bigjeff0065’s BodyBlog

Well, thanks to my new mentor I have decided to bulk at least a little.  Seems like the last few times I’ve found myself with a decision, she’s right there to give me some great advice.  Surf, if you are reading this, you are the greatest! Not to mention that you look great for your age !  Kidding aside, she is one fantastic looking lady, who also happens to be sweet and has done an awesome transformation.

So, now I am slowly adding some chicken here and an egg or two there.  What I’m doing is really a mini-bulk which Surf said really worked well for her. 

I still haven’t been able to log in as much as I’d like, but I’ll take busy at work.  It was so slow up until the 4th of July and it has picked up since.  Not as much as we’d like, but it is a positive sign. 

I’m a little pissed about the government spending $700 billion to get into the junk bond market or the bailout as everyone calls it.  I’m not sure why they need to buy these bonds which are backed by real property when the problem is a frozen market.  Why not drop the Sarbannes-Oxley "Mark it to Market" rule for subprimes then extend FHA insurance to these bundles of mortgages?  Not all of the mortgages are in default and the cost would probably be in the $40 billion range.  These securities would have some value again and trading would resume and the banks can sort out their own mess.  These bundles will have value again as housing regains its traction, and I really don’t think that the government is going to actually use the money that it could make to pay down the debt or shore up Social Security when they can spend it on some stupid earmark that will continue to insure their election.  Besides, it smacks of socialism. 

No matter what, everything will be O.K. in the end.  If it’s not O.K.  then it’s not the end.

Every day I think I should really get on here and update my page, but have just been so busy!  No excuses (I know, I know).  I have time to get on and read some blogs, which is my favorite during a meal break at work, but it’s been hectic despite being a subcontractor in the construction industry.  Of course most of what I’m working on is bidding projects that are coming up as soon as the banks let go of some money, but that is time consuming as I wade through page after page of blueprints.  I love it though, as I can get lost in it and spend hours on task with my door shut, tunes going, and the phone on Do Not Disturb. 

Anyway to get to the point, I’ve been getting some great workouts in with weights.  Cardio, not so much.  I did do HIT on the treadmill last night and will again tomorrow.  I’ve had more off diet foods this month than is usual for me.  I’ve been so hungry, which is no excuse.  That’s mainly why I don’t want to bulk, because I know I will eat everything in sight.  Pizza, wings, burgers, pasta, bacon, bbq, ribs, Reese’s, M&Ms, etc.  Anybody hungry yet?

The latest thing I’ve been doing is shaking up my workout.  I just go to the articles section on BB.com and type in a search for whatever bodypart I am going to be working that day and pick a random workout that someone has posted.  It’s pretty effective, and fun since I can get stuck in routine sometimes.  Some of you people are sick, by the way.  One guy’s back workout consisted of 10 supersets of pullups and chinups with as many reps as you could do.  I got all 10 sets in, but I was whooped and sore the next day, but that’s a good thing.

So, my goals remain unchanged.  I want to continue to build muscle and keep my bf low, and get more definition in my abs.  I also need to get back to cardio more than just every two weeks on Cardio Sunday.  And finally, I need to find a lady who doesn’t mind that I eat healthier than she does.  It isn’t easy, but with patience and desire I shall succeed.

I kept thinking over the summer that I was going to do a clean bulk for winter, but I just cannot seem to allow myself to do it.  I’m so close to my dream goal that I had two years ago that I just can’t let it go.  Even if I obtain a large improvement through a bulk for next year, I can’t let go.

My dad always said, "Never resist a temporary inconvenience if it results in a permanent improvement."  I use this saying every day to my coworkers and I follow it, but not this time.  I think it has a lot to do with fear.  Irrational fear, maybe.  I guess having been overweight to downright obese most of my life, I am scared to even allow a 10 lb gain even if it’s done clean.  I know deep down that I control my weight.  I control my diet.  I know I can work off the additional fat, as I have done it before.

So, knowing that my fear is irrational, I am going to proceed with an ultra-slow clean bulk.  At least at first.  A couple of changes here and there to kind of slowly acclimatize my mind to working with me.  Once I get my brain behind this, then I will up the pace slightly. 

Other than that, I have had some great workouts lately, but am not seeing much change, but I can feel some changes in the fit of my clothes, so far so good.

