mrdead’s BodyBlog

Well, tomorrow, I will hit that milestone of "turning" 40… Whoopdeedoo… *L* I got to thinking a bit introspectively and retrospectively and came up with my mindset… Who gives a rip…? *L* Seriously though, I’m no different than any other day… No "overnight transformation" No reason to cut back on my training, because I’m "older"… It just happens to be the anniversary of the day the world was "graced/cursed" with my prescence… *L* The only thing I don’t like about this particular B-Day is having to go and have that "special" 40 year old physical… "Congratulations, you’ve turned 40… Now drop your drawers and bend over, so the nice doctor can take her finger and put it up your butt…" I mean with all the fantastic advances in modern medicine and a finger up the butt is the only way to "truly" check for an enlarged prostate…? And what is so magical about turning 40 that it suddenly requires that…? Another mystery of the universe…

But looking back on my brief life, I wouldn’t change a thing, except for training harder and more consistently in my "youth". Otherwise, it’s all good… Bring on 50…!!!!

Okay, I’m literally bouncing off the walls, waiting for my goodies from Animal to arrive! I’ve checked out the log of a fellow tester who has gotten his product, and now I’m really psyched to get going!!! I’m just stunned and amazed that I’m getting this awesome opportunity to test that much quality product (Wayne’s World Dream sequence)!!! So, hopefully it will arrive today!!

Next week I’ll be in Kansas for a few days, for a "family reunion". It will be my Dad’s 60th B-Day on the 25th. And, then on Feb. 2nd, I’ve got 2nd row seats to see Jeff Dunham (comedian). And, on the 5th I’m going to a seminar on weightloss, the key speaker will be Dr. Joe Klemcziewski (sp?) which my wife and in-laws will be attending, and getting on the road to their ideal physique! (Contact Kevin and Denise James for more info, if you are in the Washington area).

Things are really picking up speed, and I’m ready to get rollin’! I hope everybody has an awesome day!!!!

Well, I still can’t view my bodyspace page. And, from what I gather, most of the people on here can’t see it either. This started Friday, and is still going on today. I can "backdoor" most fo my features, like writing a blog, changing my picture, and adding friends. I can view everyone else’s page, no problem, and I can post comments, and recieve them. But as far as myself, or anyone else, my page evidently can’t be viewed. I hope that I’m not in trouble, or something.

The other disturbing thing was getting an e-mail from someone saying that they are bodybuilding legend Ed Corney. And, they are saying that they’re stranded overseas, and need money, to pay their hotel bill, get food, and return to the U.S.. They say that $2500 wil do, but anything will help, before they get turned over to the authorities. Sounds like the largest load of B.S. I’ve ever heard. *L*

Anyhow, I hope the day finds everyone doing awesome. And, I can’t wait to get my "Animal" product for testing. Thanks again, Universal Nutrition!!!

Well, it’s the start of a new year, amature driver night is behind us, and hopefully "Tom from work" didn’t make a pass at you or your significant other, barf all over the place, pass out in the middle of the floor, wake up, and with an astounding amount of vomit-breath tell you how much they love you and you’re the only one that understands them… If you happen to be a "Tom from work" I do not envy the hangover, emberassment, and the youtube videos you must be dealing with… *L* (I call New Year’s Eve amature driver night, due to the fact that all the drunks drive like someone who’s never been behind the wheel, and all of the "first time" drunk drivers)

The night was spent rather quietly… We went to "Famous Dave’s BBQ", and I ate a TON!!!! We went to Border’s Books, and purchased Tosca Reno’s "Eating Clean Diet", and the new "Eating Clean" magazine. We also went to da Wally-Mart, and gots us some EAS protein drinks (Tha 4-pack is plumb all tha way down ta $4.97 of the Carb Advantage) Sorry, I love comedy, and Wal-Mart happens to be a favorite target of theirs, and late in the evening/night if you go there and "people watch" you can decide that a) your life is nowhere near as bad as you thought. b) you can make a change in your life and avoid thier fate. c) it’s amazing how comedians can take real life and make it funny as hell. (For the record, I DO shop at Wal-Mart) We then went home, and went to bed.

So, the "Coach/Torture Master/Dear Sweet Wife" is now ready to do battle with the "Cellulite and Flabalanche Monsters" and I am set to battle the "Girly-Man Muscles" and fight the "Battle of the Bulge".

This year promises to be very exciting. I’ve gained a TON of knowledge, I’ve gotten one competition under my belt, and, I’m starting from a lower bodyweight and bodyfat level. I had my surgery to fix the hernia, as well. But also, I have gained some awesome friends, both here, and at the show I competed in. I’ve gained some role-models, and I’ve gained my share of "haters".  I WILL be competing in August, more than likely in both the Novice and Masters classes. But this year I WON’T be the "fat guy on the stage"!!!

Happy New Year!!!!

Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Now that I’m allowed to lift heavier, I’v been cutting and moving the larger portions of the 3 trees that went down. Talk about a full-body workout!!! Between lugging the chainsaw, logs, bending over, and stacking I’m getting a lot of much needed work. But with all this "lumberjack" work, I wonder if I should grow a beard and start wearing plaid! *L* It’s definitely great to get back into physical activity.

I’m still in the process of finding a new gym. More than likely, I’ll be working out on base. (It’s free, but I hate dealing with the little "wannabe’s" that think the rule everything. Damn kids…) But, it’s still better than using the wax-covered cement weights.

