Dub-At the Movies!

At the request of David "Inferno" Bell, I am going to take a quick look at the upcoming movies this summer. I reviewed all the upcoming movies from this IMDB list of summer releases.

Without further aduba, and based strictly on my interests thoughts and desires, I present to you...

The Dublockbuster Summer Preview Spectaculum!


The Avengers
"Marvel's Avengers: Assemble", the "Avengers", or whatever else it is called, has been one of the most heavily promoted movies I've seen coming in a long time. I liked the "Incredible Hulk." I loved "Ironman" and "Ironman 2" and "Thor". "Captain America" was weak, but that is because I do not like World War 2 era movies for some reason. Some of the jokes were too cheesy for me there as well. However, put them all together to fight the awesome Loki should be a, if nothing else, fun ride in a fantasy world. I have no problem with a crazy world of superheroes as long as they are all unique and stay within this believable character they have developed since their character's inception. This is my SECOND most anticipated movie for me this year.


DARK SHADOWS
This movie looks completely horrible. Johnny Depp once again gets painted up like a pedophile. His "quirky" side movies are all annoying as anything and, like Peter Griffin, I can predict how this movie will end.

Men In Black III
Will Smith is back with another installment of the franchise that I cannot believe existed past one movie. What I get from the previews is that something is wrong with Tommy Lee Jones' character and Will Smith must time travel to save him. And some younger looking version of Tommy Lee Jones is there, and some secret will be revealed. Will Smith probably makes some bad jokes about a bug going splat, Tommy Lee Jones probably talks down to somebody in a funny way, and probably some old timey good looking girl will fall in love with Smith. Save the world. Find out Tommy Lee Jones' character is responsible for all alien invasions and Will Smith has to let him die. The end. Boom. Let me know in a couple weeks if I am right.

Prometheus
Cave dwellers find the secrets to civilization, then must save the world. I bet and hope this movie takes a creepy turn and would probably have some decent effects. I cannot see how this movie will get screwed up.


That's My Boy
Growing up, Adam Sandler was the man. As an adult, Andy Samberg has started to gain much momentum, mostly because of the movie Hot Rod. I saw the preview for this with 21 Jump Street. I must have been the only person in the theater who laughed. At everything. This seems like the type of movie that they save the best material for the actual movie, not the commercials. Give me your dumbest voices, your screechiest yells, and stupid toilet humor, and I am in! Here's my $10-12 for a ticket! Just take it already!!!

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Somebody has to take care of the vampires every generation, right? Who better than our nation's 16th President. He freed one group of people while slaughtering another group. I have little expectations of this movie other than thinking it should be fun. If you like history, and/or you like vampires, perhaps you should not see this movie. I will check message boards later in the summer to see if somebody actually posts a review getting upset at this tall tale of Abraham Lincoln. I bet I will find it. And when I do, an open letter to that dumbass will be posted here.


G.I. Joe: Retaliation
If Channing Tatum isn't dancing or acting like a buffoon cop, I don't want to see him. The first movie in this franchise could have been really good. That Wayans brother killed it. The Rock is in it too, but as a 32 year old not-in-a-while wrestling fan, that does not peak my interest anymore. This probably range somewhere between better than G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and getting a novacaine needle in the mouth. Explosions, puns, bad acting, Rock yelling - the only intrigue I have in this is what happened to the Cobra Commander at the end of the last movie. That was the only part that actually served any purpose to the movie. I will have to investigate this movie and may possibly just purchase from my local laundromat street merchant.


The Brave
"Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse." That's IMDB's synopsis. Duba's synopsis - probably a bunch of British accents.


The Amazing Spiderman
If they had named this "The Great Spiderman" I would have been pissed. In my opinion, "Great" is more humble than "Amazing". Also, I don't recognize one actor's name in this movie. I think the girl from the help with that horrible voice is in it. I did enjoy the original Spiderman franchise. Hopefully this goes more in the way of the recent Batmans as opposed to the Fantastic Four. I am quietly waiting for this movie, but I have the lowest expectations for this movie out of all the movies I am even slightly intrigued by.


