Endorphin Freak

Well, I am 2 weeks post-op and now I am in the middle of just healing up enough to get back to the gym.  Doc had to cut out another 12" of small intestine due to scarring caused by my Crohn’ disease but hopefully this will be the last time I have to go under the knife for this stupid disease.  I am also down 20-25 lbs from my summer weight which really sucks since I worked so hard to get there in the first place. 

For those of you out there that have any sort of IBD I keep hope for you that there will someday be a cure or treatment that puts your condition into 100% remission… I know I keep my fingers crossed for myself as well.

 See ya

I have changed how I manage my profile on BB.com lately.  I no longer input my daily workouts due to my goals having changed recently.  I am no longer shooting for weight gains like I was previously but more just maintaining that which I did put on.  I am gearing up for a marathon relay and with all of the running it is very difficult to do both.  Plus, the week following the marathon I get to have a small hernia (quarter sized) repaired.  Once i am cleared by the doc I plan on diving right back in and getting after it super hard.  I am looking at setting a goal for 2010 of reaching the 1200lb club (bench, squat, deadlift).  I made it to just over 1000lbs this fall (395 squat, 275 bench, 350 deadlift) and I was very pleased with that.  I think that it was quite an accomplishment for someone of my stature (5′8" 180lbs). I also would like to gain as much weight as my frame will natually allow.  If that means 200lbs then so be it but I think that 190 is definitely not out of the question.

But, for the next month or so I will just try to get rid of the wicked tendonitis in my left shoulder and get ready for the race.  Yoga tomorrow should help out for both!!

Peace out!

Well my trip to the Dr confirmed what I already new.  Just above my existing incision scar on my abdomen I have developed a quarter sized hernia.  I could list about 1 million explicatives right now but I won’t.  The only plus is that it isn’t bothering me at all but I need to get it fixed.  I explained to the Dr. that I am going to run in a relay marathon in early Nov so I can’t really afford to take any time off with regards to training.  Looks like the week of Thanksgiving is when I will get it fixed.  Dr said it is a pretty easy fix.. just a couple stitches and a small piece of mesh and 3 weeks of heal time and I will be good as new. 

I am just glad that I was able to get my squat up to almost 400lbs before the surgery because I imaging that with the time off I will lose some strength.  Don’t tell my Dr. but if I feel good I will still be going in for some light workouts during my "rest and recovery" time just nothing that I will have to really strain my abdominal wall.  I don’t mind surgery but I definitely don’t want to have him repeat the fix.  Oh well…

So, I surpassed my August 31st goal of 180lbs two weeks ahead of schedule and ended the month around 182-3.  I am struggling with the decision to shoot for 190 by the end of the year or to really try and rip up but maintain the weight.  I have never carried this kind of weight for an extended period because my metabolism just won’t stand for it.  My meds are really keeping my Crohns in check so it has allowed me to eat the kinds of food necessary to gain but that stupid disease is finnicky and who knows how long that will hold out.  I have set another goal and that is to hit the 1100lb mark.  By that i mean, 300 on the bench, 400 squat and 400 deadlift.  I am not too far away on any one of them but those last few pounds are always a chore.  Plus, to top it all off, I have to start running at least 3 days a week to prepare myself for the marathon relay that I signed up for this summer.  Race is in November so I don’t want to start too late… .Lots on the plate.

Well, after a few blood tests to keep track of my blood counts since starting my new medication, my Dr. has told me that not only does he recommend that I get monthly B12 injections as well as starting Vit C & D supplementation but I am anemic as well.  I have been somewhat sluggish lately but I just attributed it to the fact that I have been getting up at night to help out with the baby.  Hopefully the energy will return!

"Hi Josh, (say everyone)".  Whew, glad I got that off my chest.  I have finally decided to try and clean up my diet and really start consuming the required amount of protein to make the gains that I want.  Day one went pretty well besides the churro that I had with my dinner.  But trust me, it is much better than I usually do.  I also maintained eating every 3 hours today which is a huge step for me.  The only crappy thing is that I think I am coming down with the cold that my oldest son just got over… keeping my fingers crossed that a good nights sleep will knock it out.  I have been stuck around 177-78 for the last couple of weeks and I think that it is just a matter of diet.  I guess the next few weeks will tell.   

7 days straight including 3 leg days has made me a very tired guy.  2 of the 3 were squats so I am really feeling yesterdays leg workout even though I just stuck with lunges.  I try not to take many days off but my body told me that today was a must rest day.  Going to hit it hard again in the morning with a killer Chest/Shoulder workout and off to work.   

I hit the legs pretty hard today and hammered out some good sets of squats.  I am not quite back to my peak form yet but I will be close in relatively short order.  Looking to push my squat max back up around 400… only 70lbs to go.  I know that if I really concentrate for the next couple months that I can get back there.  I think that in the next few days/workouts that I am going to have a max day.  Going to hit up all of the max’s on the bodybuilding website and see if I can establish some new highs.  Should prove to be an interesting day!

Peace out and keep workin hard!

Well, I am on my second day of what basically amounts to chemotherapy.  The latest drug that my Dr. prescribed to me is one of the drugs that they give to people with Leukemia but just in a lower dose.  Crohns is an internal struggle.  Your body is fighting itself more or less and the drug helps knock down the immune response to allow the body to heal.  The scary part is that I have to get weekly blood tests to make sure that I don’t completely wipe out my white blood cells.  I have been taking it at night and so far I have had any nausea which is a huge bonus.  I was on another drug similar to this several years ago and it straight kicked my butt.  I hope that with all of the training that I have been doing for the last several months that my body will accept it better.  Just keeping my fingers crossed!!!

The only real positive thing I can say about today is that I toughed out a pretty good legs/tris workout.  Beyond that the day has been fairly miserable.  Crohns disease is the work of the devil… I am convinced.  Today has been a series of moments of mild pain to times when it basically feels like I have swallowed razor blades and they are making their way through my intestine.  For any of you who have IBD of any kind I give you all big props for fighting through it and continuing to work on your overall fitness/wellbeing!!  You can’t imagine how difficult it is to maintain motivation when all you want to do is crawl in bed and die.  I always joke with the people who know about my condition that I would gladly give up several fingers/toes if someone could just make the disease go away! 

Anyways. Tomorrow will be better… it has to be!