The old ball and chain

Take a look at this picture:

What do you see?

If you said "a large cooler" you're right-

somewhat.

What I see is a toolbox.
A ticket on the slow moving train going to where I want to be.
When I move through this world I have this box, this burden. My ball. My chain.

It's hard getting on the bus, whacking other passengers in my wake. It's hard getting on the bart, but it's nice because this box doubles as a seat;it props me up- literally, and figuratively
It's filled with the nutritional goodness that keeps me honest.
Supplements in the front pocket, even room for a muscle mag in the back.
It's also a constant reminder that I am a bodybuilder.

People look at me, confused, and ask if I'm going on a picnic, hoping to poke fun at my dietary purse. Ya. That's right. I'm going on a picnic. Everyday.

Laugh it up mr. cheese doodles. Have another bagel, extra cream cheese, extra mediocrity.


It's a lot like a baby- I have to take it everywhere I go, and worry constantly any time I set it down. Sometimes it smells funny (thank you garlic/onions) and sometimes I wish I never had it (only sometimes though.)

Sometimes I wonder what'd be like to leave the house, no ball, no chain. Walk with just my hands in my pockets. I'd feel light on my toes. I'd feel off. They say that bodybuilding is a bug, and once it bites, you can never go back.
Ain't No Half Stepping.

When thirst strikes on the morning train I open it up and I can see my fellow passengers try to sneak a peek.
They see:
Tupperware. Water bottle. Protein Shaker.
I see:
Commitment. Pride. Dedication.

Week 10 Progress Pics

Last Week's Weight: 166.6 lbs

This Week: 165.0 lbs
Total Weight Loss to date: 19.5 lbs


Changed the lighting again- turned 1/2 lights off in my bathroom. I been working damn hard and wanted to show it. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Front Relaxed:

Rear Relaxed:
Front Double Bicep:
Back Double Biceps:
Side Triceps:
Abs/Thigh:
Most Musculars:

Patience.

I think I let this post get lost among the hodge podge of this blog, but it deserves to be revisited.

Look me in the eye,
It's ok if you're scared,
so am I.
But we're scared for different reasons.
I'm scared of what I won't be come-
And You're scared of what I could become.

Look at me
I wont let myself end
where I started.
I wont let myself finish
where I began.

I know what is within me,
even if you can't see it yet

Look me in the eyes
I have something more important than courage-
I have patience.

I will become what I know I am.

This piece moved me. Waiting. 16 weeks of preparation for one night.

10 minutes in the tanning booth.
60 minutes of pre-breakfast cardio.
10 seconds to calculate heart rate.
60 minutes of weight training.
15 seconds between sets.
60 minutes of evening cardio.
2.5 hours between meals.
3 minutes to steam the green beans.
5 minutes per side for top round.
20 minutes of posing practice.
30 seconds of holding each mandatory pose.
7 days between weigh ins and progress pictures.
7 days between cheat meals.
30-45 minutes to have that cheat meal brought to my table.
2 days in Fresno.
90 seconds on stage.
1 day in Hayward.
60 seconds on stage.

16 weeks from beginning to end.

All journeys begin with the first step.

I will become what I know I am.

Cardio

While I'm not the biggest fan of Jay cutler, i have to give him his props-- he puts in his work and he reaps the benefits of his reward.

Weight Update

Because I was home and didnt have access to my scale, i deferred to Tuesday where i'd have time let the cheat meal clear the system. I weighed in at 169.5 at my last show, after dropping water and whatnot so I'll definitely be leaner this go round...

Last Week's Weight: 167.4 lbs

This Week: 166.6 lbs
Total Weight Loss to date: 17.9 lbs

Funny chat

yokolove21 (4:19:26 PM): guy says drop the fatty sources

johnjcristobal (4:19:59 PM): so its chicken, shakes, and tilap

yokolove21 (4:20:13 PM): yee

johnjcristobal (4:21:00 PM): I'm gonna go straight shake for the last two weeks

johnjcristobal (4:21:06 PM): haha

yokolove21 (4:21:13 PM): why?

yokolove21 (4:21:15 PM): you'll die

johnjcristobal (4:21:32 PM): joke

yokolove21 (4:21:43 PM): dont play no games boy

johnjcristobal (4:22:07 PM): but I'll be mad shredded in that coffin

yokolove21 (4:22:29 PM): LOL you're a fool!

