manwithdrive’s BodyBlog

I understand that this is a social networking site to assist others to get and stay in shape.  However, since this is the only networking site I visit, I am using it to beg you to call your senator and get involved preventing the demise of our country.  In the wee hours of the morning last Friday, the House passed the Cap and Trade (Actually, Cap and Tax) law.  It is now in our senator’s hands.  If you are a liberal that believes everything Barack Obama says, then don’t waste your time reading this.  If you believe in what our founding fathers stood for when they created "our" Constitution, please read this , then do something.  I have never been politically involved, but I can no longer sit still.  I, like many of you, have worked my ass off over the years to gain a better life.  I am not willing to let the government expand and take my hard earned money to give to people who sit on their ass waiting for a handout.  I am not going into a ton of details as to what our government is doing to our country.  I am asking those of you who understand what is happening to call your congressman, senator, local news corporation, etc. and demand that these actions, which I am sure have our founding fathers turning over in their graves, come to and end.  The Cap and Trade bill is the worst bill in our country’s history.  Your personal freedom is at stake, and it is "our" responsibility to stop it.

I got my bodystats from my trainer.  Stats are from 1-2-08. Weight is current, though.  Gains from 1-2-08 to present are 168.2 lbs. to 177.4 on 7-17-08. Will do measurements next month.

We were at the gym last night.  I was doing hack squats and my wife had finished her sets on the leg press, so she decided her next exercise would be the inner thigh machine a.k.a. thighmaster machine (you know, the one the girls use).  She went to the machine, then came to where I was and said "The machine is being used by some guy right now."  She hung around watching me for a while, then came back, again.  She said "There’s another guy on it now."  This happened again, a total of 3 times.  I just have to say this.  Guys, please stay off the thighmaster.  That machine is made for women.  Metrosexualism is dead and gone.  In fact, it really never was in style.  If you believe it ever was, you are wrong.  Please wear longer shorts in the gym and do not use the equipment designed for girls.  I would like to suggest the bench press, squats, barbell curls, etc.  Embarassing I tell ya.

This week I ate nothing but clean foods.   Lots of chicken, tuna, lean beef, fresh yams,etc.  I also gained 2.8 lbs.  On Monday, I weighed 173.  On Friday 175.8.  My metabolism is very high, so I changed from eating 3-4 big meals (usually less than what one would call quality food) to eating every 2 hours.  I have been eating about 8 meals per day, but smaller portions. 

I feel fantastic.  I know it has only been a week, but I can truly feel my energy level is higher.  My wife started the South Beach Diet.  Thankfully, since myself and about 3 other people explained to her that she has to have carbs in order to have energy to work out, she tweaked the diet to include carbs and lost 4 lbs.  She’s pretty jacked about that. 

I have never really concerned myself with fat loss.  The last time I had my fat %-age checked, I was around 16%.  However, I am noticing that a few more veins are visible, especially around my calf  and forearm areas.  I guess my fat loss will start at the outer extremities and work inward.  Anyway, I’m finished with this blog today.  I’m sure no one is reading it but myself, anyhow.  Good luck to everyone.

Ok. Here goes.  Today is Saturday and my wife, Rhonda, and I leave for Disney World on Monday.  I have been working out pretty consistently for about a year now I guess.  I’ve gotten stronger and bigger, but I feel I should be making greater strides.  I know it’s the diet.  I am one of those guys that has a very hard time putting on weight.  Rhonda and I have made eating commitments that will start when we get back from vacation.  I am going to schedule 6-7 meals a day and eat clean for the first time ever.  I don’t mind the taste of the so-called "clean foods".  I’ll eat about anything, but eating that much is going to be hell.  It’s the amount that makes me a little nervous.  It is hard for me to eat when I’m really not hungry.  I have always been able to do most anything I set my mind to, so I guess I’ll have to have some major discipline.  This site is really motivating.  I use computers for work and fantasy baseball, and that is about it.  Since I found this site, I have found much useful information from people’s profiles.  There are some amazing folks here, and I look forward to becoming more involved on the site.  I have emailed a couple of the guys who look like they probably started with my type of build, and they have given me some good information about how to gain weight the right way.  I appreciate that. Good luck to everyone.