Draper here... 2008 is Gonna be a Great Year, Bombers

Mugsy's latest trick to gain my attention is sitting on the key board
between the computer screen and me while meowing as if he was being
tortured. I'm focused, yet his simple ploy works without fail. I'm
left with two choices: chase him away, adorable cuddly creature
covered with soft fur, or lean back in my CEO swivel chair and tickle
his cutesy neck after he curls up on my lap purring loudly. The latter
solution is the most popular with all parties concerned.

Email can wait, the newsletter another time.

The humane and PETA friendly posture allows me time to think about
things I would not normally think about, like who lifts more weight in
a lifetime, an Olympic lifter, a powerlifter or a bodybuilder? When
does overtraining commence, considering hormonal production, maximum
oxygen uptake, stress on joints and ligaments, blood sugar levels and
focused energy expended? If a devoted trainee did nothing but cleans
and presses for strength, health and muscle development, what would
the results be after a substantial commitment of five years? How about
curls and dips only?

By this time my computer goes into a hibernate mode, Mugsy's off
chasing tuna fish and I'm snoozing like a wino with an empty bottle.
It's the last day of 2007, New Year's Eve, what else does one do?
Laree's in the kitchen (where women belong) making Campbell's pea
soup, having spent the last 10 hours updating the IOL web page, forum
and blog posts. Guess we'll be hearing fireworks in the distance
before long, commemorating time's passage.

12 weeks ago, early October, IronOnline introduced the 2007 Year-End
Challenge. Some of you have forgotten the enthusiastic bid to get in
shape, learn and grow, and some of you will never forget it. You
grabbed the banner and got in step with the growing mob. Week after
week you pressed on with daring and resolution, and accomplished
exactly what the surge prescribed: forward movement, loss of bodyfat,
improved muscle development, matured discipline and encouraging
fulfillment.

Sincere congratulations, bombers, job well done. Let's face it, in a
world of shriveling character and standards, you are heroes. Over 50
participants logged their progress on the pages of IOL, shared their
thoughts and gained encouragement. Another zillion carried the torch
privately, caught up in the enthusiasm and success of the online
contributors. The tail of the year, October through December, did not
pass by without a vigorous wagging; it did not waddle into the sunset
a size or two larger than it did a year ago. And the momentum carries
into the new year.

Which reminds me: 363 days till 2009... 2008, ready or not, here we
is.

We won't talk about resolutions. Those went out with polyester and
disco. Resolutions are like lifer-long promises; they are not only
broken, they are chopped up, pulverized and finally vaporized. Let's
just stick to the basics: train hard, eat right and be -----------.
You fill in the blank. Choices include, but are not limited to, happy,
strong, consistent, big, lean, smart, healthy, a rock star, a busboy
and Governor.

December is the longest month of the year. Somehow we manage to pack
six weeks into four, gain weight, lose muscle, waste time, spend
money, buy junk, get deep in debt, forfeit discipline, submit to
chaos, misplace the iron and skip squats. It happens very fast and
takes forever, both at the same time.

Lucky me. I got a giant head cold the last ten days of the oversized
month and was placed under house arrest, or whatever. If I strained
too much my head exploded like an IED -- a cherry bomb. So, I hung
out. Got over the guilt by noon every day and went into a repair and
refresh mode. Good for joints, tendons and ligaments, bypasses, brain
matter, muscle tissue, general health and attitude and other assorted
things I tend to abuse with decisiveness and premeditation.

I believe it was an authentic Gimme-a-Break reaction to 2007, which is
not unlike the I'm-Outta-Here, Ya Rotten Year syndrome.

Today was my first day back in the gym. I found the place with the
first try and everyone remembered who I was, which was cool. I did
press-behind-necks supersetted with widegrip pulldowns to the front,
thickbar bench presses supersetted with stiffarm dumbbell pullovers,
and one arm rows supersetted with machine dips, (5 sets of each
superset x 6-10 reps). Bingo-bango.

Now you know one of my favorite training schemes to cover a lot of
territory after an obscene layoff. Did some gut, and split. Boom-zoom.

I intend to show my body kindness this year. In other words, I shall
reduce the blasting to sensible bombing, thereby reducing the negative
approach that accompanies the white-hot sets and reps, and the injury
that lurks on the other side of the last rep. When pain begins to
linger like the smell of an old cigar, it's time to lighten the load.

Speaking of which, considering it's the New Year and you've got
important things to do -- weight to lose, muscle to gain, money to
save, resolutions to keep -- I'll tie down the craft, close the hangar
doors and give my girl a call.

See ya, ya bums... God's might... Draper

Source: davedraper.com