These sunglasses make your food look gross so you wont...

Nuff said.

I may need these in a few weeks when I lose my cheat meals and have to start dropping fats. Boy oh boy.

People at the gym I hate

Thanks to John, I think people may dislike me, see #1, LOL.

Week 9 Progress Pics

So I went home for Easter this weekend. John went home last weekend. He told me it totally threw his whole game off- boy was he right. I packed enough food, brought my cardio clothes, and didnt forget one supplement or anything, but it sure was hard. The bed I slept in threw me off, the bike I had to exercise on threw me off, heck even the gym I was trying to go to was closed. SoI had to take it to the track.

Hit the track, Jack.

AND I couldn't weigh myself but I was able to take pics, but I didnt get em all as it was an impromptu session, but the lighting was much MUCH more flattering and it felt good to see some progress esp when I've been seeing it in person, but those darn bathroom pics dont tell the whole truth, haha...

Back Double Bicep: So the sun is much more flattering than the soft glow of my bathroom lights. Here you can see the nice tie-ins between say my rear deltoids and my back. My skin is getting tighter as it's starting to look pulled, drum-tight, over the muscle of my back.

Random leg only shots: Some feathering of the tear-drop is also evident. My right leg is much more cut out than my left, ugh. Good vascularity in the calves.
Again more leg cuts, but really wanna bring out that line between the hams/thighs.
Lat Spread: Again skin tighter, back thicker than this time last year.

Side Triceps: Waist is small, more detail in thighs, face=bad haha

Abs Thigh: Much tighter int he abs, lower abdominal fat always stubborn, but with 7 weeks to go I think we'll be ok. Teardrop on thigh much more separated.

I had a cheat meal on saturday night so I'll probably weigh myself tomorrow morning to give an update on that number as all that garbage will be outta my system.

Look Me In The Eyes

Jordan was my first
And always will be
my greatest inspiration.
Always.

Bionic Man IS Coming

Artificial muscles that can charge your ipod! Here!

Temptation Day

I dunno what it is about today, but damn, temptation seemed to be around every corner.
First I walk into work to find this:
Some sort of delectable morning pastry with ooey gooey fruit filling, and glazed and chocolate donuts. I could just feel the cool fruit filling finding all of the empty spaces between my teeth, tongue and lips. And the donuts, the way the shell of the chocolate breaks and crumbles into your mouth as you sink in. My AM shake knocks that out.

Then we go to lunch at Red Robin. My protein burger was good. The endless basket of fries looked great, steak fries, nice and potato-ey, sprinkled with savory salt and pepper, fried to a golden brown hue. The burger was good enough.

Later I walk into the hall and the smell of popcorn imbues my every olfactory sensor. That's just great. Who's trying to get me to steer off the path to dietary righteousness.

While the crown doesn't make the King, the food makes me so i must resist. Every piece of cheat I eat only cheats me of the minutes I've gotten up in the morning, and cheats everyone who's pulling for me to do well. Esp John and Birdie, which really helps keep me on track cuz if nothing else I wanna do well for them since they too are pouring in all they've got into my success.

word.

UPDATE: There was a dude eating poundcake when sitting in traffic on the way to the bay bridge. WTF????!!?!

Words to lift by 4

"It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen."
-Muhammad Ali

Blessing in disguise?

So last night I freaked out that the fuse box was blown in my condo's gym. This brought me a lot of grief.

So I decided to give the precore a try. Usually I look upon this contraption with disdain, butsince everything else was out of commission, the deed needed to be done.

At first it was awkward, a lot of bouncing, found it hard to drink or chat with john on the iPhone.

But then I sort of hit a groove.

Here's why I'm a fan:

1. My perceived effort to get to my target heart rate where I need it was much less. To get to the same heart rate on the treadmill seemed a lot more difficult.
2. Time flew by. Perhaps because I wasn't exerting myself so much the time went by faster/didnt feel as tiring.
3. It was easy on my joints. I didnt feel any of the pains I usually feel when I'm in the middle of a session. Afterwards too, felt pretty good.
4. More sleep- While there's only 1 precore in my gym, no one's ever on it so I dont have to get up as early to snag myself a spot. That is huge.

