early start: November workout challenge thread.

[koyote]

yah, I know, I'm all excited about this challenge, can't Wait for J Williams to recover from whatever Zombie bites he gets on Saturday.....


Me in late June, start of contest:
234 pounds, 45.5 inch gut, zero pullups. tight fit in large BDUs (scary!)

Me in September:
220, 43.5 inch gut. Just getting to my first pullup. BDUs comfy.....

Today:
208. 40.5 inch gut. set of 5 pullups this afternoon. Looking at Medium BDUs soon...

 

[stingray4540]

Woah dude! That gut is nearly gone! Almost 30lbs., great job!

 

[pitdog]

Awesome stuff buddy, even your pumpkin looks in shock on the last pic !!!!:thumbup:

 

[XMP]

That's awesome improvement! I've been pretty lazy lately, but you've inspired me to get back after it.

BTW pumpkins are always shocked by pushups -- they have no arms

 

[JCavSD]

Nice work...30ish lbs. takes serious willpower. Have you altered your diet much or are you doing it mostly through exercise?

 

[Masteroffajitas]

Good for you man. It's alot more than just running a bit a dooing some pushups, it takes alot of will power.

 

[powernoodle]

Righteous. :thumbup:

 

[hollowdweller]

talk about taking weight off your gear!


Good on you!!!!:thumbup:

 

[mtwarden]

great improvement! - I'm assuming a change of diet and increase in exercise?

October and November are tough months for me (busy season w/ hunting season), but I've learned (the hard way) that no exercise makes me a little cranky and missing too many workouts is extremely frustrating as it's like starting all over. My "secret" this time of the year is to get in any workout I can- whenever I can- even short, infrequent workouts pay dividends.

w/ that said I'm off for the gym

 

[koyote]

Diet is part of it- I and completely grain and sugar free except ....beer. And this next 28 days I'm doign zero beer to see if I can blast another 2 or 3 inches off the gut.

I'm working out mostly with kettlebells or bodyweight. I have at least one 15 minute workout with swings/snatches/presses every day, and I do something called Turkish Getups every day - seperate from thew workout. What's really working out this past few weeks is something called "Greasing the Groove" somewhere between 5 and 9 times a day I do a short set (like 3 each side) of one arm pushups, a couple pistols (one legged squats), and 3 or 4 pullups. It seems to have kicked my fat burners into gear because I was sitting in the 215-220 range from beginning of september to about a week ago.

 

[sicily02]

Congrats Christof, way to go.

Bryan

 

[JCavSD]

Diet is part of it- I and completely grain and sugar free except ....beer. And this next 28 days I'm doign zero beer to see if I can blast another 2 or 3 inches off the gut.

In the last four months or so I've dropped around 20 lbs +/-. 30 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of stretching 3 to 5 times per week. Cut out all sweets and most fast food, cut back on carbs, and have reduced overall food intake. Biggest weight loss was when I also cut beer (and wine) out for three weeks...lost about 9 lbs. Painful to forgo such a tasty treat, but it paid off.

 

[Pahtoocara]

Kettlebells are simple yet versatile. They are one of my favorite torture devices. Turkish get-ups are the best.

Good job, keep it up.

 

[TreeChopper]

Diet is part of it- I am completely grain and sugar free

This is how I control my weight also.... severely limiting grains/flour products and no sugar. I tinkered with the macronutrients and took notes about how I felt physically and mentally in addition to watching the scale. I feel FAR better getting most of my calories from protein and fat with the remainder of carbs coming from veggies and fruits. I am calmer, have better focus, food cravings are gone, and my energy(insulin) level is stable throughout the day.

3 months ago I re-started olympic-style weightlifting find I need some starchy carbs to feel OK and recover. I added oatmeal to the breakfast menu.

Bread...if you must have some try Ezekial breads. They are very expensive per loaf but have no flour.

Drink all the water you are supposed to in a day to help with weight loss and to keep your body functioning properly. It really does make a difference.

Plan your cheat days.

Protein pancakes:
Put in a blender ---
1 c old style oatmeal (dry, not cooked)
1 c cottage cheese(low fat if you desire)
1 egg and 5 whites or I use 4 whole eggs
1 tsp baking powder
cinnamon
vanilla
you can add sweetener like stevia. I don't and will not ingest any of the other substitues.
Blend then cook like regular pancakes.

They will not be fluffy like the starch bombs you get at IHOP. They are acceptable substitutes, at least for me. I DO use real maple syrup on mine because that is one sugar I will never, ever give up. I just don't eat it every day or week even.

If anyone wants to track their foods, exercise, adjust macronutrients and record results you can do it at fitday dot com. Free registration and interesting to have a visual of where a day's calories are coming from. Must be honest about what ya ate.

Good job losing weight so far. :thumbup:

 

[Rotte]

Dude, you are looking great! Keep up the good work.

I also cut out all grain and sugar and dropped a bunch of weight. I don't miss the grains or sugar at all, and the weight stay off.

So that means I'm eating more eggs, meat, and fat. And--here's the real wonder--my cholesterol is better than ever. Love it; won't ever go back to a grain based diet. Eat meat! :thumbup:

 

[Skimo]

I've done my own weight loss, from 230 down to 195, I've plateaued, so it's time to start working out.

I am going to really hit it when my wife deploys in January, I hope to hit 170 in 5 months, slow weight loss getting down to 13-15% body fat.

 

[JCavSD]

Been seriously considering going on the beer and gin diet for a month. Not that I won't round it out, I'll need tonic (there's my water) and lime (mmm...fruit) with the gin. If I survive I'm going to write a book and make a few extra bucks. Always helps to have a workout partner...you up for it koyote?

 

[koyote]

I haven't hit a need for carbs. Hard boiled eggs are my snacking food. If I up the lifting component I might.... but I've got 25 pounds of fat to lose according to the rope and choke measurements. Of course, I'll put on another several pounds of muscle...

I've noticed that some foods make me itch- certain corn flours, and eating bread makes me a total arsehole for a while. Last time I cheated on sugar was the kids' cake on my birthday in September- I had a tablespoon of frosting (and KG had a slice of cake) and had the WORST grumpy butt fight I've had in a year. Horrible.

I don't respond well to wheat, since cutting the wheat out of my diet I've had less of a bloaty look regardless of weight loss. Less phlegm issues, clearer nose function.... Don't know and don't care if I'm allergic or whatever- no milled flours or wheat and I'm good.

I'm focussing hard on the 'grease the groove' this phase, moving way down in reps of anything (except bodyweight exercises that I'm trying to up) and adding weight to the max.

 

[koyote]

Been seriously considering going on the beer and gin diet for a month. Not that I won't round it out, I'll need tonic (there's my water) and lime (mmm...fruit) with the gin. If I survive I'm going to write a book and make a few extra bucks. Always helps to have a workout partner...you up for it koyote?

tequila, not gin. Can't stand gin


oh yeah- I'm drinking water ALL THE TIME. constantly.

 

[crbauhs]

Gosh Koyote that is just amazing what you are doing. I wont lie, I have been seriously slacking. You are doing great man and I am proud of you. Great work and keep it up. You deserve to win from what I have seen so far.