Daily News Archives
October 2004
10/31/2004 - Four years since I quit smoking; Shoulder; Garbage disposals.
10/30/2004 - Shoulder pain; Become The Journey special offer.
10/29/2004 - My pager went off a lot last night.
10/28/2004 - Gua Sha; Leg day.
10/27/2004 - JSF merchandise update; Extra sleep, again.
10/26/2004 - Extra sleep/running late - short update.
10/25/2004 - Sleep returns; My upper body is growing, but so is my waistline!
10/24/2004 - Very sore today; Shoulders are doing good after yesterday's workout.
10/23/2004 - So I had that cheat meal...; This morning's workout; Tired.
10/22/2004 - No cheat meal tonight; 2nd half of bulking program starting; Donation upgrades.
10/21/2004 - Running late.
10/20/2004 - Milk Protein Isolate available; ATW sample six-packs; Sleepless nights.
10/19/2004 - Last day off from weight training; Traps - new plan.
10/18/2004 - Almost time to resume lifting; Sunday network woes don't spoil the day.
10/17/2004 - No yard work today; Store update; Donation system is active.
10/16/2004 - Want to lift; It's "cold" here!; Today's plans/future plans.
10/15/2004 - New Kent Nutrition products; Great BTJ feedback; Update on company, goals.
10/14/2004 - John Stone Fitness LLC.
10/13/2004 - Bad workout yesterday; Taking a week off from training.
10/12/2004 - JSF clothing and merchandise coming soon; A time of transition.
10/11/2004 - Visualization for motivation; Check out the new products page.
10/10/2004 - The plan for today: rest!
10/09/2004 - Become The Journey; Favorite day/workout of the week!
10/08/2004 - New sponsor: welcome Jeremy Likness; It's Friday!
10/07/2004 - Career change?
10/06/2004 - Photo updates.
10/05/2004 - No time to write this morning.
10/04/2004 - DOMS; Measurements.
10/03/2004 - Great workout yesterday; I'm sick of computers.
10/02/2004 - Thank you for your support; Bulking progress.
10/01/2004 - Pretty much just a rant about my job.
October 31, 2004
October 31st is a day I will always remember with pride. Four years ago on this day I quit smoking forever. It was probably one of the most difficult things I've ever done. I was a very heavy smoker and always smoked at least two packs every day, but I was smoking three packs per day by the time I quit. I'd buy a carton on Monday morning, and on Wednesday evening I'd have to buy another carton because I'd be down to a single pack. I was a mess. I think back to that time in my life and I have no idea who that guy was; I can barely recognize my former self.
I had a great workout yesterday! My left shoulder was hurting pretty bad, but I powered through it. I know that goes against my own recommendations, but I don't want to spend a lot of time messing around with eight more months of treatments that don't really do anything to fully correct the problem. If I blow it out completely then they'll have no choice but to operate right away. I know that sounds ridiculous, but that's eight months of frustration talking and I'm prepared for the possible outcome. I don't suggest that anyone else follow this course. Surprisingly my shoulder actually feels better this morning than it did yesterday morning before my workout. Go figure.
Don't forget, today's the last day to get in on Jeremy Likness' "Become The Journey" Halloween Special. It's a great deal, so if you've been thinking about buying his e-Book you'll want to check it out.
Today I'm going to watch some scary movies with Lisa, and I also have to replace our garbage disposal. I'm not looking forward to that project, but it must be done. See you in November!
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October 30, 2004
My left shoulder is still bothering me this morning, but it's not so bad that I'm going to skip my workout. I'm concerned about my continuing shoulder problems, so I think I'm going to try the Gua Sha treatment I mentioned a few days ago. At least Gua Sha won't prevent me from lifting like surgery would.
Jeremy Likness is running a Halloween special that you won't want to miss out on: He's giving away his Become The Journey audio companion CD to people who purchase his e-Book this weekend. You have until October 31, 2004 at midnight EST to get in on the deal. You can check out all the details here.
