Transformer in training

Well, the summer is almost coming to an end. And this in now a time for me to get me size on…so over the next few months..I’ll be trying to size me…or bring my size up. Here’s what I got so far…please tell me what I need to change:

• Protein intake: 230g proteins per day
• Be sure to take a multi-vitamin everyday
• Reduce cardio to about 1 day a week instead of 3 days cardio and 3 days of lifting
• Be sure to take some glutamine after my workouts with my protein shake.
• Try to stay away from all of this good ‘ole soul food that I love so much.
• Give up candy for lent this upcoming year.
• Attempt to hit heavier weights for a period of at least 6 weeks and then go back to doing light weights for reps.

As usual, I am doing some random plan for the massive amounts of information I have been reading on the net…so let me know anything that may be helpful. Happy lifting!

Sounds weird right? Well probably not for most of you. Anyhow, putting up a blog like this is a struggle for me because I don’t really say stuff like that. So, here is the moment of honesty. I think that I have achieved a pretty decent physique and status of health. My problem, as some would say, is that I don’t give myself enough credit for the work that I have done. So, hence you see the title of my blog today…I think this provides for me a stepping stone to recognizing my achievements more.  I look good..I look nice..I’m swole? That’s one that my students use…..So, for all the people who have been telling me, in so many words, to stop playing the pity party…there it is…I have  finally admitted for myself….and yes it does feel somewhat nice and somewhat weird too. Whatever, everyone has to start their levels of confidence somewhere right?

Happy lifting folks!

So, today I was reading around on the web and saw all of these forms of protein that I have never heard of before. They all begin with Protein and end as follows:

Isolate -
Blend-
Concentrate-
Opti-Blend

If someone could tell me which is the best for weight gain…that would be great! Thanks.

So, I finally uploaded some new profile and progress pics. I think there are some gains? Really, it seems as if I am maintaining. Whatever…I do know that strength wise? I am making some gains. While in the gym now, I seem to be lifting more than I have in the past. But you know what? Since I don’t keep journals my…dumself won’t really know!

So, I would like to try something….if you want to be anonymous that’s perfectly fine. I would like to get some real criticism…on my blogs,pictures,whatever. I got a trick for you…sign out (If you are logged in) and comment on my page as a guest…that way I won’t know who it is..(Only use this option if you feel like it…..its not mandatory of course).

Peace out and happy lifting and trust me I won’t cry or hold it against you…I’ve been talking myself up for it.

Yesterday I did a leg workout and was working on heavy sets. So instead of doing standard squats…I did them on the smith machine. When doing squats off the machine I can get up to 225 on the rack and may squat for 5..I might be able to do more…but I just get fearful that my knees would give out and I would be on the gym floor with weights on top of me. So anyhow, I load  295 on the rack and squat it for 5…I do some leg presses at 325 and then go back again and do another 5…What is this? Smith machines seemed to be sort of a cheat ooorrrrrrrrr I am underestimating my potential on the squat. If anybody knows…help me out.

Happy lifting!

Over the past few years, there have been several challenges with me and this journey called bodybuildng. With those challenges and subsequent accomplishments, has come pain…some explained and others very unexplained. For quite sometime it was really difficult for me to do seated shoulder presses or upper chest barbell presses. When trying to do the movements, it just seemed as if something in my shoulder was in a knot of some sort and it would always hurt. Over the years, I have continued to slowly work on my shoulder…which I figured has been the main problem.

The moment of change came after my chest and shoulder workout the other day. First, the workout was wonderful because I was felt really good and was really tired after the workout. Secondly, after I got home and the day after I felt some notable improvements in my arm…the rotation and positions. It just seems like as my shoulder gets stronger…the pain seems to go away.It may all be a figment of my imagination…then it may be that all of this is really paying off besides the aesthetics point of view?!?!?!

Sooner or later, I am going to learn that I won’t achieve my ideal physique because of my lack of discipline in the nutrition department. Case in point, this past weekend I was just hanging around the house…decided to fire up the grill…invited over some neighbors…and then it was over. Mannn… I ate like a ton of chips, cake, sweet seedless grapes, popsicles…then I ate some grilled chicken,fish,porkchops and a ton of beans?!?!!? Am I crazy or what? Probably so…but man…it was soo good!!! LOL!!!

On the flipside, I had someone to compliment me in the gym and ask about my diet. Unfortunately, I didn’t have for them some grand master plan. This weekend, however, I have finally come to the conclusion that I should think a little more highly of myself and physique.Apparently, I am in a better physical fitness stature than most and maybe I should start owning that a little more?!?!?!? It may be beneficial to take a page from some people on here who have let the invention of the digital camera and be your own photographer go to their heads a little to much? But,the underlying truth in their, what I call, sometimes wacky photos often close to nudity and pages that akin themselves to be Greek Gods is that…..people are attracted to it. Hmmm…that’s something I will have to think on….is it confidence or ego? That is the question! LOL!!

Peace out folks!

Saturday morning was a chest and shoulders day. I followed a plan by levrone where I did a giant set of behind the neck press followed by side dumbell raises, then front raises, then dumbell chest press followed by flys…whew! That didn’t sound like so much when I was doing it….now wonder I was super tired after each set. Anyhow, I did about 5 sets which accounted for about 75 reps of each exercise. I then moved onto to do some other few ‘touch up’ things while I was there. I attempted to bench 245 a couple of time (Something that I haven’t really tried before) and surprisingly I got it pushed fairly easy. It was only for about 5 or so…but that’s a start.

