The End of 2014 and New Year's Resolutions

So as I finished my workout this morning it felt good to be done working out for 2014.

I've taken some time over the day to reflect on my year.  I still can't believe all I have accomplished in the year.  Haven't missed a single day of my workout (not even a broken toe stopped me!) which in it's self is no small feat.  I still wake-up every morning hoping I really don't need to get up yet but do and push myself through the workout coming out on the other side feeling much better for having done it.  I have pushed myself with the workouts by adding time or more challenging exercises (plank anyone?), shuffling the order around and adding more resistance through the use of wrist and ankle weights.  The hard work is definitely paying off as I'm starting to see sculpted areas on my body and find myself saying "is that me?" to my reflection.

Some other things I have accomplished as part of this quest is no longer needing to buy plus size clothes and my BMI is now within the overweight range.  These are two major steps for me and I am very happy to have accomplished them.  I find I have more confidence and am standing up for myself more.  This has not only been a body transformation but also a bit of a mental health one.  Still a bit to go on both fronts but I know I can succeed.

I want to talk a bit about New Year's Resolutions.  I tend not to make them anymore.  I have in the past and they all normally centered around losing weight.  Ready to attack the issue head-on.  Although this is a very good goal to set it's usually gone about in the wrong manner.  You have to start slowly and make manageable changes.  Start slowly with the exercising.  Start with 15 or 20 minutes and slowly increase and add stuff to it.  Don't start with an hour workout and burn yourself out quickly, you won't want to continue if you're too sore to move (been there, done that!).  You have to think of it as a lifestyle change not a diet.  A diet most people will cheat on or end at some point.  These changes have to be permanent and something you can live with.  Find food alternatives you enjoy and substitutes for favourites you love just as much.  This takes time but you can do it if you take the time.  You have to think of this as your lifestyle with no end.  Trust me, if I can do this anyone can!

Weigh-in and Survival of Christmas!

So it's another week and Saturday is here again.

Here it is, I lost 2 pounds this week and have now lost a total of 132 pounds!

I feel very happy with that considering this week was a ton, and I mean a TON, of family dinners.  Between Christmas and Munkee's birthday, it was a busy week.  As I stated early this week I have been jumping between the obese and overweight line on the BMI scale but I'm ok with that.  I really tried to not stress a lot about what the scale was saying as there were many times we ate later than we normally would have.  We were sure to plan ahead and really watch what we ate.  We stuck to our plans and ensured we were eating the right foods.  Filled our plates with veggies and enjoyed visiting vs. focusing on the food.

I really feel that we survived the holiday season again this year and am ready to get back to routine.

This week I also hit another milestone, one year without missing a workout!  In the 16 months that I have been doing this I have only missed one day of workout due to a power outage last year on Munkee's birthday.  I still can't believe I get up every morning and workout.  Last weekend I added another 5 minutes of cardio to my workout and shuffled my routines around to push myself a bit further.  I am now up to just under an hour a day for my workout.  Crazy!

This week I will be focusing on getting back into the routine.  Eating at more normal times.  Most importantly, this week I will be relaxing and spending time with Munkee.  I'm not expecting many challenges this week, just a nice quiet week.

Weigh In Day - The Post Christmas Version

It was a long and wonderful week this week, just very busy.  Bee and I tried our very best to adhere 100% to our routine but there were some days where that was next to impossible.  Today's weigh in in spite of all that was respectable at 184 pounds. The additional weight and cardio is definitely making the workouts tougher as they should be. I am sweating more and I am starting to notice some changes in shape.

I feel a little more sculpted than I was just a week ago. The definition is coming along quite nicely. I do find after my workouts now there is a period of greater tiredness that follows. I can definitely feel each day's focus in that target area, today definitely in my shoulders and arms.

Christmas is a great time for family but its definitely a challenge to eat, sleep and hydrate properly compared to regular life. As much fun as it was I am definitely looking forward to a week of holiday from it all, and a much slower pace.

Bee spoiled me as she always does and I have a nice collection of wicked medium t-shirts to go with the new body, and they fit nicer all the time. Its a complete change to look in the mirror and not want to look away immediately. I was never the mirror looking sort before, that has changed slightly.

Tuesday - Raised the bar again

I added more resistance today, things are progressing nicely. I notice that adding the cardio has the unintended side effect of raising my heart rate before doing the muscle building exercises. Not sure if it is just due to me being more tired. I am noticing that after my workouts, my muscles feel more "hot" and I have felt a definite immediate change in my arms.

Perhaps cardio was a missing ingredient all the way along. I am glad I added it. So far so good with christmas/birthday stuff not interfering with our routine too badly. Bee had a great day yesterday and so did I . It was one of the nicer birthdays in recent memory for me.

This quest has been a challenge for both of us, and one that I feel we have rose to.  Its been a bit of an adjustment but I can definitely see this being the grounding principle in my life for years to come. I feel so much better inside and out that I can't see stopping now for any reason.

Did you hear it?

I can barely contain my excitement as I write this blog post!  I never though this day would come.  It's been 16 months of hearing "that's obese" every single morning.  Trying not to through the Wii Balance board out the window after hearing that for the millionth time.  This morning was different though!

I had my eyes closed (I don't like to look and let Munkee break it to me easily when I am up a little bit) and hear a different noise followed by "that's overweight"!  You would have thought I had won the lottery!  I could barely contain myself!  I don't think I've stopped smiling since.  BEST DAY EVER!!!!!

I know that my weight may fluctuate a bit and may hear "that's obese" again but I know that it won't last and soon I will be leaving the line between obese and overweight in the dust and heading closer to normal.

So I have survived the first two events of the holiday season and have come out feeling stronger.  On Saturday I had 7 kids between the ages of 2 1/2 and 15 over to decorate sugar cookies and Christmas ornaments.  I made sugar cookies, icing and rice krispy squares (some with red and green candy coated chocolates)!  I had Christmas M&M's and licorice for the kids.  I did put out a cracker, fruit and cheese tray as well.  I made it through and sent all leftover treats home with the kids.  We then had Swiss Chalet for dinner and then went to look at Christmas lights.  A wonderful start to my holidays!

Yesterday we went to Munkee's parents' house for lunch to celebrate Munkee's birthday.  My in-laws eat healthy normally so I know going there for a meal isn't overly stressful and they are good about sharing what they're making ahead so I can plan ahead.

Today, we celebrate Munkee's birthday.  For the first time in two years we will be able to go see The Hobbit on his actual birthday as last year we had the ice storm and power outage on his birthday and the year before I was very sick.  Today and tomorrow I will be in more control of our meals and be able to follow our routine a bit closer.

Weekly Weigh-in and some other stuff

So here we are again, it's Saturday and it's time for my weekly weigh-in (and I'm actually posting on Saturday!)

My weight loss total for the week is..... 130 pounds down!  That's another 5 pound sticker and 10 pound ribbon for my success board!  So happy!

This week I had great intentions to talk more about what I'm eating, give a bit more insight into the food I use to show how much I am eating.  I had great intentions but I am still adjusting to the new work situation and shaking off the stresses I was dealing with.

This past week I did have a Christmas lunch to deal with but I stuck to my resolve and ordered a garden salad with chicken, I did have some extra snacks back at my desk to balance the points of the meal out.  I have also been dealing with all of the treats popping up in the office.  Now some of that is my fault as I did bake for my new work area.  What better way to introduce myself to area?  I have successfully avoided the Christmas goodies from work and am now on holidays.

This next week will be challenging as there will be lots of family dinners and activities.  I plan on organizing the food the best I can, trying not to sweat the small stuff (as much as possible!) and to enjoy visiting and being with my family.  Between Christmas and Munkee's birthday we will be busy but I will try and blog a bit more to talk about how we're dealing with the family meals and hopefully help you succeed in coming out on top of Christmas!

