Fit for Freedom

Weight is relative.  I have lost 17 lbs eating clean, adding cardio and being more disciplined.  I may give up some mass gain but by trimming the protein back some I am realizing I have a very slow metabolism.  Eating about 1200 cals or less a day 60% protein, 30% carbs and 10% fat the pounds are melting away.  Yet, there is more to be done.  Considering that my bone structure says an optimal weight is 190!  But, I will see.  When I get to 5% BF with continued cardio, diet and lifting I will see what I weigh and take it from there.  So, if you are borderline hypothyroid with a low BMR cutting hard on the calories may work for you too.  I have noticed that my stomach size-what I can eat-has decreased dramitically as well.  That is a good thing.  Oh, the best news so far is that my 34" jeans fit well and no "dunlop disease."  Well, actually I squeezed into a pair of 33" but I may have to go get my jeans altered or they will fall off my butt.

My wife came up with a funny the other day.  We switched to a Vegan diet organic and healthy.  Sure the dried egg white protein was pushing the limit but it isn’t the yolk, just food for a baby chick.  But after 10 days I said I would switch to all natural meat.  Strange as organic would never work unless all the critters had gas masks and drank spring watwer that went through reverse osmosis.  MAYBE then it would be pure.  So, yesterday was a "evil" red meat day.  It is not a rationalization to eat meat.  Looking at my dentition it appears that the creator gave me teeth that grind but not like a cow and "fangs" that are not quite like a tiger’s.  So, I get it.  The way of the Buddha-the Middle path.  Not too much grains and not too much meat.  Simple enough.  PETA members sream that we are eating sentient beings.  True enough but local horticulture clubs are not screaming (yet) that we are eating other sentient beings such as Brocolli, kale, etc.  Just because we cannot hear them wail when we slice a knife through them are they any less alive.  Opps, sounds like politics to me. I will eat, say my prayers of Thanksgiving, knowing that everything I eat was alive and died to sustain me whether plant or animal. Until we can all eat just pure light energy I will suffer my Karmic fate.  But, I will continue to progress in bodybuilding and use these new talents to…I don’t know…help neighbors with furniture, lift my patients in their ill health, play with my grand daughter, too many things to mention.  Maybe if we were all just thankful for what we eat instead of judging everyone for everything life would be more peaceful…

So the Supreme Court is argueing the DC gan ban in Washington, D.C.  "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."  I want to know how in the world they are removing the biceps of the people in Washington?  Must be some kind of wild surgery.  I know I will not give up my guns as they are a signature part of my carriage as I move about the crowds.  Now, I am not huge any any scope, about 16.5 inches but they are mine and I work hard on them.  I hope to progress to about 18-18.5  But my age might fight against that but without trying I will never know what could be.  The 5×5 program works well for me but I have now added a lesser weight when one fails to reach any rep that does not make it to 5.  I am betting it is working well as my biceps are rediscovering what sore is.  Finally I polish them off with a lighter set to failure.  I am pleased.    But, I am also trying to get more growth hormone pumping through me with harder leg work.  Time will tell. As far as I am concerned EVERYONE should have guns, be well trained and disciplined.  You never know when some attractive person will come up to you an ask, with a giggle, “Can I feel them?”    OHHHH yeah!!!!!

So the Supreme Court is argueing the DC gan ban in Washington, D.C.  "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."  I want to know how in the world they are removing the biceps of the people in Washington?  Must be some kind of wild surgery.  I know I will not give up my guns as they are a signature part of my carriage as I move about the crowds.  Now, I am not huge any any scope, about 16.5 inches but they are mine and I work hard on them.  I hope to progress to about 18-18.5  But my age might fight against that but without trying I will never know what could be.  The 5×5 program works well for me but I have now added a lesser weight when one fails to reach any rep that does not make it to 5.  I am betting it is working well as my biceps are rediscovering what sore is.  Finally I polish them off with a lighter set to failure.  I am pleased.    But, I am also trying to get more growth hormone pumping through me with harder leg work.  Time will tell. As far as I am concerned EVERYONE should have guns, be well trained and disciplined.  You never know when some attractive person will come up to you an ask, with a giggle, "Can I feel them?"    OHHHH yeah!!!!!

So now, while I am unbuilding and rebuilding it is time to take out the measuring tape and the calipers.  We all know the scale is a liar when it comes to weight loss-water weight fat but if your are building at the same time I need to focus on the weight progression of the plates.  Feed the beasts, guns, etc but don’t be downhearted by the size decreases.  It makes it more interesting when I consider that I have lost 3- 5#lb bags of sugar.  When I hold them up and look at them I think, damn, that’s a lot of weight.  And I know where it was-abs and back.  So I keep pushing hard in this life style change and move along.  Yesterday was 1.5 hours of fat burning exercise plus the lifting.  Not bad for an old codger.  So, onward and upward…

Have written that I think I am a weenie?  I am.  Why, I finally figured out that in searching for the best this, that, etc. I am really delaying rolling up my sleeves and pushing iron to ts perfection of any 1 technique.  When the going gets tough I think I switch things up.  I think I have a mental block to work to completion.  So, I swear to myself to kick my ass everyday Mon-Sat.  Weights(S,T,T) and cardio.  (Believe it or not the cardio is easier.)  I like the way I feel after lifting.  I think consistency is best and I have listened to what is best from a 1000 sources.  What has worked best has been the 5×5.  Time to return to my lover…

Pyramids reverse or otherwise. At my tender age I do a week split into 3 sessions.  Started a chest pyramid yesterday.  I know these work with large muscle groups but can you use a pyramid with isolation exercises;  For example barbell curl pyramid or triceps extensions?  Or will that inherently cause "overtraining" because of the ‘nature’ of the muscle and the weight? Or can you do something that hits all three heads of the triceps with a pyramid and ‘normal’ sets for the rest?

I will tell you one thing, I did the Jay Cutler style extensions for my triceps Tuesday and they are raging sore.  Wow.

Anyway.  Any wisdom is appreciated.

I will write most of February off as stupidity or cupidity month because things just did not go right.  After going back to the gym the climb back up is painful.  After the flu, vacation and emergent plumbing repairs I am crawling back from under the rock.  I read though that the flu may give you weakness for weeks afterwards. Yeah, tell me about it.  After going down 20 lbs in most of my racks except arms I have re-emerged fom the doldrums.  Are those steak knives in my pecs and traps?  Oh, right that is muscle soreness and who says stupidity doesn’t hurt?  Well, after the flu I did push the cardio and still am with the weights.  I have dropped to 206 from 218-220, cleaned my diet up and decided to be more adult/disciplined in the lifting. My son, KDP on this site, 16 yo and can now bench 300.  It is time to man-up and catch him before he figures he can whope me in a fight.  My arms are the only thing, well, keeping him at arms length.  Today it is back and shoulders.  I will lose more weight, I will have a taper.  I will get back to my 34 jeans.  Another 1" outta do that.  So, onward and upward.