Q&A

Good day. As a side note I wanted to state that the "Day by Day" blog titling routine I used to commit to will obviously no longer be used, since I effectively went from Day 9 to Day 251. Lol *shrug* Thanx Graduate School.

I wanted to answer a few questions I figured old/new readers may have about me and this mini endeavor of a blog. If I think of any more or if someone who isn't myself actually asks a question (ooo, the chance of actual social interaction), I will try my hardest to add it into this post. I may also just forget completely and go fly kites and eat a French toast stick instead, but let's hope for the former over the latter. =D

Q: What pushed you to go back to writing on ya blog?
A: At its core, I needed to vent. The topic this blog discusses is not only a very sensitive issue for me but a topic that when discussed with others can go south veeeeery easily. I suppose the lesson is that it's hard to continuously discuss the issue of your body with friends/associates without eventually coming across as self-indulgent, narcissistic, conceited, fishing for compliments, etc. Itll be either that or just those people will go tired talking over a topic that doesn't wholly involve them. Mix that with the fact that compared to the extremes of body size/shape, I'm not that bad in comparison.
I've never been one to hide or discuss my illogical self-image issues, but issues like that (like phobias and etc) don't often need to carry ration in its pocket. So I came to the blog to be able to say how I feel about things involving my physical being, to keep track of progress, exercises, and overall just have an avenue to hopefully tell me little story of the lil black boy that could and hope to inspire others.

Q: What inspires you to get in shape and work out?
A: Ahh. The age old reason that's evolved over the years since HS but at it's core revolves under one word: acknowledgement. This base then spilts into 2 types of inspiration: positive and negative.

• Positive: Obviously I wanted a better body for having a better body.. I wanted to look better than "sloppy," I wanted to gain the energy to dance and do all that I used to do back in college, and just generally have a healthier body essentially since I'm getting older. I'm 24, which is tech mid-20s... it's sad to say but it really seems like your body goes on the decline from once you leave the age range of 18-22.
• Negative: ...Sigh. Honestly, it goes past acknowledgement and into recognition. One example would be a friend of my best friend who once made me feel like shit for my chubby stomach (mind you it was right after we ALL ate dinner) by pointing it out and messing with it.. When I said I just ate he felt the need to raise his shirt and show off his flat stomach to completely shut me up. *rolleyes* People like him, I wanted to shut up. Outside of "coming out on top," I wanted to be viewed as powerful... you know when you see a dude and youre like "Damn, that's a maaaaan." or "Geez, he looks like he'd kill with one punch.." or the very simply "*droooooooool*" <--- That's what I want. I (very superficially) wanna get a hot body, join the "Beautiful People Club" and get into parties free and hang with people and celebrities and get ahead in life due to having a hot body to add onto my stellar personality. *shrug* You can judge but everyone has thoughts similar to this.. I'm just more aware and more able to own up to it.

Q: Um, WTF, dude! Your body is fuckin' hot! WHY are you so hard on yourself?

A: Honestly, as much as I say I work out to be hawt and look good in comparison to OTHER people's views, I'm often not pleased solely because of how I see myself. I wont lie, I've had many people tell me that I look fine as is, I dont need to change, etc. And for some reason, I gracefully accept the compliment and giggle as I watch said compliment land gracefully on my deaf-ass ear (Editors Note: "to have your words 'fall on deaf ears' means to essentially not to wholly listened to, or to be ignored/written off).

I dont plan on going in depth into the cause of these body image issues... to save YOU the time, but know that I'm well aware of the mental strife I deal with, but just know I'm positively working towards something to help fight these "demons." ...it's not like it's BAD to work out, and I KNOW I do NOT wanna be one of those juicehead-muscle body (but actually fat) boy. just wanna be fit and lean with tight muscles/cuts and a prominent upper body.

Q: So you cut out so much food, what DO you eat?

A: ...Nothing. I'd be lying if I said I always get 3 meals per day. Shit, there HAVE been moments where I only ate ONE meal in a day. But my "nutrition" is a slow work in progress. I also dont eat 100% healthy like I need to, just due to a lack of time to cook lunch/dinner. I will say this... I eat fast food, but I try to find things on the menu that are healthy.. ie. Salads, Simple Snacks (Apples, etc.), Light fried treats (nuggets, etc), and other things. I don't drink soda as much anymore.. I've reduced it effectively by 90%... although I'm trying HARD to slowly but surely reduce my juice intake (I love my my juices.. =[ ...Fruit Punch, Orangeade, Tropical Punch, Grapeade.. *licks lips* God..) Don't think that you need to cut out all foods you love. Just REDUCE it, eat in MODERATION, and be VERY aware of the TIMING of your meals!

I will add more as they come to me....

<insert witty line to represent rebirth and new beginnings here>

I think the title says not only how I feel about writing in this blog, but how CLICHE those feelings are. I couldve titled it something like "Rebirth" or "A Fresh Start" or some shit, but I feel in doing so plays up the cheesy cliche of: *flashes cape and smiles like a superhero* "Sorry to keep you waiting, but I'm back with a new resolve! Let's fight evil again!" and so on... *blech* So I left the title for you to name: "Another Try," "Hit The Reset Button," "The Adventures of Captain Blueberry Pancakes!" (my personal favorite), whatever you choose. We already know the meaning behind it, which is more important.