Saturday Weigh In - Time to add the cardio

Stayed the same weight wise this week. I am fine with that, I can't always gain pound after pound of muscle especially since I am likely reducing my body fat percentage at the same time.  To that end I have added some cardio exercise to each of my routines starting tomorrow.

Nothing huge really, about 5 minutes per workout but it should help to elevate my heartrate and perhaps continue the sculpting effect of lowering my body fat percentage.

This is an interesting time to be doing this being that we are leading up to Christmas, there is going to be many family gatherings, eating abroad etc. It should be a fun time but a tricky balance. Last year we made it through it unscathed so I don't expect any problems this year either.

I am definitely starting to like how I look in clothes more. Right after I lost the weight I found myself to look a little too skinny, just dorky and thin. Now I am a bit more filled out. Its a bit different to have tightness in the chest of a shirt from pectorals rather than manboobs. I can definitely accept it better. I never thought Id be wearing a medium t-shirt. Most of my teen years and adult life up until now have been spent in an extra large minimum if not a double XL. I still find it strange when I see the M on the tag.

Weekly Weigh-in and Reflection

I will really try to get better at posting this on the actual weigh-in day....

So my weight loss as of yesterday is 129 pounds, that's 2 more pounds off and much closer to hearing "that's over weight"!  I can seen the next 10 pound ribbon and 5 pound sticker!

So this week was VERY challenging for me.  Had a super stressful job situation to deal with this week.  It was an emotional roller coaster and I was a mess.  The one thing that I am super proud of myself about is that at the height of the stress, Tuesday night, I had to stop at the grocery store to pick up a missing item to make chicken fajitas.  16 months ago in the state of mind I was in I would have loaded my shopping cart up with chips, chocolates, ice cream and probably a few other things I passed while walking through the store.  I would have also probably said forget making dinner and picked up McDonald's on my way home.  I did neither of those things.  I picked up what I needed and treated myself to raspberries for my fruit the next day.  I went home and after licking my wounds for a bit made dinner.  I have worked way too hard for the current work situation to stop me.

I found another thing that this quest has given me.  The strength and confidence to not to shrink away and hide when faced with the situation.  I dealt with it head-on, did not call in sick to work.  Major changes for sure.  I went in Wednesday morning with a fire lit under my butt to fight for myself.  I did not take the situation lying down in any way and kept my head held high.

This is probably the most stressful and emotional situation I have dealt with since starting the quest.  I am very proud of myself for how I dealt with it and didn't revert back to my terrible habits.  I have changed those habits so significantly and for so long now that even when I have an inkling to go back to those bad habits my new strength pushes through and I do not give in.

This week will hopefully be a wind down from last week with everything getting settled and have a plan to move forward with for work. 

There will be Christmas lunches and Christmas treats at work.  I know that I can resist and eat my planned food.  I feel making it through this week is making me stand a little taller, making me look at myself in the mirror and seeing that I am actually maybe pretty.  This quest has been so amazing and so transforming in so many ways.  This past week just proves it to me.

I will try to be better at posting.  One thing I want to focus on sharing is the food that we're eating.  It's a question I get a lot and some people are surprised by how much I eat.  It is important to get enough food and not to starve yourself because that's not good either.  Until next time!

Belated Saturday Weigh In Results - Train Is On Track!

I normally write a blog after my Saturday weigh in, however this week there was some errands to take care of and we had to get a different start to our day yesterday.

As of that weigh in I am 183 pounds. So far that is a gain of 8 pounds of muscle mass. I am rather pleased with how this is turning out just from ratcheting up the intensity every week. Soon I will get to a point where I am definitely adding a little more cardio to my workouts in order to sculpt the muscle I do have further, or at least allow it to show fully by shredding down that body fat percentage a little more.

Its been a long journey, and one this week that was a little more stressful than normal. My wife had some work issues that kept my mind a little preoccupied. Since that is her story to tell/not tell I will leave that to her. As we head into Christmas, I am looking forward to a little time off with Bee and time spent with my family. My nephew Brian appears to be talking more than ever, so it is nigh time for me to install some key words into his vocabulary (no not those words).

Soon I will post more pictures, although the change has been gradual with me I am sure if I took a new picture of myself beside the picture from a few months back I may even be shocked.

Tuesday - Ramp It Up Again!

Today I added more weight once again. I definitely feel it now after the workout. My arms are a bit rubbery and warm. If I want the extra muscle I have to keep pushing it like this. Progressive challenge is unfortunately the only road to success.

I am so far very pleased with the results. After maintaining my weight for 6 months Id describe myself as pretty skinny looking. So I started off fat, transformed to skinny. Held for a while and now I am adding on muscle definition. Its quite a change, I am not quite ready to post a before middle and after yet. But I think if I took a photo in the same clothes as my previous after picture Id be rather surprised at the change. I am definitely noticing a lot more definition in my upper back, chest and shoulders. I like what I see. I still am wearing a medium t-shirt, I just notice I fill it better. I never thought I would be the guy with muscles showing through his clothes, but then again when I was at my highest weight I never envisioned myself getting skinny again.

Its been an interesting road, I am glad I get to take it with my wife. This journey has brought us closer together than ever before and its wonderful to know that I have an outstanding support in her. I don't think I'd have made it this far without her.

Weekly Weigh-in and Check in

Sorry for taking so long to post this, I know you all have been sitting on the edge of your seats waiting to hear from me.  I have this great thought that more than just my husband reads this blog!

So this week I am down 127 pounds.  That's another pound off.

I just finished getting lectured by Munkee about being too hard on myself and to relax and enjoy the success I have achieved.  I know what I have done is amazing.  I know that.  I'm just ready to be done and I find I'm struggling more this time of year with all of the chocolates and candies out for the holiday season.  It's also not helping that I'm feeling stress at work and it's leading up to my "women's time" which brings lots of fun emotions with it.

I have also recently taken a point of food away and I am struggling with being hungry.  I have eaten all of my food for the day and I'm still feeling a bit hungry.  It's a struggle but I continue to remind myself that I have eaten enough and keep myself busy.  It's about redirecting my attention because I know I am not hungry due to lack of food, I'm just adjusting.

So needless to say my frame of mind hasn't been the best the last week and I was again really hoping the scale would show me something more than a pound but I will be happy with a pound off.

Something else I struggle with is the complements.  I am not good at accepting complements.  I have even been called skinny recently by a few different people.  I have never been referred to as skinny.  It's taking some getting use to but I'm getting there.  One step I took to accepting my new self was looking for new make-up to help make some features stand out a bit more and not hide behind brown on brown on brown.  I am happy with the subtle changes.

I continue to push forward even when struggling and not agreeing with what I'm seeing on the scale.  I know I'm doing well and I know I'm getting closer to the end.  The finish line is on the horizon, just a bit more to go.  I can do this! 

Saturday Weigh In - I can live with it.

So my steady progression of slight muscle gain this week didn't happen I stayed the same. Which if you think about it isn't a bad thing. What may have happened is I shed more of the remaining fat stores (not that there is much of that) than I had gained in muscle. I can live with that.

The thing about  a journey like this is that it will never ever be a straight line toward success. What you have to do to stay motivated, is learn to live with those sorts of changes. You have to observe your goal as a long term project and you can't measure every step linearly.

Sometimes your weight will go up or down without explanation. We have incredibly complex system's governing our bodies, and sometimes they behave in ways that aren't predictable. What you have to focus on is both the long term goal, and being consistent. Are you eating right and exercising to the best of your ability, and overall are things trending the right way for you.

Its easier said then done due to our nature to be goal and achievement motivated people. You really do just have to learn to live with it when things don't go exactly 100% perfect.

Staying motivated in the face of that reality is the key to success.

Back to Routine

Well sort of.

I stuck to my routine while I was off for the week but I am now back to work and that routine.  I find comfort in my routine.  I like that I get up at the same time each day, have my regular routine of working out, shower and getting ready for work.  If it's the weekend or I'm off I take a more relaxed approach to the day.

