Let it Burn!

First, big up to BB.com for sending me a free issue of Iron Man magazine (June, 08) with my last purchase from the Store! I’ve never read the mag before but I will definitely pick it up again, maybe even subscribe to it. I mean, I read it from cover to cover in one sitting. There is an *excellent* article on Frank Zane in there related to the mind-muscle connection and body sculpting.  

So, anyway, I have completely let myself and my diet go to hell this weekend! A friend is in from out of town and I’ve used her vacation as my own excuse to pig out on all manner of junky, highly glycemic foods. In fact, I just finished a tub of chinese food (shrimp w/cashew nuts and white rice)! Oh, the horror of it all!

Of course, my justification is that I’m going on a strict diet in the next few days so I might as well enjoy the gluttony! What is even more silly is that I’ve been on this binge for a week now and I’m sure it’s not doing much for my body fat percentage… ! Yikes!

My PT certification studying went out the window this weekend as well . This is not a good thing nor is it excusable - shame on me! I have only a few weeks to sear this material into my fitful brain and pass this test. I’m 100% sure I’ll do ‘fine’ but I want to do my best.

I have a friend who wants to take photos of me so we have a shoot coming up next Saturday. Maybe I’ll post some of the pics and, no, they won’t be of my back! LOL. Which reminds me, I’m getting better and better at doing chin ups - today I did 7 in a row with perfect form (meaning, I started in a dead-hang for each rep). My back was on fire. I loved it. There is really something to be said for the mind-muscle connection. When I focused on lifting with my back, the reps seemed easier…

One of the reasons I really love bodybuilding is because it’s mostly a solo sport. There are no teammates to work together with in order to "win". You do it mostly on your own, even if you work with a trainer, nutritionist and/or, in the case of competition, choreographer and/or posing coach. None of these people can make you do what you need to do; their job is to provide expert guidance and the rest is up to you.

With that in mind, I’ve decided to put competition goals aside in favor of studying to become certified as a Personal Trainer. My reasons, however, may not be typical. Quite honestly, I’ve tried working with trainers and find that I push myself more when I work out alone. Having someone watching and directing me is somewhat disconcerting, for various reasons, but right now I don’t know enough to get the results I need. My belief is that by going through the education and training required to be a certified PT, I will learn all I need to know to get my body to the place I want it to be. So, in effect, the certification will be my way of becoming an expert on me. I’m going to get certified with NASM. ACSM was also a consideration but after researching both, I’m more satisfied with the course materials provided by NASM. (I’m *really* interested in a NSCA-CPT cert but will go for that once I’ve completed my BS in Nutrition + Exercise Science in a couple of years.)

Ok. So, onto the story…
My boss is getting married in about 7 weeks and began seeing a PT two weeks ago in an effort to tone up for her wedding. She knows I’m into fitness and takes the liberty of asking me nutrition and workout questions all the time, which I think is great! Anyway, she told me yesterday that while she was doing planks with her trainer, he went over and grabbed a small stability ball and began throwing it at her head in an effort to keep her focused on her balance while performing the plank. I thought this was odd, to say the least!! Then she told me that during her rest periods between sets, her trainer will have her do "balance" stretches that usually involve her balancing on one leg with her body bent forward at a 90 degree angle. While doing these balancing stretches, he will take a foam roller and hit her on the back with it, again in an effort to keep her focused on the task at hand. Now, I don’t know a whole lot about training but this shit seems completely unorthodox! What am I missing here??

Just got back from a 3 day business trip to New Orleans. I’ve never been there and I had a faaaabulous time! I fell way off my clean eating diet and I don’t feel the least bit guilty for it! Most of the food was provided by the hotel my company put me up in but by the middle of day 2, I was completely over it. It was all food I could get anywhere in NYC and I wanted to sample the local flavor.

My first descent into greasy carb hell was an absolutely delicious "Po Boy" sandwich. It was made up of hot sausage and 3 fried eggs on a "po boy", which is a hero-length loaf of bread that tasted like heaven. YUM! We had dinner at Arnaud’s, a cavernous, museum of a restaurant. I dined on some spicy shrimp over a bed of lettuce; it was so spicy I was breathing fire and my eyes were tearing by the second shrimp! Then we had a sausage & chicken gumbo that I practically inhaled and the main entree was a tender chunk of steak cooked medium-well along with roasted potatoes and asparagus tips. I think I put on 2 lbs from that dinner alone! To top it all off, after dinner some co-workers and I headed over to Bourbon Street where I drank a "HUGE ASS BEER" … or two. .