I'm off to lift now. Have a great Saturday - see ya tomorrow!
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October 29, 2004
My pager went off 3 times last night, so I'm a little tired and a lot cranky. I don't feel much like writing this morning so I'm just going to go work out and finish out the work week. I hope you have a great Friday!
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October 28, 2004
I received an interesting email this week about my shoulder problems. The person who emailed me was nailed from behind by a car moving at 45 MPH while he was sitting at a stoplight. He had a lot of pain in his left shoulder that went on for many months. A friend of his suggested that he try acupuncture before the usual treatments, which he did with no results. He also tried another technique (which was performed by his acupuncturist) called "Gua Sha". Gua Sha is a East Asian healing technique that "removes blood stagnation considered pathogenic, promoting normal circulation and metabolic processes." His shoulder is now pain-free. I'm wondering if any of you have tried this technique and, if so, what your experiences are with it. I'm willing to try anything to improve my shoulders at this point, and this looks very interesting.
It's leg day and, as usual, I'm running late. I've been getting up an hour later than I usually do (which is fine, because Sunday we roll the clocks back anyway), and the extra sleep is doing me a lot of good. I need all the energy I can get these days!
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October 27, 2004
Some of you have emailed me asking about the status of the JSF merchandise. I took last weekend off in an effort to preserve what's left of my sanity, but I should have some time this weekend to finish up the product designs. I'm going to order samples of everything to make sure the quality is acceptable, and then I'll open the store for business.
I slept in again this morning and I'm glad that I did. The way things have been going I need the extra Z's! With daylight savings time almost over, I'm going to gain an hour this weekend anyway, so I might as well start "adjusting" now.
I'm running so late and I still need to get my workout in. Have a great day!
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October 26, 2004
I slept in for an extra 45 minutes this morning and it felt great! Of course now I'm running very late, and I've still got to get my
back/biceps/traps workout in before work. Sorry for the short update... 
October 25, 2004
I've been sleeping much better for the past few days. Of course my pager has awaken me a few times, but getting back to sleep has been much easier. It's a good thing, because the lack of sleep was really starting to have a profound effect on me. I just don't function very well without a halfway decent night of rest. A trick I've been using to get back to sleep is focusing on a single color, like black. As soon as my mind starts to drift, I shut the new thoughts down and go back to focusing on black. It takes a little while to get good at it, but I've had plenty of opportunities to practice lately.
I decided to take the weekend off and not work on anything at all. Another good choice: I feel more like my usual self again this morning, rested and ready to go. Lisa and I hung out together on Saturday, and then on Sunday Lisa's parents came over and we ate pizza and watched a DVD.
My body fat is now at 11%; my waist is almost at 32 inches and my hips are 37 inches; my pants are fitting a little tighter, and my abs are slowly fading under a growing
layer of adipose. It's a little uncomfortable feeling fat over my pant line when I put on my jeans, but I just keep telling myself that when I'm
done bulking it will all be worth it after I cut up. I think my picture on the 6th is going to be a little surprising to some - especially first-time visitors who
may look at my before/current photos and say "uh, big deal!"
Cardio time: 50 minutes on the elliptical this morning and then off to work. Have a good Monday!
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October 24, 2004
There's nothing like the DOMS one feels after a week off from lifting (excluding those who are just starting out - that's a whole other level of soreness). My workout went great yesterday. My shoulders hurt a little while I was working out, but they held in there. Today I don't have any major shoulder pain like I did after my last upper body workout, so that's a HUGE relief for me.
I'm off to do stuff around the house. Have a good Sunday!
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October 23, 2004
So much for postponing last night's cheat meal: I decided to go ahead and have pizza and 2 beers. Hey, I need the carbs for this
morning's workout! 
