Unleash The Animal

Well, I broke out of my funk!  I don’t know what caused it, but I think I pushed through it tonight with a killer workout.  The Animal definitely kicked The Darkness’ ass today!  The Darkness will need some time to recoup from that one!

Also, I started back with cardio before working out.  I had taken a break from it since my legs always felt tired, but damn it!  I need that boost!  I haven’t had any meaningful fat loss since I stopped, so I started back.  We’ll see how it works for me.

I came home to fix a wonderful dinner of grilled talapia, green beans, and brown rice.  Honestly, it just LOOKED good…which was pretty damn close to how it tasted too .  I’m just really stoked to be me right now, and punching through a funk that has sent many people running to Dairy Queen for a large dipped cone is always a good thing!

Excuses are gone.  The Animal won’t have them!  The Darkness feeds on them.  Hence forth, excuses are banished from my presence.  The Darkness will have to feed on something else from now on!

Yep, sure enough, I have found that I have a new friend.  He’s with me during and after every great workout.  He sticks around for a while, and when I don’t think he’s around, I find him.  I can always count on him to show up.  His name?  Pain.

First, some clarification.  Pain is defined as physical suffering or distress, as in an injury, illness, etc (per dictionary.com).  There are different types of pain.  One, that everyone knows so well, is the kind that comes from an injury.  This is a very bad kind of pain, one that we need to be very careful of.  Another type of pain is soreness.  Try doing some heavy squats for the first time in ages, wait a day or two, and try telling me you’re not suffering…I dare ya.  However, soreness (aka DOMS), is a good thing.  It means you’ve pushed yourself hard, and your body is trying to adapt.

The real trick is knowing the difference.  Honestly, I’d love to tell you how to tell.  However, it’s more of an instinct with me I guess.  Either that, or I just don’t know the difference and I’ve been lucky.  Either way, I can’t tell you.  What I can tell you is that pain is a new friend.  It has to be, for me at least.  Why?  Frankly, I want more than just normal workouts will give me.  I want to be huge and ripped.  That just ain’t going to happen the way things normally work for me in the gym.  I had to hurt.

Injury is bad, we can all agree.  However, I can’t help but think that my lack of gains as a young man weren’t because of bad genetics (though that probably didn’t help), but because I just didn’t know how to really train.  I’m not sure I do now even…though I’m ready to push more and more into that realm of pain to find out.

As I’ve said before, if it was easy, it wouldn’t be worth doing.

OK, at my gym, one of the perks you get is a free fitness evaluation every month.  Well, it was that time for me to step in and get evaluated.  I was a little nervous.  Sure, I measure my stuff every week (and sometimes more), but this was by people a bit better trained and a lot less biased.  I fully expected to see some…well, lets just say disappointing, numbers.  Boy did I miss the mark.

First, per their numbers, I’ve lost 7% body fat.  They had me at 32.7% on July 2.  Now, they have me at 25.4%.  They use the electrical current-type method, but it’s consistent.  Further, their body fat measurement for me is pretty close to what I had for me.  The difference was only .3%, which isn’t bad at all.  I’ll take it.

Most of the measurements were similar, but the really important thing was on the print-out their body fat meter printed out.  By calculating lean body mass, I have supposedly gained 13 lbs of lean muscle! The overall weight measurement only showed a loss of 4 lbs, mostly because I weigh there at a different time of day than I do at home (morning at home).  I have to say, I’m pretty damn impressed with myself.

However, impressed is not a good enough word for Jenn tonight.  She really pushed herself on leg day, and I’m damn proud of her.  While other women were going through the motions, she was grinding out gut-wrenching sets and really putting herself out there.  Right now, she’s probably wondering what took her so long to get into the gym.  So far, the only assessment that’s been done on her is the one I did, but she’ll do hers tomorrow.  Everyone, keep your fingers crossed that she’ll be happy with her progress.  It’s only been a week, but even a little bit of progress should make a huge difference for her.

Damn.  I’m ready for another workout now!

