My Journey of Change

I’ve decided to try something new.  Just to stir the pot.  I like stirring pots.  My current gym workout has me aiming between 8-12 reps per set, 3 sets per exercise.  I have been worried about taking on too much weight too soon (I’m keen like that), so I’ve decided that before I can move up to the next weight set (i.e. 40 to 45) I would have to be able to do 3 sets of 15.  I think I am going to administer this "test" once a week - should I have a body part that I think is ready to be "graded".  (Seriously, what’s with all the school-like talk?)  I think with this, I’ll be able to throw enough of a curve at my body to keep it guessing as to what I’m doing (HA!  Take that body!), while making sure I’m not taking on too much too soon.

As for running out of steam, I find that by the time I get to triceps, which is at the end of my workout, I’m just spent.  Maybe I’ll switch it up and move it before biceps training next week.

HA!  Another curve body!  You’re not gonna know what hit you!

It’s amazing how a workout can totally refresh you and wake you up.

Last night, I went to a Killers concert with my son (my wife was supposed to go, but was not feeling well - we suspect it was something to do with the 9 month old baby in her belly) and got home quite late.  11 PM  I’m normally in bed at 10, and he at 7 or 8.  (Hey, he’s 6!)  Needless to say, when the alarm went off at 5:50 this morning, I was not wanting to get up.  But I did.  Because I have a job.  We all know that’s what has to be done.

So I dragged my sorry self around work all morning, and didn’t even feel like I could accomplish anything in the gym - but as I am as committed as ever - I went.  That, and I just had to get out of work for an hour.  So I jumped on the elliptical and had a 30 minute "slow cardio" session.  (Apparenlty it’s good for burning fat, and not muscle or carbs).  By the time I left the gym, I felt so refreshed and awake - a feeling that I’m still carrying as I write these words.  Hopefully it can hold out until after 7 tonight, because that’s when my daughter goes to bed, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be wanting to hit the sack soon after.

Yay exercise!

So, after a weekend of mild gluttony (white rice - but I hate wasting food, so I ate it) I decided to try to find out how much of what I should be eating.  I looked over the Nutrient Rations and Caloric Needs calculator, and based on my input, I got the following results:

• 3686 calories
• 205g Protein
• 61g Fat
• 578g Carbs

Holy freakin’ crap!

Those numbers seem way high to me.  To be honest, if I sat down for a bit, I would probably see that I eat around 4000 calories a day (why else would I be overweight?), but how the hell am I supposed to get 205g of protein in?  I have tuna, chicken breast, eggs, protein powder, cottage cheese, milk, beans, cheese (although it is fattier)…  Am I destined to only eat this food?  How the hell?

I guess if those are the numbers, then those are the numbers, and I’ll try to figure it out…but to reiterate:

Holy freakin’ crap!

Well, finally got my workout in.  It was a good workout too.  After my workout, I had my first bit of protein - my new stuff - the myoFusion - and that stuff tasted GOOOOD!  After my workout I came home, finished some tidying, and took my son to his first soccer practice.  The we had to go pickup some groceries, so my nutrition was thrown a bit off.  I didn’t eat when I should have eaten, so I ended up over snacking a little.  Not too much, so I’m not too put out by it.  I feel good tho.  Very good.  Might go for a run tomorrow, and if I end up going to work Monday (due to no baby being born), I’ll be hitting up the gym at lunch.  Can’t wait for the next workout…

My whole day was thrown off.  I guess having a new baby would do that to someone.  Not that we’ve actually had a baby yet, but my wife was in contractions all night yesterday and early this morining, so I worked from home (and didn’t get a chance to go to the gym at work - as I usually do).  I had a plan to go this evening, but family business and company got in the way.  Such is life of a married professional father to 2 (soon to be 3).

I’ve made arrangements to go first thing in the morning tomrrow, which I’m quite excited about.  I’ve also picked up a new protein powder (see my bodyspace) so that’s always fun.

Approx. 12 hours to workout time…can’t wait…

Well.  That run wasn’t so bad.  8:59:00 for the same route.  Yes, I stopped my watch right to the second.  I have that much talent.  Ran farther too without having to stop and walk the rest of the way.  It was a little more chilly out there tonight, but what can you expect for northern Alberta in spring…

…hmm….how bout WARMTH?  I MEAN FRIG!!!  THERE WAS SNOW ON THE WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING.  THIS ISN’T THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE…WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING CLOSER TO THE SUN AFTER DEC. 21ST…  Damn, Mother Nature…wtf?

Anyways, I feel much better about today’s run.  In fact, so much so that I’m going to create another category just for cardio.