Not sure what to think about this one…

My son tells me that my ex had a picture of me working out (I am assuming it is one of my pics from this site) and pasted her boyfriend’s head on my body.  On the one hand, I think it’s funny because he resembles my starting progress pictures.  Another part of me knows her sense of humor and that she is somehow making fun of me, though I have no idea about what.  The third thing is that I’m proud to know that women are enjoying me from afar.  Now if I could just get them within arm’s reach…(but not her, of course).

It doesn’t bother me if she’s making fun of me somehow, I’m used to it, and I have no shame in where I’m at versus where I was.  As a matter of fact, I’m quite proud.  If she wants to show her picture to all her friends and laugh, well the joke is on me (even if I don’t understand it). 

A woman’s perspective on the subject might help, so feel free to offer opinions…

Workout wise it has been a good month!  Loving the SP250 and SizeOn from Gaspari.  Changed up my workouts almost every week this month to get some extra stimulation.  It seems to be working as I’m getting more sore than usual and hopefully some growth.  I decided to go to a workout 2 days, off 1, rinse and repeat schedule that seems to be working better than my old 5 on 1 off deal.  Looking forward to Sept. to see what I can accomplish with my body next month! 

Today was Cardio Sunday again.  Hit the rec and got a good warmup walk in to the first field area and the city decided to line the field for football, which is fantastic because I like to know exactly how far 40 yards is, and guessing works, but there’s just something about a finish line.  I guess they felt they should help me out, what with all the taxes I pay and everything.  So I hit 10 quick 40 yd sprints then back across the bridge and onto the trail for some running. 

I’m no distance runner.  Furthest I ever ran in my life was 3 miles.  That was back in college.  No, I was built for football back then and short work was key.  Lots of sprints.  I still find it difficult to run outside, as when I am off of my treadmill pace seems to elude me.  I’ve got to find a runner to help me learn pace and there’s probably some cool breathing trick I am unaware of as well.  Anyway, I was pretty satisfied with the running I did and then hit the field again for 5 or 6 more sprints.  I say 5 or 6 because I was all wrapped up in doing what I do and kind of forgot how many I had already done, but ran one more to be sure I got 5.

Now for the extraneous non-fitness stuff that permeates my blog.  I don’t care if you don’t read it, it’s healthy for me to put it in readable form.  My therapy.  So, I went on a 3rd date with a lady this weekend.  We have a lot in common, maybe too much, so that was a negative going in.  I don’t want to agree on everything.  Went to the comedy club and had a few laughs, but I got tired and wanted to end the evening early.  I kept thinking that I needed to get rested for Cardio Sunday.  I had an ok time, but I’m just not feeling any chemistry there, so another one down.  After my beach trip in June/July, I was feeling really ready to have someone in my life, so I guess I’m pleasantly surprised with myself for not settling.  I used to do that.  Maybe I ought to pull back and re-examine some things.  Is it too much to ask that I be wowed on the first date, still wowed on the second date, and actually be amazed on the third?  Patience.  Good things come to those who wait. 

So, ever upward and onward I go.  Laying the groundwork for some great things in the future, thanks to the stock market offering some value and a fat dividend at reduced prices.  I still have a weird dream of sitting in a hot tub full of cash…

I got this from BB.com the other day, but thought I’d repost it since it works in a pinch or as a changeup. 

I didn’t have a lot of time last night, so I needed to hit back and get it done fast.  The answer was Supersets.  Basically the workout consists of pullups and chinups done with no rest between exercises.  Bodyweight only for as many as you can muster.  I think the workout called for 10 sets total, but that guy must be crazy.  I barely made 5 sets.  I was whooped.  I wasn’t as sore today as I thought I should be, as I forced some negatives at the end of set 5.  For some reason, sometimes my body waits until around lunchtime the following day to get sore.  Didn’t happen today.  Nope, waited until I got home.  Sneaky devil.  Just a little sore, but in places that I normally am not getting sore on my back.  Total workout time was @ 20 minutes. 

Like I said, it’ll do in a pinch, and as a changeup it was great.

Ok, day 3 of SP250 and SizeOn from Gaspari.  This stuff is awesome!  Now I’ve had supps that gave me more energy and I’ve had those that gave me better pumps and veinage, but these two…wow.  I put on a tshirt that I usually wear to go to the movies today.  It’s an athletic fit, which means it’s a little tight in the chest and arms, then tapers down at the waist.  Well, the shirt was tighter.  Period.  I busted chest yesterday and I’m sore as a Democrat on a Tax Free Holiday.  I thought my arms were going to rip the shirt!  This stuff is great.  I think NoXplode (the old stuff) gave me the best pump, but these two are winners in my book. 

