jsfmt99 
"I lost 106 pounds after a long recovery from a fractured vertabrae and ruptured disk. I was honored when BB.com selected me for Transformation of the Week! I am taking it to the next level to now put on 20 pounds of muscle!"
|
|
Archive for March, 2009
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
Aside from all of the great friends that I have made here a bb.com, sometimes you can unexpectedly run into someone who truly changes the way that you think about yourself, inspires you and puts your thinking into a better perspective. Last week on my chest day, a guy hobbled into the weight room. He had on a walking cast and he was shorter than me but was really cut and built. One of my goals is to be cut and built like that. Within 5 minutes of entering the room people started asking him how he broke his foot. By the time the 4th and 5th person asked him I could see the tired look on his face from answering the same question over and over. He told all of them that he didn’t know how he broke it.
Anyway, 4 days later, I was doing pull ups and he hobbled over, sat down and started working out on one of the back machines. I looked over at his foot and told him that I wasn’t going to ask him about it because I heard everyone else ask him about it and we both laughed.
It is amazing what you can learn about people and how they handle and deal with everything that life throws at them. He told me his story. Aside from the broken foot, he survived a kidney transplant and his heart had stopped twice. He is also dealing with lupus and told me HE DECIDED that these obstacles are not going to get him down and are not going to make him quit. Hearing what he went through and seeing how far he achieved in bodybuilding, made my old back problem seem completely insignificant.
Aside from that, the thing that inspired and motivated me the most was his ATTITUDE and DRIVE. It was completely positive in spite of all the obstacles. That kind of attitude is an awesome paradox, challenging and conquering the obstacles, not giving in and not getting down about it. How cool is that?
So the next time I start feeling down about myself, the next time when I catch myself sweating over the small stuff, I am going to remember that there are others who have it a lot worse who made the choice to tackle the problems and adversity head on and succeed.
Nothing is impossible.
Posted in Training
Sunday, March 29th, 2009
I had a successful second week using the routine that my trainer has given to me. In spite of a hectic work schedule I managed to get in all of my meals and all of my scheduled workouts. I have dropped down to 167 pounds and haven’t been this low in my weight in 25 years. Before I broke my back and ruptured the disk, I used to always hover around 170- 175.
I have noticed that I am getting more tone and leaner with better definition in my arms, chest and legs. I noticed a few veins popping out over my biceps, which have taken on a better shape and are rounding into form.
I have a cheat meal once a week as outlined in my eating schedule and also view it as my reward for working hard and staying focused. I had my cheat meal yesterday and you know something? I felt guilty the entire time that I was having it. Oh well.
I prepared all of my meals for the week and that is really convenient and keeps me right on schedule. The first 2 weeks of my 3 week program have gone great with one week to go before my trainer evaluates my progress and changes things up. It can only get better from here.
Posted in Training
Sunday, March 22nd, 2009
I started my new routine after taking a week off. It damn near killed me to stay away from the gym for that long but I wanted to make a clean start. I had a successful week using the new diet and workout routine that my trainer has given me. I established a balance between workout and work schedule. I like the discipline and structure of my new diet and workout program. Being on a schedule keeps me centered and it’s kinda like being back in university preparing for an organic chemistry exam. The more I put into it the better I will do. I want my trainer to be proud of me. To date, I prepared all of my meals (60 of them) ahead of time and froze them, so it is convenient and help me to stay on my eating schedule. I have been taken off all of my supplements, so no more muscle milk for a while.
The diet is around 2000 calories each day but I am eating more and more often. The addition of white rice to 4 of my 6 meals is great because I haven’t had rice in over 15 months. I attribute the 2 pounds I lost due to the adjustment of the new diet plan.
I am on this phase of the diet for 2 more weeks and it wont be long before my body adjusts to it. I am not going to freak out if my weight starts going up and my trainer told me to expect that. My trainer is my mentor and what he says goes. Afterwards, my trainer will re evaluate my progress and change things up.
As for the workout routine I am sore -very sore so I know it is working. I have upped my efforts in my weightlifting and have concentrated more on making each rep count and achieving quality workouts. Gym time is valuable time. I am there to do a job and always want to give it my best. I am working on filling out my muscles. Id like to put more mass on my triceps, get my hamstrings more defined and continue the ongoing battle getting my waist more toned and defined.
For the hell of it, I looked back on my stats from last year. At this time last year I tipped the scale at 240 pounds. Looking back, I remember how disgusted I was with myself but. I made up my mind, established a goal, remained focused and here I am.
Week 1 down- 2 more to go.
It’s all good.
Posted in Training
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
Tonite I prepared all of my meals for the next 10 days.
I made 6 pounds of boiled chicken breasts, 3 pounds baked chicken breast and 6 pounds of lean london broil. Made 4 pounds of white rice and bought 2 giant bags of broccoli florettes and 2 giant bags of green beans.. Then I portioned and weighed everything out and placed each meal in a ziplock freezer bag. My freezer is packed!
