Joel’s ranting

So the week after next I will be heading to Puerta Vallarta for almost 2 weeks to a resort. This will be my first real vacation in almost a decade. I’m not saying this to brag (well maybe a little) but my main concern is what is going to happen while I am on vacation, at a resort, in regards to my body. All of the traveling I have been doing for work in itself has taken a toll on my body (eating habbits, lack of gym time, etc.) so I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t majorly concerned about actually going away to relax, forget the worries of the world, and just not care. Luckily I have checked into it and the resort supposedly has a nice fitness center, and with the other activities that I’ll be doing on the trip (snorkeling, swimming, hiking, and others I will hopefully not come out of it too bad. After that though I am done traveling vacation wise, and work wise as well so I will be able to get back to it. Goal: six-pack by summer (didn’t make it this year, sorry group)

This weekend marks the 1yr anniversary of my progress pics. I will be going down to California once again, and doing the same thing, but hopefully this time when I get to see the pictures of the trip I will be a little more confident. As a year has gone by, I am somewhat happy with the results, but didn’t get as far as I wanted to. I guess it might be due to the fact that my workout routine was total crap for the first few months I started going to the gym (august) and the last two months I have been plagued with minor injuries that have made it harder for me to push it when I am in there. I am starting to feel pretty good though, and got in an amazing workout today, and rode my bike to and from the gym; which I plan on doing this entire week until I leave. I have been eating like absolute hell the past few weeks though which has taken it’s toll on my bf%. I need to get back in the game for sure. Anyway, I hope if anyone actually reads this that all is well, and I look forward to posting some 1yr anniversary pics from my 4th of July weekend.

So I’m about a month and a half away from my year in regards to my very first pic on bb.com… I will be really pushing myself in this time to see just how great of results I can get in a year… I was looking back from my first progress pictures which were taken around November and I am really happy with where I have gotten so far… this next year will be more about conditioning and toning up to help get the look that I am after I want to see what I would look like if I was super lean, so I am going to do all it takes to get there… my biggest challenge is going to be my eating habits… they are so good during the week, and then once the weekend comes they go to hell… I just splurge on all that is in my way… SO, with that being said, I am going to have to take control of my appetite so I can acheive the look that I am going for.

Well this weekend I decided to head up to Heavenly to go snowboarding like I do every Saturday of the season, but made the choice to stop off at the bar up top to get in a bloody mary before the ride. Nothing much out the normal there, as we will normally stop in for a beer or two before heading out. After awhile though the wind had started picking up and my optimizm of actually riding began to diminish. I was figuring that I would call this day a loss, and just hang out in the bar for a few more, then head back home. Well, a few more ended up turning into a lot more, and next thing I knew we figured it actually was an awesome day to go riding regardless of how windy and crappy it was. Well we got to the top of the hill and I started riding, feeling real good, hitting some nice jumps, a few spin-tricks, and eventually flying off a nice size roller with a decent amount of speed. Well my balance was a little off from the drinks I am assuming, because I ended up catching my toe edge when I landed and slammed my shoulder, face and opposing arm with a great amount of force. I thought for sure I dislocated my shoulder. The first thought I had when I came to was of Natasha Richardson, but then I began to focus more on the pain coming from my shoulder. I layed there on my back.. After feeling like an ass (I did this right under the chair, so that everyone going up watched me fall) I decided it best for my ego if I at least made it down to the bottom before dealing with the pain. Well, that ended my day. One run. It hurt, but it wasn’t until I began to sober up that I realized just how bad this damn thing feels. Anyway now even pulling up my socks makes me almost cry, so I believe I will be out of the gym for a few days. I was going to get in some cardio today at least, but after trying to use the shoulder all day at work, I have decided against it. Boo.

when I am calculating the weight on a leg press do I count the machine? If so, how much do they weigh?

I’m getting stronger every week. Everything is increasing except my size… I don’t think I look any different than I did once I started getting serious… I don’t really understand it… if the weights I am lifting are changing, shouldn’t my body be doing the same?

I started going to the gym about 6 months ago, and when I look back at pictures of before I started I am happy to see where I am, and excited to see what I can do before summer. I am so happy that I was introduced to bb.com because of all the great and helpful information, and the wonderful people. I look forward to seeing what ‘09 has in store for me, and wish you all the best in luck reaching your goals as well… Keep up the good work!

Well I’ve been going to the gym for about 4 months now and I noticed a quick difference in the first couple of months but my progress has seemed to slow down. Luckily I have been doing some reading on the forums and have come up with a couple of possible solutions. But the purpose of this first post is to just thank all of you for your help, and motivation. Looking at all of you on here is amazing, seeing the transformations, and all the amazing physiques. You all are making this make so much more sense than it used to, and I wanted to just take a second to say good job to all of you, and you all look great. You are all some of my motivation. Also, BB.com has been such a big help to me so far, and there is so much to learn, and you have been such a big help. So thank you.