My NROL Experience

[UConnJulie]

Tom, also, have you seen Leigh's video on weighing versus measuring (it's on her website but you can also find it on Youtube)? It has been very eye-opening for me. I think much of my fat loss problem has been just that. My eyeballing is not too bad for measuring, but when you weigh it there is a big difference. Just a thought ...

[stingo]

Originally Posted by nutbar

I know you don't really want me to answer that.

I agree, it probably involves a turkey baster, so I don't want to know.

Originally Posted by nutbar

What is Starting Strong? I googled and amazoned but came up with nothing. Or did you mean Starting Strength?

Yes, Starting Strength is what i meant.

[foodfromafar]

Tom, sounds like you're getting back on track. Workouts look great! What is the long stair thing?

[stingo]

Originally Posted by foodfromafar

Tom, sounds like you're getting back on track. Workouts look great! What is the long stair thing?

It's an invention of John's (Mahler's) - as I understood it and did it, you start at the bottom of the stairs, then go up one, and back down, go up two, and back down, three up, and back down etc. When you get to the top of the stairs and come back down, you then go up to the next highest step and come down, etc.

[stingo]

Originally Posted by UConnJulie

Tom, also, have you seen Leigh's video on weighing versus measuring (it's on her website but you can also find it on Youtube)? It has been very eye-opening for me. I think much of my fat loss problem has been just that. My eyeballing is not too bad for measuring, but when you weigh it there is a big difference. Just a thought ...

Yup, I've seen the video - and it is a good one. I think that my problem though is with happy hour type fun. If I was maintaining or gaining on days I was good, I would consider giving portion sizes another look. But, for the most part, when I eat well, I lose weight, so I'm thinking it's a bad food thing (where of course portion size does indeed play a part). Thanks for the suggestion.

[stingo]

231 - Kind of surprised that it dropped a couple of pounds, but I'll take it. (I was sort of expecting/hoping 232.5.) If I can show some kind of loss tomorrow as well, I'll be in great position to push through the 230 barrier. Excellent motivation to keep away from temptation, so definitely no happy hour this week.

[Espi]

Woot! It's tough to not go to happy hour, but seeing this number on the scale surely will make the decision to skip it every other Friday an easier one!

[LWilson212]

Tom 231 is awesome! Its sort of dorky, but I'm always looking forward to reading your log to see the day you get under 230. I know it is coming!

[nutbar]

Yay!!!

And Mahler is a sick, sick man. God gave us elevators for a reason, you know.

[tcoy777]

Man I go away for a few days and miss out on all the fun around here.

Great workouts and weight loss!! Those workouts look really intense.

I hate the fact that beer prices are going up. Mostly because I will here it from my wife when I spend 9.00 on a six pack of good beer vs 4.99 for crap beer. I did try some new beer this weekend. It was Boulevard Brewing Company Pale Ale. It was good, not the best I have had and not worth the money,but still good. Have you ever had Yazoo beer? Its a local brew here in Nashville. I don't know if they ship to other places but its really good for a micro brew.

[stingo]

Originally Posted by Espi

Woot! It's tough to not go to happy hour, but seeing this number on the scale surely will make the decision to skip it every other Friday an easier one!

Agreed. Interestingly, I don't think I'll miss it either, as I'm about due for a break anyhow. Plus I really want to see what happens to my body with no alcohol.

Originally Posted by LWilson212

Tom 231 is awesome! Its sort of dorky, but I'm always looking forward to reading your log to see the day you get under 230. I know it is coming!

Heh thanks I look forward to the day when I can post a sub 230 weight.

Originally Posted by nutbar

Yay!!!

And Mahler is a sick, sick man. God gave us elevators for a reason, you know.

It was a good endurance exercise, particularly carrying the kettlebell, so it was a grip challenge too.

Originally Posted by tcoy777

Man I go away for a few days and miss out on all the fun around here.

Great workouts and weight loss!! Those workouts look really intense.

