Had my first setback in the new program.
It was really minor, but as I've found out even a small misstep can cause a slowdown in the weight loss.
Back to back days this week I got caught out, having to eat food I hadn't prepared for myself. And on the one hand, I did really well. Baked chicken, plain potato, green beans, salad, and whole wheat bread. Both days.
Sounds healthy, but because of the amount of sodium used in preparation of the foods, it caused a slowdown in my system. So, after 21 pounds in two weeks, I'm likely only going to be down a couple of pounds by weigh-in time tomorrow morning.
Still, it was a valuable lesson. And when I talked to Vernon about it at Monday's workout he told me not to get discouraged. Getting back on track will have me down another five pounds or so by the weekend.
And I'm not discouraged. More ticked off at myself than anything. And I am back on track, so we'll see how it goes.
And really, even if it is just two pounds, that's two pounds more I'll never see again.
As long as you're moving forward, you're not falling back.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Upping The Ante
Today was the second of my back-to-back workout days with Vernon.
I do three days a week - Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Each session lasts an hour.
Though I haven't actually gathered an accurate count, we generally do 9-10 different exercises each day. Seems to be blocks of threes, each block focusing on a different part of the body. It doesn't always work this way, but through three weeks of sessions that appears to be about normal.
For instance, today we worked on thighs, hamstrings and biceps. Three different exercises for each one, all at varying weights.
Yesterday it was chest, shoulders and triceps.
Apparently what's happening is I'm burning fat by building lean muscle. That, along with the eating program, has led to losing over 20 pounds in the first two weeks.
But it hasn't come without a price. Two of the three workouts Vernon put me through this week were tough (of course, when you've spent the better part of 23 years sitting on your whazoo, any kind of exercise it tough).
However, Vernon says my stamina is getting better, and that he's intentionally ramping up the intensity of the workouts. Bit by bit.
So literally, what doesn't kill me is going to make me stronger. At least that's the understanding I have.
The thing I like so far about Vernon - well, one of many things - but in this particular case is his soft but stern manner. He has a way of motivating without getting in your face and screaming at you. At least to this point.
What's surprising is that I haven't yelled at him yet...LOL. But seriously, I'm trying my best to take it all in stride and keep working as hard as I can.
Because make no mistake. I still hate going to the gym. But I've already seen the benefits of working with Vernon, so there's no way I'm going to quit now.
And maybe, just maybe, someday the gym and I will come to an uneasy truce.
I do three days a week - Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Each session lasts an hour.
Though I haven't actually gathered an accurate count, we generally do 9-10 different exercises each day. Seems to be blocks of threes, each block focusing on a different part of the body. It doesn't always work this way, but through three weeks of sessions that appears to be about normal.
For instance, today we worked on thighs, hamstrings and biceps. Three different exercises for each one, all at varying weights.
Yesterday it was chest, shoulders and triceps.
Apparently what's happening is I'm burning fat by building lean muscle. That, along with the eating program, has led to losing over 20 pounds in the first two weeks.
But it hasn't come without a price. Two of the three workouts Vernon put me through this week were tough (of course, when you've spent the better part of 23 years sitting on your whazoo, any kind of exercise it tough).
However, Vernon says my stamina is getting better, and that he's intentionally ramping up the intensity of the workouts. Bit by bit.
So literally, what doesn't kill me is going to make me stronger. At least that's the understanding I have.
The thing I like so far about Vernon - well, one of many things - but in this particular case is his soft but stern manner. He has a way of motivating without getting in your face and screaming at you. At least to this point.
What's surprising is that I haven't yelled at him yet...LOL. But seriously, I'm trying my best to take it all in stride and keep working as hard as I can.
Because make no mistake. I still hate going to the gym. But I've already seen the benefits of working with Vernon, so there's no way I'm going to quit now.
And maybe, just maybe, someday the gym and I will come to an uneasy truce.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Another Great Week
Hit the scales again this morning.
Down another 7 pounds total. That's 78 overall since the third week of December.
Talk about positive motivation and reinforcement. This is the kind of thing that makes Vernon kicking my butt worth it.
One meal, one workout, one day at a time. Gotta keep that mindset.
The Scorecard:
Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Results thrown out due to scale malfunction
Week 28 - GAINED 1
Week 29 - No Weigh-In Due To Vacation
Week 30 - GAINED 1 (Covers Week 29 as well)
Week 31 - GAINED 2
Week 32 - Lost 6
Week 33 - GAINED 7
Week 34 - Lost 2
Week 35 - Lost 5
Week 36 - GAINED 4
Week 37 - Lost 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 38 - No Weigh-In. New Program
Week 39 - Lost 10
Week 40 - Lost 7
Down another 7 pounds total. That's 78 overall since the third week of December.
Talk about positive motivation and reinforcement. This is the kind of thing that makes Vernon kicking my butt worth it.
One meal, one workout, one day at a time. Gotta keep that mindset.
The Scorecard:
Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Results thrown out due to scale malfunction
Week 28 - GAINED 1
Week 29 - No Weigh-In Due To Vacation
Week 30 - GAINED 1 (Covers Week 29 as well)
Week 31 - GAINED 2
Week 32 - Lost 6
Week 33 - GAINED 7
Week 34 - Lost 2
Week 35 - Lost 5
Week 36 - GAINED 4
Week 37 - Lost 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 38 - No Weigh-In. New Program
Week 39 - Lost 10
Week 40 - Lost 7
Monday, September 22, 2008
Weekend Wrapup
Sorry for the delay in updating, but it was a crazy weekend.