I will be eating 4 of these meals each day so I am ready. The cost of all of the food including the ziplock bags was 40 dollars, so for a dollar a meal I am set for the next 10 days. I even had some chicken left over. I am staying committed and more focused then ever on my diet and hope to achieve the goals that my new trainer has set for me. I am taking my new diet goal goals to fill up my flat muscles more seriously and hopefully all of this effort will pay off. I want to make my trainer proud.
Posted in Training
Monday, March 16th, 2009
I had a great start with my new program. I am now working with Mike Summers. He was featured as amateur of the week here at bb.com and told me that he could help me take my goals to the next level. He wasn’t kidding. He designed a custom made diet and workout plan for me. I am now eating carbs 4 times a day in the form of white rice with my meals. Mike told me that my muscles are flat and than I need to fill them up. This is going to be cool to see how things turn out because I have avoided carbs for over a year. Incorporating them into my diet now should prove interesting.
I wanted to get started on this ASAP. I woke up at 4am this morning and took a quick trip to the grocery store and bought the white rice. I had my 3 egg breakfast, cooked my rice and packed 4 meals that I brought into work. I am eating every 2 hours and by 2 pm this afternoon I had eaten 5 complete meals. I will be on this regimen for the next 3 weeks. I have stopped taking muscle milk but got the green light to continue with my other supplements. Mike told me not to worry if I gain some weight and in 3 weeks he will change out my routine again. This is going to take discipline but I can handle it.
I like the idea of having a plan that is well laid out and structured.
My new focus is simple: Cook, prepare meals, eat x 6, work, gym, sleep. Repeat.
Posted in Training
Monday, March 9th, 2009
It was a spur of the moment decision and the best birthday present that I ever gave to myself. I thought to myself: Who needs birthday cake when I can have this? Sometimes, living life on the edge and being spontaneous can be really cool. What the hell. Three hours later, I was on a plane to Columbus.
I wanted to celebrate my 100 pound weight loss, new job and birthday in a special way this year. I was not disappointed
I did get bummed when my digital cam got dropped going through airport security and thought that it would poop out but luckily it didn’t. I stayed at the Crown Plaza and they had everything there includding weight room and indoor pool. I felt like a king. The Crown plaza was crawling with bodybuilders. I was told that president Obama had stayed there the day before. Pretty cool.
At the Arnold, practically every fitness, nutrition and bodybuilding corporation was represented there at the expo. I got so much free stuff that I had to make a drop off at the car. I want to thank the people at the bb.com booth who treated me like royalty. The bb.com booth was hands down the best and the most popular one there.
I did have a chance to see Arnold and he made an appearance around noon. I also had a chance to meet Ron Coleman, Gunter, and Frank Zane. I got a lot of great information about training and nutrition. I checked out some of the events there including the strength training seminar, and the power lifting event- amazing.
I was very impressed with the city of Columbus Ohio. The people there were great and the city was beautiful. We even had great weather there.
I want to attend the Arnold again next year, and I left there even more motivated to stay strong and focused in my goals. I had a hell of a good time! Hope to see you there next year!
Posted in Training
Thursday, March 5th, 2009
What a great way to start off my birthday today! Stepped on the scale and made it down to my 170 pound goal. This has been a really special day for me. What an awesome journey this has been! . I cannot stress enough how much better this is from where I started fat and miserable at 270 pounds. This has benefited me in every way possible and it even changed my luck from bad to good. In addition to hitting my goal, I started my new job this week and it is fantastic and exceeded my expectations.
I welcome 47 and have embraced it.
In my fitness goals I will work on continued improvement and thank all of the great friends I have made here who have supported me and kept me motivated in my journey.
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!
Posted in Training
Sunday, March 1st, 2009
As I prepare to celebrate my 47th birthday this week, I took a few minutes to reflect back and think about last year. What a year it has been - a terrific journey, almost like a rebirth of sorts- a transformation that exceeded my expectations. I went from really fat to really fit. Even though I will be turning 47 in a few days, I can state with a good degree of certainty that I am in better shape now than I was 20 years ago.
Highlights that I have attributed to bodybuilding:
- No more back pain.
- Drastic improvement in mental attitude, mood and focus
- Getting down to a 32 inch waist
- Landing the dream job in a poor economy
- No longer embarrassed to take my shirt off in public
- Got more spiritual
- Made a lot of new friends
- Worked on a PBS documentary.
- Gave an interview for bodyproud.com
- Change in luck from bad to great.
Last year, I tore the house down to the foundation. At 47, I am going to build it up and work on continued improvement. A big thanks to all of the friends that I have made here who have guided me and supported me in my journey.
Posted in Training
|
View all comments | Leave Comment