bb1968’s BodyBlog

I have started my mass program for the new year and I am on my 2nd week into it.  The program is the Bill Starr 5×5 which I used with much success in the end of 2006 before my disc herniation in my neck.  I am starting out rather conservative for my top sets. 

On squats I had anticipated starting at 225 but after the first week of squatting 3 times in a week, I decided to drop back a bit to 205 to give myself a better run at it.  I can always make bigger increases in the near future as the strength comes back from the low back surgery in October. 

My main focus is on form.  I want to pause at the bottom of each rep and go below parallel.  With heavier weights this is not possible because I am letting the weight control me rather than me control the weight with the mind to muscle connection.  This way I hope to avoid any injuries for 2008.  2 major surgeries in 2007 was too much!

On bench, I started out at 225 and on my top set of 3 on Saturday I did 230.  There again, with a pause at the bottom of each rep.  I hope to be back up to at least 285 for 5 reps in 11 weeks.  That is where I was before the neck mishap.  This will put me back on track in 1 year post surgery which will be April 4th.  The doc had told me it might take up to a year and a half to get back to where I was.  My goal was to be there in a year.  Looks like everything is on track to make it.  I maxxed out at 245 for 5 reps on Sat. Jan. 5th.  I was pushing 240 for 10 reps when I was doing 285 for 5.  Progress in the making as a result of hard work, determination and dedication.  In one of my previous blogs I had stated, "I’ll be back!" as Arnold was notorious for and I am closing in on the arrival!  Totally excited about it to say the least!  It has been a loooooooonnnnnnnggggggg road to recovery.  I can remember 2 weeks post surgery when I was reaching muscle failure with 65 pounds on the bench for 10 reps.  Talk about a dose of humility!

For barbell rows, I had anticipated starting out at 185 for my top set but had to scale it back as well to 165 for better control and mind to muscle connection.  I refuse to just go through the motions.  I want to feel the muscles working.  I accomplish that with the lower weights.  I see so many people at the gym using poor form and as a result they are doing the same workouts with the same working loads as they were last year.  And they wander in and out of the gym week after week wondering why they never make any progress.   That is not my idea of a workout.  I want to invest my time wisely and have my workouts pay huge dividends.  And they are, thank God!

I am now up around 190 to 195 lbs.  My original goal back in Sept. at the end of my last competition was to be around 185-190 in the offseason.  I feel that I am putting on a lot of solid muscle.  There is some fat but I feel by the progress of my working loads in the gym I am adding some good lean mass.  I can still see my abs and that was my main goal for the offseason.  I don’t care how heavy the scales show as long as some abs can be seen.  I would ultimately like to be around 185-190 the next time I compete with 4% bodyfat.  I will be able to calculate my bodyfat much more accurately too with the purchase of my Lange skinfold calipers (a new tool to add to my personal training equipment).

The latest update with my NSCA-CPT endeavor:  I received notification that my test date of Feb. 2 has been cancelled due to the lack of registrations (only me and one other).  Now I have transferred to the computer based testing rather than the pencil and paper examination.  This allows more flexibility in scheduling my test.  I can call the testing center 2 days prior to when I am ready to go take the exam rather than having a fixed date set on either April 5 or April 12 which were the next two testing dates availble for the pencil and paper exam.  I am happy about this not only due to the flexibility but it also gives me a little more time to prepare.  Statistics show that only 58% of those who take this exam actually pass.  I refuse to give into failure.  Failure only comes at the end of a hard working set in the way of muscle failure.  That is the only way I want to relate to failure.

That’s about it for now.  A little over 6 1/2 weeks until the Arnold!  Can’t wait to be there!  Looking forward to meeting some of you there.  Let me know if you are going.  Train hard….only 50 more weeks left to the year and if you work each bodypart once per week, that is only 50 more workouts to make those gains!  Train, Eat, Sleep…..REPEAT!

It was exactly 3 years ago today that I woke up from a drunken stupor in jail not remembering what had happened.  I thought my life was over.  You see, I am an alcoholic and this wasn’t the first time this had happened.  As a matter of fact, I was facing DUI- 3rd offense FELONY charges along with a host of others.  After sitting in the cell over the next 2 days, my head finally cleared up and I could actually think sensibly.  What I come to realize was the truth that people in my life had been telling me all along.  I HAD A PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL!!!!  It was at that moment that I finally admitted to myself, to God and to my cellmate that I was an alcoholic and that I needed help.  Turns out my cellmate had some religious reading material and I picked it up to do some reading to pass time.  This material was what God used to talk to me through.  It really touched home and spoke to my heart.  It was at that time I got on my knees and asked God to help me and I broke down and wept.  It was so surreal!!!!!!!  Words cannot describe that moment in my life. 

