arch47’s BodyBlog

I completed the first six weeks of the Body Sculpting for Men program and have witnessed definite changes.  Not only is my underlying musculature harder, my core is much stronger than I ever remember it being.  I am getting better at keeping the workouts to a 60-70 minute duration in order to maintain the required intensity.  I think the exercises for the upper body are more beneficial than the lower body but that is not a deal breaker as far as the success of the overall program in concerned. 

I have always hated cardio but am coming to terms with the need to get my butt moving more.  I am almost starting to enjoy (that may be a bit strong) the sessions and can sense the improvement that the addition of cardio brings to the overall result.  Even though the program stresses doing cardio in the morning and another exercise session at night, I find this really difficult.  I try to do cardio after ab sessions and whenever else I can fit it in.  That usually gives me 3-4 cardio sessions per week.  Although short, I make them as intense as possible with the treadmill at its higher incline settings.  I also do intervals to try to maximize the time spent.

The program also wants you to do four weight training sessions per week but I have cut to three.  I feel better and at my age, I need some additional recovery time (hope that doesn’t sound wimpy)!

Nutrition is getting better and have even been getting my wife on board with some dietary changes.  I have to credit her for altering our family’s nutritional patterns at least 20 years ago.  We never fry anything (can you imagine a Southerner not doing that?) and have always eaten a lot of vegetables and fruits, chicken, fish, turkey, and lean red meats.  Now we are starting to take stock of the sugar in our diet.  We don’t use it directly but it sneaks in our food in so many ways.  We try to purchase cereals with sugar content of no more than 10-12g and really limit desserts (another delicacy Southerners raise to an art form)!

My waist size is continuing to go down but my weight is holding steady at about 172 pounds.  I just bought a pair of jeans with a 32" waist and that hasn’t occurred since I was in my mid-20’s.  I have to say, it felt real good!(read "vanity" here but unashamedly so).

After being on the Body Sculpting Bible program for about four weeks, I wanted to log in some perceptions about the program so far. 

First, it is very well-balanced and addressed the whole gamut of what healthy living is all about. I ahve had to tweak a few things in the exercise routine to fit my home gym and abilities but that has not impaired progress.  I had never done the visualization process in my life and honestly feel that has contributed to making me exercise more efficiently.  I think the program may lean a little toward over-training and I have cut my lifting sessions from four days down to three but trying to keep four to five cardio sessions going.  It is difficult for me to perform the morning cardio and then come home in the evening and exercise again.  I have no doubt this will produce quick results but it starts to take time away from other things.  I am very impressed over the results my Bodybuilding.com workout partners are experiencing with the program.  Once I finish the first six weeks, I plan on going though the Standard program again with increased weights and a change of exercises before attempting the next level of exercises.

My vanity was really stroked this week when I bought a pair of jeans with a 32" waist!  That has not happened in 35 years!

Just had my blood profile done and learned that my total cholesterol is now 111 ( originally 243) and my triglycerides are 67 (down from 385)!  That is better than I had ever hoped.