Ice Age: Continental Drift
The best thing about a dead horse is that you can beat it forever. I did not put up my preview of Madagascar's next installment because I really did not enjoy any of those movies like I have the Ice Age franchise. Rocco is a big Ice Age fan and the last movie they made was humorous on all levels. However, the crew battles "pirates". Quite a leap from cavemen/dinosaurs to pirates for the lifespan of these soon to be endangered animals. Hopefully though, nobody else will analyze this movie any more than I just did. I hope it is a fun one as I am sure I will be there the weekend it comes out.


Ted
All I can say after seeing this commercial and the movie poster is "What the F*ck?" Looks like a high profile version of "Hot Rod" if you ask me. I find family guy very entertaining with great replay factor, so I hope the same for this movie. Because Kim likes Mark Wahlberg for his, uh, acting, I know that I am almost certain to see this movie in the theaters.


The Dark Knight Rises
Boom. I have waited anxiously for this movie for what seems like an eternity. I truly loved "The Dark Knight" and is easily one of my favorite movies of all time, if not ever. It will be a very very ridiculous movie to follow as that was once in a lifetime. I have read as much as I can about this movie and at first was a little disappointed, but then had my faith restored after watching the trailer. Bane looks awesome, regardless of his speech/voice. Catwoman though always left something to be desired for me. I don't care about a woman without superpowers who wears spandex and whips people. Horrible character, but hopefully it is more about Bane and Batman struggling with himself. I actually read that people criticized the football field collapse as looking too fake. Uh, it's all fake. This movie is my top pick for the summer.


Neighborhood Watch
Benn Stiller Vince Vaughn Jonah Hill and another guy on the neighborhood watch and end up fighting aliens? I was absolutely enthralled with this movie until the alien part. Unless the aliens are like Seth Rogan and Danny McBride, count me out of the theater, but please provide me a bootleg of that instead.


Savages
Woman gets kidnapped. Drug dealers must work together to save the girl they both love. Mexicans. Pot. Several stories knitted together. Could be great or very bad. No in between. Kim very much wants to see this, and I am going to see this one. After Batman.


The Bourne Legacy
Matt Damon was great as Jason Bourne and the last installment of this franchise was pretty kick ass. If this is a prequel, I am really not interested enough in the story. Books to movies generally start up some nerd argument about the movies not being as good and not capturing the story right. Okay. Unfortunately, I already do not have a lot of interest in this. I bet it ends with Bourne outsmarting the CIA yet again as he escapes into his prequel obscurity. Another thing about prequels - you know he won't die, so anything that puts him in danger has no suspense to me.


Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
Sweet little franchise of movies. Family fun. Never saw a bad version of this movie franchise nor ever seen a bad book out of the bunch and Rocco gets the movie and likes it. We may not see this in the theater, but we will most likely rent and/or own this in the future.


ParaNorman
Clever title and idea. Cartoon boy talks to dead people and fights zombies. I see the potential for lewd humor for a kids movie, but I hope not. Too me, looks to be the freshest and most entertaining kid cartoon movie of the summer.


7500
A supernatural force similar to a snake invades this plane flying over the Pacific Ocean. Movies that take place in a closed setting like a plane are a big risk. "The Devil" was good in my opinion, but "Panic Room" was lame. "Phone Booth" was good, but "127 Hours" dragged on. You almost want to see how all the characters interact, but too many characters could clog up this movie. I guarentee at least one black guy dies on the plane, keeping true to horror form.



Other Movies - I only wrote the ones that I care about or have any opinion of. There is also an Anthony Hopkins romance movie, British people chasing other British people movie, old couples finding themselves movie, Total Recall remake, and something about southern beasts. I really don't care about these movies, so suck it.

Coast to Coast, North to South, Everybody Wants To Hear (read) What Comes Out Of My Mouth!

