Monday morning update

Bad News:
I gained .72 lbs this week. And Billy is about to bust through a plateau, so I might be out $50 here soon.

Good News:
1. This week was messed up. Not only did I trek out to Madison, WI on Monday-Thurs, I then turned around and drove up to Syracuse, NY with the family on Saturday (returned late last night). I did very well on both trips, not missing any workouts and eating well. But I think that your body gets a little messed up when you travel, so I'm chalking the gain up to travel and I expect to even out this week.

2. Yesterday we were at the Syracuse mall, and I tried on a pair of size 32 jeans, and they fit perfectly (my wife agreed). I haven't been a size 32 since junior year in college (17 years ago). I had a feeling that they would fit since the size 33 pants I've been wearing have been getting loose. I had to fight the urge to buy them, as they were $78 and I'm not at my goal yet, so I have a feeling that they won't fit in a month or two.

3. Correlating with #2, my measurements were very good. I lost significantly around the waist and hips, and didn't lose from the chest and thigh, where I should be making muscle gains.

4. Over the last two weeks, I've felt way better. The TT workout is kicking my ass, and I can feel my muscles getting bigger and firmer (especially the lower body).

5. I took pictures today and I look better. Today was the first day I looked at my start picture and current picture and thought "Wow, what a huge transformation!" Before it was "Boy, I sure look different". In my mind, there is a big difference between these two thoughts.

Weight Average: 178.72 - gain of 0.72 pounds this week (28.08 lbs total)

Measurements (Losses/Gains are for the week, not total)
Neck 14.625- Gain of 1/4"
Chest 38.625- Gain of 1/4"
R. Bicep 13.125- No Change
Gut 33.625 - Loss of 3/8"
Waist 34.5 - Loss of 1/2"
Thigh 23- No Change

Weight Lost since 1/2: 2.96 (Shitballs)

Pant Size: 32

Greetings from Wisconsin

So I'm on a business trip in Madison WI. I've been here since Monday, leaving Thursday. Here is what it took to stay on course while traveling:

1. Well, first of all, I'm not going to try to eat out all four days, so I needed to find a hotel room with a kitchen. Residence Inn, here I come.

2. Ok, now you have a kitchen, but we need food. So I need to book my flight to arrive early so I have time to get to the Whole Foods that I've located here in Madison. Made up a list with everything I'd need for the four days.

3. Gotta work out, right? So found a Y that let me work out there for free! But instead of going out to dinner with everyone from the meeting, I have to go work out after the grueling, brain deadening all day meetings, then come back to the hotel room and eat.

4. Oh, and don't forget to bring some lunch to the meeting in case they decide to bring in a disaster of a lunch like they did today. Three kinds of pasta, that's it. No salad, no fruit, just pasta. Good thing I brought a healthy lunch just in case, which I ate instead. Oh, And you better eat breakfast at the hotel, because all they have are bagals and cream cheese (nope, no fruit).

5. Also, better pack snacks as well, because all they put out for an afternoon snack are giant cookies and soda. Jesus! No fruit again. So I fill my laptop bag with apples, nuts and protein bars. During the meeting today, I saw a 250 lb woman have a cookie and a Pepsi as a snack. Can you think of anything with less nutritional value than that?

It took so much work to put myself in the position where I could work out, and more importantly, where I wouldn't be forced to eat the shit they put out for breakfast and lunch, and I didn't need to go out to dinner every night and fight temptation. It took a shit load of planning, but it was worth it, because I leave tomorrow and I've been on track the whole trip. I've got all my travel food packed already. It's just a matter of priorities...

Monday morning update

I lost 2.16 lbs this week. Yes, I know my previous post is bitching about a plateau. My weigh-ins since that bitch have been much lower. My wife and I realized that our digital scale was messed up, it was weighing both of inconsistantly. We bought a new scale and now things are much more consistant.

By the way, I've lost the equivalent weight of the unrelenting, non-stop 2 year old girl pictured in this post.

Weight Average: 178 - loss of 2.16 pounds this week (28.8 lbs total)

Measurements (Losses/Gains are for the week, not total)

Neck 14.375- Loss of 1/8"

Chest 38.375- Loss of 1/4"

R. Bicep 13.125- Gain of 1/8"

Gut 34 - Loss of 3/8"

Waist 35 - Loss of 3/8"

Thigh 23- Gain of 1/4"

Weight Lost since 1/2: 3.68 (Watch out, fats, here I come!!!)

This Turbulance Training workout is an ass-kicker, it's great.

You are now entering the Flatlands, enjoy your stay

So I was reading old posts on Billy's blog, specifically the February 2007 area where he went through a brutal plateau. I feel like I'm entering a plateau, here are my last 9 weigh-ins:

181.2
180.8
180.2
179.4
180.2
180.8
180.2
180.2
180

All bunched in the same general 1 lb area, except for the 179.4, which is looking like a fluke.

I started the Turblance training fat burning workout this week, it is intense. I tried to eat the low carb way that Craig B. suggests, but I couldn't pull it off, so I'm back to my regular eating plan. The only big difference is that his plan doesn't allow whole grain carbs, and mine does (in moderation).

Monday morning update

I lost 1.8 lbs this week, but I had gained .44 last week, so let's call it a net of 1.4 lbs for the last two weeks. I'm frustrated because I have been hovering around 180 for several weeks. Given how hard I'm trying, this was unexpected. I talked to Billy last night and I realize that this is just a stubborn plateau, but it's hard psychologically. I think I'm getting down to fat that I've had for over 10 years, and maybe this fat is fighting me harder...

Weight Average: 180.16- loss of 1.8 pounds this week (26.64 lbs total)

Measurements (Losses/Gains are for the week, not total)

Neck 14.50- Loss of 1/8"
Chest 38.625- Loss of 1/8"
R. Bicep 13- Loss of 1/8"
Gut 34.375 - Loss of 1/4"
Waist 35.375 - Loss of 1/8"
Thigh 22.750- Loss of 3/8"

Weight Lost since 1/2: 1.52

See Ya, 18x

Today's weigh in: 179.4.

Weight lost since 1/2: .96 lb

Today was the first morning in about 4 years that I weighed less than 180. Now I just have to get my average under 180...

Also, I used this tool for a body fat measurement, and it measured me at 19%. I used the calipers last week and got 20.6%, so if you average the two out, I'm less than 20% body fat, another great milestone.

Another thing that I forgot to post. My wife and I went to a New Year's Eve party at a friend's house. I was wearing a new BR shirt (Medium, by the way), and size 33 dress pants. Got a lot of feedback about how good I looked, which felt awesome. Also, I had a strategy. Usually parties like this are foodfests for me, but my strategy was this: Order a gin and tonic (mostly gin). Drink half, then ask for more gin and ice. Repeat until sloshed. It only took three trips to the bar (I'm a lightweight). I was then able to ignore the appetizer spread and the CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN! It's been so long since I've had refined sugar that my cravings for sweets are almost gone.

The Challenge begins

The gauntlet has been thrown down. The challenge has been issued. Billy and I are in a 10 pound challenge. First one to lose 10 pounds wins a $50 gift card to Banana Republic.

Here are the rules:

1. Average weight on Jan 2 will be start weight.

2. Must lose 10 lbs off Jan 2 AVERAGE.

3. Nothing out of the ordinary, like diuretics,roids, ass plugs, etc.

Honor system, of course.

Argument for Billy: He's a pro. He's just packed on solid muscle and boosted his metabolism. The first 5 pounds will come off fast.

Argument for Jay: He's fat. Body fat % is at least 8% more than Billy's, so I have more fat to lose.

My starting weight average is 181.68.

Let's get it on.