Don’t Have a Keg…

Weight is up but that’s okay, because my bodyfat took a nice dip. I still seem to be stuck in the low 20% range and really need to break below to start feeling like I’m making progress. Of course, my usual disclaimers about not trusting the bodyfat readings on my scale apply.

Workouts have felt great all week so I feel I’m on the right track with them at least. I’ve gone to "back to basics" workout (the "big" lifts like bench, squats, deads, a variety of curls for fun) but am going for high volume/lighter weight. Let’s see if this will help to make me "swole" while reducing the fat!

Okay, and I don’t know if I’ve touched on this subject before, but while browsing around some random profiles tonight as I am wont to do (by the way,that’s "wont" not "won’t" and I believe the usage is proper, look it up if you don’t believe me) and as I’m looking and musing things to myself like "wow, I’d sure like arms like that" or "why can’t my chest look like that?" it occurred to me - why do we all seem to have favorite bodyparts? I mean, I really like the idea of having a big pair of ham shaped upper arms hanging off my shoulders for example. From the difficulty I have in getting an open bench in my gym of choice I have to believe that most guys really want a big chest (as opposed to big breast which most guys also want, but in a different context…but I’m in danger of hopelessly digressing here).

Few guys care about their legs - which is surprising as when you think about it is there anything that really symbolizes and conveys strength as well as a pair of solid, tree trunk like thighs which bulge through even the roomiest jeans?

Anyway, it seems to me if we all actually cared about a well-rounded physique no one would be walking around all top-heavy on chicken legs, or have big biceps and no triceps or forearms, or have their pants fall down because there is no butt to hold them up, or a beer belly beneath a pair of massive pecs, well - I think you get the idea.

Anyone else have thoughts on this? Just curious as usual.

Meanwhile, I’m really looking foward to tomorrow’s workout. More chest and arm training for me (lol)!

Ever been excited about a new routine and then after giving it a try for a few workouts decide that it really wasn’t for you? That’s what happened to me - so tonight it was back to basics, my old friend the bench press (how I’ve missed you), plus some incline presses (tired of having a relatively weak and undeveloped upper chest), curls, extensions, all the old upper body favs. Next workout the legs, squats, leg curls, leg extensions, maybe a few lunges and some back work too (deads).

Plus, my training partner wasn’t too thrilled with the other workout either, but stuck with me through this one. He still outlifts me in the bench - but I’ll see what I can do about that over the next few weeks.

I’m going to try to get up to the NPC Novice competition in Detroit this coming weekend as a couple of my Bodyspace friends are competing - plus it’s been a long time since I’ve been to a comp and it might be just what I need to get my motivation back up to 10/10!

Now for another good night’s sleep - I’ve been sleeping unusually well lately (which is a good thing of course) but oddly enough I’ve been having very vivid and lucid dreams. I’ve never been much for dream interpretation, but I may start looking into it as these dreams have been doing a good job of helping me solve some problems in my life and at work (nothing major - the usual stuff).

Good mental health and good physical health. You gotta love it!

Nothing much to report in terms of the weigh in. Once again, my weight is within my body’s normal fluctuations - body fat appears to be up enough to cause some concern, but as I’ve pointed out numerous times I’m not convinced of my scales accuracy. I’ll have to have someone use the old calipers on me soon.

Attitude is a little brighter today - the weather certainly does help. Spring is the time when things grow - I just have to make sure that my biceps are among those things!

Thought I would start recording how I feel after each workout. Things went fairly well tonight, though I had some trouble with my "reverse lunges" a variation of the regular lunge leg exercise but instead of stepping forward you step backward. Balance was a bit of an issue and then just the fact that I haven’t been doing enough variation with my leg workout - I believe I will be sore in the morning. Ah well…

Shoulder presses, rows, and other upper body exercises went very well though and I’ll be upping the weight next time.

Attitude: I looked forward to the workout all day, but when it came time to actually do the workout my attitude suddenly took a nose dive. I don’t know why, even afterwards I was thinking more about "why the heck do I put myself through this" than the fact it still feels good. I’ll keep pressing on, of course. 

