shihando’s BodyBlog

A little background real quick.  There is this kid, (he’s not really a kid, but he’s in his early 20s and just out of college), that is one of my new hires (I trained him) that has started working out at the gym when I do.  He towers over me at 6′1" and weighs about 190 lbs.  He’s not huge, but has decent size and is really cut.  I had a pseudo CW moment this morning when he commented how every day I lift, I seem to gain strength.  I am pushing more weight everyday.  I blew it off by explaining that my body is just getting back to how strong it used to be.  Of course, he was shocked that I used to be stronger.  He lifts to maintain his body, light weight with moderate reps.  He does not really lift for strength.

Fast forward a few hours:

I am walking the floor, (I work in a call center) providing support to the phone analysts.  I was walking by the desk of another of my new hires who happens to sit next to the Kid I workout with and she let out a frustrated growl.  Of course, I stopped and asked her if everything was ok.  She said no, but there was nothing I could do to help.  I noticed that on her desk was a box of various colors of thread, needles, small scissors and a book opened to s specific picture on a graph.  She was cross-stitching.

"You’d be surprised what I can help you with.  If you remember from training, I DO know everything." I said chuckling stepping into her cube.  "Is that Precious Moments cross-stitch?  Oh my God!  I love Precious Moments!"

She just stopped and her eyes rolled up looking at me over her glasses with that ‘Are you serious?’ expression.  "Umm … yeah.  What do you know about cross-stitching and Precious Moments?"

"Besides it is an art form that originated in the Middle-East sometime BC and Precious Moments is from Missouri?  A lot more.  What’s your problem?" I said with my usual cocky grin.  Yes, I know how to cross-stitch.  Yes, I enjoy it, but i do not do it much any more, only once in awhile.  Basically, she had never cross-stitched before and was having an issue with needing massive knots to make sure the thread did not pull through the hole.  I showed her how to take one thread, fold it in half and feed the needle throught the loop so it makes a noose to grab the weave of the thread.  As I was showing her this when the Kid showed back at his desk.

"What the hell?  You cross-stitch?" he said laughing.

"Yeppers." I said and went back to showing her how she could correct her previous knot issues without undoing all her work so far.

"Dude, you’re 32, live at home, are single, and cross-stitch?!?  Are you gay?"  he said laughing.

Without looking up from what I was showing her I responded, "I can bench 1 and a half times your body weight and can think of over a hundred different ways to kill you with my bare hands.  Any more questions?"

Long pause, but I still did not bother to look at him.  "Umm … umm … No.  I think that about covers it.  Straight as an arrow.  Yup.  Straight as an arrow."  the Kid said sitting down to take another call.  The girl and some other people around us started laughing.  The ladies said they thought it was attractive to see a man secure enough to show that side of himself. Meh, whatever.  I was too busy basking in what I consider my first true CW moment.

Kids.

Ok.  So I am finally over this flu bug thing, thank God!

So I have a new routine that I am going to try to increase my mass gains.  Along with my new routine I am starting a new supplement package as well.  I will be using the BSN Mass Stack along with ON Whey and the Universal vitamin stack.  I am hoping I can make some quick gains and make up for the lost 2 and a half weeks I have lost due to illness and injury since starting.  My diet will be pretty much the same, clean eating 6 meals a day.  Nothing specific as far as scheduled meals, but I will be using the whey to make "shakes" for two of the meals rather than actual eating.  I am hoping that will help me in the fat loss department.

The new workout I will be using is a slightly modified version of The Mass Building article on BB.com.  I had to tweak it due to  equipment availability at my work gym.  But for the most part, it will remain the same.  I am hoping that I will be able to see some sort of progress quickly, like everyone else I’m sure. lol  Time will tell.

I’m just going to keep the faith!

PS - For those that are interested I will be doing lifting 5 days a week.   Split doing Arms/Chest, Back/Shoulders, Legs and repeating hitting legs just once a week.  I will post my workouts with reps and weights each day.

