Shmuel

For a Monday I feel really great!  I finally added a cardio routine on my "off" days and it is amazing how I feel.  I got up this morning and probably would have rated my motivation level at a 6.  I was up on the scale from 209 to 212.5 and if I could notice significant muscle mass increase I could be happy about it but I can’t or at least I don’t think I can.  I have not changed my diet and so far that has got me from 252lbs to 212.5 so I don’t think it is diet.  I have been "salting" alot lately so it may just have been water retention.  I plan on eliminating added salt from my diet and see if that may have a positive impact on the scale. 

Anyway, I started an AB routine with cardio today and by the time I was finished my motivation was back to a 10!  I am still trying to figure out the weights exactly but I will keep at it and continue reading and learning.  I take new measurements at the end of this week so keep an eye out this weekend for new stats.

Thats it for now!

S-

Today was a bit odd.  I woke up still feeling tired after 8 hours of sleep.  I was’nt going to let that stop me.  I got on the scale and was up 2lbs?!?  Could be a number of things I guess but I was also feeling kind of thick?  I’ve been doing the same thing diet wise so I don’t know.  I have been cautioned as to building muscle will cause the scale to rise but I don’t think that is it yet.  I am still getting used to the excercises and there are times in my routine where I really have to push hard I just don’t think I am up to that level yet. 

 At anyrate, the weights felt heavier today but I account for that as part of my fatigued feeling.  Parts of it were great and I would get a boost to really "go for it" but other parts were tough.  Anyone else experience this?  It would be great to hear from some of you if you can relate.  What did you do about it if anything?

I look forward to Thursday when I will be at it again…until then-

Keep up the hard work everyone

S

Today was a bit odd.  I woke up still feeling tired after 8 hours of sleep.  I was’nt going to let that stop me.  I got on the scale and was up 2lbs?!?  Could be a number of things I guess but I was also feeling kind of thick?  I’ve been doing the same thing diet wise so I don’t know.  I have been cautioned as to building muscle will cause the scale to rise but I don’t think that is it yet.  I am still getting used to the excercises and there are times in my routine where I really have to push hard I just don’t think I am up to that level yet. 

 At anyrate, the weights felt heavier today but I account for that as part of my fatigued feeling.  Parts of it were great and I would get a boost to really "go for it" but other parts were tough.  Anyone else experience this?  It would be great to hear from some of you if you can relate.  What did you do about it if anything?

I look forward to Thursday when I will be at it again…until then-

Keep up the hard work everyone

S

I am sure many of us recognize ourselves to have not only a physical body and existence but also a spiritual existence.  No matter what your expression of spirituallity or choice of non-expression it is difficult (for me anyway) to not connect the two. 

Throughout my life I have been aware of making wise spiritual decissions and unfortunately too many times I have made horrible choices.  But according to the code I ascribe to it is never too late to repent; to turn away from bad choices and behaviors and restore the relationship with my Creator, King and Friend.  There have been times when I was spiritually ugly, hiding behind church attendance, good works and verbal platitudes but if you were to really see my spirit you would have seen the hurt, hatred, envy and pride that I walked with every moment of every day.

The same is with the physical body.  Although much more difficult to hide with the right clothes and style a grossly unfit body can be minimized.  But how do our bodies get that way?  By putting in them food items and non-food items that do not fuel the body but give it instant pleasure.  One day you wake up and look at yourself naked in the mirror and go… "OMG!  What happened, who am I and how did I get locked in there"?

I had an epiphany again recently and noticed both sides of myself were out of wack.  I started an "inner healing" counseling class to help my spiritual man peal off all the anger, hate, envy and pride that I carry.  It is very much like a physical workout!  It is hard, sometimes painful and it is not easy but it is so worth it and I like the transformation that happens.  For me supplementation in this realm is necessary and my supplement is the Tanakh or Scripture and prayer.  The physical is right in step with the spiritual.  I started a weight loss program including aerobics in January 09 and started lifting this month in April.  Just like the inner healing lifting is hard, sometimes painful and it is not easy but it is so worth it.  I too like the transformation that is happening. 

I finally sense that I am taking life to the absolute fullest in what I consider to be the two most important aspects…spiritual and physical.  If either one of these are off, life can be hard to handle.  Take it from someone who has lived that nightmare for most of his life.

