Back Again!

I'm working to start again.  My wife wants to do a no sugar diet and I've already been working on it.  But, over the last couple weeks I've fallen off the rocker and put on weight again.  I'm still down a couple pounds from September, but not as good as I want to be.

I have to rededicate myself to no sugar.  I'm truly addicted and just read another article about being hooked on it.  This one explained when you go off of sugar that you will get a hangover headache.  I have definitely noticed the headache, but didn't know why it was happening.  Now it appears that the sugar is the issue.  It doesn't make it hurt any less, but knowing what is going on is always a plus.

I'm ignoring the headache today and not eating any sugar.

Candy Creep

My weight is down to 312! That's 8 pounds gone in 6 weeks.  Not a lot to write home about, but going in the right direction.

My problem now is creep.  As in the crappy food is creeping in.  I ate Olive Garden today for lunch and stopped and bought a candy bar.  Sugar truly is a drug that I'm going to have to work to control again.  I thought I had it licked but here I am doing it again.

I'm re-dedicating myself tomorrow and will go to the gym first thing in the morning to get it done.  Just so life doesn't creep in and take my gym/workout time from me.  Today I did get a 1.5 mile hike with a 40 lbs pack in.  It was painful at first but I did get it done.

Ben

Progress Report

Today I'm back on track and had a little push at the gym.  I'm down to 315 pounds.  I know that seems like a lot to everyone else, but I started this year at 330.  September 1 I was 320.  Now I'm working down the right way.
Nothing is as easy as it seems.  The diet has suffered a little, but at least I'm down weight.  I'm going to have to keep it up.  My hardest part is when I have to be away for work.  This weekend is going to be hard, but I can do it.  Tomorrow I will get a leg workout before anything else.  No excuses, do the workout first thing in the day and then nothing else gets in the way.

Cheating Sucks

Today I stopped by to see an old friend for his birthday.  I got talked into eating a cup cake.  A giant one with lots of sugar.  Since I haven't eaten sugar all week, it tasted good.  But about an hour later I was high as a kite.  Had the shakes and didn't feel good at all.  Kind of motivates me to keep eating right.

I'm looking forward to Saturday, my cheat day.  I'm going to eat cake.  Is that bad? My workouts where done so far this week.  None of them have been really good, just getting them done.  I'm going to keep pressing through the workouts until they get better.

Until next time, I'll be pushing through to get weight down.  I started the week at 319 and was down to 316 this morning.  So at least it's going the right way.  Just never seems fast enough.

What about you? Does the weight go fast or slow?

A New Week a New Look

Last week sucked for just about everything.  This week is better already and I found a new way to look at food.  On The Survival Podcast Gary Collins of Primal Nutrition was a guest.  He had a great discussion about nutrition and just life.  The one pearl of wisdom, that might change my life, is to look at food like an addictive drug.  So for the last two days I've been doing that.  I'm working on the Slow Carb Diet and it seems to be the one that I can actually stick to.  When I want to eat something I shouldn't I just think back to Gary talking about the sugar being a drug that we are all addicted to in todays world.  Somehow it made it easy for me to eat something healthy, like chicken at the store instead of a piece of cake.

For the last two days this has been working and I haven't cheated from the diet.  Tonight is a BBQ but there will be plenty of things to eat that fit into the diet.  I just need to stay away from the other stuff.

I've also starting going to the gym first thing to make sure it happens.  That way I don't get busy and cut it from my schedule.  It's working so far and I think I'll start seeing normal people again and that will help.

Work Outs!

I love working out.  I enjoyed it more when I was in shape and could do some amazing things, but I'm starting to enjoy the processes again.  Yesterday I took a hike at a park with a 40 pound pack.  It was amazing! Just being out and about.  Right after I finish this I'm going to the gym for leg day.  I have to go easy on legs or I won't be able to walk.

My secret right now is not to follow a plan but do a workout 4 or 5 times a week that I enjoy.  Just to get back into the workout routine.  Since I haven't been working out, it will get me back in the game!

New Life

Well I've started getting to a new life.  This morning I weighed 316.0.  I lost 4 pounds in a couple days.  For some reason I wanted more.  I hate it when that happens.  But four pounds in a couple days isn't bad.

I had a couple good workouts.  Maybe too good.  I'm trying Engineering the Alpha workouts.  I'm in Phase I week I.  It's a hard workout.  Today went better then yesterday, but it's still hard.  Tomorrow is suppose to be my day off, but I'm thinking of doing a hike around the neighborhood.  I kind of enjoy that and I need something that will get me use to the weather again.  Too many hours on a computer in the AC.

My diet isn't going bad, it just didn't go good today.  I cheated and had a candy bar and 2 mini cupcakes.  The candy bad was really hard not to.  I was craving that crap.  The cupcakes where at a meeting/training class I went to and they where just sitting there and everyone was eating them.  So I had to try them.  I think I'm going to need to stay away from some of those things until I can get myself more in control.

