Azul’s BodyBlog

Everytime I leave this site…
…something pulls me back in, for that which I’m grateful!

Joining 2 new bodygroups will do that for you. ;D

Now onto that epiphany. Settle in cause you know (or shortly will) how I like to tell a story.

My mp3 player has been missing since Sat’s workout.  I made it through sunday’s because it was only back and I had the early closing of Gold’s to keep me moving. And of course my large can of Bookoos, a local Monster wannabe that i’ve come to rely on since I’ve gotten off the sauce, NoXplode, for the ‘required’ 4 week period. (i’m still dubious of that and always open to new evidence that contradicts that. lol.)

Anyways, I got through sunday’s workout telling myself that that player would eventually show up - my post workout routine Sat nite allowed for plenty of chances for it to get misplaced. I’d grown quite attached to it as it was my new fav item - my brother recently had me research new players for workouts and after finding that one I was so impressed I returned my year old player to BB (see, i’d bought the extended warranty - 2 years for $20 for a $150+ player? uh…yea! And no this isn’t the first time. shhh!) and upgraded from 2 gigs to 8gigs.
For those taking notes at home, it’s the samsung p2. Their first touch variety, with radio, text, video, etc. and bluetooth! Yea, u can sync your phone to it and anytime a call is received it’ll pause and play it through your headphones. Like I said the best non-ipod player i’d found for less then $200 to date. Bonus, when I sync my playlist from Media Monkey (best non-media player…er…player. But only music, no video playback) it copies the album art as well as the songs.

So yea, best ever to date. So again sunday I told myself, no big deal. I’ll be cool. Worst case I can use my blackjack and headphones till it pops up tho the headphones are proprietary and hard as hell to stay in your ear when you get sweaty.

So Tuesday rolls around and it’s leg day. I’d had a decent prep for it. I’d hydrated well. Decent meal a few hours before. And finished the Bookoos on the drive over.  For the most part, I was working my way through the squat fine and didn’t use my blackjack, content with the background noise of the GymNetwork on the overhead flatscreens.

But I began to notice a lack of… or absence. I’d worked up to 315 on squats, performed 2 sets of 8, searched my body for stress, and added 25’s after some thought. Got under that and worked a set. Thought about it some more, and swapped the 25’s for another 45’s and worked that set.

The oddity was that it took me an extra sec or two to get started on those last 3 sets.

My squat routine consists of stepping into the shadow of the box, touching my hands and chest to the bar, and pushing back. I’ll do this one, 2, 4 times sometimes till i’m amped up.

And it works.

By the 3rd or 5th time i’ve stepped up to the bar, I no longer see my hands but the HumanHammers of the Red Hulk (if you been keeping up with Marvel - you know by now that there IS a badder meaner Hulk). It is this Rulk that steps under the bar and bends it against his broad back as he drives it towards the ceiling.

That didn’t happen this time.

I even tried to delve into the eternal rage of the Punisher (what you think WWE is the original source for over the top caricatures?) and I came up with a shadow of Frank Castle’s dark stare - more like a Ronald McDonald frown.

I then moved on to LegPress thinking there’s an exercise that allows for emotional engagement cause you can’t do heavy legpresses half-heartedly.

I worked up from 5 to 7 plates on each side and…blah. So then I thought, "Man, I don’t really feel like doing Romanians…" So I did something I can’t recall EVER doing.

I left.

Now this happened on Tuesday.

The Monday before I’d actually looked online to see how much it would be to replace the P2 if it didn’t turn up as expected.

BB wanted $179 for the 8gig. "Ouch!"

Amazon big savings bring it down to $156 tossing in free shipping. "M’kay."

But my old buddy Newegg has it for $139 free shipping. "Sounds nice but again this is only a last resort." I still have my Blackjack after all.

After tuesday’s mental collapse, I got online and pointed/clicked that sucker first thing in the morning.

Package arrived Thursday afternoon at work. Because there’s very little difference between my work pc and home pc as far as musical library, i had the P2 charged and uploaded with the very-necessary selection in no time.  While browsing the library, i selected videos and noted the video of Beyonce’s Single Ladies joint still on the PC.  So I uploaded it to check the quality - since I never attempted to do so on the other P2.

