bb1968’s BodyBlog

I have made a decision to get involved with a worthy cause that will make a difference.  I am an avid cyclist along with bodybuilding and have decided to use what I enjoy to help those who suffer from Multiple Sclerosis and hopefully make a difference in their lives.

I will be riding in the Bike MS: Beyond the Beltway 2008 presented by Washington, D.C. Area Land Rover Dealers.  I will be participating with Team Trails End Cycling Company and I will be doing a 60 mile ride on Saturday, May 17th and a 40 mile ride on Sunday, May 18th and I need your help.  I have made a pledge to raise a minimum of $300.00 and I am hoping to surpass $1,000.00 as my goal.  This would equal $10.00 per mile for the two day total of 100 miles.  Team Trails End Cycling has made a pledge goal of $30,000.00 with some guys planning on riding 140 miles over the 2 day event.  Our Team Captain’s wife personally suffers with MS so we have a personal connection here that could greatly benefit her life.  I am looking for people to sponsor me with whatever you may be able to donate.  It doesn’t have to be a large amount.  Small donations add up.  If you could just sponsor me with a $10.00 donation for 1 mile it would be greatly appreciated not only by me but those people who suffer could benefit tremendously.  TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!  Your donation can be made online by visiting my homepage at http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/bb1968 and click on the button that says “Donate to Bobby”.

Thank you guys and gals so much for stopping by to read this and I hope you can find it in your heart to help others who suffer from this crippling disease.  God bless and take care!

I have completed the 10th week of my 5×5 mass building program as of today.  My main goal for 2008 was to regain my strength lost from surgeries in 2007.  I can officially say that I have accomplished 2 out of 3. 

For bench, I am now back at 285 for 3 reps today and will be going for 5 reps on Tuesday.  That is the most I have ever done.  Next Saturday I will be at 290 for 3 and it will be an all time PR!  315 for 5 by the end of April is what I am shooting for.  I have consistently added 5 pounds to my top set over the past 10 weeks and with 6 weeks to go I believe this will be accomplished. 

For Deadlifts, the most I had ever done was 315 for 5 reps and I did 355 for 5 reps last Thursday.  I will be going for 365 on my top set this Thursday.  I would like to get 405 for 5 by the end of the summer. 

Squats however are not coming along all too well.  I have to remember that is has only been 4 1/2 months since my low back microdiscectomy and it took almost a full year to get my strength back on bench press after my neck surgery.  So hitting PR on Deadlifts this soon is most encouraging to me.  My hip flexors were not put under any load for most of 2007 due to the surgeries and this has caused the majority of the hold-up in getting my strength back more quickly with a load on my shoulders.  That is at least where I feel the most of the problem when going deep with my squats.  However, I do see progress over the past 10 weeks (I got 285 for 3 on my top set today) so I am about 15 pounds short of PR squats (300 for 5 reps is the most I have ever got).  315 for 10 reps on squats is going to be at least 4-6 months out but it will be conquered. 

The second goal of 2008 was to train hard but smart.  This I feel is the other reason my squats are lagging behind.  I would rather see gains come slowly and injury free than to go through what I did last year though.  I felt like I was taking 1 step forward and 3 steps back for the whole year of 2007.  Everything so far is progressing nicely.  I hope and pray that I don’t hit any pitfalls.

Time for some sleep.  Lift, Eat, Sleep, Repeat!   

Well, I didn’t quite live up to what I said about updating the blog while I was at the Arnold.  It was a very busy weekend and the workout with Jeff, jackedinMI, on Saturday morning just kicked my A$$!  I posted a couple of videos from the workout of my top sets on bench for a status of where I am at as far as regaining my strength.  Hopefully I will be up to the 315 for 5 reps by the end of the year.

I had an awesome time at the Arnold and finally got to meet some of my fellow Bodyspacers.  Here are a few pics from the weekend:

Me & Fern- MsFitness at the Gaspari Nutrition booth

Me & Jeff- jackedinMI following our workout Saturday morning

Me, Tracie-Arieseyes, Jeff and Sam-{I think was his name} (Tracie’s friend from Bahrain)

Me, Jeff, and Carl- ntrllftr chilling at the Expo Saturday watching the NPC Amateur Bodybuilding finals.

Me and Mike-elitemuscle79 outside the Columbus Convention Center

That was all the pics I had from the people on Bodyspace.  I did meet kathyfit- Kathy Fehringer at the Redline booth but I didn’t get my pic with her (next time Kathy) and I also met barbiebarbell at the EFX booth.

Excellent time hanging with Carl and Jeff!  Looking forward to meeting up with these guys again.  We have stayed in touch over the past year and a half through Bodyspace and it was great to finally meet two outstanding, humble brothers of the iron!  Bodyspace has kept me motivated in my training despite the surgeries and setbacks last year and I give credit to the fine people on here who have been a source of encouragement through all the hardtimes.  I look forward to meeting some of the others in the future who I have been encouraged by as well.  More importantly I hope to be a source of encouragement and help to others in achieving their goals as well.

BODYSPACE- STRENGTH IN NUMBERS! 

Gotta get some rest peeps, talk to you guys later.  Good night!