I haven’t been able to work out since last Friday.  I’ve pretty much lost a week of training.  The sickness that I had a few weeks ago came back with a vengeance, fever, sinus pressure, inferno throat pain.  My sister and I were shopping with the niece and nephew when I broke into a massive sweat.  That’s when I knew things were going to get rough.  All the aches and pains I had were amplified.

On the way home my sister called our doctor and he called in a prescription of Levaquin.  Apparently that’s some good stuff.  1 pill a day for 5 days?  Must be some strong suff.  Anyway, I’ve spent probably 38 of the last 48 hours asleep.  I want to work out, but I know it’s pointless if I don’t get better.

Hope everyone else is feeling ok and workouts are going will.  Hopefully I’ll be able to workout tomorrow or Friday at the latest.

Is how my trainer described this strange feature of my body.  Now, I know that everyone strives to be unique.  And I’m known to ask the question: "Why be normal when it’s so easy to be different?"  But seriously, with this … I really don’t want to be different.  Especially when it comes to body building!!

Alright, I know that you all are wondering just what the hell I am rambling on about, so as I promised, here it is …  I have one pec muscle that is larger than the other!  My left peck bulges about a quarter of an inch further than my right peck!  What the hell is that?!?

Now before someone starts with the all-knowing solution to the problem let me allay some of the obvious thoughts by explaining further.

- The larger pec (my left pec) is NOT the strongest of the two.  When pushing individual dumbbells, I can push more with my right than my left.
- I am right handed so I obviously use my right arm more.  Therefore the strength of the arm could compensate and not require as much work done by my pec.
- When benching when the rep is near failure it is always my left that struggles behind my right.  But again, my arm could be compensating.
- On cable crossovers my right can do more weight than my left.  With perfect form, it’s hard to not use muscles other than the pecs in the exercise.
- My right shoulder is permanently separated.  (It’s only partially in the socket.  Old football injury.  It would take surgery to fix it and I’m not willing to have the surgery since it is functional).

So there you have it.  According to my trainer that is just strange.  It must be a genetic flaw, or something related to my shoulder injury.  So … once I achieve my perfect body, I’m gonna have a lopsided chest …

I guess it could be sexy … hmm … maybe this isn’t as bad as I thought.

Until next time!  Keep the faith!

I really don’t know what he problem is.  Ever since I first started lifting in high school football it doesn’t seem to matter how much I brutalize my chest I can’t seem to get that burn telling me that I really worked hard.  My workout today is no different.  (Check out my workout for today).

I started with the bench and the incline with a nice wide grip to focus on my chest.  I could literally feel the fibers in my pecks  stretching and tearing (for lack of a better descriptor).  During my workout I could just tell that I was breaking the muscle down.  By the time that I finished up with some push-ups my pecks did not even want to work.  I did 20 mins on the elliptical to get some cardio in.  My arms and pecks did not even want to hold onto the grips on the elliptical!  But 5 mins after I got done … nothing.  It was as if I hadn’t done anything at ALL!!

I went for less weight and more reps today.  I wanted to make sure that I got perfect form and perfect reps to  have the best opportunity to break down  the muscle to be rebuilt bigger.  Even if I  do heavier weight and less reps the same thing happens.  I really do not feel like I’ve done anything after a chest workout.   And on top of that, after talking to the company trainer I  have discovered that I am apparently genetically unique with an interesting abnormality to my musculature.  But I’ll save that for another blog …

PC (political correctness) is the biggest crock … seriously; it has wormed its way into every facet of life.  Kids are taught that everyone is equal and everyone can do whatever anyone else can!  I agree that is a great ideal, but kids know better!  Unfortunately, eventually everyone seems to be sucked into the hallucination.

People have bought into PC so much so they can’t even see reality.  Case in point:  I have been overweight since I was in the 1^st grade!  I used to be self-conscious about it, having serious low self-esteem and self-confidence issues.  I developed humor as a defense.  I’d crack the fat kid jokes before anyone else could … oops! … overweight adolescent jokes.

