jcorbett’s BodyBlog

At the beginning of the year I wondered when fitness and healthy living would become an internalized lifstyle instead of feeling like another chore. Here’s some of the changes I noticed in the past year:

On a sad and sobbering note, I discovered one of the gym members who I just saw last week, died a couple days ago. I didn’t really know him, but he appeared to be around my age give or take 5 years. I will miss seeing him. The receptionist reminded me that "life is fragile" and we must live each day to the fullest for tomorrow is not promised.

While focusing briefly on my own mortality, I was tempted to get stuck on "what’s this all for…." However, I don’t know the circumstances of his death and was reminded that I need to live each day as if it is my last. This includes being the best me possible. Therefore, with much gratitude for life and good health I proceeded to train today. I thought I’d be alone, but it was in full swing and I had to plan my routine based on available machines, benches and space:) Training without a day of rest was painful. Yesterday I did chest and biceps–my arms are still sore. Today I did hamstrings, back & wanted to do triceps, but just couldn’t muster up the energy so I finished off with 20 minutes of stair climbing & called it a day. 

I was surfing the net last week and discovered I placed in the last show. I made the cut (LOL). http://www.musculardevelopment.com/browse/index.php?mode=browse&id=17941&eventcode=1300

Needless to say I was quite pleased:)

How much did I gain, my former trainer asked? As he explained that some bodybuilders gain up to 20lbs post competition. I said, “not me” as I grimaced. I reluctantly went to the scale for the first time since the figure competition when I weighed 139lbs. I placed the weight on 150lbs, too much? 148lbs, still too heavy? Stopped @ 144.5lbs, not bad, even though I felt a little bloated from excess salt (popcorn) the previous day. My off season weight should be no heavier than 150lbs. Despite the mac & cheese episode, I’ve managed to stay on point with my nutrition and have increased my calorie intake to approximately 1700, with hopes of gaining some lean muscle mass. I’ve move from too much mac & cheese to my new found love of pistachios. What’s with them, I eat one and the next thing I know I’ve polished off @ least 2 servings–gotta slow it down or they will have to be eliminated from my food purchase and thrown in the special treat categorie if I can’t exercise self-control.

My bodybuilder friend hooked me up with a new training program, that is both challenging and enjoyable. Today I did quads (superset: leg extensions & lunges, leg press, dumbbell squats & outter adductor machine), shoulders (front dumbbell raises, rear dumbbell raises, side laterals, and calves (superset donkey raises & standing raises). I was supposed to do abs and 20 minute cardi, but my son is sick so I’ll get some cardio in later this week. Day 2 is chest, upper back & trap area. Day 3 is hamstring, lower back & shoulders). I like doing legs 2 times weekly, along with back & shoulders b/c they are areas that I’d like to improve in terms of muscle development.

I couldn’t help myself this past Thanksgiving. It wasn’t the pies, cookies, candied yams or corn bread that got me, it was the mac & cheese (something I rarely eat). I had dinner @ a friend’s home, but he sent me home with a whole turkey, fried chicken, fried fish and corn bread so I felt compelled to make some mac & cheese along with a pot of greens. I’m carrying a nice layer of water and have to clean up my act this week.  I worked out Sat. a.m. and did cardio. Today I walked 5 miles, trained for 1 hour, and did some self talk so I could get in another 20 minutes of cardio.

This new lean muscle mass building training program isn’t working for me. The chest/back (Dave Gluhareff’s mass building plan) is focused on the chest and I need to work on my back & delts. Therefore, I have to make some modifications. Sat. I did assisted chin ups, pull downs, cable rows, t-bar rows & reverse flyes (4 sets of each). I’ve read that you can make the most gains post 30 days after a contest, but I feel like I’ve squandered away 2 weeks.  I’m currently increasing weight and doing 5 sets, and I have had to consult with a friend so that I can tweak the mass gaining plan.

I’ve gone through the bb.com routine articles and can’t seem to find a routine that suits me. If anyone has a great back routine, please share, thanks.