fitforty’s BodyBlog

So, I got home from the office on a Friday and I was going to prepare for a good workout at the gym right?  Wrong!  I took my shoes off and lay on the bed.  I was toast, both physically and mentally.  That was the last time I saw daylight, until I woke up this morning.  I guess my body was telling me something.  “Rest you knucklehead, you need rest!”  Ok, rest is good for the bod.
Today is Saturday and I had a really good workout.  I worked on my hamstrings, traps, calves, and abs.  I’ve gotten stronger with my SLDLs.  I’ve been able to lift double of what I lifted 1.5 months ago.  This is a big improvement, because I seriously have not lifted much with my legs since 1988.  For some reason I became obsessed with only upper body workouts, and at least now I have the brains to make my body more balanced.  Proper form is important to me and I’m more secure in my form with SLDLs.  
As far as my abs, I’ve gotten more detailed on my routines.  I focus on lower, mid/upper, oblique and core exercises.  I’m really noticing the difference with my ab workout. 
My weight is at 189.6lbs.  I have not dipped below 190 in a while.  While I am eager pack on more muscle mass, I know being heavier makes running more difficult.  
I’ve talked to someone close to me about possibly kicking the soccer ball around, or playing on a casual team.  I really miss the sport, and would love to play again.  Unfortunately I’ve played on competitive teams when I was at a weight of 120-150lbs.  Yes, I used to run like a dear, but that was several years ago.  I guess playing again, would be fun.  I lake the lateral movement I once had.  We’ll see.

After a long day at the office and doing some chores after work I hit the gym quite late.  I was lifting at 7:30pm.  It was chest day and the lift was good, but I didn’t have anything else left in me to do my ab workout.  Perhaps that was a good thing as I still have soreness in my abs from a workout 3 days ago.  Progress with gaining more muscle mass is still going well, but I am gaining more weight. I used to be in the 187-188lbs. range, but I seem to be in the 192-193lbs. range now.  I believe its muscle mass, since I am still running during my lunch break.

Yesterday after going to my 7 year old son’s open house at school (I was told he had open house 30 minutes before the event), I found myself with little time left in the evening.  Also, my plans for the gym were shot.  So, since it was late I found myself at my son’s special place on Tuesdays; Taco Tuesday at Dell Taco.  Where else can you get 3 tacos for just 99 cents?  Ok its not healthy eating at all.  Call it my cheat night.  Unfortunately I was having a low blood sugar issue.  Having type 2 diabetes does that to a person.  For those who don’t know about this, you have to eat ASAP or you will have a feeling like you are going to pass out.  So, like in the gym, I was in attack mode.  When I work out, I tend to say, “Get Some!”  Well, I did get some…14 tacos later, I was done.  Ouch!

I’m currently in the mountains of Wrightwood, California visiting my mom for the Memorial Day weekend.  Wrightwood is a cute small town, so I have to travel down the "hill" for the next closest gym.  Galaxy fitness on Phelan, Ca is not a bad gym for only $6.00 per day for guests.  It seems to have all of the equipment that I need to use.  The only drawback is the owners want to save money and the gym needs more lighting. 

Today I worked on triceps, forearms and abs.  I was really energized today.  I felt stronger than I normally do; I have no idea why or how.  It was one of those days that I wished all of my workouts had the same amount energy and strength.

Tomorrow I’m going home and I will be back in my old gym.  I look forward to tomorrow’s lift.

Take care everyone!

Either today or tomorrow I will be starting a new program.  I’ve had good gains with the 12 Day Rotation and now I will begin the 9 Day Rotation.  I’m excited about this change as I can see that my body will react well to the change in programs.  Like I mentioned in my other blog, you can never be too old to learn.  I encourge anyone who has not seen any gains, to rethink their program and try something different.  Good day to all and for our US body bloggers, have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

Take care and have a great lift…"Get Some!"

Yes, today is my rest day from the gym and the last day of my 12 day rotation program.  I worked this program for the past 3 weeks and I was really happy with it. 

I still may run during my lunch break, but as for the gym I’m resting today.   My body needs it as yesterday I felt somewhat exhausted.  In fact, a nap sounds good right now.  I will be starting a different program on Thursday. 

Recently I took a pic of myself and compared it to another pic taken back in March of this year.  There is definitely a change in my build.  I have more muscle mass than I did before.  My waist has slimmed down and I have more definition in my core.  

How did this happen?  I simply read some posts on the forums and found that for approx 3 years, I had been doing too much in the gym.  I no longer spend 1.5 to 2 hrs in the gym.  I’m now in and out of there in 40 to 55 minutes and that includes my ab work time.

It’s amazing what you can do if you just have an open mind and read the information found in this site.  Thank you all for participating in this site.

Good morning everyone!

Yesterday I had a good leg workout, considering I did run earlier in the day.  I worked on hamstrings, calves and abs.  It was a good lift for a Monday and the gym was packed.  I may do a short run on my lunch break, just to get rid of any stiffness from yesterday’s lift.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9rFx6OFooCs

Happy Monday everyone!  Let’s all dig in deep and have a great start of the week! 

Good video clip with Al P.

Ok, for those who love the heat, please come to California and take some away.  It was so hot where I live, that it was too unhealthy to do some outside running today.  While I think I could of ran on the hamster mill, I elected not to and will just wait for tomorrow to run during my lunch break.  It should be much cooler tomorrow.  The area around my office is usually 10-15 degrees cooler than where I live.

As for the lift, I went to the gym later than I normally do.  There was not a large crowd in the gym at all, so I pretty much had use to any equipment that I wanted to.  Today was back and abs day.  It was a good lift and I pretty much felt energized throughout my whole routine.  It’s been hard to gauge my gains on my back, considering that my shoulders have been getting larger.  As in all of my exercises, I lean towards using dumbbells for my workouts.  I have read that it takes more control and strength to use dumbbells, plus you don’t need a spotter.