The Owl vs The Boar

"When life hands you lemons, make some lemonade." I am a patient person when it comes to people I work with but it is starting to take it toll, and someone needs to pay that toll fee.

Yesterday I opened at the GNC store and received an email about multi vitamins are buy one get one half off. Since I have a gold card with them I get sale updates. Well I called my manager, who like always did not answer, heaven forbid that someone should be up at that un-Godly hour of 10am.

The store received a new shipment of merchandise. I started to unpack the boxes and restocking the new items on the shelf behind the old items to keep things rotating out. An estimated three hours must have pass and it was about 12:30pm or so and the manager called me to say he is coming in. Apparently he was suppose to change all the sale ads and update all the promo signs but it just did not get around to do it. Then shortly after he called the area manager, my manager's manager called and asked if the new sale signs are up. I told her no, but I am working on it now and that my manager is on his way to finish it up. She then asked when was the last day he worked at the store.

My manager shows up and starts taking down old signs and ads and I help. I asked why did you not leave a note or call and have me and the other associate to get things ready. He said that its complicated and did not want to leave it to use and then have to come in to fix what we did wrong.

................... yes, taking down old sale signs which have expiration dates in small font and taking down old posters and setting up new posters and displays truly is nuclear physics, and guess what, a business degree makes you the only one qualified to copy planograms!

..............lets forget about the guy who has worked in health care for the past 4 1/2 years(moi)

In Greek mythology, the Owl was a symbol of wisdom and associated with the Goddess, Athena.

Once all that was finished I started stocking the new shipment in again and a shelf piece fell down. My manager told me it was my fault, I took it ask if he was playing. I replied that it was his, then he said no its not it was in-fact my fault. Continuing the joke I said it was Lisa, another associate who works there. The mood suddenly changed, the manager then questioned my ethics and professionalism. He then said its no ones fault and I should not be blaming other people for my actions. He then explained that we are a team.

Interesting, we are a team but he talks shit about Lisa and about the guy he made quite. We are a team but I have to pick up the slack because he must  take his vaca days while we are short handed..........SO MUCH FOR TEAM WORK RIGHT!

Finally my shift was over and I clocked out. He then told me he needs to talk to me despite that fact I am off now. I spent 30minutes listening to him giving me some constructional criticism. I did not take it as a bad way until he told me that he knows I am not trying to sale GNC items, that I am just trying to sale items to get bigger commission. The never, how unprofessional, how can he say I am not trying and that I am only selling non GNC items. 

I tired to explain but he did not want to listen. I explain that the customers who come in are on a budget and that they usually come in to get the same items that have been helping them. He explained to me that the customers do not know what they want, that I need to persuade them to get GNC items. I told him how do you sell a GNC multi vitamin to someone who expresses they already have a vitamin. He then said that GNC is better then the "cheap shit from Walmart." He told me I need to pick up my sales and that if its to hard GNC lets people go who can no keep up sales.

I took all this in and understood what he was trying to tell me, but I believe it all should have come out differently since he is suppose to be a manager.

I left that day thinking, this guy is full of shit, this guy is a bully, this guy is in it for his own profit not for the customers needs.

Its funny that day I had several customers call the store and wanted to know my name because they felt comfortable talking to me and that I seem like I know what I am talking about. While in the store, some customers expressed that they do not like the manager because he "hounds" the and does not let them shop around and pressures them to buying something and then to leave.


Today I worked at another GNC location in Round Rock, Tx. Today was an awesome day. The customers there wanted to shop around and wanted to listen about items and how it can benefit them. They were interested in knowing who I am and what I would recommend. The customers had a different attitude and different perspective on health. It was a breath of fresh air. 

I also went to the gym and worked out on legs and did a lot of cardio.

Day of Days

Today is day two of which I have gone to the gym and taken my new supplements, the GNC Beyond Raw.

I feel like it has made a huge difference. The thermogenic, Refine, still needs time to kick in but the pre workout mix, Ravage, is helping me go the extra mile. I notice I am more care free and focus while working out. Infact all I can think about is the next time I am going to the gym and what am I going to workout on?


The N.O. formula in Raveage is really the key to this change. I can not wait til April to see the results.

Yesterday was bicep and tricep workout when went ok. I did have a good workout but notice my technique was a bit messy.

Today I worked out on chest and I Killed It!

I used dumb bells for all my lifts today. From over chest press, flies, flat bench, and incline. In between each rep I attempted to jump rope. It has been awhile since I have used a jump rope and it was hard but I managed to jump 50 times in between each rep.

At the end of the workout my shirt was soaked from the front to the back with sweat.
My chest feels thicker but the pecs are not formed yet. My biceps and triceps are still a bit sore from yesterday. It could also be the other supplement, Powerful, which I continue to use.