I’ve noticed that I’m crabbier at work and in my personal life. And why can’t I make those funny cracks like I used to? And is it just me or are my blogs not as entertaining either…crud. 

 I wonder if I should start posting some of my famous motivation sayings around the house again - reminders like "burgers build bellies, not biceps" and "bigger, stronger, faster every day" and "move away from the refrigerator!"

Diet: Passed the vending machines several times today…lots of goodies that I resisted…but, oh, it’s still so difficult (just keep repeating "abs, abs, abs"). Diet probably explains my lack of humor.

Odds and Ends: Odd pain in my shoulder (top of the deltoids) is back. New pain in my right hand…gee, getting older is fun.

Tomorrow is a rest day. I hope I can get through that!

Just wanted to jot down a couple notes about tonight’s workout. I tried front squats again for the first time in a long time and boy, I already feel them! But, it was good to do something different for legs. Bench press seemed too heavy for the weight I was using (205 lbs) but I’m doing a different scheme right now. Going to get to 25 reps regardless of the number of sets it takes - okay, it’s a workout from "Men’s Health" but it looked good so I’m giving it a try.

Lower weights and higher reps for the next month or so - focusing on fat loss before t-shirt weather arrives for the summer! And who knows, maybe this will be the summer the shirt occasionally comes off…

To borrow a phrase from the great James Brown - I feel good today! A new workout awaits and the weather is so nice I may actually go for a brief run OUTDOORS!! No more treadmill in a sweaty gym…I can go outside and play. Yippee!!

I hope everyone else feels as good as I do - unfortunately that little pessimistic voice inside keeps saying "it won’t last" but I’m ignoring him for the most part…really, I am.

With the closing of my play later today I am finally through one of the busiest times of my life I can ever recall - but this is probably because I have a short memory (lol). I’ve already got my new workout planned for the next four weeks - going to try a couple new moves with a mixture of high and low rep workouts and also get back to basics by incorporating deadlifts into my routine for the first time….uh…ever. Yeah, I’ve never really done this basic move on a regular basis for one reason or another and I figure it’s about time I gave it a real try.

The good news is that I got through this busy time without sliding back any in terms of strength and not gaining any in terms of bodyfat. With new focus and what I’ve learned in terms of supplementation and consistency I’m planning on some of my best gains (and fat loss) ever. New goals are nothing that I haven’t aimed for before, but I should be able to make them. Still want to get the guns up to 18 inches - but will settle for a lean 17 - waist will get back down as far as I can take it (I have to be able to be strapped into my roller coasters in just a couple months after all) and I’m sure I’ll be "forced" to wear XXL shirts by mid-summer.

This old guys gonna give the young pups a run for their money (as if this were a competition).

I’m even going to get my brother-in-law back into the gym with me. He’s been slacking off too much as well! But with or without him I’ll be there.

Thanks to everyone who’s been supporting and encouraging me along the way. The best is yet to come!

Good news this week - I’m down another couple of pounds and this is the second straight week of weight loss. My bodyfat % remained unchanged, but since I don’t really trust that measurement I’m not too concerned. At least I doubt I lost two pounds of muscle in one week!

It’s been a very busy week as it’s show week - we opened last night to a very responsive audience, a little smaller than we would of liked, but as long as they are laughing and applauding an audience of just two or three is enough!

I could almost say that my weigh in this week is more of the same old, same old. A slight drop in BF (not enough to speak of) and my weight is back under the 240 mark - down almost three pounds since last week. I really can’t wait until my play is over to I can spend more time in the gym. Though I’m doing a pretty good job of holding steady I’m ready to see some changes again! I’m through the worst of the budget season and my hours at work are more in line with "normal" (whatever that can be called these days).

Overall though, I feel good. A little stiff in the mornings the past week or so - that’s either the singing and dancing or the change in weather (thank goodness it’s warmer!). Stretching is probably in order. I’m generally cheerful and in good spirits, too.

All in all, not a bad week.