grtfn100’s BodyBlog

From the outside looking in, one would think the people with these great physiques could very easily be vain.  When I joined bb.com I was pretty intimidated by all the great bodies and really wondered if I belonged on here.  Then I was welcome right away by these same folks, wishing me luck and offering support.  I didn’t know the lingo, didn’t even really know how to phrase my questions… but I asked.  And I received answers, tips, praise for my hard earned progress and motivational support.  I get a big kick out of the clowns that comment on people with great bodies and say "they must be compensating for something, they must be lacking something in their life".  It’s the absolute opposite!  That comment is a transparent admission of your feelings of inadequacy and jealousy.  A big defense mechanism that forces out a derogatory comment to protect your fragile self esteem.  Thanks for helping me along.

So yesterday at work I introduced myself to a young family (I’m in auto sales), and shortly into the meet and greet ritual the mother looks at their three year old son and says "now keep your opinions to yourself".  Well, I think I tilted my head and looked at her like a confused puppy……. and she says to me "he can be very rude at times".  What the heck?!  After they left I must’ve spent 10 minutes in the mirror trying to figure out what it was that he might’ve said.  Why was the mother so concerned about the little boy rifling off some kind of insult?  I wasn’t wearing my breathe right strip, I showered, breath seemed to check out ok, I thought I was looking pretty good………… Oh well, I guess I’ll write this one off.  Kids,

My pants are too loose in the waist and my shirts are too tight in the chest and shoulders.  I have no money to spend on nice clothes right now.  It’s the most exciting money problem I can think of ever having.

I’ve been posting progress pics every three to four days, and it’s been four since my last but I have nothing to post today.  Last Thursday I pulled something in my lower back getting out of the shower.  I had done my back workout, hopped in the shower to get ready for work, felt great.  Then ……… ping!  I felt a little pull that almost dropped me to the floor.  Then my lower back started to tighten more and more.  The kind of pain that causes one to exhale little grunt sounds.  You know what I mean?  Anyway I’ve been using icyhot and heating the area.  It would get feeling pretty good, then all of a sudden start to tighten up and twist me into a pretzel, then ibuprofin, and so on.  So today was day four with the back, feeling kinda good so I tried a couple light standing DB curls……. Nope, not happening, not today.  This is driving me crazy!

You may have read in the news that GM more than doubled the amount of dealers to be closed.  GM sent out over 6000 letters….. every franchise dealer received a "yes or no" letter.  My dealerships letter stated that we have been chosen to be the premiere Chevrolet franchise in our area within the new GM.  While I have friends at neighboring dealers (some of which will be losing their jobs) I still need to say that this is a move that will be positive for GM and obviously my dealership.  Currently there are seven Chevrolet dealers within 20 minutes of us.  Most have been around for decades, back before Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Acura, Scion, Infinity, etc.  Back when Honda made two cars (Civic and Accord)  back when the only thing any foreign manufacturer sold was small sedan or tiny pickup truck.  The competition has exploded over the last twenty years and with the consumer having three times the amount of choices we can’t expect to maintain the same amount of sales, can we?  I remember walking to the store as a kid and having a choice of four candy bars, one of four chance of me buying any one of them……. now there are thirty at least.  Currently there are 28 name brands of automobiles that are sold in the US.  As of last month GM’s market share is still 22% (approx.)  That means that more than one of five vehicles sold are a GM vehicle in a sea of 27 competitors.  That’s a huge number but it is still not enough to carry 6000 dealerships.  I think GM is right on when saying that the customer will be the winner when the remaining dealers can thrive and afford to deliver a better service to them.  Many, many mistakes were made at GM, no doubt about it…. it may be late in the game for the restructuring but not too late!  Let’s do this, let’s be proud once again!  Not at all related to bodybuilding, sorry if this is not the forum for this soapbox I’m on, but have a great day none the less!