Even at medium quality of conversion, you could still see how smooth her shiny thighs were on screen (oh don’t act like u didn’t notice). Then I saw that Pumping Iron was still on this PC.

And I uploaded it to my gym player. Ha.

Seriously, I’m not sure what to expect from this but considering I can tap forward to different parts of the movie, I figured it’d atleast make an interesting conversation piece in between sets besides videos of Luda and Tpain. LOL.

So yeah, that’s the latest milestone to my gym fascination/obsession.

Could be worse. I could have videos of Ronnie or Cutler on here.

But nah… that would be just plain nuts, right?

-Azul

The other day, i was changing after another satisfying workout and hadn’t yet donned my shirt on - high metabolism requires longer cooling times.

So I noticed a small shadow move past my peripheral while watching the ubiquitous Music Video up yonder.

Few mins past, and I notice again and turn quickly to discover the indentity of this mystery.

Turns out it’s a kid wondering the locker area. I turn to stare and catch him walking out, head still turned, mouth agape in my direction.

15 secs later, I notice him returning again in the opposite direction, head still cranked, mouth catching flies.

I thinks to myself, "Must be doing something right…Got rugrats staring."

Positive Affirmation, Beneficial Reinforcement. Whatever you want to call it, doesn’t matter.

It made me smile because through that brief exchange I knew, I was one step closer to my goals.

And apparently ginormous.

;P

-A!

Well, i made it over a month w/0 NO and u know what, I can truly say I appreciate the benefit of taking time away. I was surpisingly able to achieve greater mind-muscle connections throughout peak contractions. Had no idea how much more I could be in tune with a workout.
I think everyone can appreciate this new added dimension to their workouts.

So, with this newly discovered epiphany, am I going back on the ’sauce’?
Well…does a skinny kid get picked on in highschool, throw around allota weights during lunch break and grow up to be the man-beast you see before you?

SHIT YEAH!!!
Let’s not get it twisted. Sure I achieved a great ‘connection’, I was mos def in the moment during my workouts, and also interestingly less agitated outside the gym.
But I’m also a lot more sore on off days - not crippling but "hmm…that wasn’t there the last time." I have a diminished "get up and go" on my workout days - and I still drank whatever was on sale at the nearest Gas Station on my way there i.e. Krunk, Amp, Monster, etc. And more importantly (to some people), I’ve had fewer days where my arms were painfully about to explode from my limbs. i.e. pumped.

My main reason is:

I missed that feeling of going heavy for reps, putting the weight down, & feeling like I can add more. I keep harping on this, but products like NO reward you. Harder you work, the harder it does too.

So I guess the GI Joe message of this episode is that while a break is necessary, it should not be de rigeur of anyone intent on breaking their mode. If you’re not, well you wouldn’t be reading my blog now would you…

Be well and Bankai b*tches!!!

-Azul

One of the best explanations I’d ever read given about this lifestyle is that it’s Like having a second Job. A considerable part of my day is spent preparing for it, followed by an equal measure of my effort preparing for the next. Always was the most efficient way to explain (defend) this to a baffled inquirer. And then i’d laff maniacally and leave ‘em more confused.

Wrote the above to miked512’s and felt other’s could benefit from such sage thoughts!

Also added a "PEACE B*TCHES!" but that’s cuz we’re cool like that.

Be Well,

-A!

Just read  1jz300’s July 1st blog about NO Xplode and some of the hi-lites were:

i am saying this once and i will never go against this so you can qoute me on this. I will NEVER workout without this stuff again!!! i love it!!!! i workout nonstop for 1 and a half hours and feels great. The next day i am in sooo much pain. I love this stuff and would recommend it to EVERYONE. whether its running, walking, mountain climbing, working out, playing a sport……TAKE IT!!!!

So I commented (because that’s what I do, how I show respect to peepz sharing their thoughts *hint hint*):

Warning: All those reasons you love it is the EXACT reason you’ll hate in 30-45 days depending on you scoop intake.

lol.    I love how I almost run out of exercises to do.

How the harder I work, the harder IT works, TOO!

