The Challenge Begins.....It's Too Late Now!

[rem1956]

In the beginning, God made me in his image....and then I *ucked it all up! As I said, 2008 is going to be the year of change. Today was the first morning workout in probably over a year.

"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorous triumphs, even checkered by failure, than to take the rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
Theodore Roosevelt

Thanks to globbla my sad pictures are posted. So here's the rest of the stats:

Age: 51 (almost 52)

Total Body Weight: 224 lbs
Lean Body Mass: 142 lbs
Fat Mass: 82 lbs
Fat %: 36.3

Neck: 17.75 in
Bicep, left: 14.5 in
Bicep, right: 13.75 in
Chest: 47.5 in
Waist: 48.5 in
Hips: 41.25 in
Thigh, left: 23.75 in
Thigh, right: 23.0 in
Calf, left: 16.5 in
Calf, right: 17.0 in

Goals:
1) Reduce my current Body Fat from 36.65 to 15%
2) Lower my blood triglycerides from >500 to <150
3) Workout 70% of the days over the next 6 months
4) Visible abs
5) Reduce waist size from 38 in to 33 in
6) Reduce my average fasting blood glucose level to < 100
7) Bench press >200 lbs
8) When I suck my gut in, nothing hangs out the backside!

My first morning workout was mainly just playing around. I haven't yet chosen a program. I did a quick 5 min cardio bike workout at level 12, just to get warmed up.

I worked upper body strength training, with the following:

Bent Over Rows: 5 sets of 10 x 50 lbs
Bench Press: 2 sets of 10 x 100 lbs, 6 x 100, 8 x 100, 7 x 100 lbs
Overhead Press: 10 x 60, 5 x 50, 2 sets of 10 x 40, 5 x 40 lbs
Upright Row: 5 sets of 10 x 40 lbs

Note a well planned routine, mainly just playing and getting back into the feel of it.

Diet has been pretty good so far, again not planned in detail (still working out the plan).

Preworkout: 1 slice whole grain bread w 4 oz chicken breast
Post workout: protein shake
9:30 AM: brocilli, orange bell pepper, kiwi and turkey pepperoni
Lunch: 4 oz salmon, 1 cup long grain brown rice, cauliflower and an apple
Mid day snack: Cottage cheese, carots
Dinner to be determined

Water LOTS....been peeing all day!

Before lunch I went for a 2 mile walk in a state park not far from where I work.

It's gonna take me a few days to get back into the swing of things, but hey....it's a start!

[mel]

Yes, it is definitely a start, so congrats on starting and good luck on reaching your goals!

mel

[Bill2380]

Good luck...I'm hoping you come in second, right behind me.

[stingo]

Good luck on the challenge.

[RacerBill]

Great goals, Ray. I'm especially hoping you do well with the triglycerides and fasting blood glucose. Time to get healthy!

[LisaS]

ray - good job.
Are you doing TNT or some other controlled-carb diet? If so, I think you'll see your TAGs plummet

I was going to ask where on earth you find "kiwi & turkey pepperoni" ... then I read it again (hey, there's such a thing as chicken & apple sausage ... you never know)

[rem1956]

Thanks everyone. Today's workout was a real leg blast. I can't even walk right now. I feel like an old guy of 80 hobbling out the doror of my gym. More details later.

Lisa...I haven't really done TNT. I do more of a "rainbow" diet. I try to eat many different color fruit and veggies (raw or frozen) each day, along with whole grains, lots of water and tea, lean meat, fish, low fat dairy stuff. I am avoiding all pasta, enriched flour products, white rice, sugar and alcohol. No more juice of any kind...I eat the whole fruit now. No room temperature fats, just liquid oils and in moderation. Lots of herbs, slasa, mustards, vinegars, etc for seasoning. Fasting blood glucose was 96 this morning!!!

RacerBill...yup, those triglycerides and blood glucose are a major major issue. I got to get them under control. Numbers are way too high.

Oh and Bill2380.....I'm sure one of us WILL win. And I am pretty sure I know which of us it will be. Just don't be too hard on yourself. I know you will try very hard.

Oh, and BTW....I was very tempted to sleep in this morning and not work out. This challenge is just what I needed!

Later folks!

[Lost Dog]

Those are good goals. There are very important things on that list. This challenge is a good thing.

[RedLefty]

Whatever it takes to gets us lazy bastards out of bed!

[rem1956]

This challenge is the best thing that has happened to me since that night with Becky at Painter's Run back in '72!

[rhauser44]

Originally Posted by rem1956

This challenge is the best thing that has happened to me since that night with Becky at Painter's Run back in '72!

Becky... That two-tim'in b*tch!! After she told me it was over between you two!!

[Bill2380]

If you thought it was hard getting out of bed today, wait until tomorrow.

[rem1956]

Bill2380...you were right. It was hard, but I did it. I need to come back here in a few minutes and report on yesterday and this morning workouts.

Thanks LD...I put some time into thinking about what I really wanted to accomplish.

[rem1956]

Good morning everyone! A really nice day here in Baltimore.

I need to do some catching up; I didn't have a chance to report on yesterday's accomplishments, so without further adue...

For 8 Jan 2008

Fasting blood glucose was 96! I must be doing something right!

I got up and went to my gym, planning to do some free weight training for lower body. This was around 6AM.....the free weight area was packed. I mean packed with young HS age guys. Some were seriously lifting, some were lifting, and some were just hanging around, cluttering up the area. I only have 1 hour in the morning, so I needed to make the best use of it. So, I ambled on over to the cable/machine area. 35 minutes later, much to my surprise, my legs were so weak and trembling that I had doubts about making it back into the locker room without some assistance! My legs and lower body was completely blasted!

My workout, again not planned in detail and still in the refining stages, consisted of the following.

Leg Press: 3 sets of 10 x 150 lbs
Calf Raises: 1 set of 10 x 90, 2 sets of 10 x70 lbs
Ab Crunch: 1 set of 10 x 90, 2 sets of 10 x 70 lbs
Hip Extension: 3 sets of 10 x 130 lbs, each leg

May not sound or look like much, but for me it was a killer!

I had a really busy day at work so I wasn't able to keep a food journal. But I had packed a whole day of healthy eating, so I did ok with the diet. I could of done better with the water intake; need to work on that.

Had some fun time with my son in the evening that left me falling asleep with a smile on my face. That kid is precious.

Now, for today, 9 Jan 2008:

Fasting blood glucose was 118; not bad but not great either...probably those damn sugar cookies the night before. I helped my son bake cookies for a school event and of course.....

Had a health pre-workout meal of whole grain bread with natty PB and then off to the gym. Weight area still had those kids there again (didn't they go home?). However, this morning is a rest day from strength training, so I did 20 minutes of cardio with some HIIT mixed in, and alot of flexibility work on the mat. Gosh it felt good to stretch muscles first thing in the morning.

DOMS is kicking in a little today in the hips and legs, butt and calves; yesterday was a killer!

So far, since this challenge has started, I have managed to get to the gym 3 solid days in a row! That in itself speaks volumes!

I'll probably update a little more later; gotta run for now.

[rem1956]

Update....DOMS was getting pretty bad just sitting here at my desk, so I went for a 2 mile walk at lunch time. Feeling more loosened up now!

And that brings us to lunch....mixed frozen veggies, 4 oz salmon filet, an apple and some green tea.

[RacerBill]

Originally Posted by rem1956

And that brings us to lunch....mixed frozen veggies, 4 oz salmon filet, an apple and some green tea.

Eating frozen veggies! Now that's hardcore! I always cook mine.

[rem1956]

That's nothing Bill.....you should see how I get my daily iron supplement.