PenteKing’s BodyBlog

I’ve decided to compete in a triathalon. My sons think I’m as mad as a hatter (an expression, by the way, that has a very interesting origin) but I’m going to do it anyway. I’ve often thought about training for one, but never got around to actually committing to a training plan. This time, however, I’m in up to my neck.

I took my first swimming lesson this past Saturday, and I’m ashamed to admit how woefully bad I am in the water. You’d think I had a millstone tied around my neck. I sank like a stone. And when I tried to do the freestyle, I thrashed around as though I were wrestling a rabid alligator. It was pathetic. People came from miles around to mock my efforts. Did I let those taunts and jibes cow me? No, I did not. I continued my lesson, content in the knowledge that I can only get better. (I shudder to think how bad things could get if I grow worse!) I have no worries about the biking and running. I know I can do both. Hell, I have done both (maybe not in the same day, but you get the idea). The swimming, though… Well, I can only improve. Wish me luck.

I am visiting San Francisco with the intention of "trying the city on for size." If I can find gainful employment here, this city is on my short list of places to live (the others being Toronto, Ontario; New York, NY; and Boston, MA). So far, I like what I see. I’m staying at a boutique hotel in the financial district, and my, oh my, what a vibrant little pocket of the world this is. People scurry everywhere. I haven’t seen this type of hustle and bustle since leaving Toronto nearly five years ago. It feels good to be in the midst of this kind of energy. It far and away outstrips anything that San Diego can offer. Even the homeless people are a little bit livelier - a little bit more energetic and aggressive.

It’s strange. I moved to San Diego, thinking it would grow up to be a big city - that it would shed its small-town persona and begin attracting the artists and literatti. For a while, it seemed as if that was going to happen, but circumstances intervened and San Diego, after tettering on the precipice, fell back into its old, hidebound ways. Now, I don’t foresee another sea change in its environment for at least ten years. And I cannot wait that long. So I am searching for a new place in which to live. So far, San Francisco impresses.

If anyone lives in S.F. and wishes to share insights with me about the city, its culture or its people (or any combination thereof), please feel free to do so. Before I commit to the city, I want to make sure that, this time, I make the right choice.

I have been following (at times with bemusement; at other times with dismay) the vitrolic threads that have sprung up as a result of the Top 6 Inspirational Members. I’m willing to bet my bottom dollar that the powers that be at Bodybuilding.com had no idea that this new feature would engender such rancorous debate.

Now I may catch hell for this and I’m pretty certain that I’ll be subject to a veritable slew of email and comments for what I’m about to say, but that’s part of speaking one’s mind. So - (deep breath) - here I go.

One of the definitions of the word debate is to "consider the pros and cons of an issue". No where in that definition does it say that one side should resort to invective, slander, or hate-mongering. I’m not sure which of the participants pointed it out, but as adults, we should be able to logically and succinctly articulate our stand for, or our opposition against, a particular issue or principle. We, of course, want to sway our opposition to our way of thinking, but that will not always be the case. Your opponent may feel just as strongly (perhaps more so) than you do about the topic at hand. THAT DOES NOT MAKE HIM OR HER A BAD PERSON. That does not make that person an "idiot", "a moron" or "stupid". That kind of name calling does nothing but inflame passions and cloud the true issue. If you have debated a point with someone and have failed to persuade them to your point of view, you can always win the argument by saying, "Perhaps you’re right." No other phrase is guaranteed to defuse a potentially volatile situation as quickly and as easily as that one. It immediately disarms the other person. Without abandoning your principles and beliefs, you have instantly created harmony. What could be better than that?

In my opinion, the Top 6 Inspirational People is a flawed idea. I intend to make my feelings known to the Bodybuilding.com admins. I will present my case in a cool, calm and logical manner. My audience may choose to ignore my comments. They may adopt some of my suggestions. Either way, I will not resort to name calling. Nor will I abandon this site. It has too many other benefits that outweigh this one feature.

We are all members of a community. That means that we should - to the greatest degree possible - respect one another as human beings. We are all God’s children.

