Since the last entry was way back on 19 July 2014 just before we left to return to Iowa for my 45th High School reunion, much has happened. I will not try to bore you with all the details but let me make some brief comments about the trip. Then, I will get into how traveling affected my bodybuilding regimen and the net result.
First, we drove to Iowa from Provo, Utah. Long drive and it took 2 days. First night of the Reunion was aboard the vessel, “Lady of the Lake” which sails on Clear Lake in Iowa. My first impression of all of us was that this was going to be “Geriatric Night” and the anticipation was correct. Each of us have gone the way of “all the earth” and have the wrinkles to prove it. Many of us (probably more like 100%) have had lives that just didn’t turn out like all the great expectations that we were looking forward to. We have physical, psychological, emotional, and social scars all over our little lives to validate the journey. But! the thing that seemed to characterize the event was this total lack of phoniness. We genuinely liked each other’s company despite all imperfections and bumps that life has dealt each of us. We talked incessantly. We laughed until our ribs hurt. Occasionally, there would be awkward moments when we could not recall an event or a person that was being talked about. Again! The nights of the Reunion belonged to us. It was “OUR TIME” and I do believe we made the most of it.
Night Two, Christine and I suddenly had a family matter to tend to and we missed the evening on the Beach at PM Park in Clear Lake. Scratch a good time lost for us.
Night Three, Found us at a Cash Bar at an establishment named, “The Candy Bar”….We saw even more friends and colleagues from so long ago. I nearly cried a couple of times when a person, who I never expected to be there or to ever see again, would come up to me and say, “Doug?” Almost shyly, and then the hugs and the sheer joy of being in their presence would overwhelm me. I won’t mention any names here because those moments belong to us. However, each of us experienced the same thing many times over.
Because of all these memories I and my wife Christine are grateful. Each of my classmates are forever written on the walls of my heart.
Bodybuilding:
Well, Thanks to my wife Christine, we stayed right on our diet. She cooked, chilled, prepared individual portions for both of us for each meal that was scheduled. She is the backbone of my effort and makes my job that much easier. Thank you precious for all you do.
My objective is to increase my weight (and stay lean too) to 198 lbs by Contest Time in July 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA. My Coach, Justin Dees has me eating 3,794 Calories Daily, but by the time I drink my supplements etc. the grand total approaches 4,500 Calories Daily. Now, here’s the kicker. My weight has been steadily rising to around 185 lbs. Then, the first morning back, yesterday, I jumped on the scale and my weight had actually gone down to 178.2 lbs. I was crushed. I worked out at Justin’s Gym in South Jordan Utah yesterday and explained all this to Justin. I will meet with him this Friday to be measured for Body Fat and Body Weight and he will make the adjustments.
Curiously, I went right back to eating as I had been instructed and my weight this morning was 182.8 lbs. I am confused and I will keep to the high caloric intake and hard work for now. Today, I am doing my legs and I can guarantee you that I will be walking like an Easter Seal Poster Boy before I’m done.
I have no conventional wisdom to pass along at this point except to tell each of us who are getting along in years to never give up on the goals and dreams we have decided are important to us. We were not put on this earth to “Coast”….I will forever place in front of us that, “THIS IS OUR TIME!”
Go get ’em! Others need your success more than you will ever know…
Douglas E. Graham
Douglas E. Graham
Six Pack and Senior 