farleybasset’s BodyBlog

Been thinking about getting a tattoo lately….  Not sure if it’s really me?  I have to admit, when I see a guy who’s got great delts, bi’s and pecs and has some ink, I think it looks good.  I’m a bit older, a bit more reserved, but think maybe I might like it.  Definitely need to find something I wanna live with for the rest of my life right?  I like the upper pec/delt tribal designs quite a bit.  What’s ur favorite inkspot on a guy?  Any suggestions?  Maybe it’ll help me one way or the other……hmmmmmm.

Let me start by saying I have been so extremely inspired by some many people here on bb.com.  Especially with the more mature fitness fanatics such as Belinda Benn, Sweatinit, Doctorstacy, Big D!, KL Texas, Italia37,Whey2Much, Helenawf, Monstah, etc, etc, etc.  These people who are all approaching 40 or in their 40’s are amazing each in what they have accomplished.  I will be turning 40 this January (the 26th…for all of you that have some extra cash, I like anything from Mercedes Benz and Tag Heuer).  So for my birthday present I not only want to be in the best damn shape of my life BUT I want to memorialize it with some professional photos.  I want these to be top notch photos. Something to be proud of.  Something I can show my grandkids when I’m 75 and say "look kids, grampy didn’t always look like a california raisin!"  I’ve thought about maybe trying to compete and not sure if that’s for me.  Maybe…who knows , but a great set of photos would be really cool I think.   Any and all recommendations for photographers are welcome.  I have contacted a few already and have my feelers out for everything fitness related.   Who knows maybe I’ll be discovered and become the "Next America’s Top Model"….oh wait….that’s all women….and their all in their 20’s….and I’ll have to meet what’s her name….and…and….and…and..  I’ll just take the photos   Heh!

So, here I am on my lovely family vacation in Nantucket.  Lovely quaint island of the coast of Boston, Ma.  Beaches, cottages, shopping, music, what better way to relax for a week and get away from work and working out.  Well….at least work anyway.  I couldn’t stand it for even ONE DAY!  I had to look up where the nearest fitness center/gym was.  They have weekly memberships so of course I got a 7 day pass!  I’ve been there twice in three days and road my bike 2.5 miles each way to get there.  So…..am I insane?  Maybe, but I sure do like it!

Well here’s an update this morning from my best bud from college and his life transformation I wrote about a few weeks ago.  I continue to be amazed at how much we influence people with our lifestyles, and more often than not, without even saying a word!

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So this is my last week on the 9 week program from Dave Vignasse.  Gotta tell you, I am VERY happy with the progress over these last 9 weeks.  The piece that I think has changed me the most is the nutrition plan he developed for me.  I always thought I knew what to eat but I was way wrong.  The workout and gym routine is something I’ve been pretty familiar with for some time.  Changing things up every couple weeks helped a bunch to keep the muscles guessing and growing.  Anyway, now that I have finished this program I am looking for my next great inspiration/goal.  Drop the bodyfat % to 10-12% for the summer?  Put on another couple ell bee’s of muscle?  Well, I just bought a 30 day cycle of Mitotropin by Gaspari Nutrition and looks like the bodyfat goal is my next big challenge.  I have never actually had abs to speak of.  I did have one big "ab" when I started this whole journey but it wasn’t very impressive let me tell you. 

 So, this journey continues and the destination will never be reached.  At least, I hope not ; )

Ok, so here I am 9 months into getting my ass back in gear for two purposes: First, to get myself back into some kind of shape I can feel good about, and second, to get healthy.  I was at the point where I had put on a good 10 pounds of pure fat and not excersizing or eating right.  I had to stop the insanity.  I also have a family history of high cholesterol and heart disease that most family members treat with medication.  My cholesterol had been hovering around 210-220 for about 5 years and I thought this change would do me well rather than go on medication.

 Fast forward 9 months and my company has it’s annual Health and Wellness Fair this morning.  I am all pysched because I feel like I am gonna knock all the screenings out of the park.  I got my cholesterol back and it’s EFFING 218!!!  My HDL levels were good but I was stunned that I hadn’t budged my overall cholesterol levels.  So the lady turned to me and said "You know, you can lower this by excersizing…."  I was speechless!  I had to take a second and said, "how about running 2 miles everyday AFTER weight training for 45-60, 5-6 days a week, would that work?"  She said it would.  I said…."well it didn’t".   After more discussions she explained to me that many people just have genetics that lead to high cholesterol levels.  I have to tell you I am a bit bummed out to say the least.  I have dropped 18 lbs of fat and replaced it with about 5 lbs of muscle in the last 9 months.   Eating 5-6 good meals a day (supplementing with protein shakes for 2-3 of those meals). 

 So, here it is.  I left there and went to the gym, hit the back and bi’s extra hard today, did an interval cardio on the treadmill with a job 2minute, run 4 minute for 18 minutes.  

I gotta get this thing, ya know!  Any suggestions from any of fine people on this site would be greatly appreciated.  I really DO NOT want to go on Lipitor or any medication for that matter.