So, this is what ‘morning’ looks like
I usually hit the sack about 3am or so. I like the nightlife baby. Ah, who am I kidding…I just work late. I got into this groove when writing Fit Over 40 and never left it. Now that my emails and working relationships extend overseas, it actually comes in handy. I can chat with my mates, and still hang in the States while most people are on their last leg.
So why am I logging this at the ungodly hour of 9:30am? The cable guy. You know, “We’ll be there between 2001 and 2134 AD” guys. They said “between 8am and 11am”.
Guess what time he showed up?
Today I should have no problems getting more meals in, but oh my, I need a nap. Still gonna train today, and so should you. Everyone report in…what did you do in the ‘gym’ today? Even if I have to just walk IN to the gym, I’m doing something.
Jon’s Hierarchy: Nutrition is King. Weights is the guy who could take over the throne if the need arises, but is content to sit back and enjoy the perks of being King, Jr. because he gets all the King’s women. Cardio is a lowly Queen who really should be relegated to the designation of “bag lady” for most people, unless put in the proper frame of reference. Then and only then can she serve the kingdom…as long as she doesn’t go all frumpy on us. Eddie Izzard says, “All our queens are frumpy,” and I’d have to agree. What do I know? I’m not British…and we have a lot of frumpy people in D.C.
Where was I again?
It’s 9:40am for cryin’ out loud.
A spoof on Jack Lalanne, ladies and germs.
Tuesday, October 25th
- My MasterMeal Plan
- Morning cup of coffee…two just to keep my eyes open
- MM1: Mushroom Chicken and Rice with 2 tbsp of home-made salsa…yeah!
- MM2: Mushroom Chicken and Rice with 2 tbsp of home-made salsa…and that’s not a typo. It was so good, I had it again. Seriously, this recipe ROCKS. I’ll get the specific spices from my chef to pass on. Also, fyi…we’re adding pictures of my meals next week so you can see what these manifestations look like.
- MM3: Beef and Broccoli
- MM4: Jon’s Tuna Concoction
- (Most of my recipes can be found here).
Meals 5 and possibly 6 will be similar, but I’m blogged out for the day. Oh, here’s some insights for you guys: Strengths: I’m banging solid on my MasterMeal plan; no diversion. Challenges: a lot more water (took care of that today by replenishing my favorite water supply) and gym time. Today’s workout was a 4-hour NAP, unexpected. My body does not like getting anything under 8 hours of sleep and it protested. I listened..but now I’m about to hit a walk or a brief workout. I do not train in the evenings, fyi…or rarely should I say. That’s when blood pressure tends to be the highest for me, and it interferes with sleep. More tomorrow! {10}
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Comments (17)
Jean said:
Well here’s my log in for my bit of fit fun today.
I got up at 12:30PM (I as well keep crazy hours Jon, night shift starting at 8PM and working any where from 4-6AM)
I as well find 8hrs sleep is really a must for us night owls.
I got up before breakfast walked the dogs in the gulley,
It’s a great little 35 minute walk and all the way home is up hill, including some killer long steps.
Then had breakfast did some house work then off to the gym for leg day work out and 50 minutes of stairmaster.
By the way I tried your, half the weight, 8X8(I was doing 5X8) And I had a great workout!
Posted on Oct 26, 2005 02:25 AM
geoff said:
Hi Jon
This blog is really taking off. Where do you find the time to answer everything? (OK - that’s just a rhetorical question!) The feedback from everyone is great and worth noting as some of your bloggers (is that a word?) have similar questions and problems to myself. Your recipes are excellent and I’m making (and eating) them myself, much to my wife’s chagrin. My legs hurt, however, having just tried your leg workout suggestion (OW!) By the way, our queens don’t get frumpy until well into their forties (they obviously didn’t purchase “Fit over Forty”
Cheers, Geoff (the limey)
Posted on Oct 26, 2005 02:55 AM
Bonnie Sue said:
Hi Jon,
I love everything about your website and I’m loving the 10 in 10 blogs. I print them out to read while I’m doing my cardio either at home or at the gym and they’re a HUGE inspiration. I can’t wait to try some of your recipes…I HATE MUSHROOMS!!! Could I replace them with eggplant? Hope to hear back from you…and THANKS FOR ALL YOUR WISENESS (I think I just made up a new word).
