taking stock

So... It has been a few days. I say that everytime these days, don’t I? So, what is new?

Well, first, I am back up to 107kgs. I think it is mostly muscle, not fat. I cannot say for sure, seeing as I do not have the relevent testing equipment. But, what I can say, is that my jeans are tighter around my legs, my gut seems to be shrinking, but is certainly not growing, and generally I look like my muscles on my trunk are starting to become more prominent. Certainly, the muscles on my arms and legs are becoming more pronounced, so something is happening.

My stomach feels more muscular. It feels like the muscle is closer to the surface, and firmer than it was before, but, is it really? Only time will tell, when I can start to see my six pack showing through, and when I can start to see my ribs showing through, rather than being buried under a layer of fat as they are now.

Also, I have started to use my new dumb bells. Granted, 20kg dumb bells are not a big deal, not like lifting 100kgs in a bench press is. But, for someone who is still getting back into the reshaping thing, 20kgs on each arm, is a significant deal. I certainly do not think I am going to stick with this weight into next year, but I do think it is a sure sign of progress, and a pleasing improvement on the past.

I am also noticing some of my shirts are getting tight across the shoulders and chest, not to mention my arms. These are places that normally I do not have clothes that fit tightly, so this must be a good thing, indicating that parts of me are growing. And these are parts that do not have large amounts of fat on them, so something must be happening the way I want it.

So, all round, it seems to be an improvement on many levels. I have also been walking most days, improving my cardio fitness levels. Hopefully by the time it is warm enough to spend time shirtless, my body has improved enough that I am not embarrassed to show it off.

The dumb bells!!! They are here!!!

YAY!!! New dumb bells!!!!

20kg exercises here I come!!! I am also having my first beer since the weekend.. Tastes very good, but I feel I deserve it after carrying the dumb bells from the bus stop home...

Not a lot to say today, but my hands hurt from carrying the bags I put the dumb bells in!!!

over 106kgs!! WOOT!

Hmm... I am trying honest, but I keep failing to put up new posts. I do all my thinking about what I want to discuss while I am walking home very often, then when I get home, I am too buggered to do anything about the posts. Today though, I only walked a small part of the way home, thanks to the well timed electrical storm and attached downpour. Well timed, as in just as I was trying to walk home!!!

Ok, first up. Last week, I did everything I wanted to do in terms of rebuilding my bod, except one thing that I did try to do but circumstances worked against me. I walked home every day, I did my exercises each morning. I tried to buy the next size up dumb bells, but would you believe, for the second time in a row that I went there, the store did not have that size dumb bells. WTF??? Four of the weights on either side, but none of the one I want? Stock ordering FAIL!!!

The next thing I wanted to talk about? Beer, or rather, the need for me to stop drinking lots of it.

I have been going through about a six pack every two days, at least, sometimes more beer. But, if I am trying to reduce my gut and find the six pack hiding underneath the fat, I need to watch the carb intake. Dropping the beer intake is probably going to make a bigger difference than almost anything I can think of... But I do not want to!!! But I know that dropping the beer will make a big difference, so do it I will!!!!

106kgs..

Hmm.. I have got to start posting more regularly than every ten days. Seriously, if I am doing this to keep motivated and on the right track, I need to do it more often...

That said, I weighed myself today, and I am definitely not losing weight anymore. I am believing this is a good thing. I would like to believe I am building muscle. But, having not worked out with weights for the best part of a week, I have to confess, that seems unlikely. Especially considering how hard it felt today. But, I did do lots of walking on the weekend with my parents, so at least my cardio fitness should be good, so in theory, I should not have been putting on fat. But then, Ann Elks had a theory too, and we know how good that was!!! (monty python reference!)

So, having finally got the backroom reorganised after The Gorgeous One decided to move chairs around, making working out impractical, I have started back on weights again. I fully expect my shoulders chest and arms to complain tomorrow. But I do not care. I want to have a beautiful, beach body, so I have to deal with a bit of pain now and then.

Having said that, I have still been walking home from work most days. Not everyday, but most. Usually four a week, which exceeds my 3 times a week requirement.And I can tell the flab around my gut is starting to move. It all feels firmer, and tauter. Sure, I can still see flab, but it is still shrinking. This is a very good thing...

I still wish there was a pill, which made it all go away faster, but the only legal weightloss pill that works also has some rather nasty side effects, so I will skip that thanks!!!

A discovery

I think I made a discovery today. I am not sure, but I think so. If so, it explains a lot.

On the weekend, I tend not to eat as much. The Gorgeous One is not a big breakfast eater. More to the point, he is not a big morning person! So, he does not understand the need for me to have a big breakfast, pretty much straight after working out... So, by the time he is ready to eat, I am climbing the walls...

The nett result of this, is that by the next day, I am a bit on the weak side when I do my exercises. This morning I found doing things I have done fine on Friday, were a battle. It really seemed like I was working out really hard, when it was not difficult the previous time...

so... My assumption is that I am low on energy/resources come monday morning, so I need to eat more on Sunday to make sure I can do my exercises on monday..

The parents have arrived!!

Sorry for ignoring you all for so long. What, did I hear? What? Is there anyone here?

Anyway... After that little silliness...

