61 steps on the road to success.

[Ogedei]

Who am I?
Keith Johnson
Full time student
My Stats?
220lbs
6'5" tall
BF aprox 20%
Where did I come from?
Mens health and 320+ lbs. Challenges like this save me from myself.
Lets get it done.
What are my goals?
Nutrition:
I am going to go with Lost Dog. I will be using TNT.
The first half of the challenge we are looking at Plan A, and then one of the two that has refeeds, probably the plan involving two a week, but we shall see how I do on the first part. The first part may not be easy for me, but I am curious and that is why it is a challenge.
My overall goal is 110 of 122 1/2 days following the plan to the letter.
Fitness:
Resistance training: Setting a goal of 16 sessions. This will allow me 2 RT sessions per week during the challenge
Intervals: After the RT sessions I will put down a bike based interval session as well
Steady State: I have 16 of these scheduled. Bike riding, swimming, running, whatever. I am not in training for any events, so that allows me two sessions of this a week.
Competitive:
There is a 5km walk/run scheduled for June 17th. Father's day. I aim to be in this race.
Personal:
I have struggled with this the most. What should I choose? lower BF? Higher strength? They all seem like obvious goals.
Everyone seems to be loaded up on these so I will add a few.
1) I am taking up drawing/sketching as a hobby. Something creative to do with my hands away from the computer. I will create a new drawing or pratice a technique daily.
2) I will tidy the living space at least once per week

I will modify my tracker to include a more detailed personal goals section.

I will post a before picture tonight.

Keith.

[Victoria]

Keith, I couldn't help but notice your personal goal of drawing/sketching. Guess what one of my personal goals is? Maybe we can swap stories, ideas, critiques, etc. It is one of my favorite passions, I just don't do it enough, hence making it a goal.

Best of luck with all your goals. This should be fun!

[James Newman]

Keith, I am glad that you are participating in the challenge. Especially after helping me so much. I really appreciate it. Good luck!

Newman

[Ogedei]

For my first step into the challenge I have gone and bought essentially a new pantry of food. hahaha. I was low anyhow. But seriously. I am currently intending on tracking my food bill while I am on this. One of the reasons is for my own interest, another is because I don't actually believe eating well is more costly and this will prove it once and for all.

I have added a grocery tab to my tracker sheet to keep this updated.

Sounds good Victoria! I may be forced to set the scanner up so I can show how bad my art is! Yes yes your own worst critic I know.

Og.

[Ogedei]

As promised my current before pictures in all my glory. Ok not quite ALL.




Definetely a little fat to kill and some muscle to add. It is fair to say I have pretty much stalled and not progressed much if any since I lost my initial weight.

[Lost Dog]

Dude, what are all those drink mix singles?

[Ogedei]

Single serving no calorie mixes. Light single serviing crystal lights, only cheap. They say mix in 500ml of water (2 cups) but I think that would be a little strong. I double that. Also handy to add flavor to whey shakes. You can make an orange vanilla, like a orange gatorage/whey shake without the carbs of the gatorade.

[Aoife]

Keith?
Your name is Keith?

Well color me purple.
:p

[Ogedei]

Maybe....it might be Ogedei...

Are you dyeing your hair purple? I am sure you could pull it off.

[Aoife]

I was thinking about it. Right now it's red/blue/black/blonde/pink-ish. I'm prolly gonna go red, but who knows?

So... are you really Genghis' son?
Just wondering...

[Ogedei]

Originally Posted by Aoife

I was thinking about it. Right now it's red/blue/black/blonde/pink-ish. I'm prolly gonna go red, but who knows?

So... are you really Genghis' son?
Just wondering...

Nope but I play a Mongol on TV. Or on the weekends

Red is good. I likes red.

[Ogedei]

Wow a lot of active logs right now! Bumped to page 2 in a few hours!

61 Day Challenge

Resistance Training:
NROL: Break-In Workout A

Squat: 2x15 @ 95lbs

Static Lunge: 2x15 @ 20lbs
2pt elbow out row: 2x15 @ 22.5lbs (Dumbbells, per arm)

Pushup: 2x15 @ BW
Swiss Crunch: 2x15 @ BW

Intervals
Type: Upright Stationary Bike
2 min warm-up.
5 x 30/60s
1 min cool down - sure not ideal and I may pay for it, but the bike was VERY squeaky.

Offical Gym Scale:
218lbs

PWO Nutrition:
TNT Plan A: simple water and whey shake

[lance02]

Good luck in the challenge!

[Ogedei]

Nutrition thoughts

So step 1 is complete. In truth Plan A isn't THAT much difference to how I regularly eat on a clean day. Sign mentioned in one of the threads that the shock of this plan took some adjusting. After Day 1 I have not exprienced this shock.

The biggest difference is oatmeal, fruit and some veggies. My typical mixed veggie bag includes a lot of carrots. My new bags do not.

My biggest problem time was last night. Sitting around surfing the net, I wanted to snack on something. Usually oatmeal is made or maybe some fruit or berries. What to do?

Protein shake, salad, cheese.

Solution #2, which I may try tonight....

Coconut Macaroons.

Basically eggwhites, unsweetened coconut, splenda and vanilla extract.
Complete recipe is available here. http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/des...bmacaroons.htm

When I started to really want something bad, I told myself. Look, you decided to give this a shot. So do it.

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by Ogedei

When I started to really want something bad, I told myself. Look, you decided to give this a shot. So do it.

Atta boy!

[Ogedei]

I have always maintained that of all the things we choose to do in our life, being fit is the easiest.

Sure some people say it's hard, yadda yadda. To that I say. It is probably one of the only things in your life that is effected 100% by the choices you make. The one thing you can control.

Your job? Work your ass off. You could still get laid off or passed over for a raise.
A new job? you might get it if you are the best one for the job, you might not.