Also, the doctors I work with have aided me in my quest to get tickets to see one of my favorite comedians. My wife and I have 2nd row seats to see Jeff Dunham. It’s really great knowing that those that you work for appreciate what you do.

But, anyhow. I hope this season finds everybody well, and that Santa spoils the crap out of everybody!!!

Well, it’s finally here! The day I get to get back into it. My main goal is to obliterate last year’s version of me. Yes, I will be competing in ‘08, and, I’m still undecided about what class to go for. I think that will be determined on how much ground I can make up, after weeks of nothing. I’m really hoping "muscle memory" kicks in quick.

Also, I want to thank all of you for the well-wishes and support. It really means a lot! Most everyone here has been awesome! And, for the "haters", thank you for the motivation. *L*

I had my follow up appointment, today. Everythiing looks great! The steri-strips came off, and revealed a new "inny" belly-button. (Something I have not had for 8 years.) I got my weight that I’m allowed to lift increased from 10 lbs to 25. In 4 weeks, I get to slowly ease back into it. And, during this inactivity, I have actually lost weight. (Unfortunately, I’m betting most of it is muscle.) But, at least there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s not an on-coming train! *L*

Well, Tuesday morning was my surgery. We got there at 0630, I hadn’t had anything to eat or drink since midnight. Check-in was a breeze, since I had pre-registered on the phone a week before. Then, they came in and took my vital signs. Blood pressure and pulse were sky-high. They asked if I was a little bit nervous, and I replied, "A little bit nervous is a gross understatement." You see, I made the mistake of reading up on the procedure, and in big bold letters, it stated that AT ANYTIME DURING THE PROCEDURE THE DOCTOR CAN CHANGE HIS MIND, AND DO THE CLASSIC "LONG" INCISION. Well, they tried to re-assure me. Then they came in, and inserted an I.V.. And, then I got to lay around for an hour and a half with no TV or anything, but the ticking of the clock. Then the doctor came in, and played tic-tac-toe on my tummy. Then the the time came to roll me down "The Green Mile". The last thing I see before going into the chamber of horrors is my wife with tears welling up in her eyes. I get into the room, and transfer myself from the gurney to the  "Table of Torture". Then the fun begins…

They start strapping me down, so I can’t escape. Then there’s a creepy masked face putting a mask over my face. Now this wonderful person tells me that they’re giving me some oxygen to help me breathe… LIAR!!! In about 3 seconds I say to myself, "Oxygen doesn’t make my vision…"

I finish that sentence in the recovery room ,"blurry…" I’m greeted by the first unmasked face that I’ve seen in awhile. She asks if I feel any pain. I barely get the word "Yes" out, and she’s pumping my line full of drugs. I go nitey-nite, again. Finally I am alert enough to be wheeled back into my original room. I’m then informed that if I want to leave, I have to go pee. So, they give me some water and some crackers. I then find out that all of the moisture has been sucked from my body. It takes a quart of water to get the crackers down, all two of them. Well, I suddenly discover that the pain that I’m feeling is from the carbon dioxide that they filled my abdomen with. I look like I’m in my ninth month of pregnancy. Well, finally I go pee, and it’s off to home and recovery. And, yes, I’m still having pain, but am able to go up stairs and walk for 30 minutes by myself. So begins the road to recovery. 

Well, I’ve finally started to go crazy. No lifting anything over 10 lbs, sucks! It’s force of habit for me to carry things, and lift things. So, I decided to watch the DVD from my contest. That DID NOT help!!! All that did was remind me how much work I have ahead of me!!! Being the bloated fat guy onstage sucks!!! (By the way, the contest footage of me, would make a great horror movie *L*) I got bitched out by some old lady at the store, because my wife was carrying everything. So, now I feel like a WUSS!!!

I’m getting mixed answers on how long it will take to heal, how much pain I’ll have, likelihood of recurrance, and what I can and can’t do. So, that adds to my anxiety. I’ve never had surgery before, except to stitch up some lacerations, and when I was stabbed. So, I’m starting to feel like a "Big Baby"!!! And, my favorite holiday is now officially screwed up.

But on a positive side, I am finally getting it fixed. I won’t have to be self-conscious about my HUGE belly-button. And, it will improve the self-esteem department, as well.  

Wednesday, I had my pre-op appointment with my surgeon. I will be getting sliced open on the 30th of this month. So much for my plans for Halloween. But, it’s necessary that i get it done, and the sooner it’s over with, the sooner I get back to training. I got a little concerned, when I had to tell him all of my supplements. He had no clue as to what they were, why I was taking them, and asked "Who told you to take these?" But after we got through all of that, he went over what he was going to do, did a quick examination, and then "graphically" went over the procedure. They will be doing an incision near my belly-button, "shoving" the protruding tissue back in, suturing, and even adding a tension suture to give an "inny". So, no mesh will be used. No staples. Minimal scarring. Then I’m stuck with a 10 pound weight limit for a few weeks, and if I’m a "Good Boy" after that time, they’ll up it to 25. But I will be placed in LaLa-Land, for the procedure, and then I will be visiting Vicodin-Land afterwards. So, Halloween will be spent with me unable to make the teenage trick-or-treating boys (that are old enough to drive) scream for their Mommy like little kids. Oh well, there’s always next year…