The better bodies quest continues, phase III
Posted 02-20-2010 at 09:06 PM by Chicup
So its been around six months since I started my personal quest to be a physical stud.
I've met moderate success, and I am better off than most men my age. I'd guess I am about 80% stronger than I was when I started. I don't have my 6 pack yet because I got about 8% more body fat to loose, but the abs are pretty hard underneath.
Diet has been ok but not great. Since going off Atkins, I've been more prone to cheat, and I've been too lazy the last few months to bring my lunch like I had been early on. I have gained slightly and its hard to say if its muscle or fat due to the work outs, so I'll call it even.
I got a body fat test done last week and they also had my test from when I joined the club, 8 years ago. Damn I was a fatass then, I forgot how much, I used to think back then that I hid it well. Total lie, I looked like shit, and ironically thats about the time we started swinging.
Interestingly, like when I get a new car and suddenly see 'that' car all over the road, I notice in shape people more, and have a new respect for those in better shape than I am. I know what it takes, especially in middle age to maintain that sort of body, its not easy.
So next week, I go into phase III, which I hope will be the final phase. Phase I was the weight loss, phase II was just getting into better shape over all, phase III is being 'that' guy which makes other guys jealous. Note my motivation isn't to make other guys jealous, I really don't care about that, but that will be the result if I can complete it.
A super intense work out 6 days a week with a strict diet plan.
So I'll keep this new blog updated with progress. Maybe I'll inspire someone else along the way. This is no longer about 'swinging' shape, but a lifestyle change, I've got kids, I like living, I'd like to keep going as long as possible.
Total Comments 30
Comments
 |  I'll be cheering for you. |
Posted 02-21-2010 at 07:06 AM by SW_PA_Couple  |
| |  Chicup, Best of luck with your program. You are well aware that it's a continuous process. Can't wait to read the updates. Lifestyle changes are hard to make on a permanent basis, but it can be done. I've been on my own mini-quest. The one area where I've been a complete failure is losing weight. I'm 5'6" and weigh about 147 most mornings, no clothes, after bathroom, and before eating. Later in the day it's more like 150. Last fall I joined a health club and started doing aerobics classes instead of working out on my own. One of the classes is Body Pump, which is an hour of lifting. Since October my bodyfat percentage went from 27% to 22% according to the pinch tests. I think this is great, but I lost NO weight and even my measurements stayed exactly the same. Sheesh. If I want to lose weight I have to eat less, plain and simple. I also have to find a way to stop myself from emotional overeating, which happens around once a week. But, as you can imagine, my muscle tone is pretty good. I'm healthy. And most of the time, the guys I think are attractive find me so. Sometimes not, but oh well. I guess the question is, will I keep up this level of fitness into my 50's and beyond (adjusted for age)? We'll see. |
| Posted 02-22-2010 at 07:16 AM by The Fuse |
| | The Fuse..hmmm the no clothes thing sent my mind wandering...mmmm  This pas weekend, a swing friend was lamenting the same thing you are about working out but no weight loss. He has a work lull and has alot of time to spend in the gym, but no luck. I've noticed I tend to eat to match my workout level. Over the past year, I've not been able to work out as much due to lack of time for a variety of reasons. Somehow I managed to lose a few pounds. I do keep in muscle tone with power yoga through the week so I've not lost tons of that. Perhaps I'm watching what I eat a little better since I can say..I'll just work off that cake! |
| Posted 02-22-2010 at 06:01 PM by exploringRM |
| |  Damn I'm going to be sore, for about a month with this program, its killer. I haven't worked out like that in ages. Fuse, Mrs Chicup has the same issues, and she can't just lose those last 10 she has been putzing with for a year. Shes hoping her uber workout here will push her over that edge. I think it might, shes not really pushed herself (nor have I) to the edge working out. Sure I was lifting until I was tired, etc, but I was never, oh god I can't get up, lets just sit here, kinda tired. With this, I am, and when he says 'dont' sit down' on the video for the breaks, I flip him off and stay sitting  |
| Posted 02-23-2010 at 12:25 AM by Chicup |
| | Ugh, an hour + a day of high intensity is, well, ugh. It really shows you your weak areas. While my upper body isn't bad, and I've worked my upper/middle abs, the leg work and lower abs (which I swear is 80% of the ab work) is just freeking killer. I knew I was ignoring my legs too much at the gym, and now I pay for it. Added I'm not very flexible in some directions which isn't helping. Edit: Added side note. I find myself wanting to wear my tight fitting t-shirts now. They are simply more comfortable and look better. The fabric stretches around the shoulders and pecks now, instead of the gut. |