I have not weigh my self since last week but I can see and I do feel a difference in my size. I am slimming down and I must be a size 33 now since I can fit into my size 32 uncomfortably.

I still need more supplies before starting P90x.

Ctrl-Alt-Del

Today is the first day of the GNC two day body cleanse I am taking. This morning I started with a large glass of water with one of my Lipo6 Black pills to help me wake up. I ironed my close and got my things ready for work. Besides taking my cleanse mix I brought some fruit and protein.

Work went by kinda fast but I only had two customers. I guess it went by so quickly because downstairs of the mall they were setting up a stage for a band to play and the location of the store I work in is right above it. I realized I am spending to much time with the customers explaining the products instead of driving them to buy it. I have many people come in over the weeks and I educate them about the products and what may help them for their goals but they lease without buying anything. My sales are not good but at the same time I would not want some one to pressure me into buying but to inform me and let me make up my own mind.

Well back to the cleanse which is surprisingly tasty. The ingredients contain a lot of fruit, vegetable, and vitamin extracts. I have pissed so many times today its unreal, about two to three times an hour. When I think of cleansers I immediately think of bowel cleansers and shitting all the time, but that is not the case. I am almost finished with bottle number one and I am starting to feel bloated.
I have only had fruit and a sandwich to eat todaty.

After the body cleanse and given all the equipment is in I will be starting P90x with the help of some new stack products. I will start using several GNC products made for muscle building and fat burning. Its the GNC Beyond Raw line. I have the ReBuild Mass, the ReFine, Ravage, with the Pro Series Rapid Drive Arginine 5000. I am going to prove you can gain more muscle mass and weight, continue doing routine cardio, and get ripped all at the same time. This is a step in the left directions because most magazines and fitness people will say you have to gain weight (good and bad) before you can get ripped and sculpted. I think it can be done because everyones body response to stimuli differently. What works for you will not work for me or Bob.

Tomorrow will be day two of the cleanse drink and also a day at the gym for some chest work.

The Dramatic

It has been days, no, weeks since I have blogged. As I think back about it what has gone on.... a lot of shit!!! I am still working at GNC and starting next week there will be no rest for the wicked. Thats right no more days off for me. I will be working every single day at two stores. My manager says I should get more commision because the other store I am assigned to has more business because of it's location. I am looking forward to this.

I have not been going to the gym as much because of school, home work load, and house duties like laundry, trash, feeding the dogs, and what else.. oh yes, this crazy Texas weather. I am not a winter kind of person, I prefer the spring with its cool breezes and rain. Since its winter season I do not feel like doing shit. In fact I rather eat more then usual... and thats a lot. Its been windy and cold then the next day sunny and muddy.... what a bipolar state I live in.

I reset my laptop to factory setting and I lost all the music I had saved except for what has been stored on my Itouch. I am afraid if I attached my Itouch to my laptop and connect to Itune all my music will be erased.

I filed my taxes with Turbo Tax and go my refund back in one week. Sadly I do not get to spend it on new cloths, new shoes, or even new supplements. The good news is I have the money for the cruise on Carnival to the Caribbeans..... AWESOMENESS!!!!
But Sunday I will get me a new tattoo!

So today I am officially 29 years old and one day. I feel as if Im 23 and maybe thats why I still make dumb misstakes like listening to my ex and trading him my suv which was paid off for a smaller more economical car. Now I am stuck is a car payment. Or maybe for not listening to my peers like my co workers who were nurses who told me not to do any CNA work because its awful.

I am a 23 year old boy in a 29 year old mans body.

The plus about this is that I look 21 years old and still get carded which fuels my ego lol. Sadly on the day of my birthday I was crying in my restroom. After I got out of work I hit the gym. I texted my friends asking if they are still going to meet me for karaoke that night around eight. I got lots of replies that their plans changed, their going out of town, they are to tired, and that they just can not go. An awful feeling of rejections and embarrassment. I wondered if its because I have not been able to spend time with them for their birthdays, or did they think I was expecting gifts, or did they just not want to be around me?
But the night did not end in mellon collie, I went to dinner with a friend and then a few more friends came and joined.

I do feel like I am in "bloom" and becoming something more both physically and mentally.
I realized the only thing stopping me from reaching the stars is myself. This is all going to change!

The Fear, The Goal, The Idea

This morning I got up and went to the gym but this time I did not have my morning protein drink or my pre-workout drink of Jack3D. Instead I went to the gym on my Lipo6.


I did not do cardio or light weight. 


I worked out on biceps and triceps. 


