blsmith’s BodyBlog

First week of this new regimen and I have to say I feel great!  I know I am working hard, doing a lot more cardio! I actually walked home from the gym yesterday (over an hour).  Had a new PB on the leg press (870 lbs. video on my page) and I ended up losing 3.1 pounds this week!  I have to hold this and continue what I have been doing and not slip!  But now that I know it can be done, it is making me even more focused to do this and get what I want. A kick ass body!

Good morning everyone! Another rainy day here in Toronto. When will it end? Probably when it snows LOL. Today our company had its semi-annual awards breakfast for customer service. They had muffins, pastry, cinnabon cinnamon buns (evil) and fruit. I had a half of an apple danish and the rest fruit, so I am proud that I stayed away from the really sweet stuff for the most part. And had a bottle of water instead of juice.

Today’s workout will be done this afternoon. Sort of a bootcamp type thing with lots of pushups, jumping jacks, etc. and running. Should be fun! Especially if it rains as it should this afternoon.

Well, technically day 2 as I didn’t go to the gym yesterday.  Most of you know, I had another big bout of depression hit me late Monday and ran into Tuesday.  Feeling sorry for myself and all in all just plain shitty. I got over it quicker than I used to, mainly thanks the many friends that were there to help pick me back up.

This morning I did the workout I was supposed to do yesterday, chest and back with 40 minutes of cardio and then this afternoon, I am going to do the workout I should have done this afternoon, abs.

I am going to have my moments again, but it’s how I deal with those moments that will determine whether I am a winner or a loser, and gawddammit, I am a f**king winner!!!

Well here it is 4:30 in the morning having my oatmeal, getting ready to hit the gym. I think because of my illness last week that I am going to reset and call this Day 1 of my new regimen. Now, no more excuses. Time to go full throttle. I’ve got to lose this gut.  On Saturday, mu stepson invited me to go out with his buddies to play some touch football. Well for this 36 year old to go out against a bunch of 20 somethings, was a big step to see how my fitness level has changed. Well we get there and the floodgates open. The rain comes down in buckets. We play anyways. I held my own against them, in fact when it was all said and done I was named defensive player of the game with 2 INTs and 5 other knockdowns. And I did not feel winded at all. We only stopped because the lightning was getting too close. I hope they invite me again soon.  I felt a little pain in my legs and glutes yesterday but it was nothing really.

Late last night I started feeling crappy, my throat was starting to get sore, so I took some stuff hoping it would go away… it didn’t. Still got up and hit the gym this morning, full tilt!

Tuesday - Chest and Back

Super set #1 Incline presses and Wide grip pulldowns

Set 1 - 15 reps each (35 & 110 lbs) Sets 2 & 3 - 12 reps each (45 & 130)

Super set #2 Flat DB Press & Narrow grip rows

Sets 1-3 - 12 reps each (45 & 100)

Super set #3 Pec Flies and standing lat pressdowns

2 sets - 15 reps each (85 & 90)

Only 15 minutes on the elliptical at cardio rate, then the 20 minutes walk to work. Just felt completely wiped after that.

Today was shoulders…

DB Overhead presses 1 set of 12 @ 20 pounds, 2 sets of 10 @ 25 pounds

DB Lateral raises 3 sets of 10@ 15 pounds

Reverse Pec deck 1 set of 12 @ 75 pounds, 2 sets of 12 @ 85 pounds

Front raise (hammer grip) 3 sets of 12 @ 15 pounds

25 minutes on recumbant bike + 10 pounds on elliptical + 20 minute brisk walk to work - TOTAL 55 minutes of cardio.

Back to teh gym today, I have started on a new program given to me from a great friend on BodySpace!  Hopefully this will be the kickstart I need to really take things to the next level.  Wednesdays is cardio/abs day… did 15 mins on the elliptical and then 3 sets of 12 of swiss ball crunches, oblique crunches, reverse curls/crunches and back extensions, then 30 minutes on the bike!  My abs are definitely going to feel it later.  It’s a new day! Take life by the horns!

