mquang’s BodyBlog

For the last few days of Oct 08 and the beginning of Nov 08, I would like to tune my focus on ensuring I fuel my body properly.  I do eat 5-6 meals per day, but I have been noticing that if I skipped one of those meals, or not eating enough during the day, I could not sleep and as the result I would eat late at night then I head to bed.  I do eat two pieces of boiled chicken before heading to bed, sometime an egg.

As for training, I have been doing well, I do train each body parts per day.  I do have a plan, and I do follow that plan, not like most members just bench press every time they step their foot in the gym or do cardio for hours.  I like to build muscle and gain mass, and weight training would be my answer, but I also do cardio to keep tone, I balance both out.

I like the way I look, and I like the feeling I have with it.  I feel I present myself better to the world, I am confident about myself. I used to believe that I was born weak.  I used to believe that I wasn’t born to be in shape.  Now I realized I has been adopting the wrong philosophy all these time.  I once heard that once we adopt the philosophy, we tend to live up to that.  Wow, I did.    These past few days, I thought of helping others be in shape, Wouldn’t that be nice?  I plan to read more books, and educated myself, and work on me first be the result.  Man, that mean I have to push myself harder =) crap!  Why did I think of helping others =)
Happy Halloween =)

For this whole month, I was consuming more foods then any previous months, nothing fancy just same plain foods but consuming in higher quality.  I am still trying to follow the method of loading carbs in the morning, and decreasing it throughout the day.  Protein shakes, I do use it for pre-workout and post-workout, and during time I feel I am not getting enough protein, but I stop replying on them as my only source for protein.

Overall, I am quite happy with the progress I’ve made lately.  I was a bit nervous snapping pictures yesterday, because I felt I have not improved much.  On top of that, I went on vacation and I was eating crappy foods, then I bought some home to give away, but I ate it.  Am glad that I have suppressed that crappy eating habit of mine.  I am going to pass it on to my friend Kitjai26 as he going on his vacation in Hawaii =)
My short-term goals is to be consistent with my workout, and try to push myself to the limit every times, I enter the gym. Stepping out of the gym, I need to make sure I fuel my body with proteins, carbs and veggies and make wise decisions if I do head-out for dinner.   By doing so, I hope to look good, and feel good about myself when I am going to all these parties coming up.

I am tired today, the body was properly recovering from yesterday workout.  I didn’t want to get out of bed at all, but I did, and I ate a big meals, brown rice, eggs, plain chicken and tofu soup and a cup of coffee, those foods did gave me a bit of energy.  I ate a few of those chocolate rice cake, and drank a Pepsi, just craving for something sweet.  I ate three mini whole grain bagels but I put on those Nutella on them.  Yet it was a bad choice, but I crave for sweet, either that or I was going to get me a donut.  I cook spaghetti for dinner, lean turkey, spaghetti sauce, and whole grain pasta, I just have picked up the wrong brand, because this brand does not have any taste to it.  Oh well, I threw some hot sauce on it, which actually doesn’t taste bad at all.  I am also eating my almonds, salad with less then one spoonful of dressing.  I thought of ordering a pizza today and eat it, or head out to Popeye and have a feast.  But didn’t whoo hoo me for that.

I noticed nothing much change on my body, except I am getting a bit toner and I noticed I am a bit stronger then before.  Took some pictures yesterday, but I did not like it, I feel FAT and I don’t see any improvement excepts my arms.  Blah.  Which make me curious if I am doing any wrong?  I also realized, I just started training, and it is not even two years yet and I already freak out.  I guess it’s human nature to want things instantly.  I need to be patient with myself, darn it, I am keep saying that but I go nut if I don’t see progress.  There is a time for everything right? I guess soon, I’ll gather what I sow, dedication, hard work, and more dedication.

Tomorrow, I am training on legs, I think my friends are running a marathon tomorrow.  3 miles on the treadmill is good enough for now

He looks great, bulk, muscular, but the reason I am mentioning him in my blog is because he:s also a dad, and has three kids.  There is a day care inside the gym, he dropped off his kids, and proceed his workout every days.  He is a role model for me; I want my kids to have a dad who value fitness, who knows the importance of nutrition and who maintain a healthy lifestyle.  No one in my family value fitness and care about nutritions, perhaps that is why they:re all obese.  My mom always said it:s genetics, and it:s normal.  Starving is the best answer to lose weight.  I always hear "I don:t eat that much, maybe three meals a day, but I am gaining weight, it:s genetic".  I did bought into that belief for quite a long time, but I:ve learn from my mistake, my kids do not have to repeat the mistake that I:ve made =)

Supplements, Training Sessions, Grocery Shopping, Gym membership truly cost a lot of money, but I do feel it worths it all, I never felt alive, strong and fit until now.  Growing up with single parent, mom only make enough money to support a roof over my head, but money for karate lessons was only a dream.  I always say to myself, when I have money, I will spend it on me, and now I am just living that promise.

