Well, long time, no post o_O
Things have been progressing well since my injury, which was determined as a 30% Grade 2 Groin Strain (meaning some muscle fibers tore, but only about 30% of the entire gracilis muscle). I've been attending physiotherapy three times a week, and I must say that with the physio, it is really helping speed up recovery. Even this past week, I've gone from barely able to stand to being able to walk up and down stairs, albeit VERY slowly and carefully.
Rob, my physiotherapist at the U of C, is awesome. Gave me a list of stretches and exercises, showed me how to isolate the gracilis out so I don't put undue strain on it while it recovers, and is all around awesome :)
As to P90X... that won't resume until at least mid-September, because I have to be 100% cleared and have had a physical before I can return, as per Rob's suggestion. As he also does the program, he suggested a shortened redo of phase 1, ie 2 weeks, then a recovery week and on to phase 2. Still, with all the rest, my body has normalized out and my weight is sitting steady at 212 lbs (down from a start weight of 219), and my hips have stabilized to 38 inches (down from 40.5). For only a month of the program (added to the work I was doing, which was pretty heavy duty), I think those are nice results.
Also, I reconnected with a friend of mine from High School, and she is a cross country runner. I'm hoping that, once I am back to health, I can start running with her so I have someone to keep me going and show me how to ramp up to distance running (I'm still aiming to run in the Mother's Day 10k)
On the hobby side, this unexpected downtime has allowed me to simply STEAMROLL through writing projects I had been putting off for a while. I reedited Silverlight (my sci-fi novel) and made some major improvements that I think will make it more marketable, I am deep into Dark War, my new webseries novel that I am making with a friend of mine, and I have begun work on my most ambitious fanfiction project ever (a throwback to my roots as I started my writing way back in the mid-90's with a fanfic about One Must Fall 2097). It's daunting because the source universe is loved by millions, and has to be treated with respect and proper diligence in research.
So, the word is: Mid-september. I have at least 2 more weeks, maybe 3, of physio and at least two more assessment appointments (range of motion, weight bearing ability, etc). Here's hoping!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Well shit :\
Well, I'm finally coherent enough to make a post. I had just finished my recovery week (well, mostly) and was at work yesterday, looking forward to the workout after working....
To make a long story short, I was hauling a compost bin onto the truck, one filled to the rim with wet coffee grounds (yay rainy days -_-) and I braced my core and legs to pull it off up the ramp. As I pulled, something which I did every day for the past 3 or so weeks, absolute fire ripped down through my groin and lower abdomen. So much so, that I was laid flat for about half a minute. Getting to my feet, my left leg, at the groin connector, couldn't take any weight.
Five hours later, after being poked and prodded and xray'd at the hospital, I have a partial tear in my muscle that attaches from the groin area of the pelvis to the thigh area of the leg. Not being an anatomy major, I have no clue about the name of the muscle. I just know that I have to ice it pretty much constantly, and it hurts like a bleeding motherfucker.
So, I'm off workouts (and work) until August 25,2010. Hooray me :\ And even then, I have to check with the doctor (awesomely funny guy, so not much of a hassle :D) to make sure I'm cleared to resume working out.
I know that many that said I wouldn't/couldn't make it will jump on this news like sharks on a pool of chum, but frankly, let them. I don't give two shits about what they think, or about the posts and misinformation they will undoubtedly try to spread about this. I know who I'm doing this whole thing for, and it's not for them, so let them think what they will. Once I'm 100% cleared to resume working out, I will.
I'm just thankful the muscle tore, but didn't seperate. Seperation = surgery = end of workouts for months. With a tear, I should be back on my feet in a week, and back working out, if all goes well, within a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed.
And now to go get blasted on Percocet again, as my groin muscles are telling me in no uncertain terms: ow. fuck. ow. ow. fuck. ow.
