22 March 07
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).
March 23, 2007 at 12:41 pm
REALLY GOOD TO HEAR!!! It’s even better when your partner starts to come on board with the nutritional program. Much continued success.
March 26, 2007 at 12:00 am
Arch, congratulations with having finished the six-week program. Your results are really excellent, happy to read you feel much different now. I do envy you for 32", i’m still at 33" (true, stretch) jeans, but there must be no stop in progress!
And how further? Are you going to repeat the same program or trying something else?
As for the legs, I have found that leg-extension and leg-curls give more visible results than squat. My other observation is that doing the same exercise with much lower speed hits more the muscles even with a lighter weight.
I understand that cardio should be done either in the morning or after workout. 2 cardios in the same day seem to mee too much.
Keep on, Arch!!!!
Challenger