I am finding it challenging to get back to the work routine.  I really did not want to get up this morning.  I was tired, I had a headache and just did not feel like doing the workout today.  I pushed through it and actually felt better after my workout.  It's strange but I do find my workouts do help me feel better.  I'm glad that when I have days like today I can push myself and do the workout.  I feel better for having done it.

I brought a treat into my coworkers when I went back to work.  I baked cookies and decorated them all pretty like.  I was told they were good.  I love to bake and like sharing what I bake with others.  I also tried a new more difficult recipe, Raspberry French Macaroons.  It did not go well at all,  Many swear words later I had nothing to show for my 3 plus hours in the kitchen.  I think this quest we're on has given me the confidence to push myself further and not accept failure.  I will try them again and succeed.

A picture of my handy work.  If you look closely at the wreaths there are snowflakes, candy canes and gingerbread men.  I had fun making them.

I continue to push myself beyond the working out.  I am pushing myself to challenge myself in my baking, in the food I'm preparing and eating, the clothes I'm wearing and no longer accepting being in the background.  I feel like I'm rambling tonight but I'm allowed to!  I'm writing the blog!

Tuesday Intensity Increase - not a problem

This morning as I usually do every time this week I increased the resistance on my workout. It went well I felt the extra weight and sweated quite a bit more. I am pleased with the progress I am making. It is slow but steady and I can definitely see a change in my shape. It is starting to morph from skinny video game nerd towards more of a fire fighter calendar physique and that is the intended effect.

I never thought I would be that guy. Muscle definition was always something I thought that other people had but wasn't my destiny. The thing about that is you decide whether you will be "that guy". The only limitations that are real are those you impose upon yourself.

I had a great mini staycation with my wife this past week. It was so nice to have her home with me. So good in fact that I am having problems getting started and motivated today. The house seems too quiet. I suppose since she is currently at work it is a great time to do some gift wrapping so that when she comes home I can begin the days of her pointing and wanting early access through bribery or coercion. The annual game.

After this saturday's 182 pound weigh in I am looking ahead to the week hopefully maintaining the mass increase. Its been a long journey from where I began. I will never stop until I have reached every goal and smashed every expectation I had for myself.

Weekly Weigh-in and Reflection

Can't believe it's already Saturday again!  Where is the time going?

So as of this week I am down 126 pounds!

I am very happy with my weight loss.  Yes, would love for it to be faster but as Munkee keeps pointing out to me "if it was any faster I'd be worried about your health".  Slow and steady wins the race?  I think I've just had enough of hearing "that's obese" every single morning for the last 15 months.  My BMI is getting close to no longer being in that range.  I'm sure you'll all hear when I move to the next section, overweight!

This week was pretty good.  I found when I was out shopping and running around I for sure didn't drink enough water.  I tried to plan ahead and have water in the car but it just wasn't the same.  When I was around the house doing stuff or relaxing I was drinking the water but not as easy to do when out and about.  We did have one lunch out this week, we planned ahead and ensured that we did it properly and still ate enough food for the day.  It's just as important to not starve yourself as it is to not over eat.  Beyond that this week was very nice.  I enjoyed the time off work and accomplished a lot in preparation for Christmas.  Almost feeling ready to tackle the holidays!

So I go back to work on Tuesday.  Monday I will be going out shopping with my sister so I will try and be more aware of how much water I'm drinking.  I'm sure there will be some catch-up to do at work and get back into that routine.  When I'm off I don't vary too much from routine as far as wake up time and eating times but I am much more relaxed.  I'm sure in the next few weeks Christmas lunches will start to crop up and baked goods will be appearing in the office.  I will continue with the resolve I have and know that I am doing better for myself by not eating those tempting treats.

Saturday Morning Weigh In - Steady Progress

The steady progress continues for me this morning. I have successfully gained another pound of muscle mass. I am starting to be very pleased with the results. I know that its unlikely that I will look like a marvel comic super hero or anything. I personally would be satisfied with maybe another 8 pounds of muscle mass, and that final reduction in my body fat percentage.

Its taken a while for me to get here and some days I find it hard to believe that I did it. I am not an athletic guy, terrible at sports, and in many ways quite physically lazy. I really feel like I have accomplished something and I know that if I can do it, anyone can.

Everyone has a reason to do something like this for themselves. Each reason will be different, but there is nothing bad that can come from taking control of your health and well being. Some may do it so that they look better in clothing, some so they get themselves into better cardio vascular condition. It doesn't matter what the reason is, what matters is consistency and sticking to your guns no matter what.

Success is merely a combination of effort + time + consistency. I know that I am living proof of that.

Trying New Things

The quest has forced me to try new things and push myself further.

I've talked about the new things I've tried with my workout, adding the weights, adding time to the workouts and switching the order.

I've talked about the new things related to clothes, wearing colour, not so loose fitting and pretty clothes to stand out and not hide in the background.

The other area where I've had to try new things is in the food department.  Not only have I had to find new food items to eat but I have had to try new recipes to keep things interesting and to lighten-up some of our favorite meals so we are still enjoying what we're eating and not feeling deprived.

I have recently stumbled across a couple of things that I have wanted to try but have been a bit chicken to do so.  I have branched out in my eating for sure since we changed our lifestyle but more changes are still needed and we need to keep things interesting.

A few weeks ago I saw a commercial for Old El Paso fish tacos and was intrigued.  I picked up the kit but kept putting off making them, one I'm always nervous when trying new things and two I was using and excuse of "I didn't have time to figure out how to make them".  Well I'm off this week, no more excuses!  I have bought the fish and it's on the meal plan for Saturday!

Another recipe I saw recently was for pasta with garlic shrimp and broccoli.  I will be changing this one up slightly to make it a bit lighter but that is on the menu for Monday night!  Before I didn't eat a lot of fish and now I have two new fish recipes to try out!

I think what this quest has given me is the confidence to try new things.  The same old same old gets boring and just as you have to kick things up with your workouts you need to kick things up with what you're eating.  I'll let you know how the dinners go!

Progress and what is next

As I continue along this current path of gaining muscle mass, I know that in order to keep going I will have to continue to challenge myself. I think what will come very soon is a point where I add cardio back into my routines as a means of further reducing my body fat percentage. I probably will do this in the next week or so adding a little more time to each workout.

I could keep doing the same thing but eventually my body is going to get used to what I am doing. The fascinating thing about a human body is that it is a learning engine. It tries to develop an internal strategy to cope with what you are doing on a daily basis. This makes exercise an interesting thing to do. Eventually after doing the same sort of workout at the same level of resistance for long enough, your body will figure out an efficient way to do that workout with the least expenditure of energy.

Its strange to think but it gets used to what you are trying to do, and works towards doing that in a way that it finds the most efficient over time. So if you want to continue to have your workout be challenging you have to mess up the routine frequently. You can do this by adding resistance, repetitions, or changing what exercises altogether you are doing. Even something as simple as changing the order can often trick your body into forgetting what it knows.

The difference with me right now is I am working on building muscle mass, and trying to lower my body fat percentage a little bit (not that there is much) so that the muscle I have worked so hard for has its best chance to be seen visibly. In my case varying the order isn't going to do me much good. Its going to be about adding resistance, and adding time/repetitions.

As I have said I am not an athelete, I don't really enjoy working out, and I'd much rather be doing the nerdy things in life such as binge watching movies and playing/creating videogames. I just have also accepted that in order to do that and be healthy, I have to sacrifice a little bit of my day for exercise, and I have to eat properly. Always its about finding the balance that works best for you.

Unexpected Exercise

So as I've said I'm off this week and have been setting up for Christmas.  Just have two more trees to get up and then the finishing touches on the house and I'll be happy.  A few more Christmas gifts to buy and I'll be all done!  There may be a bit of baking to do as I got an early super awesome Christmas gift that I can't wait to try out!  It's a cookie press!  So excited to try it out!