To make a long story short, I was hauling a compost bin onto the truck, one filled to the rim with wet coffee grounds (yay rainy days -_-) and I braced my core and legs to pull it off up the ramp. As I pulled, something which I did every day for the past 3 or so weeks, absolute fire ripped down through my groin and lower abdomen. So much so, that I was laid flat for about half a minute. Getting to my feet, my left leg, at the groin connector, couldn't take any weight.
Five hours later, after being poked and prodded and xray'd at the hospital, I have a partial tear in my muscle that attaches from the groin area of the pelvis to the thigh area of the leg. Not being an anatomy major, I have no clue about the name of the muscle. I just know that I have to ice it pretty much constantly, and it hurts like a bleeding motherfucker.
So, I'm off workouts (and work) until August 25,2010. Hooray me :\ And even then, I have to check with the doctor (awesomely funny guy, so not much of a hassle :D) to make sure I'm cleared to resume working out.
I know that many that said I wouldn't/couldn't make it will jump on this news like sharks on a pool of chum, but frankly, let them. I don't give two shits about what they think, or about the posts and misinformation they will undoubtedly try to spread about this. I know who I'm doing this whole thing for, and it's not for them, so let them think what they will. Once I'm 100% cleared to resume working out, I will.
I'm just thankful the muscle tore, but didn't seperate. Seperation = surgery = end of workouts for months. With a tear, I should be back on my feet in a week, and back working out, if all goes well, within a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed.
And now to go get blasted on Percocet again, as my groin muscles are telling me in no uncertain terms: ow. fuck. ow. ow. fuck. ow.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Where did he go?!?
Well, I got a job is where I went.
First thing's first: I AM STILL ON THE PROGRAM.
I haven't quit, and I have had some people whine a bit because I couldn't be on the internet 12 hours a day anymore so they just assumed that I had dropped out of P90X and let's just say that a couple pages of a thread on a forum are dedicated to people erroneously posting defaming and wrong things about me.
Ah well, it's the internet (shrug). Haters gonna hate.
Anyways, to progress: I've lost 8 lbs total average, and I am already down to a size 38 waist (I started at size 40 waist). At this rate, I should be size 36 in August or September. I am lifting my heavier weights with more reps, so I definitely feel that muscle growing.
I also work a heavy labor job (recycling company, hauling around bins weighing between 30-300 lbs (depending on if empty, full of specific types of material, etc) as well as starch bags full of plastic, paper, etc, as well as picking up compost bins we provide to companies) that has me burning some serious calories during the day. I have kept my diet steady, carbs and protein in the morning, protein at lunch, recovery stuff at dinner, etc. I'm pretty much running a caloric deficit which I think has helped with the flab loss.
Sooooo yeah, don't expect daily updates for the moment. I'm getting home totally wiped and then doing a hard hour to hour and half of exercise before I shower and eat :P So if I don't get around to blogging that often, well, hey, dems da breaks. Live with it ;)
First thing's first: I AM STILL ON THE PROGRAM.
I haven't quit, and I have had some people whine a bit because I couldn't be on the internet 12 hours a day anymore so they just assumed that I had dropped out of P90X and let's just say that a couple pages of a thread on a forum are dedicated to people erroneously posting defaming and wrong things about me.
Ah well, it's the internet (shrug). Haters gonna hate.
Anyways, to progress: I've lost 8 lbs total average, and I am already down to a size 38 waist (I started at size 40 waist). At this rate, I should be size 36 in August or September. I am lifting my heavier weights with more reps, so I definitely feel that muscle growing.
I also work a heavy labor job (recycling company, hauling around bins weighing between 30-300 lbs (depending on if empty, full of specific types of material, etc) as well as starch bags full of plastic, paper, etc, as well as picking up compost bins we provide to companies) that has me burning some serious calories during the day. I have kept my diet steady, carbs and protein in the morning, protein at lunch, recovery stuff at dinner, etc. I'm pretty much running a caloric deficit which I think has helped with the flab loss.
