Well I decided to take the plunge and join the challenge. I've never done anything like this before, and I decided to give it a shot.
Brief History
I am 23 years old, 6'0" tall and 144 pounds give or take a few (10% BF). I graduated college in December 2006, and I have landed myself a high paying desk job. I have managed to lose all motivation and discipline that I once had while I was still in college.
I've noticed I don't have near as much energy, and I'm slowly losing my nice flat stomach. I'm a skinny lean person naturally, but I'm starting to notice that I'm getting away from that slowly. Hence this is the reason I want to try this out.
I need any and all motivation and support I can get, so I can redevelop my discipline and health habits. Anyway, on with the goals.
Nutritional Goal
I eat pretty healthy as it is, so that isn't too big of a deal. A goal I want to meet is to eat 2800 calories or more per day for at least five of seven days in the week. I may change this if I feel this is a limiting factor in my other goals.
In meeting this calorie count, I want to make sure I still eat clean 80% of the time. I don't really eat candy, sweets or bad fats so this shouldn't really be a problem. I just don't want to reach the calorie count by eating junk.
Fitness Goal
This is my main concern. I need to develop consistency in my workouts. Too often will I go out of town and stop working out. I want to lift weights at least 2-3 times per week. I also want to go on walks at least 1-2 times per week to rid stress and stay mentally healthy.
My goals for this section are pretty cut and dry. I don't want to be too picky and worry about the small things while I am having trouble just getting to the gym. The small things will work themselves out.
Personal Goal
For my personal goal, I want to gain weight up to 150 pounds. I will determine how many pounds that is on the first day of the challenge when I weigh myself. It will probably be around 6-8 pounds. If I get past this after the first month, I will readjust. I want to do this without gaining too much fat. So I am setting my BF goal to not increase.
My other goal is making my lifting workouts 90% of the time. This is really big for me. This will only allow me to miss about 2-3 workouts at most. I figure I will lift weights 24 times during this period. That means I have to make 21 out of 24 workouts. I will re-evaluate before June 1st to make sure this number is feasible.
Competitive Goal
I have no idea what I will do here. If anyone can show me where I can go to see a list of events in Houston, I would be happy to look at it. Any and all suggestions welcome here.
If I am missing anything please feel free to let me know. I will gladly add the missing criteria. Good luck to everyone. I hope you all meet your goals.
mpm, your goals look great...welcome! I'm glad you decided to join in on the fun. You'll get plenty of support from here, don't worry about that. This is a great community. Just have fun working hard and meeting your goals.
I haven't forgotten about the V2 info. But, I will tell you, Precision Nutrition is one of the best programs available. So, if you are looking for a nutrition plan, you can't go wrong with this one.
Best of luck!!!
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On Krista mistressing the chin-up, "It's amazing", said one gym source, "considering that for months she just hung there like a dead fish."
Well after more thought, I decided I want to raise the healthy eating percentage to 85% and make the weight lifting 22 times instead of 24. I forgot I will be out of town for a week, and Im not sure if I will have access to weights. I'm still looking for something to do in the competitive section.
My official weigh in today was 143.2 lbs. So I need to gain 6.8 pounds to meet my goal. That seems pretty reasonable as long as I stay on top of things.
Well after more thought, I decided I want to raise the healthy eating percentage to 85% and make the weight lifting 22 times instead of 24. I forgot I will be out of town for a week, and Im not sure if I will have access to weights. I'm still looking for something to do in the competitive section.
There are some pretty challenging body-weight programs out there that would be a great fill-in for your week away. Have you considered any of those? Or, that could just be a nice week off!
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On Krista mistressing the chin-up, "It's amazing", said one gym source, "considering that for months she just hung there like a dead fish."
Good luck mpm. I think Paula was from Houston. She may have some inside information on events in the area. Yes, I know Houston is huge, but hey..its Texas.. Like a whole nother country, no? Welcome to the Challenge.
Its Day 3, what is 1 extra thing you can do today to help you reach your goals that you hadn't planned to do but can add in? If you can see where I am going, why not add that in today?
Newman
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"Branch chainz, bro. Leucine in the sky with diamonds." - Alan Aragon
Thanks for all who have replied so far with support.
I finally got into the gym today and lifted. I would have liked to have gotten there sooner, but its better than not at all. I had a great workout, and I feel really motivated now especially in other areas of my life.
I really like how working out can benefit so many things. I had forgotten that recently I think. Its good to be back.
Victoria, I will look into the bodyweight stuff. It sounds like something very handy when I'm out of town. I think I will try and swim some laps while I am gone. I am not used to swimming, so I know it will be a challenging workout. If anyone knows of events around Houston, I would like to hear them.
I would like to do some type of charity event. I feel like I would get more out of that on a personal level than just doing a competitive event. Any ideas are appreciated though. I will check back in soon. Until next time.
