DON't GIVE ME THAT PANSY S#&% ! (Nutrition and Weight Loss Tips)

"Don't ever quit, don't ever think you can't do something."

Working Out/Exercise 

        For the last three months I have been working out sparingly (going 2 days instead of 3 per week like i should).  I usually do a full body workout; I know, save me the macho bodybuilder advice. A site that I find that really helps me out a lot is this one right here http://www.bodybuilding.com
And if you are anything like me, you like to have things kind of already made for you. It is just a lot easier to have a workout that is already put together instead of figuring everything out on your own. This is the actual routine that I do. The exercises with the Set #3 blacked out are only two sets

You can find various workouts Here

        Besides lifting weights I also run regularly. So lets say I get my lazy a** to the gym Mon,Wed, and Fri. I usually try to run on the weekend... usually. It's a lot easier to sit around and play Xbox, you reserve energy that way. To bad running away from cops in GTA doesn't count as cardio. I would be like Usain Bolt by now. (Tips on running at bottom of blog)

Photo courtesy of Jonny Ross, Check out more work here

The Secret to my weight loss

        But, Wait Lavell... What about Tuesdays and Thursdays? Do you do anything on those days? Ah, Yes, Tuesdays and Thursdays, the most wonderfully dreadful days of them all. About two five months ago I got involved in the greatest, most tiring thing I have ever done in my life. Because of it my confidence is through the roof. I have lost 7lbs around 20lbs in two weeks 2 and half months (recently weighed myself), and my body (especially my legs) hate me for it. On those two days I fight, simple as that. I train Muay Thai and recently boxing on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Only reason I go to the boxing is because I have to wait for the Muay Thai to start. My coach, trainer, torturer, what ever words pop into my head to describe this man doesn't take away from how much I have learned. 

        Muay Thai has been my favorite martial art probably since I watched Ong Bak; I must have been like twelve or thirteen at the time. My love for martial arts started years before that though, from movies like: The Drunken Master, Romeo Must Die, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and so many others at some point I was bound to get involved. It just so happened that my gym or my soon to be gym was offering classes with registration. I decided to sign up and at first I was nervous to go, but once I did I never really looked back.

        If you are looking for something that not only mixes a ridiculous amount of cardio with strength and conditioning, but provides a great deal of self confidence and the ability to properly defend yourself you should look into a martial art. Even if you never plan on getting into a fight, a martial art can, will get you in ridiculously great shape. That alone should be enough to get you convinced. A typical day of training goes something like this:

Boxing:

6:00pm, Walk into gym, wrap hands and start shadowboxing for boxing

6:10pm, Finish warming up, put gloves on, partner up, and start practice techniques

6:10-7:00pm Gradually increase interval time until we are doing combos back and forth non-stop, 

Muay Thai

7:00pm Get ready for Muay Thai and hit the mat for shadowboxing

7:10pm, 25 Jump Lunges, 50 V-Sits, 25 Jump Squats

7:15pm, Technique 1

7:20pm, 25 Jump pushups, 50 V-Sits, Plank for 1 min

7:25pm, Technique 2

7:30pm, 100 Flutter Kicks, 25 Jump Squats, 25 Jump Lunges 

7:45pm, Technique 3

7:50-8pm, Core circle (It isn't called that but that's what I call it. Basically everyone get's in a circle and does 100 of what ever core strengthen technique the person chooses. So if there are 6 people you end up doing 600 ab exercises.)

8:00-8:30pm, We Spar, if you don't know what that is we basically practice everything we learned against each other. 

Closing

        A little early I mentioned I was going give few tips on running. I am going to make that it's own separate subject in my next post. There is a lot I want to cover on the subject and I feel like I have made this post long enough. So I will leave you with this, don't ever quit, don't ever think you can't do something. Every day that I am in training and I look like I am about to give up, or in life when things seem to get hard. I will remember my coach standing above me, screaming, "Don't Give Me That Pansy S#&%!",and I will keep pushing forward and you can to.

Leave any comments or advice if you would like.

 

The Hiatus: a start of a new chapter. (Exploring Transfers Program, Vassar College: Poughkeepsie, Ny)

"Before the program I just dreamed of the possibilities, now i realize they are all too attainable and I am going to get there."

        It has been a little over a month since I left from an intensive educational experience. From June 20th to July 25th I lived and studied at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. I was 1 of 30 out of 150 candidates who were chosen to participate in a program known as the Exploring Transfer Program. It is a 5 week reading and writing program designed for community college students who excel in those areas. Vassar was founded in 1861, it is a privately funded liberal arts school that is very progressive. I heard it is the sister college to Yale. I don't know the legitimacy of that, but still is pretty impressive. Some of there alumni include: Meryl Steep, Lisa Kudrow, Edith Clarke and many more, you can see the whole list here: Alumni of Vassar College.  If you are a community college student and would like more information about this program or about Vassar College click on the links below.

Vassar College: http://www.vassar.edu/
Exploring Transfer: http://eter.vassar.edu/ 

        Do you know how it's usually said certain things happen for a reason. It is how I felt about this program, I knew their was a reason that this opportunity was given to me I just didn't know why. If I can back track for just one second, when I choosing my classes for this Spring Semester it was a toss up between English 112 Honors and Intro to Video Production. Both were classes that I really wanted to take and I had a hard time choosing which was the right path. In the end I chose Eng 112 Honors (which is the equivalent to any secondary English class) and the rest seemed to just fall into place. It was like someone just threw me a football and right as I caught it a 250lbs linebacker hit me as hard as he could. Okay... Maybe I am exaggerating just a little bit, but it was still a lot to take in at first.

