Speak it, believe it, achieve it!

And the Bodybuilding.com cash register rings up another sale. :)

No, not fat weight. Blood.

Four gallons donated as of today. Over the course of several years, but at least I know how to definitely lose some weight. ;)

The nurse asked me the series of questions they’re required to ask each blood donor. One of those questions goes something like this:

“Have you ever accepted money for sex?”

My response?

“No, but I’m willing to try.”

That brought a smile to her face. I’m glad she didn’t throw me out of the donor center right then and there.

Oh, dear. Look at the time. :(

Was at school late today (7 p.m.) completing artwork for a student play. I think it turned out pretty cool. I’ve seen what others in the school did for props, the costumes, and the set. Very impressive! I should take my camera tomorrow for some pics.

Anyway, as I was late leaving and I hadn’t packed my gym gear, I had few options. One would have been to buy some cheap gear at the mall across from the gym (convenient) but I hadn’t eaten in a few hours so I opted to eat a chicken salad at the Sheetz convenience store down the road from the gym, make the half-hour drive home, change into my gym clothes, and then hit it at Gold’s on a full or at least fueled stomach.

Skipped cardio and deads as my knees are giving me the "Hey, you’re an old man!" nonsense. I don’t feel guilty for resting. (Imma repeat that a few hundred times, ‘kay?)

Still using Jason Ferruggia’s low volume workout routine, but a Chad Nicholls 5-on/2-off routine is calling my name. I’m sticking with low volume at least until June 1 and probably until July 1, but, yeah, I’m missing the higher volume.

Incline DB press
60#ers x9,8
Parallel grip chins -40×11, -30×8
Dips -70×11, -60×11

I love me some assisted chins and dips. I really don’t feel guilty about using that machine either. Although my hero ChickenTuna has called it like this:

"I don’t recommend using the assist feature for pull ups, I see too many people ride it like a Disney Land ride and it makes it way too easy to put in zero effort which produces zero results"

I agree with CT entirely, however the way I use it is definitely NOT in the manner of the Disney Land ride. I’ve seen that, too. The movement looks nothing at all like a regular pull up or chin. When people do bodyweight chins you don’t see their shoulders rise above the freaking bar. That’s ridiculous.

My method involves taking just enough weight off to get the reps I’m looking to get. Likewise with the dips. And, yeah, my shoulders being as blecch as they are I definitely appreciate the assist on that exercise. Regardless, there’s effort being expended and I do believe CT would approve if she saw how I utilize the machine.

And with my regular pull ups (bodyweight) I’ve actually started to add weight via a dumbbell attached to a weight belt. Got a whopping FOUR reps completed with a 25# db attached. :)

Er, well, what I mean is…

It’s always great seeing a number pop up in the fan club section. It’s a positive affirmation or some kind of indication that, hey, people like what it is you’re saying or maybe that they have similar goals, etc.

Friends. I like that word although I’m often not the best friend there ever was. Often reclusive, I definitely love my me time or aloooone time. Especially when I’m stressed.

Anyway, I digress. I really love seeing a number in that area, but - yes, I’m guilty - what normally comes out of my mouth or pops into my head is:

Hold on! Please let me define babe. A babe is any female from tall to short, from fat to slim, from Angelina Jolie…

to Barbara Bush (Sorry, just don’t find the latter especially attractive. Hey, like I’M George Clooney, right?).

They’re ALL babes. Yes, even Barbara.

No, I’m not a homophobic person. I just like women. I’m more comfortable around women.

Someone was saying that Internet people are their imaginary friends. So, okay, sue me. I’d prefer that the majority of my imaginary friends be women.

Uh, I’m not sure that sounds exactly right.

P.S. This was overall an attempt at humor. Sometimes these attempts backfire. I’m imagining every male “friend” to now remove me from their Friend list, for all women who resemble Barbara Bush to write BodySpace encouraging a permanent ban on yours baldly, for the ACTUAL BARBARA BUSH to find me and beat me senseless, and for any and all women resembling Angelina Jolie to write me off as a jerk. But, hey, I’m really a glass is half full kinda guy. Have a nice day!

I’ve been doing long slow distance on my cardio, keeping my heart rate well under 130 beats per minute. Dave Palumbo, a trainer and host of a bodybuilding radio show, recommends keeping your heart rate under 130 bpm to maintain fat as the energy source. He says that if you go over that rate that you’ll be burning glycogen rather than fat. Since I’m trying to get lean I prefer to keep it all in the fat-burning zone.

