bigjeff0065’s BodyBlog

Today’s blog is about rest.  The best never rest, but that is wrong.  I took 5 days off in the last week (not consecutively) and based upon the first two workouts this week, it has done me a world of good.  My strength, particulary on leg day was much better.  Even though I only train legs once per week, I was doing cardio 4-5 times and I now believe that my legs were simply tired.  I’ve not done cardio since Friday morning, but I haven’t given up on it, simply allowing my legs to recover from Tues. leg day.  I’m going to try going to HIT cardio only 3x per week and get at least 2 dog walks in during the week.

I’ve now lost the 2.3 lbs I gained over Memorial Day weekend, a temporary speed bump, so I feel good that my body is getting used to being around 187 -188.  Fat loss has slowed for sure, but I expected that since our bodies naturally want to hold onto some fat, and mine likes to hold onto a lot of fat.  On the good side, BF has dropped and weight is consistent, so muscle is being built.  I’m sure I lost a good bit during the bulk of my weight loss, but such is life, some muscle was sacrificed for the greater goal of being truly lean.  I still think I’m not lean, however I know that my BF % states otherwise.  Being below 10% at 35 is quite an accomplishment, yet I don’t have my six pack so I don’t feel like i’ve accomplished much of anything yet. 

So, it’s onward and upward on my journey.  Plugging away every day. 

Today’s quote to think on:

"After the game, the king and pawn go into the same box." -Italian proverb.

Yes, I’m in a great mood.  Really.  I am, however, weary of the excuses I hear from coworkers and subcontractors about gas prices, food prices, George Bush, preventing them from getting anything productive done.  Then I go to read the blogs on BB.com and lo and behold more excuses!  Not being one to let other’s troubles bring my life to a crashing halt, I have been called an a-hole several times today.  Whatever!  Since I do not need anyone else’s approval save my own, name calling really doesn’t affect me much.  Sticks and stones you see.

Two quotes I saw this morning may have contributed to my insensitivity towards the great unwashed and unproductive in my life today:

"If a man blames his failures on others, it is likely that his success should also be attributed to others." -unknown author

"Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice.  It is not something to be waited for; but, rather something to be achieved." - William Jennings Bryan

So, today’s lesson children is to quit your bellyachin’ and get busy being a productive person!  Be different!  Go out and make something positive happen today!

Well, Saturday I had the bright idea to go to the lake with a friend.  That turned into an entire weekend of beer, and 3 lousy meals instead of 6 good meals a day.  I’m just glad I got all the fun out of my system so I can go back to being grouchy and boring.  As for exercise, the only little bit I got was what my grandmother referred to as "pulling the hill".  It is a steep and long trail from the house to the dock.  Fortunately, I was in charge of carrying the cooler, and it was heaviest going downhill.  Despite my relative fitness, that hill is still an ass kicker.  As I was feeling my legs burn and thinking about taking a break for a beer on the way up, I remembered my cousin and I used to race up this hill from dock to house probably 3 or 4 times per day.  Well, since it’s not too far out of the way from work, my new childless weekend friday night will start with "pulling the hill" with the goal of eventually being able to sprint the whole way up 5 times with no rest except the walk back down.  Got my work cut out there. 

My choc. lab "Catfish" had a blast too, we played fetch with his orange float toy pretty much all day long for two days.  That boy never runs out of energy.  He’d keep bringing it back and bugging me until I’d play some more.  He just kept swimming out and back.  When I took a break for a few minutes, he’d entertain himself by chasing ducks.  He was a tired pup, but happy.

So, after my fun weekend, it’s back to business, now 2.3 lbs jigglier.  I’m sure that weight will come right back off within a week or so since I have resumed my proper nutrition, but it is a nice reminder of how I cannot have "Redneck Yacht Club" every weekend.  I did get a little tan though. 

So, it’s back to work this week and I’m looking forward to hitting the weights tonight.  All work and no play makes Jeff a lean boy.

Think I’m going to hit chest tonight, arms tomorrow, then figure out something different for Saturday and Sunday.  I’m thinking of some sort of challenge.  Not sure what yet, but a changeup to keep it flowing good.  I’m thinking of plyometrics and some core work.  Any ideas?

Well a buddy of mine called me a few weeks ago to take me up on the guys weekend at the farm I’ve been promising them.  Can’t ever get our schedules aligned to actually do it, but we decided Memorial Day weekend.  Well, hadn’t heard from him, so I figured that some jackass family member decided to have a wedding on a holiday weekend like nobody wants to go out of town instead of seeing 3rd cousing Becky marry some loser.  So, I confirmed with him today that he’s unavailable.  Yep.  Shoot!  I was looking forward to a Thundersticks and Firewater weekend along with some quality fishing and general trouble, at least as much trouble as two grown men can find in the country.

