Hello to all. I have listenedt to the pod casts for a while and decided it was time to check out the community. I am on a quest to beef up with 20lbs of solid muscle. I was one of those inheritantly thin guys who could not gain weight to save my sole, then I hit 45. The fat started to creep around the belly button. Soon I had a little roll of fat around the waist. Now that would not have been so awful if I had any shape at all, but I was a thin guy with a belly. Not pretty.
I was not athletic. I was an desk jockey with a passion for chocolates. I was also alergic to exercise. Honestly, a couple of years ago I was hospitalized for what was suspected as a heart attack. After a year of doctors and hospital visits, I determined it was Acid Reflux that got so bad the heart burn brought on the pains, which triggered panic and anxiety attacks. I was afraid of exercise. I thought it would give me a heart attack. Honestly, I did.
After a lot of research and some serious work I got better. A lot better. The key was to start exercising. I walked 15 minutes in the morning and again after dinner. I worked my way through six months of anguish. Then I joined a gym. I spent a year doing the machines and while I felt great and was a little trimmer, I still had matchstick arms and no chest. So I did more research. I tried a couple of different programs. I am still learning. The program before last was geared around bulking up - FAT. I got tired of that after about three months. I decided that if I had to be fat to gain muscle then it was not meant to be.
Then I found MTM podcasts. Oh yeah. I am very happy. I have kicked up the intesity of my lifting and I am getting stronger. I am watching what I eat, if it is fresh, healthy, and sensible, I will try it. My walking is now jogging. My only question is what is the best way to gain muscle? I am currently working out 3 days a week, split the body parts, take it to the max on each set. The program I am doing now is more of a strength program with 2 sets of 5/7 on most exercises.
Oh, did I mention my energy is through the roof. I work 10 hour days teaching and I love every minute of it. I have a very active life, and no longer fear heart attacks. I eat to live, not live to eat. Health is my goal, but looking great is a fun goal too.
Thanks and best wishes to all my parters in health.
