Close, But No Cigar...

(I never really knew what that meant...)

Saw Sharon today, and to no surprise (because I've been keeping tabs), I've lost more weight since the last visit in February. I weighed in at 301 lbs. Chalk up six more on the list, down from 307!

I am definitely excited about this. I've seen some people lose weight faster, which is discouraging because I know I could be alot lighter. However, I'm already losing, on average, 2-pounds per week. Any faster, really would be, unhealthy. At this rate, if I consistently lose 8-pounds per month, should be down to 240-pounds by Christmas time.

I really don't have much to add here. I haven't really changed my diet much, nor my work out routine. I'm just eating right, using the Wii Fit (rarely) and I'm doing push-ups whenever I can.

Until then, stay focused, eat healthy, be positive!

What are your gains?

I've noticed many of my friends and co-workers who are consistently hitting the gym in hopes to lose some extra weight for whatever reason. I've also noticed that some of those people are not losing the weight, gaining the strength or any other positive gains from their routine.

When I posed the question to many of these people of what are they doing in the gym, and what are they eating throughout the day, there is one commonality. Cardio. Everyone is so cardio-heavy in their workout but rarely any of them (women especially) add any sort of strength training to their routine. If there is strength training, rarely any of it is core-strength training.

Why does any of that matter? Well simply put...

Cardio workouts are known to burn off excessive amounts of calories, assuming you're not pussyfooting around and actually doing the work. However, the drawback is once you stop running, cycling, whatever, you stop burning calories. Makes sense, right? Well it should. If you stop moving, your body does not need to expend any more energy to those muscles. This is where strength training comes in.

With strength training (using weights to build strength), once you stop lifting, crunching, curling, whatever, you continue to burn calories. Makes sense, right? It will. Whenever you use your muscles to lift, and you continue to lift, that burning sensation you feel is the lactic acids going to work where your muscles ripped. Protein in your body goes to work and begins to repair the muscle. This can take place even hours after you've finished your workout. So the body is expending energy to repair your torn muscles. The amount of calories burned is no where near what you were burning during the actual workout though.

Core-strength training is even more important because you are working on your abs primarily. The core of your body is what helps your balance. With having a strong core you'll be able to do other exercises much easier. Nearly any routine you do, whether you believe it or not, depends on having a strong core. A strong core will also allow less strain on your back with greater stability and balance for your body.

And the last point here is what you eat. Please remember, you don't want to beast mode it at the gym for 2 hours and kill it by stopping by McDonald's and picking up french fries and other heart-clogging messes. If you do hit up McDonald's (or any other fast food joint) because you are on the go, make the better choice. Keep it lean and nutritious. If there has to be calories, make it beneficial by some other means. Eating an orange is much healthier than drinking an 8oz glass of OJ.

The Weigh In...

Since the last visit to see Sharon, I was really skeptical about the rest of my weight loss program I had started in October. Last time I saw her, I found out I gained an additional three pounds! I've been noticing lately that I my (double) chin was coming back and other various signs I was gaining again. So I decided to step it up and just get back into it.

Well, I saw Sharon and weighed in. Last time I was 316lbs. Today, when I stepped on the scale, it read 307lbs!! I lost nearly 9lbs (nearly, because it was 316 and some change and then 307 and some change...). This has really re-motivated me to keep doing the right thing.

Between seeing the changes physically and also on the scale, I also have been able to feel the changes. There is definitely a strength, balance and flexibility increase in my movements since the last. A lot has been happening, and I'm happy about it. Just have to keep it going.

Until next time!

It's Been a While..

It surely has been a while. Sorry for those who are following this and have not seen anything new in the past few weeks. I've been in a slump so to speak.

I've realized I have not been keeping up with my diet, nor have I been keeping up with exercises. I felt horrible about it too. I'm trying to trend back in the right direction with eating which has been all but 100% successful. Fortunately though I am counterbalancing this with much more [needed] exercise.

I'm back on the Wii Fit kick, but with much more emphasis on Yoga and Strength Training with those targetting the core. The core muscles is where I really need more work on because this is where most of the fat resides. Although I may have lean legs, and my arms and chest is shaping up somewhat nicely, the danger is in the mid-section. 

This fat, known as the Omentum Fat, is bad because of where it is. The mid-section is where all the vital organs are, such as kidney, spleen, liver, etc... The more fat that is there, the more these organs get all squished together to compensate room for the Omentum Fat. I figure by targetting this area specifically will help a chain reaction with the rest of the body.

Tonight, I decided to work out with weights, rather than just the Wii Fit, and let me tell you! I felt all Beast-Mode! I had a good burn working the shoulders and chest. I decided to pump out 10 quick push-ups. This may not seem like a big deal to some of you, but you have to realize where I am coming from. I used to do them half push-ups [aka Girl Push-Up] and struggle with doing 10-15. Tonight, I did the regular push-ups and went through the first 8 with ease. The last two I started shaking a bit, but I felt accomplished. Either I am building up my strength or I am losing the mass. Either way, this is a big stepped and huge confidence booster. 

Anyhow, this is it for now.

Oh! Side-note. I plan on getting into some REAL yoga soon. I just have to find out how. If any of you are interested in doing this with me, let me know.

January Update!

