2008 Transformation Contest

So getting near the end of this contest. My progress thus far has been purely in strength gains, my fat loss has been very minimal which I’m not super happy about, but progress has come.

Due to my lack of a good camera you’ll have to excuse the bad video quality, and lack of editing as my Movie Maker app wont edit .mov files which is what this camera puts them in.

Anyways, just a quick comparison of pushups from the start of the competition, until today…today I go lower, and to me seem a little faster….one day I’ll do them Malibuilder style.

Now…Please excuse the heavy breathing (still pushing allot of weight here ) and excuse the small excuse for a dog in the background.

Then…

Wow, time sure flies, doesn’t it?  This contest ends on the 26th, so that leaves a whopping 11 days (or 10 if you live in Australia!)

The final sprint is on - each of the contestants will run just a little bit faster, a little bit farther, do a little bit more cardio each day, lift just that much more each workout…

We can’t wait to start the judging process, comparing the official before and after photos, combing through the blogs for more witty comments, LOL - expect an update to the Spectator’s Guide within the next 2 days, with another one within a week, followed up with some excellent post-contest commentary from some unexpected spectators…   Muahahahaha!

I beat my machine it’s a part of me it’s inside of me

Im stuck in this dream it’s changing me I am becoming

-NIN-

I am the same as last week.  yep I hit a plateau and I dont like it.  Well check out the pics this week.  Let me know your thoughts.

Moving more is what my workouts are really about.  I have a routine with the bands, swimming, and walking, but every minute I am not sitting still is a minute burning calories.  Being out of shape to the tune of 140 pounds makes the small things in life tough.  When I was 178 pounds out of shape I would never have offered to help move someone.  Today it is a different story.

Each step is a step.

Yeah I finally started to loose weight, this morning I am down to 237.6 lbs, down 3.3lbs from the last week. I had to cut calories additionally, but I am adopting fast.

It is interesting how a human organism reacts in situation where it is forced out of balance and make changes. It will do anything to get you back in a comfort zone. Remember that little guy inside of our head, Jumbo talked about a few posts earlier? Well my little man is no jelling at me, he is not screaming and kicking, telling me to stop this nonsense. No, he is a smooth talker, he knows me better than anyone else and he knows I will not react to force. Instead, he uses a more subtle method to make me bend and brake. Sometimes I even don’t notice him dragging me down. LOL am I making any sense LOL

Anyways here are the progress pictures for this week:

OK I just wanted to show some side by side pictures from the day my transformation started back in November 2007 till this day:

A week ago, I was in the throes of carb addiction and impulsive, out of control binge eating.  It was a mental whirlwind; a cyclone.  

This was a three day binge which grew perpetually worse.  In those three days, I managed to gain back 6 of the lbs that I worked so hard to lose in the course of this contest.

I felt terrible for lost progress, but refused to hate myself for stumbling.  Hating yourself only leads to destructive behavior, which leads to more feelings of loss of control.

It took me 7 days to undo the damage of 3.  But I am oh so very happy to report…that I am back down to 137 again today.  (Last week 143.)

20 pounds consciously and intentionally lost!

My goal for the contest was to get to the weight I am today.  I feel I have more to give.  I am upping my personal ante to 24 lbs lost.  Which means, I INTEND to lose 4 more lbs of flab…and flab only please…in the next 21 days!

WISH ME WELL!

By the way…THIS is my supper!  Italian Turkey Sausage with Spring Salad, Ringed Jalepenos, Red Wine Vinegar, Garlic, and Crushed Red Pepper.

2 plates of this!  

Is my diet restrictive?

YES!

Bland and boring?  

ABSOLUTELY NEVER!

Gotta run!  A PM workout is DEFINITELY on the menu!

Last night I didnt get my progress pics taken.  You see there was a civil war going on.  Thats right a civil war with casualities.  Mom verse the kids snow ball fight.  I had no mercy.  It was all out war.  I may have been out numbered four to one but I still prevailed.  Of course I then had to nurse the injured with "mom special hot chocolate" mixture.  They will all live to see another day.  

We were having so much fun that I forgot about pictures, measurements, and weighing.   I woke up this morning and thought, "oh crap, I forgot."  I promise to do them tonight.  I can say I am up 2 pounds last I checked.  Not happy.  Hoping it is just water weight.   I will give an official report tomorrow.

I hope you enjoy this weeks video.  I think its one of my favorites.

I had problems posting on the blog for the past few days. I write my blog entry, pres the submit and nothing, returns blank…argh

Actually I am writing this post without even knowing if it will work, well I just hope it will.

Anyways I have a killer week behind me. Besides the gym and regular cardio, we pushed the tempo on the boxing on Saturday and Sunday. Right now I am sitting in my office and writing this post but I really have problems with only sitting. The man I am working out with is a beast and true athlete. I have never saw anyone with such will power and dedication for the sport. Beside the fact he is a true street warrior, the man never had a day competing in a ring, but had more than one on the streets. He’s got scars from an axe on his head and about a million of others on his body and head. If someone would tell me about person like such, I would be thinking hooligan or something like that. But this man is an excellent gym instructor, boxer and kick boxer for the last 25 years, he is with one woman for 17 years and I can see they love each other very much, and also he is chiropractic specialized for spine manipulation. This is not an ordinary man. Just to give you the idea of how dedicated this man is I will tell you a story about him you will find hard to believe.

Some years ago he was diagnosed with appendix inflammation, such condition is only treatable with complete removal of the appendix because of the real life threat of appendix bursting and blood poison and eventual death. Doctor told him the operation was the only way. Slobo (the boxer) asked how long will he not be able to workout, and when they told him two months at least he just got up from the chair and walked to the home. "There is nothing in this world that can make me stop training." - ha was saying, and doctors called him a mad man. Six times over the years his appendix was at the verge or bursting but he just stood there, takes some pain killers and puts some ice on the stomach and tomorrow hi is back in the gym. I am not saying this is an example to follow, and I am sure he will have to remove his appendix some day or die but can you imagine such mind over matter power, to overcome the fear of loosing your life to train another day. I can only dream of such dedication. This man is one of few people I admire in my life and I can only hope I will earn half of his dedication in life.

Anyways here is the workout clip I tried to add last week:

To my fellow competitors; to myself:

Words from one who knows the true meaning of overcoming adversity.

Helen Keller-

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."

“Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything good in the world.”

“Never bend your head. Hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.”

And finally-

“Be of good cheer.  Do not think of today’s failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow.  You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find a joy in overcoming obstacles.  Remember, no effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost.”

Today is progress day.  The day we hold our breath and hope the scale moves in the right direction.  Today my scale is not my friend. It increased my weight by 3 pounds.  Now I am sure this is just water weight or something. I would have had to be really naughty to gain three pounds in a week and I know I wasnt.  Sure there were temptations but I over came those.

In a little bit I will make my way to the design department and get measured. Hopefull we will see some losses there.  LOL
Here are this weeks pics