My Journal

AM:
hack squats
90-12
180-12
270-10,10,10

Bench press
135-1,10
185-5
205-3
225-2,1

30 min elliptical machine

PM:
30 min elliptical machine

Crazy day!

So today I woke up 20 minutes earlier than I needed to so I just got up and started my morning. I was out of the house extra early and remembered I needed to get gas since my fuel light was on in my truck yesterday. I pull in no problem since it is 4am. I am pumping gas and another car drives by slowly on the main street and turns at the corner but does not pull into the pumps or the parking area. The car has a driver and 2 passengers. The 2 guys get out and the one walks to the corner of the gas station store section and sets his back pack down and starts rummaging through it. The other guy keeps walking between the driver and the guy at the corner of the building. The second guy is hard to keep track of since the pumps are partially blocking my view. Now the dude at the corner picks up hi bag and starts walking to me. At this point I have my hand in my pocket gripping my pocket pistol because I believe I am about to be robbed. Guy gets fairly close and say “Hey man can I catch a ride with you?” I tell him “Nah” and he looks at me and starts to turn away and says “Stuck up motha fucka”. I watch him as he goes into the store portion of the gas station and moved to the back of the store farthest away from the clerk. At this point I think I am about to witness an armed robbery so I stop pumping gas, get in my truck and pull out onto the main road. As I do this the car that was sitting at the corner of the store drives off. I never saw where the other guy that got out of the car ended up at. I go to the gym and start my workout. I am not there for more than 5 minutes and and an Arlington County police officer walks in wearing a tactical vest and is looking around. I am thinking Oh crap the place did get robbed and I did not do anything or even call the police with a suspicion. I am not interested in being the crazy guy that calls the police all the time and it turns out to be nothing, but damn the cop is here. He speaks with the manager for 2 minutes and leaves. After the gym I drove past the gas station and all was well. If something had happened the place would have been closed for at least a couple hours so all was good. But was it really? The guy that got out of the car was trying to get me to drive him somewhere without even knowing where I was going. His buddy was still there in the car when he asked me for a ride. Very strange. I am glad I live in a place where it is OK to have a CCW permit. There is a nice piece of mind knowing anyone can keep themselves safe if bad things happen.

AM:
50 min elliptical machine

PM:
30 min elliptical machine

Today was an ordinary Thursday. Work was work and I managed to be motivated to go to the gym after work! Good for me. Now I need to see if I can make this a habit again. I think I will enjoy the benefits of doubling down as that was good for the weight loss. A little focus could go a long way.

AM:
45 min elliptical machine

I got sick. I caught a cold. I hope it is only a cold. I hope I can get some sleep tonight. My coworker carried the heavy loads today and I did my online training today. I was feeling really slow and breathing hard from small efforts like walking around. The congestion is kicking my butt. I hope tomorrow will be a better day.

AM:
45 min elliptical machine

PM:
shoveled some snow

Today was filled with adventure, learning and the love of two kitties! OK slight exaggeration, the was little adventure to be had, I don’t remember learning anything but I did nap on the couch as the cats slept so there is that going for me. I am also getting sick. I have a cold starting and today it kicked into high gear. I was out in lala land while watching TV on the couch. Pandora climbed on me and fell asleep as I did so that was the high light of the day. That and it snowed so I had the day off.

I did contact family in Texas to let them know we would be passing through and would like to meet for a lunch or dinner. They have invited us to stay a night or two which is really nice of them. We might stay a night. It will be cool to see them since it has been many years. Maybe that was the adventure part. the thinking about the future adventure.

AM:
hack squats
90-12
180-12
270-12
180-12,12,12

Barbell over head press
65-10,10,10,10

machine shoulder press
3 sets

cable bench press
4 sets

Cable butterflies
3 sets

Tri-s
50-20
60-10
70-10
60-10

Today was a fairly warm day so we headed out for another hike. We went to Scotts nature Preserve and hiked down to the river and back up. Along the way we say what looked like a trail so we checked it out. We hiked around not really knowing where we were going of if we were getting anywhere. Both ways we went dead ended but one way had a cool view of the river through the trees. Today was great. On a side note it is raining here in VA. The DC government earlier today already declared a state of emergency for the snow that might hit the area. Parking restrictions on snow routes take effect 7 am. The Fed Gov has also announced it is closed tomorrow. Mind you it has not dropped a single snow flake yet.

AM:
45 min elliptical machine

PM:
1 hour hike.

Today I made it to the gym with the intentions of weightlifting. The place was packed so I just did some cardio instead. Later in the day once my wife was going crazy from cabin fever we headed out to FT. Marcy park and did some hiking. We were out there for a little over an hour and we happy to be out. My knee did great so I am happy.

Here I am trying to “Conceal carry” a canon. I think it is too big and folks would know I had a weapon, Lol!

The canons were cool to see!

We also saw some neat looking fungus:

And here is my honey with kitties this AM before our adventure.

And I don’t remember if I mentioned it yesterday or not but I went to work with my gym shows on. I never do that. I did not consciously choose to do that, but I sure did wear them in. I made it to 9 am before my co-worker asked me if I got new sneakers. I said no why? then he says I never saw you wear those to work before. I look down and BAM! I punked myself.

AM:
bench press
135-20
185-5
205-3
185-5

Leg press
180-20
270-20
360-20,20

2 sets machine shoulder press
2 sets machine butterflies
2 sets machine incline press

Tri’s
60-10,10,10

30 min walk on treadmill at incline

Work was an active day today. Dennis and I had to receive a shipment of 2 pallets of materials plus some conduit. The loading dock was jammed and and we were standing in the sub freezing temps for about 20 minutes. Then we got to carry all the materials in. FUN! NOT! But is was work and we did do it so all was good.

Since adding the supplements my knee has been feeling good. I think I am making progress. Life is good.

AM:
60 min elliptical machine.

PM:
20 min bike

So yesterday I picked up some Glucosamine, Chondroitin and MSN as a combined supplement and also picked up some DHEA supplement. I took a dose of them yesterday and today my knee was pain free all day! I don’t know if it was the placebo effect or if the stuff is working, but either way I don’t care, I am feeling good! I was already taking a glucosamine combo in the mornings but now I have added the evening dose plus the other supplement.

Tomorrow will be a test and so will this weekend.

AM:
Today I only did weights for my workout.

Leg press
180-15
270-15
360-15
450-15
540-15
450-15
360-15

Barbell over head press
65-10
85-6
95-5
65-10,10

Smith machine upright rows
95-10,10

machine shoulder press
3 sets

machine butterflies
3 sets

machine incline press
3 sets

This workout took 45 minutes to get through. I am going to add a full morning weight lifting session to my workouts each week. What I have been doing has not yielded me any real progress lately so it is time to change things up. My left knee is still bothering me and I needed to take advil today. If it wasn’t for our upcoming vacation in April I would be at the doctor already for this. I went to the Vitamin Shoppe and picked up some additional joint wellness suppliments so hopefully I will feel some of that kick in soon.