Speaking of this morning's workout, I'm a little nervous about it. I'm going to back off a little on the amount of weight I would normally use because of the pain I was feeling after my last pecs/delts/triceps workout. It was weird feeling pain in my left shoulder, which has always been solid and never given me any trouble (well, at least not since high school). It may hinder my progress a bit in the short-term, but I think I'm going to start increasing the amount of weights I'm lifting a lot more slowly than I'm actually capable of. Better safe than sorry. I'm lifting a lot of weight now - more than I've ever lifted in my life - so I need to be very careful. Even though I feel like I'm eighteen, I have to remember that I'm actually twice that age - like it or not!
Of course my pager went off all night long, and we have another apartment complex completely without Internet service this morning. I just can't seem to catch a break lately. I have bags under my eyes and I feel tired and stressed. I'm doing the best that I can to stay positive, but sometimes it sure is tough...
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October 22, 2004
I'll be postponing my normal Friday night cheat meal until Sunday night: Lisa's parents are coming over on Sunday and we're going to order pizza and watch a DVD. I think tonight I'm just going to throw some shrimp on the grill - I might as well cook out and take advantage of one of the last remaining days of the year with sunlight at the dinner hour. Daylight Savings Time is almost over for 2004...
I'm really stoked about the second half of my bulking program! The first couple of months went even better than I expected, but I still have a lot of work ahead of me if I expect to reach my goals. I'm going to take my bulking program right through the new year, and I may even keep it going until February. My biggest worries are my shoulders - I sure hope they can hold out that long. Both shoulders were both really bothering me after my last pecs/delts/triceps workout, but I think the week off from lifting helped a lot because they feel pretty good now. Anyway, when I'm done bulking in January or February I'll start my cutting diet. I'm already looking pretty soft in my abdominal region, so I suppose by February my abs will no longer be visible at all. I figure a two-month cut will be enough to get back down to 8% body fat or so, just like I was before... only this time I'll have 16 inch arms and a 42+ inch chest!
The Donation/Subscription System has been upgraded and improved based on your feedback. Please check out the changes and consider upgrading your forum membership or making a donation. Thanks.
It's elliptical time. Have a great day, everyone - I'll see ya tomorrow!
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October 21, 2004
I'm running very late this morning and don't have time to write. I've got to get my workout in and get to work. Have a good day.
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October 20, 2004
Many of you have been asking our protein sponsor, All The Whey, for a milk (Casein) protein isolate. They have listened to your requests and now offer 2.5 pounds of unflavored Milk Protein Isolate for just $15.99.
If you are interested in All The Whey's flavored Isolates, blends or low-carb smoothies but are unsure about what flavor to order, they now offer reasonably priced sampler six-packs of all their flavors (Banana, Chocolate, Orange, Strawberry, Vanilla, and Unflavored). Starting at just $7.99 with free first class shipping in the USA, these sampler packs are a great way to try all the flavors without committing to large tubs.
Today I'm back to lifting! I wish I could say I felt rested, but have not been sleeping that well for the past few nights. I wake
up in the middle of the night and just can't fall back asleep. I'm not 100% sure what's wrong, but I think it must be all the changes that are going
on in my life right now. It's an exciting but very stressful time. I used to fall right back to sleep when I'd wake up at night, but
lately my mind is immediately racing with thoughts. I won't take sleeping pills or anything like that, so I need to work on clearing my mind when
I wake up late at night. One would think clearing my mind would be the last thing I'd have difficulty with! 
October 19, 2004
Yay. Today's the last day of my MAX-OT mandated week off. Some might enjoy the time off, but I've dubbed my week off "Hell Week". I suppose I feel that way because I was injured for so long and now I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do. I know the week off is important, but I don't like the feeling of standing around doing "nothing". Plus, I've grown to enjoy lifting weights quite a lot - it's a fantastic way to burn of steam.
I've noticed a slight improvement in my traps since I started my bulk, but nothing earth-shattering. They are still by far my weakest muscle group. I'm going to start hitting them twice a week since they seem to recover pretty quickly. My grip strength has improved quite a lot over the past couple of months, and I've been able to do away with the lifting straps while performing heavy barbell shrugs. I'm hopeful that in a few more months my traps will really start to pop.
