Nov. 15 2008 I was in the Longhorn Open at a bodyweight of 268.2 the heaviest I have ever been. I bombed in the squat and got a wake up call. A pounding in my head even during warm-ups. So I went to the doctor and found I had the family curse, high blood pressure. My mom's side all had it and there was also some on my father's side. My blood pressure was 187/108 and cholesterol 235. So I had to evaluate what I was doing to myself and my family.
We all compete in a sport that should theoretically keep us healthy.
However when taken to extremes it can cause more problems than if we were a bunch of lazy asses.
So I along with my doctor came up with a plan of action. He is an Olympic lifting nut and knows his stuff.
First he put me on meds for cholesterol and blood pressure.
Then the first week of December 2008 I began doing cardio in the mornings before work and also working my abs so that they would get done. A side benefit of this is increased alertness at work.
Next I modified my diet. I always preached eat to train. Now I committed to do just that.
First thing I did was to cut out fried foods except for stir fry. That I do in Olive oil.
Next I committed to eating salmon and other high Omega fat foods at least once a week. This has been I think a vital missing link in my diet.
I began on regular powerlifting training days to eat different than non training days. Here is a sample of a non training day diet.
Breakfast
8 egg white scramble with
1/4 cup each of chopped onion, green and red bell peppers, tomatoes.
topped with 1 chopped jalapeno.
bowl of oatmeal with walnuts and cranberries.
3 cups water
4 hrs later
protein drink
fruit
4 hrs later lunch
Veggie pack made up of Broccoli, carrots, celery, and green bell pepper
turkey burger with cumin, onion, garlic, and habanero pepper mixed in and topped with habanero hot sauce.
again 3 cups of water.
4 hrs later
protein drink
3 hr later dinner
lean protein source like chicken or fish
vegetable side dish
bedtime
protein drink
Training days are really different
Breakfast
8 egg white scramble with
1/4 cup each of chopped onion, green and red bell peppers, tomatoes.
topped with 1 chopped jalapeno.
bowl of oatmeal with walnuts and cranberries.
3 cups water
3 hrs later
protein bar
3 hrs later
protein drink made with orange juice
fruit
3 hrs later lunch
Veggie pack made up of Broccoli, carrots, celery, and green bell pepper
turkey burger with cumin, onion, garlic, and habanero pepper mixed in and topped with habanero hot sauce.
sweet potato
2 1/2 h later pre workout
orange juice, berries, banana, protein and honey 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
post workout immediately before leaving the gym
protein drink about 25 grams
30 mins later dinner
Baked potato
steak
vegetables
Bedtime
protein drink
When I started the cardio on the elliptical I was happy to burn 400 calories in 30 minutes. Now I am breaking 500 in 30 minutes. I could feel a change in my body and began recieving compliments.
In September my physical was startling. Cholesterol 153 LDL 80 blood pressure 127/76. Even my psa went down. Then on November 14 I again was at the Longhorn open. Bodyweight was 239.1 and I moved great poundage breaking 4 state records.
Many of us in the mad quest for size screw things up. We think we need to be super huge to move poundage but forget we have to live too.
So now with life changes I can live with I will continue in this sport becoming a 220 in a few years.
If I did it anybody can.
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