So, with the NFL Draft Live Blogging experiment over, I declared my love for my girlfriend who is celebrating her birthday today (as she told me it was the "champagne" birthday - 27 years old on the 27th). Other interesting 27 facts - Today we have been together for 1,027 days. Kim called me on her way in to work at 8:27 a.m. All coincidences I'm sure, but I know the signs are pointing to me spending exactly $27 on dinner tonight.

Apparently my love declaration has resulted in my blog finally being read in Mexico. Thus, ALL of North America has seen Duba, from sea to shining sea. From the tropics to the jungles to the deserts to the tundra. If my arms were longer, I would pat myself on the back.

Also Poland has joined the fray. Polish readers, I do not post Polish jokes, but I will joke about shoe polish (this joke is terrible and the website name made me laugh). I did a report in high school on Lech Walesa, and he certainly was a brave leader from what I recall. I think that report made me that much more interested in history, especially when I was able to research the personal details of his career and struggles.

What else is new? Well, I am hoping to post some time this weekend a Summer Movie Dublockbuster Preview where I will review movies I have not seen yet, a review of something about professional wrestling (Russia will be represented with Nikolai Volkoff and Poland by the Polish Hammer - but not Ivan Putski, but rather his lame son Scott Putski), plus a tribute to the late, great career of the greatest Philadelphia Eagle - Brian Dawkins.

Anybody else have any thougths? Anybody like the live blog? How about if you read it right now (might not make sense though). It was tough to pull off, I would admit. The most difficult part was responding to comments and Facebook posts. Like our border with Mexico, I am always open (to suggestions, that is).

Happy Birthday, Kim

Even though she does not read my blog much, and I am okay with that, I really wanted to take this time to wish the most special of women a very special Happy Birthday. Her beauty grows every year, and I love her more and more every day. She has undoubtedly changed my life for the much better, and everybody I know knows how happy I am in my life with her. She put up a decal in our old bedroom that read "A true love story never ends." Even though we left that room behind, the story still goes on. Kim has been an uncomparable partner in my life, my support, my friend, my inspiration, my muse, my heart.

I have never in my life met somebody who could make me laugh, smile, and blush. Comfort me and force me to face hard truths at other times. She sees my faults as things I need to improve upon with her help. She accepts all that I have in the soul of this short man. All she asks is that I do my best, and that is the easiest part since she brings that out of me.

You have allowed me in your life to share it as a parent with you. You continue to be the model of discipline, sacrifice, and support I wish I was as a parent. I am blessed to have you and the wonderful extension of you that is your son. Our family has made my life perfect and worth anything and everything I have ever been through.

My darling, you are 27 years beautiful. Kim, I love you dearly...Happy Birthday!

Duba Live Blogs the NFL Draft!

REFRESH OFTEN, YOU UNFRESH EUROPEANS!!!! It is once again time for American sports to show Supremacy

Get'cha popcorn ready

                                        - Terrell Owens

That's right folks. We are just 4.5 hours away from the first round of the NFL Draft 2012! The wait is finally over and we get to see what new offensive lineman the Eagles will pick this year. Hopefully not the case, but only time will tell. I did a mock draft at Predict the Pick and am vying for my chance to win a trip to the Superbowl. Admittedly, I know barely anything about the NFL apparently and even less about the incoming draftees. However, I tried my best at the draft order as it stands now. I will list it below, then offer up my live draft thoughts starting at 8:00 p.m., EST. Won't you join me?!

Below is the current draft order with all my picks in bold. I will try to update my blog/picks which you will be able to follow in regular old italic type.

LIVE BLOG:
7:11-Just learned the Browns flopped with Vikings for their 4th Overall and their 3rd rounder. Justin Blackmon, you better do something really stupid in the Browns' eyes within the next 45 minutes. Actually, I think my first four picks are still safe. 


7:20: Correction, Fourth overall, a fourth fifth and seventh rounder I believe? Way to Redskin it up, Cleveland. 


