Workout Progress Update - Mixed Results - I Need To Royally Kick My Ass With Baseball Starting On 3/31

I got sick after my last update for 13 days, in bed for 5 of them. I missed my Mom's surprise bday event and couldn't exercise, so I was pissed. I rarely get sick, and with my goal to get in peak baseball shape, it was terrible timing.

After the initial bedridden part, I chose to skip antibiotics to challenge my body to fight it off naturally. I figured that as long as I was seeing daily improvement, it'd resolve itself on its own and I'd be stronger for it. Stubborn me. It took a lot longer than I thought it would, but I beat it.

I wanted to suffer through it at the gym, but couldn't risk getting anyone sick. I did some light stuff at home, but it was pointless because I was weak. I lost 5-6 pounds and saw my abs well for the first time in ages, but put most back on after I started eating normally again.

To stay accountable to my goals for my baseball season's opening day on 3/31, here's where I stand. No photo tricks. Just me in my professional photo studio/bathroom mirror in front of my amazing tiles. To those who keep asking what color they are so they can remodel, I'm still waiting on the answer from my landlord.

I feel strong and my left shoulder feels 99% healed after hurting it badly in early November. This is a relief.

Regardless of losing 2 critical weeks to stall progress, I'm thrilled that my baseball bat speed is currently at 84 MPH. <-Proof of my recent swing analysis linked there.

The typical "power range" for Major League pro baseball players is 85-95 MPH, so at 84 MPH in off-season swing shape, this is pretty good. I feel like I can crush the ball and throw harder with great endurance, but not as much as I wanted by now. I have two weeks left to attack the gym and improve before I'm on the pitching mound and hitting cleanup.

I spent 2 hours in the gym tonight hammering away at my core and doing simulated pitching/hitting motions with resistance. I'm going to push myself like I did when I first started this mission to close this process out. No pain, no gain.

I've been eating well all along so this has helped me stay in growth mode. I don't take any supplements at all except a few protein bars and now some Vitamin B+C. If I cut corners with supplements, my results would be much greater, but I don't believe in that.

Original progress pics (sigh):

I've come a good way, but have to make up some lost ground. It'll be important to keep pushing myself during the season as well. I tend to shy away from lifting because I usually pitch every weekend and don't want to be tight for it. I will overcome that fear/excuse.

I'll drop a new update just before my season officially starts.

Thanks for following along,
@steemmatt