I was joking around as always with some friends at work about dating.  I made some crack about how hard it was to find women that like fat bald guys.  My friends started laughing with me, telling me how crazy I am.  A girl I had just met informed me that I had low self-esteem and no self-confidence.  Everyone busted out laughing at her.  She then told me that I would not attract a woman if I did not have confidence in myself.  I responded that my problem is not a lack of self-confidence, but in women and people in general.   As a general rule, people today decide whether or not they are willing to get to know someone based on physical appearance.  She then got upset and made some comment about she was just trying to be nice and I’d die fat and lonely or something.  Whatever. 

Accept reality folks!

FAT:

NOT FAT:

(Look at the pictures again!  Thanks Ninjabill! You’re awesome!). 

Right now, I AM FAT.  Accept it!  (It’s pretty obvious.)  But PC says that everyone has to live in a hallucination and not do anything that would hurt my feelings.  Claiming that I have no self-confidence and low self-esteem after 5 minutes of knowing me is NOT very PC if you ask me.  This girl actually believed that she was helping me see the truth!  I am an optimistic realist.   I have accepted my reality and I am optimistic that I can change it.  Just like everyone else that has come to BB.com. 

If you ask me, she’s the one with the issues.  The assumption that I have some mental issue because I can accept the reality of my body is PC crap being projected onto me by her issues.  She’s not as bad as those people that make comments about others that are intentionally designed to cause pain.  Anyone that would say something to cut another person down have the confidence or esteem issues.  Living the PC hallucination enables them to believe the lie that reality does not exist.  I am unaffected by other people’s ignorance or negative comments.  If I see it happening to others I try to pull the focus on to myself because I know it will have no impact on me.

People need to learn to face the reality and not hide behind PC.  The biggest difference between people here and those that are not:  We have accepted our reality and are CHOOSING to face it head on.  It’s not an issue of having low self esteem or a negative self-image.  It’s looking the truth dead in the eye and proclaiming that we are not ok with our situation. Negative comments should just bounce off if you get any.  You will be a better you.  They will still be a worthless them.

When I was younger, I used to take name calling and other things people would say to me to heart.  My Grandmother told me the quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”  My Grandmother was a great lady.  Giving me that quote was probably the greatest gift she ever gave me.  Face reality.  Embrace reality, not PC, and you will never consent to being inferior to anyone or anything.

I know most of my blogs tend to be long.  (I like to talk, oops.)  But this is just a quick rant while I working on another blog idea.

Ok, so being from the South and raised with what can be referred to as "true Southern ideal" I can attest that chivalry, propriety, and courtesy are not dead.  This morning a higher up from another part of the company that really has nothing to do with my job function was visiting our site from up north. 

We were introducing ourselves … "Hello, my name is Christopher. Nice to meet you."

"Hey, Chris. Nice to meet you." He said.  What was that?  No.  No he did not just do that?

"Excuse me, but my name is Christopher.  It is not Chris.  I would appreciate it if you would use my name." I said.  Of course he, and everyone else was just standing there looking at me with their eyes wide and their mouths open.  I think people were waiting for me to get fired or something.

"Umm …" he said with a pause.  "You’re absolutely right.  I apologize, Christopher.  That was rude of me.  I did not realize I did that.  I am just used to calling everyone by their shortened names."

"No worries.  I do appreciate it."

The way I was raised, that is very rude.  To not refer to someone as you were introduced.  Maybe it’s just a Southern thing.  Maybe it’s just me, but it bothers me to no end.

When I was a kid I used to LOVE watching American Gladiators.  I always thought I could get on there and whoop up on those Gladiators better than the contestants.  Win or Lose, I knew I would have enjoyed it.

So of course I had to watch the New American Gladiators.  It was definately fun to watch.  I’m not so sure about the new Gladiators though.  Yeah, they’re big and obviously are into body building, but is that it?  I remember watching when I was younger and thinking these guys are huge and just awesome!  They were ginormous and seemed skilled at the events. 