Exploring Transfer:
        I was told multiple times from multiple sources that this is going to be intense. My English honors teacher, "Lavell, you can't be absent when you are at Vassar", the ET coordinator for my school, "Hello Mr. Wesley, I don't think it is smart to take an online class while you do this program. I don't want to undermine you abilities, but you might not have enough time", former ET almuni, "Omg it was intense there were nights where we didn't even sleep". In the end I kind of brushed them off and did my own thing. I have to admit I thought it would be a cake walk, I must be a masochist. Don't worry I almost cried a few times.

        The first week there I had no clue why I decided to go through with this. I kind of wanted to call it quits, pack my bags, and run home with my tail between my legs. I mean it was a last minute thing I decided to jump into. I usually do that with things jump in with both feet and realize that things might take a little more work than I thought; and that was exactly what was needed, more work. The second week was no different I still kind of felt a little overwhelmed. It wasn't until the third week that I officially felt like I was starting to belong and everything was fine. Around that time I started to get a feel of my fellow classmates and my amazingly wonderful teachers. Who by the way, are probably some of the best teachers I have ever had the pleasure of learning from.  Between thought provoking conversations and a wonderful ambiance of pure nature it dawned on me the purpose of me being there.

The Purpose:
        It might sound a little cliche, but I feel like the reason I was there was to learn that I could do anything I possibly wanted. That I had the ability to do whatever I put my mind to. I mean, we did a whole semesters worth of work in a month, that has to count for something. Before the program I just dreamed of the possibilities, now i realize they are all too attainable and I am going to get there. It also made me think about reevaluating what I can do with this blog. My goals are still cemented in the crevices of my brain, but maybe I am able to help more than just myself.

        So, starting today, I will not only post about my progress to bike across the country I will also be offering tips and advice to that you can reach your goals as well. A lot has changed for me and I would like to see people reach for a more positive change themselves. Please stay tuned for my next post.

Below are some pictures (taken by yours truly) of my month in Poughkeepsie, NY.



Side Note:
 A side note, remember to always follow your heart, if an opportunity arises and your gut feeling is to do it then just do it; you have nothing to lose from it and can only gain. More than enough people make excuses for why they can't do things remember that the power is always in your hands.      

   

The dilemmas of a lazy man.

 "Only question now is, can I stick to this? Man the dilemmas of a lazy man..."

      It has been almost a month since my first post and my only concern is what type of content would I be able to provide. Am I capable enough of creating a blog that is noteworthy? Can I be consistent enough to update regularly? Am I even Funny? At moments like this where my thoughts seem to hold my body hostage I have to remember to treat it like a Hollywood movie, "We Do Not Negotiate With Terrorists". Besides there are bigger fish that need frying.

Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Chandler, More of his stuff here

     One of these fish was to create a list of all the things I wish to do along the way as I get closer to riding across the country. I would like to say I have some elaborate scheme to plan this all out, but I usually suck at planning and just run with things. The list has no order of importance, besides dates of occurrence or availability. They go as followed:

A VERY PROGRESSIVE LIST (*Updates*)

1. Spartan Race
2. Boston Marathon 
3. Compete in a Muay Thai Bout (I won my first smoker and won 2 medals in Jiu Jitsu)
4. Drop to 200lbs (currently weigh 228) (Currently weigh 195lbs)
5. Get accepted into the Engineering Program.
6. Get a lot more involved at my school

 I thought it would be a lot more interesting if they were not all just fitness goals, but some educational sprinkled on top. Since this blog is mostly based off of education it only seems right... right? Only question now is, can I stick to this? Man the dilemmas of a lazy man...

Beginnings

Hello,
This is my first post and I would like to say thank you for taking the time out to look at it. I'll start with the basics my name is Lavell Wesley.

(That's me. I know not the most original or inspiring picture, but me none the less.)

So a little about me and the purpose of this blog:
I am a 23 year old Entrepreneur major looking to transfer to Engineering. My goal as of right now is to get through school and earn my degree in civil engineering. I go to Bunker Hill Community College.

I know, leaves a lot to the imagination. Just Imagine that everyone has jet packs, more than accurate.

 Well over the past few years of my academic endeavors I have come to a serious realization... I'M BROKE! I wouldn't be able to afford school even if I wanted to. I know it was major news to me too. Well I decided to try and do something about that. I have never been the kind of person to just out right beg for help so I want to work for it.    

Here is what I am going to do for a little help to get me through school. Are you ready? Can I get a drum roll please? No drum roll? Oh... Okay. Well I might as well say it. I am going to ride a bike across the country from my hometown of Revere, Ma (you know, that place with um roast beef?)  to San Francisco, CA. 

I plan on doing this by May of 2015 Summer 2017 (when I Transfer) for two reasons. 1) To get my fat body in shape and 2) To actually wrap my head about what the hell I am about to do.

So that is all I can think of posting right now. Hopefully someone shows pity on my poor soul and will follow this.