55 Days Out

Rest days are good for reflection, thinking about the task at hand and what lies ahead. Now begins the period of time when easy derailment is possible and it could come from any of the many hats I wear. Hats such as Systems Analyst, Dad, Son, Friend or from an injury or even a cold. I have no margin for error. Still I press on!

“Shake the dust off of your feet, don’t look back. Nothing now can hold you down, nothing that you lack.”

~ Bob Dylan

56 Days Out

One advantage to losing 55 pounds is that my body runs much cooler now. I have not turned on the AC so far this year. Plus my resting heart rate average is now 58, down from the low 70s two years ago and now I barely snore (I was horrible)!

“Just like in bodybuilding, failure is also a necessary experience for growth in our own lives, for if we’re never tested to our limits, how will we know how strong we really are? How will we ever grow?”

~Arnold Schwarzenegger

More of my favorite places to eat around the world.

Cafe Populaire

110 rue Paradis, 13006 Marseille, France

📞011 33 4 91 02 53 96

This is where the locals go and where I had one of the best salmon dishes ever along with some great regional French wine.

CÔTE BRASSERIE

Several locations in the U.K.

https://www.cote.co.uk

Serving French style breakfast and perfect Cappuccino, a couple of steps up from the typical British breakfast. Ate at the Cardiff Bay location as well as the Oxford location, Yummy!

57 Days Out

Finally a weigh in under 165 and at age 59, down to my 24 year old weight. While many competitors are coached and are part of a team, I do it all on my own. My programming, my nutritional plan, my meal prep, my posing prep. All in all an awesome learning experience.

“Don’t give up on your dreams or your dreams will give up on you.”

~ John Wooden

58 Days Out

Did not blog yesterday but had a great leg day and today is a rest day though I should get in some cardio. June 24th is my deadline for registration, so I have 5 weeks to decide but ordering my posing trunks soon. I’ve decided on the music for my 60 second presentation, “One of These Days” by Pink Floyd, a good song to get into my “pose zone.” Speaking of posing, that’s a challenge. Having to pose without a mirror and having to hold pose after pose for 20 seconds or so.

“Milk is for babies. When you grow up you have to drink beer.”

~ Arnold Schwarzenegger

60 Days Out

I’m still too fat around the middle and will have to decide within ten days whether to compete or not, it’s going to be close. If I can’t compete, I will continue my prep until I’m at 155 and then hang out at 155 until it becomes my new fat set point. Strange how confidence fluctuates when you’re in a caloric deficit and you’re bouncing between being Superman or being mortal!

“It’s not who I am underneath but what I do that defines me.”

~ Bruce Wayne

61 Days Out

I need to stop comparing myself to men in their 20s, at 59 one’s body responds a tad slower, so frustrating! Today’s training was intense, felt good and smashed it! Great not to have any injuries, especially when training at such a light body weight.

“Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul.”

~ Douglas MacArthur

Additions to my Favorite Restaurants List

Porter House Bar & Grill

Manhattan, NYC

http://porterhousenyc.com/

Extensive wine list, possibly the best steak house in NYC. You can’t go wrong with the Porterhouse for Two with Black Truffle Mashed Potatoes. Celebrated a friend’s birthday here last fall and the staff made it an evening to remember!

Life Ristorante & Wine Bar

Rome, Italy

http://www.ristorantelife.com

We had an exquisite meal here, celebrating my daughter’s HS graduation and my sister’s birthday. Great chef and staff who treated us to after dinner Limoncello as well.

Taverna Antonina

Rome, Italy

http://www.tavernaantonina.it

This is a cute little restaurant on a side street not far from the Pantheon. The best places in Rome tend to be on the side streets and you will never see a greeter, menu in hand standing outside trying to get people to come inside. Taverna Antonina has indoor and outdoor seating, great food and wine and a nice atmosphere.

Oscar’s Mexican Seafood

San Diego, California

http://www.oscarsmexicanseafood.com/

Four locations in San Diego, nothing fancy at this taco shack but great food and a must do anytime I’m in San Diego.

62 Days Out

Today is a rest day but I should call it an “active recovery day.” A day to recover both physically and mentally.

Something to ponder: Partnerships, whether they are personal or business imply a 50-50 relationship. Are you fully engaged or maybe only giving 80%? Think about it, if you are only giving 80% of yourself to a relationship that should be 50-50 then in essence it’s really a 70-30 partnership. Take away point: Give your all in everything you do!

“Most people, when they reach a certain age, let down and talk about what they used to do. Well, who gives a damn about what you used to do? It’s what you’re doing now.”

~ Jack LaLanne