I'm not sure how long I've been gone from this blog. I assume at least since September. I started Graduate school in Sept 09, which effecitively kidnapped me from this blog and proceeded to rape me, project after project. There was so lube, I know that much. Regardless, somehow, I've found a way to still be able to work out, do school, and work my part time job (see: Capricorn). A lot has changed since we last where here. If memory serves me I was slim yet sloppy with a severe pudgy tummy due to west Indian genes I cannot escape. (For those who don't know, it's a common battle for west Indians. We could be skinny as Kate Moss or T.I. and still have a round pudgy tummy.) That was certainly THEN. To keep us on the same page, here is a pic of how I look currently:


This is a picture of the person writing this blog: Me. ...Hi. Waddup! Anyway, I'm currently in pretty fuckin good shape although I'm nowhere near my set goals (which I'll get into). Even though I say much has changed since I last wrote here, most of this physical change started only some months ago, in Feb '10. To answer what I did to get in such a way, I'll break down my methods seperately:

• Wii-Fit did NOT save my life: Essentially this blog now has an invalid title. Wii-Fit did not give me this body. The gym did, simply put. In no way do I claim that Wii Fit doesn't work, although for those who are athletic to a certain degree, Nintendo's charming product will not help bare concrete results unless you play 24hours a day and add methods towards an effect of added resistance to the Wii workouts. I WILL say though: That Rhythm KungFu game is the business. =D

• My Million-Dollar Body Methods: I'm probably the only person to make names and routines and methods as often as I work out. Every week I have a no idea or plan or regiment. Brace yourself as you review my ridiculousness:

1. Total Random Layout (TRL): I often found myself plateauing easily when working out, mainly due to myself sticking with a same routine on safe weights (aka weights I can do. ie. 30-45lbs.) In efforts to fix this, I decide that in every session I'd hit random machines. Did cable cross on Monday? Then do the chest fly on Tuesday! Then pushups Wednesday. Etc. Now as time as passed, the bench is still a mainstay with each workout, but I will switch between incline, decline, norrmal, and champagnes. In addition by swithcing up not only exercises but the weights used, my body is always doing a new action so it won't get comfortable.

2. Doing The Least/Manorexia: I DO NOT ENDORSE REAL ANOREXIA. That being said, this started when I spent $12 on White Castle and only ate $8 dollars worth. I had made a habit of not only buying huge meals and forcing it on myself, but these meals were often Right before bed, aka a BIG no no. It's no wonder I had a pudgy stomach. So I essentially cute out night meals (if I missed eating before bed and was hungry, OH WELL) and made it so that I bought the LEAST AMOUNT possible when eating. I figured that if I wanted more, I'll just buy more and it'll help towards having more meals but in smaller portions. =D I will not lie, the first 3 weeks of this are the hardest and I had moments where I'd "cut ya head bald for some Reeses," But I thankfully made it through and now my ratings have greatly reduced compared to 2009.

<<OMG THERES A HORNET ON THIS L TRAIN!! RUN!!!!!!! AHH!! omg it's MOVING!!!! Omg, stay calm, stay calm, continue the blog... Shit I lost it. Where the fuck is it??? Omg I look like the only crackhead, jerking around in paranoia!!!! ...... Ok I'm out the train, safe. Where was I?>>>

3. National Body Embargo (NBE): this actually starts tomorrow and it's "national" cause invited others to join in with me. Essentially it's a restriction where you may NOT eat past 10pm nor can you have any juices, just water/tea/diet oxygen. The goal is to finalize the goal of no night eating and since juices = sugar = fat = Jesus won't love you, it has to GO too. Besides, I could use more water in my life.

Those are the current regimes in place as of now and I wanna say, that's it's been working. As proof here are some pics as of today, 4/25/10:

(Flexed, of course)

(Not Flexed.)

(side view, flexed)

(side view, unflexed)

(shaky camera trade-ish concave chest pic.... Thing)

If we compare the pictures of olde, the level of pudge currently went down. Especially when fewer from the side. You barely see any difference there :) for today in particular, Im moreso proud of myself because I worked up to 60lbs dumbells. Usually I dabble in 30-45lbs, but I won't get better by just doing what's comfortable. I have to push myself!! So I essentially did 4 sets of bench pressing. 45, 50, 50, 55... And 4 sets of incline benching. 45, 50, 50. After those. I did 2 sets of 60lbs on normal bench. Proud. Also to be clear. Sets were reps of 13-20 and in between each lift I did other shit: lat bar, cable cross, dumbell lifts, barbell curls, pullups, etc. =D #accomplished My short term bench goal is to get to 75lbs on dumbells, like the big boys do. As a reference, my goals for short term are:

1. Beach body for Miami trip
2. Bench 75lbs dumbells
3. Perform front and/or side splits
4. Learn to hip roll and make a video.

(See: )

Well that's all I can say for now. I hope I can still try to inspire though. Although last time only 4 people max knew of this blog. Lol... here's one more pic:


#welcomeback