Author: davidpwahr

My workout and diet needed a kick start so I’m now involved in a little friendly competition with not one friend, but two.

I’ve had a long standing competition with a colleague who I see 2 – 3 times a year. Basically, we take a few key measurements (waist, chest, arms, weight) and then see who can improve the most between meetings. Well, we’ve both slacked off a bit over the last couple so I got the idea that if two of us competing is good, three is better. Enter my one time lifting partner, long time inspiration, and brother-in-law.

Interestingly, he (the bro-in-law) has the potential to be the largest of us as he’s the tallest (6’1″ ) and to my knowledge has actually been the biggest – with a nearly 49 inch chest and 18.5 inch arms (solid) at one point.  My friend is a little shorter – six foot – but also can get pretty big in the arms and chest. Me, I’m the shortest at 5’11” (if I stretch and in the morning) and am the only one who has never gotten his arms over that 18″ mark (yet).

This time out though my focus is a little different. In the past I’ve been keen on building the biceps and chest. Now, I’m focusing on getting the waist down since I learned that at this moment my brother-in-law and I are now the same weight, have the same size chest, and there’s less than a quarter inch in our respective arm size. In other words, except for height, we are right now about equal. His waist though is smaller which I think gives him an overall “strong” look while I look mostly just fat. Of course, this may also be my best chance to build my arms larger than his….hmmmm. Decisions, decisions. Perhaps I need to go for both?

Anyone care to join us?

Just a brief updated: I survived my 5K this morning and did not finish last either overall or in my age group (hurray).

Next year I’m aiming to improve my time some as I move into a different age group and based on this year’s times I would have placed 3rd in that group. So now I’ve got a little more motivation and a realistic goal. The overall winner came in at about 15 minutes – and I know that’s not going to happen (he ran about a 5 minute mile).

Onward!

So, a few months ago I signed up to run in a 5K which is held in my home town – and oddly enough in Los Angeles as well – called the Rose Run (more info at http://www.theroserun.com). It’s for cancer research which is a cause I whole heartedly support since in the past three years my father, mother, and sister were all diagnosed with various cancers (I supported funding for research before as well, just not as earnestly). My intention at the time I signed up was, of course, to train all out for the event. But, as so often happens with me it seems, my good intentions were for naught and now the date is quickly approaching and I’m afraid that not only won’t I break my previous time but that I’ll have trouble finishing the race. It will be a little embarrassing because a good friend, who regularly runs marathons, will also be running in the race as well. Don’t worry – I will still show up and “do it” as Nike urges and since it’s for a good cause I’m not really to concerned about my time anyway.

So why do I bring this up you ask? Well, it occurs to me that though I set a goal for myself I failed (or will fail) because I really did not take the goal seriously. I think that this is a trap that many of us may fall into with our training. We say “I’m going to get in shape” or “I’m going to be huge” or “I want to be ripped” or whatever but with out a definite and specific end in mind or a plan to get there. What’s more is that we are often unrealistic in our expectations. For example, if I wanted to do well in this 5K I should have started training months ago during the dead of winter. I remember back in my early lifting days I would somehow have in my head that I could work out hard for a couple weeks and I’d have to start buying new shirts. Ours is a lifestyle of patience. Biceps don’t grow overnight (well, they kind of do along with other muscles but not very quickly) and races aren’t won the week before. Fitness is a lot of small activities and commitments which add up to big changes in months and years not in days and weeks.

How many people have started a training program only to quit in a couple weeks because they weren’t seeing results? Then blame genetics or some factor outside their control for failing. News flash folks – genetics comes into play only at the elite levels of any given sport. We maybe can’t all be Mr. Olympia but we can all be a whole lot fitter than we are today and certainly fitter than the guy chowing down on Fritos and watching TV all weekend.

So, join me in getting out there and just doing it!

It’s been a while since I’ve added a new blog entry, so I thought I better add one before I forget how!