Sooooo yeah, don't expect daily updates for the moment. I'm getting home totally wiped and then doing a hard hour to hour and half of exercise before I shower and eat :P So if I don't get around to blogging that often, well, hey, dems da breaks. Live with it ;)
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Day 3: Arms and shoulders, confidence and assertiveness.
Wow... while not the world's hardest workout overall (but CERTAINLY not easy), arms and shoulders works said body parts to pain and suffering and growth o_O I found the static arm curls to be particularly vicious doing the last few reps. Although I will state that I think the hardest exercise of the bunch is the seated shoulder fly's, not so much when your back is straight, but when you lean forward and do the fly, oh dear GOD do those burn. I was shaking after that specific exercise.
I did do the bonus round, and all I have to say about those three exercises is: OW.
Ab ripper X was kinda half assed today, only went till I got the shaking burn, not till failure as I did on Monday. I wanted to get the workout, but also my abs were still hellaciously sore from Monday, so I took it easy on them. You do ab ripper 3 times a week, so one half-ass day shouldn't cause TOO much damage to the overall results.
On another front, a lot of people have been asking why I do a video and a blog everyday.... to be honest, it's the other half of my transformation. I was a shy, reclusive, not very confident person. Now that I'm forcing myself to video, write, and expose all my failings/successes to the unknown masses, it's helping build confidence in myself and breaking down the shyness barrier ever so slightly each day. It doesn't work to blast the body into shape without also reforming the mind to accompany it.
It's part of a 6 month transformation, and I'm hoping that I'm as assertive, confident and uninhibited in December as I was in 2002, when I was still fit.
That's all for now, here's the post workout vid!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbHN3T1QcE
I did do the bonus round, and all I have to say about those three exercises is: OW.
Ab ripper X was kinda half assed today, only went till I got the shaking burn, not till failure as I did on Monday. I wanted to get the workout, but also my abs were still hellaciously sore from Monday, so I took it easy on them. You do ab ripper 3 times a week, so one half-ass day shouldn't cause TOO much damage to the overall results.
On another front, a lot of people have been asking why I do a video and a blog everyday.... to be honest, it's the other half of my transformation. I was a shy, reclusive, not very confident person. Now that I'm forcing myself to video, write, and expose all my failings/successes to the unknown masses, it's helping build confidence in myself and breaking down the shyness barrier ever so slightly each day. It doesn't work to blast the body into shape without also reforming the mind to accompany it.
It's part of a 6 month transformation, and I'm hoping that I'm as assertive, confident and uninhibited in December as I was in 2002, when I was still fit.
That's all for now, here's the post workout vid!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbHN3T1QcE
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Day 2: Plyometrics X and the doubters grow....
Well, Plyo X is actually a really doable workout, and my god do you get a good sweat on. The reality of plyo, to me, is all in the head. I KNOW I'm on course for a good result and I know that I ain't quitting. So I just clench my teeth, get those last two leapfrog laterals, rock hops, knee jumps, whatever out, give a little scream of pain, recover (by mopping up the sweat puddle so I don't slip while Tony explains the next move) and then get right back into it.
Something I don't understand, though, is despite all this determination, sweat, and even a near puke so far (day 1's queasyness after ab ripper), people are still going "lawl you aren't really working out hard." Well, uh, yeah, I am. Sure, I'm not going max revs yet, but I'm going 85%-90% as suggested on all the forums with all the P90X threads I've read. "Ease into it the first week by going near max, then the rest, go all out"
So, my statement to those detractors, is simply: go somewhere else, troll.
If there is a legitimate concern, then I will listen. But from now on, anyone that blatantly trolls? Ignored.
