It's About Damn Time

Earlier today I was on the phone with a great friend of mine, Mark Weber. We were discussing business practices, SEO, website hosting and a few other entrepreneurial "things", so to speak. But when he asked me about my past blogging history and what type of social media presence I have, I paused and remembered this blog.

So what has changed from 2012 to 2019? Well, that's a conversation that should be had over a few cups of coffee and a nice slice of tiramisu. I went from Oakland to Los Angeles and tried my shot in production, worked on Top Chef: Masters Season 5 as an Assistant Culinary Producer; albeit I wasn't in the credits (thanks guys...) I still learned a whole lot about the big budget production world and the high stakes of competitive cooking. From there I started exploring my culinary passions, something that I had grown up loving but never had put foot to earth and pushed forward with.

Next, it was back up to Oakland where I took a project management job with a day program for adults with disabilities. I spent two years there and worked some pretty hectic weeks, but the amount of knowledge I walked away with was pivotal in my growth. I began practicing yoga and meditating; eating healthy and exercising daily. I took a plunge and started exploring the party scene a bit more (I went to a party school and this was supplemental education). What started as a trip to Coachella became house rolls with friends, while compounding synthetic and natural psychedelics until the world looked like a cartoon. I broke my ego a few times on this journey but always treated it with a sense of scientific curiosity; so I took notes, I compared with friends and folks that I met when partying.

The plunge happened in April 2017 when Mitchell and I walked into Dzien's place at Coachella and I met Anthony. A month later I was moved in with Uncle Falih and back as a resident of LA. From there was the grow house and then, eventually, Temecula. This is where I currently reside. Oh, I forgot to mention that the big thing that I was working on in Oakland before moving to Los Angeles was CBD infused Kombucha.

And that's where the story stops, well, where it starts. This is today. This is happening now. There's so much going on and I can't wait to share the next steps with words for friends and family and strangers that feel the urge to read it.

Session 010 and 011

Last Thursday I worked out the shoulder and leg muscles. This week, the gym is closed so I missed Monday helping a friend move (did it on Sunday too!) and decided to do Legs and Shoulders on Tuesday with my friend Cornell.

Leg Exercise:

Seated Leg Press: 45x2 for 3 sets of 10
Seated Calf Press: 45x2 for 3 sets of 10
Reverse Calf Lift: 40 for 3 sets of 12

Shoulder Exercise:

Military Press: 30x2 for 3 sets of 15
Parallel Life: 5 for 3 sets of 20


I will have to revisit this tomorrow and add the exercises I can't remember.

Note: I need to blog this the night I got to the gym...

Session 009

Back: I came in today well rested from a mid week break (and a mini cheat day). I thought that since I was very tired (and had a sore neck) that I would rest up and use that day to carb load!  It worked, I came back today with a ton of energy and a re-hashed plan to max out.

Exercises:

Back Raise: [ 2 sets of 10 (no weights) 1 set of 10 5 lbs 1 set of 10 10 lbs ] repeated a second time
Cable Seated Row: 50 for 1 set of 12, 60 for 1 set of 10, 75 for 2 sets of 8
T-Bar Bent Over Row: 25 for 2 sets of 10, 30 for 1 set of 10, 35 for one set of 10
                                    50 for 1 set of 10, 60 for 2 sets of 10
One Arm Row: 20 for 3 sets of 10

I started with a stretch and did 10 minutes on the elliptical before heading out. There is major remodeling happening and no room anywhere to sit and do core, so we shall skip today and do a light core workout in the morning.

On a side note.  I have lost a total of 5 lbs. over the last two weeks and so I think I need to hit my diet harder, increase the weight sizes and double the elliptical runs. Here's hoping to 10 lbs. by first week of July!

Session 008

Chest: I opted to do a chest workout today since I would be traveling tomorrow and wanted to save legs for possibly Thursday, but with Arms on Monday I may have to do some swapping.  I did not achieve max reps or max weight today, but I was able to isolate the exercises for my Chest routine.

