Here we go again!

Greetings All,

Well it’s that time again.  Time devote myself with psychotic obsession to the task of packing on muscle and trying to maintain my nerdly interests.  Much has happened in this little off season.  I had an interesting experience of seeing someone from my past whom hadn’t seen me in a very long time and they were completely unable to recognize me.  They said I had obviously lost weight and that I looked so different.  They didn’t say I looked better (although I am going to hope that’s what they meant), just different. 

So it’s time continue the road and see where it leads.  This year’s costume; next year’s reunion; it’s going to be interesting to see how it all turns out.  I get to do more of the quest on my own this year though.  I had my trainer last year, but now I can’t afford him.  Besides, I genuinely hope I have learned enough to do things myself. 

I will keep everyone up to date!

 

Super-Jerry

Sorry for the delay!

Greetings All,

    I know it’s been a while since my last post.  I have been tearing my hair out trying to get ready for Dragon Con.  I took final delivery of my costume this past week and had a photo shoot in it only the next day.  The shoot was so much fun!  We shot it against green-screen so the photographer can edit them to look like we are truly superheroes.  There was this awesome moment when I slipped a bit and had to go down on one knee to regain my balance.  The woman taking pictures told me my shoulders looked great in that position and I should stay in that pose.  That kept me flying high for the rest of the day. 

    My hair is now dyed the vivid red that it has to be for the costume.  It has been an amusing at work for everyone to see me with the red hair and their reaction to it.  I am also getting the “You’ve lost weight!” comments more than ever.  27lbs worth; I hope they would notice.

    As we are coming to the end of the first major goal (in shape for the last superhero costume for Dragon*Con), my trainer has requested the honor of the last post before the con.  Next week, look for pictures of progress to date and some images from the photo shoot in costume.  I have to warn everybody that after next week, there will be only a monthly post until training resumes in January for the next major goal.

    What is the next major goal?  Well, ambitious as ever, I have set my sites on a 2 year plan that will get me to 235lbs at 5% body fat.  At my height and with my body type, that will be quite a challenge.  However I am a firm believer that the game isn’t big enough unless it scares you a little!

Super-Jerry

First goal is nearing completion!

Greetings All,

Well, the first part of this mad quest is nearing the end.  Dragon Con is now less than a month away and the butterflies are starting to set in.  I have all these annoying questions swarming around in my mind.  Questions like, “Will I look completely ridiculous in my costume?” Or “Will all of this dieting and working out have been in vain?” 

Many people tell me that I have lost weight, but strictly speaking that wasn’t what I was going for.  What I wanted to do is loose fat (which I have).  A few who have seen me in a tank top have said I look bigger and more defined which is very encouraging.  All in all though, I won’t be satisfied until I see what I look like in my costume.

The costume and makeup tests are scheduled for the 18^th of this month.  The photo and video shoot will be the day after.  I promise I will post lots of photos of me in my superhero glory.  The excitement is mounting!

Super Jerry

No Fitness Muppet

Greetings All,

    I was watching some old Sesame Street clips recently, and I began to notice that there was never any emphasis placed physical fitness.  Then I began to think back to all the other Children’s Television Workshop shows and I don’t recall anything there either.  3 2 1 Contact had a short feature occasionally about particular athletics, but nothing that really was fitness oriented.   All the CTW shows had a particular emphasis:  The Electric Company (spelling and vocabulary); 3 2 1 Contact (physical sciences); Reading Rainbow (reading and literacy); Sesame Street (elementary skills); Square One (Mathmatics).  I don’t recall any of those great shows we loved as kids ever delving seriously into fitness.  It’s almost as if it were taboo in children’s edutainment.  With the childhood obesity epidemic on the rise, it seems like there should be a show (or at least a regular segment on a show) devoted to fitness.  Someone needs to write to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation and tell them to fund a kids show for fitness, exercise and kinesiology.  Thoughts?

Super Jerry

Time is short!

Greetings all,

    Well, it’s getting really close to Dragon*Con and the deadline for my first major goal.  After nine months of dieting and working out, we’ll see how well I can pull off this costume.  Of course the quest will not end there.  After Dragon*Con and a short layoff period which will on consist of light cardio and calisthenics, I will be at it again.  I am told that this is how bodybuilders usually balance their year out.  The next long term goal will be to reach 235lbs. at 5% body fat.  That’s certainly not going to be easy, but I am a firm believer in the expression “The game isn’t big enough unless it scares you a little.” 

    As cutting continues, I have to work in all the time for the aesthetics of the costume (hair dyeing, spray tanning, etc.)  The next 5 weeks are going to be quite a challenge.  I will keep everyone posted!

Super-Jerry

The Revenge of Football Camp

Greetings All,

  Well, the fun stuff is over (relatively speaking) and now we are into cutting.  Now begins the intensely involved circuit training.  Lots of cardio; lots of compound movement exercises.  Doesn't that sound delightful?  I feel like fate is punishing me for not trying out for any sport in high school.  Now it's like "The Revenge of Football Camp."  I was an impromptu bookie in high school as well, so maybe this is penance for such opportunism.  Still, many have told me that this is the phase that makes it all worth it.  I dearly hope so.

    I am down to 16% body fat and 209lbs.  The target by Dragon Con is 10%.  I also have to go get waxed (no 40 Year Old Virgin references please) 3 times beforehand.  Let's not forget hair dyeing and spray tanning.  The things we do to pretend we are someone else.  I just keep telling myself "It's worth it! It's worth it!"


Super-Jerry

As promised, here are some progress so far pics:

These were taken last Thursday:

These were taken at the top of April:

No cannon ball if you are over 300lbs.

Greeting All,

    So I went to our local water park this weekend with some friends.  Apparently the park had some sort of discount for guests that qualify as morbidly obese or excessively inked (possibly double for both).  At first I was terrified to take my shirt off but after looking around at that place, the modesty evaporated.  I found myself openly acknowledging the childhood obesity epidemic and I had to actively contain my contempt for the massively obese adults as well.  I don’t want that to sound arrogant, but after only about 6 months of hard core training I have gotten my body fat levels to a much more health level.  Surely people with less intense goals could simply maintain good healthy levels.

    I do wonder what the significant change was from the 70’s when we (Americans) were among the skinniest, to now when we are the fattest.  Some say it’s the availability of fattening fast-foods, but McDonalds, Wendy’s and Burger King have been around a lot longer than that.  Some blame video games and TV; that might be partly true but I certainly doubt that it’s the root cause.  I don’t think that there is any one smoking gun other than apathy.  

    I am starting to learn that fitness is very much self reinforcing.  It feels kinda good when you can start (as my trainer puts it) setting the bar higher.  The real trick is not to become excessively arrogant or vain.  I am using the (very effective) imagery I got at the water park to motivate me on my mad Quest.  I can say to myself that I want better than all of these people have settled for.  Cliché? Maybe, but it seems to be working.

Super-Jerry

PS:  More “progress so far” pics next week