Becoming an Athlete

Holy smokes!!!!   In 1 week I've noticed a change in my body.   Its happening fast, despite the reasonable levels  of fatigue and soreness.  Every muscle is fuller and more vascular.  Abs look just as defined as competition weight of 198, but now I'm up to 203. Biggest changes: Quads blowing up from 5 min squat sets.  So far I'm up to 55 reps with 135#.  Soon as I reach 100 reps I'll increase to 185#. Chest, shoulders, and triceps filling out from the 15 minute EDT set.  I'm up to 100 reps dips & 100 reps curls in 15 minutes. When I hit 150 of each, I'll add 25# on dips and another 20# on curls. Mid back filling out from the clean & press, especially the final Rest Pause set. My stamina is ridiculous!!!  I can run all day, or do bodyweight movements all day.   Boxing workouts are really filling in the conditioning gap I used to have. Now to stay the course and not get too greedy with the weights. I need to avoid inj...

Thank you, Father, for the gift of perseverance, and the wisdom of humility. I put my ego aside through these last 9 weeks or so to cut weight and just  stuck to the plan. Every time a deceptive thought entered my head, I tried to pray it away and just stick to the plan. You're stronger than this.  Why waste time with these light weights? You can drop weight faster than this. Just enjoy a pizza night with the kids. You're better than your competition.  Why push so hard? Ego is a motherfucker.  It is the seed of complacency and mediocrity. Humility, ironically enough, is the driver of confidence, patience, and maturity.  I kept my weights according to plan, didn't accumulate any new injuries, dropped 4 inches off my waist, and feel faster and more athletic than I have in a decade. I placed Second in my first outing as a Lightweight at the San Antonio Highland Games.  The guy who came in first was untouchable!!!!  What a great thrower, and...

I may have written before about how I try to drive one new quality / attribute every year, and package it in a simple mantra.  This the mantra is Service Before Self.  Like all new habits, starting it is rough and takes a toll at first.  I let my training slide because my evenings were filled with volunteer work. Since Spring break I've been trying to lift and run in the mornings.  The first week was poor.  The second week was OK, and the 3rd was good.   Its becoming easier and almost a habit.  The reason for the title: I couldn't have made this change had I not practiced self discipline in all areas of my life last year. Giving up alcohol took more effort than a mere act of self discipline.  It took prayer, fellowship, and some nights alone figuring out how to be me again.  Now that its just how life is, I can be sober in any environment.  At this stage I don't feel as though I've given up something.  Rather, to have a drin...

WOW!!!!!!  Massive changes to my body comp.  I'm taking in a ton of protein, adding fiber to my shakes, and have eliminated all but trace carbs.  I've never had abs this defined, and my aerobic capacity is the best in about a decade.  Strength is creeping up at a steady sustainable pace. Jim Wendler and countless other are so dead RIGHT!   Start light, and increase / drive the reps as hard as you can.  Increase / drive the weight much more slowly. I ditched Oly lifts for now because I need to have my form looked at.  Elbows shouldn't hurt this much.