OK, I know the answer to that, but I fricken hate it.  Of course, after the gym I picked up some hand wraps so I can answer the heavy bag’s call Saturday for cardio!  I can’t wait!  Mostly, I want to find cardio I can get into.  While it doesn’t necessarily have to be fun, I have to feel something from it.  I can’t get that with most of the cardio equipment out there unfortunately, so I need to find something else.  When gymfreak mentioned this as an option, it just sounded like something I needed to try.

Mostly, I guess it just feels like training for something other than the sake of training.  I’ve always liked boxing as a sport, and I’ll admit it…I can already see me loading an MP3 player with the theme to Rocky and Eye of the Tiger just for cardio, but who cares?  Who knows, I might decide to give boxing a shot.  Worst that can happen is I get my ass kicked.  I’m totally used to that feeling though…I went to high school.

Tomorrow is leg day, and I’m hitting squats and deads, on top of calf raises.  I think I’m going to skip out on isolation exercises though.  I figure the two compound exercises should do enough work on the legs as is.  Just some calf raises and ab work to round it out, and I’m good to go

For some reason, I was just in a bad mood on the way to the gym.  Frankly, I was pissed off and I didn’t know why.  I explained to Jenn in the car that it wasn’t her in any way, and that I was going to take it out on the iron.  The iron doesn’t mind, and I knew I’d get a great workout.  That, my friends, was an understatement.

Today was back and biceps, and I started off with usual weight.  It felt heavy, but I needed more.  The next set, I cranked it up.  Then again the next set.  I had gone up 30 lbs from last week, and I thought I was doing well last week.  Apparently, not as well as I could have done.  I went to the next exercise and bumped it’s weight up from the start.  I barely got the last rep on the last set.  That was a good thing.  Then, we gave assisted pull-ups as shot.  Well, I need more assistance than the machine could give me.  I only managed a couple of reps, but that’s cool.  I did what I could and felt it afterwards.

Next was biceps, and they had to pay for the lack of pull-ups.  I upped my weight and progressed through the sets.  Preacher curls were tough, but all reps were successfully completed except the last one.  Almost the same with the standing barbell curls, finally cranking out the last set just barely..  Then, rope curls and the same thing happened again.  Basically, I just about reached failure on damn near every exercise I did today.  That doesn’t happen to often for me, but that’s been my goal.

Jenn, in her own right, was a demon on the weights.  No wimpy weights for her, my baby ain’t no Barbie Doll!  She pushed harder and harder, barely completing her sets it seems.  She isn’t afraid to make an ugly face while pushing herself.  Also, she knows how to pump me up (not that way you pervs..well, she knows that too, but this ain’t the time for that).  At one point she asked me if I was her Spartan warrior.  I replied "Spartan’s are p***ies."  That motivated me enough to push through that set.

By the time we were done, I was spent.  Sweat poured off my face.  The bad mood?  Gone.  I was joking around and cutting up by the time we left the gym.  It really does help, no matter what anyone says.  It was great.  Now, I just want to get angry before I go to the gym every day.  It kicked ass!  I can’t wait to lift again…to bad tomorrow is cardio day.  I got to get some wraps for my hands to work the heavy bag…then pissed will work for me again

Yep, today was chest and triceps.  Jenn did fantastic as always.  When we started working out, the rule was "no girl weight" stuff, meaning she would have to progress with her weights.  None of this light crap would cut it.  Luckily, she’s been excited about the workouts so far and I only hope that continues.  Honestly, nothing pushes me more than trying to impress the woman I love

She’s been working hard on keeping with the diet as well.  I know it hasn’t been easy for her, and it won’t be for a while I’m sure, but she’s putting forth the effort and she will definitely see results.  I’d like to thank all of you who’ve stopped by her page and wished her well.  It’s meant a lot to her to know that there are others out there cheering for her.  It makes her feel all tingly…well, a different kind of tingly anyways

A coworker and I were running our mouths today about fitness, and he made the comment that progress pictures are probably not worth a damn because the camera adds ten to fifteen pounds.  "Bullshit," I said.   My pictures look the exact same as the guy staring back at me in the mirror at the time they’re taken.  The whole 10-15 lbs myth sprang up as a way for people to feel better about how horrible they look.  I’m not fat, the camera added that weight.  Now, I’ll agree that the camera might not be flattering due to lighting issues, but to say that it adds weight is ridiculous.  It’s a cop out, plain and simple.

