Jeremy's Fitness Revolution

10 Pounds Down

Friday was weigh in day number 3. I am down 10 pounds! That is 10 pounds in 3 weeks!

10 pounds, 3 weeks am I starving? No! Am I working out constantly? No – only 90 minutes a week. Is this lifestyle change sustainable? You bet. Rewards include wearing pants that I have not worn in 2 and 3 years. It is like getting a whole new wardrobe.

The diet has been relatively easy to stick to. I was actually coming a little under my target calories on a consistent basis. I should consume between 1800 and 2200 calories each day and I was ending up only consuming around 1300 – 1400 calories per day.

Brian, the guiding force behind the fitness revolution, has made some diet suggestions to curb the minor hunger complaints I have had. The main one being that I get pretty hungry at work. On Monday, I ran down my typical breakfast for Brian - oatmeal and a banana and instantly he identified an issue. No fat or protein in that meal leaving me to burn off breakfast too fast and end up hungry by mid day. I made an adjustment, when at work I eat a protein bar as opposed to the banana. Now I am consuming the identical number of calories for breakfast but it is sticking with me much longer.

Also, I am making an effort to consume the between meal snacks that I was often missing. This has increased my typical daily total to around 1800 calories. This change has made me feel comfortably full at all times. I made that adjustment on Tuesday and still ended the week down 3 pounds so it certainly didn’t slow progress.

The Workouts

The workouts are still extremely difficult but I think I am getting used to the effort. Brian ups the weight a little at a time at every opportunity forcing maximum effort on every set. But I think I am getting used to putting forth max effort – at least somewhat.

The upper body workout is actually kinda enjoyable. I think my overall fitness level has improved to the point that while the muscles are screaming with pain towards the end of each set, I am not completely wiped out by the effort of the upper body workout. The lower body workout however, still totally wipes me out – I am sure that is due to effort involving the larger muscles.

Yet even after the lower body workout I recover quickly. The brevity of workout seems to help with that. So there it is - 15 minuets in and out, wiped out for 20 minutes or so afterwards on leg days but other than that no lingering effects, I just get on with my life.

And now my life involves a weekend and a free day - bring on the deep dish pizza.

posted by Jeremy @ 9:51 AM