Romantic1983’s BodyBlog

Yesterday was a pretty good Halloween. I was running around a little starting early morning! Family was setting up the display, I had to clean, head to the gym to get in my cardio, and then we had to clean up the display late at night. It was fun though. I got a lot of compliments on my constume, and our house got a lot of compliments in general! So many cute kids! I had to get in only cardio because yesterday was a full on cheat day. From like breakfast to dinner. For dinner, I took a break from the display to enjoy some really tasty chili and cider! . 

Its just been an off week for lifting. I didnt get to biceps or back this week. Tomorrow starts a new lifting week, so going to need to change things up a bit. My eyes havent fully recovered from that issue. Yesterday was the first day in 2 weeks I tried to put back in (new) contacts and my eyes
seemed ok. Today, i am feeling it again. So, I am thinking this solution is really just not working
with my eyes-causing the irritation. I just want this to be over. Im tired of dealing with it.

Today was good! I finally caught up on a little sleep. Im ready to hit the gym hard tomorrow!

Since Monday my eyes have been killing me! I dont know why. It wasnt that bad at the beginning of the week but it got progressively worse with each day. Yesterday, I was at planet fitness and when I was on the cardio machine- my eyes were burning- random tears were coming down my face. It got worse towards the end of the workout.  I was afraid people were going to come up to me and ask if I was ok, lol.

So, that leg workout was not even that great. All I wanted to do was go home and take out my contacts.  Its better without the contacts but still there. Today I could still feel it. So, I decided not to take a chance. If things are better tomorrow, ill hit cardio. I may try to anyway even if I have to look like a dork with glasses on lol. Naw, im not one of those chicks that looks sexy with glasses haha.  

I got back from Tampa Sunday (Was there for the weekend for halowscream, which was fun!).  Im wondering if I touched something or what not that might have infected my eyes? Im hoping they get better so I dont have to go to the eye doc (I was just there not long ago for a regular yearly checkup).

Fun Fun!

“Training is principally an act of faith. The athlete must believe in its efficacy; he must believe that through training he will become fitter and stronger; that by constant repetition of the same movements he will become more skillfull and his muscles more relaxed…He must be a fanatic for hard work and enthusiastic enough to enjoy it.”
Franz Stampfl from On Running, 1955

Ok, Ive had my ABB Pure Pro Shot. Fruit Punch! Hadnt tried this flavor. Wow, every sip was so good. It really has a great taste. Got some extra protein in… and now this fanatic is enthusiastic and pumped for my workouts in a few!

So today I was finally able to try the Arc trainer! I hadnt been at PF for a couple weeks and they just got a whole bunch of them. I liked it. I burned about 600 calories in a little under 50 min. So, that was actually pretty good. Ive been reading even more about HIIT (and different ways to do it etc). I read a few places 3x a week was good. So, thats what I am doing. Ive also increased the amount to 30 min (you really dont have to go much beyond that). On the days I dont do HIIT, I just do regular cardio. For me, now, thats about 50-55 min. 

Ive been really good lately about splitting up my sessions(cardio and weights). I need to go tonight to do back/ maybe a little triceps. Im also trying a little something different with my diet. Normally, one of my meals/snacks is a good protein bar. I try to pick the best ones, particularly ones with low sugar or what not. Ive been eating them every day for a while now. I am going to try to replace that, or at least not have them every day, with musclemilk. Not quite as convenient since you have to mix with water but it should be ok for most days!

Wait a minute….. I think I just heard the sound an icecream truck out front.. lol….I’ll be good… I swear

So, Saturday I leave for my beach vacation. YES! Last year, I actually burned! I was so surprised. Normally I tan (or burn at first and then it goes to tan the next day). I was trying to figure out why. I think its because last year I didnt use the tanning lotion. We all know, as bodybuiders, how much a tan can bring out the muscle. Since ive been leaning, I am more cut. It would pop out so much more! I try to limit the amount of sun I get. I love the beach, amusement parks, etc but I think we need to be careful how much sun we are getting. I think my mother looks great for her age and I think one HUGE reason is because she stayed out of the sun most of her life.

I am sitting here and can hear the news from the other room. An analysis of a number of studies have found that the risk of skin cancer jumps by 75% when people start using tanning beds before the age of 30!!!!!!! That it can be as deadly as arsenic! Wow. That is crazy (and depressing!).

Im so bummed. I bought these really sexy dressy tops for dinners and such over there. I dont think they are gonna arrive before we leave . Im crossing my fingers though. May try to post some pics while im there. 

