SHAGGY68'S DORM ROOM

Four weeks. Doesn't seem like a very long time, and I was told it takes 30 days to form a new habit. It's a true statement. On day one I was just excited to get started. Four weeks later, I'm in my office thinking about todays workout. My mind is often consumed with thoughts of the next workout: Will I be able to make increases today? Will I do a new exercise, or work on a different area of the body? Will I eat correctly, take my supplements, and drink plenty of water? Is it like this for everybody?

I have not set any real "goals" to date. As a beginner, I do not want to discourage myself at this point by setting a goal that I cannot achieve. Ultimately, I just want to go from, well, "fat" to reasonably "fit and trim". No tape measures for me. Just the scale and the size of the clothes I wear. When I first decided it was time to lose weight, I tipped the scales at +/- 307 pounds, wearing size 42 jeans and 3X shirts. I got on the scale this morning at 204 pounds wearing size 36 jeans (loose and hopefully soon to be a 34! :)) and an XL shirt. That's my tape measure, and it keeps me going. I was at a club that I frequent this weekend. One of the staff, "Nick" pulled me off to the side so he could ask me how much I had lost and how I did it. That was pure encouragement and made my day.

This week my primary focus will be on eating properly. No skipped meals and no excuses. I still remember having my first protein shake. I told someone that I had not eaten for a day and a half or two. (going through a personal low moment) A few minutes later I was handed this foreign looking container and was told to drink its contents. So, to answer the question about how hard it is to prepare a shake? It's not, and will longer be an excuse.

The secondary focus will be on adding exercises to train lower body and working on the abs. The bulk of my workouts to date have been upper body. I have seen increases in lifted weight, and unless I'm losing my mind I am seeing some physical changes to my body. I also feel much better. I sleep when I go to bed. I can wake up easily and leave the house charged up and ready to go.

I have mangaged to allocate some time to the project cars as well. I have upped the work to be done on the Willy's each week and it's really starting to come along. Body work has begun and although it may take as many as 750 man hours to get the body perfect for paint, I still hope that the car can be finished in the next 6 months. We fired up the motor this weekend and it runs really strong; almost too strong. I ordered wheels and tires on Saturday, and had the interior guy come to start working on an estimate for a complete interior. The '57 has been at the shop for a week, and has only been a financial burden since its arrival. Lots of parts ordered, and a basic plan for its "rebirth" has been formed.

I did learn a valuable lesson during a workout this week. Always remember to remove jewelry and watches. I forgot to remove my watch on Wednesday and the band was accidentally crushed while changing plates on the bench press. A costly error and one I won't soon forget.

As always, thanks for reading and sharing your stories and your great responses and help in the forum. If knowledege is power then we are all stronger from RA.

Best wishes to all for a great and productive week!