Day Fourteen

Workout: 9am
—Today was an Arms Day—

(click on image to enlarge)
~Side Lateral Dumbbell Raises - (Deltoids) - 20lbs. Resistance - 3 Sets of 15 Repetitions
~Dumbbell Kickbacks - (Triceps) - 20lbs. Resistance - 3 Sets of 15 Repetitions
~Seated Dumbbell Curls - (Biceps) - 20lbs. Resistance - 3 Sets of 15 Repetitions
~Wrist Curls - (Extensors and Flexors) - 20lbs. Resistance - 3 Sets of 15 Repetitions


—Then I decided to go ahead and also make it a Chest Day—

(click on image to enlarge)
~Push-Ups - (Pectoralis Major) - Body-Weight as Resistance - 1 Set of 20 Repetitions
~Inclined Dumbbell Flies - (Pectoralis Major - Upper) - 20lbs. Resistance (each arm) - 3 Sets of 15 Repetitions
~Declined Dumbbell Flies - (Pectoralis Major - Lower) - 20lbs. Resistance (each arm) - 3 Sets of 15 Repetitions
~Bent-Armed Pullovers - (Pectoralis Minor) - 20lbs. Resistance (each arm) - 3 Sets of 15 Repetitions

Breakfast: 10am
1 Plain Visalus Shake

Mid-Morning: Nothing.

Lunch: 12noon
1 Peanut Butter Cup Visalus Shake

Mid-Afternoon: 4pm
12oz. V8 (Spicy Hot)
1 Apple (Golden Delicious)

Evening: 5pm
1 Turkey Drumstick
1 cup steamed broccoli (w/cheese sauce)

State of Being:
“Let me tell you something you already know; the world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently, if you let it! You, me… nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But, it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward... how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done. Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth, but you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you want to be because of him or her or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that!”
- Rocky Balboa

That about says it all for today. It was a rough day but I stayed focused and pushed through. I’m feeling a little better now.

Earlier today I hit the Wall again. Really hard. This time it was a heaping serving of depression and some migraine headaches on waking this morning. They were so bad, I had blind spots in my vision for a while.

But, I got out in front of it right away, grabbed my weights and worked through it. I even doubled my typical workout load, just to show the Wall that it neither scared nor impressed me.

It was hard, but it was absolutely worth it to show myself that I could hit the wall,… then pick myself up, dust myself off, put my shoulder down and knock the wall over for daring to get in my way.

This evening, as I sit here… my headaches are gone and my mood has elevated back up to a healthy state. I’m really tired, but I came out on top today and for that I’m happy and grateful.

I want to make something very clear; In spite of being a very hard day, this has been the best day I’ve had since I started this journey.

If that doesn’t make sense to you, let me just assure you that the only thing better than *not hitting the wall* is *hitting the wall BACK, once it’s hit you,* and watching it crumble to dust at your feet.

You won’t always come out on top, when days like today happen. But, the simple act of getting back up, rather than laying there defeated, means that you won.

Never.
Never.
Never…
Give up.


Click HERE for My Story

Click HERE to Come With Me

*****

Day Thirteen

Workout: 12noon
—Today was an Upper-Back Day—

(click on image to enlarge)
~Upright Rows - (Trapezius) - 15lbs. Resistance (each arm) - 3 Sets of 15 Repetitions
~Kneeling One-Armed Rows - (Latissimus Dorsi) - 25lbs. Resistance - 3 Sets of 15 Repetitions
~Standing Wide-Rows - (Posterior Deltoid) - 15lbs. Resistance (each arm) - 3 Sets of 15 Repetitions

Breakfast: 1pm
1 Plain Visalus Shake

Mid-Morning: 3pm
Garden Salad (w/Blue Cheese Dressing & 5 Croutons)

Lunch: 5pm
1 Peanut Butter & Banana Visalus Shake

Mid-Afternoon: 6pm
1 Bowl of Campbell’s Harvest Tomato & Basil Soup (w/ a sprinkling of shredded cheddar and 3 Croutons)

Evening: 8pm
Turkey Drumstick
1 cup steamed brussels sprouts (w/butter sauce)

State of Being:
Today was a Good Day to DIE HARD!

…Sorry, I’ve been keeping a tight control on my incessant urge to say that since I started this blog and I just couldn’t resist any longer. (Yes, I am giggling like an idiot whom you’d Love to smack, right now.) - (I’ll resume typing once I’ve stopped.)

