I have been serious about getting to the gym. I wrote a bit about preparations for it last post. I am halfway through my 3rd week. I ride bike to gym 6 days a week. I work legs on Monday, Arms on Tuesday, lower back and abdominals on Wed. I start over on Thursday. Like I said, halfway through 3rd week. I am really jumping up in amounts lifted. I went up 135 lbs on seated calf machine.  I am really pleased with this. My calves have really been difficult.

 When I first bought Mary Lee I could not even put my legs up with calves on pillow they hurt so bad. Last year at this time I still could not lay on my back without them hurting. They were so sensitive that a wrinkle in the sheets was so uncomfortable I couldn't take it. I was so deteriorated that weak would be an understatement. It felt like some weird tendon popping sensations anytime I tried to get a full range of motion with any weights. Besides that they were just hurting all the time anyways. In one weeks time I was able to jump up from 90 lbs to 225. It only took 3 years to get here.

Seated bench press has gone up quickly. 22 plates in this picture. I lifted it once after 70 reps working up to it Wednesday. I did over 20 reps with it altogether today(Saturday) Vivian wanted to see me lift it. I did a set of 5 for her. I am getting my strength back quickly.

I went up from 160 lbs on seated quadriceps machine to 280 in one week. Added over 80 lbs to hamstring machine. I am able to do 205 now.  My gut is visibly going down in size and you can see the muscles in most of my body hardening and shaping up. I am exhausted after workouts. I am doing all I physically can to regain some of what I lost. My back hurts along with the nerve pain in my legs as I go. The nice thing is I am having little to no aching from lifting. Everything is done with my lower back supported the best I can.

Three years since I started this. I remember laying awake on Mary Lee at night that first summer and just suffering until I passed out from exhaustion. I could not lay comfortably in any position, even while all doped up and full of rum. I was finally able to start laying on my right side a little in Thompson Falls, MT. that next winter. I put myself through hell that winter. I set up to be in the gym and kept at it no matter how bad it got.

It made a difference but the fight has certainly gone on. I still get these big knots in my back(they hurt). My left hip screams(it feels like). When the knots in my back get bad enough my legs feel like I just ran a marathon. They feel so exhausted I have to force myself to even walk across the room for a drink. Thompson Falls was insane. I look back now and even with narcotic pain meds I think I was a little crazy from the pain at times. I just wanted my life back so badly that I didn't care if I killed myself trying.

Jumping ahead to now. April 3rd was a year without narcotics. Huge success. It was hard going to gym last fall. I had a few landmark things happen. 60 miles on mountain bike in one day. The miles I spent riding in Oak Island, NC. were certainly partly responsible.

I have come so far since April 15th three years ago.  I threw caution to the wind and bought a sailboat on the other side of the country. I knew if I didn't force myself to fight I would end up sitting around waiting to die. I think everyone thought it was a crazy move. Maybe?? But my life is so much better for it. The truth is, if I had not put myself into a position where my stubbornness and willpower would not allow me to give up, I may have. Could I do this twice? I hope not!!! I guess if I had too. I certainly will not volunteer :-)

Last post was about painting.

Have bottom paint. Next month will be nice enough to get this project done. Trying to get myself in a little better shape before starting. I have several projects to power through.

I had my sister send my soymilk machine. I have introduced Vivian to homemade soymilk.

I like soy milk. I salt it. I tried to sweeten in like the stuff you get in the stores. It takes a lot of sweet to do it. I tried everything I could get my hands on. I read somewhere that salted was the favored way to drink it in some Asian country. Tried it and found it was quite good. Problem solved.

Vivian's son Jon is a co-captain on the Soccastee soccer team(high school varsity). They are a 3-A school and next year will be a 4-A. Big school. The varsity soccer team is quite good. The competition is good. I never watched much soccer as we never had it in my little A-4 school. We had 350 students from 7th through 12th. Turns out I enjoy it. Jon is a good player and is not alone. The starting lineup is quite good.

My back was really hurting me to sit on the bleachers. I took a boat seat and put a hook on the bottom so it could lock onto the bleachers.

Problem solved!

Bought a Kreg jig to fasten face boards onto cabinets when I get that far. Thought I would build a stool to try it out.

Pieces cut out.

First side together.

Ready to router top and finish.

Primed. I am ordering a sprayer for finishing cabinets. Will finish then.
I think with sanding and primer I must have 3 hours into the stool. Faster next time now that I know how it all works.

You just never know what is next. It turns out I like Scrapple just fine. Steve and Linda Franko were with me the first time I tried it. I was not instantly struck by its goodness. Turns out I decided to buy a pkg and cook it up myself. I doubt if I would choose it over very many things but I like it enough to have once in a while. But I like liver fried also, so what do I know?  Scrapple with my salsa and eggs is just fine for the occasional breakfast.

New helmet on left. Helmet on right looked a little like the old crash dummy commercial. I would have kept using it but the new one was on sale and it had bigger air holes. Might be cooler.

Have both vises for wood working bench. Left one is 23 lbs. One on right is 40. Solid stuff from yesteryear. I am just about caught up enough to get work bench finished and vises mounted.

We ordered a couple folding bikes for on the boat this summer. Well...also because they will fit in trunk of car. We both enjoy riding and intend to be doing a lot. Got a book on snacks. Looks like we will be packing our own healthy snacks when we go places.

So, as always, I am as busy as I can be. I have my fingers into a lot of things. This is my summer to get rid of the gut. I know it is part of my back recovery issue. I have been slowly adopting a healthier lifestyle and along with time and determination it should do the trick.

One last thing.  Vivian and I are going to be making our own coconut bar soap. I will let you know how it went next post.