Anyways, looking forward to using the chinup station tomorrow. Glue has dried and the test hang (my dad on one arm, me on the other, and it barely flexed) has my confidence in the build. Ready to rock! RAH! \m/ >_< \m
Something I don't understand, though, is despite all this determination, sweat, and even a near puke so far (day 1's queasyness after ab ripper), people are still going "lawl you aren't really working out hard." Well, uh, yeah, I am. Sure, I'm not going max revs yet, but I'm going 85%-90% as suggested on all the forums with all the P90X threads I've read. "Ease into it the first week by going near max, then the rest, go all out"
So, my statement to those detractors, is simply: go somewhere else, troll.
If there is a legitimate concern, then I will listen. But from now on, anyone that blatantly trolls? Ignored.
Anyways, looking forward to using the chinup station tomorrow. Glue has dried and the test hang (my dad on one arm, me on the other, and it barely flexed) has my confidence in the build. Ready to rock! RAH! \m/ >_< \m
Monday, July 12, 2010
Day 1: Day 0 and Reg workout together!
Because of a STUPIDLY busy Sunday, I didn't get around to doing my fitness test yesterday, so I did it today. Here you can find my measurements as well as the fit test on day 1
http://www.mediafire.com/file/goztqfkmkzm/fitness1.xls
I did chest and back followed immediately by ab ripper X. Chest and back was fairly standard, but the intensity and pushing hard for the max the second time around is when I really felt the burn. I didn't go 100% because I knew my body wasn't used to it, but even at 85% effort it's still DAMNED hard to type after it all.
Ab Ripper X totally destroyed me. The last time I did it, I did it fresh and rested. Doing it after a regular workout makes you scream, kick and grind for every last rep, every last situp, every single mason's twist until you feel like you're going to pass out. After the wobbles, you get a feeling of being really queasy... so I just had some water, didn't do the last 25 mason's twists and stretched it out afterwards... then I flopped onto my back.
I tried to reach for my camera to record a video, but my body just said "NO!" I lay there, in a puddle of my own sweat, for about 3 minutes before I could even move to get the camera.
The video recorded is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tng02NDihpI
Notice the gasp of pain as I let my other hand fall away from the camera at the start XD
http://www.mediafire.com/file/goztqfkmkzm/fitness1.xls
I did chest and back followed immediately by ab ripper X. Chest and back was fairly standard, but the intensity and pushing hard for the max the second time around is when I really felt the burn. I didn't go 100% because I knew my body wasn't used to it, but even at 85% effort it's still DAMNED hard to type after it all.
Ab Ripper X totally destroyed me. The last time I did it, I did it fresh and rested. Doing it after a regular workout makes you scream, kick and grind for every last rep, every last situp, every single mason's twist until you feel like you're going to pass out. After the wobbles, you get a feeling of being really queasy... so I just had some water, didn't do the last 25 mason's twists and stretched it out afterwards... then I flopped onto my back.
I tried to reach for my camera to record a video, but my body just said "NO!" I lay there, in a puddle of my own sweat, for about 3 minutes before I could even move to get the camera.
The video recorded is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tng02NDihpI
Notice the gasp of pain as I let my other hand fall away from the camera at the start XD
Saturday, July 10, 2010
T-Minus 1: Fit Test prep, light cardio
Well, this is it. Tomorrow is Day 0 of 90, the fitness test in preparation for my first 90 days of P90X.
A few interesting topics to cover today:
1) Did a Stampede Breakfast with the family this morning, so I did an extra half lap of my walking/running course, and made sure to use the hill I normally avoid to add that little extra burn right at the end, although the entire course was taken at normal pace. My main objective with the walk was just to open up the lungs, get the air in, get some blood flowing, just a nice relaxing walk. Legs are happy happy and not sore at all, the rest day made sure that they recovered.
2) The diet. Oh good lord has that changed my life already o_O! Energy is steady and level throughout the day, I don't crash out between meals. My bowels are happy, I'm MUCH less gassy, and my movements are regular. I know that's kind of gory, but it's amazing how much of a change eating right can do for your intestinal health.
