Don’t Have a Keg…

I’m a day late this week because of my activities yesterday which started at 7:00 am (annual homecoming at my alma mater - college - and I participate with the alumni band. Quite a full day in addition to performing on stage as well last night). Anyway, I’ve had an increase in weight (2 lbs) and a slight increase in bodyfat (0.4%) and am not sure why. I’ll have to refocus on diet as I hit the gym hard this week.

Okay, maybe I’ve reached some sort of turning point in my attitude and priorities. But, this minimal workout is driving me crazy! I’m ready to really hit the gym hard and stick to a solid routine…just a few more days and my schedule is essentially clear through Christmas (oh, there’s one trip and the occasional meeting - but they are on regular nights and I can workout around them). I’m sure I’m not the only one who gets antsy when he, or she, doesn’t get to workout as often as she, or he, likes. But, it’s actually a relatively new experience for me. No, that’s not true, it’s a forgotten experience for me…I now remember that this is what used to keep me on track not too long ago!

Okay - as I’m gearing up for my triumphant return to the gym (okay, I haven’t really left, just pared things down for the most part for the last few weeks as I finish up the play I am in) I had a realization. I’ve let my legs go! I used to consider my legs, especially the calves, one of my best body parts. Which gave me some additional pride as I know a lot of guys have trouble developing good calves. Well, anyway, though my calves are still for the most part good, my thighs are looking…soft. Not hard like they used to be and there’s no sweep at all anymore - not that there was a lot before, I’ve always carried much of my fat in my thighs and hips. So, when I’m developing my new routines I’ve got to be sure to include some squats and/or leg presses. After all, you can’t build a house without a good foundation and the legs are the foundation of the body!

So, I go away for the weekend and have some free time and thought I’d check out the hotel’s "state of the art" fitness center and guess what? Another disappointing "gym." It still amazes me that these resorts think that if you have a couple treadmills and a bike you’ve got a fitness center that will make everyone happy. Not a weight in sight. Oh well, I needed the cardio too…

A day early this week as I’m about to head up to northern Michigan for a beautiful fall weekend and to hob-nob with my fellow community theatre enthusiasts at the annual Community Theatre Association of Michigan Fall Conference. Just a slight uptick in my weight (223.8) and bodyfat seems to be pretty stable, actually down a bit - so despite my "binge" earlier this week and my not feeling too well on and off for the past couple weeks, things are not too bad. Hmmm, a gain in weight and a loss in bodyfat…could I actually be putting on muscle? What a radical concept!

I finish up rehearsals this coming week for the play that I’m in (Doubt) and am looking forward to increasing my time in the gym and reaching a few goals.!

Okay, I don’t know if it’s because I’ve not been feeling well and tonight I did feel good - but I had the hardest time just trying to stop eating. I mean, I’ve binged before but tonight’s cravings where almost impossible to resist. Has anyone else ever experienced this type of hunger? Thank goodness my house is no longer filled with junk food - but I’m sure I took in a week’s worth of carbs none-the-less. Oh well, now that I’m satieated (is that a word?) I can at least go to sleep. Hopefully, tomorrow is better…

It’s been a rough week and I got very little training in. Despite my previous post, my current bout with Crohn’s hadn’t actually subsided. So all week it’s been up and down - I start to feel good one day, then bad the next. At this point as I write I’m anticipating a fairly good day but there is a twinge of pain still. We’ll see how it goes. And I don’t think I mentioned that I’m currently acting in a play right now ("Doubt" a powerful drama) so on top of not feeling well I"ve been in rehearsal four nights a week - so I"ve had to muster my energy each night for rehearsal leaving little, if any, for training.  

However, my weight has dropped a little again and if I can keep this up I’ll break 220 in about two weeks. I just hope that the losses aren’t mostly muscle - and judging by the fact that I’m having trouble keeping my pants up these days I’d say it is mostly fat coming off - despite the bodyfat readings of my scale. My weight loss trend started prior to this latest flare-up though so I’m sure I’ll be able to keep it up once I’m feeling 100% again.

Okay, no more whining for today! We all have problems - it’s how we handle them that makes the difference, right? Positive attitude and all that. Celebrate success!

Speaking of success and positive attitudes, if you want to see some great examples of both check out the website of my friend Christopher Showerman (actor/producer) at www.christophershowerman.com not only is he a great guy, and a bodybuilder in his own right, but he has a tremendous positive attitude which he demonstrates not only through his life but on his website.

Take care all!

Or at least as better as I get! It was a rough weekend and even yesterday I was still a little out of it (see my last blog for details) - but my gut is feeling much better today and I was at least back on my "feed" and able to eat regular meals again without any ill effects. Tomorrow, time to hit the weights!

I feel like absolute crap today. My Crohn’s kicked in yesterday and has gotten worse overnight. I don’t know if it’s the rain or what but I’m totally drained of energy and it’s a chore to just write this blog. But, even with this I did do my weekly weigh in. Nothing spectacular but the weight is still moving slowly downward or at the very least not moving up. I’m in a play right now and that’s getting in the way of my workouts. But that will be over in three weeks and nothing planned after that until after the New Year to interfere with my training (health notwithstanding). Have a good week everyone!

Weight is about the same this week, a pound or so heavier, but bodyfat is down again. I’ve actually been a little afraid to take measurements but think I will do that again next week. I did have a good experience this past weekend on a trip to Cedar Point (voted best amusement park in the world for the 10th year by "Amusement Today") as I had no trouble fastening the restraints (seat belt) on the Millennium Force. Last year it was a tight squeeze, this year it wasn’t. So by that measurement at least I know my hips and waist are smaller! But, I also easily fit into the shoulder harnesses of "Raptor." A mixed blessing. A blessing because I could ride, a curse because that means my chest and shoulders haven’t reached "freak" proportions yet (haha)! Actually, I doubt that I’ll ever not fit into those harnesses as I believe you need an upper body circumference of more than 60" in order to be too big to ride. More than a foot larger than I’ve ever been and a measurement usually found in only the very obese or the very chemically "enhanced" bodybuilder.

Ride on everyone!