All in all the precore is my new friend.

THIS IS NOT GOOD!!!!!

I received this email tonight--

"Went to the gym tonight and the power was out on the treadmills and
the step master. Looks like the the fuse blew out and couldn't locate
the fuse box. Where is the fuse box? Is it in the BET Closet?

Since the machines were down, I wanted to bike, but the pedals to both
bikes are broken too. No cardio tonight.

Can we have someone look into this please. Any assistance is greatly
appreciative."

jaslfhkawfnk;ewfjklfaafj;eainoaihoegwijgaijogahgrehiogarehigarihoaghigearhiogahioafwhkfjash;bjuaehfeipuwahfiewpahfjeiowpajfewioafhpwahfioepw!!!


guess i'm taking a tour of the emeryville streets tomorrow! The pain train must go on!

BIG SHOUT OUT #2

Shout out #1 goes to my main man john. This dude is a complete animal. After driving 6+ hours from Seaside to LA, what does this beast do? Go home and take a load off? Hell no, he goes straight to the gym for that treadmill. Stadium status. Keep it up mr. 199.

Shout out #2 goes to my "trainee" P. She broke her weight range plateau and did it with style and grace. The sky's the limit for this chica and there's no stopping her! Keep up the hard work!

Shout out #3 goes to B! She sneaks into her gym at 5am to get her workout on. Yes he has to sneak in despite the wishes of the complex she lives in. That's heart right there. I love your dedication!

And as always a shout out to my rock, birdie. 143.

Because I keep it balanced...

I think the arm exploded article is a lil biased....



Although I'm a natural, I think like there is, as they put it, "a lot of smoke, but no fire..."

Week 8 Progress Pics

Last Week's Weight: 168.6 lbs

This Week: 167.4 lbs
Total Weight Loss to date: 17.1 lbs

Front Relaxed:

Rear Relaxed: Back definition coming in

Front Double Biceps: Forearm definition coming in here, overall looking leaner

Back double bicep: leaning back a little so I took the shadow off my back. The waist is looking tighter.

Side Tricep: Ham/quad separation a bit more noticeable, though the graininess of the photos obscures.

Abs/Thigh: Though I don't like my face in this one, I am pleased with the tightening of the abs. Attention should be drawn to the obliques on the right side (my left)- much more definition, even from last week. I'd say it's the 2nd session of cardio, but boy did it come at a price haha.

Most Musculars: Chest striations and abs look good here, gotta remember to keep those legs tense.

So I found footage of my mind in contest prep mode...

Why this video? Because I think if you were to look into my mind you'd see that I'm pulled a thousand ways, and hilarity ensues.

Lately I've been feeling overwhelmed. Last week was a real tough one. I threw in a 2nd session of cardio and it's been running em ragged. Lately I've also felt like a crappy boyfriend, employee, co-worker, friend, brother, son, tenant, democrat, warriors fan, hapa, and terrible human being. But I'm staying on my diet, supplement and cardio routine so I'm being a good bodybuilder.

Next week, return balance to the force...

(Santa moneeeeka, I love the prank callers, lol)

Ice Ice Baby...

The good thing about jumping on the treadmill twice a day (60 minutes in the am, 45 in the pm) is that it helps you shed fat and improves your cardiovascular status.

The bad thing is that my joints ache like mad. Hence the ice during dinner and the warriors game.



And sometimes that ice turns you blue. Damn thing leaked. I musta looked mad funny jumpin on the tread this morning with a blue stain.

The Man Whose Arms Exploded, Part 1

Warning: Graphic

Straight Comedy...

I figured since this is the only real forum where I routinely publish my half naked body, this the the place where I should add this.

Lol.

What is Love...

So I shot around today. And I sucked. Hard. While I try not to toot my own horn, I was definitely no slouch, even having logged some points in the NCAA (scroll down you'll see me in the box score). But today was not my day. And it stung.

Aside from stuffing my face with carbs and having a few whiskeys on the rocks, I'm also looking forward to returning to the court (I haven't played competitively since 12/05.)

Peep the guns!

