brent99’s BodyBlog

W

I did it!!  Its been 2 weeks since my last update, but I managed to extend my post-vacation gains and break the 10% bodyfat mark!! That was my original goal 18 months ago, when I weighed in at 13.6%.  I have only 2 more pounds of muscle since then, but 7 fewer pounds of fat.  It was a wild ride to this day, however.  At one point, I had dropped from 177 lbs down to 162, but much of that was lost muscle.  Later I ballooned to 182 pounds and 15.3% following a shoulder injury.  Just this past May, I had come close at 10.5% but subsequent obsession with cardio over weight training erased those gains.   During this journey, I have taken a variety of eating and workout approaches in a quest to find what would work best — and discover what didn’t!!  One key element has been:  there is no point in lifting if you don’t give your body the food and/or rest to fully recover.  Without it, you won’t extend gains.  And intense running can burn off muscle as well as fat without sufficient calorie intake.
Two weeks ago, I was back at 10.5% and it was unclear if I could extend those gains.  However, I trade exactly 1 lb of fat for muscle as I hovered at the same weight to make the final leg of my quest.  I have continued my "less is MORE" plan, which consists of longer bodybuilding cycles (5-7 days is now 7-9) and a moderate eating schedule that combines lean meals of tuna/shrimp and protein mix with less healthy selections in modest portions and significant doses of anti-catabolic muscle protectant juice (aka beer).  My only supplement has been the ProteinSLAM, which is often my 20 second breakfast as I race out the door and a pre-workout drink as well.
I still have not returned to cardio yet, but am interested in investigating low intensity workouts to extend fat burning results.  I will probably push to explore cardio on higher calorie days, like the weekend.
My current stats are 172 lbs, 9.9% bf with 155 lbs of lean mass and 17 lbs of bodyfat.

My &(*%*( gym closes at 8PM on Saturday.   There I was, on the computer (shock) trying to figure out the parking lots of the Arizona Cardinal stadium.  Tick tick tick tick tick.  What does "Green pass" really mean?  Is it important?  The clock was not kind to me.  6:30 became 7.  7 became 7:15.  7:15 became…7:30.  The gym was closing soon and I was still dicking around. 

 But, I knew that getting a workout in was important.   And I completed my AZ thing and went into action.  I got my ass off the chair and started to move, knowing that my opportunity was slim to none now.  When I arrived at the gym, it was 7:39!

 But, the lack of time only motivated me.  I had my serious face on and was ready to go.  And sure enough, for the next 22 minutes, I gave my legs a full workout, every bit as good as I would do in my more typical 44 minutes.  If anything, the lack of time only motivated me more, knowing that i had to "bring it" and couldn’t waste time.

 So there it is — 22 minutes, and my leg workout was done.  22 MINUTES!! Less than a sitcom. Less than the time I spent trying to find out the commission on x website’s ticket exchange.  Nothing, really.  I picked up food for the family on the way home (hoping to hit that post-workout window, haha). 

 That’s my secret.  In spite of all else, even my desire to sit and piss away my time on other shit, I find those 22 mintues and I make it happen.  Yes, I let things slide, but only so far…..and therein lies the difference.

I’m not the most muscular.  I’m not young.  I’m not the cutest.  I don’t have the best body.  I’m certainly not a hot girl.  What purpose does one like me serve in this world?  Where do I fit in?

I guess that’s the beauty of the world that is bodybuilding.  Its individual.  Its personal.  While some choose to compete, in its rawest form its not a competition with others, but a competition with oneself.  Its about self-improvement, good health, and staying physically capable.

But when one can achieve some measure of success, it sends some kind of message out.  What is my message?  To me, my magic is not in being the best or the hardest working or most skilled.  My prize is one of efficiency and efficacy.  See, I don’t work out that much.  I live a rather normal long working life outside of BB.  My message, I think, is that one can achieve great results by just taking that first step forward.  It doesn’t take an all out 24 hour-a-day dedication, it just takes involving it in your daily life on a consistent basis!  You may not be a winner on any stage, but the award you win will last a lifetime nonetheless.

I’m tired of working out without forward progress, so I’m committed to work out less to gain more.  I just finished a rotation of weight lifting yesterday and today I will do NOTHINGl  My weight was WAY down on Friday but its coming back up.  I’m not sure how long to rest but I’ll rest longer rather than shorter….

The challenge: go 2 weeks without working out, eating at restaurants, basking in the sun.

During the 2 week period, the subject (me) did not overeat, but did subject himself to a significant amount of fried seafood and general restaurant fare.  Few if any meals were prepared by subject.  Meals sometimes included fries, deserts, and other obvious non-healthy choices along with a balanced intake of protein.  The only supplement used was the PowerShot to get some protein added to carb-only meals.  The subject consumed significant quantities of alcohol, often specialty brews.  The beer consumption was sometimes, although not exclusively, combined with meals.
The subject was not allowed to exercise intentionally, although some unintentional exercise may have occurred.  The subject was moderately active in a beach and water setting.   Some light swimming was performed in a recreational context.  The subject was exposed to significant quantities of sun and fresh air.  (You can imagine how tremendous terrible it would be to have been the subject in this experiment.  Volunteers anyone?)  While the subject did not engage in exercise, he did see people exercising on TV during an infomercial.

The result:

If you have followed my blogs, the counterintuitive result may not surprise you.  As determined by professionally and independently conducted hydrostatic weighing, the subject had his lowest bodyfat total in years at under 18 lbs, and a total bodyfat of 10.5%.  Body muscle increased 3 pounds during this time.  The scientist conducting this experiment plans to patent the result and make billions in the diet and exercise market.

Evidence:

I’m sure I have a few pictures from the beach somewhere.  Please let me know if you’d like me to post a couple of them.

Explanation?

As my recent blogs have detailed, I have struggled eating clean because I burn too many calories and have been losing muscle.  Some rebound in muscle was anticipated.  It seems to me that I need some filler calories to keep my body from burning muscle for fuel.  Of course, this is a delicate balance but apparently I achieved it.  I have previously noticed breaks from workouts having similar positive results in the past, but they are short-lived.  Taken too long, the maintenance will begin to break down.  But its still nice to know I can take a break from my routine and eat freely without suffering adverse consequences.  Recommend subject return to gym ASAP and continue progress!  Note subject engages primarily in weightlifting routines, which have more lasting and longer term benefits as compared to cardio in this researchers opinion.  It is the researchers opinion that this experiment is testamount to that.

I believe another key takeaway from this is that efforts in the gym don’t happen immediately.  Its not like you walk out and the effects take place magically within a 2 minute time span.  A quality series of workouts may have impacts weeks after they are completed!