Don’t Have a Keg…

Tonight I was able to add another rep to my bench at 225 lbs.! Yeah, it doesn’t sound like much, but since I can’t remember the last time I actually had some improvement in one week, I’m fairly excited about it. Overall I felt pretty strong throughout the workout and I think my pecs feel more solid, too (what? you don’t ever feel yourself up?).

This morning the only "soreness" seems to be around my waist, which I’ve noticed in the past that when I lift heavier on the bench my waist feels it the next day. I hope this is just from the entire upper body contributing to the lift and not from improper form.

Well, this week’s weigh in was a mixed bag at best. Bodyfat down, weight up, some measurements better, most the same or worse…

It still really bugs me that I can’t seem to get my arms to grow - any tips would be appreaciated.

The weight/bodyfat issues, well that’s all me and an apparent lack of dedication despite how much I keep thinking I want it - the proof that I don’t want it badly enough keeps looking at me each week. Sure, I can make the usual excuses (too busy, can’t control my eating schedule at work, etc.) but those are just that excuses. And it’s hard to complain to get upset when I know exactly where the fault lies, I have the knowledge, I just need to apply it. Actually, it’s easy to complain…there’s just really no point too it.

Oh well, on to another week!

I just started thinking a little tonight while browsing through bodyspace profiles (I know, thinking is a dangerous pasttime). But why is there such a wide difference of opinion as to what the ideal male body looks like? I mean, it seems to me that there is almost a uniform acceptance of the female ideal, give or take a few pounds for those who like a little extra "booty," but with men there seems to be a diverse opinion. Even among bodybuilders there doesn’t seem to be agreement. How many guys are going for the extremely built, freakishly massive, steroid assisted look and how many are going for the so-called "classic" look of bodybuilders of the sixties and/or seventies? How many want a rugged, outdoorsy build? And then there are those who are clearly going for a thin underwear model look.

Of course, most of us usually work towards the comfortable, pot-bellied stove look through inaction and a lot of couch time.

So, am I off the mark here? In the grand scheme it doesn’t matter of course - but then in the grand scheme, what does? That’s a topic for another blog perhaps.

Tomorrow morning is my weekly weigh-in. I feel good, I feel strong, and I feel leaner. We will see what the tape and scale reveal. Stay tuned!

So today I found myself constantly pulling my pants up - even with my belt at it’s smallest. Could it be that I’m losing fat from my waist at long last? Or are my pants falling because the fat is pushing them down….Saturday’s weigh in will tell I suppose….

Okay - so my last two posts were kind of downers - but tonight I had one of those workouts that was so good I just felt like quacking like a duck (points to anyone who can figure out where I came up with that saying)! In fact, I felt strong enough to attempt 225 on the bench again and was able to put in 6 good solid reps. Which made me happy enough to put the new info into my workout chart and admire the nice little bump in my max weight. Not much - but clearly progress is being made. I guess having a night off to recover a little extra was worth it.

Quack!

Ah, the joys of getting older and working out! I’ve been noticing a twinge in my upper left thigh for a while now, and for some reason when I sit for any length of time it has now become a full fledged "hurt." I’m not aware of pulling my quad muscles at anytime, but this pain has that hot, burning sensation that usually accompanies a strain of some kind. Looks like leg exercises may be off the plate for a couple of days - hopefully it goes away soon. I wonder if somehow it could be linked to my heavier benching?

Well, my late night did take a toll - but I dutifully met my workout partner to lift anyway and it turns out that he was really worn out too. I know that this is where I’m supposed to say that we bravely shook off our weariness and had the best workout ever. But I’m going to tell the truth and say that after one lackluster set on the bench we called it a night. Sometimes you just gotta admit when you are sore and licked.

Okay - I did come home and do a few sets of curls and tri extensions at home anyway. I can’t give up completely!

So I stayed up too late last night - hopefully I don’t drag too much today at work and during my workout this evening - as I couldn’t seem to tear myself away from Bodyspace. But, my computer is in easy viewing distance of my television. So, as I’m surfing the internet, exploring other people’s Bodyspaces, etc. I’m paying some attention to late night television and the ads.

Anyway, I’ve come to the conclusion that late night tv advertising is the equivalent of spam on the internet. I mean, geesh, if even just a small percentage of men responded to these ads (men appearing to be the primary targets of the advertising) and the products worked it seems that our streets (and gyms) would be filled with ripped, muscular, wealthy real estate tycoons whose overly enhanced sexual organs threaten to poke out the eyes of innocent passerbyers on the street!  Oh, wait a minute - these guys won’t be on the street because they are too busy using their mammoth members while talking with beautiful girls - who just can’t wait to chat on the phone - and/or watching them go wild in the best bars and beaches of America.

And which marketing genius decided that "Smiling Bob" was just the character to entice other men to try their product?

Sorry about the rant - on the workout side of life I did notice yesterday that one of my favorite t-shirts is starting to feel, and look, a little tight across my chest and especially my sleeves. I guess a quarter of an inch here and there does make a real difference. Well, with my upper body at least.

I hope everyone has a great day!

Well, I see progress in some areas and not so much in others this week as I checked my stats. The good news is that weight and waist are down slightly, though the scale says bodyfat is up - but I knew it would say that as last time I weighed in it was in the evening and for some reason my bodyfat is always higher in the morning. Arms are a little bit bigger, a pretty significant jump in my chest size, shoulders, hips and thighs. Maybe I measured wrong earlier - but I think it could be because my legs have always grown quickly. Though I’m surprised my calves are lagging right now.

My bench weight remains the same - but that’s mostly because of how the site calculates my one rep max. I’m currently doing a modified "century" style workout with my chest which means I’m doing more than 12 reps on some sets. So the next time I bump up the weight (after achieving 25 lifts at 175) I think we will see a dramatic and sudden increase in my one rep max.

I hope everyone is lifting hard and staying strong!

Okay, I think I’ve been online here at Bodyspace more the past week than I have the past year. The downside is that I’m spending way too much time at the computer. The upside is that I’ve gotten a lot of good advice, made a few new online friends, and frankly, am more motivated than ever to make some significant progress this summer.

Anyone else find that their motivation has increased because of participating here? Or had the opposite experience? Inquiring minds want to know…