Polarize

Today’s Musical Soundtrack to listen and blog along to can be found here.  21 Pilots…. Ride. I’ve been listening to their new Cd, BlurryFace a lot at the gym this week.  

It’s 5:20am.  Thursday.  Weigh-in Day.  Blog Day.  I’ve been up for about a half hour.  I have a sore throat and a cough and just kept waking myself up so I just got the hell up and started my day.

I’ve been thinking too much.  Help me. 

I went down and got on the scale.  Got off the scale.  Got back on.  Zero’d it out.  Got back on again.  My stomachs growling.  I put my phone on the scale.  Zero’d it out. Got back on.  Took a photo for proof.  Came up stairs to write to you. To write to myself.

I’ve been thinking too much.  Help me.

Last week crushed me.  The good thing was that I was so busy and on the road a lot with the band.  The wedding was 2.5 hours away.  I drove and that kept me busy and occupied.  I went to the gym after I weighed in last week and blogged.  And I guess Doc Strong was waiting for my scale results.  I think he wants me on the helicopter and under 300lbs more than I do.  I shook my head in defeat and I know I probably looked like a beaten puppy for the 90 minutes I was in there.

Working out near me was this guy who was smiling, dancing and just an overall beast.  I didn’t know who he was.  I keep my beats on, smile at everyone and just nod a lot. I don’t want to bother anyone and I don’t really know what gym protocol is.  He made me snap out of it.  I was there to work, not feel sorry for myself.  I was there to do a job.  Turns out a few days later a friend from the gym posted a selfie with him and he’s a new Philadelphia Eagle.  Working out on the bench next to me.  Putting in work.  Reaching for his goals.  I was inspired.  So I can give up on my story, or I can choose to continue.  I chose to continue.  Doc asked me not to eat after 7pm.  Try it he told me, the weight will come off if you do it and work hard.

Well I’ve been working hard.  This week I took Sunday as a rest day because I drove home  from the wedding and after an hour at home went to another gig.  On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I worked out with Doc and went to Orange Theory Fitness and on Monday and Wednesday also went to bootcamp.  Today, I’ll go see Doc to work on my back and then OTF as well.  So I’ve been putting in the cardio and weights.

I’ve been thinking too much.  Help me.

On Monday Doc was setting me up for my first station and he looked at me and told me that he was going to train me like an elite athlete.  We were going to break down the body into 5 sections and train them across the week.  5 days.  Legs, Back, Chest, Shoulders, Arms.  An elite athlete?  Me? That word has never been used next to my name, ever.  Something snapped inside me.  I wanted this more than ever.

I meal prepped this week.  I cut junk, even if it fit in my calories, completely out.  Other than my oatmeal and a little bit in my shakes, cut carbs out this week.  I did have 1 Dunkin coffee with light cream and sugar every day.  I ate 4-5 ounces of protein per meal.  My calories have been under 1500.  I’ve burned that at least every day this week at the various gyms that I am going to.  Turkey Tacos, Steak, Chicken.  No bread.  Lot’s of water.  No iced tea.  I did have a few Vitamin Waters Power C’s to help me fight off whatever I felt was coming into my body.

Whatever I did, the massive plateau that I’ve been on since early April has been busted through.  The sea-saw has broken for the time being and I shed a little over 8 pounds since last Friday.  I am down 108.8 pounds since I started this journey which feels a lifetime ago.  Today’s weight in was 303.7.  4 pounds stand between that damn helicopter and I. I am not going to stop.  I am determined more than ever.

I am 32 pounds lighter than I was this time last summer.

And while it doesn’t seem like a lot with all the work I’ve done since then.  There is a big difference.  Even if my body stalls now after this big drop which it usually does.  I’ll keep pushing it.

I’ve been thinking too much.  Help me.

I had 3 great shows this weekend and destination for a very good friends daughter that I love very much.  He’s brought out so many friends over the years who were amazed at my transformation.  It’s overwhelming sometimes.

The Mrs made fun of me yesterday. It was something about all the gym selfies or pictures or whatever.  Now I get why some people take so many.  For me it’s to be able to remind myself where I’ve been and where I am going. It’s not a vanity thing as much as it is to keep my ass in check.  I know she’s kidding with me but if you don’t want to see this stuff on social media, delete me.  It’s that simple. I won’t be offended.

I’ve been thinking too much.  Help me.

So as I get ready to go crush it at the gym.  I am just going to keep doing what I’m doing. It’s that easy.  It’s working. Yes, I get hungry at night.  Yes, it’s not easy to say no to popcorn or a bag of chips late night.  But stepping on that scale and seeing that number, looking at a photo from last month and seeing a difference.  That makes it worth every bite, every second, every rep.

I hope everyone had a great week.  Enjoy your weekend.  Go get yourself some.  As always feel free to comment.

Franco