I did not get to buy the dumbbells this week.. My parents decided to land this weekend. The Gorgeous One and I spent most of yesterday cleaning the house, with help from The Other B. Then today, we spent all afternoon with my parents. But, now, I am exhausted, and will soon be turning in

However, what about the progress I heard you say? Well, the scales seem to be saying I am growing again. Not much, but still, growing. And my gut is definitely shrinking. And my parents even noticed that I am slimmer, which is a good thing, seeing as the last time I saw them, I was at my fattest. Not to mention, that when I told them I had lost about 5kgs, they were shocked. Then again, before I visited them, I had only just restarted the exercise, and I was a fatty.... I had dropped more earlier, but the weights are starting to show their effects on my body. I can see some muscles again. Not many, mind, but enough that I can say I have them again..

Now to get that 20 kg dumb bell pair sometime!

frustrations

Hmm.. So, what is new today? Well, I have been doing lots of walking, which is always good. I have also been doing my weights, also good. I tried to buy a new pair of dumb bells, which did not go so good... Seems my local exercise equipment shop has every dumb bell known to man, except in the size I want. But, they do say, they will have them next friday, so I guess that gives me more time to make sure I can afford them easily.

But, I am still feeling fat. And I am still losing weight, not gaining weight, even as I gain muscle. But, that funny event with the scales, was just that, a funny event. Gaining one kg overnight, then losing it the next, well, we all know what that was, don’t we? One big hunk of t bone steak working its way through my system..

So, anyway.. just thought I would post here, to indicate it is still going, I am still working on rebuilding the bod, aiming for that summer bod..

Its progress Jim...

Hmm..

Trying to regularly do this, sometimes it is not so easy is it? I mean, I get up, I work out, have breakfast, shower and head off to work. I come home after work, and make dinner, and sometimes I think about posting here. Most of the time, I forget to do so. But, I need to do it. I need to hold myself up honestly and say “yes, I did what I planned” or “No, I did not get there” The whole point of these posts atm, is to hold myself accountable, and exposing myself to ridicule, if I do not follow through with what I plan.

I can safely say, this week I have been working hard, and getting results. My gut is shrinking, as is my weight, which is perhaps not quite what I was expecting. But, my muscles are also expanding, which is what I wanted. I can honestly say, I am seeing results.

My belt is now consistently back in a hole further in, than what it used to be. My legs are getting bigger, and my shoulders are filling out my shirts better again. I just need to keep at it, and keep working to achieve the results I want. Buying a bigger set of dumb bells is the plans for this week end, as a part of achieving this, seeing as I am now up to the heaviest dumb bells I have at present. And I need to keep eating the right foods, to keep growing the right body parts, and not growing the wrong things...

Progress?

Ok, so I am getting back on track. Today I did my full leg workout, making use of the heaviest dumb bells I have atm. This is a good thing! I am not at the point where I need to rush out and buy the heavier dumbbells, but it is starting to get close. I also walked most of the way home tonight. Not all the way, but then, we did stop for the ribs special tonight... Ribs... belch

Wednesday, I expect I am going to be using the biggest dumbbells on several of my upper body exercises as well. This will also be A Good Thing!! Tomorrow it is just abs day. Which is painful enough, but not as bad as leg day. Tomorrow my legs will be killing me, but, the results WILL be worth it. I have decided they will, therefore they will. That is how it goes does it not?

Sadly not, which is why I am putting myself through this constant pain, to get the body I desire. And, it is working, though of course, never as fast as we want..This morning, when I weighed myself, I had dropped 2 kgs. Now, while that may not be entirely the result I am aiming for, I can guarantee that I have lost fat, which is a very good thing. Now I just need to make sure that I do not loose anymore weight while I am trying to build up. I am upping my food intake, while trying not to increase my carbs too much. I am working on trying to increase the protein intake, to encourage the building of muscle, rather than the building of fat deposits. Hopefully, by not increasing my carb intake, it will encourage my body to continue the fat utilisation/relocation/absorbtion, and all will be good. We can but hope!!!

Oops

Hmm.. Well, that was rather effective, wasn’t it? I had a rather big night on Saturday, then take the rest of the week to get back up to speed. I did manage to do my 3 walks home minimum this week (4) and 3.5 last week (One was only part way), so things are not totally lost, and I have worked out 3 times in the mornings, but I am only now starting to get back up to speed... Note to self, remember such things can totally stuff up plans!!!

Anyway, other than self inflicted steps backwards, life on the whole is good. I had been feeling like the exercise kick is getting results, even if I cannot really see them yet. I have noticed that my waist line is starting to shrink back into shape again. I can tell partly because I am starting to need to go back in one hole in my belt. Not all the time, but often enough that I can tell it is working. Also, a couple of my tshirts are starting to feel tight around the shoulders again, as they should. When they are tight around the shoulders and have room around my gut I will be really happy!!!

So, plans for next week? At some point, I need to lash out and spend some money on a new set of dumbbells (as I mentioned in my last post. I am starting to integrate my current heaviest pair into my workouts, so once they start to not be a stretch, I will need to look at going up a weight again. I really do not fancy spending the money, but, if I want to change the way I look, build more muscle and improve my fitness, I am going to need to spend money. Considering that they do not wear out in a hurry, I think I can justify the expense...So long as I use them of course!!!!