Dec
31
The holidays have been busy but I’ve still made time to keep my weight loss journey moving forward. I found a picture of myself and my grandfather from Jan 2012 and a recent Christmas 2012 picture. What a difference a few months of dedication to weight loss can make.
I’ll return to regular posts in 2013 about my weight loss journey. I hope you all have a magical & happy new year. Hang in there. If I can do this, anybody can.
Dec
13
No, that’s not a rejected Motley Crue album title from the 80s; it’s something I consume a lot of these days. You’ll notice there are a few different kinds of protein in my food diary. What it really beaks down to is cost and biggest protein bang for my buck.
Here’s what I’ve learned about protein. Whey protein is best in the morning and after workouts to give your body the muscle building fuel it needs fast. It digests quickly. I think of it as a “rapid delivery” protein. Casein is more of a “time release” protein. It’s better for the long times between meals. A good example is overnight. Lastly, you’ll see some soy protein in my diary. Soy is a middle of the road protein. What I mean by that is that it has a faster digestion time than casein based protein and a slower digestion time than a whey protein. Confused yet? Don’t worry I was too.
I try to look for protein that will give me a high protein/low calorie count. GNC Amp 60 proteins are great for this. It’s a whey based protein that will give you 60 grams of protein for around 280 calories. You can cut the serving size down to a single scoop for 20 grams of protein and 93 calories. If you are looking for a casein protein, just check the prices and the labels. A GNC rep once told me “Casein is casein. I also buy what’s on sale.” I decided if it was good enough for the buff guy in the story, it would be good enough for me too.
This weight loss stuff is hard but hang in there. If I can do this, anybody can.
Dec
11
A lot of folks want to know specifically what I’m eating to lose weight. I had posted a link to my food diary on myfitnesspal.com back around Thanksgiving. However, anyone new to the blog would have to dig through my past posts to find that link. I want to make this site as user friendly as possible. With that in mind I am adding a link to the side that will take folks directly to my food diary. Check it out. Maybe it will give you some ideas. Just keep moving more and eating less. If I can do this, anybody can.
Dec
6
I had been looking to replace my Chai Frappuccino from Starbucks with something healthy. I think I may have cracked the code. I use a GNC brand whey for post workouts but any Vanilla protein should be fine. The info below is for my post workout shake. It keeps the calories low and gives me a good serving of protein right after my workout.
Here is what you’ll need
Gnc Pro Performance – Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60 Vanilla, 1 Scoop
Splenda – Brown Sugar Blend, 1 packed tsp.
Oregon Chai – Sugar-Free Original Chai Tea Latte Concentrate, 1/2 cup
Mix the above with a hand full of ice and 8-12 oz of water or milk (Just remember that milk will add to the overall calories).
Keep it up. You can do this! If I can do this, anybody can.
Dec
4
I really hate to miss a workout. I feel bad, physically and mentally. I also feel guilty. There is a part of me that feels like I’ve let myself down and I’m just one Papa John’s order away from spiraling back to my old ways. I have come too far to see that happen.
Since I’ve started this grand adventure I have missed only 2 workouts. Both were due to illness. Each time I picked myself up and jumped back on the workout wagon. I’ve learned to forgive myself and accept that life gets in the way sometimes.
Things happen that can knock us out of a perfectly good routine. The trick is to bounce back. Ya know, adapt and overcome. Schedule a makeup workout or just fall back into a workout routine. Create a new schedule. Just keep moving more and eating less.
If I can do this anybody can.
Nov
29
This is my go to shake. It’s another simple one. You’ll notice I try to keep the shakes simple. This weight loss/fitness thing is hard enough.
Here’s what you’ll need.
Vanilla Protein Shake Powder (Any vanilla will do. Some folks like sweet cream, creamy vanilla, vanilla ice cream or just plain vanilla. I’ve tried them all with this shake and they all work.) Mix it as directed with ice and milk or water and add the following.
1 Table spoon of Brown Sugar Blend Splenda
½ Table spoon of cinnamon
There you have it, simple and yummy. It’s great pre or post workout or first thing in the morning.
Hang in there. If I can do this anybody can.
Nov
27
I used to think running was a skill only Dr. Who companions or Zombie Apocalypse survivors needed. That was back when I was an unhealthy 380 pounds. These days I’m 100 pounds lighter and have a different attitude.
I used to really hate the treadmill and my cardio workout in general. With time and an increasing fitness level I have grown fond of the treadmill. Now understand, I’m not in marathon or even 5k condition but I am in a better place than when I started.
In the beginning a walking pace of 3.4MPH at an incline of 4 degrees was enough to hit my high end target heart rate within 2 minutes. It was exhausting and frustrating. I knew I should be in better shape and to be honest I was more than a little embarrassed. Thankfully, I stuck with it and saw a little improvement each time I stepped on the treadmill.
I’m currently jogging at 5MPH and an incline of 1 degree for 25-30 minutes. I do this on my lower body days. On upper body days I pick up the pace a bit and jog at 6.2MPH and an incline of 2 degrees for 2 minutes and drop the speed to 3.5MPH for a minute to recover. I do 7 sets of this.
The bottom line is this. Getting in shape and losing weight takes a commitment. Once that’s made, the hardest part is over. Keep your end goals in mind. Keep it up. You will see gradual improvement.
If I can do this, anybody can.
Nov
22
So it’s Thanksgiving Day and I’m a little sick but I made it through. I stuck to my plan and stayed under my calorie count for the day. You can see what I had here.
I may have been a little grump today but it wasn’t due to a lack of or too much food. The holiday season is officially on us. Have a plan, move more and eat less. If I can do this, anybody can.
Nov
20
Earlier today I was looking around the internet for some ideas to help keep my holiday eating healthy. I came across an article here that I found interesting. At this point in my life it is crazy to even think about consuming 5000 calories in a day. According to the article, the average diner will be doing just that this Thursday.
I’ve decided the best way to handle this holiday is like every other day. All my loved ones know the path I’m on and are very supportive. No one will be offended if I pass on the pumpkin pie or the dinner rolls. I’ll have some turkey and some green veggies and log everything in my food journal. I’ll keep my calorie count in the 1800 range and enjoy my time my loved ones.
This can be a difficult time of the year for those on the weight loss/ fitness path but having a plan and sticking to it will help.
If I can do this, anybody can.
Nov
15
Eight months ago I walked into the HIT Center not knowing what to expect. It was my first day with a trainer. Other than “messing around with some weights” when I was younger, I was a noob in the gym. I was also very out of shape. My trainer had to stop the workout pretty early on. I was exhausted well before the hour was up. I’m sure I looked like I was ready to pass out. He decided it would be better to just show me the exercises instead of me doing complete sets.
Back then I often referred to myself as a robust young man. The truth is I was a very obese man with a sedentary lifestyle spiraling towards a future of diabetes and heart disease.
Things change. My diet changed. My activity level changed. I changed.
Today I had my BodPod evaluation, just like I do every month on or near the 17th. From my first BodPod on 3-17-2012 to today I have lost 101lbs.
I’ve gone from this guy… … to this guy.
And I’m still going. If I can do this, anybody can.
MyFitnessPal - Nutrition Facts For Foods
I am not a medical professional, certified trainer or registered dietician. Before beginning any weight loss or workout program, you should consult a professional.