No seriously, I’m actually on a forced discontinuing of taking it. Kept saying I’d do as the bottle recommends and take time off but kept switching to NaNo Vapor and then Black Powder using GNC’s very forgiving return policy (shh…) but now that I’ve finished my last bottle and I’m finally giving my body a break for the first time in 5 months and lemme tell you. It sucks King Kong Ballz.

First day off, I was 1/3rd way thru a back/chest superset day and grabbed an overpriced Redline from Gold’s Cooler for a much needed kick

SideNote: Seriously @ $4.25?!?! I don’t know if I should drink it or put into my gas tank. Mos def need to check out Big Lots.

Next day, drank a Kronick before a leg day and again had a ho-hum day.

Dayz later I feel so blah, it’s almost depressing. But I know it’s worth it and the pumpz and ampedness I’ll get when I return to imbibe that overly sweet…slightly tarty and nasty nectar that can give u the ‘bubblegutz’ (or is it bubblebuttz) if u don’t do as they say and TAKE ON AN EMPTY STOMACH… will be so worth it in a week or two (just in time for Gold dayz - haha). Which is probably why I’m on your page lookin’ for extra motivation to get me thru.

LOL.

Excellent videos/blogs.    G’luck and enjoy it while it last.     May the pump be with you!

Yea, that’s what I wrote cuz it’s all true and everyone else should benefit from this insight into a super-popular supp.

Peace and May Galactic Pumps stick your arms out at the sides.

-A!

the remaining 10% that your body influences is a still a significant factor.

So last Saturday, I hit chest and back hard. I’m talking about 8-10 range in reps with some drop sets if I had a doubt that there was an untapped molecule of ATP lingering in single fiber…

It was one of those days where I had 2 hrs till Gold’s closed and was supersetting calves to keep the energy up and the resting period down…

It was one of those days where I had two days off before due to work running over each night thus forcing me to ‘relinquish’ that day’s workout….

It was one of those days  where I’d inadvertently finished my bottle of NANO Vapor like 3 hours earlier before my first set because I had to run back into work and help out with a pc problem - nevermind it’s my day off and I was in the middle of shopping for bigger workout pants at TJMAXX.

*inhale*

(Have to remember to mentally breathe…)

So yeah, it was one of those days where you know you’re pumped and everybody inside (and outside) the gym already knew the answer as soon as they asked you, "Hey, how you doing?"

"I’m pumped, baby."

Yeah one of those days.

Suffice to say, as I said in the beginning, I worked my chest and back thoroughly.

You know, when you’re enter your car and wonder to put ur gloves back on for more grip, so spent are your forearms that you’re worried you might not have enough strength to steer home. Like I said thoroughly.

Fast forward to Sunday afternoon when i’d normally be packing up for that day’s workout, and what’s your boy doing? I’m still drooling on the couch.

!

Yea… I skipped it. My body believed (and correctly) that I wasn’t ready to go Tropic Thunder on hams and abz that day.

So skip to next day, a hard day at work, a stressful Monday and I’m feeling that withdrawal from delaying a workout by more then 48 hours…um… yeah, I’m still spent.

Fawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwk!

This is the kind of challenge few speak about. Having the discipline (and intelligence) to walk away (or in my case, stay away) from the gym when you’re not whole and ready to give the sincere effort to make it worth the trip.

Which i suppose is the only thing worse then not having a workout - having a lousy workout.  This wasn’t a case of laziness, or general ill at ease with the idea of working out.

Like most of you reading this already knows, committment is not a problem at this point.

Stomach virus? Just means I’m working on an empty tank (whenever I, you know, stop heaving)

Flu? Not possible with as much vits/supps I peeing out.

Pain? *snort*

Low energy/long day of work? Shake a bottle of NO-etc.

Not feeling inspired? Click on Bodyspace homepage (duh.)

But a general "The mind is willing but the body if falling" feeling has only one course of action: walkaway.

…you know, dull and uninspired? Yes, I do have moments when I’m not the Indomitable Vengeful Spirit of Bodybuilders Past.

So… after staring blankly at 7:54am on my clock, and having enough of Bob and Sherri’s self-indulgent laughter (click!), I rolled out of bed headed toward the shower. I paused in the middle of the doorway, rested my forehead on the sill and did "the math":

No workout sunday = (A) Probable Shoulders and Calves Workout Monday 55% or (B) Definite Shoulders and Calves Workout  Tuesday 95%.