Why are there so many angry people in the world? If everyone would just lighten up a little, things would progress so much more smoothly. Human beings were not meant to fret and worry. If you want proof of that assertion, just take a look at someone who is perpetually grumpy. Let’s face it; they’re ugly. They have frown lines on their forehead, and around their eyes and mouth. Their necks are ridged with tensed muscles. When they walk, they shuffle. Grumpy people always look five to ten years older than they atually are.

Cheerful people, on the other hand, look youthful. They have a light in their eyes that is welcoming and attractive. They have an aura of warmth and friendliness about them. There’s a bounce to their step when they walk. People smile at them because they invite human interaction. Let’s face it - there’s no comparison. Give me happy any day of the week. In that vein, here are a smattering of quotes about laughter and the human condition.

·         The sound of laughter is like the vaulted dome of a temple of happiness – Milan Kundera

·         It’s possible to forgive someone a great deal if he makes you laugh. – Caroline Llewellyn

·         To be playful is not to be trivial or frivolous, or to act as if nothing of consequence will happen. On the contrary, when we are playful with one another, we relate as free persons, and the relationship is open to surprise; everything that happens is of consequence. – James Carse

·         I am thankful for laughter; except when milk comes out of my nose. – Woody Allen

·         I don’t think that the comic and the serious can be separated in talking about the human condition. It’s like trying to separate hydrogen and oxygen and still be talking about water. – Peter De Vries

·         Comedy is when you accidentally fall off a cliff and die; tragedy is when I have a hangnail. – Mel Brooks.

·         Laughter springs from the lawless part of our nature. – Agnes Repplier

·         Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing. – William James

·         The art of the clown is more profound than we think; it is neither tragic nor comic. It is the comic mirror of tragedy and the tragic mirror of comedy. – Andre Suares.

·         Back of the sun and way deep under our feet, at the earth’s center, are not a couple of noble mysteries or the Bible or the Koran, but a couple of joke books. – Tennessee Williams

·         A good laugh is as good as prayer sometimes. – L. M. Montgomery

·         God is a comedian, playing to an audience that’s too frightened to laugh. – Anon.

According to Webster’s Third International Dictionary (BTW, when do you suppose they’ll publish a Fourth edition?) the definition of a nome de plum is: "a pen name; nome de plum or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author or their publishers to conceal their identity." In those parts of the world where expressing one’s opinion can result in serious jail time (or worse) the use of a nome de plum is de rigueur (necessary according to etiquette, protocol or fashion). Under those circumstances, concealing one’s identity is literally a matter of life or death. Here on the Bodybuilding web site, the use of nome de plums takes on an entirely different perspective. Some folks, I’ll warrant, truly want to conceal their identities. I believe those folks fear rebuke or riducle. Some may be fearful of losing their jobs. (In my opinion, though, if you feared losing your job because of something you posted on Bodybuilding.com, then you are working for the wrong employer.) Others, however, (and I believe this comprises the vast majority) simply wish to append a title to themselves that speaks to their inner being.

My Bodybuilding.com name for example speaks to my love and fascination for the game "Pente". An offshot of the Asian game, "Go", Pente is played on board on which a grid of 19 x 19 lines has been drawn. Players take turns playing stones on the intersections of the lines. The first player to place five (penta) stones in a row, or who has captured five pairs of his opponent’s stones, is the winner. The game was quite popular in the 80’s. It is easy to learn, fast to play, and yet has the same level of skill and tactics found in chess. I was very, very good at this game. In fact, I placed high enough in the rankings to compete in the tournament to crown the world’s Pente champion. Sadly, a combination of factors (some professional, most largely personal) prevented me from realizing my dream. But I have no doubt that had I devoted the necessary time and energy to the game, I could have been champ. My Bodybuilding nome de plum is a memory and tribute to the game that I once loved and played so well.

Why have you chosen the particular name that graces your Body Space page? Regale us with your story. I’d love to hear it.

Those of you who have occasionally perused my blog know that I’m an avid bicyclist. I try to get into the saddle at least three times a week. I love biking. In my opinion, it’s the best lower body exercise there is. On a properly fitted bike, there’s no chance of injuring oneself (except, of course, for maniacial motorists). It helps one lose weight, lowers the blood pressure, increases one’s aerobic capacity, and reduces stress. What more could you ask from an exercise?