So I met up with Sharon today, and as I feared, I did not lose any weight. I stepped on the scale, and wouldn't you know it? I gained weight. Now, it's nothing major. I weighed in at 316.4 lbs. Sure three-pounds isn't alot. Granted I can make up excuses like "Muscle weighs more than fat" and "I've been working out alot more," but in reality, this probably isn't the case. Could be though. I won't really find out until I start measuring this fat loss by some other means outside of the weight scale. It's a very tricky thing.

So Sharon and I decided to go with a meal plan this time. We've set the limit to 2800-calories per day. That is alot. She even said this was the first time she ever set a limit that high. So now I am going to be counting calories, measuring food intake, the whole nine. I really need to get this fat loss thing on point. I have alot of plans, and all of it are contingent on me losing...fast.

Well, as promised, more pics. They don't seem very promising.

Accentuate the...Negative?

Interesting notion isn't it?

Interesting for some, but not new to many. After working out for many years, I've never seemed to be able to sculpt my body the way that I had always hoped and imagined for. Not sure if it is the new take I have on working out, perhaps it is the new fat loss that I've been experiencing. In any case, something is working right.

After a week of changing how I work out, I can definitely feel more of a burn at the end. Now get this, it is with smaller weights with the same or maybe a little more reps, but nothing significant. And no, I have not been slacking, so I'm not getting weaker, at least I hope not.

After reading some tips from Men's Health Magazine, I've decided to lengthen the duration in which I am in the negative phase of the repetition. I am now just exploding through the pull (positive) and slowly returning to the starting position (negative) in a 1:3 ratio. One second to pull the weight, and three seconds to return back. This has, not only brought the lactic acid burn sooner, but more intense. However, I still go through the entire set, regardless of the burn.Now for the real negative of my workout...

I am not getting the amount of cardio that I probably should be getting. Granted, my body is looking more solid in many places, but in the places that count (the belly), I am honestly not seeing much of a difference. In case you are unaware, having all or most of your fat in the midsection is the worst kind. Reason being, the midsection is where all of the vital organs lie (duh). With all of the fatty tissue there (this area is known as the "omentum"), this forces your organs to get squished and do all sorts of things that is not supposed to happen. Sad. I know. I blame me for not doing what I am supposed to be doing.

This is not to say that I am not still losing fat though. I have been dropping still, and is noticeable in the various clothes I wear. I just do not notice this (visually) as I see myself all the time.

In any case, that is the update so far. I will be seeing Sharon next week, the day after MLK Day.

Eat well, work hard, take care.

Softcore to Hardcore...

After work, I came home with the intention to get a good burn but one from a different set of workout routines. After listening to a podcasting from Naked Nutrition Network, I've decided to look up different "plank" styles. I'm no gym-guru or fitness-junkie, so all these terms are relatively new to me. Alot of these things I already know, but are unfamiliar to the name. So being that I'm a novice to this entire thing, and my knack for always yerning for knowledge, I looked it up.

Well, for those who are not physically-inclined on the knowledge portion (as I am one of them), a "plank" is just a basic core workout. Working on your core is the foundation of having good posture, balance/stability and proper form when working out with other exercises. After doing these planks, I've come to realize my core is very weak, I mean extremely weak! You can check out some videos on ExpertVillage.com to see how the plank and side plank are performed to see how you stack up. But basically, this is definitely a workout that I need to focus on. Not only is it good for the things I've previously mentioned, but at the same time it will definitely tighten up my abdominal area, where the loose skin effect I was speaking of is occuring.

I've also done a few other exercises where I'm trying to target my upper back and shoulders more. I'm feeling really good about the different routines I'm picking up and how I can see the effects on my body. I can definitely see now where my muscles are starting to shape up real nice, I just need to melt away at more of this fat that is engulfing my body. It really is exciting to see this transformation. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about the pictures. I've decided to post new pics once a month so there will be more dramatic changes, as opposed to weekly photos. When all is said and done, I will try to make a slide show to illustrate the metamorphosis.

Well, until the next update, eat good, stay focused, train hard and take care!

Late Night Snack (for the mind!)

An update of my day since the last VLOG.

My first attempt at a Video Blog (VLOG!)

This is my first Video, so be gentle. Thanks!

OH NOEZ!

It has been about 2 weeks since the last post. Things have been going well since I've been back at my parents. I exercise on the regular again and I'm continuing to drop body fat. However, I believe I am maintaining my body weight. This is to be expected since I've been weight training. I'll check with Sharon my total weight when I see here again after Martin Luther King Jr Day. So with all the holidays now gone, I can really focus on the diet, the routine, and basically this total lifestyle change.

All is fine and dandy, right? Well maybe...

As I work out more and check my body in the mirror as I beast through each set, I notice when I stop to rest, or grab a different set of weights, that my body is well...different.

Now, it's not different in a "DAMN! You lookin' GOOD!" kind of different, but a  "eh? That's odd..." kind of different. The infamous loose-skin is starting to take its toll! I figured with all the weight training I've been doing, I was helping prevent this horror! But I guess not. I definitely will be hitting the pool again VERY soon to try and get my cardio on. I've been reading different sites about loose skin and how to avoid or reverse it. I've been reading on muscle mass building too. Now that I've got a good foundation of knowledge I hope to combat this at its core. And speaking of core, my stomach is one thats getting hit pretty hard, as well as the side of my man boobs. Oh the shame!

We'll work through this together. I promise you...