Today is the day of change! This is the day I start my new workout program and hopefully get some bitchin' results. I’m going to be completely honest; I've been kind of slacking on my fitness for the past year or so. Not that I was ever Mr. Olympia or anything, but I used to be in much better shape. I could do a 300 CFT, was getting close to a 300 PFT, and could hold my own and then some in any unit PT we had. Once I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy and started taking my medications, things definitely took a turn for the worse. I lost 10 pounds in the first week, and almost 30 pounds total before I could stop it. My medications destroyed my appetite and down went my strength and muscle with it. But now that I got my medications changed and I’m finally able to eat (like a tapeworm in Oprah), I am ready to start working out again to get in a condition I won’t be ashamed of.
Exercises:
Medications/Nutrients AM:
Probably the best shape I was ever in was the first few months of my deployment to Afghanistan. Like a lot of other Marines, life revolved around work, food and the gym. After a couple months of the Stronglifts 5x5 program, I was able to bench 170, squat 215, deadlift 305 all for reps and do 20 pull ups with my Flak, Sapi Plates, Kevlar and Assault Pack filled with gear . I know that’s not really anything to brag about, but at 145-150 pounds I was pretty damn happy with myself. Then the appetite loss hit me and I was barely eating, i.e. I couldn't continue to train. That ended up being echoed for almost the next two years.
Finally a change occurred a few weeks ago. While working with my nutritionist and doctors, I was put on a higher dose of Remeron which, while in conjunction with riding my new bike anywhere I could, helped my appetite and I was gaining weight again. It was a GODSEND! Those ribs protruding out of my chest and that shoulder bone sticking out like Brittney Spears with no hair in 2007, finally started to get some meat on them. I took this as an opportunity to go to the gym two times a week and do basic, compound exercises with low weight to help get back into shape.
While this helped, I knew I would be leaving Camp Lejeune soon and would therefore lose my gym access until I could find a replacement back home in Pennsylvania. I hated the thought of finally getting in the groove of a workout regimen and then BAM! Have everything change. This got me thinking about just doing bodyweight exercises. I thought about the summer going into Junior year at High School. While I was always a slim, athletic kid, I never truly excelled at anything, but I took that summer as a challenge to change myself. I would walk to and from summer school every day, which was a few miles, and when I got home I would do bodyweight exercises. Push ups, behind the back dips using my bed as leverage and hundreds of calf raises. I began noticing big differences in my overall fitness level. Within a few weeks I was able to dunk a volleyball (they were easier to hold one handed) and had some muskles beginning to bud.
Boot camp was a very similar experience in that respect. All day, every day, we ran and did exercises only resting for food and classes on Marine Corps history and such. I went in at 127 and peaked at 153 pounds before the crucible (three days of non-stop physical and mental training with little food and sleep; the pinnacle of your training thus far in Marine Corps boot camp). If bodyweight exercises worked for me then, why wouldn't they work for me now?!
So here’s what my plan is. I do the following exercises throughout the day, eventually reaching the total number I've set forth. If I feel like the exercise is too easy, I’ll up the number the following days. If I feel like it’s too hard, then I’ll go to Walmart and buy a pack of straws so I can suck it the fuck up. Anyways here’s the deal:
Single Leg Calf Raise – 50
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| Got a fancy little pill holder :) |
Wellbutrin - 450mg
Adderall XR - 20mg
Medications/Nutrients PM:
Adderall XR - 20mg (as needed)
Remeron - 45mg
Zyprexa - 5mg
Zinc - 30mg
Magnesium - 500mg
B6 - approx 12 mg
That’s it. Every day for three weeks. After that I’ll see how I feel and where I am at physically. I’ll take measurements and pictures of my body before and after. I’ll post one day behind so that I can get the full days exercise and nutrition log from the previous day. All the motivation I can get will be greatly appreciated. You can also follow this challenge on the Bodybuilding.com website. Tell me what you think by commenting here or sending me an E-Mail! I'd love to hear your thoughts. Be sure to check out the rest of my challenge and my segment of Barracks Living. Don't forget to add me on facebook and twitter.
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