Posted on Oct 26, 2005 10:06 AM
Brad said:
Jon, I’ve been on a weights, cardio, nutrition campaign for several months and have made slow but steady changes in strengh and body comp. My diet is modeled after Clarence Bass’s with lots of beans, grains, produce and little meat. While I’m not losing more than 1/2 lb per week, I frequently feel flat and lethargic when I go vegetarian for a few consecutive days. Assuming that my macronutrient needs are being met, is there any truth to the myth that meat gives you strength?
Posted on Oct 26, 2005 11:12 AM
Ashley said:
I can sympathize on the morning thing - I too like to stay up late which unfortunately allows me only roughly 6.5 hours of sleep each night during the week.
Any good suggestions for exercises to do while recovering from knee surgery?? Can’t do ANY leg related activity at all - is weigh training upper body enough to facilitate weight loss?!? Gaining rapidly…ARRGGHHHH
Keep up the good work Jon - this blog is awesome!!
Posted on Oct 26, 2005 11:56 AM
Elizabeth said:
Howdy y’all! This is my first week on 10. It’s such a great idea to get together on the web and be each other’s support! It’s Wednesday and I’m feeling very motivated. It snowed here in Pittsburgh PA yesterday and I STILL got out there and ran. YAY ME!!! I’m aiming for my first marathon (Disney) January 2006 so my workouts are “Cardio Queens” with one or two days a week of swimming. I’m eating 5-6 meals a day using a 45%carb-45%protein - 10%fat calorie ratio. I eat a LOT of raw spinach, broccoli, cooked brown rice and baked chicken. I’ll weigh myself next Sunday but I’m fairly sure I’m down.
LET’S GO EVERYBODY!!!
Posted on Oct 26, 2005 12:26 PM
Linda said:
Hi Jon,
I have been following Tom Vento’s blog, which just ended with his 2nd place win ,and now you just started a blog which is perfect for me for inspiration and great advice during the holiday seasons which is approaching too fast! Today I got up at 5:30am and headed to the gym to box for 1hour,I’m a morning person, ate some oatmeal and egg whites that I brought with me. Then I turned around and did shoulders,back and biceps. I like to get everything out of the way in the morning so I can dedicate the rest of the day to my 17 month old son. Jon, I love the blogs! Keep them coming!
Linda
Posted on Oct 26, 2005 01:11 PM
anna said:
Hi everybody
Boy, is it ever great to see some people with motivation like that - Elizabeth-
as for me I have no problems with my workout and motivation while I’m at work. The problem begins when I get home from work and start making supper for the family and then lunches for the kids and then later at night somebody (usually the little one) will decide that he is hungry etc.
some evenings I can make it through no problem but some evenings are just horrible. Yesterday was bad, so I am not that great today but will try to do my best yet again tonight.
The blogging thing is a really great idea and extremely helpful
Great job Jon!! :)
Posted on Oct 26, 2005 01:12 PM
Jon Benson said:
My replies to all:
Jean; YEAH! That 8x8 rocks. I trained that way for a year. It’s what inspired my (yes, yes, it’s coming out this year…get emails every day) 7 Minute Muscle. While 8x8 and 7MM are very different, it was Vince’s wisdom and “guruness” (my new word…heh…) that led the way. Keep it up!