MPM check out www.harra.org for events calendar. I was actually going to do a 5k in sugarland this weekend and didn't get there in time for the race start. But it was a nice drive.
__________________ It all starts with the mind, but the thoughts, the intention aren't enough. Action needs to come next. Dream it, believe it, plan it, execute it, celebrate it. - Wendy
Ok so I'm thinking about doing a 1 mile race. I haven't ran a mile probably since I was in high school. It's in less than two weeks so I have little time to prepare.
What's the best way (if there is one) to prepare for something this soon? Obviously I don't want to fall over dead halfway there.
Also, since I'm trying to gain weight, isnt this kinda counterproductive if i do this?
Well I thought I would check in. I just got back from a workout. Energy was great during the workout. My endurance levels are picking back up. I did my weekly weigh in and I am at 147.4 lbs. That's + 4.2 lbs for me. I'm headed in the right direction, but I have a feeling that some of this is water weight. Only time will tell.
It's been so hot and humid here that I haven't got to do any activities outside like I normally do. My nutrition has been decent, but still needs a little more consistency.
I am proud of myself yesterday though. I had to work on my normal off day, so I didn't get to pack my lunch. I went to the cafeteria, but I consciously picked out something healthy to eat. I didn't want to make that as an excuse and eat something not healthy. In the past, I would have picked whatever appealed to me.
Well that's all I have for now. Good luck to everyone else in the challenge.
Well I just back from a hell of a workout. All my lifts were up 5 to 15 lbs from last time. I'm starting to regain my strength. I haven't been so focused in a long time. It was really great.
I weighed in at 145.2 lbs. I'm down from the last weigh in, but I'm pretty sure that it was just water weight. However, I am still up over all by about 3 lbs. I'm starting to get the lifting fever again.
I was hesitant to work out today, but made myself go. I sure am glad I did now. I feel so much better than before I went. My eating is going well. I'm actually eating healthier than I had set my goals for I think, so that is a definite plus.
That's about all I have for today. If anyone would like me to include more/other information in this log, please let me know. This is the first one I have really done, so I'm no expert by any means.
Well another week has passed for the 61 DC. I weighed in 146.0 lbs. That is slightly up from last weigh in, but its negligible.
My diet has been great this week, but my workouts have been a little off. I worked out today, but I had to quit early due to a terrible headache. I cut it a little short, but I figured part of a workout is better than no workout since I really needed to get in the gym.
I got all of the compound movements in so it should be alright.
I forgot to mention the supplements I am taking are Controlled Labs Blue Up, Scivation Xtend and ON Protein.
I've ordered some Controlled Labs Orange Triad. I am in need of a multivitamin, and I want to see if the MSM will help loosen up my neck some. It seems like the headaches are caused by my neck. Well thats all for now. I hope to weigh more next time, and I want to make sure and get in the gym more this week.
Headaches can really throw a knuckleball in your workout plans. I've had that happen a couple of times, and you're right, it's hard to continue. I end up stopping as well, because mentally I just can't do it. Sounds like you got the big exercises done, so that's good.
Your initial weight was 143.2 and your current is 146. For a person trying to gain some muscle mass without a whole lot of fat this seems to me like you are well on your way to reaching your goal of 150.
Smile.... you're doing great!
Newman
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"Branch chainz, bro. Leucine in the sky with diamonds." - Alan Aragon
I had another great workout today. I switched up the reps and sets a little to keep it fresh. Everything went great. My endurance seemed to hold up well (switched to 3x12 from 5x6). I had no enthusiasm at first going into the gym. My leg/knee has been hurting all day, and I don't know why. It might be growing pains or growing old pains. I'm not sure which. After I got into the gym though, it all left my mind.
I weighed in today at 146.8 pounds. I think that is close to my highest weigh in from a couple of weeks ago. I think this is pretty close to my actual weight and not just water weight. I think it's going to be close on meeting my goal. Only time will tell.
My eating is going good. My true test will be around the 4th of July. I'm leaving town for 4-5 days. I've already found a gym I can go to, so I think it will be just making time for it and eating healthy.
By the way, I ordered PN V2.0. I am almost done reading it. If anyone wants a review, let me know and I can give my opinion. Until next time.
Sounds like you have a plan for over the fourth -- and, as the saying goes, if you fail to plan then you plan to fail -- so your well on your way to making through that stretch.
Yeah I have a plan to stay going over the holiday. It's just going to be sticking to the plan that will be the hard part. I tend to stray sometimes when I'm relaxed and enjoying myself. I must keep my discipline.
Well it's time yet again for another update. I weighed in today at 148.0 pounds. I believe that is my highest weight to date for this challenge. Hopefully it's real weight and not water weight. I will find out next week. If it's real weight, then I am almost to my goal. Just 2 more pounds with a month to go.
