Rich's Journal

[richs]

Well, I was doing SO well until yesterday. Had a sport show and just did not have the right food available. It was NOT a good day.

Put the new picture up and I must say I am dissapointed. I don't see any change at all. My weight is down a bit and my body fat % according to my scale is 2% less but it does not show in the pictures

My only change these next two weeks is HIIT's in the morning right when I get up. I have a desk job and other then working out I get ZERO activity. I am hoping this will help burn more calories.

I will post up my weight tomorrow but it looks like I will only be down a little over a pound right now.

I am frustrated but in a way that makes me want to try harder, not quit. Some input would be nice here for those that do the progress picture deal. Is this common?? I was expecting some major results. This is baffling to say the least.

[richs]

Thanks. It helps that I am not alone in this. I don't put as much value in the scale as I used to. It was the pics that dissapointed me most. I can wear shirts now that I could not wear for the last 5 years. My pants are looser but not enough to drop a size. I took measurements but have just not monitored them as much. I try to just stop worrying about it like you say and just can't do it.

The pic of me and my boy was our first tournament together (we took 3rd place)! I compete on a national level and this takes up a ton of my time starting in late March. I have a tournament almost every week until late July. This is the big reason for my stress because I know it will be hard to improve my physique during those months. I really want to make a ton of progress before my first event. I only have two months to go and all I hear is Tick Tock Tick Tock...

My plan is to just maintain during that period and kick it back into gear when the season is over.

I feel like a whinnny B__ch. This has been an emotional rollercoaster for me.

[fitoverforty]

I don't see any change at all. My weight is down a bit and my body fat % according to my scale is 2% less but it does not show in the pictures

I have to disagree with ya, I see a change in your latest pic. Don't be so hard on yourself...focus on the positive changes you have made and the results you are receiving from that. It doesn't happen overnight, and like Brent said, it isn't always in a straight line...but has peaks and valleys.

I can wear shirts now that I could not wear for the last 5 years. My pants are looser

These are good things!!
Worrying causes unneeded stress...and you know that stress can inhibit weight loss - soooooooo........let it go, you are doing great, I am inspired and motivated by reading your journal - I appreciate your honesty when you feel frustrated, we all go through feelings like that, and I can tell you from experience that slow and steady wins the race - so chin up, you are doing great!

[richs]

Thank you very much for the kind words. The support I get from this site has helped me beyond belief.

[richs]

1/25-198.8lbs

Would have been over a pound better if it were not for Saturday. That really set me back. Got up early and did my HIIT's. My plan is to do this 6 days a week. These will not be super intense since I am doing them so often. I need to just be more active and I only have 30 minutes in the morning to do it. I will listen to my body and it if is getting to exhausted I will dial down the intensity even more.

These will not change the rest of my routine. I will still do more cardio in the afternoon on cardio days and weight lift 3 times a week. I also plan on getting on the exercise bike after weight lifting since it only takes me 30 minutes for the full body workout. My plan is ride the bike for how ever long it takes to get one hour at the gym. I know the fear might be over training so I will keep an ear on what my body is telling me.

[cassiegose]

I feel like a whinnny B__ch. This has been an emotional rollercoaster for me.

Don't feel like that. Not at all. We all have our ups and downs. Its ok to get down sometimes as long as you keep picking yourself back up. This can be an emotional rollercoaster; it can be frustrating, painful, and dissapointing at times. However it can also be liberating, exciting, and just flat out freaking awesome to see your body changing for the better. Keep your chin up, keep plugging along, and you will reach your goals.

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling down but in rising every time we fall". Confucius

PS: 6 days of HIIT in a week is too much. I know that you know that somebody was going to say it so there it is.


Cassie

[richs]

I was waiting for it and knew it was coming. I feel like I have to do something to just be more active but my schedule just does not allow much this time of year. Maybe I should just fast walk at a high incline for 30 minutes instead.

I am not a quitter so you all are stuck reading about me for a while

[cassiegose]

I think the walking uphill every other day is a good idea instead of HIIT everyday. Do you have access to a bike? Could ride the bike too.

[richs]

I am in Wisconsin so riding a bike outside right now is out of the question. I don't have an exercise bike at home but could buy one. All I have is a treadmill.

Will do it every other day instead with walking in-between. The HIIT's are hard on my knee's so this will work better.

[richs]

Here is my workout for the day:

5:15am-30 minutes HIIT on treadmill
3:45pm workout 3X10
Deadlifts
Bent over rows
dips
leg press
cable curls (rope)-AWESOME
My shoulder is still sore so I could not do any type of presses or fly's

4:15pm 20 minutes recumbant bike-sweated my arse off

right now-feeling great I am going to sleep good tonight. My knee is sore so I am going to try a knee brace on the treadmill from now on. I took a creatine powder for the first time in my life 30 minutes before my workout. It was one of the best workouts I have ever had intensity wise. I am still skeptical but have 2 more samples to try. If I keep getting good results, I might buy some.

I learned something today. The more weight I deadlift the more I hate deadlifts

[richs]

Small world! I knew a Jim Jeske from Jackson. I used to shoot pool at Circle B's in Grafton when I was younger with a bunch of guys from the area. We got a pretty mild winter so far especially compared to last year. We moved to Berlin in '07 from Oshkosh. Got a nice house on the Fox River so it works out great for the kids as they like being outside.

I am going to do the HIIT's every other day with walking on a big incline the days in between.

This morning I did 30 minutes at 3.5mph and a 8 degree incline for a total of 330 calories. I feel great so far. I will be doing another hour of walking tonight at 3.8 mph at a 5 degree incline which will be around 630 calories.

[richs]

Legs were very tired this morning so I did not do any cardio. I am still doing a full body workout this afternoon and will ride the bike for 20-30 minutes. I plan on HIIT's tomorrow morning. I am looking forward to my body getting used to this new routine.

[richs]

Doing that much cardio is NOT working for me

Did some more research today and it looks like I need to add more carbs to my diet. I found a list of where carbs fall on the GI and went from there. I am making some low GI apple raisin muffins right now. I am thinking I will put on some weight initially but will help in the long run. My carbs are around 15% right now and I am going to get them up to 35-40%. The majority will be taken in the morning and pre/post workout in the afternoon.

Back to my old schedule (pretty much exactly what Cassie had prescribed on page 2) and I will be doing this for one month. I like the Full body workouts yet but will probably be mixing in some upper/lower body splits as I just cannot recoup fast enough sometimes. Maybe the extra carbs will help this.

Mon-weight lifting in afternoon
Tues-cardio in morning
wed-weight lifting in afternoon
Thursday-cardio in morning
Fri-weight lifting in afternoon
sat-plyometrics
Sun-off

[richs]

I have actually gained a few pounds since my last post even though my routine has not changed.

Now for the good news:

I lost 1" around my belly in the last two weeks

I gained 1/2" in my biceps since mid December!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The guys out there know how big that is and I could not be happier.

Just thought I would check in and let everyone know how it is going. I will post a new pic this coming Sunday in my profile. Have a good week all!

[Boss Man]

Just be careful not to overindulge too much on high GI Carbs, like Rice, Pasta, Potatos, Parsnips, Watermelon etc etc, incase you're a little Carb sensitive and find they convert to easily to Fat.

If in doubt consume high GI in moderate portions or mix with low GI I.E. Rice and Mushrooms, Potato with Broccoli etc etc.