I wanted to divert the focus for just a moment and talk about what’s been on my mind all week. I wake up every day and feel different from the previous. In some ways better, some ways more challenging, but I keep myself motivated every single day, no matter what the circumstances.
I’ve now finished the second full week of workouts and diet following and I’m pretty proud of myself. However, there’s one big nag still hanging in my reality. One I hope to get rid of as quick as possible.
The first week it felt like weight was coming off very easy. Followed by that, my body fat percentage dropped down. By this past Monday (beginning of Week 2) my body fat percentage shot back up, but I was still losing weight. I felt slightly different physically, but not enough to celebrate just yet, being only through the first week.
This week, the fat percentage hasn't budged and I've barely lost a pound. Except today, looking in the mirror after my workout, I felt like I could definitely tell a difference...I feel like my belly and chest are a little smaller, and my arms and legs are bigger in the right places.
My concerns are that I'm going to wake up tomorrow at or barely under 202.2 (the same weight I've been the last three days), and the fat percentage won't have moved again (it was at 26.2 last Saturday when I checked in, but then went right back up to 27-27.7 all week).
What kicks me the most is that I can be appreciative and happy about the different points of progress that happen each day, whether it's pounds down, body fat percentage down, or just feeling better in some way…but I can't find the key to make all three happen at once…and part of me thinks it may be impossible.
But that's what I'm trying to find, so I'm disappointed when only one (or none) of those three things happen.
Frank, who’s been helping me since I got serious again, reminded me that “it's a big picture thing and you have to keep that in mind. Especially the first time you try something like this that doesn't rely on an extreme and unsafe calorie deficit or stupid food rules.”
That was exactly what all my previous diets were. Unsafe calorie deficits and stupid food rules. This one allows me to eat what I want, staying inside my macros, and kicking my ass in the gym. I’m doing it all right…I’m just not getting what I want out of it faster…or am I?
My biggest crutch is the damn scale and monitor, which, as Frank pointed out, is everyone’s crutch. I'm obsessed with tracking “for science”, but I need to not let it get to me if it's not progressing the way I think it should. Because if I take away the numbers, I look and feel 100 times better today than I did two weeks ago. That's priceless in itself and I think I'm diminishing that feeling by expectations of what I'm going to see on the scale/monitor.
It’s just about looking at goals differently and getting what I want when I’m not even paying attention.
Case in point, I still dread the weekends. Of not doing working out. I always feel like that will ruin me. But last weekend with all the shit I did, I still stayed right on track. So I have something to compare it to and know I can go that far, but it won't be hard not to go that far.
The best metaphor I can come up with right now is a politician in a debate. The numbers on the scale and monitor are promises said in debates.
How I look and how I feel are the truth…
…and that's all that should ultimately matter.
Friday, September 30, 2016
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Week 7 of 21 – Same Place, Stronger Face
Starting Weight – 202.2
Current Weight – 202.2
Starting Body Fat Percentage – 27.7%
Current Body Fat Percentage – 26.2%
Goal Body Fat Percentage – 10%
HEY LOOK, I’M ON SCHEDULE ;)
What a week. This new routine is kicking my ass, and I’m taking it willingly and loving almost every second. There’s a few exercises I despise, but that’s only because I’m weak in those areas. But I’m getting stronger. And exercises that I thought I wouldn’t like, I’m actually loving. Like dead lifts, back squats and cable crunches which before two weeks ago I didn’t know existed.
I’m feeling new muscles every day and feeling their strength with every move. It’s an amazing feeling. I was so used to feeling stagnant, sore and low energy. Obviously getting my butt up at 5am every morning and going to the gym has changed that. It’s also been a lot easier than I predicted. I’m looking forward to it every day, and the only hard days (after one week of course) were Monday and Friday. Monday because it was Day 1…duh, and Friday because I definitely felt tired from working out every day that week. Tuesday-Thursday I was on fire. Now in Week 2, I feel even better and am upping my weights to hit new goals.
Things are good. Still working on my diet. This past weekend was crazy. I made my calorie goal on Saturday and woke up Sunday a pound heavier…Sunday I didn’t count any calories and know I went way over, and woke up Monday a pound lighter. So what the eff. What’s most exciting is that I lost 1.5% of body fat in just the first week. That’s excellent and amazing. My goal Is 1% a week, so if I can hit that, I’ll be at 10% mid-January. It’s a very lofty goal, but it’s one to add to the books. I don’t think I can expect to lose 1% toward the end, but we’ll just see. For now, I’m happy motivating myself every day with exercise and diet…so I’m just going to be as patient as possible as I slowly creep to these goals.
I may be at the same weight as I started this whole journey…but I have a lot more determination, motivation and muscle to keep me on track. :)
Current Weight – 202.2
Starting Body Fat Percentage – 27.7%
Current Body Fat Percentage – 26.2%
Goal Body Fat Percentage – 10%
HEY LOOK, I’M ON SCHEDULE ;)
What a week. This new routine is kicking my ass, and I’m taking it willingly and loving almost every second. There’s a few exercises I despise, but that’s only because I’m weak in those areas. But I’m getting stronger. And exercises that I thought I wouldn’t like, I’m actually loving. Like dead lifts, back squats and cable crunches which before two weeks ago I didn’t know existed.