Nothing exciting to add, just some more of the usual I’m afraid, but the past few months have been okay for me but not great health-wise and workout wise. I’m mostly back to normal life since the passing of my father on Christmas Day (you never really recover fully from the loss of a family member but I’m coping better now) and I’ve kept busy with my theatre. I just finished playing “Big Daddy” in Tennessee William’s “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” One of the most demanding roles I’ve tackled – even though I’m still more than a decade to young for the part – and one of the most gratifying in many ways. Great cast mates and the opportunity to work off some “off stage” aggression and depression. Audiences seemed to enjoy the performance and I was even recognized while out a week later (fans, you gotta love them).

Unfortunately, I’ve used theatre as an excuse to stay away from the gym – after all “Big Daddy” doesn’t need to be thin – but that’s past now. I’m busy with work and family activities but now is time to start training for another 5K this summer. I still do my tap dancing once a week but I’ll need more cardio to get my time down from my last effort two years ago (has it really been that long? Yes!).

Looking to drop about 20 lbs this summer and actually add some muscle back to this old frame. Wish me luck! I hope everyone else is reaching their goals.

Onward!

Okay, to say that I’ve been slacking lately would be an understatement. I’ve had a rough fall and winter emotionally (my father passed away on Christmas day following a several month battle with cancer) and otherwise. I’ve kept my self to busy doing “things” and not really focusing on any one thing. Naturally, based on my old habits, exercise and fitness fell to the wayside. The last couple of months, my diet has taken a definite down turn as well. I don’t know if it’s the cold, snow, or combination thereof, but frankly I haven’t cared about much of anything for well over two months now (I’m sure that Dad’s passing was a huge factor and on top of it my entire family seems to be susceptible to clinical depression).

So, this week while at a work conference I run into a friend who has always been in great shape and he’s finding some difficulty staying motivated as well (though from my perspective he’s still in good shape – big solid arms, chest larger than his waist, broad shoulders, etc.) so we renewed an old competition to see who can make the most progress to reaching former “glory” before our next meeting in June. He actually has the stats we recorded from the last time we had a friendly wager and we are going to use those as our goal. Of course, this will mean recording some probably depressing stats (I’m afraid to measure my waist and to find out how much I’ve lost in the arms and chest) but enough is enough!

I realize that I may not improve as quickly as I used to back in my 30s or 40s but I’m still pretty pain free without arthritis and other joint problems (not counting my Crohn’s which has been mercifully quiet for some time now – knock wood) so I should do okay even though my friend is 9 years younger. He’s the father of an active 7 year old son though so he has some scheduling issues which I don’t have.

Anyway, wish me luck! I hope I can show the young whippersnapper that the old man still has it.

Onward and upward!

Okay, so after a pretty long and busy couple days -I had to wake up at 3:30 AM to catch a flight this morning after my flight home was canceled yesterday evening- I finally got around to using some of my new found motivation to take a few stats.

First, and the biggest surprise, though my weight was up my bodyfat was way down. Some of this is because I weighed myself after I had been up a few hours and I think that when I’m properly hydrated my bodyfat registers lower than when I first wake up in the morning. But, I’m going to take this as a good sign anyway because I can!

The rest of my stats were not as encouraging. My waistline has hit an all time high, but my chest is still a couple inches bigger. However, that’s probably also due to too much fat. Arms still feel hard but I’ve lost some ground, not as much as I thought, by the way I still measure my arms flexed and not unflexed as the video says I should. Trust me, when someone says that they have 19″ arms they aren’t measuring unflexed unless they are truly obese! I’ll need some help to get my shoulder measurements and my calves are actually significantly larger but still hard and defined. No doubt from carrying all the weight around from my gut!

So, my work is cut out for me but I know I can make big improvements if I just keep my head in the game and the doughnuts out of my mouth!

Onward and upward!

While I’m in a writing mood, here are a few random observations from my recent travels through Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and an unexpected night in North Carolina. In no particular order:

Am I getting shorter or is everyone else getting taller? I keep reading about how Americans are not getting taller but you couldn’t prove it by me. At just under 6 feet tall I used to look down at people but I find myself looking up more and more…

I seem to recall Mississippi being the fattest state in the nation once upon a time – well the folks in Louisiana are certainly giving them a run (or a waddle) for the title!