| Posted 02-27-2010 at 01:02 AM by Chicup Updated 02-27-2010 at 01:19 PM by Chicup |
| | Well skipped the abb workout last night (did the legs/back) due to time, and then due to a long day missed the Kempo as well. I felt bad so at 1030 did the abb ripper and will do kempo tomarrow. Side note: I tested tonight and I can actually do a pull up without assistance of some kind now which isn't bad when you weigh over 200 lbs. Now to be able to do 20 in a row... |
| Posted 02-28-2010 at 12:05 AM by Chicup |
| | Ok first week of P90X done, mostly sticking to diet. I can say that I've learned a few things about myself and reinforced a few things I've known. One my legs are very strong, only they are not very flexible. This I have known, but the program reminds me with every stretch and squat. My upper abs are in pretty good shape, my lower abs, not so much, and my obliques suck. I am 'oddly flexible'. Some of the moves I can do the advanced move on without any issue, mostly involving the hip joint. My upper body is flexible as well. My quads and hamstrings though are airline cables. I hate cardio and it hates me. I putz out at the end of both cardio programs. My HR was around 140-150 and I had no gas. I remembered why I quit TKD 20 years ago, my legs, they don't kick well. |
| Posted 02-28-2010 at 10:41 PM by Chicup |
| | Captains log, day 8: My arms are tired by they are the easiest work out. Only minor twinges of pain right now, expecting a good 'sore' tomorrow. |
| Posted 03-04-2010 at 12:15 AM by Chicup |
| | What the hell is this?!? There is something wrong with my legs. I don't get it. Its sort of lumpy and hard, and distinct from the rest of the thigh above the knee. Dear lord I think its a muscle, in my leg, defined beyond the normal tree trunk..... |
| Posted 03-10-2010 at 06:53 PM by Chicup |
| |  I love your blog! I'm back into my workout routine as of the beginning of September. I sooo completely empathize with you! Good luck! |
| Posted 03-10-2010 at 07:04 PM by mwc_mich |
| | Had to take a break from the program for personal reasons (will resume shortly) but I realized something interesting today. I only have 4 pairs of jeans. I have on ratty old pair, a 'fat' pair, and two tight pairs. The fat pair NEEDS a belt or it will fall off. I bought them about 2 years ago at one of my peaks and they were a little big at the time. Now they are difficult to wear. My thin jeans is what I'd wear out for casual get together etc. I looked good in them but they were almost too tight. I have a fat wallet and combine that with a phone or keys and things would get uncomfortable. Well I was looking for my thin ones yesterday as the fat pair is almost unwearable now and all I could find is my fat pair. I had two pairs of clean jeans and the problem was both of them were the fat pair. Thats one fat pair to many. So I check the tags, and they were both the thin ones. Gone is the tightness, they are baggy. I might actually be approaching a 34 waist, something I didn't have since highschool, and I was a beanpole then. |
| Posted 03-20-2010 at 10:02 PM by Chicup |
| | Wow, congratulations! That had to feel good! I'm struggling right now to take off a few pounds I put on over a couple of weeks of overeating. I didn't work out for almost a week and my consumption of junk food was off the charts. Now I'm white-knuckling it back. We've potentially got a couple of hot dates coming up, so I have my motivation. |
| Posted 03-22-2010 at 09:57 PM by The Fuse |
| | Lucky you  . The only hot dates in our near future are with each other, which while by no means a bad thing, doesn't project the same urgency. On the other hand I'm kinda glad. Not that we don't have any of said hot dates, but that my motivation is no longer 'look good for swinging'. I think if I maintained that as a motivator I'd be short lived as soon as swinging leveled off or was out of the picture all together for some time(like now). Lifestyle changes are always the hardest, at least those which require effort. |
| Posted 03-22-2010 at 10:37 PM by Chicup |
| | Yeah. Frankly I'm not sure how motivated I'd be if we weren't swinging. I'd like to have the right motivations but I'm not sure those are enough to keep me from eating tons of chocolate. It's great that you're more motivated by health and family. Oh, and vanity |
| Posted 03-23-2010 at 08:56 AM by The Fuse |
| |  |
| Posted 03-23-2010 at 10:28 AM by Chicup |
| | You know, I really want to get that t-shirt. Just for the 20% of the population which will get it. |
| Posted 03-23-2010 at 12:37 PM by Chicup |
| |  That shirt put a big smile on my face. You must get it. Twenty percent of the population will be smiling at you when you wear it. LM |
| Posted 03-23-2010 at 12:57 PM by LikeMinds321 |
| |  Damn! I want that shirt too. Awesome. |
Posted 03-23-2010 at 03:03 PM by PB&J  |
| |  I know what size that shirt comes in: XX-Win |
| Posted 03-24-2010 at 08:07 PM by two4youinswva |
| |  Love the shirt! Hope you get it!! |
| Posted 03-25-2010 at 01:45 PM by LFM2 |
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