The thing I have noticed over the last few days is all the exercise you get cleaning the house, decorating and shopping!  I have been up and down stairs, moving things from place to place as I stage things and walked through two malls!  My pedometer has been busy the last few days.  Since Sunday I have done a lot each day.  Sunday was cleaning the main floor and putting up the main floor Christmas tree.  Monday was cleaning the upstairs and putting more stuff out on the main floor.  Tuesday was shop till we dropped and boy did we drop!  I think I feel asleep on the couch around 8:30 last night!  Today we did a regroup day so I could update my lists and I finished off the main floor decorating .  Just have a few finishing touches to do on the main floor and I'll be all done!

If I think back to doing this work in years past I would remember being sore and grumpy by this point in the process.  Even cleaning the house left me sore for a few days afterwards.  Now I seem to be moving through the work with a smile on my face!  Such a difference the new lifestyle makes!

Tomorrow is more running around to get the last touches for the house and the last few gifts.  I must say I have enjoyed this time off and getting to spend time with Munkee but I have still been working and probably doing more than I would have if I was working.

Christmas shopping the day after.

I have an unexpected side effect from this workout journey. Yesterday, my wife and I went christmas shopping. We do our very best to try and get it all taken care of in a day. In the past this has meant feeling sluggish, tired, and sore the next day.

I still feel a little bit that way today, but definitely not to the same degree. So I guess getting in better shape means I can handle a whole day's worth of the malls. From the weaving through the crowd, up stairs downstairs etc. I don't feel like such an old man today.

I think beyond looks things like that are where the true worth of this journey lies. I can be active, go out and do stuff and not suffer the consequences.

I know what some of you are thinking, It is just shopping whats the big deal. When my wife and I do the christmas shopping its a lot more like going to a theme park, just without the sunburn and funnel cakes.

Day two of the increased intensity went well. I was a little worried due to the location of the weights coupled with jack knife crunches. I didn't need to be, it actually was not bad at all. On with the day nice to know I don't have to do shopping aside from groceries until after the mall crush is finished.

Still Here, Just Enjoying my Time Off

I'm still here, have been busy enjoying my time off with Munkee.  We've got some of the decorations up and got a lot of the Christmas shopping done today.  My goal to have shopping and decorating done before I got back to work should be easily accomplished.

I have been very busy around the house with cleaning and decorating.  I'm finding the challenge to drink enough water hasn't been too bad.  What I'm finding challenging is stopping to make food.  When I'm working, lunches are made the day before and all I have to do is put the finishing touches on it at work.  While I'm off I'm making lunched right then and that takes longer.  I don't always account for that when I'm busy doing things so I get busy and then am beyond hungry when I finally stop to make food that it takes longer to feel full.  I have to make myself stop sooner and make sure I'm not getting too hungry leading up to meal times.

While out shopping today I was having to pull up my pants constantly (I know, a girl could have worse problems) so I bought myself a couple of new pairs of pants, got some new sleep pants and some new workout capris as everything was getting a bit big.  I didn't bother trying anything on, I did get a smaller size but was afraid they wouldn't fit.  Surprise, surprise, when I got home and tried them on, they all fit!  I still don't believe that I'm shopping in the "regular" sizes but do find myself looking a bit more.  I even looked at a dress today that I was tempted to buy!

The scale is starting to catch up with what I've been seeing in the mirror.  It's nice to see things starting to show.

About my workouts - Leg Routine

Today's routine is the bane of my existence, the leg workout. It is also probably the most important one. I have mentioned before in my blog about how I have had varying degrees of joint pain in my hips and knees for as long as I can remember. This leg workout I feel like is a big part of why I have less now. It also happens to be unpleasant for that very same reason.

I do it every time no matter how much I swear and complain while it is underway. I know its good for me, so I accept it.

My Leg Routine consists of the following exercises

1. Yoga Warrior Pose - 45 seconds per side
2. Rowing Squats - 30 Repetitions
3. Static Front Lunges - 10 Repetitions per leg
4. Side Lunges - 15 Repetitions per leg
5. Rowing Squats - 30 Repetitions
6. Yoga Chair Pose - 45 Seconds
7. Squat Thrusts - 20 Repetitions
8. Yoga Standing Knee Pose - 4 reps per leg 
9. Yoga Tree Pose - 45 seconds per leg
10. Static Front Lunges - 10 Repetitions per leg
11. Side Lunges - 15 Repetitions per leg
12. Half Front Lunges - 20 Repetitions per leg
13. Yoga Sun Salutation Pose - 3 Cycles
14. Deep Breathing - 45 Seconds
15. Dips - 10 Repetitions
16. Push-Ups - 10 Repetitions

You may have noticed that in every workout I end with the dips and push-ups. I know the biggest areas I want to gain muscle in are my arms and shoulders. So I include work in that area every day.

Today was also the day where I increase the intensity by adding more weight, and from what I can tell that went pretty well. I definitely was sweating more by the end.

Monday Morning - A Little about My arm Workout

So today was my arm routine. It probably looks a lot different than what you'd expect trying to build arm muscles. My approach is different. Its more about building muscle gradually and maintaining my metabolism, as well as gaining in muscle.

My arm routine also runs about 30 minutes and consists of the following.

1. Yoga Warrior Pose 45 Seconds Per Side
2. Yoga Palm Tree Pose - 45 Seconds
3. Supine Bridge - 6 reps per leg
4. Kung Fu Shadow Boxing - 2 Minutes
5. Pushups With Side Plank - 6 Reps 
6. Arm circles - 2 minutes
7. Tricep Extensions - 20 reps per arm
8. Arm & Leg Lift - 10 Reps per side
9. Tricep Extensions - 20 reps per arm
10. Torso Twists - 3 cycles Horizontal, 3 cycles Diagonal, 3 cycles Horizontal, 3 Cycles Diagonal
11. Tricep Extensions - 20 reps per arm
12. Yoga Sun Salutation Pose - 3 cycles
13. Deep Breathing - 45 seconds
14. 10 Dips
15. 10 Push-Ups

As you can see it has some similarities to my core workout at the beginning and end. Afterwords my arms generally feel pretty rubbery. In a week or two this will likely all get shuffled and adjusted so that I can keep my body guessing. Every week I increase the amount of weight I am carrying with the arm & leg weights/vest, so that I increase the intensity. I am doing this more because I am working on muscle. I didn't change it up as frequently when I was losing weight.

A little bit about exercise routines

I don't talk often enough about exactly what I do for exercise. So I thought Id touch a bit upon it today. I probably will do the same for the next two days so I can outline what it is I do for 30 minutes each morning.

I design my routines so that I am doing a combination of exercises that stretch, and exercises to work muscles. I used to have cardio more involved in my routines, and I might again soon just to ensure I am burning off the remaining bits of undesired body fat. This is my core routine we are going to talk about today.

The core routine consists of the following

1. Yoga Warrior Pose - 45 seconds per side
2. Torso Twist Exercise - 3 cycles horizontal, 3 cycles diagonal, 3 cycles horizontal, 3 cycles Diagonal
3. 30 Jack Knife Crunches
4. 45 Seconds in the plank position
5. Yoga Triangle Pose - 45 seconds per side
6. 30 Jack Knife Crunches
7. Yoga Downward Dog Pose
8. Leaning Exercise
9. Side arm & leg lifts - 10 per side
10. Single Leg Extension - 10 per side
11. 30 Jack Knife Crunches
12. Yoga Sun Salutation Pose - 3 cycles
13. 45 Seconds Deep Breathing
14. 10 Dips
15. 10 Push-Ups

Sounds like a lot but keep in mind I am a year and a bit into this process. At this point I am wearing arm & leg weights and a weighted vest while doing this routine. It evolves over time. Every so often I will completely shuffle or change what I am doing. The human body is a wonderful machine, and it tries to adapt to what you do. Eventually all workout routines if done for long enough become second  nature to the body, and it learns to do it more efficiently. That is why you have to change it up. To get the most benefit your body has to be kept guessing.

Weekly Weigh-in and Refelction

So it's that time of the week again, time for the weekly weigh-in and reflection..

