Bacardio's TNT Transformation

[bacardio]

Didn't quite get this going on Day 1, but here we go.

Background Info:
Age: 37
Ht: 5'9"
Wt: 192.4lbs (Official Weigh-in for the fitness challenge on Jan 1, 08)
186.6lbs (on Jan 7)

Since Adam and John suggest getting Chol check before starting the TNT Diet, I did results were not as good as I would have liked:
Chol: 151
HDL: 29 (not certain why though)
Tri: 45
LDL: 113

Before the idea of a fitness challenge was brought up I was going to follow the TNT strategy to the letter and document the whole thing; A) to hold myself accountable if I don't improve my health and to B) show others what the TNT can do for them, if it can help me , it can help them.

I have struggled with my weight for many years now. I graduated High School as a 165 lb. When my daughter was born in 1998, I had ballooned up to 229 lbs (sympathy weight, really it was ). About 2 years ago, I got myself to 178 lbs, some of that was water loss but I still was probably around 180-182. I was never able to break that barrier not matter how little I ate (I have gotten pretty accustom to eating around 1400 - 2100 calories) or how much I lifted, ran, or played sports. Eventually, my weight settled in, in the mid-180s. Until this holiday season where it has jumped back up.

As stated before I have tried just about everything I could to break that 180 barrier and nothing has worked, including a personal trainer at Lifetime Fitness. While my endurance increased and I was once again able to bench 300lbs (have been able to do that since HS), I still could lose the tractor tire around the middle.

After reading about TNT in Men's Health, I realized that a lot of the diet philosophies I was subscribing to were false, so it got me to pick up the book and eventually lead me to this website (Thanks JP).

So here my plan:

I am going to follow the TNT Diet to the letter for diet and exercise.
Daily supplements: multi-vitamin, calcium supplement, and creatine.

To show that I am staying honest to the diet, I plan to record what I eat and what I do for exercise and place them in this tread.

All suggestions for change are not only encouraged, but BEGGED for.

Goals:
- Wt: below 170lbs, which should start to get me cut
- Get my strength back to the 300lb bench
- Increase my flexibility, so I can hold a side-kick above my head (not certain if I can pull that one off)

- To win the fitness challenge
- To show others that if I can do it, they can

[bacardio]

Workout Jan 01



1A/1B & 2A/2b are supersets

Also played 1 hour of hockey


Nutrition



Things I learned:

1) After working out to the above lifting program, I "attempted" to play a hockey game (Rubes Hockey). It's not very easy to skate, when you can't feel anything below the waist. NOTE TO SELF: on gameday, workout in the morning

2) I did all exercises on a 5 count or slower, which told me; A) I am much weaker than I thought, B) when I previously did this exercises, I did not keep my muscles under strain as long as I though I was (I was using much more weight, when I did these lifts), or C) all of the above

3) The guys I play hockey with, look at you funny when you try to get them to order a pitcher of "light" beer. Good thing I didn't also say low-carb, they probably would have beating me senseless.

[RedLefty]

You did that workout and then played hockey on a day with 37 grams of carbs? Dadgum.

[bacardio]

Originally Posted by RedLefty

You did that workout and then played hockey on a day with 37 grams of carbs? Dadgum.

Actually, I went into the game with only 25. I have the beer (12g) after the game, and felt fairly guilty about it, since it went against the TNT standards. But it did taste good .

[LisaS]

I think that's the first time I've seen pheasant in a food log - are you a hunter or just extravagant?

[mel]

Hi! Congrats on deciding to keep a log. Good luck on reaching your goals!

mel

[bacardio]

Originally Posted by RedLefty

You did that workout and then played hockey on a day with 37 grams of carbs? Dadgum.

Oops, slightly screwed up my diet logging on the first day, I actually 4 cups of Broccolli w/ red peppers. Which did bring my carbs up to around 34 grams before the beer.

I should ask, I plan to follow the TNT diet, which is low carb for the first 4 weeks, is it bad to do so much physical activity on so few carbs? Will it effect my performance?

[LisaS]

it isn't bad - it may effect your performance short-term until you get adapted to using fat for energy -

[bacardio]

Originally Posted by LisaS

I think that's the first time I've seen pheasant in a food log - are you a hunter or just extravagant?

Certainly not an extravagant (my wife would say I am the farthest thing from it), I use to hunt quite a bit, but don't really have the time anymore, but my father does quite a bit. When they move to Mississippi, they pretty much cleaned out the freezer and dumped it at my place.

I have to admit it is coming in handy now to have a freezer full of protein .

[bacardio]

Originally Posted by LisaS

it isn't bad - it may effect your performance short-term until you get adapted to using fat for energy -

Thanks Lisa, let's hope that happens soon, I have plenty of fat stores for energy .

[bacardio]

Originally Posted by mel

Hi! Congrats on deciding to keep a log. Good luck on reaching your goals!

mel

Thanks Mel, please keep reading my log and if you see anything where I can improve, please point it out to me.

Thanks again

[bacardio]

Day 2

Diet:


Little higher on the fat than I want, but not too bad for Plan A. Sugar-free jello does a pretty good job if your ole-sweet-tooth demands some attention.

I can't seem to find it in the TNT book, does anyone know what the acceptable range for daily intake of carbs is for Plan A?

Exercise:

60 of Tae Kwon Do - did wheel and side kicks, marching basics, and then did form work. As boring as working on forms can be, they cause you to break a pretty good sweat.

Things learned today:

That people are actually reading my log and providing feedback, which is VERY appreciated.

My house has too many stairs, at least that is what my quads are telling me every time I take them. But its a good pain, right?!?!?!

[NorthernWisco]

Rubes im in superior across from duluth you should get a team together for the Pond Hockey Classic its played on the St. Louis Bay great view of lake superior. Any ways good workout

[bacardio]

Originally Posted by NorthernWisco

Rubes im in superior across from duluth you should get a team together for the Pond Hockey Classic its played on the St. Louis Bay great view of lake superior. Any ways good workout

I will bring it up.. We have been talking about doing a roadie this year. Hopefully, I weekend of hockey and drinking won't throw me off the wagon too far.

[RedLefty]

Originally Posted by bacardio

My house has too many stairs, at least that is what my quads are telling me every time I take them. But its a good pain, right?!?!?!

If it's super painful try keeping your weight on your heels as you go up and come down. Voila -- posterior chain gets engaged and the quads don't fire much.

It's tough for me, though, because my huge feet don't really fit on our stairs so that I can get my heel on them.

[LisaS]

go up facing backwards. works for going down too. lots of DOMS experience here.

[L'ilJ]

Your log is looking good (and very organized!). Good luck in the challenge!