Well, I guess there are now two kinds of people out there, one side was sympathetic to me for this past weekend, and the other side is thinking what a dumbass for going when you havent heard from him in over 2 weeks.  Looking back, yeah, I guess I should have seen that coming.  It;s just that, as I have stated before, I was very much looking forward to this, seeing the people that have motivated me and been there through my worst times and have picked me up time and time again, I just, dind’t want to believe that it wasn’t happening. I figure if he doesnt say it’s off, it must still be on.  Guess I was wrong.  There is no ill will against anyone.  I should have come to the same conclusion as the others and figure if he hasnt been around, it’s not going to happen.

I just want to emphasize that I am not totally bummed about the weekend.  I enjoyed being on the open road.  ANd meeting first Kellie, who is such a fun strong beautiful woman doing benches in the sporting goods store LOL, and Susan, going for that nice long evening walk and talking with her kids at the table.  It was very nice meeting both of them.

I think what others have suggested is a great idea, meeting at the Arnold.  We can try and get rooms together, even if its out of the city and carpool in and out and party at the hotel afterwards.  We’l see what happens, eh?

I left Toronto about 8:30am Friday morning, the drive was great, not too much traffic, arrived in Mansfield around 4:30pm.  Called Bill, no answer, left a message.  Went driving around the city, looking for something to do. Found a bowling alley bowled a couple of games. 8pm tried calling Bill again, no answer. Decided at this point, I should look for a hotel room. NONE to be had.  Big motorcycle race in Mansfield this weekend.  Went back to the bowling alley. They have karaoke at 9pm, trying to relax.  Get call from Bill at 10pm.  Thought everyone cancelled on it and on his way to work.  He said to call in the afternoon and we’ll do something. so now I am stuck in a town, I don’t know anyone. I freak out.  I call another fellow BSer that I know lives in Ohio. She says come on down, we’ll get a cheap room for me to stay in.  Drive another 3 hours to Ironton, OH.  Meet Kellie (missflexgr).  She takes me to the hotel  and leaves. By now it is 2am, I fall asleep instantly.

SATURDAY - Wake up and call Kellie, we go and have breakfast then she shows me the sights, of Ironton, and Kentucky and West Virginia.  Help her find some gifts for her chief.  By 3pm, no word from Bill.  I call him, no answer, leave a message.  At this point I’m thinking of just going home. I call another BSer in Toledo (closer to home). She says to come up.  I tell her I am going to start heading North and I will give Bill another call just before I hit Mansfield in case anyone else showed up.  About 7pm I call Bill again, no answer. Continue driving to Toledo and meet Susan around 9pm.  We go for a walk and talk, I meet her kids, and just talk for a couple of hours.  I go to another hotel room and crash.

SUNDAY - wake up 8am call Susan at 8:30am, go to breakfast. She tells me that our plan to hit the gym is out as no one accepts guess passes on Sundays, and the Y she works at is closed on Sundays. So we go back to her place and talk until about 11am then I head home.  Arrive at my sisters at 8:30pm.

So in summary, there was no bash.  And to be honest, I don’t know what to think anymore. If it weren’t for Kellie and Susan, I would have completely lost it. I am still feeling really crappy about the whole experince but at least they took the time to see me and make me feel like a friend.

I’m sorry I don’t have any pictures or anything really fun to report, particularly to those that wanted to go to this bash.  I guess thats what I get for expecting the best, I always seem to get the worst.

Wow, just today and tomorrow of work and then I am off for 5 days. I am meeting my sister Wednesday night to drive up north with her, spend the night there, then I take her car back to my place and get things packed and ready to go for the trip, pick p the last few odds and ends. Friday morning I drop my wife off at work and then hit the highway to Ohio. 

I am very excited. As much as I wanted my wife to come with me, I also feel a bit of freedom with this trip.  There was always an issue of trust with her.  We had a pretty deep conversation and she realizes that I need this trip more than anything else.  This will be a huge boost in my psyche.  I’m not going to go into my past again, those that read my blogs are tired of it, I know, but a good weekend this weekend and those thoughts will be gone from my head forever. (no pressure LOL)  I am no longer worried about "fitting in" as I did before. I am ready to have a great time with some good friends.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day, stay strong my friends!