I'd better get to work. I want to try and knock off by 5:00 PM tonight. Have a great day!
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October 18, 2004
Just two more days to go and my MAX-OT week off is finally over. I'd like to say I've enjoyed the little break from lifting, but I haven't. Still, I think my body really needed the rest: I was feeling pretty run down about this time last week, and my left shoulder was bothering me (my right shoulder is the one that is injured). I think all those years of competitive swimming when I was younger did a lot of damage to both of my shoulders. After I finish my bulk I should go to my orthopedic doctor and tell him to just rip into both shoulders - fix them both, once and for all. I'm sure my insurance company will not agree with that course of action.
Right after I posted yesterday's update, in which I mentioned how great it felt to wake up with nothing to do for once, my pager went nuts: an entire apartment complex that we provide high speed Internet service to went down. Shortly after that little surprise, more pages: a T1 down (in Tallahassee, no less) and a malfunctioning server in Orlando. The sound of that damned pager is like nails on a chalkboard. Same for my Nextel. I was watching a movie yesterday and one of the characters had a phone that rings exactly like my Nextel. I hate it when that happens. Every time the character's phone rang I jumped and felt tense. To top it all off, the movie absolutely sucked!
Despite the network gods' best efforts, I still had a wonderful day yesterday. I think the knowledge that I'm taking steps to get out of the IT industry is allowing me to deal with days like yesterday better than I once did: there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Wow, I'm rambling and running late! I need to go get my cardio in and get to work. Have a great day - see ya tomorrow!
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October 17, 2004
One nice thing about the cooler weather is the grass finally stops growing an inch every 10 minutes. I've learned to enjoy yard work as I've improved my health, but I'm looking forward to doing less of it over the next few months. It felt great waking up this morning with absolutely nothing to do. I can't remember the last time that happened!
I spent most of yesterday working on things for the new company. I want to thank forum member "Puddy" for converting the JSF logo from raster to vector. He did a fantastic job. I just printed the logo out on my photo printer scaled to fill a 8.5 x 11 page at 300 dpi and it looks absolutely perfect - nice and crisp. Now I can proceed with design phase of the JSF merchandise. Once I have the stuff designed, I'm going to order one of everything so I can make sure the quality of the product is up to snuff. Once that's all done, the JSF store will be open for business. It won't be long now!
Many of you have been asking for a way to donate to this site. I worked on a donation/subscription system yesterday, and have taken the concept further than a simple donation button. You can check out the details on the Donation page.
I want to sincerely thank everyone who has donated so far. For the past two years I've been losing more and more money with each passing month as I've struggled to keep this site and the forums operational and free of charge. Costs continue to rise as the main site and the forum's popularity grows, and most of you know about my recent 25% pay cut. Thanks to your generous support this may be the first month since I started the site in which I don't lose money (ignoring the startup costs of the new company, which are significant). The charter members of this site will always hold a very special place in the JSF history books. Thanks.
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October 16, 2004
As I mentioned the other day, I'm taking a week off from lifting weights (MAX-OT requirement). This morning it's taking all my self-control to not go lift. Funny how things change. A couple of years ago lifting the remote control was the peak of my daily physical activity.
We have our first official cold snap here in Orlando this morning: it's 55 degrees outside right now. It's been a long hot and humid summer, especially
considering the hurricanes and widespread loss of power and air conditioning. This cooler weather is extremely welcome, even though I know it won't last long.
Oh, man. Here I am talking about the weather. I'm always busting on my mom for going on and on about the weather, telling her that it's a sign of age.
She's going to nail me to the wall for this.
I've got a lot of work to do this weekend as I begin to get the company moving forward. Expect to see some exciting new changes around here in the near future. As the company grows and becomes profitable I'll be able to leave my full-time job and devote my complete efforts to this web page and the forum community. I have so many cool things that I want to do, and many of the suggestions put forth by the members of the forum are amazing. I'm really excited about the future of this site, and I hope you are, too!
