Zohak's Journal

[spenta_armighty]

I want to start working out and enter competitions someday. It would be fun to have something to work towards; a competition would keep me motivated a focused. The only problem is that I live in such a backwoods place that I’m not sure I could find bodybuilding competitions close to me. Anyway, competitions are a little too much in the future. I’m really puny, 110 pounds or so and 5ft6in tall. I want to take pictures of myself now so that when I look like Ms. Olympia I can laugh at myself!

I waited to register for classes until the last second and now all the seats in the weightlifting class are taken. I’m sad. I can still go to the university gym, so whatever. Classes suck anyway; I’d be around a bunch of really strong guys and they’d all laugh at me. I'm not sure if I should go to the gym or try this from home.

I went to walmart today and got some chocolate protein drink. I will drink it everyday and take my multivitamins. I’m excited about getting to the point where people do a double take when they look at my arms. I have a feeling it’s not going to be easy for me because I don’t eat that much and it’s going to be hard for me to gain weight. Wish me luck! I’ve worked out an exercise program, but I need to fine tune it.

[spenta_armighty]

I have yet to mix up my protein drink, but I took a taste of the powder and it seems good! I’m never going to look like Ms. Olympia at this rate. :( I wish my life wasn't so crazy! There is tons of stuff going on, dogs needing to go to the vet, registering for classes, tiling the kitchen floor, horse’s hooves needing to be filed every other day, crazyness at work, lawn growing up to my knees, putting up more fence so my neighbors won’t shoot me, tractor tire losing air pressure, etc, etc the list never ends. I swear my to do list is two pages long; I have it typed out so I can refer to it every weekend. Sometimes the frenetic pace makes me want to don my sombrero and find a tree to sleep under. I’ve found the time to do a few things to keep up my resolution.

Here's my progress so far:

1. I found a great gym and decided to be brave and sign up because I’m too poor to buy my own gym. I hope I don't feel awkward exercising in front of other people. I'm scared that I'll have bad gym etiquette because I’ve never been in one before. Any advice? I took a look around and all the machines and hard bodies got me a little intimidated. I’m so skinny and weak! I don’t even know how to use most of those gizmos.

2. I happily shopped for gym clothes and felt much better; it got me into the spirit of it. I got new sneakers, cute tops and little shorts. I’m going to look just like a newbie with all squeaky clean, goofily matching stuff.

Next week will be my big day, my first real workout!

[Holly~C]

Well congrats on making the first steps to a new you, hope to read more in the future. When I first started working out in a gym I was so intimidated but pushed through and just did it. The people who work at the gym are very knowledgable and would love to help you out. My gym like many had trainers who will set aside time ESPECIALLY for newbies to teach you the ropes. Be open to critiques, they can only help you and don't take it to personally. After a few times there you will get more comfortable and know a few people maybe. Don't be afraid to say hey I'm new, CAN YOU HELP ME! It is hard for people to ask for help, but if you do you will get much better results and be happier about what you are doing....Remember EVERYONE was a newbie at some point, they didn't just walk in there like that. Just worry about yourself and what your doing. Max your time and don't worry about everyone else, they are there to do their thing and you yours!!!!

[spenta_armighty]

Thank you for your response! It's true; everyone who does this is new at some point!
I wish I’d read your kind words before I went to the gym. Today was my first day there. I was planning to go on Monday, but my cat had to be put to sleep. I cried a lot and didn’t feel like doing anything. He was seventeen years old and his kidneys couldn’t work any more.

I used my time today to try to familiarize myself with some of the machines. I have a book at home that shows how to use the equipment; I’d better take a look at that. I would like to list the machines I worked on, but I don’t remember what they were called. I’m going to use a little book and keep track. Even though I really didn’t do much, I feel super tired! I hope I hurt tomorrow!

I weighed myself a few days ago and I’m 112 pounds and I think I’m 5ft6in tall. I want to work on my menu, but it's so hard! I never have time to eat and I usually skip my lunch. Here's my usual:
Breakfast: coffee with cream and sugar, homemade bread with soy, oats, flax seed and other flours, three slices of swiss and some ham slices
Lunch:
chocolate milk
1 cup of yogurt
some cottage cheese
1 cup of fruits (if I remember)
Dinner:
1beer, probably some wine
dried fruits
whatever else I find in the refrigerator
maybe I’ll eat some rice or tuna fish

Maybe I should eat more? I want to eat the right kinds of things. As soon as I figure out what will be best for me I'll know what to shop for.

[spenta_armighty]

I just got back from the gym again. Today was horrible. I looked forward to my work out all last night, but then when I got there today it seemed like a football team or two was working out. I looked like such a moron bumbling around with the machines while these high-intensity dudes whirled through their routines. I didn’t make eye contact with anyone except this Asian guy who seemed furious. I didn’t mean to look at him but he kept slamming the weights. Folks kept coming over to where I was and I thought they wanted to use the machines so I’d go somewhere else. I quit a little early and now I’m mad at myself. I can’t wait till I own that gym; I’ll walk around and make mean faces at everyone. This weekend I don’t care if the farm rots, I’m going to look at those books and figure out how to use the machines. I’m also going to make a strict schedule so I can look like those people.

I messed up bad at my job too; I feel terrible. I don’t want my boss to find out.

[freakeefranky]

hi welcome n good luck...sorry that u had a rough day at the gym....don't let that make u lose sight of ur goals. u'll be a lean ,mean ,fighting machine if u just stay focused n dedicated!!!

[spenta_armighty]

I’m glad I hung in there and went to the gym again! Today was totally different from Friday. I prepared a workout routine; it could use some refining but at least I have one and it’s using machines I like. I plan to re-examine my routine as soon as I’m more familiar with what works for me. I’m going to keep better track in the future, but here’s basically what I did.

Leg extensions: 10-12 reps at 40 pounds 4 times
Leg bicep curls: 10-12 reps at 40 pounds 4 times
Leg press: 16 reps at 60 pounds 4 times
Calf raises: 12 reps at 20 pounds 2 times

I didn’t have time to finish my calf raises, or to do any crunches, but I’m going to try to do the crunches before I go to bed.

In the morning I did 25 minutes of cardio, but I thought I could have gone faster and tried harder. At 5:30am it’s hard to be enthusiastic. I’ll do better tomorrow. I’m looking forward to my workout!

I still need to work on my menu plan.

[vanessa40]

Hi...welcome to the forum.. :) :)
I know how you feel about the gym..back when i use to go i felt the same way..the more you go the better it will get..you keep it up and one day you will own the gym..hope you are having a great day.. i'll be cheering for you..

Vanessa

[spenta_armighty]

I’m tired! I could fall asleep if I put my head down on my desk. My work out was wimpy as hell, but I’m still exhausted. I think if I concentrated on my diet more I’d be more energized. Here’s what I did at the gym today.

Chest flies 4 sets of 8 at 10 pounds - (pathetic)

Lat pull down machine
4 sets of 8-6 reps 40 pounds

Machine rows
4 sets of 8-6 reps (can’t remember the weight I used)

Abs – 2 sets of 25

I wanted to do more on my abs but I didn’t have time. I also wanted to work on my lower back and my Trapezius muscles.
In the morning I hauled my carcass out of bed and worked out like a demon on that cardio machine. I did 25 minutes, but much more energetically than yesterday.