I did three work out sets for both muscle groups. I would have, should have done a fourth but my arms started to feel swollen and weak.


I have noticed that I am lifting heavier then last week. 


After my workout I went to the hot tub to soak and relax while drinking my post workout protein drink. In the hot tub there was a man already there. I got in and he asked me, "Is that one of those high dollar protein drinks?" I replied no it is not, the protein within is reasonably priced and that there are some other stuff in it that I mixed to help build muscle.


Long story short, he got out and I was in the hot tub thinking about protein, GNC, and money. I realized that working part time at GNC give me time for the gym and for school, but where is the money form this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocDlOD1Hw9k

Can I afford my bills like insurance and my car payment? 

I hate having second doubts like I hate my back fat. No matter how hard I workout it stays there.

I hate letting people down and I told myself that I would give this job a few months while I go to school and study for my MA certification.

At times I feel like I am not good enough and that I put myself in these bad situation on purpose... but why?

I guess I have to bust my ass on selling as much products as possible to make my commission since I am only getting paid $7.25 an hour.

If all good things come to those who wait, and if's and butt's are candies and nuts, and if all the kings horses and men, could come together and help cut down the trees of the forest so I have a clear path to take because all these pre-recs from ACC are making the nursing program seem like its out of my reach!

Double Trouble!!

I did not go to the gym on Friday. In stead I relaxed and had breakfast, lunch, a nap, went to work, then a late dinner with a beer.

Saturday morning I work up very tired and it was not until 930am that I got up from bed. I quickly got up and dressed to hit the gym. At that point I remember the scheduler from the nursing home, where I work PRN, called me and left a message asking if I can help, but my phone died before I could text or call back last night.

I have already given my two weeks notice starting on 1/18 because all my hours were going to full time employees as well as how I no longer enjoy working there. But how can this be, my hours are taken away?? In December I explained I will be taking classes during the spring semester and I prefer to work Thursday to Sunday. The scheduler person understood and agreed. I worked the first week of January but notice I was not on the schedule for the rest of the month. I was hired at GNC which Ib consider to be very lucky since my roommate has been unemployed since November. Luckily for him he just got a job which he starts next week... congrates buddy! Well now that I have been working at GNC the nursing home keeps calling asking if I can come in..... but what happen to all those full time employees who basicly replaced me for about TWO WEEKS?

This morning I took my Lipo6 and worked out on biceps. I continue to drink my Modern BCAA and half a scoop of creatine while working out. I started off with my preacher curl pryamid workout. I noticed that I am getting stronger and able to lift heavier since December when I documented my MAX weight. My last MAX was in July when I was able to lift 35lbs doing a dumb bell curl. Now I can able to lift 55lbs with little to no spotting help. Besides that workout I also used the machine preacher bench. I do not like that machine. I feel like I can not sit on it in the right position without it rubbing on my nipples. FYI, both my nipples are peirced since I was 18yrs old. Then it was on to 21s. I have a love and hate relationship with this workout. I like it because I can feel my biceps streching and contracting. I hate it because I usually have to take a ten second break just to finish.

New Workout Pump Song...... Christina Aguilera, FIGHTER! Its old I know but this song is ultra hot and helped me push myself when I was working out. I must have listened to it about four times.

After my 21s were finished I did the reverse barbell bicep curl. The is a bit difficult following a set of 21s. I started with the 45lb bar but was only able to do 8reps. I deceased on the rest of my set with a 30lb barbell. At lease now I was able to lift 10reps or more.

After my workout I traveled to Buda, Tx to pick up some home gym equiptment. The goal is to get as much basic supplies to start the P90X workout system... soon, but proble by next week and just in time too... I am having trouble fitting into my dress pants and now my shirts for work.

SUNDAY FUNDAY!!!!

This day was an intense tricep workout. I used free weights to cables and left with sore arms and felt so weak. I can not believe I survived my last night at the nursing home feeling that way. My favorite tricep workout has to be the cable kickback. I noticed that I have not been able to pull as much weight as I used to in November but one thing that does not change is that burning feeling... I LOVE IT!!!  It may sound sick but a good workout burn is the best!

Monday no gym just work and school.

I opened the store and the manager came to help since I do not have a key. He told me that "we have a problem." On Saturday night when the manager came to help me close I accidentally turned out the power to the security cameras.... LOL. I should not laugh but it was kinda funny. Well I was going to put my jacket in the office and then  a rattling sound came. The manager then said "do you have vitamins in your jacket?" I said no, and pulled out my container of gum. I then said, "why would I have vitamins in my jacket?" he then said he did not mean to accuse me but one employee did that which was a bit suspicious .... I am starting to feel like we are starting off on the wrong foot.