I got my new supps from bb.com (of course!).  Day 2 with Superpump 250 and SizeOn from Gaspari.  I’ve heard great things, so being a supp ho, I had to give them a go.  Day 1 was back and it felt like it was gonna explode, so far so good.

Now for the Voodoo.  Melinda will probably like this one.  I had a health teacher in 9th grade who would always say, "You are what you think you are all day long."  At the time I was a cynic and smartass (not much has changed there), and believed this to be his "feel good b.s. voodoo."  As I grow older, I find his statement to be true.  When you think positive things about yourself, good things happen.  You have more confidence and are more productive.  Self-confidence and productivity are the keys to life.  Self-confidence is obvious as to it’s benefits.  Productivity is a wonderful complement, as being productive also means being successful.  Being successful in turn builds confidence.  No matter what it is you do, do it productively.  Actively seek to get positive results.  Whether it is love, work, or bodybuilding these principles apply.

So, Surf suggested a while back that I change my username from Bigjeff0065 to FitJeff065.  Today, I have done just that.  I am no longer that useless fatty that I used to be.  I am fit, not as fit as I’d like, but I am.  Positive thinking here.  It may seem silly, but if you’ve ever been obese, you know how hard it is to think of yourself as lean or fit regardless of your present bf%.  It is a small thing, but it can be a big thing mentally.  We’ll see how it goes.  Thanks Surf!

Well, let’s build it up.  Took Sunday and Monday off to try to heal from my injuries on Saturday.  My date Saturday nite went well even if it hurt to walk, so Sunday was more about catching back up on sleep.  Monday had a date with a different gal and went to see Cheap Trick, Heart, and Journey at the local amphitheater.  Good show but hot as hell.

Hit shoulders last night, but left off the cardio to allow another day of healing, but I feel good and no pain, so will hit it again tonite.  I was told that it was ok that I missed cardio yesterday "because I had a hard body".  I’m definitely not used to hearing that.  Took me a second to grasp what was said and then wished it could be repeated.  Yeah, I’m that much of an egomaniac.

So, on to the great news.  Some of my boxers and jeans had been feeling looser and can tighten my belt up another notch, so I decided on Saturday to hit the store and try on a pair of 32 waist jeans.  Yup, fits.  A little tight in the thigh, and my thighs aren’t what they used to be, but just proves how clothes are made for either skinny or fat, not for an athletic body.  They fit.  So, even though I was just going to try them on, I had to buy 2 pair on principle.  So now my pant size is the same as when I was in 8th grade, except of course for the longer inseam. 

I guess I must like to be different since I am doing things backwards.  Normally people are fit in their 20s and then begin the long decline to the nursing home.  I declined in my 20s and getting lean in my mid-30s.  Guess I never have followed the crowd too much anyway.

Well, I made it to the park this morning after some quick errands and proceeded to stretch and warmup.  Jogged to the field area to do some sprint training.  As I exploded on my first step… new pain.  Upper quad no likey.  It’s not a tear, but some sort of pull or strain.  Sometimes it will heal fast, sometimes slow.  Doesn’t happen often because I’m a warmup fanatic, but it has reared it’s ugly head today.  To add insult to injury, while my brain was recognizing the problem after the first step, the other quad decided to join his friend.  I stretched and tried to shake it loose, but it is here for a while.  So, I hobbled the quarter mile back to the truck and called it a day.  Fixed a meal and sat down to enjoy.  Got up and owww!  This is going to add a degree of difficulty to my date this evening.  She’s a workout freak too, so she’ll understand, but I am hardly able to walk without looking like I just left a prison shower room.  It’s a good thing that the Lambada is the forbidden dance, otherwise I might be in big trouble on my date.  The most fabulous part is that we have had some rain in the last two weeks, so my lawn has decided to grow again.  I’m about to go mow it now.  Now I wish I hadn’t talked myself out of the lawn tractor because pushing a mower around burns a few more calories,and 2k in savings is better than a pretty green John Deere, but maybe just barely.

Oh, the good news is that last night I measured BF.  Went down ever so slightly, but down again to 6.98 from 7.14.    Still don’t have the abs visibility I want, so it’s onward I go.  The good news is that there isn’t anyplace left for the fat to come off, so it should be coming (at least the majority) from the abdominal region.