mafuentesjr’s BodyBlog

  Well, here I am, sitting at the comp at 5:26am of Tues. I haven’t slept all night. I watched a bunch of "Paranormal State" on A&E. It was pretty good. I’ve gotten into that paranormal type stuff as well as UFO’s (not sure why, butt the wife wonders if it has to do with Iraq or PTSD)

  Anyway, I am having some issues with my dieting and eating plans. I just can’t seem to stay on them !!! I set myself a schedule and then I don’t stick to it. I have fluctuated between 254 lbs and 277 lbs. Some days I feel bloated at 254, and I feel goo at 270+. It is driving me up a wall. My "cardio" is already at at least an hour a day….some days more because I start to day dream while on the T-mill or do 30 min after my 1st workout (which is whatever body part that is trained that day.) I wish that I could have more support in this endeavor. I wish I could have a workout partner or nutritionist or whatever.

   As far as my nutrition is going…..I now know that milk really bloats my stomach and gives me the runs. I need to avoid it as much as possible. I might get away with 2% or Fat Free milk with some bran cereal in the morning after my workouts. I’ll check that out today.

   I have been watching my portions and what I eat. It drives my wife, Sue, crazy that I can only eat a few things here and there, but I’m really sick and tired of her lack of motivation and support. She gets jealous about the girls that I talk to at the club that I work at on the weekends, but she doesn’t do anything to change or better herself. She doesn’t even want to watch what she eats.

   At least I am kind of rubbing off on my youngest son, Little Manny. He tries to eat as healthy as he can "because Daddy is eating healthy" and he wants to be "as strong as Daddy or ever more". I am amazed at how some of his comments are so "grown-up" and mature. Especially, since he is only 5 (going to be 6 on April 22nd !). He just makes comments that are so much common sense and we have just managed to just take for granted. I Love him so much !!!!

   ANyway, I think that I just needed to vent. I apologize if I hurt anyone’s feelings, but like I say at work….."Your feelings are not my concern. The safety of my staff, the patrons, and mine are ! So, if I hurt your feelings…..get over it !!! ‘Cuz I already have."

Respectfully,

Manny FU2

   Well. I have taken a week or so off just before switching to my High Rep Workouts. I am hoping that it will burn some of this fat right off. I have been watching what I eat and my portions. God, I hate stupid food commercials !!! I always get the craviing for whatever is on the commercial !!! LMAO !!!

    I didn’t realize how badly I was going to miss Whoppers and what-not from fast food places. This dieting is harder than I thought. Especially without too much help from my wife (Sue). She wasn’t helping me out at all, at first. She was always wanting a chicken sandwich from BK or McD’s. It’s the fricking fries, I tell you, that get me ! LMAO !!!

    Now, my diet is even more clean (and several times easier to do) now that she is onboard with my planning. I am, however, starting to not like chicken breasts. I still love salmon, tuna (with Ms. Dash Lemon Pepper seasoning, chopped tomatoes, some onions, and some chopped up lettuce….romaine or iceberg) and turkey.

    The amount of money that we have is quickly dwindling with the supps I need for this.

I also need a job. I’m bored at the house.

Anyway, that’s about it for now.

   Well, here we are. I went to the gym after arguing with my wife. Sometimes she pisses me off. But sometimes, it motivates me to workout harder to blow off steam.

   Anyway, here is the workout…….as I had it written in my log.

Abs : Knee-Ups 1 x 20, 2 x 15, 3 x 15

        Crunches 1 x 25, 2 x 20, 3 x 20 (Changed it to Nautilus Crunch Machine 1 x 50 @ 60#, 2 x 25 @80#/ 25 @60#, 3 x 50 @ 60#)

Back : Lat Pulldowns 1 x 15 (w/u), 2 x 12 (w/u), 1 x 10 (8), 2 x 10 (8), 3 x 8 (10)

          Bent Over B-bell Rows 1 x 12 (w/u), 1 x 12, 2 x 10, 3 x 8 (10)

Biceps : E-Z Bar Curls 1 x 12 (15), 2 x 10 (12), 3 x 8, (added) 4 x 8

            Alt. D-bell Curls 1 x 10, 2 x 10, 3 x 10

            Hammer Curls 1 x 10, 1 x 8 (added this exercise)

I felt good once I got to the gym !!! It motivated me to feel good !!! (which is rare for me lately)

Anyhow, that’s it for now.

I’ll blog later…. maybe

Respectfully,

Manny

   Well, here we are. I went to the gym after arguing with my wife. Sometimes she pisses me off. But sometimes, it motivates me to workout harder to blow off steam.

   Anyway, here is the workout…….as I had it written in my log.