A lot of people will go "ewww he's talking about his poop chute," and you're damned right I am. It's an important part of your digestive system, and making sure that it's operating at an efficient and regular level is a great feeling. I'm not embarassed about it, and neither should anyone be. It's also very important for men as colon cancer is a very real risk for many, which can be reduced in risk with proper intestinal care. Regularity is important for intestinal health, as well as overall health. Do your research, kiddos.
3)Chinning station. Build on that is going awesome, got the uprights all cut, glued, and setting overnight. Bolting and final build goes tomorrow, gonna have my own homebuilt chinup station :D
4) Excitement. It's weird, in the past I've always found excuses to get OUT of the pain of doing workouts.... "I'm too sore." "I have to go raiding." "I just ate the 12th donut in the box, if I workout I'll puke." Blah blah BLAH. I've heard it all, because I've said it all. Now I'm actually excited about working out, and not so much focusing ALL my energy into gaming. In the grand scheme of things, being fit and healthy is more important than smashing pixels in the face with more pixels. Simple fact of life: Prioritize. I can still raid and get fit, if I MAKE the time to do both. That's the key that I missed before. Make the time, and it all falls into place.
Anyways, I am going to have a nice relaxing evening so I can sleep well and be ready for tomorrow's test. The entire point is to make sure that you at least have SOME fitness (I do) and to have a base of reference you can look back on in 90 days and go "I was THAT big?"
My goals for the first 90 days are not that out of hand or impossible. I'm aiming to be less than 200 lbs and reduce my body fat to 17% or less, minimal, or 15% or less if I feel that I can go hard the last 30 days and rock it out.
Anyways, that's it for me today, signing off to go snore happily.
A few interesting topics to cover today:
1) Did a Stampede Breakfast with the family this morning, so I did an extra half lap of my walking/running course, and made sure to use the hill I normally avoid to add that little extra burn right at the end, although the entire course was taken at normal pace. My main objective with the walk was just to open up the lungs, get the air in, get some blood flowing, just a nice relaxing walk. Legs are happy happy and not sore at all, the rest day made sure that they recovered.
2) The diet. Oh good lord has that changed my life already o_O! Energy is steady and level throughout the day, I don't crash out between meals. My bowels are happy, I'm MUCH less gassy, and my movements are regular. I know that's kind of gory, but it's amazing how much of a change eating right can do for your intestinal health.
A lot of people will go "ewww he's talking about his poop chute," and you're damned right I am. It's an important part of your digestive system, and making sure that it's operating at an efficient and regular level is a great feeling. I'm not embarassed about it, and neither should anyone be. It's also very important for men as colon cancer is a very real risk for many, which can be reduced in risk with proper intestinal care. Regularity is important for intestinal health, as well as overall health. Do your research, kiddos.
3)Chinning station. Build on that is going awesome, got the uprights all cut, glued, and setting overnight. Bolting and final build goes tomorrow, gonna have my own homebuilt chinup station :D
4) Excitement. It's weird, in the past I've always found excuses to get OUT of the pain of doing workouts.... "I'm too sore." "I have to go raiding." "I just ate the 12th donut in the box, if I workout I'll puke." Blah blah BLAH. I've heard it all, because I've said it all. Now I'm actually excited about working out, and not so much focusing ALL my energy into gaming. In the grand scheme of things, being fit and healthy is more important than smashing pixels in the face with more pixels. Simple fact of life: Prioritize. I can still raid and get fit, if I MAKE the time to do both. That's the key that I missed before. Make the time, and it all falls into place.
Anyways, I am going to have a nice relaxing evening so I can sleep well and be ready for tomorrow's test. The entire point is to make sure that you at least have SOME fitness (I do) and to have a base of reference you can look back on in 90 days and go "I was THAT big?"
My goals for the first 90 days are not that out of hand or impossible. I'm aiming to be less than 200 lbs and reduce my body fat to 17% or less, minimal, or 15% or less if I feel that I can go hard the last 30 days and rock it out.
Anyways, that's it for me today, signing off to go snore happily.
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