Fit for Freedom

I read the other day that we humans do all sorts of things to replace the lack of love we feel. This occurs whether we do something really good like give millions to Darfur or really bad like murder someone. Of course one is positive and the other negative in a dualistic sense. But what about body building? Well, I will be one of the first to admit that I love the attention and admiration I get from friends, family and especially "strangers" when they rave about the progress I have attained. It is not much, but from where I was before it is a lot! It does "top off" the "love tank" (for those of you familiar with "The Five Love Languages") So I love bodybuilding because it loves me back. The people here, the responses I get from others and just "loving" myself enough to take care of this fragile gift called life. Why not make the best of it? It isn’t about sex or flirting or banal desires it is about feeding the spirit behind the effort to push the bar up just once more. And to all that, I am grateful…

Eating is half the work in bodybuilding, The other 45% is sleep and the last %5 is actually time at the gym. Shopping for groceries was always kind of like Christmas everyweek. Something new to bring home and experience. But lately it is a pain trying to change up the protein and then there is work. Trying to eat through the day while in a very busy profession is not simple. But Protein shakes at least allow me to guzzle in between patients. Harder to do with egg white powder. I need a blender to avoid it all clumping and feeling like I am drinking chopped up hard boiled eggs. Yuk. but, if I ever want the six pack to show it will be more cardio and ab work. Slowly they are working their way into the system. Arm day is still my favorite followed by chest then back and shoulders. Oh well, life goes on building slowly. Why didn’t I start this at 16!

I wanted to say thank you to all the women out their for their pics and support.  I cannot tell you how much positive feedback just makes me blossom.  I receive healthy, clean stimulation looking at the hard work you have done and it provides fuel for this old man to push it to the limits of body building.  It reminds me of the film "Venus" with Peter O’Toole.  Although I have not had the descent into the "dirty old man" status yet(or ever hopefully.)  My arms are suffering today from you comments and pictures.  My guns are sore and achy after having cracked the whip over them last night.  Your pics and comments have forced me into uncharted territory-Ab work.  I HATE ab work almost as much as I hate regular water!  Makes me sick to my stomach.  Well Girls, thanks for helping me, "man up."

Nothing says male strength like “guns.” Nice bulges that are actually deterents to conflict. Watch a couple of guy bodybuilders and you will see. Unlike when two buddies start sharing their hardware of Smith and Wesson or Rugers, women can sit back, and fellow bodybuilders, with appreciation at the hard work that has been placed on these potential weapons of mass destruction. It is a thrill for me to have someone, especially a woman say, “You workout right?” “Can I touch them?” Walking away with them giggling gives me a sense of satisfation. I am lifting for myself but I am happy to have the admiration of my hard work and sweat at the gym reach fruition. So today is another installment of “gun polishing.” I like it when I leave the gym fatigued but knowing that tonight after my protein shakes and meals my body will be packing the beef onto them…

Well leg day went uneventful which is what I was hoping for in the short term.  The grade #1 tear did not ease its ugly head.  After leg press and squats things went fine.  It did tighten a little doing the ham curls but the compression shorts treally helped that along so it is good to go.  I plan on increasing only 10 lbs a week just to make sure.  I think the cycling has helped prep the left ham for new work.  So from now on it is double time mental attendance to the ham when I curl and no quick jerks in the movement.  The snap/knife sensation is no one I desire to re-create.  I got a flu shot yesterday but I do not think that will put any crimps into my "arm day."

Well after throwing away the Hammer Strength machines I have rediscovered what true muscle soreness is in my pecs.  After a rousing round of flat, incline, decline and DB pec flys I feel like I just had 400 cc implants placed.  Now the challenge is to eat enough protein for the muscles to repair.  It is a chore.  Anyone have any great ideas without having to eat too much red meat, milk and protein shakes?  I need something portable and cheap.  The Revolution protein bars seem to be the best bet at this point.  They taste good too unlike most alcohol, karob flavored wafers. YUK.  I like the egg white protein but man on man does it give you some serious hydrogen sulfide gas.  I can clear an apartment building in 5 minutes.  Not something I want to be stuck with before a romantic interlude.  Oh well the search continues.  Today is leg retraining after the Grade 1 Hamstring Pull.   Wish me luck….

Boy, what a wake-up call.  I was at a different gym and damn near killed myself.  I think fear threw the bar up more than strength as I was afraid my chest would be crushed.  Maxing 410 on the Hammer Strength was a great feat but to translate it to a bar was shit.  I wondered why my size did not seem to increase much but the weights increased every 2 weeks.  I ended up actually lifting less on the bench press than I had before as a workout set.  Well, this new pissedoffedness will help motivate me to using the bench and no machines.  I wonder where else I am suffering this delusion?  So, I think I will swear off the machines for free weights only.  My chest is quite sore today after returning to old school lifting but apparently the Hammer-Strength machines just don’t cut it. I usually workout at 1600 but did workout out at 1200 but I cannot believe the time of day would make such a big difference.  I guess I did not want to face the music when on a Hammer-Strength I could do shrugs with 500 lbs but on a barbell its 275!  I feel a little bit like Lucy in the Pumpkin patch with Linus-"What fool I was…."

Shall I complain?  Am I a Puritan?  Not hardly  but I want bodybuilding to be more about muscle, mass, trimmed and setting sail than T&A shots.  I know alot of y’all think that is the bomb and it helps with the stimulation to go to the gym but why not amp up and self motivate?  I would rather a woman comment on the "guns" than the shaded areas of my crotch. My heroines here are pretty much msfitness, Jamie Eason and still feminine.  Nice hard bodies that show alot of work and discipline.  Just look at msfitness’ abs,  That’s dedication.  I had thought about doing a picture series myself, thong included, of mimicing the T&A crowd.  However, the idea of wearing and sporting "butt floss" is not my idea of a good time nor do I desire to hear about people throwing up on-line.  Keyboards do not do well with fluids. So how do I change the dilemma?  Work hard and show off the hard work.

Until next time take this for what it’s worth-not much….