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October 15, 2004
Kent Nutrition just keeps getting better and better! They've just added two new products to their line: First up is an organic EFA blend, which is formulated to provide a 1:1 ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 EFAs. It contains a blend of flax oil, pumpkin seed oil, high oleic sunflower oil, and flax lignans. I've not tried it, but I'm told it has a very pleasant taste. The other product is a 100% organic, extra virgin Olive Oil (high in Omega 9). I love a good olive oil, so I'm really looking forward to trying this one. If you've never ordered from Kent Nutrition, then you're in for a real treat. Check out the Official Kent Nutrition review & discussion thread on the forums and you'll see what I mean.
Quite a few of you have already purchased our newest sponsor Jeremy Likness' e-Book "Become The Journey". You can check out some of the early reviews in the Official Become The Journey review & discussion thread. So many people who come to this site have the desire to change, but have no idea how to do it. They start with the best intentions, but when they see all the information and unfamiliar terms many become overwhelmed and, unfortunately, give up. Sound familiar? Some people have the time and patience to educate themselves using the many free resources on the Internet, but even those people find all the conflicting information very frustrating. When you purchase "Become The Journey", you can kiss those problems goodbye. As you read the book, you'll find that your frustration and doubt will be replaced with empowerment and self-confidence. There's no need to spend your time second-guessing everything you do when for just $39.00 you can have an expert guide you every step of the way. Of course Jeremy is very active on our forums, so he's available to personally answer any questions you might have as you read his book. Order "Become The Journey" today. It's 100% guaranteed so you risk nothing.
I know I have not been around the forums too much the past few days. I've been really busy with work, and after work I've been spending all my spare time getting the new company up and running. It's amazing how much is involved! I'm swimming in 3-letter acronyms: SBA, CPA, IRS, EIN, TIN, LLC, FDS, DoC... OMG, they never end! Endless acronyms aside, things are coming along very well so far. After finding a good CPA, I've decided that I'm in the wrong line of work: $150.00/hour. Nice.
I've reached the halfway point (relative to my starting measurement) as I work towards my goal of 16 inch arms (cold/un-pumped). This morning my arms measured a solid 15 inches right after waking up! My chest is also doing well, up from 39 inches to 40.75 inches, leaving just 1.25 inches to go to reach my goal of 42 inches.
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October 14, 2004
I can tell I'm not feeling 100%, because yesterday I did something I've not done in almost two years: I forgot to defrost our dinner! We
were supposed to have salmon last night, but when I went to get it from the fridge I realized that I goofed. Lisa and I were planning to
celebrate the formation of John Stone Fitness LLC on Friday night, however, finding ourselves sans-salmon, we said "Hey, fuget about it.
Let's have a pie." Ok, "we" didn't say that. I said that. Cut me some slack, I just watched Donnie Brasco the other night. Fuget about it.
Ok, I think I've embarrassed myself enough for this update. See ya tomorrow!
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October 13, 2004
Yesterday's workout was terrible! My left(!) shoulder was bothering me a little, and I felt drained and tired. This morning I feel like I have a cold, so maybe yesterday's lack of energy can be attributed to that. I'm a little overdue for a week off from strength training, and I think yesterday's workout is my body's way of telling me to rest up a bit. I'll resume weight training next Wednesday, but I'll continue to do cardio while I'm resting my body.
I slept in for an extra 30 minutes this morning, so I'd better get moving. Have a great day!
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October 12, 2004
I have another announcement that I'm very excited about: very soon you'll be able to purchase official JSF clothing and merchandise! I'm still deciding what products to offer, so I'd really like to know what kind of stuff you would be interested in purchasing. I'm also very interested in your design ideas. I encourage you to take part in the ongoing discussion and voice your opinions (free registration is required).