Still, I’ve had people recommend HIIT training for my cardio. I believe that stands for High Intensity Interval Training. I’ve done that in the past - or my variation of HIIT - running at a 6.0 or 6.5 speed for a few minutes and then walking (3.5 - 4.0) for a few minutes, just alternating back and forth between walking and running with a few sprints tossed in for good measure.

Last year’s cut was a lot of fun. I really tore the weight off, but also nuked what little muscle I had in the process. There are a few videos of my stick man self on my YouTube page.

This year I’m trying to lean out with out fading out! I’ve got a long neck to begin with and if I lose too much weight I begin to look more and more like a frigging giraffe.

Curt James

Henry Rollins

Yeah, just a sliiiight difference in neck size.

ANYWAY! I’m staying the course with the sub 130 bpm cardio, but am considering the HIIT version. We’ll see what this Wednesday’s Weigh-in has to report.

That’s not really the question. HA! Did I fool you? ;) Okay, actually, that IS the question.

I’ve never been a big tan fan. I live in Pennsylvania with its four seasons and when it is sunny outside, well, I’m on my bike. Not a Huffy or a Schwinn or Kona or whatever bicycle name is popular right now, but a baby Harley. I own a 2001 Sportster and, hey, a leather jacket, jeans, helmet, boots, etc. all have at least SP15 capacity about them.

Anyway, I’m thinking about using Planet Fitness’ tanning facilities. I paid for a year and a half, but I believe the tanning option would double that. Not sure if they have a daily rate or a "per tanning session" rate.

What’s hilarious is that a few years ago I did the tanning thing at a local salon. Next family gathering the folks complimented my younger brother on his tan. The brat wasn’t even tanning. He went outside a few times and that was it. Just to work on his lawn. So there I am with my Shake ‘n Bake or fake tan and my family is oohing and aahing over my brother’s farmer’s tan. :D Brat, I tell you! :)

Such is life. Only reason I’m considering the tan is from the perspective of the MuscleTech contest I’m currently participating in. Amazing what a tan can do to make you look better. Never understood how people - especially people who tan at a salon - can be critical of someone who has dark skin. Black, Hispanic, etc. What’s up with hating a person of color and then heading to the tanning salon? Jealousy?

Anyway, this is my tanning ramble. Worth what you paid for it. :)

Oh, and from a dermatology perspective, I’ve had a few sunburns and nearing age 46 I’m cautious about skin cancer and aging skin. One thing I’ve noticed on older physique competitors is their sagging knees and abs. The skin just seems to be loose, sometimes excessively. Not sure if that’s a result of tanning over the years or from gaining and losing weight and loss of skin elasticity with aging.

Wishing all the ladies a very special day.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and his mother, Aurelia

D’OH!

Maaan, I’m in this transformation contest put on by Bodybuilding.com and MuscleTech. I’m truly enjoying it. I’ve lost nine pounds in the past few weeks and my waistline is down, but!

There’s always a but, isn’t there?

I’m fighting a battle with an opponent that’s nearly impossible to beat.

…

I’m fighting THE GIRL SCOUTS OF THE USA!    

That’s right. Little pig-tailed thugs with Thin Mints on their side.

“My God! They’re, why, they’re using GIRL SCOUT COOKIES against us!!!”

you naughty man!

Seriously, Bob Cicherillo, Dan Solomon, and Larry Pepe do a fantastic job on Pro Bodybuilding Weekly. Here’s a poll where the PBW team gets pretty fair praise from the MD crowd: Which Bodybuilding Radio Show Do You Listen To?

The choices were PBW and MD’s No Bull Radio.

Fellow BodySpacer Jordan Frantz a.k.a. TheUnlikelyToad attended the May 3rd NGA Mr. and Ms. Natural Philadelphia Bodybuilding and Figure Championships. He was there with his girlfriend and had responded to my one blog about this NGA contest. I recognized him from his BodySpace profile as he walked across the lobby during the show’s intermission. Another attendee was gracious enough to snap a pic:

Jordan wears TheUnlikelyToad “OVERCOME” charity band as I perform a goofy thumbs up

Jordan’s friend, Mike, won the middleweights at this NGA show. TheUnlikelyToad is a great inspiration to me. He was generous in gifting me with one of his trademarked “OVERCOME” charity bands! Thank you, Jordan. You might enjoy one, too!