Second day of low carb. I don't feel too bad. I didn't do much yesterday, spent the morning picking up the house so the wife could come home and relax, but once she got home she wanted to go get some groceries and go eat somewhere, so we headed out.
Managed to eat well at the restaurant. Just got 2 grilled cajun chicken breasts and some corn. Oh Joy!! I really wanted a double bacon cheeseburger with mushrooms and fries, but I stuck to the diet. At the store I got a bunch of eggs, tuna, chicken, and red meat. Also some brown rice, vegetables, and oatmeal. All stuff that taste like cardboard but is necessary to lose the fat.
Today I got up and eat some eggs and oats, then went out and mowed. Afterwords I did a quick circuit that I am going to try and keep in on Sundays. I did pull-ups, push-ups, wide pinch, and dips. Used a very wide grip with pull-ups and did 5x5, push ups I went off of bricks so I was getting beyond the range and did 5x10, wide pinch I did 5 sets of static holds with the "smurf" and half a cinder block + a 5 pound weight, and dips I did 5x10 off the garage steps. Got quite a good pump! I finished with some curls with the "smurf" for the last 2 fingers. Going to do a little bit of grip every week to keep it at least some what strong. ;)
Going back North last weekend really took me back to the roots of my strength training. Every time I go down into the old basement up home I smell that familiar smell that takes me back to being 14 and lifting down there. It was cold,wet, and dimly lit and was just an amazing atmosphere to train in. There were 3 of us that trained down there and we just killed each other 4 nights a week. It wasn't about anything but slinging weight and trying to get bigger and stronger. Nothing else mattered. The fucking internet, cameras, records, forums, nothing. Hell, we didn't have internet! We had posters of Haney and Yates and old school Poison blasting on the radio. It was awesome and I often miss those times. I am the only one of the 3 who still lifts weights, the others have moved on to other things. I have lost touch with them both and haven't seen them in more years then I can count, but those years in the cold basement were some of the best.
Going back to my roots made me realize why I started doing this in the first place. Powerlifting will always be there for me when I return, that is the best part about strength sports. Right now I need to get in shape as I feel like total shit lately. I have done a lot in 30 years in the strength world; strongman, powerlifting, grip sports, but I have never taken the time and effort to see just how good of shape I can get myself in. At 30, it is going to be hard. My metabolism ain't what it used to be! But I want to give it an honest try and see how I come out on the other side.
Bodybuilding wise it is very hard to find a role model. We all know it is damn near impossible to get into the kind of shape of today's pros without some HUGE amounts of drugs. I am not about to go that route. I want this to be healthy and I want to do it right. I will use creatine, protein powders, and amino acids. I will use multis and other vitamins, but I will do it CLEAN. I was searching around looking for the body type I think is attainable. I got my new FLEX magazine (I have subscribed for years) and the Legend Frank Zane is on the cover. I think he is the perfect example of what can be achieved by ball busting, weight slinging, hard ass work day in and day out. Perfect diet, cardio, and training your ass off.
Zane was 5'9" and held anywhere from 190-205 pounds of lean on his frame. He wasn't huge and bulky and cumbersome like today's pros, but he was perfect from feet to head. This is the type of physique I am looking for. By the way, here is Frank at 64:
How many pros look anything like this in their 60s? As I get older, this is what I am aiming for, to look like this and be able to still hang with the young bucks, well into my 60s, 70s, and beyond! I want my grand kids to be like, "Damn! Grandpa is JACKED!" LOL!
Legs tomorrow. It will also be my high carb day so I am looking forward to it.
-Rick
Comments