On the plus side, I did notice that when I ate crap (candy and cupcakes) I was hungry then before I ate them.  Crap food really doesn't satisfy your hunger.  I hope I can convince my soul of this.  But it was an observation so I think as I go I'll be able to convince myself of this and cut all cheating out completely (except on my cheat days... This week will be Saturday and I'm planning on eating an entire cake!).

Ben

Once Again

Once again I find myself starting at the bottom.  I'm currently 320 pounds and fat and out of shape.  I think I hit bottom last weekend when I was teaching a firearms class for Modern Self Protection and really couldn't keep up in the heat.  It was the first time I haven't been able to keep up with something physical in almost 20 years.  Boy I need work, so I'm starting once again.

The Diet
I'm using the slow carb diet right out of The 4-Hour Body by Tim Farris.  It worked in the beginning of this year to go from 328 to 318 in a little over a week.  It was the first diet that actually worked when I started it.  Even a starvation diet takes time for my body to react.  It sucks!  Normally a diet takes two weeks for me to see any progress, now I'm hoping this one worked once and will work once again.

The Fitness
I'm going to use the workouts right out of Man 2.0 Engineering the Alpha because it sounds challenging.  I missed my workout today because the gym was closed for the holiday and I had to work extra.  But that extra work got me tomorrow off, so I'll hit the gym tomorrow and do some gardening to burn some extra calories.  It should be fun.  Tomorrows Workout:

• Circuit 1
• Goblet Squats
• Incline Dumbbell press
• Single Arm Dumbbell row
• Kettle Bell Romanian Dead Lift
• Planks
• Circuit 2
• Chin Ups
• Glute Bridge
• Reverse Lunge
• Dumbbell Lateral Raises.

Only a little bit of work there.  I'll try it and see how it goes.  The Alpha book has a 16 week program and I'm going to try and keep with it.  Should be challenging and then by the time I'm done, hopefully I'll start running again and looking at some long distance and adventure races to run.

Yesterday is Gone

Yesterday I ate badly but had a great workout, so that helps some. I think it's every time I'm on the road that gives me difficulties. I need to figure that out because I'll be driving a lot more soon.

Here again!

Here I go again with the blog. The idea is to put my days down in a journal to be accountable for my bad eating and physical habits.

I just got out of the gym where I hit 66% of my goals. Someone was on the bench press so I use that as my excuse not to do it.

I'm doing a strong-lifts 5x5 program. Today was;

Squats 175 5x5, got it!
Bent-over Rows 145 5x5 got it!
Bench 210 5x5, didn't even try.

Every time I just want to get better and better.

My goals for this program;
Squats 225 5x5
Bench 225 5x5
Dead lift 325 1x5

I'm getting closer!

Get Strong,

Ben

Quote of the Day

"Why in the name of John Moses Browning would you do that with a gun?" - Tom Gresham

Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Turkey day. I do plan on over eating. I worked out a lot today and will get up and go for a walk in the morning.

Today's a New Day

I'm starting again..again. It seems like I've started back so many times it is almost not worth it. But I'm getting older and starting to feel it. So I'm going to do a 5x5 workout with the goal being 3 times a week and to walk two miles 2 or 3 times a week.

I'll keep you posted on how it goes. I'm at the gym right now an ready to start again.

Ben

Missed

I missed my first weight goal today, but it made me more intent on my workout. I ate better today also. I'm trying to make 320 and currently weigh 322. Hopefully by the end of the weekend I can make that first goal.

Getting started is always my hard part. It normally takes almost 2 weeks of work before any weight loss happens. So if I can get started I can do this.

Starting, AGAIN!

Seems like every new thing that changes in my life I fall down. Now I'm starting again. I have a great workout program going, as long as I go. This week only got the gym twice. Last week I did 5 workouts, which is my goal. I just have to keep working on it.

Hey

Merry Christmas! Calories don't count this time of year.

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Back in the Habit

I'm starting a new habit. Up in the morning and at the gym by 0630 am. Nice and early. I'm trying to get a jump on my day and ensure that I get my workout in.

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Back to the Grind

Third day back in the gym since Thanksgiving. I'm happy to be here, but when I step on the scale it sucks. Last night was the company X-mas party, and they can cook. I tried to eat less, but apparently I ate a lot.

Yesterday I was at 310 and today I'm 312. So, another gym day today. I just have to be at the gym everyday this holiday season. Easy... Yeah right!

Small win today; my wife is sick and I won't make it to work but I made it to the gym.

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Holidays Suck!

If you are trying to be on a diet. I gained 6 pounds since Thanksgiving. My in laws were in town for the week and I didn't get anything done, including going to the gym.

The last couple weeks haven't been any better. Today is the second day in a row for the gym. I need a workout bad!

I'm making workouts a priority. Other things can wait a couple hours a day for me to work out. It makes me feel better and enjoy life more.

It's my current 30 day challenge. Workout 5 days a week.

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A New Day

My in laws left today and now I'm free to work a schedule that allows the gym and eating right again. I'm jazzed about being back in the gym. I got a late start today, but am ready for a good workout.

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