Saturday morning was a chest and shoulders day. I followed a plan by levrone where I did a giant set of behind the neck press followed by side dumbell raises, then front raises, then dumbell chest press followed by flys…whew! That didn’t sound like so much when I was doing it….now wonder I was super tired after each set. Anyhow, I did about 5 sets which accounted for about 75 reps of each exercise. I then moved onto to do some other few ‘touch up’ things while I was there. I attempted to bench 245 a couple of time (Something that I haven’t really tried before) and surprisingly I got it pushed fairly easy. It was only for about 5 or so…but that’s a start.

Don’t be tricked..First let me say that this about someone I saw at the gym…not me. There is a guy, who comes in every time I do and does squats and a few bench presses. He does about 3 plates on the left and three on the right;when he bench presses he does two on the left and two on the right.

Well for the first time, in at least about 3 to 4 weeks of training..I saw him do bicep curls. He was using some 30lbs and had a hard time with them?!?!?!?!?

I know there is someone out there that can explain this phenomenon to me.

Everybody has different goals on this journey called bodybuilding. My goal is to gain some mass and look as if I actually do lift weights.Well, let me be honest..I kinda wish I could have the build of somebody who participates in a bodybuilding contest.However, my lack of discipline in eating choices and many times weightlifting has impeded that process throughout the years.

Anyhow, enough of focusing on my flaws…Lord knows I have to many to count in this blog. Now for the positive. Since my goal is to build some serious mass and increase definition…I have come to this conclusion from reading different websites and watching different videos. Lifting heavy shocks muscles and helps them to grow large.Doing light weights helps to increase the size of capillaries in the blood vessels.As a result, more blood is able to get within those veins and helps to increase definition and also mass when you go back to the heavier weights. I think that it is really all about the amount of blood you can get through your vessels.

The Plan

Joe Plavick sent me a book not to long ago about a mass building plan. It was here, just 2 months ago, that I learned some techniques to ‘polish’ my look. So, If you have read this blog in its entirety…I hope that it helps with your bodybuilding development. Over the past 2 months I think I have made some considerable progress using this method.

Best of luck to you all.

Excuse me mam who just walked in the store with the gentlemen who is about 5′6′’ at around about 400 + lbs. This gentlemen barely made it into Lowes and apparently would like some assistance to get around the store and enjoy his shopping experience; he might need to use the assisted mobility device offered in the store. You however mam are the same height, was well ahead of him in walking from your car and into the store and you ppprrrrrooobbaaabbbblyyyy weigh about 130 lbs….wet. Can you not hop on a device as well? I am sure there may be other people who reeeaaallllyyyy nneeeeddd to use those devices.Maybe you have a hidden disability? But I doubt it, because you sure had perfect posture sitting on that scooter and when you walked in the store you only seem to get on it because you were fascinated by it.

By the way…these people were adults? Seriously?

Seriously…a love triangle…at the gym…ends in death? Man this is so depressing:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/08/04/pennsylvania.gym.shooting/index.html

I figured this deserved a repost for the am crowds.

http://blog.bodybuilding.com/dnsigma/2009/08/03/people-in-the-gym-in-their-30s-40s-50s-and-b
eyond/

So, today I had just finish swimming like 30 something laps and was tired as crap. I then walked over to the sauna to do some stretching and light ab work. There are two other guys in the sauna. So, I being my ab work (Unfortunately, with no headphones) and their conversation goes something like this

Guy1: " Yea..I can do the weightlifting or much of any of the things I used to do. In my younger days I would go over and do this and do that…."

Guy2: "Yea, I hear ya…I’m the same way."

Guy1: "The weights just seem so monotnous, blah blah blah"

Guy2:"I agree..blah blah blah blah"

The reason there was a lot of blah blah blah was because while they were talking…I mentally tuned them out and thought about the following people:

http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/oldsuperman/

http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/TheBeastWCBB/

http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/timsahr/

http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/marcoschacon/

http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/thebigguy1/

http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/challenger889/

http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/bachintoon/

Okay you get the point…why people why….if you’re going to go the gym be committed. I saw a guy in our gym that was twice theys guys age. The guy was on the lower back machine, working out with the dumbells, doing some cable machine work and then would go swimming!!! R U SERIOUS? Obviously so because you said it. Sometimes I just wonder.

Dora Dora Dora the explorer….my niece loves this character who obviously speaks a little Espanol in the midst of her journeys across different lands. Dora is a little interesting in that when she sees a challenge…she makes every last one of them fun and exciting with music and her friends to help her along.

Ho does this relate to bodybuilding?

The other day I was in the gym and I saw this guy…this is not the first time I have seen people do this,just exploring the gym they’ll jump on a machine over do the movements really hard for one set then move on to another machine.

The problem and a possible solution

First, doing one set of everything in the gym may not be the best approach to working out…especially if you come in all the time and do these erratic type of workouts.

A possible solution (LOL) be like Dora…get some music, get some friends and focus on a workout regime. It’s 2009! Most people have access to a wealth of information that will allow you to plan more carefully instead of just going into this venture blind….if you want to workout….learn the language and the technics. Just like Dora you’ll be a able to get a lot of done in a short amount of time!
LOL!!!!

I know this was really far reaching and crazy…but there might be some underlying truth to it (LOL!). Have a good one folks.