September 11, 2010…

It’s been nine years, and I still cannot watch documentaries or movies about the attacks.

Never forget….

A note for a friend…

Got a good friend having a tough time right now.  LB – hang in there – things will get better…

Workout Update

My workout format is such:

For regular 5-day work weeks:  M = Bicep/Tricep, T/Th = Legs, W = Back/Chest, F = Shoulders

For shorter 4-day weeks, instead of legs on Thursday, I will do shoulders.

Everyday is Abs and Calves.

This week is regular, next is short, and it alternates like that.  Taking whey protein only and vitamin supplements – no creatine or other such stuff.

My weight as of 9 July 2010 was 178 lbs.

I am using lighter weights and very slow reps (3 to 4 seconds contracting, 3 or 4 seconds relaxing).  I am also focusing as much as I can on dumbells.  I will avoid any Smith machines as much as possible – I really don’t think I am doing myself any favors by using them.

Back in gym!

Started July 9th.  The following week was just warm up exercises, nothing really structured. I am using light weights, more reps, and very long (slow) repetitions, each up to 5 seconds long.  Lots of negative rep action as well.  I read a study that showed subjects using long reps of up to seven seconds had a 50% strength gain over those who did regular paced reps over a six week period.  However, they hated it – too painful and slow.

Not me.  Bring it on.

Like the saying goes, pain is just weakness leaving your body.

June 5, 2009 – Update

Getting better, little by little.  Hope I didn’t just jinx it.

March 31, 2009 – Injury Report….

Physical therapy is over.  It did not help.  I think it made things worse.  I let the therapist know and he told me to stop any exercises (which I had done), so it wasn’t like they overworked me – I dunno what happened to make things worse.

Yesterday I had a follow-up visit with the sports medicine doc, and he gave me cortisone shot number 2.  It didn’t hurt much, and has made a huge difference in my pain.  He says I have severe tendinitis, but the second shot usually clears it up.  He also put me on  a strong anti-inflammatory for 30 days, after which I see him again.

This is turning into an injury blog.  I am daydreaming about getting back into the gym, but I know when I do, I have a long climb ahead of me.  It will suck.

I cannot wait.

Anyway, my arm does not hurt when I sleep anymore, and I can close my fist with some strength now without pain.   I am hopeful this is the fix.

Six year plan.  Six year plan.  Six year plan…..

(Because a six month plan just ain’t gonna happen.)

Feb 2009 – 1st Session of Physical Therapy

I went to my first of six sessions today.  My arm is feeling better, but, ok.  It wasn’t bad – they just moved my arms around to see the range of motion and strength.   They also did an ultrasound on my forearm, right near my elbow – treatment, not imaging.  I don’t feel any difference.

I’ll do my exercises like I am supposed to, and hopefully I can safely start back up in the gym in another four weeks.

Fingers crossed.

Jan 2009 – More Bad News

Well, I messed up my elbow doing very minor chores around the house, so I guess it was not going to last anyway. While holding a pair of pliers, I heard a pop and felt a snap, like a rubber band, in my forearm (near my elbow). It felt weird and hurt a little, but suddenly my right hand was so weak I could hardly pour a cup of coffee without substantial pain. Unzipping my fly or buttoning a shirt became very painful ordeals.
So, I am set up to go back in to the doctor at the end of this month, hopefully to get another shot. We will see. I am expecting a longer layoff from the gym now. I will keep eating healthy, and am using my left hand as much as I can.

It was really depressing to think of being out for months at a time, but over the course of 3 or 4 years, this is just a small speedbump in a parking lot. I’ll get back on the freeway even if it takes a year, because I know that three or four years from now, I can be better than I ever thought possible. I have to just think long term, not short term, and that is why I am in this anyway.

So it still sucks, but not as bad as it did at first.

(But it is important to know that it still sucks. A lot.)

Welcome to 2009! I am still not back in the gym!

Going nuts? I’ve been there and back four times. I went to a doctor, got a cortisone shot in the elbow (didn’t hurt that bad, but it felt really weird), and was told to take at least two weeks before heading back. That was a few days ago.
Sadly, I have a class in early February that will eat all my time, so realistically, I will be out until mid-February now.

Yay.

The only thing that feels good from this is my elbow – it is finally feeling much better. Otherwise, I have no energy, no motivation, no enthusiasm, and a crappy attitude to boot. I am still eating right and taking my vitamin supplements, but I need to exercise.

Seriously, I am so tired all the time.  I don’t even want to blog anymore, so this post is a real effort on my part.

I cannot wait to get started again.

December 2008 – Off For Recovery

I am taking December off completely (as if that wasn’t obvious already) to recover. I’ll start again probably mid-January, depending. Don’t worry – this is a good thing. I am feeling much better.