Abs : Knee-Ups 1 x 20, 2 x 15, 3 x 15

        Crunches 1 x 25, 2 x 20, 3 x 20 (Changed it to Nautilus Crunch Machine 1 x 50 @ 60#, 2 x 25 @80#/ 25 @60#, 3 x 50 @ 60#)

Back : Lat Pulldowns 1 x 15 (w/u), 2 x 12 (w/u), 1 x 10 (8), 2 x 10 (8), 3 x 8 (10)

          Bent Over B-bell Rows 1 x 12 (w/u), 1 x 12, 2 x 10, 3 x 8 (10)

Biceps : E-Z Bar Curls 1 x 12 (15), 2 x 10 (12), 3 x 8, (added) 4 x 8

            Alt. D-bell Curls 1 x 10, 2 x 10, 3 x 10

            Hammer Curls 1 x 10, 1 x 8 (added this exercise)

I felt good once I got to the gym !!! It motivated me to feel good !!! (which is rare for me lately)

Anyhow, that’s it for now.

I’ll blog later…. maybe

Respectfully,

Manny

   Well, here we are. I went to the gym after arguing with my wife. Sometimes she pisses me off. But sometimes, it motivates me to workout harder to blow off steam.

   Anyway, here is the workout…….as I had it written in my log.

Abs : Knee-Ups 1 x 20, 2 x 15, 3 x 15

        Crunches 1 x 25, 2 x 20, 3 x 20 (Changed it to Nautilus Crunch Machine 1 x 50 @ 60#, 2 x 25 @80#/ 25 @60#, 3 x 50 @ 60#)

Back : Lat Pulldowns 1 x 15 (w/u), 2 x 12 (w/u), 1 x 10 (8), 2 x 10 (8), 3 x 8 (10)

          Bent Over B-bell Rows 1 x 12 (w/u), 1 x 12, 2 x 10, 3 x 8 (10)

Biceps : E-Z Bar Curls 1 x 12 (15), 2 x 10 (12), 3 x 8, (added) 4 x 8

            Alt. D-bell Curls 1 x 10, 2 x 10, 3 x 10

            Hammer Curls 1 x 10, 1 x 8 (added this exercise)

I felt good once I got to the gym !!! It motivated me to feel good !!! (which is rare for me lately)

Anyhow, that’s it for now.

I’ll blog later…. maybe

Respectfully,

Manny

   Well, I did my first real workout in a while. I have been fighting off the flu for a few weeks. I just felt like I had to get up off of my a$$ and get to working out. So here goes some of the thoughts that have been going through my head….

   I felt okay when I first started the workout. I was just feeling a bit like people were looking at me. I am the "heaviest" person in the gym when I got there. i have to forget about people staring. I have to concentrate on my workout, and NOTHING ELSE !!!

   I started with Smith Machine Squats. i position my feet way out in front of myself. Then, I lower myself to just below parallel. I had knee surgery a while back and the surgeon and rehab ppl told me that was as far as I should ever go from now on. I just do that on this exercise. I feel that this exercise, the way I am doing it (like a wall sitting squat) has really helped me out with my knee. It warms them up, plus allows me to strengthen up the vastus medialis (tear drop) before going to squats.

  On the squats, I started out relatively timidly. I didn’t want to rush into a heavy weight and hurt my knee. After my third set, I added 2 more sets because I felt strong. I felt very powerful. Not sure why. So, I tried adding extra weight. When I set up for my 225 lbs attemp, I had only envisioned myself doing only one rep. I ended up doing 3. I came out of my form in the last part of the last rep, so I decided that that was  enough and stopped. I’ll have to adjust my workout as I go along. Maybe even split Legs and Shoulders.

   The next exercise was Seated Dumbbell Press. I like it cuz it warms up my shoulder area, delts, traps, and triceps. That way it’s a bit safer, since I am stil a bit tender in my left shoulder. It feels like a stabbing pain right behind the delt/pec tie-in area, deep inside the shoulder. the VA doctor said that it might be an impingement. However, he won’t do anything for me. I set a goal of 5 sets (2 warm-ups, 3 working sets). On the last set, I didn’t reach my reps. i fell short by one. I think that it was partly mental and partly because I didn’t wait at least 45 seconds before starting it.

  The Side Laterals were next. I used a 5 lbs weight plate on the first set to get a good feel for the exercise. I did the 1 sec up / 3+ sec down pace to see if it would work to make my side delts grow a bit more. I feel like I need more width. I was feeling strong, so I did more than the reps I had planned for the first 2 sets.

  Shrugs….well, what can I say. I think that I messed up. I let my mind just stray away from my workout. I need to focus more on it. I need to control my mind from wandering. I haven’t had to do it in a while, so I might just be out of practice.

  Last, but not least, Dumbbell Upright Rows. I tried these because there were no straight bars available. Besides, I have been wanting to try these out. I don’t know if I was doing them right. Maybe because I was "swollen" in the delt area that they kind of felt like I was doing them wrong. Maybe I’ll put them as the first exercise, after seated shoulder presses. We’ll see.

  I do, however, need to add some cardio to my workouts. I need to do it on my off days, especially ! Then add it to my workouts in about 2 weeks. That way I can get an idea of what is working in my weight workouts, and get it down pat, before I add 30 minutes of cardio (probably interval workouts).