7:49: Deion Sanders was just acting as an on-stage correspondent. Please check out his first ever hosting duty.

8:00: It Begins! Who's with me???

First Round

1. Colts - Andrew "Just My" Luck

Live Blog - Alright...this whole build-up introduction is already too long. We could have had the first three picks done by now. Wow. Goodell is not liked at ALL. I really don't get this on the phone BS right now. Did they seriously just have to decide? Couldn't Jim Irsay just be standing right off the stage? 


And just like that, 1 out of 1 correct. Duba rules. 


And RG3 chants during Andrew Luck's biggest moment. Don't worry Washington, you'll get your 10 minutes of glory

2. Redskins - Robert Griffin "The" III

Live Blog - I think if the NFL hadn't tried to play up some kind of thought struggle for the Colts to choose between Luck and RG3 and pollute their broadcasts with it, both QBs would have had great ovations. 


Hey RG3, meet Trent Cole and his good friend Jason Babin. Go away Cullen Jenkins, you can't split a quarterback sack 3 ways!

3. Vikings - Justin "Anybody but the Browns" Blackmon

Live Blog - Well hopefully the trade doesn't screw up my picks. Technically, Baby Daddy Trent Richardson was still picked by the Browns. Duba - 3 for 3

4. Browns - Trent "Well I'm F*cked" Richardson

Live Blog - And now is where I lose. Leslie Frazier put down this position and then spends the 4th overall on it? Oh well 3 for 4

5. Buccaneers - Matt "Stupid Vikings Don't Like Left Tackles" Kalil

Live Blog -Pandemonium. Jacksonville got the pick and went with Blackmon. Again, I know very little about the draft. And the worst part is, DALLAS is next!

6. Rams - Morris "Elizabeth" Claiborne

Live Blog - Best part of the Cowboys' selection is the "Cowboys suck" chant. Morris Claiborne, I wish you had a choice. I guess getting three right while not knowing shit about college players

7. Jaguars - Riley "Call Me Ri-Re" Reiff

Live Blog - Wow. Mark Barron. I thought we might see you this year, just not while playing AGAINST the Eagles. Too many trades for me to know anything now that's going on

8. Dolphins - Ryan "Odd Man Out/Cheese Touch" Tannehill

Live Blog - The realization here right now - the Rams will have a series of mid-range players for the next couple years


CHEESE TOUCH Tannehill. Also, did anybody else just hear the "What?!" chant? 


The crowd sucks. This kid hasn't done one thing on the field and gets his ass chewed out by New Yorkers beause they know this guy will be better than Mark Sanchez

9. Panthers - Michael "Meat" Brockers

Live Blog - Ugh. Luke the Kook. This draft has had quite a few surprises. I don't know SHIT about Crap. 

10. Bills - Luke "Kook" Kuechly

Live Blog - I guess since Kuechly was my number 9 overall, I wasn't too far off. However I did not anticipate so many defensive backs coming out. 

11. Chiefs - Melvin "Elfen" Ingram

Live Blog - Oh no Poe. I wanted him. Here are the Eagles. The Eagles need Cox. Next round, Balls. 

12. Seahawks - Quinton "Missing a 'u'" Coples

Live Blog - Why wouldn't the Eagles trade that Asante Samuel fella for a higher draft pick, and then perhaps they couldve moved up elsewhere. Them giving up 2 extra picks in the rounds that Andy typically loves, it is a move of panic that the Eagles moved up just three spots. Did I say panic? I meant "all in". 


Let's add some more black cox to the eagles!

13. Cardinals - Mark "The Red" Barron

Live Blog - Wow really good pickup for the Cardinals. Michael Floyd, you better listen to everything Larry Fitzgerald says to you. You could be the Cardinals' next Anquan Boldin. And that is a good thing. I will be rooting for this kid. 

14. Cowboys - David "Of Dictator" DeCastro

Live Blog - And the Rams finally picked. And I already forgot who they picked. 

