vagymbro’s BodyBlog

Happy New Year everybody!  Hopefully, this will be a good year for me in all aspects of my life, but in terms of training, 2008 is shaping up to be my time to get as prepared for my first show in 2009 as much as possible.  I simply need more mass and want to see what I can look like at a lean 200.  Currently, holding at 180.  Is getting 20 lbs. of muscle as impossible as it sounds?  Or maybe I’m just overzealous?  LOL

Thanks to those of you who have given me tips and advice and shared your thoughts and answered my questions since I got on here.  It’s appreciated.  I have made several friends on here and look forward to making more in the 08.  Best of luck to all of you who want to add more trophies to your mantle or (like me) are working on getting your FIRST. 

Once again, I’ll probably attend the OCB Core Nutritionals here in Richmond in April.  Anybody thinking of participating in this show?  I went for the past two years and it is never a disappointment. 

Since we have TVs everywhere tuned into the news, going to the gym will be hard for the next few months with all the excitement in the Democratic primary battles! lol I’m a hardcore political junkie as much as I’m a gymrat so I’ll try to get my workout done tonight before the NH results start coming in.   lol

I had a conversation in the gym last night with this guy about my diet.  I told him I have a fast metabolism and that I was making some gains since I started eating more meals a day and taking whey protein.  I started drinking protein shakes in October and was at 172.  I’m 6′4, now 178-179.  He said that I was eating too much which surprised me.  This guy was 6′0, 213 and NOT my bodytype–the dreaded ECTOMORPH!  Ugh!  He said that by eating less meals, I burn less, and retain more muscle.  Hmmm…..

Does this guy make a valid point?  Or am I good with my current diet?  A sample is below.  Your thoughts, por favor….

Meal 1
Bowl of oatmeal
1 (or 2) scoop whey protein shake

Meal 2 (10 am)
Protein bar

Meal 3 (12 pm)
Lunch (TV Dinner w/ chicken for protein)
Salad
Fruit
Gatorade

Meal 4 (3 pm)
Snack (pretzels, fruit, protein bar)
Gatorade

Meal 5 (7 pm)
Post-workout protein shake (1 or 2 scoop)

Meal 6 (7:30 pm)
Chicken
Vegetable (or salad)
Gatorade

Meal 7 (11-12 midnight)
1 (or 2) scoop protein shake before bed

Whew!  I don’t know if it’s torture or a good thing that my job has so many Christmas parties, breakfasts, and lunches!  Lord, do we go all out around here during the holidays.  We had our final feast (this time a breakfast) this morning and to say that i cheated a little would be a gross understatement!  LOL   Still going to the gym, but like a lot of people, I’ll step up my game in January!

 Merry Christmas!  Peace and blessings!  :-)

Had (at first) what seemed to be a normal evening at the gym last night.  Legs and back, nothing fancy.  A guy approached me to ask if I was done with a machine.  After some chit-chat, he said that he was surprised I was so friendly.  Huh??  He said that he noticed that I always come in and don’t say anything to anyone, that I’m in my own world, and that I come across as anti-social.  Keep in mind that I’m not that way.  I don’t wear Ipod headphones or run on the treadmill reading a magazine which are things that people do to block people out.  But I was thinking to myself–"Well, umm, it is a gym where people come to work out.  It’s not a bar or a club."  But here’s the good part.  I overheard this same person tell some of his friends/workout partners that there was a guy in our gym whom he felt was gay.  They asked why he felt that way, and his answer was along the lines, "He’s always trying to talk to me and always ask if I compete."  I guess it did not occur to this guy that he may have been approached because he’s been in a few local shows and that there might be some people in our gym who want tips and advice on shows because they too want to compete one day. 

This opens the debate about proper gym etiquette.  How social should you be in the gym?  Are gyms now places where you’re supposed to say hello to everyone and their mama and high-five everyone?  If you don’t, then you’re cold?  But if you are amicable and friendly, that means you’re trying to get in dudes’ pants?  Since I go in, do my thing, and don’t like to be disturbed or stay for 3 hours talking about football or trying to get a whole bunch of phone numbers, then I guess I come down on the anti-social gym member.  LOL

Maybe it’s a Southern thing?  I’m from New York originally now and live in Virginia.  Strangers that you don’t know from Adam in the grocery store, mall, EVERYWHERE will speak to you and frown upon you if don’t return the "hospitality."  LOL

When is the best time to take whey protein shakes?  I work 2 jobs and when I don’t go the gym,  I have one in the morning with a bowl of oatmeal and one in the evening before bedtime.  When I do go, I have one in the morning, one after my workout, and one before bedtime. 

Shuold I change this up?  Or is it ok?

Well, today is Monday.  I trust everyone had a great Thanksgiving and enjoyed the break from the chicken breasts and oatmeal to enjoy that sweet potato pie?  LOL  I had Thanksgiving at my place this year, so was out of the gym since last Wednesday.  It feels like 2 weeks though.  I’m going to hit the iron after work this evening; sure hope it won’t be too hard getting back into the swing of things!

What is up with some of the people on this site?  I have posed some compliments and questions about competing to some individuals ("trey22," etc.) since I’d like to do compete next year and these n***as don’t even have the courtesy to respond.  However, if you visit their pages, they seem to respond to people who either a) are competitve bodybuilders like themselves and b) have a whole bunch of pics up.  This is a site for advice, tips, suggestions, etc. for the beginner, intermediate and advanced, so people, don’t be arrogant and kindly respond to people who seek your expertise.  Before you stepped on stage and got your trophy, you were just like the rest of us.

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