbs drop I have increased my endurance and stamina, increased overall strength while getting rid of my dreaded double chin and a good amount of my keg belly.  So far I have 4 abs showing if I flex and if the lighting is just right .  But my goal is to eventually have an 8 pac (6 isnt enough me).  I also want to have a %body fat below 10%…in terms of weight I really dont have a preference at this point but I assume 180lbs is a good goal to aim for right now since im 6′1.

 For my training I injured my shoulder about 3-4 weeks ago (trying to chest press more than I normally do ) so I was stuck doing cardio for 3 weeks till it healed completely.   My cardio consisted of 1 hr on an arc trainer (its similar to an elliptical machine) and some crunches.  I just started lifting weights again last week monday and Im using a 4-week workout plan I got from a muscle & fitness magazine (feb. or march not sure) in hopes to get lean through completing supersets and tri-sets.  Lets see how it goes!!!