I would spend the next 25 days in jail which is exactly what I needed.  All the other times I had went to jail I always got out the next day and blamed everything on other people, circumstances and whatever else I could use to cop-out of admitting that I had a problem……DENIAL, and I ain’t talking about the river in Egypt LOL!  These 25 days gave me time to think, to dry out and do a lot of soul searching.  I thank God for everything I went through.  It changed my life!

Even though I was facing 5 years of no drivers license, 1-3 years in the State Penitentiary, a host of fines and legal fees, I HAD HOPE!  As it turns out, I actually kept my job through all of this ordeal.  What a blessing it was to have the boss I had.  I lost my license there is no public transportation system where I live.  However, I had a bike (2 actually-  a road bike and a mtn. bike) that I hadn’t even dreamed of riding for the past 5 years because my drinking got so bad that all I wanted to do was drink and pass out and wake up and drink some more on my days off work.  I was what they call a "functioning alcoholic".  I worked everyday!  Anyway, I decided that if I was going to keep my job, I had to get to work somehow.  So I got out the bike and started to ride to work.  It was 9 miles one way and I smoked about a pack a day!  That quickly got me motivated to quit smoking.  My lungs hurt from riding!  So I quit smoking (another blessing) and continued to ride my bike to work.  I lost about 20 lbs and was getting into really good shape and in November I actually was able to get my license back with the stipulation that I have a breathalyzer installed in my car.  After I quit riding my bike, I decided to start lifting again since I was now in pretty good shape.  I was also facing 1 year of home confinement so what a better way to pass the time.  I went to Dick’s Sporting Goods and got an olympic weight set and a nice bench with leg attachment and cable system.  Jan. 1, 2006 I decided I would compete!  I would use the next year to put on as much muscle as possible and starting Jan. 1, 2007 I would start the cutting process.  And so I did!  But I won’t elaborate on all of that since it is in my other previous blogs.

So here I am today 3 years later.  Still clean and sober, in the best shape of my life and looking forward to a whole new year!  Unfortunately I am unemployed, but this is actually a blessing in disguise for it is giving me the opportunity to study for my NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer test.  I hope to be able to help others do what I have done.  OVERCOME ADVERSITY in a healthy and positive way and change their life!  Actually do something that I am PASSIONATE about rather than a dull, boring, endless job like I did have.

I better get back to studying.  I just wanted to share my experience, strength and hope with others.  If you know someone who is in this same predicament and I can help in anyway, PM me.  I am here to help!  God bless you all and thanks for taking the time to read my rambling!

I survived 2007…the year of trials and tribulations.  How I ended up competing is beyond me.  Neck surgery in April and back surgery in October and still managed to enter 3 competitions in August and September….go figure!  I was definitely not where I wanted to be as far as conditioning and size but I did accomplish what I set out to on Jan. 1, 2007- Compete…and that I did and for that I am proud of myself for actually achieving a goal despite adversities.

It is a new day and a new year and I am excited.  God willing, I will be accomplishing another mile stone in 2 days on Jan. 3, 2008…Clean and sober for 3 years and for that I am truly grateful!  With God all things are possible!  During this new year I want to continue to improve on my relationship with God.  I feel like I have been straying away and I cannot afford to do this.  It is only by His grace and supernatural help that I have achieved what I have thus far.

I am looking forward to the Arnold Classic coming up and hope to meet some of my bodyspace friends while I am there.  Let me know if you plan to attend.  I already have my expo tickets and my hotel reservations.  I could use some input from those who have attended before and know the area so I can make sure that the hotel I am staying at is not in a bad area.  PM me if you have experience with the Columbus area.

I am scheduled to take my NSCA-CPT exam Feb. 2 but may be rescheduling for April 5 to ensure I am fully prepared.  The statistics show that only 58% pass the exam.  I don’t want to have to wait 90 days to retake the test.  Once again, I could use any input from anyone who has taken this test.  Please PM me if you have.

Here is to a GREAT 2008 to all of you and I hope and pray that we all have a superb year!  God bless!