As most of you already know, I've been brainstorming ways to get this site out of the red. I've been paying for everything out of my own pocket for almost two years now, but with my recent pay cut and my decision to begin moving away from my career in IT I can no longer afford to continue running the site at my own expense. Despite my current situation, I absolutely refuse to make any part of this site or the forums pay-for-access; that is an idea that is simply not open for consideration. Also, although they can be quite profitable, you'll never see annoying pop-ups/unders or other types of intrusive ads on this site. I've given this problem a lot of thought, and I think the best way to keep this site and the forums 100% free is to offer quality products to those who want them and have the means to help support the site. Additionally, I will continue to be ultra-selective about accepting sponsors. I don't endorse a product unless I use it, pay for it and believe in it, and that is another subject on which I absolutely refuse to budge.
This is a transitional time for JSF. An important time. This site and the forums are growing rapidly and my costs are rising. I want everyone to know that I'm doing my best to make the right choices so everything can remain free while moving the site and the forums forward in the same spirit in which I created them. This project has my baby from day number one, and I want nothing more than to see it mature into one of the most useful and unique fitness sites on the 'net. I sincerely appreciate that you find this site worthy of your time. Thanks for visiting, and for your continued support.
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October 11, 2004
This past Saturday morning Lisa's mom came over to visit and go shopping with Lisa. I was just finishing my workout when she arrived, and she was visibly shocked when she saw my bulking progress. She doesn't visit my website very often, and had not seen my body in quite a few months. She grabbed my arm and actually gasped in surprise (my arm was rock hard and pumped from the workout). I have to admit, it felt pretty good. You are probably wondering why I'm bothering to mention this event? It's simple: pure, unbridled & unabashed narcissism. Just kidding! Actually the reason is motivation. We all want to look our best, and we want people to notice us. When you make big changes to your physique, people do notice. Yep, even Mothers-In-Law. People often ask me how I remained so disciplined through my initial fat loss phase. One of the ways I stayed motivated was by using visualization techniques: I kept picturing myself outside mowing the lawn or washing the car with a 6-pack. After years of being fat, how wild would that be? "Suddenly" that pasty, middle-aged fat guy down the street has ripped abs and muscles - how the hell did he do that?! Whenever I felt like skipping a workout or eating something I knew that I shouldn't, I would conjure up an image of how I wanted to look. Little mental tricks like that helped me to stay strong and disciplined. Transformations are not just physical challenges; they also require great strength of the mind.
If you have not been to the site in a few days, please be sure to check out the brand new products page. We've got a new sponsor, and I'm very excited because Jeremy Likness brings a lot of knowledge and experience to the table. Look for the products page to expand in the coming weeks and months. I know a few of you are worried that this site will become too commercial and lose its homegrown charm. I promise that everything you love about this site and the forums will not change and will remain free. Still, I feel that I'm barely scratching the surface - it's time to take this web site and the forums to the next level. Doing so will take time and money, so I appreciate your support!
Cardio time and then a long, long day at work. Have a good one, see ya tomorrow.
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October 10, 2004
I had an awesome workout yesterday, and this morning my whole upper body is protesting every time I move. I'm very glad it's Sunday, because I really need a day of rest and relaxation. Looking outside I see that the lawn doesn't even need to be mowed. Cool! I may wash the car, but aside from that I'm just going relax with Lisa and play with the dogs. I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday!
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October 9, 2004
If you missed yesterday's Daily News update, you'll want to check it out and join me in welcoming our newest Official Sponsor, Jeremy Likness. Jeremy's e-Book "Become The Journey" is one of the best motivational and educational resources you'll find anywhere on the subject of body and mind transformations. When you click on any of the "Become The Journey" links found on this site or the forums and then purchase a copy of the book, you are not only arming yourself with the information you need to make an awesome transformation, but you are also helping to support this site and our forums.
