xnewsome’s BodyBlog

I went back home to St Louis, Mo last week for some much needed R&R. I took my resistance bands and had half-ass intentions to get something done, but honestly I didn’t want to! I wanted to be a lazy slob, drink, eat and be unhealthily happy….and I did. I had french fries a couple of times, McDonald’s, burger king and a good amount of alcohol! It rained EVERYDAY so couple that with the fact that I really didn’t want to do anything made it easy to just let it all hang out.

Now, to explain why my mind set was like this. I have been struggling with a lot of turmoil lately (job, family and fitness plateaus) so it was easy for me to just say "screw it"! But then something amazing happened! I went out with some friends and next thing I know, we’re talking about P90X and my friends are giving me these great compliments, supports and telling me how I have made them want to do it. Not to mention, made them think they can do it! My friend J had started the program and was really into it until he got a stress fracture in his foot. I was so proud of him. My other friend E is a pretty big guy and he really has a fire starting inside of him and is starting to think HE can do it too. So of course I turn into "little T Horton" and pump them both up and encourage them to go for it! It’s great because it’s reminding me why I do this, why I started and why I can’t stop! So many of my bb.com friends have very little support and I go home to fantastic friends that not only support me but draw inspiration from me! How awesome is that?!?!

Great side story. We’re at this bar, girl E, guy E, J and me. It’s a pretty cool bar where the waitress staff are dressed to impress, so to speak. This one catches my eye and I would like to think I catch hers too. Now, I know what you’re thinking, but I’m just married NOT DEAD. Most of us are here, in some small capacity, to catch the eye of the opposite sex. So I’m flirting with this waitress, in good fun. And next thing I know, J has turned into my wing man! He starts talking to her with this dialogue.

J: Have you ever been up late watching info-mercials Waitress: Yeah J: Have you seen the one for P90X Waitress: Yeah J: Well my buddy Omar has done it, Omar show the guns, hell stand up and show the stomach! Waitress: Wow, I ordered it but don’t have the time to really get into it.

I’m thinking, what the hell, but I’m really enjoying it!! This long winded blog has all been to say one simple thing.  I needed to be reminded why I’m on this road, why I sacrafice and why everyone doesn’t do it even though they can! I needed to be disconnected for a minute to re-focus, remind myself why and re-capture that hunger.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? YES! I’m so ready to be back, ready to work hard, ready to become unstoppable again! I’m back, I’m focused and most importantly, I know again why. I gained 6 pounds this week. And I did the math and if I gained 6 pounds a week for 6 months, I would weigh 350 lbs! HELL NO that aint happening!! LET’S GIT IT!!!

"Can’t get right boss", one of my favorite quotes from the movie Life.  That’s me this week. Things were going pretty well in the previous couple of weeks with striking a balance between family, fitness and career. BUT all of a sudden things came crashing down! Luckily it happend after my morning workout so I at least got one, but spent the rest of the day trying to catch my breath after having it knocked out. So what did I do in my time of weakness and unrest??? That’s right ATE! That is definitely a step in the wrong direction, but the fact that I "snacked" clean was a sure sign of progress. Popcorn and lowfat icecream sandwiches…WOW I could have done a lot worse with a Dunkin Donuts within walking distance! No I didn’t, but I thought about it. I don’t know when "comfort" food became synonomous with carb loading, but I view that as progress! Because in the past if was thousands upon thousands of calories of saturated, autery clogging, moment on the lips lifetime on the gut, life taking FAT! Not to mention enough sugar to sweeten a couple of oceans. So I’m holding on to that like drift wood till I get my bearings and return to the charted course. I may need some guidance, maybe a lighthouse, any takers?

