Beginning my New Years resolution to build muscle, on December 12th


My goal for the New Year is to build some muscle, and I've been pondering it, and have decided to start today, December 12th, right after I've have some breakfast.

Because I'm no spring chicken anymore, I've discovered that I need to increase my recovery time, so in addition to doing less training during the week, I'll be taking a full month of for recovery after two months of intense muscle-building. And that means that I'll be pumpin' iron (and resistance bands) from now until the end of February, at which time I'll ease off a bit, just kinda going through the motions, and let my muscles (and especially my joints!) fully recover for a full month.

This past year I've scaled back my calories, and have found a comfortable amount of food that keeps me from gaining weight and still is satisfying. My famous "Brad Burgers" have gone from 150g to 75g, and I'm fine with it ("Where's the beef?"). Back in my twenties I figure that they were more like 300g, and also were made from regular (not lean) ground meat. That was then, this is now.

I train at home exclusively now, and I like it. I can leave the dumbbells lying on the floor, and I can take a break from my training anytime I want (and no waiting for machines!). I've got a good assortment of dumbbells, going from ridiculously light to as heavy as I will ever need, and also resistance bands and other assorted exercise things, like my ab roller.

My plan is to continue to weigh myself every morning, and take a "shirtless selfie" in the mirror (no, I'm not gonna show you, authorized personnel only, and you're not her). I've been able to see my abs for about ten years now, and would like to use that as a reference point (as long as I can see them, even just barely, I'm lean enough).

So that's the plan, man. I'll let you know how it goes.

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