I recently met a new friend. The name is “Glucosamine Chondroitin“. I can’t say enough about this supplement.  It alleges to “promote joint mobility and flexibility“. I’ve seen commercials and marketing campaigns geared towards athletes and older people, with emphasis on alleviating knee pain. Well I’ve been taking GC for little over a week now and I have to say, halleilujah!!  I’ve felt no pain at all in my knees the morning after a workout.  At work, I sit behind a computer for hours at a time and when I get up, my knees usually ache and lock in place, especially if I get up too fast. I sometimes have to stand because my knees start to hurt from sitting too long. Not anymore. I have bounce again and the treadmill doesn’t hurt anymore. Years ago, I was diagnosed with a little arthritis around my kneecaps, so I know when I’m supposed to feel pain and stiffness. Nada, nothing.  Even the arms and shoulders feel better the day after a workout. No stiffness setting in anywhere.  Y’all don’t understand, sitting in a car too long was painful.  They are a little pricey, but well worth it. I can’t believe how good it feels not to walk like a rusty robot anymore.  Okay, enough……

The wife is also committed to working out, so it makes it much easier when both of us are on the same page. I noticed new faces at the gym and saw whole families come in with that “free week” workout coupon in hand. This one family of 5 was big, from the father to the pre teen son. Congratulations for them. The easy part is getting to the gym. The hardest part is to keep coming back, so kudos to them.  I saw a commercial for a new TLC channel reality series about an obese family struggling to lead a healthy lifestyle.  They’re all in excess of 300 lbs. I hope they find success with putting themselves out there for the public to see…..

Without further a-do

So, I got up this morning and felt confident that when I step on the scale, something positive would happen. The scale reflects I’m down 4 pounds (320 lbs). The main reason why I’m excited is because, the last 2 nights, I’d eaten a big plate of black beans and yellow rice with sausage and 2 orders of chicken fingers w/ a order of waffle fries from “Chik-fil-a”, the night before. My daily 1800 calories or less was working well, but it was the weekend and the Chik-fil-a restaurant is right outside of the gym and the aroma just did me in.

Still in all, I had no guilt, because my meals prior were small and I’m sure I had calories to spare, plus I worked out really good that whole week.  I’m not looking for big losses. A pound or two a week is good for me, as long as I can keep or build some muscle.  Still, 4 lbs blew me away.  I can honestly say that my workout routines aren’t sick and I’m not spending hours or forcing myself to spend hours at the gym. An hour and a half /6 days a week is good for me.  I took off today, so my diet is strict. I really felt like going to the gym, but I’ll chill and wait for tomorrow.

You know what else?

About 3 weeks or so ago, Walgreens had a sale on boxes of my favorite cookie, “Pecan Sandies”. They were 50 cents which was a steal, so I scurried over there from work @ around 3a.m., and bought like 3 boxes. Yo, I planned to tear into that $#*t as soon as I got back to the job, but was unable due to an assignment that was waiting for me when I got back. Oh well, so when I got home I put one box in my work bag and hid the rest in my closet, ’cause the wife will say “I thought you’re on a diet”.  3 weeks later, that box is still in my bag and the others are still in the closet. It’s become a symbol of my commitment to myself and my health. I look at it everytime I go to work and open my bag. No temptation at all!! Aaarghh………

Whatcha got to say (I mean, please feel free to leave a comment or suggestion:-)

I don’t know who said it, but that’s what I’ve been told by women over my lifetime.  So, I’m in the gym yesterday and I’m doing my usual treadmill thing. After 30 minutes I got bored and hopped off. While approaching the stairs to go downstairs to the weight machines, I glance to my right, which is where the elliptical machines are. I glance because I don’t want to stare at someone while they’re working out.  Many times I’ve approached the elliptical machines and wondered how to operate them, but was too manish to ask for assistance.

When I see someone approach an employee of the gym and ask a question, I notice that the employee hovers around and ultimatley pitches his services. Even if you say “No thanks”, they can be relentless. I understand that they have to make a living also, so I try to avoid them and not make eye contact. This happened to my wife just the other day. She wanted to know how to work a machine and along with the info, she received “the pitch”.

I don’t want to ask someone already on a machine to stop what they’re doing and give me some instructions. I don’t want to ask a passerby how to use it neither. I don’t want to make anyone lose their focus by sidetracking them with my simple question.  Lastly, I don’t want to spend 15 mins on one trying to figure it out, looking silly stopping and starting. Sounds like I have issues don’t it?

Sure looks like a good workout though…..

Leave a comment and tell me what you think………

So, Ive been looking for that home workout that I could do consistently here in my apartment. I use the resistance bands, but needed something for the lower body. I work the graveyard shift, so my sleep pattern is kinda crazy. I basically nap in the morning when I get off and nap again at around 7pm, until it’s time to go to work.  My wife usually goes to the track at the High School around 7pm because it’s not as hot outside. I would love to do that, but I have to get my rest before work, so I’m kinda stuck as far as cardio. We’re trying to cut cost, so we don’t belong to a gym and the treadmill at the apartment complex gym is always busted. I totally lack the motivation to go to a public park and walk after work, cause I’d be sleep driving there. The graveyard shift is rough!!! By the time I wake up around noon, it’s blazing hot here in Atlanta. Still in all, I’m gonna have to make the time to go out and do some cardio, but for the meanwhile, I discovered the “stability ball“. You know, that’s that big rubbery hippity hoppity ball you used to bounce on when you was a kid (at least back in the day), except this doesn’t have handles. I searched “Youtube” and found instructional videos on how to use the ball and different variations of exercises that I can do. Looks fairly easy.

I found out my ability to maintain stability is lacking. I’d roll off the ball. I’d slide off the ball. I’d go back to my computer and watch the videos again. I’d roll and slide off again and again. I don’t know why everthing’s so hard for me.  My daughter watches me and just cracks up.  I was able to do the crunches where you lay on your back with your legs up on the ball, looking like I fell off a chair and couldn’t get up. I also straighten out my legs with the back of my ankles up on the ball and do pelvic thrusts. I thought it looked kinda funny, but the next day, my hammys were tight and on fire. I’m going to conquer that stability thing, because I have to admit, you can get a good workout from the stability ball and the resistance bands.

Once I can get used to ball / bands, I’ll dust off the Tony Horton’s “10 Minute Trainer” or the “P90x” videos, or maybe even the “Hip Hop Abs” . I have a whole collection of videos that I don’t use. But again, baby steps. I gotta get my mind right in order to get my body tight. Hey, I like that. That just rolled off the tongue. Maybe that”ll be my catch phrase.

I’ll try to become more disciplined with what I eat. It’s a struggle, but I’m encouraged with the results so far. I have my 10 year old daughter for the summer and she’s not a big meat eater and loves veggies. I mean, she can eat a can of spinach like its ravioli’s. Maybe I can learn something from her because I don’t really have to worry about treating her to a lot of fast food restaurants.  She’s satisfied with a big plate of salad. I’m not ready for that, but remember, “baby steps”. I’ll get there. I try to follow other online blogs (Israel) or forums  (OD) just to give myself  that extra push.  It’s good to know that you’re not alone in your struggles and that others have found success through hard work and perseverance. My workout has slacked a little, so I’ve got to get busy with that too…