getripped5h1’s BodyBlog

I have been having trouble this week with hitting the gym and really getting frustrated with it. I have been having to get in to work pretty early and considering that I have over a 45 mile commute each way it puts me leaving home to early to workout then. I haven’t gotten home early enough to get to the gym as it closes by 8:00 and meetings every day during lunch. I have been doing well on my diet so that is a plus but really need to get back into the gym. Working out is one of the few ways I have found that helps keep me from getting depressed to much as well as provides a productive way to release tension. I did bring in a set of dumbbells to work and when I get the chance I will do a little workout with them at my desk but still not the same. Well, guess I should quit complaining and be thankful that I still have a job and try to look at the bright side of things, I suppose that I could call this a "recovery" week or something.

Well I got off my butt today and did some cardio, used the elliptical trainer for 35 minutes and really only stopped because my knee started getting pretty sore. I think that by keeping it up and continuing to use the elliptical as well as a bike my knee will get used to the activity and allow me to keep pushing it longer. I hope so anyway as I have to get my endurance up as well as that last layer of fat from my waist. I have been pretty successful in keeping my bodyfat level down to right at 16% but I really want to get down to at least 14% so cardio here I come. Now I have to find that right balance of weights and cardio to lose the fat but maintain the muscle.

I have been working really hard lately in the weight room but guess I have been neglecting the cardio to much. I have been taking in quite a bit of calories in order to add mass but the lack of cardio has also added some "mass" where I do not want it (around the middle) so I think I will back off a little on the calories and start getting in more elliptical and biking. I have had three knee surgeries so can’t really do much in the way of running so anyone with ideas of low impact cardio that would give me some change would be appreciated. I have begun tracking my food intake a little more and figure I will drop intake down to about 1600-1700 per day and see what that will do. Guess as far as cardio is concerned I will have to go with that old saying "just DO it!!!"

I have had a great week of working out, have managed to lift more weight than I had planned which is a good thing. I have been showing some improvement in many areas like my shoulders, arms and legs but need to make more progress in the abs and back areas. I started doing some cardio today (30 minutes on an elliptical trainer) it felt pretty good but I have trouble with cardio due to my old injuries (three knee surgeries and three herniated disks in back) but think that the elliptical may give me some benefit without the pounding associated with most other cardio workouts. I am still trying to figure this site out and learn how to "friend" someone but I am really a dunce when it comes to this blogging and online interaction stuff. I am currently just happy that I have some place to write down my successes as well as my issues and know that whoever (if anyone) reads them they would probably understand what I am talking about.