Still Pumping Iron

Well, what can I say, folks? Obviously, you know by now that I'm not the best at updating this darned thing. I'm doing a much better job of updating the blog that I do for work. (Check it out if you want--and if you're into gay porn.) But since that is written at the office during work hours, it's a lot easier than tending to this one, which is usually done following a workout session in my "freelance" hours. And this gym convert is usually too darned tired after one of his strenuous workouts.

Some of you might be thinking: Wait a minute, Ken, wasn't this whole thing supposed to be over by now? And you'd be right. It's been a little over six months since I started working out with Ronn. (The exact starting date was January 22.) But, since I was a wimp with virtually no muscle content at all when I started, the first five months were really just about building a foundation of muscle. At the end of those five months, I looked in the mirror and was happy with what I saw--Wow, check out that definition in my arms!--but I realized that I was nowhere near where I wanted to be in terms of being ready for "after" pics. So, Ronn and I both decided to extend the project by one more month to give us extra time to try to "pump me up." I also added an extra day of weight training (up to five nights, compared to the four I was originally doing), and went on an extra-modified diet (essentially high protein--nothing but chicken, fish, eggs, brown rice and baked potatoes) to help achieve the bod I want.

So far, not so bad. This past weekend I weighed myself on the scale at the gym, and was amazed to see that not only had I reached my goal (160 pounds), but had actually surpassed it (I was down to 158)!!! That was pretty thrilling, I must say. Other than weight lost in pounds, I've also lost a good bit of weight in inches. I've certainly noticed dramatic changes in the way that my clothes fit--or rather, don't fit--me. I've got several pair of 32-inch waist jeans that now hang over my butt! I've had to belt them just to keep them from falling down. Woo hoo! (Of course, you know what that means: I have to buy new clothes. Anyone wanna fund my next shopping spree?)

But where some weight has been lost, other weight has been gained--or rather, redistributed. Where I used to have measly soft arms and sunken torso, I now have lean, firm biceps and the outline of a nice, soon-to-be-formidable chest forming. My legs are pretty ripped from hours of cardio on the eliptical machine, treadmill and the Stairs to Nowhere. My back is getting more solid by the day. And my abs are hardening with each set of 75 crunches/leg raises, etc. There are days where I will look in the mirror and not recognize myself at all. Other days I still see the out-of-shape wimp I used to be, and then stress that I'm not working hard enough and want to race back into the gym so I can make up for it.

But the truth is, I'm working my tail off, and it's showing. I'm getting more compliments than ever from friends who haven't seen me in a while, and even from those who saw me only a week ago. These last few weeks are going to be some of the most crucial of the entire project, as this is really about building upon the foundation that Ronn and I have created together.

I've been asked to show my body a few times, but I'm holding out on any unveiling until the end of the project. That means I've stayed away from pool parties (I'm not really a fan anyway) and haven't updated my pics on my dating-site profiles either. All in good time, my pretties, all in good time. I want the "after" pics to be as dramatically different than the "before" pics as possible, so I'm keeping the bod under wraps until then. Frontiers will publish the final installment in the Sept. 12 issue of the magazine, which means I need to have my story and the pictures turned in by August 26. That leaves just under a month for Ronn and I to rock the sh#t out and get me as close to looking like a swimsuit model as possible. It should be interesting--and pretty painful!

Stay tuned, folks! I will try to update more often in these last few weeks1

(Pics by Kevin Cazares)