15. Eagles - Dontari "I cannot Believe John Cusak Is Going to be Edgar Allen" Poe

Live Blog - And the Seahawks get Bruce Irvin, who looks like an evil rooster. Mike Mayock, when he isn't all lispy, is pretty good at selling draft prospects strengths and weaknesses.


Anybody else see that Giants fan in the Manning jersey dancing in front of the Jets fans?? That was almost as good as the random cigarette smoking guy walking around the Superbowl earlier this year with his mullet out.

16. Jets - Michael "Michael BoBicycle" Floyd

Live Blog - Wow Jets fans, nothing...NOTHING would have made you happy there even if they drafted a giant set of boobs.

17. Bengals - Janoris "Who Named Me" Jenkins

Live Blog - You forgot about Dre? How dare you! I think that the experienced guy plus Dre Kirkpatrick and what I can assume will be another defensive player, the Bengals can make a little bigger splash than last year. 


How much longer until Mike Mayock felatiates somebody?

18. Chargers - Fletcher "Gap Penetrating" Cox

Live Blog - What the Hell did Deion and Dre just say to each other? I bet chargers go offense, since we stole their Cox


Melvin Ingram...I could have enjoyed him as an Eagle I guess the Eagles know better than I. 


Watching Roger Goodell do the black man handshake was awkward. Ingram, when you get fined thousands of dollars, be sure to give him that handshake when you hand over the check because you beened Kevin Boss in the cranium. 

19. Bears - Courtney "What's" Upshaw

Live Blog - Shea McClellin...looks like a weaker cousin of Brian Urlacher. Honestly, he looks like a two year project. 

20. Titans - Kendall "Not Wendall" Wright

Live Blog - 


Looks like the Patriots just realized that they are missing out on all the defensive players


You know, these commercial breaks for this spectacle of a show is getting a little long winded. 


Holy SHIT! I got another one right! Or should I say Wright?? Kendall Wright better hope Kenny Britt comes back full strength

21. Bengals - Cordy "But I haven't Been Arrested Yet, Bengals" Glenn

Live Blog - Patriots coming up now. Cannot say I know who this will be, but I bet it is a pass rusher...
Chandler Bing Jones! Now I do't know, but I think having the Patriots pick him 10 spots later should still count towards my mock, right?

22. Browns - Andre "The Giant Olive" Branch

Live Blog - BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA


Brandon Weeden, it is not that I think poorly of you. I just think poorly of your new team. I guess they needed to find a good back up for Colt McCoy, just not one that will retire before the current starter does.


And the self-serving NFL Troop Appreciation segment. Causing yet another commercial. I respect any troop of any variety, active duty, currently fighting, commanders, ensigns, retirees...I just think it should have been done in the beginning of the show, with the National Anthem, and this show could finish sooner. Yes, ,I know that in prime time commercials are needed. Do not worry, Disney, I will be seeing the Avengers.,

23. Lions - Jerel "What's That Smell" Worthy

Live Blog - Ri-Re is roing ro rhe rions. This will be the year of the young receiver in Detroit, and Megatron will be ok. 

24. Steelers - Jonathan "My Favorite" Martin

Live Blog - Wow...DeCastro. Mike Mayock just said he may struggle with size. However, Mike Mayock can accommodate all sizes. Mayock also said he was "nipple" footed

25. Broncos - Mike "Most Regular Name in the 2012 NFL Draft" Adams

Live Blog - I wonder if the Patriots have some big weekend BBQ to get to Saturday as they have no picks after tomorrow. 


Huh. That guy's name is pronounced just as it appears. I think you need a half second pause at least between "Dont" and "A". 

26. Texans - Peter "In The" Konz (His name sounds like Peter Cuntz)

Live Blog - And the coolest last name goes to this guy. Mercilus. 


Holy crap did I just see a black berry?


Mike Mayock sounding like Sylvester the cat. Sufferinpffft Succatashpfffft


If you are going to a "Moments ago" for Whitney Mercilus' reaction via Skype, you had plenty of time to cut away from that poor woman spreading her legs on national TV. 

