Shifuxu’s Reformation!

     For anyone out there who follows me still or may read this now. I had to drop for a while due to a severe sinus infection. Sounds goofy, but when you can’t breathe, which causes a stamina loss, at least for me, you just can’t get a good workout in. I had been working it pretty hard and felt it would be ok to take time off. After six weeks, I have lost more fat and have begun to sculpt certain muscle groupr that were lagging before. Before I just wanted to get in shape, now I want to gain symmetry and balance. Legs need a lot of work, but I have to be very careful with them.

     The reason for that is weightlifting at 14 crushed my cartledge in my knee, so there is a lot of bone on bone grinding. I still have lubrication there, just not as much as healthy knees. The other is 17 years of ballroom dancing. Anyone think competitive dancing is for fruits, try it and see what a toll it can take on your body. But alas, I never give in and will develop my legs so I don’t look like an inverted triangle.

     Sorry for the disappearance. Now watch me grow!!

     My goal is to make the largest transformation in 8 weeks that can be possibly done. I’ve skipped workouts before because my day was a hard one and I can’t afford to do that anymore. It seems there are a few highly motivated people in this challenge so I’ll have to work extra hard to stay in this thing.

     Here we are on day 4 of the challenge and I’ve decided to change my routine. Since I work construction, it’s been hard some days because of working so hard at work. If I split the workout into morning and evening workouts, I feel the intensity will be at a higher level due to the fact that they will be shorter workouts.

     So far I’m feeling great and motivated especially by Soleuvanathlete, she’s a burner.

     Yesterday I joined the body Group "40 Plus’ers", Today I accept their 8 week transformation challenge. I am very competitive and intend to win. There are, however, some pretty fit people in that group. Win or not, I’ll make the best of it and have fun.

     This week I took off due to some nagging injuries. I wanted to change my routine anyway, so this worked out well. I’m glad the cutting phase, or should I say, losing fat, is now close to being over. I look much better, but I hate that I’m dropping size in all measurements. The only one I don’t mind losing in of course is the waist and hips.

     I will say I did feel good the other day when one of my wife’s students came up and grabbed my and stated "you’ve got big guns". Definately made me feel good, because I haven’t heard that since I was 25. Also at work, there is a guy who everyone comments on being soooooo big. I took my myotape to work and convinced him to measure his arms. Mine are just as big as his and will be bigger once I start bulking up again. I love it!!!

     Here we are another week into my regimen and I feel the fat being converted. I’m almost to the point I don’t mind not wearing my shirt in public. I still have a little more around the waist than I want, but it is getting there. I believe my supplement stack is working great and will definately use this combo again (Halodrol, Novedex, and 200mg of DHEA per day).

     My only concern with all that is going on is that I bought a new measuring tape to make the measurements more accurate and they all dropped about .5 inch. Even before that, losing fat and gaining muscle, I was slowing decreasing in measurement anyway. My weight has varied no more than 6 pounds in the past month, but I’m down 10 overall in 3 months. When will it all turn around and the work I put in start gaining the mass I want? I know my supplement stack is for lean muscle mass, and I don’t want water inflated mass, I just want bigger and stronger.

     Patience has never been a strong suit of mine. Maybe I should just be happy to feel as good as I do at 42?!

     This week I worked out only three times and felt super guilty. I realize the importance of rest and I had been hitting the weights pretty hard. When I did my stats I noticed something pretty cool. The body parts I worked the least this week had the biggest gains in strength and size over last week. And of course I lost weight and .5 inches in the waist and hips.

     So I think the rest did me good and now I feel rested and ready to attack the next series of workouts. I took photos too, and at 18 days, I see dramatic improvement. This is what has me so stoked. I’m ready to do some further sculpting.

     One question to anyone who has had a shoulder injury, how do you tell if it is muscle or bone? I feel pain only on about the first three reps of an excercise per set, then nothing. It hurts to the touch, not badly, and does not hurt at all when doing my normal everyday activities. In fact most times I can’t even tell it is there unless you press down on my shoulder. When doing excercises, it does not cause me to lag behind in that arm. It in no way feels that I should consult a physician, it is more of a nuisance, but it has been there for about 4 months and will not go away. Any suggestions?

     Got a question for anyone who will respond. I started doing my lifting stats and body measurements here on BB.com and my charts show losses in lifting stats because this week all the excercises to input stats on were around my third set in the workout. When do you normally do these excercises, first or somewhere in your routine? Mine won’t be in the same locale everytime due to the fact I change order almost on a weekly basis to give other parts of the muscle more work than the previous workout.

     Secondly, Body stats. Do you take them at rest or after workouts or does it really matter? I assume whatever the answer it needs to be the same every time, just looking for the most consistent.

    Pre-thanks to any and all who provide input.

     I am from the old school where you do a 2 day split routine 3 times a week. I have been reading lately about the split routines now where you only work a muscle group once per week. My initial reaction was there is no way this can work. There is too much rest time.

     I have been doing the same routine, which I created, for 3 months now and I decided to do this one muscle group per week a try. I’m only three days into it, but I have to say, I don’t think I could work them twice a week. Muscles ache that I didn’t even know I was using. Skepticism is still there, but in 6 weeks we will know the truth for me.

      I just joined Bodybuilding.com a few days ago. So far I’m really impressed with what is being offered and will use this site to the fullest. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

     For those who care to know more about me, read on. If not, I will post on other health related stuff later. In High School, I was in the weight lifting class and Club. I was one of the more dedicated as I have always been a small person. Shortly after high school, my bench press was at 350, biceps measured 17.5 inches, chest 48 inches and legs so big I couldn’t walk without my thighs rubbing together. Then I became an alcoholic party animal with a desire to only do more of the same. Those were my glory days and I guess most older people have them.

     About my present, I’m married, a little overweight and have a tremendous renewed interest to get back to where I was at 25, but without the alcohol. At one time I weighed 205 at 6% body fat. I’m 42 now, and I believe anything is possible, it just may take longer since my body has aged. I’ve been back to working out for 3 months now and it seems I still have the good genetics on my side so maybe this won’t be quite so hard. Even so I will enjoy every moment of life that I can.

     I look forward to meeting any of you who care to do so and if not, good luck to you all on your journey to your own goals.

Scott Taylor