Most of what we do others have control over.

Eating well and working out? No one holds you down and shoves chocolate cake in your mouth. No one holds a gun to you and says NO GYM TODAY.

These are all choices WE make for OURSELVES everyday.

Admitting you are the problem and then doing something about it is the first step.

Og.

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by Ogedei

My biggest problem time was last night. Sitting around surfing the net, I wanted to snack on something. Usually oatmeal is made or maybe some fruit or berries. What to do?

Protein shake, salad, cheese.

Solution #2, which I may try tonight....

Coconut Macaroons.

Basically eggwhites, unsweetened coconut, splenda and vanilla extract.
Complete recipe is available here. http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/des...bmacaroons.htm

When I started to really want something bad, I told myself. Look, you decided to give this a shot. So do it.

Good move on the salad and shake. If I had the macaroons, as healthy as they are, I'd eat all of them. As many as were there. I just try not to have really tasty food around, no matter how healthy.

I ended up starving last night. Actually hungry. I had ham, cheese, broccoli, coffee, and a cigar. Not all at once.

[Ogedei]

The real problem is that I am housesitting this weekend.

At my place I wouldn;t be able to stray. I don't have anything to stray with. But here....yeah. I could do damage.

So macaroons might be a good alternative for me. I could always add protein powder and more eggs..... Oh yeah. Should be an interesting night

[Aoife]

No one holds you down and shoves chocolate cake in your mouth.

Now THAT sounds like a fun time!
:p

[UConnJulie]

Og, nice goals ... I'm doing TNT too and haven't noticed any shock, but low-carb agrees with me. The hardest for me is no fruit ... I love my fruit, especially this time of year with all the strawberries around ... ... but as you said if it were easy it wouldn't be a challenge, and it's not forever so I can tough it out. It's hard having it in the house now for the kids though ... and I'm not keeping fruit out of the house just for me, you know?

[ljk]

wow, you lost a lot of weight!!
That is cool that you do triathlons. That was a goal of mine at one time but I had to stop running. Oh well!

[kiikii]

Originally Posted by Ogedei

I have always maintained that of all the things we choose to do in our life, being fit is the easiest.

Sure some people say it's hard, yadda yadda. To that I say. It is probably one of the only things in your life that is effected 100% by the choices you make. The one thing you can control.

Your job? Work your ass off. You could still get laid off or passed over for a raise.
A new job? you might get it if you are the best one for the job, you might not.

Most of what we do others have control over.

Eating well and working out? No one holds you down and shoves chocolate cake in your mouth. No one holds a gun to you and says NO GYM TODAY.

These are all choices WE make for OURSELVES everyday.

Admitting you are the problem and then doing something about it is the first step.

Og.

So true! Thanks for posting this - it really got me thinking (mainly about how it never occured to me! )
...and I agree that being held down to be fed choc cake sounds kinda good ....

[Ogedei]

Thanks ljk, totally worth. Mainly for me and my health, secondly cause it
s kinda cool to be that guy. You know, wow you lost 100lbs? I just can't picture you weighing 300! Sorta makes you like a celebrity in their eyes. Especially now that I have people in my life that have never known me when I was large.

I do triathlon. Money and logistics conspire against me this year, so I may be waiting till next year to get back on that wagon. But I will. Once I am out of school and back in the workforce with a vengenance.

Now, about yesterday.

Nothing really special. Walked 15 minutes to and from the bus stop, such a beautiful day out. Nutrition was in check, although by the end of the day my stomach felt pretty hollow no matter how much salad I pumped into it!

I never made macaroons. I did make coconut chocolate whey pudding stuff.

1 scoop whey
4 tbsp evaporated milk
4 tbsp coconut

mix into a paste, add whey to adjust
add splenda to taste.

not the greatest. but not to bad either. Much better after the splenda.

Seeing 'Bug' today with a friend, so that should test me up for the nutrition plan.

Stay strong everyone. 2 steps completed. 59 to go.

[Ogedei]

Originally Posted by kiikii

So true! Thanks for posting this - it really got me thinking (mainly about how it never occured to me! )
...and I agree that being held down to be fed choc cake sounds kinda good ....

You are quite welcome. And you like Fey, make me laugh.

[James Newman]

I would possibly be like Roland in the respect that I would be tempted to eat all of the macaroons. I would most likely do as you did and opt for a salad and shake. I really like the TNT plan. I have eaten very similarly in the past and it is easy to accomplish. I am missing my Surge post-workout, but meh, its ok. I think I have just grown to like the taste.

Looking good Keith....

Newman

[Ogedei]

mmm sweet sweet cheese. My Savior.

[Ogedei]

Things are going well. My legs are still a bit sore from NROL Break in 1. I plan on hitting the gym for workout B and another HIIT session as well.

I went for a short steady state run. I can't say that I found it aerobically taxing, but the DOMS in my legs found it VERY unenjoyable. I ran about 3km in about 20 minutes. No screamin'll (Apart from the screaming coming from my legs)

Nutrition is going well. No huge cravings for grainy and starchy carbs. Still have a "hollow" feeling at the end of the night though. No stomach growling, but hollow.

[Aoife]

That hollow feeling sucks. esp when you can't seem to get rid of it. I've found propel helps (but not really normal water). Glad I'm not getting it much at the moment.

[finboy]

Og,

This is so cool to see you logging again. I've been busy myself and somehow missed out on the 61 day challenge start - I see a lot of people doing it. Did you get this whole thing going?

Your goals look great and I know you have the strength to follow through. Keep sharing your thoughts...really good stuff!

-fin

[ljk]

yummmm

I never made macaroons. I did make coconut chocolate whey pudding stuff.

1 scoop whey
4 tbsp evaporated milk
4 tbsp coconut