So, I got up pretty late… the result of an impromptu late-night horror movie marathon. (Reanimator, From Beyond and In the Mouth of Madness) It was a Lovecraftian kinda night.

Felt pretty good most of the day. Started fading a little bit this evening. Can’t seem to stop yawning. Probably just this time of year.

I’m excited for my Challenge party on Saturday. I’ve been getting some good feedback about it and I look forward to seeing everybody.

I think that’s about it for now. I’m going to get a shower and head to bed. Until tomorrow, everybody.

Oh, by the way... I caught a squirrel running off with one of my Visalus shake-mix bags about a week ago. Today, I saw him again, and... I guess it's been working for him too...

(click on image to enlarge)


Click HERE for My Story

Click HERE to Come With Me

*****

Day Twelve

Workout: 9am
—Today was a Lower-Back Day—

(click on image to enlarge)
~Dumbbell Deadlifts - (Erector Spinae) - 30lbs. Resistance - 2 Sets of 10 Repetitions
~Stiff-Legged Dumbbell Deadlifts - (Erector Spinae) - 30lbs. Resistance - 1 Set of 10 Repetitions

Breakfast: 10am
1 Butterfinger Visalus Shake

Mid-Morning: 12noon
12oz. V8 (Spicy Hot)

Lunch: 2pm
1 Chocolate-Covered Cherry Visalus Shake
(By the Hopkins-esque, British Accent of Odin, was this good!!!
I’m going to post the recipe on Facebook, in case anyone wants to try it.)

Mid-Afternoon: 4:30pm
Lg. Garden Salad (w/Italian Dressing & 5 Croutons)
12oz. Diet Coke (Caffeine Free)

Evening: 6pm
Taco Salad (w/My special, homemade Hella-Salsa!!! The recipe for which I will only share with members of my personal squad of Challengers. The same goes for my special Hella-Chili…. famous throughout the Nine Realms for its capacity to separate the gods from the mortals. Rest assured, it is nutritious, fully diet-permissible, and not for the faint of heart.)

State of Being:
Aside from the fact that this throat congestion just will not go away, I feel great. My voice is the only thing still reminding me that I’m sick. Physically, I feel better than fine.

Diet-wise, it got a little rocky last night. I spent the evening being tormented by cravings, so I had a pickle really late last night when I got up, at one point. Aside from lots of sodium, a kosher pickle should be perfectly fine. It’s a cucumber with garlic, salt and an assortment of other spices I can’t remember. I learned all about pickling when I was taught how to do it a couple summers ago. (Thank you, Clan-Mittelman!)

Oh yeah,… and I GOT WEIGHED TODAY!!!
Click HERE for Video!

So, that’s pretty awesome! In total, I’ve now lost 45 lbs. since I started on October 29th and 10 lbs. while on my official 90 Day Challenge, which I started on Nov. 24th.

In case you didn’t know, here’s what five pounds of fat looks like, (alongside five pounds of muscle for comparison…)

(click on image to enlarge)


And here’s a woman holding ten pounds of fat…

(click on image to enlarge)


So,...here's what I've lost since October 29th...

(click on image to enlarge)
(I'm not sure who that lady is. She just shows up every few days, whenever I've lost another 10 pounds. I hand it to her and she poses for a picture. I'm not sure what's in it for her, or how she doesn't seem to mind holding a ten pound lump of internal-human-tissue in her bare hands, but she sure does come in handy, for illustrative purposes.)


...Not bad, eh?

So, yeah... some good progress. I want somebody, (in fact, a FEW somebodies) to do this with me! I really need backup and I want to offer my own support in return.

I’m putting together a Weight-Loss Power-Team and if you’re reading this, I’d Love for you to join us. Even if you don’t live anywhere close, you can still join up. We’ll connect, keep each other focused, motivated and (most importantly) accountable.

I’m having a Challenge party this Saturday, December 8th at 3pm, at my apartment in Kent. (Email me for the address. Or Check the Facebook Event Calendar.) I’ll be mixing up samples of lots of different shake recipes and exchanging workout-tips, diet-strategies and the like with anybody who’s got any ideas that might help.

Some of the things I definitely need help with, include...
-The fact that I train with Cast-Iron Free-Weights… alone. (which is exactly as safe as it sounds.)
-Conquering cravings.
-Overcoming the little bouts of depression and doubt that creep in, from time to time.

All are welcome. Bring a Ziploc-baggie of ice.


