Stewart’s Blog

It’s a great time of year to review goals and purpose for anything.  I’m reviewing some things I put down several years ago about my training.  I like to review my goals and purposes.  It helps keep me on track and reminds me (or "RE-reminds me" as a friend of mine says) of my purpose for doing what I do.

I have a list of 52 benefits of strength training (bodybuilding, fitness, call it what you will).  Here are a few…

My clothes fit well
my muscles have a great tone (not flabby)
I am more attractive to my wife
I relieve stress
I have a reduced risk of diabetes
I keep a high level of HDL (good) cholesterol
I have a reduced risk of many cancers
I recover more quickly from injuries
I tolerate extreme heat better
my lungs work more efficiently
I am satisfying a life-long desire.

That’s just a few…there are lots more.

Have a great new year!  

I revised my workout routine (see my main page).  I’m moving to 3X/week and 3 sets/exercise.  As I plan to be adding weight to the bar, I’m decreasing my goal reps on sets 2 & 3.  I’m excited about this.  I’m ready to get started.  My first W/O with the new plan will be next Wednesday or Thursday.  Until then the cardio continues–that’s getting stepped up (pun intended) along with my strength training.

Today I entered by baseline body statistics in preparation for increasing the frequency, weight lifted, and intensity of my training.  I feel good about my first month back on the weights.  I’m ready to get started.  I will record my body stats monthly although I will take them bi-weekly and make adjustments based on those.  Next body statistics update will be November 1.
 
My body stats look pretty poor.  That would be expected given how little I have done physically in the last 6-7 years. 

I’m looking forward to the demands of the workouts and the freedom that more strength will give me to do the things I enjoy doing–hiking, riding my motorcycle, getting stuff done around the house, getting wild with my wife (I love her and want to express that love in all the ways God gave a man for as long as He allows–I hope I’m still wearing myself out when I’m 80).  I’d like to try my hand at rock climbing, repelling, and skydiving before I get too old to enjoy those things. 
 
I’ll create some goals for my body stats in a couple of months when I see what the possibilities are.  By then I’ll be over those easy gains that come when starting out or returning to lifting. 

I have the same plan for my lifting stats and goals for those.  I should have some lifting stats in sometime in November.  The goals will come later, probably with the body statistics goals. 
Whew! There is a good climb ahead and I am READY to get started.
 
I have my baseline photo and expect that I’ll have a first progress picture in January or February. 

…the scale don’t lie, the BF calipers MAY lie.  I’ve got a couple of things to consider.  If my BF measures are correct then how did I gain 2 lbs this week, loose 1.8% in body fat, and have NO change in waist size.  This seems like a whole new way of BF reduction–just keep the same amount of absolute fat and grow enough muscle to get to the percentage you want!  Actually, I do see what’s going on. 

 I’m going to keep my program about the same but rearrange a couple of my short-term goals.  I’m not going to focus on EXACTLY how many calories I’m consuming–just keep the eating in check and keep it clean.  I’m getting my routine down, getting the weight up, and will be stepping things up a bit more in about a week (part of my original plan).

 I’m pleased so far with my return-to-lifting adventure.  I do not have a lot of visible results–I would not have expected any yet.  I’m remembering a lot of what I used to know and putting it to use.  We’ll see what the next few weeks bring. 

Got started on my cardio yesterday and I’ve got my eating planned.  My wife has been a big help in that department.  She’s been packing lunches for me.  I’m working on my lifting routine and some short term goals.  

I am looking forward to increasing my level of fitness.  It’s been 7-8 years since I’ve worked out consistantly.  I’m getting schedules worked out, routines planned, eating habits reviewed and corrected, and goals set.  I’d like to be actively working out before September 1, 2007.  That’s my first goal.