Thanks Christi - hope things are looking up for you as well...
My Diary
- Thread starter stingo
- Start date
Thanks Christi - hope things are looking up for you as well...
You're a beast, Tom!! Keep it up, you're doing a great job!
Thanks - trying, just like everyone else.
Not a bad weekend - stayed in and got some chores done, practiced piano (Bach's 2-Part Invention No. 1) and watched a couple of movies (Lantana and Copying Beethoven). Cooking-wise I made another batch of turkey chili for the week (why I don't tire of it is beyond me lol) and also roasted a chicken in the new open roaster pan that I got. I probably could have been inventive with the gear I already had, but I have to say, the results today were MUCH better than the results of a couple weeks ago. For me, the wow factor is there simply because for the family holidays, the meals would revolve around a turkey or chicken being cooked, and here I am doing it for myself when I feel like it.
You may gather from my menu selections that I actually did adhere to my food plan this weekend - trying to get somewhere in the ballpark of 230 by the end of next week is gonna be tough, but I'm hoping I can do it. Workout-wise things are going pretty well too, and I expect that I'll be doing a new resistance (and possibly cardio) routine by the end of the month. I lent my copy of The New Rules of Lifting to my trainer for her to review with the idea that I'd like to start the break-in program. Not that the program I'm on is bad - far from it - I've worked my way up to a 70lb bench press (considering I started around 25 or 30, that's not a bad figure to post). For whatever reason, balance seems to be getting better also as my experience with the touchdowns would attest. Some things are still difficult though, but not QUITE as difficult as they were - the one legged ball bridge still gives me fits, but I'm not automatically rolling off the ball lol. One other thing I've noticed in spinning class is that for a good portion of the time I'll just close my eyes and focus on the music and riding it out. The intervals we're doing now really help too as they give a structure to the class that helps mark the passage of time. Speaking of which, I should get a move on to bed - the grind of the work week (and workout week) awaits.
You may gather from my menu selections that I actually did adhere to my food plan this weekend - trying to get somewhere in the ballpark of 230 by the end of next week is gonna be tough, but I'm hoping I can do it. Workout-wise things are going pretty well too, and I expect that I'll be doing a new resistance (and possibly cardio) routine by the end of the month. I lent my copy of The New Rules of Lifting to my trainer for her to review with the idea that I'd like to start the break-in program. Not that the program I'm on is bad - far from it - I've worked my way up to a 70lb bench press (considering I started around 25 or 30, that's not a bad figure to post). For whatever reason, balance seems to be getting better also as my experience with the touchdowns would attest. Some things are still difficult though, but not QUITE as difficult as they were - the one legged ball bridge still gives me fits, but I'm not automatically rolling off the ball lol. One other thing I've noticed in spinning class is that for a good portion of the time I'll just close my eyes and focus on the music and riding it out. The intervals we're doing now really help too as they give a structure to the class that helps mark the passage of time. Speaking of which, I should get a move on to bed - the grind of the work week (and workout week) awaits.
What's two days away?
You're second birthday, May 16. Unless I'm thinking of something else...
Oh yes - 2nd birthday is May 16th, but I don't think of that as a goal so much as a milestone. I'm trying to get to around 230 by May 25th - not likely to happen, but I'm not going to screw with my food plan/workout schedule to try to make it happen (past doing additional cardio days and being more active on the weekends).
Stingo, you have a b-day in two days? 2nd birthday?
Yup - a little further back in this diary I'd mentioned that it will be 2 years on May 16th that I walked into a gym to sign up and change my life. So to me, it's kind of a 2nd birthday.
Workout 5/14
Chest Press (on bench) 3x8@70
Squat and Overhead Press 1x12@40
Bent Row 1x12@55
Touchdowns 1x12
Dips from the Bench 1x12
Cross Chop with Squat 1x12@45
Reverse Fly 1x12@25
Step Up (on bench) 1x15 supersetted with...
Bicep Curl (2 sec up, 4 sec down) 2x10@25
Oblique Twists on Stability Ball 1x20
Ball Bridge (One Leg)
Crunches on Ball 1x20@12 (weight overhead this time)
Hip Raise and Leg Curl (Feet on Stability Ball) 1x10 both legs +
Leg Curl 1x5 each leg
Good strength training workout today - the right chest muscles seem to be healing up which is a good thing, and while not a perfect showing on the touchdowns, it certainly was very good.
Before doing my workout I got on the scale (as I normally do) and was pretty shocked by what I saw. I'm not gonna say what the number was for fear of jinxing myself, but let's just say my goal's a bit more feasible now. (I think if I don't make it, it's going to be awfully close...)