My workouts are going great as is my eating the majority of the time. I am a little behind in getting my workouts in, but I think I can make the number by the end of the challenge. I always do better under pressure.
My only concern is the competitive category of the challenge. I have yet to sign up for anything. I'm really busy so it's hard to schedule something like that. Plus I never can tell about the weather here.
Anyway those are just excuses. I will try to buckle down and find something that qualifies as being competitive. Maybe it will be competitive beer drinking on 4th of July. Haha. I somehow don't think that would count. Well I hope everyone has a good 4th, and I will try to keep checking in during that week. I'm going on a mini vacation, so I will be in and out.
Sorry it's been so long since I've posted my log. I've been really busy. I have; however, had time to work out and eat right. I've been eating well as planned, and I've been working out consistently.
I've started to notice that my eating habits and workouts are becoming ingrained. Last week I went on vacation and ate well and worked out. This normally doesn't happen.
I weighed in at 149.0 lbs. I have one more pound to go with a couple of weeks left.
I never did do my competitive section of the challenge. I couldn't ever find anything that fit with my schedule, and it's just too hot and humid down here right now. I probably won't do it, but I am satisfied with my 3 other sections.
My strength and endurance are increasing each time I work out. I need to start a workout notebook to keep up with the weights, but I haven't done that as of yet. I can tell I am in much better shape than I was before I started this challenge.
I was a little uncertain about joining the challenge at first, but I am really glad I did.
Well I took a posture test from a Men's Fitness magazine and found out my imbalance is still somewhat present. That really sucks, but I will start working towards fixing this.
I am pretty confident I will be meeting my weight goal which was my most important one. I think it will be close for meeting my weight lifting workouts.
All in all I have gained about 6 pounds of lean mass. I'm back into the habit of working out and eating right.
I'm really glad I started this challenge. I even tried out a different gym and really like it. This should encourage me to go more often. My other gym annoys me.
I hope everyone's goals are being met, and I hope you are having fun in meeting those goals.
It's official. I have reached my goal to weight 150 lbs. I weighed myself 3 days in a row at roughly the same time of day to make sure, but I weighed in at 150.6 pounds. I've never weighed this much before so hopefully I can hang on to it. My next goal is 160 pounds. I would like to accomplish that by the end of the year, but we will see how that goes.
I didn't have a very good workout today. I think my carb intake was too low for starters. Plus I kept getting distracted by this teeny-bopper who thought he was God's gift to mankind. He was yelling all the time, making comments to girls, and doing weights he couldn't handle. I almost thought about giving him some advice, but I figured he would dismiss what I had to say.
Anyhow, I won't let the discourage me. I plan to hit the gym hard again in next couple of days. Surely it won't happen next time or at least I hope.
I am really glad kids are getting in the gym and working out, but sometimes I think they lack guidance. Then again, if they had guidance, who knows if they would listen.
Since today is the last day, I thought I would post my experiences.
I met my nutrition goal and even went a little beyond the goal. I had 104 out of 122 possible points. My goal was to reach 103 which is 85%. I should have been able to do better than this, but with a holiday vacation and a few days of not caring it just didn't happen.
I met my weight goal of weighing 150 pounds. I weighed myself today and was 150.8 pounds for a net gain of +7.6 pounds. According to my Tanita Scale, I've precisely stayed at the same body fat percentage. So the majority of this weight gain should be lean muscle. In the near future, I want to work on putting my food intake on fitday again to see if I can further increase my weight. I've had good success with using fitday in the past.
I met my goal of meeting 90% of my workouts. I made 16/16 long walks to relieve some stress and to get a little light work done. I made 20/22 weight lifting sessions. The weight sessions were great. I got my endurance back and managed to increase my lifts by 10-15 pounds on most lifts. Maybe more on some. One thing I do need to work on is keeping a lifting log so I can be more accurate on my improvement. I've done this in the past and found it really helpful. I don't know why I didn't this time.
One negative, in a sense, is I didn't meet my competitive goal. There wasn't really anything I was interested in doing, so I never set a goal. I can't stand the weather here, so doing things outdoors isn't very fun the majority of the time. I feel that if I would have truly set a goal and trained for it in order to complete the event, that it would have had a negative impact on my other goals.
All in all I am very pleased with my results. I can see that hard work really pays off. I'm going to take a week off I think and start over again. I started noticing that my workouts were fading a bit towards the end, so I either didn't eat enough before the workout, or I was starting to overtrain a bit.
Well, that about raps it up for this challenge. If there are any questions anyone has, I would be more than happy to answer them. Next time I hope to get some body measurements so I can see how much I've grown if any.
Mpm's 61 Day Journal
Good luck w/ your journey.
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