My first love was basketball. From the day I picked up the rock it was like coming home- a piece of me locked into my heart; I felt complete. What I loved about the game was that it served as the great equalizer. It was 7th grade and I would pick up a game with people who were bigger, faster, more popular, but because I could nail that shot, I earned respect. Black white yellow brown purple, the rock, in it's purest form, didn't care. If you put in the work (and believe me I did, shooting around every day for 2 hours after school and even more on the weekends) it paid dividends.

The same thing with the iron game- u get out what you put in. Unfortunately I don't have the stomach or the budget to eat 8000 calories per day, which is probably what I'd need to run around for 2 hours on the court, and still have something in the tank to lift and build (not just maintain muscle.) But bodybuilding is all about sacrifice. It's all about love.



At the rate I'm going I dont know that I'll ever put the weights down for good. But if I never make a permanent return to the court, I'll never forget my first love...

Hit The Road Jack...

Feeling guilty for always cooping up the Mrs. in our dingy condo gym, we grabbed our iphones and decided to take advantage of the nice weather. The body doesnt care if you're on a bike, treadmill, or even out there in the real world.

There she goes, working it out in style!
Always looking for an excuse to take my shirt off! JK (not really tho.) Yes Mom, I'm wearing sunblock. haha...

Week 7 Progress Pics

Last Week's Weight: 170.6
This Week: 168.6

Starting stats: (right/left)
Weight: 184lbs
Biceps: 16"/16" (flexed)
Forearms: 13"/12.25" (flexed)
Neck: 15.75"
Waist: 35" (just below belly button, flexed)
Calf: 16"/16.75" (feet planted/flexed)

Updated Stats:
Weight: 168.6lbs
Biceps: 15.25"/15" (flexed)
Forearms: 12.5"/12.25" (flexed)
Neck: 15.5"
Waist: 31.5" (just below belly button, flexed)
Calf: 15.75"/15.75" (feet planted/flexed)

Part of the game is to accept that you're going to lose a little size. When taking the measurements before, I had more fat on my body contributing to the tape measures' readouts. The most dramatic loss is the 3.5 inches off my waist. Thus far I'd been going by the 'pinch test' simply grabbing flab on the abdomen. I'm pinching a lot less these days.

Front Relaxed:Rear Relaxed:
Front Double Biceps:
Back Double Biceps:
Abs/Thigh:


Side Triceps:
Most Muscular:

BIG SHOUT OUT!!!

He considers me his Guru, but I consider him my brother in iron.

Big shout out to John, he weighed in at 202 today and he started at around 220-225. Huge. Keep up the good work my dude...

RTY

These guys are strong

nevermind that its 2 guys in tights crawling all over each other- get over yourself and enjoy the sheer feat of strength....

Having no carbs plays with your brains....

Is it just me or does my lunch today look like a donkey wearing a blanket? Im starting to lose it...

Springflex- for workers Chained to the desk

Wow. Here:

Food Run!

So I had to make a food run again- I wonder what the people think when I check out- damn this dude only buys meat!

Pictured: From top to bottom: Salmon, tilapia, top round, olive oil, peanut butter, egg whites (for birdie) chicken breasts and rotisserie chicken.

And then it was off to safeway for some sugar free jello. A coworker of mine quipped that Jello doesnt really do it for her, and I must agree, normally it doesnt for me either. It's basically chewy Koolaid. But when you're in the state im in, you'll take all you can get! Gotta keep on the diet by any means necessary!

Jello!

Week 6 Progress Pics

Starting weight: 184.5
Last week: 171.8
This week: 170.6

Only 1.2 pounds this week. This is the portion of the program where the body's survival mechanism starts fighting back and wants all the fat it can hang on to. In addition to the 7 morning session per week, I may start adding a few night sessions on my off training days. I'm due for some work on the stairmaster (oh the horror!) so we'll see how it goes.

Front relaxed: Forgot to hit my abs and it shows!

Rear relaxed: A bit more definition from last week. The love handle area is definitely more refined than fromt he start.

Front Double Bi: And this time I brought my abs and legs with me, haha.

Rear Double Bi: arms looking a bit sharper in the forearm/tricep tie-in area
Abs/Thigh: And I remembered to make a dumb face this time. Damn.

Most Musculars: Showing striations in my chest and that teardrop on the leg is there too.
The clasped hands version hides my lagging delts the best I think, but this oen makes my right arm look significantly bigger than my left, probably because I wasn't flexing it! So much to remember!