Why I have trouble getting out of bed some days

Thanks to the advent of 24-hour fitness centers, I can finally maintain a regular routine of hitting the gym. In all my previous attempts to stay in shape, I'd lose out on quality exercise time for the following reason:

I'm a night person. The only times you'll find me awake at 6am typically involve force, road trips, or my personal favorite...I just haven't gone to bed yet.

I go to bed late, say 4am. Get up around noon or 1pm. This usually provides me enough time for the very basics in life -- food, hygiene, and MySpace -- before I roll out to work. Sadly, in the past two-plus years that I've been a semi-regular in the workforce, I've worked evening jobs. Currently, five nights of the week, my shifts end no earlier than 10pm and no later than 11pm. (The other two nights of the week, I get off around 7:30pm. Yes, I work seven days a week, for those of you unaware of this fact.) Without 24-hour fitness centers, I was unable to fit exercise into my life. And I suffered for it.

March 2007, I joined Anytime Fitness, and weighed in at an unimpressive 212 pounds. After working out the kinks in this new addition to my lifestyle, I fell into a routine finally -- Tuesday night, I'd make a special trip to West Des Moines for a late-night workout (11pm-midnight); and also Thursday night and Sunday night after work (11pm). I spend approximately two hours there, and here's how I spend it:

• Some simple leg stretches
• 25 sit-ups on an incline bench
• 10 minutes on the treadmill (1 minute jog @ 4.0mph; 1 minute jog @ 4.5mph; 30 second sprint at 7.4mph; 1 minute jog @ 4.5mph; 30 second sprint at 7.6mph; 1 minute jog @ 4.5mph; 30 second sprint at 7.8mph; 1 minute jog @ 4.5mph; 30 second sprint at 8.0mph; 1 minute jog @ 4.5mph; 30 second sprint at 8.2mph; 1 minute jog @ 4.5mph; 30 second sprint at 8.4mph; plus a 3 minute cooldown)
• 25 sit-ups on an incline bench
• 5 sets of curls (5 reps @ 125lbs; 3 reps @ 140lbs; 2 reps @ 155lbs; 1 rep @ 170lbs; 25 reps @ 65lbs)
• 4 sets of triceps extensions (7 reps @ 100 lbs)
• 25 sit-ups on an incline bench
• 5 sets bench press (7 reps @ 115lbs; 5 reps @ 125lbs; 3 reps @ 135lbs; 1 rep @ 145lbs; 1 rep @ 155lbs)
• 4 sets pulldown thingy (7 reps @ 115lbs; 5 reps @ 130lbs; 3 reps @ 145lbs; 2 reps @ 160lbs)
• 25 sit-ups on an incline bench
• 15 minutes on the treadmill (15 minute jog @ 5.0mph; plus a 3 minute cooldown)
• 25 sit-ups on an incline bench

The speed on my sprints have increased; I think I started out at something like 6.0-7.0mph. I'm up to 7.4-8.4mph now. Doubt it'll go much higher than that.

My curl max of 170lbs makes me happy. I was only getting it about half-way up until this week. Now I'm finally getting it all the way up (oh that sounds so dirty), so in the next couple of weeks, I'mma have to kick it up to 185lbs and build towards getting THAT up. I'll eventually start doing 8 reps on my triceps extensions, before upping that to 105-110lbs (undecided) and going back to 7 reps.

Only recently added bench into my workout, I did 185lbs the other day (before I had even started my workout, admittedly) which is definitely more than I benched in high school. So right now I'm working under the assumption that 155lbs is my max, since I know I can do that without a spotter.

On the second treadmill run, I started out jogging at 5.0mph for 12 minutes, which equals out to 1 mile. I recently tacked on 3 more minutes, so I'm jogging for 1.25 miles. I hope to eventually get to 1.5 miles (18 minutes) but by that point in my workout, my knees are shot.

125 total sit-ups each workout. I need to add some additional abdomenal work into the routine, something that'll work my lower abs, because I want that pudge G-O-N-E.

Thursday night, I weighed in at 194lbs. So I've lost 18lbs since joining this gym and maintaining a routine, and I'm looking damn fine if I do say so myself.

So if you see my ass slaggin' on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday...this routine is the reason. Please, take pity on my soul. =o)

* * * * *

I know I might have questionable taste in music, but forget that for a moment...Sixx:A.M.'s The Heroin Diaries needs to be listened to by everyone on the planet. Some backstory on the project:

The Heroin Diaries: A Year In The Life Of a Shattered Rockstar is the autobiography of Motley Crue's bassist / founder / songwriter, Nikki Sixx. It's based upon his diary entries from, approximately, 1987-1988...when the Crue was on top of the world, and when Nikki was in the depths of heroin addiction hell. So along with the book, due out in September, he put together a little side band to create a "soundtrack" (due out in August) with each of the 13 tracks based upon one of the 13 chapters.

