pixiglittrpants’s BodyBlog

So in having an addictive personality, I’ve noticed that a few new addictions have occurred since I discovered BodySpace and BodyBlogs.

1) BodySpace and BodyBlogs!  I honestly don’t think one day has passed since I’ve discovered it that I haven’t checked it, look forward to friends’ new blog entries or pics, learn about new techniques or supps, etc.  This place is so addicting!  If by chance I didn’t have internet I would have serious withdrawals of the drooling sort.

2) Constantly flexing and/or checking myself out in mirrors.  I notice that I’m constantly touching my arms and subtly flexing a lot more driving home, in meetings, as I type this, etc., wondering if my delts are actually starting to grow or if my stomach or tricep flab is slowly disappearing.  I’ve only really started focusing on free weights less than two months ago but I’m pretty sure/hope I’m starting to see changes.  As such, I’m constantly touching myself or flexing in the mirror (ha, with no one around, though)!  Why be a CW when I can give myself props! lol

3) Less cardio bunny, more weight room beast (thanks VTD!).  I’ve always been a cardio maniac since I used to call strength training "eating my vegetables" since I HAD to do it to protect my joints and increase my running economy before I get to "play" outside running or biking.  Now I look forward to the weights more than the cardio because that aggro feeling feels pretty freakin awesome!  Plus, I admit - it’s fascinating to see how the muscles work with each rep/set/exercise.  The body and its intricacies is such a beautiful thing.

So D calls me midday and asks me how I am.  I said I was fine but that I felt a little tired so I was going to take the day off from the gym.  His response (more or less) was, "Why?  Just because your friend pu$$ied out, doesn’t mean you should."

I said that I’ll go tomorrow, that I worked out all week, blah blah blah, but his response each time was, "You’re weak."  Well… that was exactly the big kick in the butt to make me high tail it to the gym for chest/back day.  As disgruntled as I was to go, I admittedly felt really good afterwards (apparently, disgruntled anger works wonders!).  He constantly challenges me (his favorite saying is "pain is weakness leaving the body"), and just when I’m feeling slightly comfortable - pushes me some more.  Sometimes I don’t want to hear it, mostly because I grew up with lovey-soft hippy parents… but I do admit, his tough as nails philosophy definitely enhances my life and pushes my limits.  He still thinks I should take it easy when it comes to running after it got re-injured, but overall he continually encourages me to progress instead of regress (or digress).  I definitely appreciate that.

Of course… he does reap some benefits, as well, since I work my arse off and he gets to tap it…. but we definitely have a great symbiotic thing going on.  /end sickening gush here   

Thank y’all SO much for all the supportive and caring messages!  The chick ended up apologizing and said she acted impulsively, do I still want to continue with the challenge, etc.  I accepted her apology, but refrained from resuming the challenge since I don’t want to get involved in her drama (as it were - do it once, shame on you, do it twice, shame on me).  So right now I just have to challenge myself (unless, NB, you want to throw down a figure contest like MM’s message. ).

I was tired yesterday when I worked out bis/tris - like even the 15 pounders felt super heavy - so I’m going to take the day off from the gyzzm today.  I worked out everyday that D was gone (he came back last night, yay!), so today I’m going to relax and hopefully my body will recover since it’s been like that for the past couple workouts.  I always notice my energy levels are higher once I take a day off every now and then.

I noticed that so many holiday decorations and lights are popping up everywhere now, which means the holidays are right around the corner.  My roomie and I contemplated putting lights up this year since our neighbors did a pretty cool job with their place, but since we’re both lazy when it comes to decorating (or as I like to call "creatures of leisure"), we immediately laundry-listed all these reasons not to put up lights like the energy costs, where would we put the plug, etc.  Oh well, maybe next year!

So the chick that I was having a challenge with called it off, in a kind of snappy way.  We went for a run and she said she was noticing a difference with me, and went on this tirade of how much she had for Thanksgiving, all the drama with her family since she got a divorce since they really liked the guy, etc.  I tried to empathize, but then she kind of snapped at me, saying I’m not going through nearly as much stuff as she is and it’s really hard for her to focus on this right now and to call the challenge off.

Huh?  I was kind of surprised, like she was kind of attacking me, but I just agreed because… well, if one person of a two-person challenge doesn’t want to play anymore, then that’s pretty much the end, right?

I kinda don’t get it… I’m the type that doesn’t hate, but congratulate, so I don’t understand it when people are like that?  I wanted to snap back that this divorce stuff happened over a year ago, but bit my tongue because - well, it’s true, I don’t know how I would process something like that.  I thought I was trying to help out the best I can by listening, but ultimately I kinda felt like her punching bag.  But, I don’t know… I guess I just have to chalk it up that it’s more about her than it is about me right now.  We parted amicably and said that we’ll see each other Monday, but it was kind of a bummer ending that I didn’t even go to the gym afterwards… kinda like a sunken heart feeling, you know?  I’ll go later, though.

So Thanksgiving came and went and I actually didn’t gain that much - around a half pound.  I took Cytolean in the morn and afternoon and though I didn’t feel it during my a.m. workout, I definitely didn’t eat as much during dinner as I normally do (and I would’ve, since I don’t get home cooked meals often so I like to stock up ).  The last time I saw most of them was in September during my grandma’s birthday, and a lot commented on my arms!  So that was cool (ya know, CW ™ and all…).

We always have a pretty eccentric group join us since my grandma is the best cook on the planet - lots of aunties, uncles, cousins, cousins’ friends, friends of friends, significant others, etc.  One of these people was my cousin’s friend, K, who happens to be gay.  So we’re all playing this game after dinner and because there’s so many people, it’s all rowdy and loud and the game was taking forever.  Thus, a lot of people were complaining and being obnoxious.  So me being a.d.d.’ish, I complained, "I’m bored."  My cousin, who’s constantly hungry, complained, "I’m getting hungry again."  And K, who was sitting on the hardwood floor, complained, "my butt hurts."

The whole room exploded in laughter, grandma included (well, once someone explained it to her lol).  K, being cool peeps, took it in stride and laughed himself, and that was essentially the highlight of this year’s Thanksgiving.  Hope everyone else had a good one!