Now…back to popcorn and chocolate milk.  Hey!  That stuff is a healthy snack!  T.V. says so!

Damn…  I’m hungry.  And I’m home watching the kiddo…so you could say I’m a little bored.  Not a good combination.  If I was at work, I could immerse myself in work to not think of food…

Speaking of food and kids.  Our 19 month old likes to ask for food and then not eat it.  I hate seeing things go to waste, so I eat it.  I’m trying to think of another way to incorporate the word waist/waste into a clever pun, but my daughter has just figured out how to take off her diaper on her own.  … and is now waking around naked…  sigh…

That’s right Pielak…try to blame it on the kids…it’s all their fault you’re overweight.  I should go get her dressed before she pees on the floor. 

I’ll have a big glass of water instead.  Maybe that’ll fool me enough.

Well, I’m almost out of my Cytosport Muscle Milk.  It was a good run, but all good things come to an end.  By far, this was the best tasting protein I’ve ever tasted.  So now I’m left with the dilemma.  Which protein should I buy on the next go around?

For the time being, I’ll be using Slim-Fast, as I can’t afford to buy any new protein until I get paid in a few weeks.  I know it’s not idea, but does anyone have any thought about using this?

As for what to buy when I can, Muscle Milk is great, but kind of expensive.  What are the benefits that put it above the others?  I’ve used other protiens, although not nearly as expensive.  My goal is to put on lean muscle mass, and drop the fat.  Tricky, but doable.

…ALL ABOARD THE CHUNKY EXPRESS!!

Just finished my first cardio run.  *hack*  I wouldn’t be surprised if there were cobwebs in my lungs based on how out of shape I feel.  9:34:50.  (No, that’s not 9 hours, that 9 minutes, 34 seconds, 50 milliseconds)  That’s for around 2k.  Dear god I hope it’s 2k or more, otherwise that would be pretty sad.  Hmm…according to the online calculator at bb.com, that’s at least 200 calories.  Cool.

I know it’s difficult to try to put on and take off mass at the same time.  They kind of contradict one another.  My goal is to maintain (ideally gain) muscle mass, and lose fat.  Hopefully lots of fat.  My training regiment is going to consist of strength training in the gym Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  Basic 1 day, 1 exercise per muscle group, 3 sets to 8-12 per exercise kind of thing.  I’ve done split routines in the past, but I’m not ready for that at the moment.  Maybe when I hit a plateau…but that’s thinking way ahead into the future.

I’ll also have a home workout (for evenings such as tomorrow night - tomorrow being Wednesday) in case I can’t make it to the gym due to work constraints, family constraints, or both.  With another baby coming in 2 weeks I’ll probably need to get used to being able to work out at home.  I have a small set of dumbbells here and a plan as to what to do for a home workout.  Watch my bodyspace to see what it will entail.

Off-weight days (or cardio days) will be Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday or Sunday.  As today is Tuesday, I went for a run.  Normally I’d hit the elliptical at the gym as it doesn’t hurt my knees, but had an appointment this morning and arrived at work late.  Now that spring is here, I enjoyed the run outside.  I really hope I can do it on a more consistent basis where I don’t feel like I’m slowly killing myself.  Maybe I can even get to a point where I can wake up before the kids and work and squeeze in a quick run.  Man, imagine the fat that would fly off then - running on an empty stomach and all.  Also assuming my knees can take it.  Hopefully as the weight drops and the cardio improves, I won’t hurt myself again.

To round out the training, I’m thinking of implementing a stretching day - possibly yoga - but we’ll see how that works out.  At the very least, I plan on doing some light stretching after my cardio sessions.

Ugh.  Good lord do I feel like crap this morning.  Not because I’m sick, but because in celebration/kick off for my new health regime, I went all out and ate like I hadn’t seen food in years.  I got all my favorites in.  Had McDonals for lunch (not necessarily a favorite, but it sadly gives a small sense of satisfaction), then snacked on a cholocate bunny in the afternoon.  Then for dinner, I took the kids out to Boston Pizza for dinner and slammed back a Meteaor pizza with extra cheese, and 2 beers.  (Had to take them out, because Dawnie was getting acupuncture done at home.)  Then on the way home I got a king can of beer, and some chips and chocolate.  Resse Peanut Butter cups and Miss Vickie’s salt and vinegar.  Like I said.  All the faves.

Course, this morning, I feel like a giant slob with a very slight headache.  I am pretty excited to hit the gym today tho.  So that’s it then.  It has begun.  I said bye in my last post.  But I didn’t say good riddance.

Good riddance!!!

P.S.  Future CP - if you ever feel like snacking on anything like this, go back and read this post and remember how you felt writing it.