Duathlon - 3 miles treadmill, 41.03 minutes; 10 miles recumbent bike 36:47 - I know the times aren't that great, but at least they aren't DNFs. Although I'm really feeling my legs now, I can say I'm glad I stuck it out.
Chest Press (on bench) 3x8@70
Squat and Overhead Press 1x12@40
Bent Row 1x12@55
Touchdowns 1x12
Dips from the Bench 1x12
Cross Chop with Squat 1x12@45
Reverse Fly 1x12@25
Step Up (on bench) 1x15 supersetted with...
Bicep Curl (2 sec up, 4 sec down) 2x10@25
Oblique Twists on Stability Ball 1x20
Ball Bridge (One Leg)
Crunches on Ball 1x20@12 (weight overhead this time)
Hip Raise and Leg Curl (Feet on Stability Ball) 1x10 both legs +
Leg Curl 1x5 each leg
Good strength training workout today - the right chest muscles seem to be healing up which is a good thing, and while not a perfect showing on the touchdowns, it certainly was very good.
Before doing my workout I got on the scale (as I normally do) and was pretty shocked by what I saw. I'm not gonna say what the number was for fear of jinxing myself, but let's just say my goal's a bit more feasible now. (I think if I don't make it, it's going to be awfully close...)
Duathlon - 3 miles treadmill, 41.03 minutes; 10 miles recumbent bike 36:47 - I know the times aren't that great, but at least they aren't DNFs. Although I'm really feeling my legs now, I can say I'm glad I stuck it out.
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The best laid plans...
Well book club tonight was at an Italian restaurant/pizzeria. About the most food plan friendly thing I could find was shrimp fra diavolo, which was quite good. Had it with penne pasta and a bowl of seafood bisque soup, which was quite good too. i just miss the chinese restaurant we'd been frequenting since it offers steamed dishes. Ah well, with the extra calories I burned doing the duathlon I figure I'm not too badly off.
Well book club tonight was at an Italian restaurant/pizzeria. About the most food plan friendly thing I could find was shrimp fra diavolo, which was quite good. Had it with penne pasta and a bowl of seafood bisque soup, which was quite good too. i just miss the chinese restaurant we'd been frequenting since it offers steamed dishes. Ah well, with the extra calories I burned doing the duathlon I figure I'm not too badly off.
May 16, 2007
“What a difference a year makes” – I can remember saying this last year when I posted a state of me entry to start this diary. While I didn’t post my current weight in that entry, I know the highest recorded (pre-lifestyle change) weight I was 354. Stepping on the scale today, I came in at 234 which means I’ve dropped around 120 lbs so far. I’m quite proud of the fact that I did it all on my own – no “diet”, or any other system was used, other than a good healthy food plan, and a varied, consistent exercise schedule.
Some milestones:
Did two 2 hour spin classes and a few race days so far – something I’d not’ve been able to do before.
Doing the Fat Burner program on the elliptical at the highest resistance (15 – started at 5).
Participated in charity walks – cancer, diabetes and heart – something I’d wish I’d done earlier.
Did my first indoor duathlon – times were high, but at least I finished
Attempted a 15.6 mile hike – and did about 9 miles of it
Balance seems to be getting better on the left side – this has been an issue since I started training.
Increasing strength on various exercises, notably the bench press – while certainly not very heavy in the scheme of things, 70lbs is 70lbs (up from 25lbs).
I’m sure there are others, but those are the ones that come to mind right off the bat. As for this year, I’m not sure what I’ll do, but I’m sure it will be something.
“What a difference a year makes” – I can remember saying this last year when I posted a state of me entry to start this diary. While I didn’t post my current weight in that entry, I know the highest recorded (pre-lifestyle change) weight I was 354. Stepping on the scale today, I came in at 234 which means I’ve dropped around 120 lbs so far. I’m quite proud of the fact that I did it all on my own – no “diet”, or any other system was used, other than a good healthy food plan, and a varied, consistent exercise schedule.
Some milestones:
Did two 2 hour spin classes and a few race days so far – something I’d not’ve been able to do before.
Doing the Fat Burner program on the elliptical at the highest resistance (15 – started at 5).
Participated in charity walks – cancer, diabetes and heart – something I’d wish I’d done earlier.
Did my first indoor duathlon – times were high, but at least I finished
Attempted a 15.6 mile hike – and did about 9 miles of it
Balance seems to be getting better on the left side – this has been an issue since I started training.
Increasing strength on various exercises, notably the bench press – while certainly not very heavy in the scheme of things, 70lbs is 70lbs (up from 25lbs).
I’m sure there are others, but those are the ones that come to mind right off the bat. As for this year, I’m not sure what I’ll do, but I’m sure it will be something.