Geoff; yeah mate, it’s ALIVE. Surely you know Eddie, eh? : ) I think you’ll find we all have a lot in common and sound principles and some inspiration will go a long way. Look at yourself and Jean…just one tip and pretso; leg-ouch-city. I find it’s a blast to do this, so time right now is not a problem. Of course that may change over 10 weeks, but I’ll still reply to most every day. Cheers!
Bonnie Sue; Now ‘that’ is a Southern name, girl? You’re not from here are you? (Dallas) Actually, that was my aunt’s name. Kid thou not. Anyhoo, thank you kindly. I’m treadmill-worthy! Hey now…and yes, by all means, subs are great. There’s nothing magical about the veggies in my recipes at all; just go for organic if you can.
Brad; Meat. It does a body good. Milk. That’s what baby cows eat. I’m 1/4 Native American (I know, I don’t look it…but my dad was spot-on), and there’s a great Indian definition for “vegetarian”…”poor hunter.” That was a joke…I think. Anyway, we have a lot in common! I followed Bass’ principles for 4 years. I think Clarence has his act together, for sure, but most people (most, not all…some thrive on vegan or vegetarian cuisine) require meat in their diets. I will not open the floor to “meat vs. no meat” here, as the argument is all over the web. Suffice it to say that the stats on both sides are usually exaggerated. Meat may not be ‘mandatory’, but it really does help and, yes, I feel it’s important for ‘most’ bodybuilders. Vegans and veggies, those who are ‘designed’ to eat that way (key, key, KEY), live long and healthy lives. Others drop dead of heart attacks and cancer just like a lot of other people eating, say, high protein or high carb that shouldn’t be. Kinda important to listen to the body. I did…and when I listened, it said, “Moooooo….??…furplumb.” Dead cow. It’s what’s for dinner.
Ashley; poor girl. I relate, as you may have read (well, I avoided surgery with the cunning use of FLAGS. Sorry, that’s an Eddie Izzard joke that is completely out of place in this discussion. However, I ‘did’ avoid surgery with qi gong therapy and “Law of Attraction principles” I teach in M-Power. Funky, but true. However, for you, I suggest the following: first, curtail the carbs…you don’t need a lot of extra fuel, and carbs are fast-burning (even slow-burning carbs are fast-burning compared to MCT and other fats.) Keep the calories moderate, the meals frequent, and concentrate on lean meats, healthy fats and lots of greens. After healing, you can bump those carbs back up. Also, look into qi gong for healing ‘faster’. The stuff is amazing, and I’m not easily amazed…WOW, AN AIRPLANE!!..anyway, …
No, really, look into qi gong (also spelled QiGong). Thanks for reading, and keep us all posted!
Elizabeth! Good for you…the more in the merrier. Now, about that “y’all” bit…I’m the one who is supposed to say things like, “Y’all”, “Howdy”, and “My, what big, perrty hair you have, ma’am…” But since I don’t, you can take over the Texan vernacular for me! Deal? : ) Sounds like your diet is rockin for you, too. I could not do 10% fat, but if you can, do it. Just don’t go under. That’s really, really low, and the body requires fat for hormone production and neuron sheath health.
Wow…that was some reply! I feel like I just gave birth to my blog entry for the day…but NO. I have things in store…off to eat. {10}
Posted on Oct 26, 2005 01:22 PM
Jon Benson said:
I post a reply, and two more come in…I’ll have to quit my job at this pace.
Oh, wait…this is my job! And I’m in sweats. Ha!!! (Dr. Evil laughing…)
Linda; funny, Tom is my business partner (in BeVo Pub) and I had no idea his blog ended. I knew about his second place win, but we’re not tag-teaming the blogging world. : ) Thanks, and keep that balance going. It’s great you focus on training and your son (ROLE MODEL)…
Anna; Quick suggestion, but it rarely goes over well until people try it. Ask your family for support, and feed them basically what you feed yourself. Trust me, they will ‘never’ complain about this type of eating, and if they want something different, simply ‘eat first’, then fix it. The “eat first, then shop” works, and so does this. If I’m going out somewhere and know I’ll be around food that’s way off my plan, I will always eat first. 95% of the time it does the trick; the other 5% I either need the calories or I simply eat about 1/4th of what I would have had I not eaten prior.
