The Transformation Journals

Weight is up about ten pounds.  I know all of this is not muscle.  Some of it is I am sure.  I also know that the last several weeks my training has not been what I want it to be and my diet has not been as clean as it should be.  School is part of the cause, but I can’t blame it all on that.  I have just been tired and stressed and apathetic.  It is a circle that I am trying to not let become too vicious.  A couple more weeks and then a break.  I will get things back on track then.

More later.  Be well and safe.  ~!~

School is really wreaking havoc with my workouts.  I am really beginning to feel the effects of it.  I am tired and irritable more than I usually am.  The irritablity, along with aggitation, is one of the side affects of a medication I am on (yes it sucks) and it is exacerbated by not getting to the gym.  I have school three nights a week and two online classes.  Work every other weekend and now labs/clinicals on weekends too.  Work is 12 hour shifts.  So, enough whining and no thanks, I’ll pass on the cheese with my whine for now as I am in the middle of a vanilla and rootbeer float flavored shake.  I am trying to get in two workouts a week and for now cardio is more often than not on hold.  I just need to make it until mid May.  I will have a couple weeks off before the next semester starts in June and I am going out of town somewhere. No work, no school, no anything.  School will go to class two nights a week and one online class. Work and clinicals/labs will still be the same but I should be able to get in two a week with cardio and maybe even three a week.  Okay, I feel a little better now.  Thanks for putting up with the venting and the ranting.  More later (hopefully not more venting and ranting).  Be well and safe.  ~!~

Six weeks until school starts and it looks like workouts will go to two a week.  This semester school will be three nights a week and with work as well two a week is all I will really be able to get in and still be productive.  Any more than that will put them too close together for proper recovery.  So the question for me now is; do I do a total body workout twice a week or do an upper - lower body split and hit each one once a week?  As usual just pondering out loud here.  I’ll post here what I decide.  Until then, six weeks of three a week as hard as I can. Then two a week from mid January until mid May.

I have not posted this anywhere yet I don’t think so here it is.  I had to go to a push - pull - legs split with cardio on non leg days.  The total body three a week was getting me into an over training issue with a lot of pain in my clavicles and the left lat delt.  So with the switch all is well.  As always, more to follow.

Be well.

Back from the gym a little while ago and I am a bit disappointed in my deadlift.  I shouldn’t be as I was actually able to do a full lift off the floor instead of having to use the Smith machine as a starting point.  So in that regard I have made some progress, just not happy with the weight.  However, an improvement is an improvement and the weight will come up too.  I didn’t see a place to set a goal for the deadlift so I will do it here.  200 pounds by Dec 31 2007.

I have a lot of work to do before the end of the year.  I do not know if my goals are realistic or not.  Time will tell.

Been a month and making a change to the workout schedule.  Going to up it to six days a week.  M/W/F abs and cardio.  T/Th/Sun weights.  I have not been able to work in the cardio on the three day a week schedule.  This will give me Satuardays off to work in some golf.  More on that later

Discovered the assisted dip and chin machine yesterday.  Well not actually discovered it but used it for the first time.  Think I am going to like that one.  Had sort of an abbreviated session.  The Smith machine was occupied so I just hit the leg machines and did a dumbell workout.  Was a good one based on how I feel today just didn’t get any heavy squats in. 

Where to start?  I am sure that my blog entries will become more detailed as I figure things out and get into the habit/routine of making frequent updates.  Just as in my training routine this will be a work in progress.  As to training, I have a few exercises or movements if you wish that I will be doing every gym day.  Dead lift, squats, bench press and military press.  All done with my workout partner, the Smith machine.  I know what you are saying; you can’t really dead lift on the Smith because you are not going all the way to the floor.  Well, I have limited range of motion in my knees and for right now that is the way it is going to be.  What about the clean and press (jerk if you’d rather)?  Same answer, and I need to develop more core strength, abs and lower back, before I can do that one safely.  I have a few other fav’s that I will be doing most if not all the time too.  Zotman’s, 21’s and Arnold presses.  Other than that my routine is kind of free flow for now as I experiment with various machines and times, reps, set, and movement combinations.  Three days a week for now and shooting for 45-60 minutes on the weights plus cardio.