Well, as it turns out, a good looking woman who seems to have it together wants me to come over for a margarita by the pool this weekend.  Hmmm, sounds good.  Also, I now won’t miss 3 days of workouts for booze and steak . Kidding!  I actually enjoy working out and hate missing!  I can go fishing since the lake is close by.  I think Dad may be up there this weekend.  Great time to go fishing with Dad.  It’s good for the soul. 

I mentioned earlier that I’ve been feeling a little off, not physically, hell the workouts are fantastic, but emotionally.  Not depressed, not angry, just off.  I’m taking tonight off from the weights since I’ll get my workouts over the weekend in and figure this out.  One thought off of the top of my head is that it was this time last year when I found out what my now ex-wife had been doing with some spare time.  That threw me for a major loop, depression, loss of sleep, the whole nine yards.  I’m way over all that, but wonder if subconciously my mind is digging this up due to it being the same time of year, kind of a depression anniversary?  I wouldn’t think so because my divorce has been a really good thing for me in terms of my emotional health, but what do I know. 

Speaking of that, I fully credit my friends and family PLUS major kudos to weights for helping to pull me through that time.  If you have a rough time in your life, lifting helps big time! 

I do know that I seem to be remembering my dreams a lot lately, possibly something to do with starting on ZMA?  Anybody got an opinion on that one?

Been feeling a little off lately.  Some sort of discontent, but not sure about what.  Back in the day I used to deal with it by pouring myself a glass of whiskey, lighting up a cigar (or SEE-gar as we say here in Jawja) going on the patio, plugging into my ipod and just kick back look at the night sky and think.  Been feeling that urge lately.  Last night had some good storms, wanted to kick back and watch them with my aforementioned adult beverage of choice and cigar.  I got home, sorted the mail, popped my Kre-Alkalyn and went to the window to think for a minute and watch the approaching storm.  The weights were yelling at me "Hey!  We’re down here, and we dang sure ain’t gonna lift ourselves!"  Those lazy bastards.  The scotch and cigars were saying "Come on big boy, you’ve worked hard, you deserve to relax and figure it all out." 

So, I went over to the bar (which is actually a sideboard with mirror)  picked up the Famous Grouse and lovingly whispered "STFU!"  (I abbreviated for those with sensitive eyes, but you get my drift).  Set the bottle down and went and got changed for my workout.  Had a pretty good one too.  Did back, concentrating on lower lats and some cable crunches.  Did my HIIT afterwards, not really feeling like I was in the zone, but actually broke a quickest to 250 cals burned by 2 whole seconds and tied the total cals burned in one session.  Tonight will either be chest or off, depending on how tired I am when I finally get Mini-Me to bed.  Haven’t been sleeping particularly well lately.  Might just call it an early evening. 

Okay, posted new progress pics.  I think I see some progress, but I’m my own worst critic.  Anyway, hit shoulders tonite, but skipped cardio.  GASP!  Yeah, my glutes and quads are sore from yesterday’s legs.  I normally take the day after legs off, but with Memorial Day coming up I’ll rest then.  Might just have to see how they feel in the AM.  I know, I keep threatening myself with fasted cardio.  Doubt it’s going to happen.  Been taking ZMA which is really helping me get deep sleep, but it also makes it even harder to get out of bed, or is that my need a vacation gene kicking in?

Saturday was rough.  I had the last 5&6 y.o. baseball game for my son, followed by pizza party, followed by son’s friend bday party.  Lot’s of pizza around.  Cake too.  I knew I couldn’t make it through both without indulging.  So I had pizza at the baseball party and figured I’d be satiated by the birthday party.  Still wanted the cookie cake, but did not indulge. 

Thought I’d be portly by Sunday, even though I know one meal won’t make you fat, but actually didn’t have much residual effects.  So, I’m going to add pizza everyday to my training table.  NOT!  It wasn’t great pizza, but it was good.  Might have slowed me down a day or two in getting to my ab-ulous body, but it won’t derail me, and I’m not complaining.  One meal does not a body make.  Of the two at least I ate pizza and not cake.  I don’t get much dairy, and so the cheese probably will screw my metabolism up so bad that all the other crap on the pizza won’t hurt me.  Weighed in this morning and weight was down a little, so unless pizza developed magic fat burning capabilities (wishful thinking), it didn’t matter.