It's my favorite day of the week, and my favorite workout of the week: pecs, delts and triceps! I look forward to my Saturday morning workouts like children look forward to Christmas. If you are prevented from doing something you enjoy for a very long time, it's amazing what that forced time away will do for your appreciation of the activity you can no longer do. Now that I can lift again, I savor every single moment I'm in the weight room. I think my enhanced appreciation for what I'm doing translates to increased intensity. Intensity provides results. Results provide motivation. It's an amazing self-sustaining cycle.
I'm feeling strong this morning, and it's a good thing: I will be using more weight for all exercises than I've ever used before. Last week I did the same thing and still managed 3 sets of 6 for all exercises. Time to crank up the music and get started. As always, I'll try to get some progress pictures up in my Picture Gallery and Video Archive thread later today.
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October 8, 2004
Wednesday evening I had a very long phone conversation with the one and only Jeremy Likness. Most of you already know Jeremy from his many helpful posts on the our forums and other popular fitness forums. I can honestly say that I've never known anyone quite like Jeremy: he's unbelievably selfless and giving; he's honest and candid and he's full of knowledge and inspiration. It's hard to believe he's only 30 years old - he's truly wise beyond his years. By the time we finished our telephone conversation I knew that our talk was not just the beginning of a business relationship, but also the beginning of a friendship. I'm honored to welcome Jeremy as an official sponsor of this web site and the forums. His e-Book, Become The Journey, is, in my opinion, required reading. Jeremy's e-Book is also launching a new section of this site: the products page in the brand new JSF Marketplace. Please check out the products page for my honest review of Jeremy's book. In short, I think it's a really, really good book. Groundbreaking, even. Although I've already completed the weight loss portion of my transformation, I'm benefiting significantly from the unique insight and knowledge contained in Become The Journey. I know you will, too. Welcome aboard, Jeremy!
So, it's finally Friday! I'm looking forward to the day when I enjoy my work so much that the days of the week that I work no longer matter. I once felt that way about computers and networking, but that passion has been replaced with a love for what I'm doing right here on this web site and the forums. I find myself frustrated by how little time I have to devote to this site, your emails and other related projects, and that's why I've decided to move away from my current career in IT. The more I think about it, the more I know I'm making the right choice. I want to thank everyone who has offered their support. It means everything to me.
I'd better go get my cardio in. I've got a long day at work ahead. Have a great Friday and I'll see ya tomorrow!
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October 7, 2004
Some of you may recall my mini-rant from last week about my job. I've been giving my employment situation a lot of thought and have decided that I'm going to move away from my current career in IT, and begin to move towards earning a living doing things that I am passionate about: fitness, health and motivation. This change will not happen overnight, and it's not going to be easy. I have a family and financial responsibilities that can't be ignored, but that doesn't mean I can't pursue my dreams. I will, of course, keep everyone who visits this site and the forum community updated on my plans and progress. These changes will eventually give me much more time to devote to this web site and the forum community. I find that prospect very exciting.
Along these lines, look for a special announcement tomorrow. We're adding a new sponsor, and I feel this new sponsor is going to add a tremendous amount of value to this site. Stay tuned!
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October 6, 2004
It's the 6th of the month and, as always, I've updated my monthly photos. Even with the relatively wide shot some added mass is noticeable (yeah, and
some added fat as well ).
So far all my bulking progress pictures (below and on the pictures archive page) have shown me in a "pumped" state. So, in order to show a more fair comparison to my starting pre-bulk photo, this morning after I took my regular monthly photos I snapped a picture of me completely un-pumped and cold. I even stood in the same place as I was standing in the pre-bulk "before" photo. This un-pumped comparison shows my true lean mass in a "cold" state much better than the monthly wide shots.
I'd better get started on today's workout: abs and cardio. Oh, one last thing before I sign off. I'd like to say thanks to everyone who has been writing with words of encouragement and complements on my bulk. It feels awesome to finally be able to lift again and prove that I can do much more than "just" lose fat. I appreciate your support!
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October 5, 2004
Sorry, I've got no time to write this morning. I've got to do my workout early and then get right to work. See you tomorrow...