Somehow, the saddle on my bike had come loose. It had slid back, placing undue strain on my knees. The maladjustment was so imperceptible, I didn’t notice it until my riding partner, Julie, clued me into it. So, I pulled out the tools, and fixed the problem. What a difference! Today, I did 60 plus miles without strain - even going up hills (a notorious weakness of mine). On the straightaways, I was a monster. FOr the whole ride, I averaged 17 miles an hour, 2 miles an hour faster than my usual average. To make it even better, today was an absolutely gorgeous day in San Diego. It was sunny, with high clouds, and a temperature that hovered in the mid 60s. It was perfect biking weather.

Need I tell you that I’m a happy man?

I had forgotten how hard it is to be out of work. So much of what we do on a day-to-day basis revolves around our job. Our daily routine; our relationships; how we feel about ourselves and our place in the world; they all revolve around what you do for work. Whether you love or hate what you do, it has a definite affect on your mind and attitude. Now that I’m out of work, all of those memories have come flooding back - and this time in spades.

Looking for work is harder than actually working. When employed, you have times during the day when you can relax. You can close the door to your office; you can ignore the ringing telephone; you can take a long lunch. All of those activities are denied you when you’re looking for a job. From the time you arise in the morning until the time you go to bed at night, the thought of finding gainful employment is at the forefront of your brain. It colors everything you do. You polish up the resume; you contact headhunters; you ring up old friends and acquaintances. You shine the shoes, press the suit, put on a smile and go on interview after interview. Or worse, you send your resume out, and you hear nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. That is the part that I hate the worst. The dead silence. It’s the most nerve-racking thing about the process. The waiting. It’s a quiet killer. After a while, you wonder if you’ll ever find a job again. And then you begin to wonder what you’ll do; how you’ll live; where you’ll end up. It’s a killer, and the worst part of all, is you have to do it alone.

For some reason, I have been extra hungry this week. It seems as though I can’t get enough to eat. I’m still eating clean, but man, I’m packing away the calories like they’re going out of style. Here’s what I had for breakfast this morning:

• Small banana
• 4 ounces of grape juice
• Small peach
• Quarter cup of blueberries
• Quarter cup of slivered almonds
• Three ounces of plain yogurt
• One cup of Kashi Go Lean cereal
• Fourteen ounces of rice milk
• Sixty-four grams of whey protein
• Sixteen ounces of coffee

And with all that, I’m still hungry. For the past four days, I’ve been consuming approximately 3500 calories a day (which is half again as many as I’m accustomed to taking in). My workouts are no more or less intense than usual, and my cardio activity has been pretty consistent. Yet, my body demands food.

What do you suppose is going on?

Today, I begin a new 12-week routine. I’ve decided to go back to basics - squats, deadlifts, seated cable rows, etc. I’ve got a plan all laid out. To start, I’m going to start out using weights a little lighter than I’m used to, and increase the weight with every workout during the 12 weeks. Doing this will allow me to lift as heavy as I can until I reach my absolute limit. It’s time to see what my body can and cannot do. I’m tired of guessing, and I’m tired of not challenging myself. I confess that up to now, I’ve not pushed as hard as I could. There are a lot of reasons for that, but those days are behind me now. I’ve had an epiphany. I see that I will never achieve the body of my dreams by coasting. It will take hard work to sculpt my new physique and I’ve been dogging it. Shame on me.

In conjunction with this new routine, I’ve also decided to change my diet. Using the information given on this site, I’m going to ingest the recommended intake of fat, protein and carbs for my bodyweight and composition. This will mean upping my caloric intake and eating at least one more time during the day than I do now, but if I’m serious about this bodybuilding lifestyle, then this is the way to go. My morning meal consisted of 40 g of oatmeal; 1/4 cup of raisins; a tablespoon of honey; 72grams of Met-Rx meal replacement, and 16 ounces of coffee. My mid-morning meal was rice milk; small banana; 1/4 cup of blueberries; and 64 grams of Gold Standard Whey. Lunch was a spinach salad with half a can of tuna, along with a handful of cherry tomatoes.

Watch out, world! I’m turning myself into a lean, mean, fighting machine.