I hope this may encourage someone…It has encouraged me.  You don’t know what life has for you in the days ahead.  Please be prepared in everyway you can.

Shmuel

I finished my second weight session this morning and felt pretty good.  I took a second day to rest only because I was really sore.  I had been reading and the general idea was that if you were sore the day after a session that it may be DOMS.  I don’t know if it was but the soreness was pretty much gone this morning and I was choppin at the bet to go again so, off I went. 

 Much of this is still pretty knew to me so I am groping around the sea of information trying to do the right thing.  For me the hardest thing to figure out is eating as I am trying to shed fat and gain muscle at the same time.  For now I am sticking with my weight loss plan which includes 1700 calories a day made up of fruits, veggies, yougurt, eggs, and lean meats.  My diet is a little heavy on the carbs but after trying to lose weight being heavy on the protein and not getting anywhere for a very long time I am a bit shy at switching back to heavier protein right away.  So far with the 1700 calories per day I have lost over 30lbs since January 2009 (I was 252 pounds "pure fat" and now I am down to 216lbs.  Still alot of fat but as you can see I am trying to change that.)  My post workout nutrition was a couple of eggs, 1 slice of bread, and some veggies cooked with the eggs.

 I look forward to better feeling, better looking days ahead.  I am planning my next workout session on Friday early.  If any of you reading this post have any suggestions please let me know.

 Keep at it!

S- 

I started lifting today and am super motivated.  I am working on proper form and will increase weight as I progress over the next few weeks.  I have started a couple times over the past year but I had a hard time finding the motivation to continue.  It took some time but I am for the first time definately ready.  My biggest self motivation is to be healthy and strong!  I want to be able to protect my family if need be and to not have to rely soley on others to protect me or my family.  I look forward to building relationships with all those on here that have attained their goals and are leading healthy lives. 

 Thats is for now…Keep up the hard work everybody your worth it!  

SBY

My digital camera I had broke so I am working on getting another.  I have one on my phone but I have no idea how to get the pic from it to by body blog site.  Anyway, I am happy to say I am not as hideous as my current pic and have lost 30lbs, I am looking forward to updating my pic soon.  To all you beachclad dudes out there….I am on my way!

Keep it big

Shmuel

I am wanting to shed some more of this fat tissue pretty quickly.  I have done pretty well so far and have been eating clean since January 2009.  I have droped just over 30lbs and my BMI has gone from 31% to 22%.  I have not been weight training but I am starting with a beginner program today.  I know a great body comes with a lot of hard work and determination and I am not afraid of the work and I am certainly determined.  Yet, I wanted to know if it would be helpful to use a non-steriodal anabolic amplifier like "Nutrex Anabol 5" or "ALRI Pro-Anabol" to help shred and bulk up?

 Any suggestions on if this is a good idea or any products that you guys like better than others?  I want to keep my calorie intake low to shed the fat pounds but much of this is new to me so any help would be great.

 Thanks and Keep it big!

Shmuel

I have not been updating my workout tracker due to time restrictions and lack of discipline.  I have however been working out regularly especially with the cardio.  I am trying to update the tracker regularly now and won’t go back to the ones I have missed.  At any rate I have lost 9lbs since beginning a few weeks ago and seem to be at an impass.  I will up my cardio this week and restrict a few hundred calories per day to see if that can get me burning again.  I also will up my weights this week and keep working on it.  I have a vacation coming up in about a month so I am using that as my motivation for this stage of my weight loss.  Went to buy clothes yesterday and UGGH!  I will be glad to fat down and muscle up!  Check out my workouts, I would be grateful for any advice as I am doing this more or less on my own.  Keep up the great work!

I have not been updating my workout tracker due to time restrictions and lack of discipline.  I have however been working out regularly especially with the cardio.  I am trying to update the tracker regularly now and won’t go back to the ones I have missed.  At any rate I have lost 9lbs since beginning a few weeks ago and seem to be at an impass.  I will up my cardio this week and restrict a few hundred calories per day to see if that can get me burning again.  I also will up my weights this week and keep working on it.  I have a vacation coming up in about a month so I am using that as my motivation for this stage of my weight loss.  Went to buy clothes yesterday and UGGH!  I will be glad to fat down and muscle up!  Check out my workouts, I would be greatful for any advice as I am doing this more or less on my own.  Keep up the great work!