I’m feeling new muscles every day and feeling their strength with every move. It’s an amazing feeling. I was so used to feeling stagnant, sore and low energy. Obviously getting my butt up at 5am every morning and going to the gym has changed that. It’s also been a lot easier than I predicted. I’m looking forward to it every day, and the only hard days (after one week of course) were Monday and Friday. Monday because it was Day 1…duh, and Friday because I definitely felt tired from working out every day that week. Tuesday-Thursday I was on fire. Now in Week 2, I feel even better and am upping my weights to hit new goals.
Things are good. Still working on my diet. This past weekend was crazy. I made my calorie goal on Saturday and woke up Sunday a pound heavier…Sunday I didn’t count any calories and know I went way over, and woke up Monday a pound lighter. So what the eff. What’s most exciting is that I lost 1.5% of body fat in just the first week. That’s excellent and amazing. My goal Is 1% a week, so if I can hit that, I’ll be at 10% mid-January. It’s a very lofty goal, but it’s one to add to the books. I don’t think I can expect to lose 1% toward the end, but we’ll just see. For now, I’m happy motivating myself every day with exercise and diet…so I’m just going to be as patient as possible as I slowly creep to these goals.
I may be at the same weight as I started this whole journey…but I have a lot more determination, motivation and muscle to keep me on track. :)
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Week 6 of 21 – New Day, New Plan
Starting Weight – 202.2
Current Weight – 203.2
OH HI. THIS IS STILL A THING. :)
I wasn’t about to write earlier than this and have still a bunch of excuses as to why I’m where I’m at. What I present to you now is the changing of the tides. As they have finally changed.
Now while that number may scare you, it shouldn’t. Over the last few weeks I’ve gotten as high as 206. I couldn’t find a way to get myself back on track. Until I spent a good part of an evening talking to a good friend who’s been training and weight lifting for almost a year. He found a great website by a guy who has done every exercise, every fad diet, every weight loss plan and knows how to do it and do it effectively. That combined with my friend’s knowledge and experience, I finally found my in.
Two days ago I started with the routine I’ve talked about for months now…getting up at 5am and going to the gym, being home by 6:30 to get ready for work and then going. Then I have the rest of the day to not have to think about it. On top of a very strict (but very satisfying) diet, I feel very confident I’ve finally broken the seal I’ve wanted to for ages.
My diet is focused on macronutrients, which are essential for weight training. My past diets, while effective, have only focused on caloric intake. I was focused only on weight loss, but not the most effective way to do that while bulking up my body into a healthier vessel. Now I’ve got the support I’ve been craving as well as a clear plan diet wise and exercise wise. I’m very excited, and after three straight days of getting up early and going to the gym, I can say I think I’m finally addicted again.
Weight training is a lot more fun than I expected…I feel like when I would train with trainers before, they would push me in any and all ways, exercising my whole body, which would leave me sore and exhausted for days following. This plan I’m on now works upper and lower body on alternating days, and is very effective at targeting groups I didn’t know exist. I’m loving the feeling I have in my body now.
So here’s to keeping it going. I wanted this to be a short update just to say I’m still in this…I’m not ever giving up…and now I think I finally have a solid plan. I still have a goal of 180 by Christmas…I’m sure I can do it. And I’m also more concerned with body fat percentage and consistency at this point…so the weekly goals are (realistically) gone. It’s no longer about how fast I can lose the weight. It’s about watching my body morph with this effective training and dieting over the next 15 weeks. I’m fucking excited. :)
Current Weight – 203.2
OH HI. THIS IS STILL A THING. :)
I wasn’t about to write earlier than this and have still a bunch of excuses as to why I’m where I’m at. What I present to you now is the changing of the tides. As they have finally changed.
Now while that number may scare you, it shouldn’t. Over the last few weeks I’ve gotten as high as 206. I couldn’t find a way to get myself back on track. Until I spent a good part of an evening talking to a good friend who’s been training and weight lifting for almost a year. He found a great website by a guy who has done every exercise, every fad diet, every weight loss plan and knows how to do it and do it effectively. That combined with my friend’s knowledge and experience, I finally found my in.
Two days ago I started with the routine I’ve talked about for months now…getting up at 5am and going to the gym, being home by 6:30 to get ready for work and then going. Then I have the rest of the day to not have to think about it. On top of a very strict (but very satisfying) diet, I feel very confident I’ve finally broken the seal I’ve wanted to for ages.
My diet is focused on macronutrients, which are essential for weight training. My past diets, while effective, have only focused on caloric intake. I was focused only on weight loss, but not the most effective way to do that while bulking up my body into a healthier vessel. Now I’ve got the support I’ve been craving as well as a clear plan diet wise and exercise wise. I’m very excited, and after three straight days of getting up early and going to the gym, I can say I think I’m finally addicted again.
Weight training is a lot more fun than I expected…I feel like when I would train with trainers before, they would push me in any and all ways, exercising my whole body, which would leave me sore and exhausted for days following. This plan I’m on now works upper and lower body on alternating days, and is very effective at targeting groups I didn’t know exist. I’m loving the feeling I have in my body now.
So here’s to keeping it going. I wanted this to be a short update just to say I’m still in this…I’m not ever giving up…and now I think I finally have a solid plan. I still have a goal of 180 by Christmas…I’m sure I can do it. And I’m also more concerned with body fat percentage and consistency at this point…so the weekly goals are (realistically) gone. It’s no longer about how fast I can lose the weight. It’s about watching my body morph with this effective training and dieting over the next 15 weeks. I’m fucking excited. :)
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