M83MATT’s BodyBlog

I have wondered sometimes if this is the right place for me.  After all I have no plans on being a body builder and competing.  I am no spring chicken (I turn 45 in april) and It is probably a losing effort thinking that I could ever have a physique anywhere close to some of the people on this site. Some of the athletes on this web site are pretty damn intimidating. And lastly the worst thing,  being called a STALKER when some one that you’ve added as a friend, doesn’t make it mutual.  I hate it when I log on and see that I’m stalking someone.  I usually give it a week and if I’m still stalking someone I delete them.  Unless of course I’m really stalking them!         So yeah sometimes it feels like I do not belong here.  But let me tell you what has happened to me since I have been a part of this website.

I first became a member of body building.com a year ago, at the weight of 250lbs.  I jumped on the band  wagon, started working out and dieting.  Things where going pretty good and then I cut the tip of my finger off with a router at work.  I still tried to stay with it but before long I just gave up and let things go again.  Jump ahead to November 2008,  my weight climbed to an all time high of 265 lbs. So instead of waiting for the usual New Years resolution I started doing cardio and eating better in November.  Three months later I am down to  242 lbs. and still pushing.

I’ve learned that this site has done a lot for me, in motivating and inspiring me.  Those intimidating athletes above are pretty damn cool and if you ask them questions, alot of them will take the time to answer you.  And even though I’m sure body building is very competitive, those atheletes that have had so much success with their own physiques, take the time to encourage others because they want to share their success.  I use to believe when I was younger that it was all about ego, who could be bigger than the next guy.  But now I know that it is a pretty great community of people hooked on fitness.  And it is an easy community to become  a part of and to be inpired by.  So believe me when I say if you want to lose weight and be inspired to be the best you can be than you are in the right place.  Body building.com has a wealth of information and training knowledge.  Dig deeper than the bodyspace and you will find every tool you need to succeed.

Did not post the last couple of days, so I thought I’d combine the three today.  Thursday 1/29 worked out at Gold.  I worked my shoulders.  Military press 4×12, Arnold dumbell press 4×12,  Front raises 4×12, Side raises 4×12, Shoulder shrugs 4×12,  and Bent over raises 4×12.  30 min HIIT cardio.

1/30 Friday had a great back workout.  Wide grip pull downs 4×12, Close grip pull downs 4×12, Rows 4×12, and dumbell raises 4×12 each arm.  Really concentrated on the squeeze at the top of each lift, holding for 1 1/2 sec before continuing.  I can really feel the burn in my back muscles today.

1/31 Saturday 30min HIIT cardio and core work on the ex. ball.

** Need to step it up with the core workouts.  I am going on to the training bb.com to plan a better workout.

No cardio today but, I had a great leg and tricep day. 4:00 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. at Gold’s- leg extensions 4×12, leg press 4×12, leg curls 4×12, deadlifts 4×12, calf raises 4×12, and calf press(?) 4×12 on the leg press.  Triceps-rope pull down 4×12, close grip pull downs 4×12, lying extensions 4×12, kick backs 4×12, and overhead extensions 4×12. 30 to 45sec rest between sets. I woke up this morning feeling like I had a sack of potatoes on my chest.  Must have had a pretty good chest workout yesterday as expected.  My chest and arms were fatigued last night and I felt the burn today.  I have grown to love that feeling.  It let’s me know I did some good work.

Up at 6:00 a.m. 30min. interval cardio.  Did not want to be there this morning,  Our bed kept begging me to stay. I felt better minute by minute, and always feel satisfied after a hard cardio.  Went to Gold’s at 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a chest workout.  Incline bench - 4×12 flys, 4×12 dumbell press.  Flat bench 4×12 flys, 4×12 press.  Machine (decline) press 4×12 and machine flys 4×12.  My pecs and arms are pretty fatigued so I feel I got a good workout in today, we’ll see what kind of soreness I have tomorrow.

Worked biceps and forarms tonight. 4×12 concentration curls. 4×12 alternating hammer curls. 4×12 standing dumbell curls. 4×12 standing dumbell hammer curls. 3×12 reverse dumbell wrist curls. 3×12 db wrist curls.  Still having a hard time getting use to working one to two muscle groups at a time.  I’m use to doing body for life and working all upper body groups in one day.

Completed morning cardio.  I felt really good today almost back to myself.  I did 48min. @133bpm. with a high bpm.153.  Just started working out with my heart rate monitor again and it is an invaluable tool.  Keeps my cardio workouts at a tempo needed to burn.

Just finished 30 min. cardio hit my burn zone 132avg. bpm with a high 145 bpm. Felt pretty good for the most part. I was fatigued at the end, completely out of gas. I’m still feeling the effects of the stomach virus. Plan on hitting the eliptical in the morning for 45min. to take advantage of the morning burn. Until tomorrow.

The dreaded stomach virus nailed me.  After finishing my post Wed., telling about entering Gold’s  12 week challenge,  I went to bed not feeling the best.  The next 24 hours was spent detoxing(not planned) and the next 12 hours sleeping.  I woke up late this morning feeling like I had been ripped in half and beaten.   I am not made to endure this kind of illness.  I look like I have hickys all over my face and eyelids.  When I get sick it is so violent that I break blood vessels in my eyes and they look like they are bleeding. Gross I know but when its over I can laugh about it.  After cleaning our Master bedroom and bathroom I cleaned up, put my work out clothes on and tried to do a cardio.  I couldn’t make it, I’m still to drained.  I plan to keep my fluuid intake up and get some solid foods in and I will try again tomarrow. I weighed out of curiosity and dropped 6 pounds since wed. night (all fluids).  Once I’m rehydrated things will be better.  

After years of wanting to join a Gym I finally did it.  I guess the main reason that I never signed up before was that the closest Gym was located 15 miles from my home and havng three children to get off to school in the morning was my lazy excuse not to go for it.  NO  MORE !  Gold’s moved in 1/2 of a mile away from my business so I signed up the whole family.  For the last two weeks I’ve been doing 30 to 45 min of cardio in the morning on my eliptical and 1 hour (lunch) at the gym every day.  My oldest daughter who is a renal transplant patient is also hitting the gym daily using her Body for Life Journal.  I couldn’t be more proud of her.  After years of being inactive she is working really hard and I think finding out that she really enjoys the gym.  I actually signed up for their 12 week challenge and feel really motivated to succeed.  I had my measurements taken by one of the trainers which I updated tonight.  On the weight loss front  I am down 19 lbs. (246lbs)  from my highest weight of 265 lbs. (october 2008) and I plan to keep it rolling off.  Best of luck in 09′ to anyone who may read this.  Work hard and you will achieve your goals.