Posted on Oct 26, 2005 01:28 PM
Tom Venuto said:
Hey, is somebody starting nasty rumours that my BODYBUILDING SECRETS blog has ended???
It’s just beginning :-)
Latest Entry:
“The Master Plan For Bodybuilding Competition #2”
www.BodybuildingSecrets.com
Great blog Jon! Keep up the fine work.
Posted on Oct 26, 2005 02:04 PM
Jon Benson said:
I just told people to say that Tom so you’d blog an entry or two…ha!
Thanks for correcting the rumor…and yes, one and all, Tom’s blog rocks. Highly recommended. Of course, I taught him everything he knows about … er….Aston Martins.
Jon
Posted on Oct 26, 2005 02:27 PM
Bonnie Sue said:
Hi again Jon,
I was so excited that you replied to me. Actually I’m a Cali-girl (or rather, woman - 41 1/2 to be exact). I guess my mom just really liked the name. And yes, you are definitely recumbant bike worthy…a lot difficult to run and read at the same time.
HAVE A GREAT NIGHT!!!
Posted on Oct 26, 2005 05:45 PM
Kay said:
Jon,
Can I lose the 10 without eating: rice, bread & yams? I love protein and am ok with veggies but I don’t like starches. Most things I’ve read say you have to eat them to keep from shutting down your metabolism. What’s your belief?
Posted on Oct 26, 2005 08:13 PM
janine hill said:
I find this all quite inspiring and exactly what I need so I am quite grateful for your tenacity in the blogging area.
Have just got back to Australia after a year in Iran so I know what you mean about staying up to communicate.
Now all I have to do is shift into the same gear as Dr Evil here!( Is this an ” evil blog?” Sorry couldn’t resist.)
Posted on Oct 26, 2005 08:13 PM
Paul Tomlinson said:
Worked on shoulders, biceps, triceps, and abs today. Did about 25 minutes overall walking and on the elliptical. Felt good. Course you’re talking to someone that hasn’t worked out in around 8 months. Looking forward to tomorrow.
I think I was meant to workout today.
A very long story (I’ll make it short) but today but I arrived at the gym a gentleman was in the locker room all slouched over. He said he was dizzy and had been throwing up. So, I worked at getting some information from him and helped him to the toilet as he felt like throwing up again. I told the front desk to call 911 but they wanted to call non-emergency. Rushed back to see the gentleman (Jerome) and he asked me to grab his cell phone from his truck. Went by the desk and they still hadn’t called emergency personnel. Now I demanded it. I helped the gentleman call his daughter, work, and tried to get in touch with his doctor. Thanfully the paramedics then arrived. No one else seemed to be offering this gentleman help, including the staff at the gym and the only male gym staff member who was too busy training a client at the time (great way to find yourself being sued). Dunno if he was on the verge of having a heart attack, had one, or had the flu but he looked awful and something had to be done. At least he ended up getting medical attention and was sent to the hospital via ambulance. I sincerely hope to see him back in the gym sometime soon… and in good health.
Posted on Oct 26, 2005 09:53 PM
Jon Benson said:
Kay-
Some people are very sensitive to carbs; others are not. Even being obese, I was able to eat 45% carbs and get down to 10% body fat. Yes, you can eat carbs…just keep them unrefined, relatively minimized (unless easily tolerated), and combined with protein foods and you should be fine.
Janine-
Evil blog…yes. And I want to be an Evil Vet when I grow up. Let’s all make meat helmets and have Vilma…oh, you know the rest, right? : )
Paul-
Crazy story man. Could be anything from an MI to food poisioning, but you did the right thing by calling 911.
Posted on Oct 27, 2005 02:33 AM
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