I hate the fact that beer prices are going up. Mostly because I will here it from my wife when I spend 9.00 on a six pack of good beer vs 4.99 for crap beer. I did try some new beer this weekend. It was Boulevard Brewing Company Pale Ale. It was good, not the best I have had and not worth the money,but still good. Have you ever had Yazoo beer? Its a local brew here in Nashville. I don't know if they ship to other places but its really good for a micro brew.

Thanks - now that I've upped the volume on the kettlebell workout I think it's doing me more good. I'm still learning the clean and need to get better with form on the tgu but on the whole things are going quite nicely.

Nope, never had Yazoo - I don't recall seeing it at any distributors here either. Sadly, I do know it's illegal to ship alcohol into PA, but travel is sometimes a good thing. One thing about living in PA is that we have quite a few really good breweries in the state. The Lion (the local brewery which brews great Stegmaier seasonal beers), Iron Hill, John Harvard's, Lancaster, Stoudt's, Victory, Troegs, Legacy, Bullfrog, Bavarian Barbarian, Abbey, Appalachian, Pennsylvania, Weyerbacher, Yuengling, Voodoo, Sly Fox, Yards, Erie all make good beer, and that's not counting the brewpubs that don't bottle (yet), like Bethlehem, General Lafayette, One Guy Brewing, McKenzie's, Rock Bottom, Union Brew Works, Selins Grove BC, Triumph and Nodding Head. Sorry about the laundry list, but I keep thinking of good beers I've had so I feel compelled to put the brewers on the list. This is not including any great breweries from neighboring states, like Ommegang, Southampton, Brooklyn and Middle Ages in NY, Clipper City in MD, and Flying Fish and Ramstein in NJ. Got beer? Yup, we in PA certainly do. Damn, now I want a beer. lol

[tcoy777]

Nice. You got me wanting beer. It was nice doing the remodel, that I could just have a beer anytime I wanted. I think the boss may not like me having beer at my desk.

The thing I like about the Yazoo brewing company is its really small. They only bottle a small amount at at time as they don't have a ton of equipment. Beer and travel is the best part for me. I love going some place and trying there local beer. It bothered my when I went to St. Lucia and Nassau that the tourist staying at our hotel were upset by the mass amount of local beer and not much else. UM your in their country. Enjoy what is native to there. It may not be what you like, but at least try it.

[stingo]

I agree 100% - that's why I go local even when not traveling. I've heard of any number of beers that were hard to get etc from far flung corners of the world, but really, for regular consumption we do just fine here within PA.

[tcoy777]

For sure, That is the one thing I like when we go back home to see my wifes family in PA. Really good local brew. Down here they are more into the budwiser and Jack Daniels. Its getting better, but you pay a price for the good beers.

[stingo]

The corporate gym has been running a Get Fit Slim Down program which includes regular weigh-ins and exercise sessions. I've been doing my own workouts, but have been participating in the weigh-ins...

Here's the numbers:

April 4, 2008 -> May 29, 2008

Weight 237.75lbs -> 231lbs (-6.75)
Blood Pressure 140/80 -> 126/68
BMI 36.1 -> 35.2 (-0.9)
Body fat % 33.6 -> 31.9 (-1.7)

Arms 16.25 -> 16.125 (-0.125)
Chest 45.75 -> 45.50 (-0.25)
Waist 46.75 -> 42.4 (-4.35)
Hips 47 -> 45.5 (-1.5)
Thigh 26.125 -> 26.125 (0)
Abdomen 47.25 -> 46 (-1.25)

I think I really started losing starting at the beginning of May when I started tracking my weight and changing my eating habits a little. So I think that 6.75lbs isn't bad for a drop, considering that it's looking like the majority of that was fat loss. Even accounting for measuring error, the drop in my waist size surprised me, though it matches what I've been seeing in the mirror. Incidentally, I think the Tanita used to measure bodyfat isn't too accurate, so I'm not worried about that. All in all, a decent showing I think.

[stingo]

Originally Posted by tcoy777

For sure, That is the one thing I like when we go back home to see my wifes family in PA. Re