Workout: Total Body Plus

• 46 minutes
• Max/Avg hr 155/129
• 566 calories burned

Food Journal

• 3501 cals
• 114g fat (29%)
• 229g carbs (29%)
• 364g prot (42%)
• 72 oz water

This was not a good day. Coming off a long field call, I had to meet with my new boss about career progression. In the back of my mind I couldn’t help but think, "this doesn’t even feel like a career anymore! Just a job, that I am hating more and more". Anyway, lack of sleep, lack of time and lack of movement (mostly movemnt) has ground my motivation to, all but, a halt! Notice I didn’t credit lack of motivation to lack of movement, but the exact opposite. Atleast my wife got back with her trainer today. I’m glad she was able to. She bears the lion’s share of keeping our household together and whether she really wants to get healthy or not, she has less time than I do.  With me gone from home as often as I am, she has to be a "single" parent, work, keep the house decent (tough with a 3yo and 17 mo old). So I’m trying to share the focus and let her get "back" with her trainer. I say back because she saw him religiously twice a week until things got sketchy with child care and the other obstacles of life. What’s funny is hearing her woes of the punishing leg workout George took her through (partly vengeful on his part for her absence, hehe) made me want to workout. Can you believe that? Hearing stories of pain and suffering made me want to go to that place. Too bad it wasn’t enough to get me off the couch, last night at least. Praying for a better tomorrow.

Food Journal

• 2000 cals
• 69g (31%)
• 123g carbs (31%)
• 185g prot (38%)
• 48 oz H20

Long weekend working and even longer week ahead. I just had some time off why do I feel I need more? There is always enough or even too much work, but never enough rest!

Food Journal

• 2401 cals
• 133g fat (49%)
• 82g carbs (17%)
• 212g prot (34%)
• 80 oz H2O

CARBO LOAD DAYS!! YEAH

Somewhere about 3000 calories, 300g carbs, 75g fat and all the protein I could handle. Didn’t track these days.

Food Journal

• 2377 cals
• 96g fat (35%)
• 125 g carbs (25%)
• 251g prot (40%)
• 96 oz H2O

Interval X Plus + Ab Core Plus

• 68 minutes
• Max/Avg hr 177/151
• 1107 cals burned

Food Journal

• 2975 cals
• 147g fat (43%)
• 154g carbs (26%)
• 235g prot (31%)
• 96 oz H2O

I’m way behind and catching up. I don’t remeber this day, so I’ll get down to the nitty-gritty.

Workout

AM: Cardio X

• 44 minutes
• Max/Avg hr 172/130
• 536 calories burned

PM: Total Body Plus

• 47 minutes
• Max/Avg hr 177/154
• 786 calories burned

Food Journal

• 2365 cals
• 57g fat (21%)
• 129g carbs (24%)
• 328g prot (55%)
• 144 oz H2O

Finally headed home today. Been up way longer than humans should. I had high hopes for the day, but of course you know about the best laid plans and what road is paved with intentions. I ran out of food cause I was gone oooo about 24 hours longer than I planned, so on the way home I had to stop and eat something. I grabbed a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit from a gas station (WAY WRONG ANSWER!) That kind of eating originally helped me get to 270+! But alas, I ate it but I only got one and supplemented the meal with almonds. They were pretty high in fat, but atleast it’s good fat. Grabbed a turkey breast sub on the way home and planned to lay down for a while and get up for a workout. Well at about 5am Wed morning I wake up! You’ll hear about that in tomorrow’s blog. Needless to say I didnt get a workout in that day either. Not a great start to the week.

No workout

Food Journal

• 1889 calories
• 96g fat (45%)
• 115g carbs (28%)
• 130g prot (27%)

Was still on the road this day, but the lil bit of food I did pack all got ate today. And it’s a good thing cause I couldn’t have another day like yesterday! I still didn’t get to workout, but atleast I stayed straight on the nutrition side. Hopefully I’ll get home soon to get my "X" on!

Workout: NONE (again)

Food Journal

• 2396 calories
• 81g fat (30%)
• 173 g carb (30%)
• 240g prot (40%)
• 80 oz water