bigjeff0065’s BodyBlog

 Ok, as my loyal reader knows, I have been bothered by a painful left shoulder.  Had to scratch Sundays shoulder workout and skip ahead.  I wasn’t too worried until chest day.  I start with incline bench.  Got 3 on warmup weight before I decided that it wasn’t worth the chance to really screw something up (and it hurt like hell!).

Decided to do a set of pushups.  No real problems.  A little pain, but nothing to be concerned about.  Around the 20th pushup, I felt a little "ping" in my shoulder.  Not a pop, not any pain, as a matter of fact it was the opposite.  The ping was a numb sensation.  Just ever so slightly.  So, instead of worrying that I just snapped something, I got back on the bench.  I kept it light, but had no problems at all.  I was able to do 5 sets (albeit lighter than normal) and finish my workout no problems.  The shoulder was a little sore the next day, but today there is almost no pain whatsoever.  Weird!

I’ve been going like a madman lately.  I hate the extra weight from my mini-bulk.  I feel all bloated and fat.  This is only a problem because I wound up with a date with a gorgeous girl on Sat. nite and I want to be on top of my game.  She probably won’t know any different, so it’s just a mental thing with me, I guess.  If that is the case, then I should be able to overcome it.  Funny how life works sometimes.  Just when I get my mind set that I’m getting out of the dating pool for a while, suddenly somebody comes around.  Or in this case actually 3 different girls.  Well, I guess I’ll have to suffer and go out with the two I haven’t been out with to see if there is any chemistry.  Poor, poor me. 

Well, I changed my workout up again.  Not that I don’t do it regularly, but this was kind of forced.  My left shoulder is absolutely killing me.  Almost as bad as last January when I first noticed the problem.  I took almost 7 days off from any upper body last week and by Sunday I was raring to go.  The shoulder felt fine and the thought crossed my mind to give it a few more days, but I am anxious to strip off these 5 lbs I mini-bulked (or at least what isn’t muscle). 

I always warm up my shoulders with a stretchy band that came with some video my ex-wife bought (but didn’t use).  Warmup went fine and I was feeling pretty good.  Moved on to military press.  Wanted to take it lighter, so I thought a few extra warmup sets with just the bar would help.  Everything was fine until I got towards the bottom portion of my motion.  I could barely get the bar all the way to the bottom of the movement.  So, I did about 3 and changed Sunday into arm day.  I don’t seem to have any problems on any day but shoulder day and chest day when I do presses.

To make a long story longer, I have been doing some ab work every day, just one exercise for 3 sets.  So since shoulder day is on hold for a while, I decided to make shoulder day ab day for a few weeks.  I think I’m going to keep ab day because after yesterday, I’m sore as hell and that feels great!

I re-introduced HIIT cardio yesterday and still hate it.  Seems like the running part lasts forever and the walking part goes by so fast.  Yet I do it anyway, because it is a useful tool and it helps me achieve my goals.  If the ice and rest don’t help the shoulder, it will be time to go see the hot doctor lady and let her figure out what is screwed up.  I have a feeling it is some old scar tissue or a rotator cuff or something like that.  I keep hearing my old football coaches hollering at whoever was writhing on the turf in pain "Are you injured or are you just hurt?" in the attempt to get us to toughen up.  Well it worked coach, we are tougher, but we may need surgery 15 years down the road.  Still, that was the way it was when tough was cool and men didn’t get manicures.

Last thought for the day… I have had women call me selfish because I spend a fair amount of time working on my body.  I always laugh.  Look up selfish in the dictionary and it will tell you that selfish is being concerned with one’s self and issues that affect one’s self.  Uh, yeah… I’m selfish, since my main concern in life is my life, and I would think that everyone is concerned with their own well being.  Besides, isn’t it selfish of them to want to take me away from something that is essential to me to spend time entertaining them?  Seems just as selfish to me.

It really is simple.  The absolute first thing you have to do is DESIRE it!  You have to want it!  Second, you put together a group of people who can mentor and encourage you (hint: if you are reading this, you have already found the place).  If you have read any Napoleon Hill, you recognize these two steps.

Next, you have to become a trader.  A trader?  Why?  A trader is one who trades value for value.  A trader does not trade value for non-value.  What is value?  Something that has worth to you.  What is non-value?  Something which does not assist you in fulfilling your purpose (in this case to lose weight, get fit, gain mass, etc).  When it comes to nutrition, you must weigh each food choice as to whether you are willing to trade your goal for that food.  Are six pack abs more valuable to you than cheesecake?  If so, then no trade is made, and the cheesecake is left for someone who values it’s temporary satisfaction more than their body. Trade cardio for couch time?  If you value your goal, you will make the trade.  (Anyone recognize any objectivism here?)

Next, YOU must constantly remind yourself that destiny is not a chance, but a choice.  It is not something to be waited on and hoped for, but to be acted upon.  If you sit around waiting for destiny to act upon you, chances are you have just arrived at your destiny!  Congrats!  Your destiny is to sit around and wait, while you could be making progress towards your goal.  YOU must become a person of ACTION!  And everyone knows that ACTIONS speak louder than words.

Finally, YOU must envision your goal as though you have already achieved it.  No, not daydreaming, but right before you fall asleep, imagine how you will look, how you will feel, imagine it as if it is already yours!  Your subconcious will begin to act in a matter consistent with your belief.  You will be putting yourself almost on automatic pilot, though choices must be made and thought and care put into those choices.

Oh, yeah… there’s a lot of sweat and pain too.

My 5 lb. torturous mini-bulk is over!  I have put on 6 lbs actually.  So, now I’m going to blast it back off over the next 2 weeks just to see if I notice a difference.  I’ve been having some good workouts lately, especially since I abandoned cardio to put on some weight.

My left shoulder has been weak and painful.  Hoping it’s just the change in the season and the 27 degree daily temperature swings.  That and the initial injury occurred 19 years ago this month.  Maybe it’s just a pain anniversary?

Well, if it continues, I have two options.  One is to go see the pretty doctor lady and see about getting it fixed.  Number two is to find someone willing to give me massages every night.  Toss up.  Guess I’ll figure it out when I get that point.

Every time I pass a mirror, I’m frustrated with my mini-bulk.  I have gained 3 lbs. of the 5 lbs. that I want to gain, but I hate it.  I feel so bloated and bulky.  Not so good.  Yet I will continue.  My dad always said, "Never resist a temporary inconvenience if it results in a permanent improvement."   So we’ll see.  As an added aid to my bulk, I have given up on most of my cardio, except for weekend games of tag in the yard with my son.  Yesterday was fun since I had just completed a gruesome leg workout.  Boy was I slow!  That’ll do your ego some good to get schooled in tag by a 6 year old!  Luck of the draw, I guess.

Anyway, had a great leg workout yesterday.  Taking today off, then back at it Tuesday.  Hoping to finish off my weight gain soon so I can drop this extra fat.  I guess I never realized how crappy 5 lbs can make one look.  So, extra eggs, chicken, and fish for me.  Maybe an extra cheat meal here and there since it’s getting cooler.

One other change that I have made is mixing my protein with skim milk instead of water.  It makes it richer, sure, but I was looking mostly for extra calories.  Maybe upgrade to 2% to get some added kick?  Thoughts?