I've struggled for the past year-plus with staying sober. And to be able to, musically, experience Nikki's journey to hell and back...it's emotionally gripping; spiritually uplifting; therapeutic; and just downright amazing to listen to. Other stuff that I've listened to alot recently:

Daughtry -- anything, really
58 -- "Stormy" and "All Of My Heroes Are Dead"
Fall Out Boy -- "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs"
Lustra -- "Scotty Doesn't Know"
Rise Against -- "Drones"; "Swing Life Away"; "Prayer of the Refugee"
Velvet Revolver -- "She Builds Quick Machines"; "Slither"; "The Last Fight"; "Sucker Train Blues"; "Fall To Pieces"; "Let It Roll"

"Make people sitting at adjacent tables wonder what the fuck it is you’re talking about."

I've had six days off since April 15. Completely unrelated to that, I found this on another blog I was perusing tonight:

There's a lesson here. Laugh with your friends. Talk about ridiculous subjects. Let your minds and conversation roam freely, without barriers or restrictions. Make people sitting at adjacent tables wonder what the fuck it is you're talking about. Tell those people what the fuck it is you're talking about if you wish, regardless if they want to hear it or not.

And most of all, treasure the time you have with your friends and loved ones. Times like this won't be here forever. Every day can be a gift, if you treat every day like Christmas.

And I really dug that, because it explains me so fully. The most fun I have ever had, at any given time, has typically involved me sitting around with some of my friends -- not necessarily doing anything in particular -- and talking about ridiculous things. Laughter-induced vomiting. Laughter causing an inability to breathe.

A coworker asked me what I do for fun tonight. Because I don't drink, I don't go to movies very often, and those two activities make up the majority of this coworker's enjoyment. I, of course, pointed out that I don't really have time to do much since I work seven days a week...and that's the extent of the conversation. Because this coworker wouldn't understand, just like nobody else would understand. Except for those that have the same hobbies and interests, that have the same experiences with you.

There's only eight people that truly understand the hilarity of Mitch Fuckin' Franklin, for example. There's only six of us that will know why we're laughing at a plate of meat and potatoes. There's only four of us that experienced the very cold forty-five minutes of "Let's do this!"

I have a phrase, I like to say "fuck off with your bullshit." And I say that to everybody who's ever given me a sideways look, or shook their head at me, or didn't understand what was so damn funny. You're not supposed to understand, and even if you tried, you couldn't.

So what do I do for fun? No barriers, no restrictions. I let my mind, and my mouth, roam free. I fuck with people's heads by saying ridiculous things; I dig reactions, they get me off.

I treasure my time with friends. I make fun of them, tease them, bust their balls...but always try to make sure they know I appreciate their time and effort, as long as they actually do make the time and effort.

And those that don't make the time or effort? Or those that become drama-obsessed? Sadly, I wash my hands of them. It's not because I hate them, because I don't. I still care. I just wish things could be different.

I promised myself to be drama-free, and I'm doing my best to remain that way. That means nobody's exempt.

My very best friend, of 24+ years...we're not on speaking terms, really, at the moment. My brother and I had a few days of silence, but we're okay now.

And then there's another that I'm not speaking to. All I can say is, you get what you give. You make the effort, I'll make the effort. I'm low on your priority list? You're low on mine.

And even in your need of a favor, a simple apology never seemed to cross your mind.

In conclusion, thank you to those of you who have spent your hard-earned money and precious time on shenanigans such as WrestleMania or ROH. Thank you for bringing me into your home for a weekend so we wouldn't have to pay for a hotel room. Thanks for always flying in, even if it's just for a night of ridonkulous behavior. Thanks for always providing the ride, even if it is a lunchbox on wheels. Thanks for entertaining me at work, as well as outside of work.

Thanks for the good times and great memories. Hopefully there will be many more good times to come, and great memories to recall.

Last night was a bit of a rough night, and I'm not sure why. I wasn't really sad or depressed, but then again I kind of was. I haven't really figured it out. I spent some time with my uncle, who I love like a father. I saw some great wrestling. I had somebody that I have, in the past, considered a very dear friend approach me and make that effort to have even the shortest of conversations with me. On her birthday. When she could have very well been with her boyfriend, or anybody else. But she chose to talk to me, even if it was only five minutes. Thank you. I had a few text conversations, all at once, that lifted my spirits. And I even had Perkin's breakfast at 11pm at night.

Should've been a perfect day. In a way, it was. But it wasn't. Something just didn't feel right. Maybe I was bummed that Frankie and Sally didn't come, or Scott, or even Greg and Patrick. Maybe I was bummed because I've given up on the oh-so glamorous professional wrestling dream. Or maybe I'm just lonely. Who knows, if I don't, chances are nobody else does either.

thks.fr.th.mmrs.
xXj.cizzleXx