Click HERE for My Story

Click HERE to Come With Me

*****

Day Eleven

Workout: 10am
—Today was an Abs day—
(God help me)

~Crunches - (Rectus Abdomini) - 2 Sets of 5 Repetitions
~Dumbbell Side-Bends - (Obliques) - 20lbs. Resistance (each side) - 3 Sets of 15 Repetitions
~Leg-Raises - (Lower Abdomini) - 2 Sets of 15 Repetitions

Breakfast: 11am
1 Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Visalus Shake
(1 Packet Strawberry Phyto Power Vi-Flavor & 1 tsp. Unsweetened Cocoa.)

Mid-Morning: 12noon
1 Large Garden Salad (w/ Blue Cheese Dressing)
12oz. V8 (Spicy Hot)

Lunch: 3pm
1 Peanut-Butter Cup Visalus Shake

Mid-Afternoon: 5pm
12oz. V8 (Spicy Hot)
1 Chocolate Chip Visalus Nutra-Cookie

Evening: 7pm
3 Scrambled Eggs (w/Colby Jack Cheese & Pepper)
1 Cup of Cottage Cheese
12oz. V8 (Spicy Hot)

Late-Night: 2am
(Howdy! I'm adding this at 3am, because I'm up and can't sleep. My brain must have noticed what I wrote, down below in the State of Being section, last evening about trying to get some extra sleep tonight and decided to derail me. Going to go back to bed to try again in a few.)
1 Lrg. Clausen Dill Pickle
12oz. Diet Coke (Caffeine Free)

State of Being:
Kind of blah, today. I slept in a little longer than I would have liked to, but I think I needed it. Still can’t seem to shake the last vestiges of this cold. I’m going to turn-in early tonight and try for some extra rack-time to see if I can speed up the recovery process a little bit. I need my voice back! lol

I’m really glad to have gotten this week’s abs workout done and out of the way. I dread that one. I tend to get really sharp cramps in my abdominals after the crunches and it takes me a while, of laying stretched out to get them to relax. The same thing happens with the Leg-Raises, but not quite as bad. They can be very painful. Like, take-your-breath-away painful. A part of me wonders if I might have hernias in my abdominal wall. Another part is pretty sure I do. Hopefully this will improve with time.

I’m really excited for what the company’s been hinting at. Supposedly there are major changes coming to the Challenge, January 5, 2013, and I’m glad to be in on the ground floor, so to speak.

Still looking for some people to do this with me. I’ve been having some rough spots in staying focused and keeping up my motivation and positivity. Those times scare me. I really don’t want to fail in this. I’m very focused right now, but there are moments when it’s hard.

Ideally, I’d like to assemble a little group. Like a few of us that can call on each other for support and get together to work out a couple times a week. I think that would be really awesome. Anybody who might be interested, please get in touch with me. I don’t care your gender, your age or what your specific goals may be. I really need your help and I’m more than happy to offer mine. This is way harder than it needs to be, when you go it alone. So, I don’t want to go it alone and I don’t want you to either. We really can do this.

Got something pretty big planned for tomorrow. I’m going to save it for a surprise, but I think it should be pretty cool.

Before I sign-off for the night, I just want to mention that if you list your New Year’s Resolution, with BBV, they give you an awesome sneak-peak at what they’ve got planned for next year.

That’s all for now. Remember to stop by tomorrow for something cool! :)

I’ll leave you with this…

CLICK HERE


Click HERE for My Story

Click HERE to Come With Me

*****

Day Ten

Workout: 9am
—Today was a Legs Day—

~Dumbbell Squats - (Quadriceps) - 80lbs. Resistance - 3 Sets of 15 Repetitions
~Stationary Lunges - (Glutes & Hamstrings) - 50lbs. Resistance - 3 Sets of 15 Repetitions
~Toe Raises - (Calves) - 60lbs. Resistance - 3 Sets of 15 Repetitions

Breakfast: 10am
1 Peanut-Butter & Banana Visalus Shake

Mid-Morning: 12noon
1 Garden Salad (w/Italian Dressing & 5 Croutons)
-Green Leaf-Lettuce, 1 Diced Tomato-
12oz. V8 (Low Sodium, Spicy Hot)

Lunch: 3pm
1 Plain Visalus Shake

Mid-Afternoon: Nothing.

Evening: 6pm
2 Scrambled Eggs (w/Cheese)
2 Scrambled Egg-Whites (w/Cheese)
1/2 Cup Cottage Cheese
1 Quartered Tomato (w/Salt)
12oz. V8 (Low Sodium, Spicy Hot)

State of Being:
Feel pretty good.

