bb1968’s BodyBlog

Hello my fellow bodyspacers!  It is Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008, the day before the Arnold Classic in Columbus, OH.  I am really excited about being able to attend for the first time.  Looks like it is going to be an exciting weekend and I look forward to meeting some of you there.  Looking forward to meeting up with Jeff (http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/jackedinMI/) for an awesome workout Saturday morning at Gold’s Gym.  I will have my laptop with me and be updating the blog each night so check back for the latest and greatest!

PM me if you are going so we can meet up and get our pics together!  See you there!

After my neck surgery last year, the doctor told me that it may take up to a year to a year and a half before I regain my strength back to where I was prior to the disc herniation.  I had some serious nerve damage as a result of the herniated disc.  My goal was to be back to my prior strength by my one year anniversary.  This coming April 4 will be one year.

I started out on my road to recovery 2 weeks post neck surgery.  I was barely able to get 65 pounds for 8-10 reps on bench.  4 months prior to my neck surgery I was benching 285 for 5 reps and this was an all time personal best for me.  I was hoping to reach 315 for 5 reps.  Then the disc herniation.  It has been a long slow process but I have continued on the journey diligently. 

I am thoroughly excited to report that I hit 250 for 8 reps today on my top set of bench.  This was a strong indication that I am definitely going to surpass the 285 for 5 reps by April 4, 2008.  And for that I am truly blessed today!

God bless you all who have been in my corner throughout this endeavor.  I appreciate your prayers and words of encouragement.

As Big Ron Coleman would say, "It’s on now!"  "Light weight BABY!"  "Nuttin’ but a peanut!"  "Let’s do dis!"

I am happy to say I survived the first month of the year without any injuries and consistently trained (either cardio or resistance) everyday of the month.  Hit a milestone yesterday.  I was at 315 for 5 reps on deadlifts in Dec. 2006 prior to my neck surgery and was hoping to be back to at least that on my 1 year anniversary (surgery) on April 4, 2008.  Well, I did it yesterday!  Not real pretty but I pulled it all 5 reps.  Now I am going to concentrate on my form before increasing the weight.  Hope to post a video of this in a couple of weeks.  I have also seen a tremendous increase in my chest and tricep stength as well.  On flat bench barbell press, I was at 285 for 5 reps, 240 for 10 reps back in Dec. 2006.  On last Saturday I did 240 for 7 reps.  This is a huge increase from post neck surgery when the doc released me to start lifting again.  I was struggling to get 65-75 for 8-10 reps.

I am finishing up the 4th week of my 5 x 5 program tomorrow and I am going to see how many times I can get 245 on my top set of flat bench press.  At the beginning of the year I did a 5RM test and was struggling on the 5th rep with 245.  Squatting is not going as well as I had anticipated but the strength is definitely improving.  I am going to have to remain patient with this.  

4 weeks out from the Arnold and I am getting excited!  Can’t wait to load up on all the freebies!  Just now running out of the last of my freebies from the Olympia and that was 4 months ago!

Hope everyone has a terrific Superbowl weekend (Go Giants) and don’t overindulge on the junk food as most of America will!  I will definitely be keeping it clean and not end up with the Monday blues from regret.  Thanks for stopping by and hope to see some of you next month at the Arnold!