I posted to the supps forum as well.  Being the noob that I am, I did all sorts of research to find the best few supps to take (without getting crazy) and I decided on (ON NitrCore 24, omega 3 fish oil, L-Glutamine amino free form amino acid and GNC sport multi-vitamin).  A rash broke out on my calves and shins.  Once again I hopped on the "naked lady machine" and the only thing I could find was the amino acids could possibly cause a rash like I have.  So I stopped taking the L-Glutamine approx. two weeks ago and the rash is disappearing.  The questions is………… when the rash is gone should I never take any again, or should I try less (maybe half the amount).  One thing I have noticed is more muscle soreness days after a workout.  Do amino acids help muscles recover quicker?  If so I would like to find a happy medium.  Thanks in advance for any input.

I’m wishing I had never read up on the bad effects of alcohol on muscle development.  When I was ignorant to the fact I would go out and have fun with friends, and I was so happy with the progress I was having from lifting.  Now…….. I don’t have as much fun when I go out for a few because I’m constantly thinking about how I’ll be sleeping tonight with my liver processing alcohol instead of burning fat and my muscles will be starved of the nutrients they need to rebuild.  My excitement toward workouts has waned a bunch too.  I used to have this (I’m a machine mentality) and was so excited about all the changes I’ve made in diet and lifestyle.

The funny thing is………. if I would just take to heart my favorite mantra …………“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

I have the wisdom, now I need to decide between serenity and courage.

Well one month is in the books.  I’ve found bb.com to be an indispensable tool.  The first two weeks brought very fast advancements but lately things seem to have slowed considerably.  I always search for members on here that are a little further along in their progress timeline to see what I will be transforming into in the near future.  It is major fuel to keep me at it.  One thing that I’ve found is right after working out my body looks very different than it normally does………. I kind of say to myself (OK, this is what you will look like normally in the near future without the pump).  I’ve been considering a look into a personal trainer because I keep second guessing my plan.  I’m focusing on building muscle before I lose fat, then I want to focus on fat loss faster, then I want to get bigger faster, and so on.  My big fear about the trainer would be a history of heart disease I have.  I’m on a whole bunch of drugs right now that keep my heart in check.  I have a feeling that most personal trainers would not want me on their schedule.  One drug keeps my heart rate from climbing above 100bpm,  one helps my heart be more efficient, one tries to keep my heart in a normal rhythm, blood pressure pills and so on.  I’m also on Paxil for anxiety (probably from my heart related fears) and prescribed Prilosec for my stomach (probably from all the meds…… eleven pills everyday).
My heart history is another reason I feel I must get in better shape.  When I was 25 they were talking about a heart transplant, I had (supposedly irreversible) dilated cardiomyopathy,  my liver was shutting down,  I was in the hospital for over a month.  All of a sudden my heart starts improving. Six cardiologists were called in to study me.  The conclusion………. (they said "if you believe in miracles, you are one!)  I’ve had setbacks but always recover stronger than before.  What a freak’n waste of a second chance for me to walk around at 230lbs and be the slob I was.

Sorry for the heavy theme today, but I feel better already.  Peace out!

Went to the bar last night, had four beers.  I can put away seven or eight on the average night out so I’m pretty happy with how I did.  Hey, maybe next week it’s three.  Rome wasn’t built in a day blah, blah, blah………..

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the car dealership I work at is in a small suburban town.  every Wednesday the Rogers Municipal Liquor (it’s a bar owned by the town) has a meat raffle.  The locals pack the joint to try their hand at winning some meat.  Well, my dealership gives away free service certificates with every spin of the wheel, (just add ten to the meat winning number and that # wins a free complete 6,000 mile service)  $29.99 value.  So over the course of a year we meet many, many local people that have never been to our dealership before.  It is pretty genius actually, the perfect atmosphere for prospecting.  So anyway, myself and about four others go there every week and work the crowd with our coupons in hand, but………… I’m trying this (no drinking alcohol thing) and tonight will be a big test.  I’m trying to get my mind right and convince myself that I can go without drinking, but so far I’m not convinced.

I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m knock’n the small town stuff, it’s different then I’ve experienced, that’s all.  In fact, I’ve Lived in the country myself now for three years or so.  I really have embraced it and enjoy it.  I guess I explain stuff like it’s different to everyone because it’s so different to me.  Anyway, go find a small VFW or American Legion and throw in your buck for a chance at some steak, you’ll have fun.  Peace out!