Not for its intended purpose

When I first assembed my Bowflex I realized that I wanted to do a chin up on what's referred to as the "Lat Tower".

On January 16th, 2005 I tried one chip up and completely failed. I never tried again because, really, I was a bit heavier and I didn't want to damage my equipment even before I really got the chance to use it and get in shape.

Over time I completely forgot that I had wanted to do a chip up.


I used my lat tower as a lat tower performing my "wide lat pulldowns", "narrow lat pulldowns" and "standing tricepts pushdowns".

7 months and 5 days later I remembered my failed chin up. I thought to myself "just once".

Much to my huge surprise I was able to pull myself into chin up position with next to no effort. I had done my first chin up and kept holding on.

I was giddy with pride at what seems to many like a small feat but I had never in my life been able to do this and it wasn't something I was practicing. It was something that simply "became" when I decided to make better use of my body.

The next day I made, Karla, my wife watch me as I performed chin ups. She told me she was stunned with the muscles revealed in my back and wanted to take a picture.

At this stage in my body's development I almost feel defensive. I'm certainly not huge by any stretch of the imagination. I do however think I look fit and healthy. And, when you consider where I came from, this is a big change.

Now, if you've been watching me over the course of the past few months you'll realize that I certainly haven't "popped". I don't think I'm genetically predisposed to get big muscle growth and it's something I work at very diligently for every pound of muscle I've put on but I believe all of the hard work has been worth it.

7 Months last Monday

My wife and I were talking last night. She mentioned that it was about a year ago that we got our treadmill and I noted it was about 7 months since I started my strength training routine.

My wife recently hurt her ankle while training for our 10k run in September so to keep her moving I've helped her assemble her own strength training schedule. She has had a lot of questions and is looking to me for answers (which makes me feel pretty smart!!). I'm certainly no exercise expert however I've had great results by developing my own plan and ignoring a lot of advice.

I've given up on "weight" as a metric to which I'm measuring my success. My weight has been floating around 165-172 for WEEKS. During this time, the tight shirts that I bought at the begininng of the summer to show off my new body have become loose and big. My belt is too big (again) and even my 34 inch shorts are on the big side.

Yesterday my wife mentioned the new definition in my pecks and recent growth spurt of my bicepts. I am very excited.

For anyone who was interested on exactly what my routine is it goes as follows:

I perform the listed exercises over 48 hours performing 2 sets of 12 reps at a weight that is challenging. I take 1 day off then start over. If for some reason I miss a day then I double up and do the whole thing in one day.

Bench Press
Chest Fly
Resisted Crunch

Wide Pull Down
Narrow Pull Down
Standing Tricept Push Down

Leg Extension
Standing Hip Extension

Standing Bicept Curl
Seated Lat Row
Tricept Kickback
Rear Delt Row
Lateral Raise

Shoulder Press
Non-Resisted Crunch
Trunk Rotation
French Press

Hotel gyms, running and love handles

Even while away on business I do make sure I get at least 30 minutes a day in the gym. They have a much better treadmill than I have at home so its a lot of fun to use theirs.

They also have a universal weight set. The kind where you change the weight using a pin that locks into place. The pulleys and cables pull of the weight and lift it in place.

I actually found this difficult much less enjoyable than my Bowflex. The workout wasn't nearly as smooth as what I'm used to which is surprising really. The only thing I'm really unclear about is why everything felt "heavier". I'm not sure my Power Rods are holding up since I couldn't lift as much weight as I normally do. Then again it was almost a billion degrees. I've noticed though that as my power rods get used their resistance seems to be wearing slightly.

I'm getting freaked about my 10K run. I ran 7K yesterday but I couldn't run the whole way. I had to stop a few times to walk and catch my breath. I did the 7K in about an hour which is decent considering it was my first time to go that far in 28 degree (celcius) weather. My wife did it like it was nothing (which I'm so proud of her for). She's comitted to running daily and it shows. She's impressed me! Me on the other hand...I was less impressive. Running in just one of the many ways I try to keep in shape but I'm mostly comitted to my strength training.

I followed up my run with my Bowflex routine and felt way better.

Lastly I think I've hit a new milestone. My wife asked me on Friday if my love handles had actually completed vanished. I had to respond "No" because they haven't. But they are actually quite small now. Although I'm getting used to seeing the different body in the mirror I still catch myself staring blankly in disbelief. I remember looking in the mirror a year ago saying "I wish that wasn't me." Now when I look in the mirror, I may not be perfect and I'm certainly no model but I'm proud of how I look and I like my new physique. I pushed me to continue...which I will.