Here it is, as of today I have lost 125 pounds!  Yay!  I got my ribbon today!

This week was an interesting week.  I had a job interview this week which I find very stressful.  As we all know our bodies react to stress in many fun ways.  This week I found my body decided that it didn't want to move on the scale.  I am noticing differences in my body that I'm not seeing on the scale yet.  Munkee tells me that this is still muscle gain from the added weights, the fun of the "women's time" and the stress of the job interview.  I am trying to believe him but I really don't think the scale is reflecting what I'm seeing in the mirror.

This is something I struggle with.  When you're not seeing the results on the scale that you're seeing in the mirror or in the clothes you're wearing.  I need to look for other signs of success besides the scale, which isn't always easy.  I'm trying.  I know that the rate at which I'm losing weight is a healthy weight loss but as a human I always want more, faster but that's not realistic.  This is a long term goal and needs to be done in a healthy way.

So for now I will be happy with my 125 pounds off, the changes I see in the mirror and the clothes that are fitting looser on me.  I have accomplished at lot in 15 months that I would have never thought I could do.  I have pushed myself far beyond what I thought possible and have stuck to it for the long haul.

This upcoming week I am off work and going to be enjoying the time off with Munkee.  We will be decorating for Christmas and getting the Christmas shopping done.  The thing I will struggle with is ensuring that I drink enough water and not to get too busy and forget to eat.  I find when I'm home and busy doing things that I forget to drink enough water and I don't want to stop and make food.  It's then that I get really hungry and am more likely to be tempted to push the easy button.  It's ok to push the easy button, you just have to make the right choices when using the easy button.

Saturday Weigh In - Steady progress

Just finished my workout and my weigh in for the week. I have gained another pound of muscle. My plan of increasing the intensity once per week seems to be working well. I am very glad I waited till I had balanced my weight for 6 months after losing before I began trying to gain muscle. It makes the process quite a bit easier.

I definitely can see the results particularly in my arms chest and shoulders. I fill out a shirt in a much nicer way and no longer look like a strong wind will blow me over. I quite like that. Still wear a medium shirt, which is something I never expected I would say.

In 2 more days I increase the resistance again. Hopefully maintaining the 1 pound per week of muscle growth.

It has definitely made an impact on my overall health and well being. In particular the pain I used to feel in my joints. We had a heck of a cold snap this past week. I know in the past I would have been in severe pain for most of the duration of that weather, or at least until I got used to the change. This time it was relatively minor.

I have said it before but looks is only 1 petal as to my reason for doing this. Health is vastly more important. I definitely feel better than I have for years. I suppose it doesn't hurt that I likely look better too.

I admit it I didn't want to work out today

Today was one of those days, quite possibly because of the snowy weather and cold outside, that I woke up in the mindset of "I don't want to work out today".

Its an important part of going on a journey like this to have a strategy for days like this. I can't say I have a major thing that I do other than to visualize how I will feel after the workout is done. I know it wouldn't be the end of the world, nor would my body shut down if I didn't do my workout. I also know myself, I know if I allow that sort of behavior once, I would find a way to do it again. Then within a short span of time the taking time off becomes the norm.

I think that's a very human point of view. Aside from the very few of us out there that enjoy the act of exercise, the greater majority doesn't share that enthusiasm.  What I tend to do to keep my focus and push through those rough mornings, is think about how it used to feel when I woke up in the morning before all of this routine change.

Then, it would take me a couple hours to have any sense of "normal" I was in a fog for a long period of time. I also hurt all over in my hips and knees particularly. I felt old before my time. Part of that was I was carrying an extra 90 pounds of weight putting pressure on those joints. It also likely caused me to sleep badly.

On those mornings like today where opting to pass on the workout seems like a good idea. I remind myself of the positives of this new lifestyle. I remind myself that I am now alert within seconds of waking. I remind myself of how I no longer feel like my knees and hips are being crushed at all times. I also point out that I am wearing medium T-Shirts instead of XXL.

Usually that is enough for me to push through the initial less motivated thoughts.

Changes aren't Always Easy to See on Yourself

So I know I've lost a fair amount of weight and that my body has certainly changed over the last 15 months but I don't always see it.

It's difficult to explain.  To me I'm still me and don't feel like my appearance has changed much.  I mean I know I'm smaller than I was but it doesn't always feel that way to me.  I still struggle to see the new me in the mirror.  Struggle to push myself out of my comfort zone with the clothes I wear, both the colour and the size I wear.  I still lean more towards trying to hide my body as I still see the "trouble" areas that are a work in progress.

I don't think I always give myself credit for the actual change I've gone through.  For example, I posted a picture of myself back in August.  I haven't seen a picture of me since then (still not a fan of having my picture taken).  I had Munkee take a picture of me this morning as I was all dressed nice in a fitted dress for a job interview.  I wasn't expecting to see much of a difference at all since my last picture but there are some real changes.

I see myself daily and it's not until moments like this that I stop and realize that I really have changed.  Even in the last three months there are differences.  I guess I really should be taking more regular pictures of myself to get a true sense of the changes going on.  I am more quick at pointing out the "trouble" zones that I'm not focusing on the real changes.

I know people tell me that I'm looking good but it's not easy to hear or take the compliment.  I'm not use to it.  Not use to the attention or the praise.  I'm use to being in the background.  I am slowly getting better and starting to own my new look but I'm still a work in progress in many senses.  I must say though that I felt good today.

Another week another kick up in the intensity

Today was my legs workout and boy do I feel the additional weight I added. It didn't seem like much but I was definitely sweating a heck of a lot more than I was previously.  I also definitely am glad I don't have much walking to do today as I am noticing a distinct "I just worked out" feeling in my leg muscles.

I suppose that was the aim. Everything is progressing nicely.

I don't really have much to say about my workout stuff beyond that, so I will change the subject to my wife. Today she wore a new dress. I was enchanted, she looked absolutely fantastic. I am sure she will likely post a picture of it later on, I will leave that up to her.

I am beyond impressed at how committed to this process she has been and you can see the results in every way. She almost has what some might refer to as "swagger" now. I think it is long overdue. I have always been of the opinion that she is beautiful, its very cool to see her finally start to share in that opinion.

This journey for both of us has been one of the most intense things we have ever done. I think experiencing it together arm and arm has cemented an already solid relationship on yet another level. She is my strength my partner in life, and in many ways my inspiration.

I don't think I'd have gone this far without her by my side to keep me on track

Two Weeks in with the New Weights

So it's been just over two weeks since I added the extra pound to my ankles and wrists and I am seeing results.

I have noticed parts of my body are bonier than before.  I am seeing my trouble zones starting to shrink.  I know I have gained some muscle as my arms don't feel like dead weights as I do my workouts.  I find when I add weights that for the first bit I feel like I'm carrying dead weight but shortly after I am much better.

I do really like the new weights we bought.  Much easier to deal with and I'm not having to put two pairs of socks on my wrists to keep them stable.  I have added wrist bands as my wrists are much smaller and they always feel a bit too loose without them.  It's all about trial and error and finding the best way to keep moving ahead.

I am trying to focus on the positives that I am seeing in the mirror as the scale hasn't been as kind.  I know this is because of the muscle I've put on and also because of what Munkee would call my "women's time".  So as I've said a few times.  Can't focus on the scale, have to look at the whole picture.  Clothes are fitting better.  I am better able to workout with the new weights.  I can see the difference in the mirror.  It's a good thing.  The scale will come along and takes a bit to fall in line with the changes.  It is starting to show and I did hit 125 pounds down this morning.  Fingers crossed that for my official weigh-in this week I am able to maintain that!

Last day at this stage

Tomorrow I am adding more weight. definitely noticing good changes keeping the pressure up on myself. Its working so far gearing it up every week.

Tomorrow I am adding more weight to the weighted clothing looking forward to seeing that impact. What is interesting is the past couple days up here in Canada have seen a bit of a shift in the weather. We have snow, and as such air pressure changes.  My joints don't react well to that, so I am finding my arthritis acting up in my knees.

