Matt’s BodyBlog.

I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong and I’m not sure what if anything I’m doing right. I’m making some ok performance progress. I took a progress picture in April 2009 and then another this morning (October 16th, 2009) and I look almost exactly the same. That is incredibly discouraging and frustrating. I’m pretty sure I’m eating the right things somewhat near the right amounts and every 2-3 hours. I work out hard every morning at 5:30am, at least 4 times a week, most of the times 5. This is my routine:

5:00am:  Wake up

5:15am:  Eat half a Balance Bar (approx. 100 calories) and chug a sugar free red bull.

5:30am - 7:00am:  Workout, while sipping on about 22oz of water with one large scoop of Controlled Labs Purple Wraath and 3 scoops of Glycer Grow.

• Stretch for 5 minutes
• Squats: 3 sets of 5 reps each set.  Currently at 165lbs.
• Bench Press: 3 sets of 5 reps each set. Currently at 145lbs.
• Deadlifts: 3 sets of 5 reps each set. Currently at 160lbs.
• Dips: Currently also doing 3 sets, 5 reps each, trying to increase rep count each workout.
• Cardio: 30-45 mins on elliptical and/or treadmill

The next day I do 4 different ab exercises (3-4 sets of each) followed by 45 mins of cardio on ellptical and/or treadmill

The next day after that I do this workout:

• Stretch for 5 mins.
• Squats: 3 sets of 5 reps each set.  Currently at 165lbs.
• Military Press: 3 sets of 5 reps each set. Currently at 100lbs.
• Bentover Rows: 3 sets of 5 reps each set. Currently at 130lbs.
• Assisted Chin Ups: 3 sets of 5 reps each set. Currently with 90lbs of assistance (I’ve used different machines and this number seems to vary drastically).
• Cardio: 30-45 mins elliptical and/or treadmill

So, for example, Monday would be the first workout listed, Tuesday abs and cardio, Wednesday 2nd workout listed, Thursday abs and cardio, Friday back to the 1st workout. The following week would start with the 2nd workout on Monday. I’ve been doing this routine for about one month now.

7:20am - Breakfast

• NLN Lean Pro Matrix scoop of protein in 6-7oz. of skim milk with a AST Multi-vitamin and chewable vitamin C.
• 1 whole egg and 3 egg whites scrambled (sometimes with lots of spinach, onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms).
• 1 cup of Kashi GoLean cereal with skim milk.
• Sometimes another 8oz glass of skim milk on top of all that.

10:00am - Meal 2

• Usually one banana and the other half of my balance bar from the morning.

12:10pm - Meal 3

• Usually a 6oz ‘ish chicken breast, tons of broccoli with a few sprays of calorie free spray butter and parmesan cheese.
• 5-6 strawberries, small handful of blueberries and raspberries.

2:30pm - Meal 4

• NLN Lean Pro Matrix scoop of protein in 6oz. of water.
• Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt

5:00pm - Meal 5

• Trader Joes can of Tuna - no salt added, with a little mustard.
• 15 almonds

6:45~7:00pm - Meal 6

• Varies a lot
• Sometimes 1 whole egg, 3 egg whites, (with lots of spinach, onions, bell peppers and mushrooms) and maybe 1 piece of whole wheat toast with spray butter.
• Or, a 6 inch subway sandwich, usually tuna or chicken breast, with mustard, all veggies, on wheat.
• Or, chicken breast with a fairly large baby spinach salad with very little dressing

9:45pm - Meal 7

• NLN Lean Pro Matrix scoop of protein with 6-7oz. of skim milk.

10:15pm - Sleep!

On the weekends I usually do not stay up late and get my sleep schedule all out of whack and most weekends I will go to the gym in the mornings again, usually to make up for a missed week day or for extra cardio and whichever workout I happen to be on next (of the two listed). I tend to eat the same things during the weekends, just a little later in the day. Without an alarm I wake up around 7am usually. If I’ve felt like I’ve worked really hard all week, kicked ass in the gym I may splurge and have a cheat meal or two. Usually a double double and a cheeseburger from In ‘n Out, maybe pizza, or a big plate of pasta.