The new gladiators just seem … well … pretty.  It was like that’s all they brought to this new show.  I guess the producers were wanting pretty faces from various stereotypes.  I will say, I do have high hopes for Toa.  I really like the Samoan culture and the art and have done some fire dancing taught by a friend from Samoa.  I guess I’m kinda biased there, but that is why I leave it at “hopes”.  Wolf … this guy looks like he needs a flea dip and a hair cut.  Better yet, my niece could put a few bows in his hair.  I mean seriously, the whole trying to look mean makes him look comical.  The other guys, just kinda fall into the “really big guys trying to rely on strength to over-come the competitors.”  Mayhem faulted twice on the Joust.  Does he not have any balance or coordination?  I’m really don’t have an opinion on the female gladiators at this point.  But I will say my favorite is right now is Helga.  She’s not just a Barbie so to speak.

Maybe my problem is that when I was a kid, I was in awe of the size of those men.  At that point I still believed size determined the winner in a physical confrontation.  But after years of martial arts training and playing football as a 5′9" 220 lbs tackle that drove 6′0"+ 250+ lbs guys consistently I am jaded to the size difference.  Size and strength are definitely factors to aide in victory, but definately do not garauntee the win.

Anyone else watch the New American Gladiators?  What are your thoughts?

But I digress, I’ll continue to watch the new show and see how it develops.

Today started out bad last night.  I should have known …

So my sister needed help getting her laptop on my network and of course being the great little brother (Ok, younger brother), that I am I decided to do it last night rather than make her wait until this weekend.   It took 3 mins 13 secs to load windows, several useless crap programs and then get IE up and loaded ready to surf.  She had both the Google and Yahoo toolbars installed and running … I did get 3 sets of 1 rep "palm-to-face" presses done at this point so I guess that wasn’t all bad…  It took an hour and a half just to uninstall all the useless crap.  Anyway, download and install spy and adware cleaners and the combined problems surpassed the 1k mark.  I did one more "palm-to-face" press for good measure.  I finally got to bed around 2 am.  In all it was roughly a 4 hour process.

Fortunately, I had already packed my gym bag and put my clothes out and was ready to get up, get my workout clothes on and hit the gym before work.  But, I’ve been seek for several days so I slept through my alarm 6am for a little over 30 mins … "Dang it!" I said when I finally got up.  "No worries, I’ll just make a protein shake and a banana for breakfast."  I got dressed, brushed my teeth, took my pre-workout sups, grabbed my bag and head to work.  I was running a little late, but not a big deal, it was going to be a slow day anyway.  Got to the gym and was putting everything into my usual locker and I just stopped.

"Where the heck is my shirt?" I asked.

"It’s where you left it."  I responded.

"O … K … dang it!  No worries.  I’ll just work out in my under shirt, and wear my t-shirt  under my sweater vest."  Sweet!  Problem solved.  Going with the flow.  The day was off to a rocky start, but it’s cool.  It’s Friday!  I was really looking forward to a good leg workout after being out sick for a week.  I had a great idea and decided to use the Smith machine rather than the leg press today.  About 4 reps in my knees decided they loved my idea … not so much.  (I decided to start back on machines rather than free weights to get my body used to the motions and try to get proper form in the beginning.  Then later I would utilize free weights).  So I went back to the machines … leg presses, leg extensions and leg curls.  My legs were thanking me for a great burn.  Then I did 50 crunches and 3 sets of 10 reps for cable crunches.

Wow.  I felt so good after that work out.  I mean damn!  In just 2 weeks, (1 of which I was sick and unable to lift), I’ve lost an inch and a half of I-don’t-care-what from around my waist.  Jeans I bought 3 weeks ago are now loose.  I’ve actually gained 2 lbs, of what I am going to say is muscle.  I do not care what anyone else say!!  LOL   One of my buddies from work, Cliff, was there doing the cable crunches with me and congratulating me because he said he could see the changes already.   I thought to myself, "See.  Today is a great day!  Time to hit the showers!"