What can I say, but two nights of working out AND going out late dancing takes a toll on a body. Note: those were chest/tris and back/bis, respectively. I wisely avoided legs those Fri and Saturday. Course, if today I had to do Legs, then the odds drop to like -15% my butt would make it to the gym. (legs day have a higher energy AND rest requirement)

So yea, I made the decision that I wouldn’t bring my bag with me nor pre-scoop out any NO Black Powder (not at potent as NOXplode but meh, not as "shaking" either) into a plastic bottle to help make it less likely that i’d be tempted to go to the gym to give my body an extra day off.

Course u know (if I know, than that makes u in the know) that my bag is perpetually pre-packed (mp3 player, belt, gloves, ol’ magz, booklet, relatively clean clothes, etc.) so I can easily get off at work, step in the house for the needed to toss a pair of shoes and today’s combo of clothing options in the bag and drop 2 scoops in an empty gatorade bottle and off we go.  (with the exception of popping open the mail box, it really is that quick)

All of this was going on in my head with my eyes closed. I even wondered if it was at all possible hours later to be THAT motivated when I my inner exhaustive state was to the point that not even a jackhammer in the next room would illicit a raised eyebrow from me. Yea, that ‘tired.’

So it is amusing now to find myself writing 4 hours later knowing I’m going to the gym. True, I’m sipping on my 2nd cup of coffee and just threw away the wrapper to a passable "Pure Protein" bar (still 25g!).  But I’d like to think, (on second thought) Nay! I’m quite sure it’s from glancing at beautiful strangers before and after pics and posting to an interesting topic about sex, libido and dating. (dare anybody to not be motivated after reading that)

Guess the lesson for me is unless I’m on a mandatory off day, (and even then, unless it’s a leg day) always grab the bag!  And 2 towels!  (just a lil reminder to myself).

Wow has this been long over due considering how prolific I was with Lifejournal, how popular I was with Yahoo360 and random I am in Myspace, you’d think I’d have leaped at BB.com’s own blogging tool about arguably the single activity that defines my everyday.

Course this is when I’d say, I was too busy getting ready to workout and recovering from the last workout to actually sit down and ponder about all things involved with the workout - when I wasn’t working out, of course. (of course ;P)

Anyhoo, now that I’m here it’s probably best for you curious reader to heed the wise words of the late R. James, "Enjoy yourself." (Ha.Ha.Ha. It’s a celebration!!!)

So all day everyday, is defined by my workout.  Or to be more exact, IF I will workout.

I typically work 9-7, M-F.  So after work I head straight to the gym in the evenings which means after I open my eyes in the morn’ I’ve already made up my mind.

Grab the prepacked gym bag along with my attache:

The chances that I’m working out in the evening = 100%

Leave the prepacked gym bag at the back door:

The chances that I’m working out in the evening =  75%

LOLl.

I know, craziness.

But this points to another ancilliary benefit from the "Lifestyle".

Stress or rather the reduction of it plays a huge factor in my comittment/obsession.

Maybe it’s seeing the blurred black ends of the dumbbells dance above your head as your elbows wobble in your peripheral…

Maybe it’s the sounds of those same stubborn dumbells bouncing off the rubberized floor after that last ‘failed’ half-set (Ka-dum!)…

Maybe it’s the gasping for air, the inability to swallow enough before you expelling it out of your lungs…

Can’t be sure.  I just know that I’m exhausted, drained, spent wondering who’s idea was this anyways….

And yet everytime on a non-workout day, as soon as I’m into my work day, and it becomes a bit more challenging with frustration and conflict, a switch goes off in my head, and I nod, "Yeah I’m going to work out."

Feel a R. James/D/ Chapelle joke comin’ on.

"No, I’m not going to work out today. I’ve been two on already.  I deadlifted heavy on Saturday - my back is still sore, so that’s a no-go on squats. Can’t hit my legs hard enough without deep squats."

"So, know I’m definitely not going to the gym."

2 hours & 36 min later @ work…

"Yea, I’m doing legs today."