The bodybuilder guy returned today, he looks awesome, but he lost a bit of mass.  His arms are still massive, with definition.  He said he been a bit busy, and haven:t had time to workout for two weeks. We talked about nutritions, and supplements and his journey in fitness.  Cool guys to talk to.  He needs to train me!  I don:t know what is he waiting for =)

Today, I trained on Chest, learned a few new chest workouts and did few Triceps workout and biceps.  The weight went up a bit too, lifting a bit heavier then before.   I was pumped after the gym, walking out like a brand new person…feeling awesome
…what an awesome day =) now going to work on the mind, staying focus on my meals

The challenge I see myself facing at the moment is my eating habit.  Knowing plain foods does the body good, but lately, I’ve been craving for unhealthy foods.  I can stay focus during the day, but at night I just ate junk foods and even drank soda (not even diet soda).  I gave myself excuses such as  "I’ll be alright, I’ll just do cardio tomorrow", and then like a blessing, I just ate and ate.

Dang, as I typed this notice, I’m craving for a cookie…errr…

Sometime, I do wonder if I could look like these guys on bb.com, if I could have that amazing transformation.  Right now, I just don’t see myself look like them.  Sure, I lost all the weight, and toned up a bit, but I just look average…ok, maybe a bit more average.  A few minutes ago, I was standing outside and watching people, they’re all in plus (+) sizes.  One of my coworker just picked up some boxes and he breathes like he just about to pass out.  It sucks doesn’t it?

I haven’t seen one of the guy at my gym that I admire.  I want to talk to him.  He used to compete, 39 years old, and look good.  Sometime, watching him work out I just want to push myself.  Maybe he’ll be there this weekend

The day that I can do pull-up on my own is the day I am going to celebrate big.  Right now, I am using the pull-up assistance machine.  Today, I trained on back, and I cannot tell you how much I hate doing pull up, yet I know it’s an effective exercise, and I just have to do it.  The brain works funny sometime, it came up with reasons why I shouldn’t be doing pull-up, but I didn’t listen to it this time.

My trip to NY City over the weekend was fun, good friends and good foods.  But now I am back to my routine, I am back with eating plain foods, because I want to look good for my birthday.  My goal is to continue putting on lean mass, and gain more strength.   Tomorrow will be doing cardio, a healthy heart is a happy heart.  Elliptical machine, here I come

Saturday and  Sunday, workout is going to be cardio, because I got plenty of walking to do in NYcity.  I plan to NOT DRINK, when we go clubbing.  I plan to avoid all junks foods while in Chinatown.  Since dinner will be with friends, I think I am going to enjoy it, but I will do portion control.  I just remembered to pack protein bars, and almonds with me to snack.

Today, I stacked Purple Wrath, Green Mag, and Whiteflood, and the result of my workout was awesome.  I sipped Purple Wrath during the workout, I felt less fatigue, and I walked out the gym feeling in much better condition then before when I didn’t use it.  When doing Squat, I kept hearing that insane voice in my head "Squat till you puke", crazy.  I struggled with a few last reps, but I don’t think I maxed out my limit, I will try again next time I train on legs.   I tried to breathe correctly when doing Squat, it’s funny, and I know it’s normal, but I tend to hold my breath when doing heavy set, then I’ll turn blue   Got to breathe right.  No cardio today, legs were tired.

I am grateful to have a complete body, and therefore, I am going to keep it healthy.  I felt grateful today.  I have accepted the change that I didn’t accept before, and it’s time I move on, having a better relationship with myself and others.

What motivated me to workout today? Definitely wasn’t the music in my Ipod, but rather the armband I wear on my left hand with the "LiveStrong" message.  Lately, things just seem to fall apart, friends are leaving, loving relationship turn sour, and I felt there nothing to be excited about in life.  Nothing.   There were moments I just want to call it quit, but the LiveStrong message reminded me to continue.  The LiveStrong message reminds me that there are others out there that are in worse circumstances then I am, these are cancer survior, yet they are passionate about life.  Here I am in a perfect health, and I am complaining about the smallest things in life.  How silly, with that in mind I carried through all my workout Back and Biceps.  Tomorrow is another day to be grateful for.