Its manageable, I will live but its less comfortable than I would like. The key thing is, so far it hasn't stopped me from working out. I am driven to fully accomplish this goal and muscle up. I won't let anything stop me.

The thing with gaining muscle is you have got to keep increasing the challenge level (so I am told). I have done so pretty well so far. I will continue to push the boundaries of what I think I am capable of. This isn't something I would normally have expected I would do. Exercise isn't my thing really, I just realize I am getting older. I don't plan on doing that gracefully. I plan on working to keep my body young and fit for the rest of my life.

Aside from that my wife really is looking great lately. I think she should update her picture the change is definitely visible.

The Joys of Being a Women and Losing Weight

So today I want to touch on the joys of being a women and losing weight.

Having been doing this quest with my husband the biggest fun I've noticed is the fact that guys lose weight faster than women.  I am very happy for my husband's weight loss and being able to maintain it for as long as he has.  I just wish my weight came off just as quickly but it doesn't.  I'm sure there are many medical and scientific reasons why but I am not a medical professional or a scientist so I'm not going to try and explain it.  I'll leave it this, it's not fair but I appreciate that Munkee continues to support and push me as I continue my quest.

The other joyful thing we women get to look forward to when loosing weight is the havoc our "time of the month" plays on our body and the scale.  

We deal with cravings.  I swear there are many times that if it's not moving I may eat it.  I find I need to be more diligent about drinking water and talking myself through the cravings.  I find I crave all the wrong things and am horrible when I see things I use to enjoy but I also know that the maybe 5 seconds of happy would be completely obliterated with the days of guilt I would feel for eating it.

I find I'm more tired and have a headache leading up to this magical time.  I find I am more tempted to hit the snooze button and skip "just once" but I don't.  Mostly because Munkee is kicking me out of bed!  But also because I know I actually feel a bit better after my workout and be proud of myself for pushing through.

I also find this wonderful time of the month causes the scale to not show my successes.  Bloating, water retention, constipation and other wonderful things are all happening.  TMI?  All women know this happens, we just don't talk about it.  Munkee has been good at pointing out the trends every month as I pick up the Wii Fit Board to throw out the window when all week I have been down on the scale and then the day before weigh-in I'm up and am no longer getting my 125 pound ribbon.  Ok, feeling a bit better!

Bottom line is that losing weight for a woman has many challenges and we have to learn to cope with them the best we can.  I'm getting there thanks to the support of my husband but I still struggle.  No one said it was going to be easy but it is much better than the alternative.

Sunday Morning - Not so fun day...

I have mentioned before that one of the reasons for starting this journey was joint pain. The process has done wonders for how i feel in that regard, but I still have my bad days, particularly around weather changes. Worst super power ever barometer knees and hips.

Today was one of those days for sure, I woke up with sore joints in my lower body. I still had a commitment to my workout. I have found that it doesn't seem to make the pain worse afterword so it hasn't stopped me before. Same with today although it was uncomfortable at times I pushed through.

I think its days like today that really test your commitment. I very easily could have thrown in the towel and skipped the workout. I know myself and that is step one into making it a habit. It wouldn't take long till I had a pile of excuses taller than I am that I could use. "I Didn't sleep right", "It is too dark outside", "It is too cold". I don't mean to be like that. I think that is the human in all of us. We would prefer most times to take the easier road.

So in spite of feeling like a stiff old man, I pushed beyond that today and did my workout. Now I can enjoy the rest of the day with a clear conscience.

What was rather interesting was while doing side lunges I could feel my abdominal muscles with the arm across my torso, distinct individual ab muscles... ON ME!!!

The struggle is worth it.

Weigh-in Day

So it's Saturday again and time for me weekly weigh-in.

This week my total weight loss is 124 pounds!  Down another pound, which is good.  1 to 2 pounds is my aim.  I must say I was really hoping to hit the 125 pound mark and all week it looked like it was going to happen and then this morning, nope.  Stupid scale......

Anyways, this week was pretty predictable and nothing too overly challenging.  I was in a meeting yesterday and someone put out gummy candies.  I LOVE gummy candies!  That little voice was back, telling me "just one" wouldn't hurt.  No it wouldn't but I would either not be happy with just one or would feel so guilty after it that it would not be worth it.

It was a short work week so lots of time at home with Munkee.  We have pretty much gotten a really good pattern going with our workouts, food and food prep.  We have a work day routines and our non-work day routines and they work well for us.

This week coming up should be pretty uneventful again.  Just the way I like!  I will be taking a week off working after next week to have time to decorate for Christmas and get the shopping done.  As with last year, unless I am baking to take to someone's house I will not be doing massive amounts of baking.  We don't need it in the house and we don't tend to have a ton of people over during the holidays, we go to people's houses.

So really what this blog is showing you today is that I have a boring life and nothing super exciting ever really happens to us and we like it like that!

Weigh In Day - Progressing Nicely

Just got done with the workout and weigh in for another week.

I have no reached 180 pounds, so since i started this muscle building section of the quest I have put on 5 pounds of muscle. I can definitely see it and the results are just the way I want them, slow and steady. In actual fact I have probably put on more than 5 pounds because I have noticed there is far less "soft spots" on my body, anywhere that I had even the smallest amount of stashed and stubborn fat has diminished if not disappeared.

I am at the most going for another 10-15 pounds of muscle. Id like to still remain if at all possible in the normal bmi range for my height and weight when this is all done. Not that I would ever be accused by anyone of being normal. So it would be nice to have at least one aspect of myself associated with that word. When I reach that upper limit, I will revisit this perspective and then base it on how I look then. I am pretty sure 10 more pounds of muscle and Id look pretty darn fit and good.

Food is relatively stable, things have remained overall pretty balanced out. I am enjoying the progress just not the workout itself. It is definitely nice when I can take off the weighted clothing, and stop, have my coffee and continue with my day. The thing about a workout (although there are many that enjoy that sort of thing) for me its like peas. Its good for me and I know that, just not the most interesting thing to do with my time.

Unfortunately just like peas, its a good idea to just eat em and smile.

Let's Talk About Food

I haven't said much about the food plan we follow.  I know I have mentioned tracking our food and reducing as the weight comes off but I haven't said what the basis is for our eating.

I have mentioned before that I had lost about 73 pounds around the time I met Munkee.  I did this with Weight Watchers and Curves (circuit training).  I have found Weight Watchers to be very good at teaching you how to eat every day food and keeping you accountable for what you're eating.  The things I didn't like about Weight Watchers was paying money every week to step on a scale to have someone tell you if you had a good week or a bad week based on what the scale says regardless of the strides may have taken that week towards a healthier lifestyle.  I also wasn't a big fan of the "bonus" points they allowed with the new points system.  I felt it really lent itself to "cheat" days and over indulging all in one day.

So, when we decided to start this quest I dusted off my old Weight Watchers books and started following it, with a few slight modifications.  We don't use the bonus points.  Yes we could but after this long without them, we're not missing them.  We could have also distributed through out the week to add extra every day but again, we are satisfied with what we are eating so we just ignored them.

I carry the points calculator around in my purse for those times when I find new products and want to see if they're worth trying.  I am very cheap with my points and want the most bang for my buck.  We spent a lot of time early on finding the best items to eat.  Tried some duds and have had to adjust as products are discontinued (looking at you Fiber 1 chocolate peanut butter brownies!).

The bottom line is for any eating plan you need to have a target amount of food to eat (points or calories), you need to track what you're eating and be accountable for what you're eating.  It's a balance for eating properly and getting the right amount of exercise.  Once you find the balance you will be much more successful.

Tuesday - Ramp it up day

Today is the day of the week where I add more resistance to what I am doing. Its different than when I was losing weight because I stayed at the same resistance for a longer period of time. I know with gaining muscle I have to play to how the body decides it needs to build it. To that end I add more resistance each week.. eventually I will be doing the exercise carrying 40 or so extra pounds, at the moment it is around 26 extra.