I go back to the locker room, pull my bag out, get my shampoo and soap out.  Take a big drink of my water.  Put my Ipod away and start to get undressed.  "Oh, come on!  Are you serious?!?"  I yelled.

"Dude.  What happened?" Cliff asked from the other side of the lockers.

"I just pulled my back! Untying my friggin shoes!!"  I said.

"Are you seriousl?" Cliff said laughing.

"I hate you Cliff …" I said to another burst of laughter.  "Yep, today is going to be a GREAT day!"

I recently read JPhillips17’s most recent blog entitled eating disorder.  I really applaud him for coming out and typing that blog.  I know for many people that would be very hard to do.  I did respond to his blog like many others with a verbal slap on the back so to speak.  It really is sad the pressure that society puts on both sexes to have the "perfect" body.  Guys try to look like Adonis to get the girls.  The girls try to look like Barbie to get the guys.  And then, especially in American culture, most people are not willing to put in the effort and hard work to take the journey.  Americans want to go from start to finish in the least amount of effort.  In regards to having the perfect body, or I guess really, the personal image we each have of the perfect body, what lengths do individuals go to?

I had a discussion with some friends yesterday about eating disorders after reading his blog.  It was a mixed group of 2 men and 4 women.  One of the women who is genetically blessed with an ubermetabolism argued that eating disorders are diseases similar to alcoholism.  The other guy in the group said they were not a disease, but that people with a disorder were unable to help themselves.  I disagree with this opinion, from a historical perspective.  Looking at hunting and gathering societies, people did not turn down food because they did not know when their next meal would be.  And when they did eat, I think it is safe to say they did not purge themselves immediately either.  Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia are modern problems and are all in the head.  It is about choice and self-image.  I say this because humans are the only species on the planet that makes a conscious decision to “turn off” our basic survival instincts.  And let’s be honest, socioeconomic problems aside, eating to survive is not the day-to-day.  Food is readily available and abundant.  Most (I dare not say all because someone will pull up some rare medical condition that the brain does not signal a person to be hungry or full), eating disorders are due to personal choice and/or mental issues whether they be self-esteem or whatever.  No, I am not a doctor and I have not studied eating disorders by any means.  I base my opinion off of my study of history and personal experience.

I have experienced three eating disorders in my life, one where I ate too much, one where I did not eat enough, and my sister being anorexic.  Essentially, both instances were ultimately choices I made.  Yes there were underlying self-image issues, but I made the choice to actively do what I did.  When I was younger I would eat for 3 reasons, when it was "time" to eat, when there was food available I did not want to miss out on, and just because I felt hungry.  What was worse, I would always eat a meal.  Example: I would go to a restaurant and order my usual meal because I was hungry and then an hour or so later it was time for lunch so I would go somewhere else and eat another meal.  And then if someone offered my cookies or something at work I would eat those too! When I finally reached the 320 lbs mark I had had it. I literally chose to go on a diet of hydroxycut and water. I may have allowed myself a small bowl of oatmeal or a 6" sub a day if I was lucky, usually every other day. I think the longest I ever went on just the water and hydroxycut was 5 or 6 days. Yeah, I lost a bunch of weight fast. I got down to 228 lbs. But once I started eating again I went back up to 270 lbs. It was hell on my body and I wasn’t very nice to be around.

I’ve never actually told anyone this before.  Until reading Jason’s blog, I don’t think I wanted to admit it to myself.  I had gotten so fed up and hit rock bottom for self-esteem and self-worth that I chose to take a dangerous path.  The ends justify the means right?  It really is kind of a relief to actually call it for what it was.  And I thank Jason for stepping up and saying what he went through, and my new perspective for giving me the courage to do so. So what do y’all think?  Any thoughts and opinions?  I always love a good discussion about interesting topics.

Anyone else willing to admit to making a bad choice in a desperate attempt to fulfill that personal image that society says you’re supposed to have?