This morning was the beginning of an entire day of sinfully pleasurable food. I had slab bacon for breakfast - about 10 thick, greasy slices. I couldn’t resist. I can’t remember the last time I’ve had pork bacon and it was beyond delectable; it was addicting. I think I went back for three helpings over the course of the breakfast hour. I dutifully added a fruit salad to my breakfast plate, next to buttered grits, 4 scrambled eggs and a couple of French toast with warm maple syrup. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! At the airport, while I waited for my flight home I finished my New Orleans food binge off with a large cup of seafood gumbo over white rice.

I’m surprised I had such a great time down there! Surprised because I’m a born & bred New Yawka, so most places I visit are quite anti-climatic… I mean, I work in Times Square so I’m surrounded by glitz and bright lights on a daily basis - it takes a whole lot to impress me but The Big Easy definitely did it for me. My only regret is not getting a chance to visit a jazz club but I’ll definitely do that when I go back. And I will go back for sure.

I weighed myself after my shower this evening and I’m up to 140. That’s wild! When I left I weighed 135!! I’m sure that weight will go down in a couple of days because I have some extra water weight (the monthly kind…). The couple of extra pounds were completely worth it. There’s no way I was going to be eating like a rabbit in a town with a history of exquisite cuisines… !

I’ve managed to create a schedule that allows me to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night. Boy what a difference that makes! I have way more energy and I’m a much nicer person. I haven’t been to the gym this week but that’s because I’m trying out a new schedule.

Monday - Rest
Tuesday - Rest
Wednesday - 20 minutes HIIT cardio
Thursday -  20 minutes HIIT  cardio
Friday - Back, Chest, Abs
Saturday - Legs (quads, glutes, hams, calves)
Sunday - Shoulders, Arms (bi’s, tri’s, forearms), Abs

I went last Friday but didn’t go Saturday because I was painting my room so I got my shoulders, arms and legs done during the 12 hours it took me to put 3 coats of paint on(primer + 2 coats of “Cranberry Zing”). For example, when I was carrying the paint home I did bicep curls and tricep extensions (several people passed me in the street with wide-eyed stares, too! LOL). Then, I screwed a broomstick into the roller and painted sideways, pushing from my shoulder. This would be the equivalent of side laterals. I also stood on my tiptoes to get some calf raises in. To paint the bottom half of my walls I did full squats and held them until I couldn’t anymore. I would rest for a minute and then squat again. Instead of walking across the room to refill the paint tray, I lunged. I couldn’t figure out what to do for my hams, though…

I applied for a job with the gym I’ve been coveting for months. Yay for me. I’ve literally been stalking their job board, waiting for a position I qualify for to open up. My lucky day was yesterday. I broke my self-imposed curfew and stayed up late creating a cover letter from scratch. It will pay off. This will be my dream job, as I’m heavily into health & fitness and want to make a career in the field. It’s a job at their corporate office; I currently work as an Administrative Assistant in a private wealth management firm. This is the perfect opportunity for me. I’m just waiting for the call to come in for an interview… Yes, I’m confident the call will come. I’m more than qualified and what’s better than having a fitness freak working at a fitness company???? Thank you in advance for wishing me luck!

When it rains, it pours…

I’ve been having some personal issues and as such have found myself falling off my workout and nutrition routine (if it could be called a routine lol). For the last week I have eaten maybe 2x a day, which unfortunately, is the way I’d always eaten until I started working out this past June. I have absolutely no appetite and forcing myself to eat seems like so much work. I’ve been living off of water-based protein shakes and the occasional slice of deli turkey or chicken breast.

One "positive" is that I’m leaning out and can see the V that divides my shoulders and biceps. That’s cute. My legs also look pretty lean and muscular. But at some point my body is going to start catabolizing and all this hard earned muscle will be eaten up. Seriously don’t want that so I’m going to spend the weekend creating an entirely new workout and nutrition program (with the help of a trainer) and stick to it for 12 weeks.

Anyway, just venting a bit. Come Monday, I’m going to get back on track - no matter what my mental state of mind is.

On another note, my girlfriend/trainer told me I would do well if I competed. I said, "in what?" She said bodybuilding, not figure, because my goal is to be lean and solid [thick] as opposed to just lean. She said I have good symmetry and wouldn’t have to work too hard for too long to get into contest shape. I beg to differ but, hey, she’s the second person in a few weeks to suggest this. I do have a secret desire to compete but only for the purpose of evolving my levels of discipline and consistency. So, basically, I’d do it just to see if I could…