I know I am using a method that would seem alien to most trying to build muscle. I have to do this in a way that works for me. Otherwise I will fail. The routine has to suit the way I work. So far the results are actually pretty impressive to me.

I am sure most would be using a method to build faster. My aim is to build slowly, and gradually making a solid foundation that will stick with me for life.

So far I am achieving that goal perfectly. I feel great after my workouts (partially because yay.. its done!) I will have no problem sticking with this.

I am now sitting at about 179 pounds, coupling the weight gain with losses to some of the last remaining flabby areas. Its very interesting to look in the mirror and see someone toned. Gradually I am starting to see someone built well.

Its been an amazing year and a bit.

Confession to Make

So I have a confession to make.  I HATE exercising.  I do it because I know it's an important part of a healthy lifestyle and will help continue successfully on my quest.  I know I need to do it but I don't like it.

When we first started our quest I was doing about 30 minutes a day of exercise.  I was doing it after work, which was a pain when I had running around to do after work.  The dinner was pushed back and we would be eating later and too close to when we were going to bed.  So after several comments from my massage therapist ("you're going to go home and workout after your massage?  You're undoing all my work!") I decided to try and workout in the morning.  This took juggling as we needed to make sure Munkee and I both got our workouts done in time for me to be ready to go to work.  Munkee kindly agreed to let me workout first and he would go after so I could get ready for work.  So  was born my new routine.

I am now up to 51 minutes a day with 5 pound weights on my ankles and wrists.  I find that so unbelievable!  Over the last 14 months I have adjusted my workouts and added more challenging exercises to the routines.  I still remember when I was trying balance bridge for the first time and could barely get my butt off the balance board.  Now, I can do it single leg with the "trainer".  I still struggle with some exercises but that's the point.

There are mornings when the alarm goes off, before Munkee hears it that I think "maybe I can just hit the snooze button and skip it for today" but then Munkee hears the alarm and kicks my butt out of bed and reminds me that I would feel guilty if I skipped a workout.  There are mornings when I wake up and have a headache or am not feeling the best but by the end of the workout I am feeling better and more prepared to take on the day ahead of me.  So as much as I grumble about doing it I feel better afterwards.

However, I give everyone permission to smack me if you ever here me say "I love my workout".  It's not meant to be fun.  It's meant to get my butt in shape so I can live a longer life.  So for now I will say I tolerate my workouts!

Monday Morning

Done my workout for the day, enjoying morning coffee and all that comes afterword.

Its definitely showing more obviously all over my body now. This quest is about sculpting my body more with muscle. So far I'd say its completely working. I think at this point it is safe to say I am in the best physical condition that I have ever been in my life. Its hard to believe just over a year ago I was a much bigger version of me.

I'm also pointing out although it should be obvious to anyone who read's this blog that I am extremely proud of my wife on every level. She is doing so amazing. Yesterday we visited my parents, since they recently returned from a vacation abroad. They haven't seen her in about 5 weeks. They let her know the difference was obvious. I really enjoyed them showering Bee with compliments. She deserves all the praise she gets. My parents are quite adept at flowery language. I can tell her over and over that she looks great. They can say it in ways that carry a different sort of linguistic gravity than I can. It was definitely fun to watch.

Tomorrow is the day I kick it up a notch again, more resistance. Onward towards my final goal, although I must confess I am not entirely sure what that is yet, other than being able to look in the mirror with amazement.

Weekly Weigh-in and Reflection on the Week

So it's that time of the week again!  Time for the weekly weigh-in!

As of today I am down 123 pounds!  I'm closing in on that 125 pound ribbon!

So this week, as you know (well know if you've been reading this blog all week!), I added a pound to my wrists and ankles to amp up my workouts and continue the quest towards my goal weight.  The first challenge was getting the weights to stay on my arms and wrists while working out!  This required a trip to a store to get new weights after two mornings of many, many, many bad words when the existing weights just wouldn't work.  That was after using several pairs of socks to add bulk to try and help.  The new weights are much better and I'm getting use to the added weight.  I am still feeling it from my workout for sure!  My arms and legs are still sore at the end of the day but that means it's working.  No pain, no gain right?

Also this week I baked 3 different kinds of cookies for a bake sale fundraiser at work.  I'm getting more use to baking and not eating it.  Yes, I do miss it for sure.  Especially when one of the cookies was peanut butter with mini Reese's pieces.  I LOVE peanut butter.  Ok, let's be honest I love most foods that aren't good for you or I wouldn't have gotten to the place I was.  I was able to resist the temptation.  I'm almost starting to find it easier to resist as time goes on.  Not that I still don't have cravings or see a restaurant I use to eat at and think "mmmmm, that would be nice" but I know it would be nice and my stomach would probably hate me for it after just shy of 15 months of none of that stuff.

Coming up this week is not a lot of anything.  I'm hoping to have a quieter week, with less running around and more time to stop a bit.  I have no planned dinners out in the next week.  No baking planned.  Since I'm still adjusting to the current change, no big changes in my workout or eating planned at all.  Should be a nice boring week!

All Weighed in for the week

Well I stayed the same on the scale. Even with defining muscle the scale isn't always a reflection of what is going on.

As I mentioned yesterday, I have definitely noticed big changes in my definition over the week. So likely the reason I didn't have gains in muscle is I was also losing the last stubborn bit of bodyfat along side any muscle gains. I can definitely see the positive changes in my form and that's very cool.

I am not a vain guy by any stretch of the imagination. I don't think I even remotely count as fashionable either. I do find myself thinking more about clothes lately. Before anyone gets any funny ideas, I am not talking about being in style. I still likely will forever be a military surplus pant and t-shirt kind of guy. That's just who I am.

I think I am more think of clothes from the standpoint of oh man.. I had some really wicked t-shirts that now would look like a tent on me. So I suppose it is more a lamentation on the loss of some killer metal t-shirts and dork stuff related t-shirts from the arsenal. I will miss you may the fez be with you t-shirt.

Tomorrow is weigh in.

After a solid week of progress tomorrow is weigh in day.

Its a strange phenomena lately I am actually looking for it to be a slight gain vs. what I was trying to do before, and lose. I can't say as I am used to it yet.

So far I have been very stable with the food intake and I haven't started to rapidly gain/lose from all the extra exercise. All I have seen so far is a definite density change. Most of me is firm now, which compared to when I started this whole venture a year or so ago, is a totally huge change.

I am really starting to see definition in the arms, abs, and chest. I am sure there is more than that but some parts of me are rather difficult to look at.

If I am down tomorrow it definitely isn't a loss of muscle, its likely that little bit of remaining body fat, I have definitely noticed a change there.  I think overall its gone. I definitely like the replacement. Muscularity has definitely helped most if not all of my joint pain disappear. I am enjoying it completely.

Well that's not entirely true. I still hate the actual exercise part. After the exercise is done I love how I feel so the sacrifice is worth it. At one point I was worried I would become one of those obsessive workout people who actually looks forward to their exercise routine. So far I don't think there is any danger of that occurring.

There is also no chance whatsoever of me stopping now. I have come a long way with my confidence and body changes. It feels amazing to stick to a goal completely.

Slow but Steady Progress

So we're closing in on almost a week with the added weights to my workout routine.  As with any time I add weights there's a bit of an adjustment on the scale.  I need to build muscle to adjust to the added weight but I can also see changes in my body so I know I'm loosing weight as well.  Looking forward to seeing what the scale says on Saturday.

I did my arms routine for the second this morning since adding the weights and didn't swear nearly as much as the last time.  Firstly because I bought the new weights and they feel much better.  Secondly because my arms didn't feel like they were about to fall off as I did the workout.

I know as part of the quest I need to push myself further and change things up over time to ensure I am able to reach my goal.  Munkee is good at realizing when I need to change things up and doesn't get too put off by my grumpiness and resistance to change.  I usually stew about it for a bit and then realize he's right.  I could not have done what I've done without him.