Exercise:
Unilateral High/Low Cable Pull: 20 for 3 reps of 10 30 for 1 rep of 10
Machine Chest Flye: 25x2 for 1 set of 12 35x2 for 3 sets of 8
Machine Chest Press: 30x2 for 3 sets of 8 40x2 for 1 set of 4

Free weights were occupied and I was one man short for a spot on the press, but until I can comfortably press 45x2 for 4 sets of 8 on a machine, I will stay off the bench press.

I started with a full body stretch before and after the workout, as well as running 12 minutes on the elliptical after the workout and a quick 1 minute core after the elliptical. Heart rate was above 150 continuously from the start of the Machine Chest Flyes through to the Core.  Was almost a little gut sick, but I blame that on bad sushi (Happy Sashimi!)

Session 007

Though it is a bit late, I wanted to get some information down and I regret missing two straight days of posting (not workouts!).

Arms: I started this week fresh with an arm routine set for Monday, I am still trying to stabilize a decent rhythm for muscle groups and their repair rates.  So, the main target of the arm's exercise for Monday was adding two new exercises, as well as working on form.

Arnold Press: 20x2 for 4 sets of 12
Drag Curl: 20x2 for 4 sets of 10 Instead of using a straight bar (none was available) I used 2 20 lb weights.
Concentration Dumbell: 10 for 1 set of 16 20 for 3 sets of 8
Wrist Twist/Dumbell Wrist Twist: 20x2 for 4 sets of 12
Tricep Hammer Curl: 20x2 for 3 sets of 8

The goal for next week is to max out at 6 reps, so I will carry these workouts on and attempt to max out the weight.

I started this workout with a full body stretch and then 15 minutes on the elliptical machine (though I will be saving this for after working out).  I ended with a 1 minute core workout.  My core is getting close to where I want to push 200 sit-ups in under 2 minutes.

Session 006

Special Session

Yesterday was set to be a full reset of the workout week, but I planned a workout session with a personal trainer (Andrew) at 24.  I explained to Andrew how I do my workouts, that I stretch prior to working out, as well as hit the elliptical and do a short core workout.  He mentioned to me that muscle aches happen because of toxins that build up in between and around them, so to properly recuperate it is recommended that you stretch after a workout as well (will do!).

Squats: The day before I did legs, so I wasn't too excited when we began to do squats. However, I was pretty amazed at how we did them.  Placed a fitness ball right on the arc of the back and did a sort of "gangsta lean" into it, keeping pressure on the heals of the feet.  We did two types, one without weights and one with weights.  Both required a slow descent and a slow ascent, with the weights we added an extra "hammer up" motion with the ascension.

Push Ups: The pushups weren't straight forward, not at all. It was a small, military style set up with 2 10 lb weights spaced about ten feet apart with a Bosu ball in between.  I was instructed to do a one arm elevated push up, starting first with the left then crab walking so that the right arm was now elevated, then moving to the Bosu ball and doing 5-6 elbow ups, continued with another 2 pushups and then back through.  I'll tell you, this is now added to my workout.

Assisted Jumping Jacks:  Sounds simple enough. Add a 12 inch elevated platform and then try that again. Took two sets of 45 to lock up a hamstring, but Andrew was able to get it repaired in seconds.

If you are starting out and feel like you know what you're doing in the gym, but would like a little bit of insight on what's "new" and interesting or a fun way of working out more than just the primary muscles, I'd suggest picking up a personal trainer. Even if it is for 3 sessions a month, it makes a nice difference in how you learn your techniques and how you apply them.

Today's workout will be an all around and we will take the weekend off to start Monday as official chest day.

Session 005

Legs: Note to self, when doing workouts (regardless of which muscle) don't mix a cheat day with a workout day... 5 hour nap.

Exercises:
Calf Raise: 35 1 set of 10, 45 1 set of 10, 50 1 set of 10
Machine Leg Press: 35 1 set of 10, 45 1 set of 10, 50 1 set of 10
Seated Calf Raise: 35 1 set of 10, 45 1 set of 10, 55 1 set of 10
Prisoner Squat: 0 2 sets of 10, 25 1 set of 10

I started this with a good, full body stretch and then hit up the elliptical for 14 minutes.  Week One if over and Week Two officially begins tomorrow. Pictures will be posted soon.