Honestly, I look at all the fit people here, and I don’t see where the camera added 10-15 lbs (photoshop might add that much, but that’s different).  I see lean, trim bodies.  I’m not one of them, but I can assure you the camera didn’t add squat…pizza added that 10-15 lbs!  Ice cream added them.  Fast food added them.  But the camera?  It just captured light reflected off my fat ass onto film.  It’s not the camera’s fault that I had an gut the size of Texas.

To often, people want to find an excuse for their weight.  They say they have a slow metabolism, but that can be overcome.  They say they have hypothyroidism, but eat like an African refugee at an all you can eat buffet.  They say they don’t have time to eat properly, but they make time for American Idol and Lost.  They say they have X condition, but do nothing to rectify that condition.  They make jokes about their own weight, to show you that they don’t care (guilty of that one right here).  They excuse their weight, rather that correct it.  They let their health be secondary to the television.  We’ve sold our soul to Fox of all people.  Great job America.

Jenn and me?  We still watch TV.  We can’t wait for the next season of Heroes and Jericho.  Greek is a favorite new show of mine.  And yet, we can still work out and eat right.  How is that possible?  Simple.  It’s called priorities.  We have ours worked so that we can eat right, exercise, and still enjoy a couple hours of television.  It’s amazing what all is possible, ain’t it?

OK, so I had a good, solid workout.  Not the best, but they won’t all be great.  Still, I hit the muscles hard and I’ll definitely feel them tomorrow.  Shoulders are tricky for me, since they get some exercise the rest of the week with Chest and Back, but so be it.

I eat well now, and I don’t bloat like I used to.  I walk taller, and look like I’ve lost dozens of pounds, despite the fact it’s only seven.  I feel stronger, and actually have more energy than ever before.  I take about 45 minutes to an hour out of my day, and I work out.  More home cooked meals are eaten, and my life seems more focused.  I have my goals, and the simple desire to reach them.

However, what if I don’t?  Honestly, based on how I look and feel right now, I have to say "so what?"  Seriously, I look and feel better than any other point in my life, even after 12 weeks of Body For Life.  Why?  Because I’ve accepted life as it currently is.

You see, I was talking with a coworker today.  He’d noticed how I had changed my eating habits from the two cinnamon buns and a diet coke in the morning and fast food at lunch, to my healthy food.  He commented that that was the secret, consistency.  We talked about yo-yo dieters.  "The problem with those folks is they set out to lose 10 or 15 lbs, and once they do, they go back to eating however they want to.  Me?  I’ve accepted that this is how I will eat for the rest of my life."

It wasn’t until the words left my mouth that I realized they were true.  I still dream of having my metabolism from when I was 18, but those days have come and gone.  I’ll be 34 in September.  What point is there in longing for days of old?  Instead, why not accept how things are now, and work to make the now the absolute best.  Now, that doesn’t mean accepting my weight.  Instead, it means to accept those things that can not be changed directly, like my metabolism.  I will work to change those things I can, and not sweat all the stupid stuff that serves no purpose whatsoever.

I got into an argument with another coworker today.  We had encountered a problem with some stuff, and he wanted to find someone to blame.  I wanted to solve the problem and move on.  The funny thing is this coworker is overweight as well.  He complains about his weight, but refuses to do anything about it.  He can give you a litany of reasons why he can’t, but not one iota of effort to find a way where he can.  He hasn’t accepted things that he can’t change.  Instead, he complains about them.

You have a slow metabolism?  Then experiment your food choices and calories to optimize what it will do!  You have to fast a metabolism?  Then find a way to overcome THAT.  Don’t complain that you don’t have time to work out.  After all, you’re sitting there watching American Idol or something equally pointless.  Don’t blame your life for your choices.  Step up and take responsibility for them.

Frankly, I don’t care what anyone else does really.  But I see it as we all have to choices.  We can do, or we can wish we did.  Only one way holds no regrets.