27. Patriots - Devon Still "Won't Leave"

Live Blog - Sorry, could somebody remind me what other night besides Monday and Sunday that football would be on? I can't recall. 


I think that boy Kevin Zeitler is going to make a great difference, or more like just an improvement for the up and coming Bengals. Cincinnati Bengals - "we don't take criminals anymore" are on the move. 

28. Packers - Lamar "'s Mom Goes Far" Miller

Live Blog - Does this mean that the Packers might be able to stop somebody now? Nick Perry looks like a beast. 

29. Ravens - Dont'a "Walka by yourselfa at nighta" Hightower

Live Blog - Looks like the vikings are totally okay with rebuilding last year, this year, and next year. 


Seriously? Another fucking commercial, of the same annoying song? Please put those two annoying bags in the Verizon store, too, please. 

30. 49ers - Stephen "One Tree" Hill

Live Blog - AJ Jenkins - I know you are excited to get drafted in the first round, as you should be. Too bad your teammate is Alex "the anomaly" Smith

31. Patriots - Chandler "Bing" Jones

Live Blog - So this pick is the result of one of what seems like a dozen trades done tonight. 


Wow. Doug Martin. Maybe LeGarrette will punch him


Did Mike Mayock just refer to Doug Martin by saying "AWESOME birth!"?

32. Giants - Whitney "The Girl" Mercilus

Live Blog - FINALLY! I can go to bed soon. NFL Network, the draft prime time special is cool on paper, but your execution is horrendous. 


Come on Giants, do something dumb...


David Wilson. And all the giants fans for one second were shown on the TV looking like they just heard something in Greek. Mike Mayock has just stated that he is a football player. Good for him. 


Good night, blogosphere. Good bye, NFL network commercials, Rich Eisen saying "guys, we have a three hour show here", and poor Whitney Mercilus' relatives' crotch being broadcast to the world. 



Little Man, Big Weight

Stronger than all!!!!

Ah yes, the late great Pantera. A band that helped me in the gym for countless years. I woke up this morning fully intending to go to the gym, but I had a realization that I will get to in a moment. (after reviewing what I have written so far, SEVERAL moments)

I started working out in High School when I was on the wrestling and track team. My first sole reason for lifting any weight came in 1995. I was 15 and was preparing for a "high adventure" type of trip with the Boy Scouts to Philmont in New Mexico. It was essentially a two week survival trip where we carried everything on our backs. It involved trekking through the rain, up mountains, through forests, and we were in the middle of nowhere guided by only a compass and a map. Needless to say, I had one or two ab muscles show through for the first last and only time in my life.

I carried some of these techniques over to high school sports, but was careful not to pack on too much weight so I would stay in my wrestling weight class. I started at 112 as a freshman, and finished my uneventful wrestling career between 125 and 135 pounds. I must have done something right with at least my knowledge of a sport as I was only one of a few recipients of the 4 year varsity award. I lifted, for fun, for Track, although I only participated in the field events. They tried to get me to run, but I sucked at that worse than I did at wrestling. My coach always told me I was the smallest thrower he ever saw. I made the varsity squad for a couple meets at a time, but all in all it was about having fun. As such, I hold a record (scroll to the last entry on this page).

When I left high school I attended the Coast Guard Academy, and I left that in May 1999 under my own will. When I joined, I was steady at 135 pounds. They weighed us and gave us projections for our weight before we would need a remedial health program. The USCG said that if I reached 175 pounds, a healthier Duba must be made. That summer that I left, I discovered The Bodybuilding Encyclopedia (Ironman). It is the last book I have read from start to finish and still reference it today. Needless to say, by the end of the summer, I was 175 pounds, and far from needing a remedial health program.

That's me earlier in that summer, back when the Duba Shirt (a small) was still a little loose. Needless to say that shirt filled out quite quickly. I took a lot of protein shakes and was up to maybe 3-4 cheeseburgers a day. If I wasn't going to grow vertically, might as well grow muscularly, right?