Weigh-in day isn't until Wednesday, but I took my usual trip to the scales this morning to see how I fared over the weekend.
I've lost another five pounds, which brings my total to 76. And still two days to go.
The meal plan is getting a bit easier, too. But I had trouble lifting my arms because of the soreness in my shoulders after last Thursday's workout.
Feeling better now. But I'm back in the gym today.
Can't wait to see what happens next.
Weigh-in day isn't until Wednesday, but I took my usual trip to the scales this morning to see how I fared over the weekend.
I've lost another five pounds, which brings my total to 76. And still two days to go.
The meal plan is getting a bit easier, too. But I had trouble lifting my arms because of the soreness in my shoulders after last Thursday's workout.
Feeling better now. But I'm back in the gym today.
Can't wait to see what happens next.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Wednesday Follow-Up
Worked out with Vernon again today. Every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
He turned the heat up on me just a bit, but it was good. I'm exhausted tonight, but it's a good kind of tired. It's been a while since I had that feeling.
This whole process continues to be a psychological study-in-waiting. Moods up and down. Motivation up and down. If there's an emotion out there, I've had it.
And yet you step on the scales today, as I did, and see that great number...Well, it makes it all worth while.
We can only hope I feel the same way after tomorrow.
Because while Vernon may not be out to kill me (he reads this...Hello Vernon), he apparently won't be shy about inflicting pain on my bloated body.
But it's a good pain. Right Vernon?
He turned the heat up on me just a bit, but it was good. I'm exhausted tonight, but it's a good kind of tired. It's been a while since I had that feeling.
This whole process continues to be a psychological study-in-waiting. Moods up and down. Motivation up and down. If there's an emotion out there, I've had it.
And yet you step on the scales today, as I did, and see that great number...Well, it makes it all worth while.
We can only hope I feel the same way after tomorrow.
Because while Vernon may not be out to kill me (he reads this...Hello Vernon), he apparently won't be shy about inflicting pain on my bloated body.
But it's a good pain. Right Vernon?
Weigh-In Day
Okay. First time on the scales (officially) in two weeks. Been on my new program for a week.
And the results? I've now lost 71 pounds.
That's down 10 from the last posted weigh-in. But really in that ensuing week I had gained back four pounds. So in the last week I've lost 14 pounds.
But it goes in the official book this week as losing 10.
The new program is off to a good start. And note the line to indicate the beginning of the program.
The Scorecard:
Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Results thrown out due to scale malfunction
Week 28 - GAINED 1
Week 29 - No Weigh-In Due To Vacation
Week 30 - GAINED 1 (Covers Week 29 as well)
Week 31 - GAINED 2
Week 32 - Lost 6
Week 33 - GAINED 7
Week 34 - Lost 2
Week 35 - Lost 5
Week 36 - GAINED 4
Week 37 - Lost 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 38 - No Weigh-In. New Program
Week 39 - Lost 10
And the results? I've now lost 71 pounds.
That's down 10 from the last posted weigh-in. But really in that ensuing week I had gained back four pounds. So in the last week I've lost 14 pounds.
But it goes in the official book this week as losing 10.
The new program is off to a good start. And note the line to indicate the beginning of the program.
The Scorecard:
Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Results thrown out due to scale malfunction
Week 28 - GAINED 1
Week 29 - No Weigh-In Due To Vacation
Week 30 - GAINED 1 (Covers Week 29 as well)
Week 31 - GAINED 2
Week 32 - Lost 6
Week 33 - GAINED 7
Week 34 - Lost 2
Week 35 - Lost 5
Week 36 - GAINED 4
Week 37 - Lost 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 38 - No Weigh-In. New Program
Week 39 - Lost 10
Monday, September 15, 2008
Headed In The Right Direction
Just got back from my workout with Vernon at the gym.
Today was a bit more difficult because we worked chest, shoulders and triceps. And as I intimated in a previous post, upper body strength is not my strong suit. Except for my right arm.
I should be somewhat embarrassed about my lack of strength, but then what do I expect? When you do your curls 12 ounces at a time, as I did for a long time, or do the fork lift too often you're going to end up a little weak. Throw in an almost fanatical lack of exercise, and you have the finished product I was displaying until last December.
But things are looking up. The food plan is working, though the adjustment has been a bit difficult. Still, I took a cursory look at the scales this morning for the first time in almost two weeks and the results were fairly startling.
I'll save the numbers for Wednesday, but it would appear I'm off to a running start.
Just gotta keep moving forward. One day, one meal, one session at a time.
That's what I keep telling myself.
Today was a bit more difficult because we worked chest, shoulders and triceps. And as I intimated in a previous post, upper body strength is not my strong suit. Except for my right arm.
I should be somewhat embarrassed about my lack of strength, but then what do I expect? When you do your curls 12 ounces at a time, as I did for a long time, or do the fork lift too often you're going to end up a little weak. Throw in an almost fanatical lack of exercise, and you have the finished product I was displaying until last December.
But things are looking up. The food plan is working, though the adjustment has been a bit difficult. Still, I took a cursory look at the scales this morning for the first time in almost two weeks and the results were fairly startling.
I'll save the numbers for Wednesday, but it would appear I'm off to a running start.
Just gotta keep moving forward. One day, one meal, one session at a time.
That's what I keep telling myself.
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