So I'm settling into the new weights.  Definitely feeling the burn and pushing forward.  Yay me!

Feeling Beefy

So today while I was shaving I really got a good look at myself in the mirror.

This new goal of muscle gain is definitely working, my shoulders and chest are starting to look, for lack of a better word, beefy. I definitely am not aiming to look like some sort of freaky steroid bodybuilder just be more defined and I think that goal is being achieved slowly but surely.

This week I added a weighted vest to the body weight based exercises. It is adjustable so right now I believe it has 4 pounds in it. I wasn't sure if I was ready for more reps than I am currently doing, so that is the route I took. Adding resistance should help. So far the food intake hasn't had to be adjusted much at all.

So full steam ahead onward and upward. I am enjoying the results I have never looked this good in my life. So to look in the mirror and see what I saw, it feels slightly alien.

Eventually when its more obvious I will post pictures.

Unrecognizable

So something I've been hearing quite a bit lately from people I run into at work is "had you not said hello I wouldn't have recognized you" or "if I had run into on the street I wouldn't have recognized you".

I always find that strange to hear.  To me, I'm still me.  I still look the same I think but apparently that's not the case.  Yes, I have basically lost the equivalent to a teenager but I don't always see that.

In my head I am the same person I was before.  But wait?  Am I?  I have proven to myself for the last 14 and a half months that I can make a plan, stick to it through thick and thin and push myself more than I ever thought I could.

I think part of this quest has been a big mental change for me.  I have had to change my attitude and approach to most things.  I have proven to myself that I can do this and can resist the temptations.

So as much as my physical self has changed, I know my mental self has changed.  Both of which change how I carry myself.  I find I smile more.  I don't try to hide in the background as much as I use to.  I want to wear colour and try new clothes.  As much as my physical appearance help with all of that, the mental changes have had the biggest impacts.

I guess if I really think about I am not the same person I was but I'm very happy with the person I've become.

Maintaining Momentum

Another day at the training, pretty standard at this point.

One thing from time to time that happens is your resolve temporarily gets reduced. Life has a way of distracting you from what is important.

Today was one of those days at first, but I pushed through with the workout and felt better for it. I then set about clearing the fog from my head. For me that always comes about from puzzles, usually to do with coding and logic.

I am happy to say I feel loads better. As is my usual pattern such a puzzle presented itself, and solving it cleared my head nicely.

I am now nearing 180 pounds, and definitely starting to feel some more serious muscle definition. I am zeroing in on the task at hand and that feels good.

Slight Improvement

So today was day three with the extra weights and day one with the new weights!  The new weights were much better.  I didn't have to have two pairs of socks on my wrists and one on my ankles to try and help the weights stay on.  They were more comfortable.  Well as comfortable as 5 pound weights can be!

I could definitely feel the extra weights on my arms today.  After my workout I didn't want to lift another thing.  I pushed through and carried my lunch bag and purse up to the fourth floor at work.  I winced every time I took a sip of water this morning.  Thankfully the pain has become manageable as the day went on because I needed to start baking cookies for the fundraiser at work on Thursday.  Tonight was oatmeal with white chocolate chips and cranberries.  Tomorrow is chocolate butterscotch chip cookies and peanut butter cookies with mini Reese's pieces.  It's for charity.  I can do it!  I will be making bags of three cookies and tie them up with red and white ribbon as that's the colours for the charity.

The only thing that I'm finding this week is I am not adjusting to the time change at all.  I was up at 4:00 am and had big issues getting back to sleep.  This weekend our clocks went back an hour and I'm finding I'm waking up at my natural time which on the clock is now an hour early.  Hopefully this will settle down soon and I will sleep in to 5:20 am again!

So I am surviving the extra weights but not the time change!  I will adjust and push forward!

Love the new weights

Bee bought new ankle and wrist weights as she said in her blog yesterday. They are very comfortable compared to the old ones. I will enjoy using those.

Today was the day of the week where I ramp things up in my training. Today I added a weight vest for the bodyweight based exercises. So far so good, I must say I am really liking the way my body is starting to look. I haven't noticed a significant weight gain from muscle yet. However I think some of the remaining body fat has started to diminish (there wasn't much) and be replaced with leaner muscle.

I am noticing a definite significant improvement in muscle tone and definition. without flexing or sitting "just so" I now can see abdominal muscles as in separate ones. The keg I once had is gradually becoming a 6 pack. I never thought I'd look like that in a million years.

It is definitely true what they say. Eating right and exercising most definitely works. I am enjoying the changes, and the challenge. I am definitely not stopping ever. This is the new me.

Day Two of Add Weights

and I was not a happy camper.

Yes the weights are adding resistance to my workouts and boy did I feel that today when doing my arms routine!  Yes I know I need to push myself to keep moving towards my goal weight.  Yes I know that by pushing myself I am going to feel some discomfort as I adjust to the changes.

But what I was experiencing the last two mornings was too much!  The weights weren't fitting right, even with adding socks for padding.  My right wrist is feeling bruised and doesn't like being touched!  I don't know how many times I said bad words this morning as I was afraid that the weights were going to fall off and they were hurting!

I can't give up, I need to push myself but I also can't be hurting myself.  So what did I do?  I went to a local sports store and found new weights!  They are the same weight but designed differently and feel much better!  I tried them on in the store and feel so much better!  Tomorrow will be the full test but I am already optimistic that they will work much better and I may not say quite as many bad words tomorrow and not be in so much pain after!

Oh and well since I was out and close to one of my favourite clothing stores and was in need of some new pants I stopped and got myself a couple of new pairs of pants.  The good news?  They were a size smaller than the last pair of pants I bought myself!  That's always a nice feeling!

Monday morning feeling strong

Another week has begun workouts continuing as planned.

All along this process I have spoken about inner strength, not the sort you gain from lifting weights.  I am of course speaking of that inner drive within each of us to do something better, make the most of each day and grow stronger.

This quest has been as much mental as it has been physical. Every day I find myself growing more focused on being positive and powerful. I know I can reach the goal I have set for myself physically, I can see the changes in my body and the new muscular definition.

Even bigger than anything physical is the change in my mental state. I have grown to recognize my strength inside, and my mental drive to improve. The physical changes are just a reflection of what I feel inside. I know that my self esteem has grown exponentially throughout this process. I no longer have many of the doubts I once had about my ability to stick to a goal.

If you aim to improve your life it has to be a complete transformation. Your mental state contributes more than you could ever realize.

Focus the power within, and see the change on both the inside and outside.

I Survived Day One!

So yesterday I decided to add the final pound to the wrist and ankle weights I use in conjunction with my workout routine.  As I've said many times, over time you have to change things up on your quest.  This can be done through changes with food, intensity of exercise or adding more time to your exercise.  Most recently I had changed up my workout routines and added more time and it wasn't time to adjust my food so more weights it was!

Today was my core routine and I managed pretty well with the extra weight.  The ankle weights still need to be figured out a bit as they were a bit loose and that's not a good feeling when doing basic step.  I felt the extra weights when doing jackknives for sure!  Tomorrow is my day for arms and I'm sure I will be feeling the extra weight tomorrow!

I must say I dealt with the added weight better than I'm dealing with the time change.  Last night our clocks went back an hour.  The extra hour of sleep was very nice but my tummy hasn't caught up to the time change yet and I found myself getting VERY hungry early.  So what I did was eat a bit earlier than normal but not too far off so I can quickly get back to my normal meal times without feeling like I'm about to eat anything that sits still long enough!

I hate days like that.  When you're so hungry and all you can think about is the next meal!  I use these kind of days as learning opportunities.  I learn to deal with the hunger by drinking more water and reminding myself that I have eaten my allotted food for the meal/day and that I'm really not physically hungry.  It helps.

Spending a nice quiet day at home with Munkee, gearing up for another work week!  Enjoy your Sunday!