Success! FINALLY!

Its finally the end of the year, which also means the end of my blog posts, THANK THE LORD. Only kidding of course. Over the year I've been privileged enough to be able to plunge into several different work study experiences including: Working with illustrator, final cut pro, a brief into the world of physical training, and last but not least pursuing a career as a professional athlete.

Working with illustrator and final cut for the last few months has got to be the most satisfyingly boring thing I've ever done. Weird way to describe it right? Well let me explain. You see the result of learning about these two highly detailed programs are awesome video and picture editing and creating skills. Im talking skills that you can take with you anywhere throughout life and they could come in handy. They are extremely useful is what I'm trying to get across. The down side however, is actually taking the time and learning about them. I say down side because they are insanely large programs which you could spend years learning about. Overall though Id have to say it was completely worth it to learn a bit about these two incredible applications.

At the beginning of the year and into the second semester a bit I was able to learn a few things about the world of physical training. Although I wasn't able to get out and really test out skills and learn new things about the subject I was able to study it a lot. I got the chance to learn about several different muscle groups and what I can do to build them and then keep them healthy. I learned what it took to stay in great shape while also keeping on muscle. Probably the coolest thing I was able to do, was go and get a few pointers from Mr. California, or more widely known around these parts as "Doc Hoover". He taught me things about building muscle and keeping it that I couldn't have gotten from anywhere else, and it was hands on training which was absolutely incredible. Fortunately I was able to do something like this because the topic of physical therapy has always interested me, and all that I learned will be good knowledge for the future.

Finally I was able to fulfill a little part of my life dream to play professional soccer. I made the CMU men's soccer team, which is a D2 college located in Grand Junction Colorado. Ive been pursuing this all my life and it feels good to know my work is paying off just a bit. A little tip for anyone pursuing the same dream. Just keep pushing, no matter how hard things look like they are getting, just keep pushing forward. If you work hard enough and do the right things to succeed, eventually you will.

I just want to say that this year in work study has taught me an incredible amount of things. I also know that everything I learned will help me in the future. Heres to the end of a great year!

-Keevah

A Semester of Getting Swoll with Knowledge

This semester of working on both my mental and physical physique has been absolutely incredible. I have been able to learn new workouts, muscle building strategies, and how to actually keep my gains. Ive also had the opportunity to workout at big name gyms with trainers and learn about all the different types of muscles and their functions. Being able to take in all these new things has just made me want to pursue this career path even more!

This semester I was able to spend a lot of time looking into finding out what helps you keep on the muscle you have been striving so hard to get, and the facts are very surprising. We all know that the biggest part of gaining muscle is obviously working out, but in order to keep all those precious gains we have to also sleep and eat right. I learned on average, to keep and gain one pound of muscle a week, you need to be intaking 4 to 5 thousand calories a day, while also getting eight plus hours of sleep a night. Sounds like a lot of work doesn't it? The second thing I learned is that in order to actually continually gain muscle you have to be consistently confusing them so that working out doesn't simply become just muscle memory.

Confusing the Muscle sounds weird right? well the truth is its very simple. Confusing a muscle involves rather than just doing the same workout day after day after day, mixing it up and hitting different groups of muscles each day. Also when the time rolls around to hit a certain muscle group again, you can't be doing the same workouts you did in the previous lift. A huge component of gaining muscle is being able to a variety of different lifts, instead of just getting good at a few simple ones.

Over these past few months I've been able to learn a few different workout, but I would have definitely liked to learn a few more. I learned a lot about how each different muscle works, but not so much on how to work every one of them. As my training continues I would very much like to learn more ways to pack on those pounds.

This career choice, although very invigorating, is very much worth it. If you're looking to go down the same path I am, I would highly recommend it! everything about it intrigues me. It definitely does take a certain type though. You have to be very self motivated and also very, how do I say this, into your self. You have to continually want to improve your outer appearance while also doing healthy things to improve your self on the inside as well. It is definitely a life time commitment thing.

If you are looking into physical training though, here are 5 tips: Number one: never give up. Gains will start off slow and you will hate that you aren't seeing a difference right away, but don't get discouraged, just keep working. Number two: Have fun with whatever it is you're doing. Whether its researching workouts, diets, or actually working out, make it fun. put on your favorite mix tape while doing it, use trivia flash cards, look up other peoples opinions. Whatever it takes just make it fun! Number three: Be willing to spend immense amounts of time in the gym. Number four: Get used to bad tasting things. Eating healthy doesn't always taste bad, but sometimes it does and you're going to have to put it down anyways. Number five: Keep yourself motivated. Do different things that get you stoked to workout or learn about it every day!.

Next semester I would like to stay with the same assignment, but I might be changing to more of a video making and music path. I will let you know!

-Keevah

Physical Training: The Beginning

Have you ever seen those guys that are so big that they have to turn their bodies completely sideways to even get through a door or look the other way? Well they might look pretty gross, but they also have an immense amount of knowledge on how to build your physique to be the best it can be, and lucky enough for me I was able to work with one of those guys this past week!

During my first week of learning to be a physical trainer, I was able to work with a very big name. He goes by Doc Hoover, and he has won countless bodybuilding awards, even to the point of becoming Mr. Colorado and Mr. California.

Unfortunately I was only able to work with him for one day due to a soccer game, however that one day went particularly well. I went in and he started by adjusting my back, which felt incredible, and then he showed me all the different muscle structures within my back and how to specifically work each one.

He then explained to me how working out and lifting regularly isn't the only thing that will help me to stay in shape, and that I also need to be really watching what I eat. He explained that I needed to consume at least 5000 healthy calories a day to gain and maintain a pound of muscle in a week. He then gave me a list of foods and workouts I should spend my time eating and working on.

I don't know how much I will be working with Doc Hoover, but hopefully Ill be able to see him a lot over this next semester. Overall things are going great, and I hope that all persists as so!

-Keevah

Streets and Boards and Bees and Swords

Today marks the first day of a new year and also a new work study program. Although I've had a pretty steady job for the past few years working in a restaurant, its never really been the thing that grabs my attention. This year in work study I will be learning about physical training and working to get a license to be a physical trainer. The topic of learning basically how every muscle in the body works and can be built upon caught my attention a few years back and has interested me ever since.

 In my opinion being able to know how to build upon and improve your physique is not only a huge accomplishment but also a mental struggle in the same, making it a life long commitment. I hope this year goes well and I am able to learn everything I can about not only  business with my great teacher Mr. Shima, and also about physical training.