Woke up feeling a little groggy. Felt better after workout and a shower. Did a lot of reading today.

Got to meet David Crisp! That was a lot of fun! To David, thank you for your kindness and support! I look forward to working with you!

This evening, my friend Nate Mittelman came by for a visit. He brought me a bottle of Calcium supplements! Awesome, man! Thank you!

Getting ready to log into our big team call in a while. Nothing really major today.


Click HERE for My Story

Click HERE to Come With Me

*****

Day Nine

Workout: 9am
—No Workout on Sunday—

Breakfast: 6pm
1 Good Old Fashioned, Plain Visalus Shake

Evening: 10pm
1 Taco Salad (w/o Tortillas)
1/2lb. Ground Beef (w/McCormick Hot Taco Spices)
4oz. Refried Beans
1 Diced Tomato
1 Diced Onion
1/2 Cup Shredded Cheese (Mexican 4-Cheese Blend)
2 tbsp. Sour Cream
1/2 Cup Salsa Verde

State of Being:
Slept practically the entire day.

Today, after yesterday morning's big grocery-shopping trip followed by gaming with friends until the wee-hours, not getting to bed until 6am, I didn’t open my eyes until a little after sundown. Still congested, still coughing, but my throat’s not sore and otherwise I feel perfectly fine. Still tired. lol

On those cramps I’d been having the last couple days of last week… I’ve done a lot more reading into muscle cramping. I’d started to become frustrated with asking doctors about this topic. Some people say,… well, you need to be getting enough potassium. Others say calcium. Others say sodium. Still others say magnesium.

In truth… you need to be keeping up with all four. These four chemicals are your electrolytes. They are essential in the function of your nervous system. When any one of them is deficient, your nerve endings can become hyperactive, causing your muscles to contract involuntarily, even to the point where they over-flex and cramp. This usually starts in the extremities, but spreads all over.

In my specific case, the cramping aspect of the Wall occurred because my calcium was low. I know this because I take both a potassium and a magnesium supplement with my morning pills every day, and anyone who knows me personally can attest that I get plenty of salt. So, it was calcium. This happened, because about four days ago, I ran out of milk. With no car, nor any money until Saturday, I had no way of getting more. So, there it is.

It did, however occur to me to pick-up a bottle of calcium supplements at the store,... about an hour after I got home from the store. But, I got plenty of milk, and I’m going to make sure I don’t run out this month. :)

Not much to say today because, to relay my experiences of the day here would mostly just be me telling you what I can remember from my dreams, and I doubt anyone reading this is interested in hearing about the adventures I had evading capture by aliens in a hybridized abandoned-shopping-mall/active-high-school/beach-front-boardwalk. Nor the conversations I had with Tony Soprano about the little people who live inside ice-sculptures. So, I guess that’s all for now.

Wishing you all a great week and heading back to bed.

Click HERE for My Story

Click HERE to Come With Me

*****

Day Eight

Workout: 9am
—Today was a Lower-Back Day—
—Since my Lower Back is still so sore, however, I did a little walking instead—

Breakfast: Nothing.
(I was in such a hurry to get out to the store this morning that I forgot to have breakfast. Man was that a profound mistake.)

Mid-Morning: Nothing.
(Another winner in a long-line of awesome decisions.)

Lunch: 2pm
1 Butterfinger Visalus Shake (My favorite recipe!)

Mid-Afternoon: 4pm
1 Apple
1 Banana
1 Handful of Pepperoni Slices

Evening: 7pm
1 Peanut Butter & Banana Visalus Shake

State of Being:
So, yeah… I forgot to eat right before engaging in this month’s trip to Walmart. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. By the time I got home I could feel my insides arguing with each other like spiteful neighbors.

Took my trash out and managed to make it all the way to the building’s dumpster and back to my apartment for the first time,… ever. Usually I have to stop, sit down on the ground or, (if I can manage it) over on one of the building’s outdoor staircases at least once, usually twice. Today, I got all the way out with the trash and all the way back to my apartment without stopping!!!

Took me a minute to catch my breath. But, this was a major victory for me!

In this battle against my illness, I gained some very notable ground today! Thanks for all the support, everybody!

On my way out to hang with some friends for gaming. See you guys tomorrow!

Click HERE for My Story

Click HERE to Come With Me

*****