   We shall see.

   Have a Great Day !!!

   Respectfully,

   Manny

   Well, I have finally gotten off of my keester, and entered a contest ! I have entered the MuscleTech contest that is advertised in the magazines and on this site. I hope to do well.

   Wish me luck !

Respectfully,

Manny

   Well, here I finally am. Getting back on the site.

   I’ve been here in Chicago for a few months. No "good" luck with any real jobs. Had to resort to going back to something that I didn’t want to go back to due to the environment. Went back to security in clubs (a.k.a. "bouncer") I have found a couple of clubs that I kinda like (and sort of pay well). Now, all we have to have is for the economy to get back to normal so those clubs will need me more often !!!

   As far as my workouts…in other words, my LACK of workouts…..I guess you get my drift. However, on the good side (sort of), my weight has been steadily between 265 and 277. I know that that’s a lot of weight on a guy my height, but it’s from just sitting on my a$$. I have been suffering from a mild depressive state that I have allowed myself to get into. I had a chain of events that have just not let me get my feet stabilized. It started with my reluctant move back to Chicago, my Mother-In-Law passed away ( I Love and miss her. She was like a second mother to me. ), my inability to obtain a job…..It kind of made me feel useless, and I saw myself as a loser.

   Well, I have changed my attitude with the New Year. It is bringining a new year, and my new life !

   I have some money saved up for a possible gym membership. The only prob is that we might be moving to an entirely new neighborhood, away from the gym, so I was thinking of holding my money, and maybe there is a gym that is closer. You never know.

   Anyway, I hope to get my answer tommorrow…..as the temps, again, get below zero again……when we get out and about. I might even get in a workout. We’ll see.

  Anyway, Thank you all for your support and good wishes. They came in handy.

 Respectfully,

Manny

   Well, as the title of this post states, I am moving. It’s not a bad thing, yet somehow I feel very confused as to why I am kind of sad.

    I will be moving to Chicago, due to personal reasons. Some of you that are close to me (Minotaur, Bjeaux a.k.a. "JoJo", etc.- you guys are great friends !) know the story.

   I will try to pick back up my workouts when I get there, but with trying to find a job, etc…I don’t know how much energy I will have at the end of the day (or beginning of it, for that matter) to slide in a workout. I don’t want to do a half-a$$ed one, if you know what I mean, but I guess it’ll be better than nothing.

   On the good side of this, I WILL be back with my family, and truly enjoying the time with my 5 yr old son !!! (he starts school soon) I have also had an open invite back to my old dojo (by the owner, and my part-time coach). He told me that I can train for my MMA fights in the dojo. He is giving me the "buddy discount", which means I will have to do some time helping in the dojo. I have talked to him about training the kids class. I love kids, plus I love teaching people new things. AND I could take my son as well. But who knows.

   Anyway, I just wanted to touch base here and give y’all (boy, I’m gonna have to change that……..now, it’ll be "You’z guys"….LOL !!!) an update on my situation (sitrep, if you will)

   Talk to You’z guys later.

   Much Love and Keep Working Out !!!

   Well, as I have explained before, I apologize for not getting on here more often. I sometimes forget…LMAO !!! Plus, I am apologizing for the spelling mistakes. (I hate spell check !!!)

   Anyway, I am now getting into a fairly decent routine. My Logbook (Notebook from Walmart) is getting some fairly regular use….LOL ! I have been doing the dumbell workout that I have logged in on this site. I have had to work around my shoulder injury, due to work and such, but other wise (aside from the poundages) it has remained the same.

   As always, I sometimes have motivation, and sometimes I feel like crap after work. I have tried to keep a positive mental outlook on my workouts and I believe that it’s been working.

  I feel A LOT better during the days just after my D-Bell workouts. I feel calmer, more focused, less irritated, and "fresh". By that, I mean that I feel like the day is cleaner and fresh. My mind is open to new ideas, and if something changes within the planned scheduled events, I don’t freak out and stress it. I just kind of "Go-With-The-Flow". I also feel it on the inside. My body is using more of the food that I have been putting into it. It’s not just sitting there.

   I just bought a scale that tells me my Bodyfat %, my water %, as well as my weight. I will keep track of my fluid % more closely, because as of yesterday, it was at 57%. Not sure if that’s a good thing or not, but my BF% was 15% last night, at a Body Weight (BW) of 264.5. I am not too concerned with the "slight" weight gain (a little over 5 lbs) because my body is reacting to the steady workouts and the new dietary changes.

   I have purchased CLA and BCAA (both of them are Body Fortress products) to help me along. They were inexpensive and found at "Wally World" (Walmart). I’ll see what changes, if any, they make in my energy or whatever. Wish me luck.

  That’s about it for now. I’ll write more when I get a chance. Internet may be shut off for a few weeks or longer. Will have to try to make updates through my cell phone ( Ahhhh, modern technology !!!)

Have a Great Day !!!

Respectfully,

Manny