Yep, today was legs and abs.  However, my legs have felt fatigued all week.  Since I skipped cardio yesterday, they felt better, but I decided to go a little easy on them today…like that really happens .  First, I managed to beat the hell out of them.  Jenn was sick, so I kept rest to a minimum, and made my leg workout more of a cardio workout than normal.  It was great.

Also, my abs really caught hell.  I nuked them all to hell and back, and I loved every damn minute of it!  That’s right, I loved the ab work!  I never love ab work.  I hate it almost as much as cardio.  WTF?  Oh well, who cares.  It was a fantastic workout.  I really made things hurt in the good way, and I can definitely feel it.  Usually, I’m one of those who figures that great abs come from diet, not the gym.  But frankly, developing muscle makes the diet more effective, so I figured I needed to do it.  Well, I did and I don’t regret it.

I stand on the precipice of greatness, only my will and commitment, or actually the lack of, can keep me from it.  I will let no obstacle stand in my way. All hell’s breaking loose, but I hold the leash!

Yeah, this evening’s post is pretty much filled to the brim with stuff.  First, today was supposed to be cardio, but my legs are still feeling the workout from last Thursday (see previous blog).  Since tomorrow is legs day, I had to decide which day to take a break on.  I opted for today, mostly because I seem to burn more calories lifting than I do on the treadmill.  Until I can get some idea how to wrap my hands, the heavy bag won’t work for cardio, but I’ll get on that this weekend, since it’s payday weekend.  A good way to get cardio and loosen up the arms after triceps and biceps are worked, and to save the legs a bit for squats!

Next, I tried something different tonight for dinner and DAY-UM, that stuff was good!  I had never, ever, in my entire life, had mashed sweet potatoes.  Well, at Sam’s last weekend I saw a package and decided to give it a try.  Since we all know sweet potatoes are the carb of the Gods, I figured I should try every way to get some I can.  Well, this stuff was GOOD!  There is a downside though…this stuff is loaded with calories.  However, a 1/2 cup serving, 5 ounces of roasted chicken, and a cup of steamed broccoli was still only about 400 calories, so I wouldn’t sweat it to much.  Go get some if you haven’t already!

Next is my supplement question.  Mostly, as anyone used the Animal products?  I’ve heard good stuff from time to time in the past, and I’d really like to pick up a good multi and some BCAAs.  I’ve been looking at the Animal Pak, since it seems to be a bit of both, but I’m open to other options.  Mostly though, Universal’s stuff is really well priced here on BB.com, so I figured it was worth a shot.  Any input on their stuff is welcomed!

Man, what a workout!  My back and biceps are blasted!  I haven’t worked my back like that in ages, and my biceps are screaming at me right now to do it to them again next week.  Great, solid workout!  With days like that, I’ll reach all my goals without a problem!  Jenn did great too.  She wasn’t feeling to well, but she wanted to go and put forth maximum effort.  While her weights right now are "girl" weights, she’s pushing hard.  It won’t be long before she starts embarrassing the paper dolls in the gym!

Diet has been really clean with the exception of the planned cheat meal last Friday night.  So far, no cravings as far as I can tell.  The biggest problem I’m having is getting enough calories.  I need to squeeze in something like 600 calories tonight to reach 2000.  That’s just not going to be doable.  Instead, I’ll need to boost my breakfast up a bit, and my lunch for that matter.  The meal replacement bars are what they are, so nothing I can do about that now.  But I have got to get enough food!  I damn sure don’t need my metabolism slowing down…that’s part of how I got into this mess in the first place.

Luckily, my motivation is great.  No cravings for bad stuff, no desire to skip workouts, no distractions of any sort with the exception of watching a bootleg version of 300 before the workout, but that only serves to pump me up even more!  Besides, I don’t really have a choice.  The men in my family die young.  My uncle died at 39.  I turn 34 in September.  Death is a constant enemy.  I train to fight off Death.  When he comes for me, he’ll find that I’m no easy prey.  He better come and be ready for one hell of a fight.  I don’t go gentle, and Death will find that out for himself.

Yeah, let Death come.  I’m kicking that bastard right in the junk!