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October 4, 2004
I can't believe how sore I still am from Saturday's workout! I've always looked forward
to DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness): the more sore I am, the happier I am.
I know that soreness doesn't necessarily equate to muscle growth, but when I feel the DOMS I always conjure up
a mental image of my injured muscles recovering and repairing themselves just a little bit stronger than they
were before.
I did my "official" weekly measurements this morning. My arms are just one tenth of an inch from 15 inches (cold). So close! By this time next week I should finally hit 15 inches. I've never hit the 15 inch mark before (without a pump), so I'm looking forward to that milestone. After I hit 15 inches, I want to add one more inch to my arms over the next 3 or 4 months. My arms measured 15.75 inches last Saturday (with a pump), but the flash washed out the tape when I took a picture so that's why I didn't post it with my weekly bulking progress pictures. My chest is also coming along well: I've added 1.5 inches to it since I started bulking. I've got another 1.5 inches to go in order to reach my goal of 42 inches.
I'd better get on the elliptical while I still can. Today's going to be a hell of a day at work....
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October 3, 2004
Yesterday's workout was my best weight training workout ever. I've passed how much I was lifting just before I injured my shoulder last year, and I am now lifting more weight for all upper body exercises than I've ever used before. My shoulder feels amazingly good this morning, especially considering yesterday's workout. I've put some updated progress pictures on the Pictures page.
I was hoping to have a nice relaxing Sunday, but my pager woke me up. More issues at work. I've been involved with computers/networking/IT for over 20 years. I think I've had about enough.
On that note, I'm going to go get some yard work done and then attempt to relax. See ya tomorrow!
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October 2, 2004
Wow, you folks sure know how to cheer a guy up! It's going to take me awhile to reply to the dozens of emails I received yesterday, so in the meantime I wanted to say a quick (but heartfelt) "THANKS!" in today's update. I can't tell you how overwhelming it was to come home after yesterday's meeting and find my email box stuffed with so many positive thoughts and messages. Unfortunately things went even worse than I expected at the meeting (I managed to keep my temper in check, though!) I was feeling pretty low by the time I got home, but after talking to Lisa and reading all the wonderful emails & posts on the forum I realized that I have absolutely nothing to worry about. Thank you all very much.
Right. So I've got my favorite workout of the week to do now: pecs, delts and triceps! I should have some new progress pictures up later today in my
Picture Gallery and Video Archive thread. I measured myself this morning and
I've gained another quarter inch on my chest and my arms are so close to 15 inches (un-pumped) that I can almost taste it. I expect that my arms will
be at 16 inches with a pump by the end of the month. I'm making excellent progress, and my shoulder is still holding up just fine.
Today I'll be benching for reps more than I ever have in my life, so I'm past what I was doing at the height of my bulk when I injured my shoulder last year.
It looks like all those rotator cuff strengthening exercises and physical therapy have paid off! Err, I hope I didn't just jinx myself...
October 1, 2004
I had to force myself to do my leg workout yesterday. I'm feeling so much stress from work right now that I'm having trouble thinking about anything else. The pressure and long hours required by my current job are already very difficult to deal with, and now my company is making some choices that I really think are colossal mistakes. It's all coming to a head today at a meeting where said changes will be officially announced. I'm seriously thinking about a career move, but the IT market is not that great in Orlando right now. A nice 40 hour a week office job would feel like a vacation to me for a while, but I know that wouldn't last because I don't like working in corporate office environments. I'm so sick of being on call all the time. I hate my pager and I hate my Nextel radio. Maybe I should get out of IT completely...
I'm sorry - I really didn't mean to go off on a rant. I try to keep these updates upbeat and positive, but I guess I feel
comfortable using this space to talk about whatever is on my mind, and today it's my job. I need to be calm and focused for today's meeting -
I don't want to say anything I'll regret and right now my fuse is short. I'm going to go get on the Elliptical and try to clear my head.
Thanks for listening to me whine.
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