Chasing My Dreams

Just entered today’s workout.  I’m starting from the top of the twelve week program I’ve been using, as I haven’t been to the gym in about a month, and decided this would be the best way to get back into the swing of things.  I’m also adjusting to my new job, which carries with it a schedule that changes from week to week, which can make getting a workout in tough, but this is important to me, so I’m going to do what it takes to make this happen.

Still hoping to put down some of my thoughts on the gym, bodybuilding, working out, etc., in the near future.

I’ve got some random thoughts about the gym and working out that I’m going to try to get down on paper (in a virtual sense) in the next few days.  Maybe when I’m at my rehearsals this week (church Christmas production is this weekend; I’ll be singing).

I was going to enter today’s workout, but I’ll get to that tomorrow.  I’m heading to bed early so I can (hopefully) get to the gym before work tomorrow, as a) I probably won’t make it there after work, and b) it seems quieter in the mornings.  Less waiting on machines/weights, which means I can take a better pace, among other reasons.

One last thing; in my last blog, I was advised to back off a little bit so as not to injure myself in the gym, which I certainly don’t want.  I guess what I’m wondering is, how far is too far?  I know I need to listen to my body, but how do I know when I’m pushing too hard and need to back off?  Again, feedback is welcomed and appreciated.

that I am a glutton for punishment in the gym.  If I’m not fighting for the last rep, I’m not lifting enough weight; at least, that’s my view of things.  Is that a bad thing?

Post-workout soreness is addictive.  Yeah, it’s pain, but it’s pain that I like.  Just gotta be careful that I don’t end up with pain that means my body is trying to tell me something.  So far I’m OK.

Haven’t been keeping up with the Hydroxycut or the cardio lately, which I really need to start doing again.  I haven’t seen much change on the scale, but I can see it in the mirror, so I know I’m making progress.

Also, it’s time to move on to the next two week phase of the 12 week starter program I’m on.  Time to add some free weight exercises into the mix, and pretty soon each body part will be on it’s own day, which means I’m really going to have to fight for my time at the gym.  If that means getting up early and a long day on Tuesday, so be it.  I’ll make the sacrifice to get to where I want to be.

Got fitted for a tux last night for my buddy’s wedding (I’m his best man).  I’ve got work to do if I want to look good in a tux!  I can be re-fitted up until two weeks before the wedding without paying a rush charge, so I’ll probably go in again two to three weeks beforehand to get checked out again.

That’s it for now.  Comments welcome.

I’ve started taking Hydroxycut again for weight loss, and I’m hoping to get my morning cardio started again tomorrow as well.  Also getting back to the swing of things at the gym.  I’m feeling the workout, but man, that post-workout feeling felt GOOD!!!  And I hear it’s addicting.  If so, here’s to the best addiction I could ask for!

Also took the new feature here on Bodyspace, the Workout Tracker (I think that’s what it’s called) for a spin.  Entering data is a little clunky, but it works, and it looks like a good way to track progress.  I’m looking forward to seeing how it works.

Trying to figure out when I’m going to get to the gym tomorrow; I’ve got about two hours available tomorrow morning while Mom gets a procedure done for her acid reflux.  I have to actually go into the clinic, get her, and drive her home, due to the sedation she’ll be on.  She can’t drive herself, she can’t take a bus, and she can’t take a taxi.  Also got plans tomorrow night to see an advance screening of Enchanted, which looks really funny!

Life has been crazy and I’ve been out of the gym for a while, but I’m back home now from my cousin’s wedding in Baltimore on Sunday.  I caught the garter, which supposedly means I’m the next one to get married, but I’ve got no prospects, so where does that leave me?  Anyway, hoping to get back to the gym Thursday and pick up close to where I left off (not weight wise I know), and get back into the swing of things.  Also still looking for a different job.

Just got home after a GREAT weekend with my students (I’m a youth sponsor at my church); had a great time, ate too much junk food, didn’t get any cardio in, didn’t get enough sleep, but it was great!  Anyway, hoping to get back to the cardio tomorrow morning.  Weights have been doing well, life has been getting in the way of getting to the gym as of late, but things are coming along nicely anyway.  Hopefully I’ll have some updated stats to post tomorrow in terms of lifts, and this coming Saturday I’ll have some body stats to share.

Things are starting to look up.  As I said in a previous entry, I’m pretty well back to where I was before my car accident on July 12, and starting to exceed my pre-accident lifting stats.  I was out of the gym for about three weeks before my chiropractor cleared me (and encouraged me) to get back to it.  I love the way I feel after a good workout!

I’m setting some new goals for myself as I move forward with my workouts and with BodySpace, the first being that I want to enter in my lifting stats after every workout.  I keep track of my sets and reps at every workout, so it won’t be hard to do.  After all, it only takes a few minutes.  Second, I want to go to a four day a week split in my workouts.  I need to put together a lifting plan that will fit this, and of course I’ll need to be sure to get to the gym four times a week, but I don’t forsee that being a problem.  I am planning to change jobs soon and if all goes to plan that will actually help this goal.  Third, I want to make sure I’m getting my morning cardio in six days a week.  I know it’s going to take some time to get back to where I was (30 minutes every morning) but it’s important to me; fat loss is one of my biggest goals, and I know that lifting weights is only a part of the total equation.  After all, I’m going to be in two weddings next year (one as the best man), and I want to look good in a tux!  Fourth and finally, I want to start measuring myself on a more regular basis; I’m thinking once a week, in order to better monitor my progress.
So, that’s where I’m at, and where I’m headed.  Thanks for reading!  Comments/suggestions are always welcome.

My chiropractor appointments are down to two a week; my second for this week is tomorrow.  Maybe soon it’ll be down to one a week, or I’ll just be done completely.  Not that I mind; insurance is paying for it!

My workouts are back to pre-accident levels, which I’m really happy about.  Now I can start pushing ahead and see where my lifting takes me.  I’ve got two weddings to be in next year (best man for one) and I want to look good in a tux!  I’ve got plenty of time but it’s not an excuse to slack off!

More updates soon.  Going to start my morning cardio again tomorrow, hoping that will kickstart the fat loss too.

I basically knocked 10 pounds off of what I lifted last time I was at the gym (close to a month!  Eek!!) and did the same workout; 1 set, 10 reps each.  Over the next two weeks I’m going to try to work back up to where I was before the accident in terms of what I was lifting.  Also hoping to start doing my cardio in the mornings again; that has been difficult as I haven’t been getting up early enough, and we’re down to one car right now so I have to get mom to her bus every morning.  Hoping to get a property settlement soon; if not, I’m going to get after the other insurance company for a rental car.

I can go back to the gym.  Hoping to make it back tomorrow, we’ll see what happens.  Tonight was supposed to be my last night at my second job, but one of my stores wasn’t ready (same as last week, grr!).  So, I’ll be home later than expected tomorrow, but I’ll let you all know how that goes.