I could lift any time. I would be hungover, as I probably was after the above picture was taken. I could still go out and lift more than I did the previous week. I worked at a landscaping place chopping wood all day and then lifting all night. Life was sweet.

I had my three summers where I interned up in Reading/Boyertown, Pennsylvania. I joined the local gyms up there and began the "Pyramid". Basically, you start at a weight you can do 15 to 20 reps with, then keep going up in weight doing sets of 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, and sometimes that one maxing out. Once you hit that last one (or 2) rep set, you go down in the weight, doing as many as you can, back down the same increments. It was the most mass-producing, muscle endurance building thing I ever did and still do today (for some body parts).

I met my ex and lost my time at the gym. I tried various times to start back up at a gym, ultimately settling on Bally's. It took years of weight gain and ego smashing to get back in the gym. At one point I was up to the 230-240 range. I substituted water for soda and eventually moderately enjoyed diet soda. I realized that as my life was changing and I was moving on, I was better off hitting up the gym in the wee hours of the morning. You have the most energy and empty stomach at that point in the day. I saw a muscle resurgence, but I had a much different approach.

I suffered several injuries over the years, some from lifting. The worst was when I would pull my abdominal muscles. It would feel like somebody had a firm grip on my balls and was constantly pulling them down. I partially tore my pec muscles, pinched nerves in my back, and worked through bone chips in my elbow. I revisited my lifting book/bible, and learned something extremely valuable.

Focus solely on the muscle you are working on. This sounds easy, but it is so easy to cheat in lifting anymore. Arnold always said whatever muscle he was working, he envisioned it ballooning up to fill up the entire room. Look at this picture:

I have reached a point in my lifting life where I close my eyes and visualize whatever muscle I am targeting actually expanding and contracting during my movements. It was very hard for me to get this down. This is why if you see me in the gym, do not get offended if I don't care your there. I have my headphones on and been listening to the band DevilDriver every day for months now. I know the songs, I have developed a rhythm and mindset that when I get into the gym, I am focused on making my body stronger. I have really been able to listen to my body better as I have gotten older. At 32 years old, I don't see myself being able to bench 400 pounds, but I probably could if I cheated through the exercise. But why risk that and getting hurt when I have otherwise remained healthy for the past couple years at the gym?

I use a mix of machines and free weights. I love doing bent over or T-bar rows, lat pulldowns, smith machine bench/incline bench presses, negative shoulder presses with the smith machine. I do some free weights with my favorites including a straight bar curl, barbell rows, clean and press, close gripped bench press (for triceps and one of my new favorites). I tend to hit the biggest grouping of the muscle first, starting out light and directing my focus to the deep muscle tissues.

That is why I did not go to the gym today. After taking off for a couple weeks (between feeling like I was getting sick, hurting my shoulder at a batting cage, and the move), I went back in on Monday. The first two days at the gym are always Back and Chest day. The next two days will be shoulders and arms. The problem with this routine is that, regardless of focus, these last two groups tend to take some of the strain during the heavier lifts. Once I realize how much I am straining them (shoulders especially), I stop going up in weight. I did my chest workout yesterday - which is always the trickiest one for me after a long absence. I felt decent last night. I felt a little sore this morning - but was it that typical soreness? Yes, however, when preparing my coffee and sandwich for the day, every little move I made highlighted the soreness in my chest. Plus my back is still a little sore from Monday. These are the signs I did not have when I was younger, and a wiser, older me listens to my body. I unfortunately woke up at the taint of dawn, but oh well. At least I do not get off-schedule sleep wise (or lack thereof).

 

 

I am by no means a God at the gym or necessarily the strongest person in the world. Nor do I think I carry myself that way. I like to be a strong fat guy, working towards being a strong stocky guy. I do everything naturally, eating Kashi products (and now Kashi knock-off products) and bologna. I have never felt stronger in my life than I do these days.