From all my research and studying on bodybuilding.com I don’t feel as if I’m doing anything wrong.. maybe what I’m doing isn’t EXACTLY for me and that’s why I’m seeing extremely SLOW results. I see the transformations on the site and they’re making these HUGE changes in their bodies in a matter of 3-4 months. I’m lost. I’m not giving up by any means but I need guidance. I can’t afford a personal trainer.. i’m not sure what to do. If any of you read this and can set me on the right path please let me know.

I’ve always made an attempt to eat the right things I’ve done a so so job at it.  I eat 6 smaller meals a day, including my post workout protein shake.  Here is what I ate today for example:

5am - 150 calorie frozen Steel Cut Oats (from Trader joes) added half a scoop of AnyWhey Protein and a small glass of   non-fat milk.

7:30am - Post Workout Myoplex Deluxe Protein Shake with about 10oz. of Non-fat milk, a banana and a tablespoon of organic Trader Joe’s peanut butter.

10am - High Protein South Beach Cereal Bar and low-fat string cheese.
12pm - 2 8oz Chicken Breasts, broccoli and snow peas, organic brown rice.

2pm - Can of tuna with a little bit of low-fat mayo and mustard.

3pm - Apple.

5pm - 3/4 cup of egg whites.

7:30pm - Dinner.. this is where things stray.  Usually ends up being Subway, Quizno’s, or salad from some take out place near by.  Once in a while something healthy will be cooked at home.

I’m thinking I maybe need add in another, smaller, protein shake before bed or have one pre-workout and have the oatmeal at night.  I dunno.. trying my best to get any possible advantage I can in getting in shape as fast as possible.  We’ll see!

So, I’ve finally decided to start using this Bodyspace site.  Not really to socialize, although that is a very cool feature, but to just keep track of my own progress to keep myself motivated and to see my hard work paying off (I hope!).  I’ve been regularly going to the gym for about a year and a half and making very slow progress.  Up until the last 2 weeks I was going to the gym after work for about 1 hour, 3-5 times a week.  I basically toned up slightly and lost a little fat and have pretty much maintained that the entire time, with gradual increases in muscle mass here and there but barely noticeable.

I’ve gone through some changes in my life recently that have allowed me to re-arrange my schedule and make things more convenient towards my fitness goals.  I recently quit a band I was in for 2 1/2 years that took up most nights after my day job and I’ve also moved to a new place that is only a short walk from my gym.  In the last 2 weeks I’ve made it a point that when I go to the gym I workout for a minimum of 2 hours and given my added free time I’ve been averaging 5-6 times per week.  Also, just today in fact I’ve changed my schedule so that I will be getting up every morning at 5am to go workout for 2 hours before work and have my evenings free (or have a second small workout).   This morning was the first trying a full workout that early in the morning.  It was a little more difficult than the evening workouts but not too bad.  I made sure to eat a little and chug a (sugar free) red bull immediately upon waking and that seemed to help a lot as far as waking up my body.  I’m going to shoot for doing this every week day and one weekend day.  Just taking one day for rest per week.

I’m completely over having this bit of pudge on my mid-section and being a scrawny runt every where else.  I’m going to finally put in the hard work it takes to get where i want in a reasonable amount of time.  I’ll be placing order for all my supplements soon and timing them just right and eating as clean as possible.

It helps that my girlfriend is on the same game plan as me now too.  We both get up at 5am and hit the gym.  We don’t work out together when we’re there necessarily but it helps having someone else to do this with.

I can’t wait to see my results even after 1 month of this new program, by the end of 09 I hope to have reached or come very close to my goal.

I appreciate and welcome any advice anyone has for me.  I’ve been studying on bodybuilding.com for months and reading FitnessRX for men cover to cover every month, trying to learn as much as I can.  I want to be doing everything the right way as much as possible to get to my goal that much faster.

Wish me luck!

P.S. - Besides working out my life revolves around music.  I’m currently producing music for a female pop singer, think Gwen Stefani meets NIN.  It’s good, I promise.   I recently left a band called Love and a .38 due to personal differences.  I co-wrote the songs and recorded, edited and mixed everything you hear at www.Loveanda38.com.  Along with the pop project I’m puting together another rock band in the near future.  Hopefully one day I won’t be needing the day job any longer and can spend all my time making music and going to the gym.. and having some other fun as well. haha

Welcome to the Bodybuilding.com BodyBlogs. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!