THURSDAY, 7/9/2015

Today was designated to be a strength training day and running day, squats and dead lifts to be exact, plus a 3 mile run.  After running the last 2 days, I opted for no leg training and just ran.  3 miles in 26:30.  Ran outside in some mist and the first 1.5 miles was into the wind so I was ecstatic with that time!  Listened to Bob Dylan the entire time and it was amazing, thank you www.dylanradio.com. 

Tomorrow I plan on a rest from the cardio, but training upper body with a focus on chest.

I've got to say, I'm pretty happy with my diet the last 4 days.  My goal is 2200-2400 calories.  I'm trying to keep protein under 225 grams per day.  I'm a HUGE protein overeater.  I'd love to get 225 protein, 175 carbohydrate, and fill the rest of the calories in with fat (about 65-80 grams).  Trying to get at least 3 servings of veggies in per day, which is super easy for me.  I'm a broccoli-holic and love green beans, and mixed green salads, as well as a slew of other veggies.  Opting for about 5 meals per day.  This way I can easily eat 400-450 calories per sitting and go about 3.5-4 hours between meals, which is about perfect for me if I'm hitting that calorie mark per meal.

Keeping with the random tone of my first post, I thought I'd vaguely outline my health/fitness goals here today:

1) Couple some enjoyable cardiovascular exercise with my weight training - I love lifting weights.  I love lifting heavy.  I love supersets.  I love dropsets.  I love low reps.  I love high reps (except when squatting).  I love German Volume Training.  I love competing in bodybuilding.  I want to compete in powerlifting.  I can't wait to lift each and everyday.  Cardio, though, I have a love hate relationship with.  I hate when I start doing cardio, but I end up enjoying it when I get accustomed to it.  Walking in the morning, listening to music is my favorite.  I actually enjoy running once I'm in shape.  I enjoy treadmill walking when I can read, and I really enjoy variation (jumping ropes, battle ropes, plyometrics, agility training, etc...).  My main goal is to find a way to incorporate both into a healthy lifestyle I can continue for the rest of my life.

2) Run a 10K - I have run a couple of 5Ks and a Marathon Relay and I loved every second of those races.  The apprehension, the internal competitiveness, the other competitors and spectators pushing you.  All the people involved seemed so positive and happy.  In bodybuilding, it's kind of a bro sport, filled with testosterone and there are some A - Holes.  Don't get me wrong, I love mixing it up and having that "I want to kill you" attitude, but call me crazy, as I've gotten older and began to raise 2 young daughters, goodwill has become something I value more and more.  Also, prepping for a bodybuilding show is extremely selfish.  It's all about me.  When I have to eat, cook, train, pose, etc...  And I can get quite run down and cranky.  The dieting is tough mentally and brutal on your body's endocrine system.  I'm hoping having a new goal, will not only keep me motivated, but also keep me from going insane from over dieting.

3) Enter a powerlifting meet and hit a 1300 pound total - I have never done a powerlifting meet. I want to badly.  In my early/mid 20's I was quite strong.  I can still hold my own, but 2 hernias, multiple surgeries, and some other injuries have probably ended my days of benching 365 and squatting as much as I'd like to.  However, at the tail end of 2015 I hit a PR in dead lift (500 lbs), which was always my weakest of the 3 lifts.  I'm quite certain I can pull a 1200 total with minimal focus on powerlifting.  If I can tailor my training around powerlifting I think I can hit a cool 1250 and maybe even 1300.  The latter may be a stretch, but I know I can get back to 500 on dead lift and I can hit 300 on bench now and getting to 450 on squat should be doable.  With a little bit of coaxing all I'd have to do is add 50 total pounds!  I'd love to nail 1250-1300 at around the 165 pound mark.

4) Lose some weight - Okay, this is all my fault.  I competed at NPC Team Universe last year and even though it wasn't my best ever (my fault for some last minute stupid things and not posing properlly or having posing trunks that properly fit), I still looked phenomenal even for the national stage.  I stayed in pretty damn good shape all the way through 2014 and even into spring this year I wasn't far off, but this summer I've pretty much eaten and drank everything I've wanted with no filter.  Training was still balls out, but crushing 3,000 plus cals per day isn't something my body was ready for.  Pretty much what I'm saying is I'm fatter than I've been in probably 9 years.  Funny thing is, the last time I was at this weight (180) I had a hard time breathing and got light headed tying my shoes, now, I can run 3 miles in 26 minutes.  I think my body likes being around 170-175 pounds.  I like how I look about 160-165, it's all about self-concept, and to be brutally honest with myself, it's an insecurity I've battled my whole life.  I'd like to get over that and hit a healthy weight in the upper 160's.  If I can do that, who knows, maybe I'll try to get down to almost stage conditioning and go from there.  

5) Develop a balance - I'm a giant proponent of life balance.  I thought I knew what "balance" was in terms of life.  I've had too many irons in the fire before, and somehow managed (full time teacher, varsity head coach, worked as a trainer and hitting instructor, husband, father, sponsored athlete for a supplement company, competitive bodybuilder, bodybuilding coach).  On top of that I had hobbies I loved too, like writing, reading, and listening and playing music.  It was too much.  All of those things were suffering.  I've tried to streamline to be a better person in general, especially a better teacher, husband, father, son, and friend.  It's a work in progress and sometimes I feel lost because I'm not constantly freaking out about what I have next and it's been hard to quiet my mind.  However, I want to try to find that balance.  Where is the balance in enjoying a well rounded exercise program and coupling it with eating healthy, yet enjoying an IPA and some pizza here and there.  The balance in maintaining a healthy weight and not freaking out if you lose 2 pounds or gain 5.  The balance in being skilled at your profession, yet enjoying.  The balance in being a great father and husband, but still finding me time and time to hang with the guys.  It's a constant battle.

I'm hoping through these new goals (I'll be posting dates on things in the coming weeks I hope) that I can start to learn how to balance all the things I love and enjoy and in the meantime, teach those that subject themselves to reading my blog, a thing or 2 about health, fitness, nutrition, balance, goal setting, and anything else I may have to offer!

Again, thanks for reading - KYLE

PS: I still have no name for this blog and I'm looking forward to playing my guitar and harmonicas this weekend and maybe recording a little song I may or may not post.