Okay, in 2009 the fattest states were (1 – 10):
1. Mississippi
2. Alabama
3. West Virginia
4. Tennessee
5. South Carolina
6. Oklahoma
7. Kentucky
8. Louisiana
9. Michigan
10. (Tie) Arkansas and Ohio

In an odd coincidence my travels this past week took me through  9 of the above states (I didn’t go to Oklahoma or West Virginia).

Though the above states are the fattest I noticed in all of the states I went through that it seems most people are either fat or in good shape. There seems to be less of a middle ground or average shape anymore.

Women appeared to me to be getting fatter than men on average. I know this sounds sexist but it’s just an observation. True, I may not notice fat men as much as I do fat women since I’m a “large boned” man myself.

Hotels still have a long way to go when it comes to fitness centers. One treadmill and a couple 5 lb weights does not constitute a “fitness center.” It’s barely constitutes a fitness room or space.

Is it any wonder that people don’t walk anymore? Our business areas are in serious need of sidewalks. If you venture out of your hotel on foot you are almost forced to walk in the road it seems.

I wonder if we as a nation would walk more if we just insisted on sidewalks in our communities?

Oops, more sidewalks would mean higher taxes so that’s not going to happen anytime soon.

Are there more sidewalks in Europe, Canada, and Japan? Places that are all much “thinner” than the US.

By the way, it appears that the US is no longer the fattest nation. Mexico is now number 1.

Canada isn’t even on the UN’s top 25 fattest list by the way.

Maybe that’s why they won the Olympic hockey games (too soon?).

Speaking of the Olympics, why is it that whenever I turn on curling I’m always a little disappointed that I don’t see people lifting weights?

I used to be able to curl about 125 pounds. Wonder if I’ll be able to get back to that…

I’ve noticed that some guys, who have muscle to start with, will gain a little fat and actually look more muscular.

I’ve also noticed that some guys must mistake fat for muscle when they buy their shirts. Buying one (two?) sizes smaller only works if you are fairly shredded. Otherwise you just end up emphasizing the wrong bulges.

Same rule for pants by the way guys…sheesh, can jeans get any skinnier?

Women, the “muffin top” is not attractive unless it’s on an actual muffin.

Cornbread in the south always seems to be too dry.

Sweet tea is a treat enjoyed best in small doses.

Gibson’s Donuts in Memphis is a sinful delight – best glazed doughnut I’ve ever had. It’s a good thing that there isn’t one by my home!

Do men with big, high peaked biceps appreciate what they have? Or do they just think the rest of us aren’t working out hard enough.

And be honest guys, if you could grow just one part of your body no actual muscle would make the cut…

We had an interesting ice breaker where the room was split based on preferences (dogs vs. cats, morning vs. evening, etc.). When the question was who would rather be a few inches taller or a few inches shorter only a couple people went to the shorter side. Even the tallest men would rather be taller than shorter.

I’d like to be taller, too. But that boat sailed in my early teens. I was the tallest kid in my class through 6th grade. Then everyone else caught up. This may be why I want to be taller today.

That and the fact that I’m one of the shortest of my cousins on my father’s side of the family (male or female).

I wonder how many people actually read my ramblings? Leave a comment and let me know!

 

Ever feel like you should do something but you don’t really have a reason to do it? That’s how I feel about blogging today. It’s been a long while since I’ve had anything to post about and since my last health “scare” turned out to be nothing to really worry about – just annoying as all get out – life has been moving along at a rapid but uninteresting pace for me.

Oh sure, there has been a great trip to Southern California where I got time to attend a conference, visit with friends, see family, and go to the popular tourist spots but that’s been the highlight of the past couple months. Workouts are sporadic (no one’s fault but my own) but my weight is stable at least and my health seems to be generally good (no more spontaneous bleeding from sensitive body parts at least).

So where do I find that extra “spark” or push to move things up a notch in my training these days? I don’t have any ideas right now. It seems that as one gets older he/she doesn’t fall for the old mind tricks anymore. Competing with other guys in the gym isn’t enough motivation, competing with myself is getting old. Anyone else know what I mean? Perhaps it’s just a case of the blues but I don’t think I’m depressed. I do find joy in a lot of my activities.

Eh, now I’m just rambling again. Anyway, if anyone has some motivating ideas I’d love to hear them. I hope all is going well with anyone who happens to read this post.

Onward!