Monday, April 21, 2008
Just finished up with a 30-minute session of cardio. I realize that’s not that long. But one of the things I used to love about the offseason was the absence of cardio. Well, those days are long gone. After each show, I used to tell myself that I would keep up with the cardio to keep bodyfat levels down, but when it came time to get it done, I continued to put it off until “tomorrow” which never came. This year we are doing things differently. Cardio is a must all year round. You know, heart health and increased cardiac output which in turn benefits training intensity. Blah, blah, blah. Plus it’s funny how as you get older you start to think about those things. Those teenage years and early 20’s you feel as if you are indestructible. Then the years start to add up and you suddenly realize that your not. I’ll talk about the injuries next. Well, the cardio has benefited and I see increased endurance in training, but that doesn’t mean I like it. Actually I hate….no not hate (remember positive thoughts in, positive thoughts out), it’s not my favorite thing in the world. Training I love, but cardio…ugh!!! Anyways, I only do the StepMill now as we bought one three years ago and it now sits in our living room. In all actuality, the situation couldn’t be more perfect. I have no excuse for missing. It’s in my house, in front of the TV, with a ceiling fan nearby. DAMN. Now I have to do it.
Now the StepMill in my opinion is the badass of cardio machines. It’s basically walking up a flight of stairs that never ends. I have had endless debates with fellow friends and competitors (at the local and state level) about doing the StepMill and their excuse (lame) is that it is too intense and will burn up what little muscle they have. SORRY excuse!! My arguement each time (and this one always wins) is that if Ronnie Coleman at 300 lbs. can knock that machine for up to 2 hours a day, there is no reason why their little 200 lbs. bodies can’t. Let me tell you something, bodybuilders may look impressive on the outside, but some of them (once again at the local and state level) are some of the biggest sissies I’ve ever met. And dumbest. I hate to knock on my own kind, but damn, these cats just don’t get it. They refuse to pick up a book, as if it’s going to break down muscle too. God forbid we stimulate that most important muscle, our brain.
OK, enough. On to the training injuries. Back in the early days, when you pulled a muscle or strained something, a day or two would go by and you would be as good as new. No ice, no anti-inflammatories, no rest. Well, things are slightly different now. And I’m only 37, but have been training seriously for over 18 years. The training does begin to take a toll on the body. I began my hard training again in late January. Normally I would begin in mid-December, but my Christmas present to myself of having my appendix removed two days after Christmas prohibited me from beginning until late January. Well in the past three months, I’ve had tightness in the right rear delt due to scar tissue build-up from a previous injury, right forearm strain, and the newest one, a strain in the right vastus lateralis this past leg day doing hack squats. Three months into training and three injuries to boot. At this rate, I figure I’ve only got nine more injuries left if I can keep my schedule going. What can you do, that’s the fine line you walk when you push yourself. You sometimes go a little to hard and you chalk up another to the list. But you know what, I still love this sport. I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do when I reach my 50’s. When bodybuilding is in your blood, it’s tough to let it go. I thank God everyday that I don’t have to think about that for now.
Enough for the night. Love and peace to all and happy training. I’m out.
djquad103