Im actually wondering how successful my last bulking cycle went. I definitely gained a little muscle and fat too (yes, believe it or not, the only place it goes is my glutes). I just recently started my lean phase and at the very beginning it said 124 (back down from where I thought was: 128). Meaning, ill probably be far below 124 when I finish. Oh well. Its more about the look and less about the number. My goal is to be super lean; just in case a few photo shoots come up. I have been so pumped with the cardio lately! We have a treadmill at home but it doesnt work right now. The belt gave out back in December, and hasnt been replaced yet. Thats why I havent done THAT MUCH cardio in 09.Thats probably why I looked so lean in the progress pics around Nov and Dec. Id do 1 hr/ 65 minutes before dinner (6 days a week) before heading to LA for the weight session. I am trying to seperate them now (really the best thing to do anyway). One session for training and one for cardio.

Ok, hit the gym today. Did biceps. I think they are getting smaller   (due to the cardio) but someone did tell me they already look more cut. Gonna head to LA later tonight to get in more cardio. Treadmill and stairmaster. Who is with me that the stairmaster is one of the best machines ever!? Wanna sweat? Spend an hr on that. Its the only cardio where after 10 minutes, im covered with sweat!

Such is the exciting life of a gym rat: being in the gym on a Friday night lol.

I should have a decent chunk of time to be getting back here this weekend. Nothing exciting going
on for me.
:)

So, are you cheating on this Holiday? Not so much for me. More so the 3rd. Cheeses, a few hush puppies, maybe a MGD64. Nothing too over the top. Were going to Red Hot & Boom tommorow. Get a little walking in too.

Ya know I know not all machines are exactly alike, but just HOW different is one treadmill from another?  Im back to doing HIIT now. Saves time, really burns fat/calories. I usually do 20 min. Running at a very high pace for 1 minute (to a minute and a half) and then walk for 2 minutes. I am mostly doing that at Planet fitness. I usually run at at least 8 and walk at 4. Im fine. Thats not bad at all. I feel it. At LA? Dang. I was there for another leg workout Sat night and I could only get 2 running intervals at 8. That treadmill just really killed me. So, I just walked the rest of the way!

Its beach time in August! Means,now, I have to start leaning down from the bulking. I cant wait! Gonna buy a few bikinis and get my tan on!!

Need to get some more workout clothes too. Pretty big fan of www.workoutwear.com. I could prob go crazy there. It always amazes me when I see females at LA and planet who work out. So many look just amazing!! Theyre perfectly matched or what not. Im like: DANG! I look horrible compared to them lol. I remember having a conversation with my sister about this. I came in one day and this young woman was doing cardio with full on makeup (fake eyelashes included). I mean, yea she was really beautiful but at a gym…. doing cardio….? Ill save that stuff for afterwards and I do. Be hardcore in the gym and girly away from the gym!

Also tried ABB Body 50. Needed a good convenient protein source. I definitely recommend it! This
one is chocolate. 50 g of protein!!! So yummy!

I did take down that one video I had on here. I was talking with someone who said they liked it, but I didnt like the way it came it. I probably will be adding newer ones soon! Thursday afternoon I was feeling a little bit sluggish. I dont know why. It just happens. So, I figured I would have a speed shot intensity. ABB makes it and its pretty good! This one was purple frost. It really seems to help with energy and concentration (with my body it really helps with the concentration). I decided I would catch a few minutes of the national news with my family. Here I am trying to get energized and focused and thats when I found out the King of Pop had died . I probably watched the news for the next few hours before heading to the gym. He will be remembered for a lot of things, good and bad, but his music and the way he performed cannot be forgotten. It was just too important. R.I.P Michael Jackson.

One of my favorite clips!

One of my daily dinners (chicken). See the things we bodybuilders do to have ripped abs!? Thank God for cheat meals! Its so weird. I have been discussing cravings with a few people recently. I still enjoy the normal foods, but I dont crave them very much. I usually crave sushi. Its my one weekly cheat meal. I also had one day this year that I REALLY craved calzones. Thats been it really. Its all about the metabolism. It just changes. I dont crave what you see above. I just eat it!

TOO FUNNY a Joke———> And God Created

 And God Created…

And God populated the earth with broccoli and cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow vegetable of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives. And Satan created fast food and the 99-cent double-cheeseburger. And Satan said to Man, “You want fries with that?” And Man said, “Supersize them.” And Man gained pounds.

And God created the healthful yogurt, that woman might keep her figure that man found so fair. And Satan brought forth chocolate. And woman gained pounds.

And God said, “Try my crispy fresh salad.” And Satan brought forth ice cream. And woman gained pounds.

And God said, “I have sent your heart healthy vegetables and olive oil with which to cook them.” And Satan brought forth chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained pounds and his bad cholesterol went through the roof.

And God brought forth running shoes and Man resolved to lose those extra pounds. And Satan brought forth cable TV with remote control so Man would not have to toil to change channels between ESPN and ESPN2. And Man gained pounds.

And God said, “You’re running up the score, Devil.”

And God brought forth the potato, a vegetable naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fat fried them. And he created sour cream dip also. And Man clutched his remote control and ate the potato chips swaddled in cholesterol. And Satan saw and said, “It is good.” And Man went into cardiac arrest.

And God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery. And Satan created HMO’s