Did have a great workout on Sat. for chest and legs on Sunday.  Looking to hit shoulders tonite along with a resumption of cardio.  Need to post some pics soon.   

I was going to save this until I got back to work, but I think I remember enough of the quote to shoot from the hip. 

An friend asked me if pursuing my fitness goals was worth all of the sacrifices I have made (in terms of food and time spent).  I told him that I have not sacrificed anything.  He kind of looked at me like I was crazy, so we had a discussion on sacrifice.

The quote I have in mind states that a man who dies fighting for freedom is NOT a sacrifice if he is unwilling to live as a slave.  The man who dies who is willing to live as a slave is a sacrifice.  Now, I know this is debatable and it was written a long time ago.  I even get confused on this sometimes due to the way in which the term sacrifice is used so often these days. 

Basically, you a sacrifice is giving up something of greater value for something of lesser value.  I have not sacrificed eating crap, because I value my fitness goals more than the food.  I am unwilling to live as a slave to crap food.  If I ate crap food despite my value for my fitness goals, that would be a sacrifice.  I would be sacrificing my goals for something that is of lesser value.  I cannot sacrifice crap food for achieving my fitness goals because I value my fitness goals more, and am unwilling to make that trade.

I have no better use of my time.  My friend has always been lean without any effort on his part (yes I secretly am envious).  However, now that he is in his 30s, his belly is growing.  Six pack of beer a day will catch up to you eventually, no matter how awesome your genetics are.  Now, I know that all this sounds like he is one of "those" friends who are unsupportive and don’t understand why we lead this lifestyle, but nothing could be farther from the truth.  I’ve known him since the day he was born, he lived just up the street, and we stay in touch still.  He knows me better than anyone and he is very supportive and complimentary on my fitness achievements.  It was one of those philosophical discussions which we seem to get into sometimes in the wee hours of the morning during a game of pool or darts or whatever. 

I was thinking of this while reading the blogs, most being from one timers and first timers who aren’t willing to value their fitness above the crap.  I read some blogs from regulars who are tired of these one timer blogs, and I get frustrated as well.  Seems like they always say the same thing.  This time I’m going to stick with it, this time I’m going to keep at it, etc.  I usually comment on those blogs and hope that one of them will stick with it.  Why?  I don’t know.  Maybe it’s because I was one of those people at one point.  Just as in life, I’ve had to scrap for everything I’ve achieved.  Meal by meal, pound by pound.  The formula is simple, the application difficult.  But maybe, just maybe, one of these "new" people will stick.  Maybe this person will achieve more than they ever dreamt.  I have, and I’m taking it further.  I want just one of these first timers to feel the way I do.  The success I’ve had in fitness leads to success in other aspects of life.  I’m not where I want to be, I’m not super lean, but I am below 10% BF, which at 35 puts me in the company of a select few in the general population.  My whole perspective on life has changed as my body has changed.  Every day is just a little brighter.  I feel as though there is nothing that I cannot accomplish. 

I guess I just want someone else to feel that.  Somebody who maybe has been to the lowest of the low, as I have, and come roaring back to be a positive person in this world.  Lord knows we need more of those people.

Drumroll please!

Two weeks ago I was at 187.2 lbs. with 10% BF.  Today I am at 187.2 lbs. with 9.3% BF.  This means I gained 1.3 lbs. of muscle in the last two weeks and lost some fat.  Thank you Lord!

Since the weight wasn’t budging and I’ve had those days where I feel fat lately I expected at best no change, so even just a little is great.  I am really happy putting back on some muscle, but would really like to get to abs-olute perfection.

That being said, I will not tweak my nutrition this week except to add some more green vegetables as I usually shortchange myself on these.  I have never been this low on BF before, so it’s going to take time to figure out the right formula to get my abs.

I have decided to add fasted cardio on Saturday and Sunday since my boy gets me up with the roosters, might as well work it.  I just can’t figure out why I have to drag him out of bed on weekdays.  He’s 6, school is still fun, he doesn’t know any better.

Speaking of my son, he said something to me on Thurs. morning as we were getting ready for our day.  He said, "Daddy, it doesn’t matter whether I’m happy or sad, I still get excited at the start of every day."  Out of the mouths of babes.  What a profound statement.  I thought that I should make that my new policy.  Last week I didn’t even have a policy.  Funny how things change.  Til next time loyal reader.

KEEP UP THE HARD WORK!!!