Let's drop the weight challenge

Alright guys! The wild ride for me starts today. Trying something I've never tried before.

Zero processed foods and organic vegetables when possible. Today's lunch consisted of sweet potato and kale hash.

Oh and for my own reasons, I'm going to try to go meat free. Wish me luck all.
Holy Cow meat free .... no venison?
Luck? I'd need more than luck. :confused:
 
Tonight is the first game in the next level of play-offs for the Bulls. Again, all you can eat. Today I am fasting, tonight will be all burgers.
 
Holy Cow meat free .... no venison?
Luck? I'd need more than luck. :confused:
Even if one is cutting out "meat "
One should still have lard in the diet.
It lowers cholesterol without drugs.
And it gives the brain fat it needs to function properly.
For me, cutting carbs way down and increasing fat dropped my triglycerides from over 300 to around 45, lowered LDL and raised HDL. And that is what many studies have reported.
http://empoweredsustenance.com/lard-is-healthy/

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Yep, I would need to be in a coma for that to work for me :)
21 days so far no meat, dairy, processed foods. Only thing I miss is the covenience.
 
I've been using my new Garmin Fenix 5X for a few weeks now.
I don't use it to track calories per se. Garmin makes the best devices devices for tracking swimming distances and metrics like pace. That was my primary reason for buying it.
It also records heart rate info through the day.
And from that I discovered that despite not being at the weight I want to be at, my resting heart rate is very healthy 53bpm. Not bad at all.

This thing also converts swimming to step count for the equivalent total during the day.
The day I did a 10km swim, my steps for the day was 32,202. [emoji12]

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Update #1

First off, thanks to everyone for the encouragement and suggestions. I am making small changes over a long period of time. Hoping to not cause too much stress to my system, I am afraid of it shutting down.

So, I had my first evaluation at the gym last week. I have lost 10 pounds and 6% body fat. :D I am happy to report no injuries or setbacks. I got talked into coaching baseball for my youngest son, so that really messed up my schedule. But, it has been a good thing as it has kept me more balanced in my approach.

I can tell the frame and springs are getting back into the groove and I am moving much better. That was really my primary goal in this initial stage, so I am pleased. As I get the foundation repaired, I will be able to add-on the extras.

Thanks again to each of you for just participating in this thread. Lots of good stuff to read and it is easier knowing there are others rowing a similar boat. I wish you much success.
 
I used to just take off Sunday, even though I still work on Sunday. I've started taking Tue or Wed off too depending on my schedule of things to do. It has drastically cut my soreness towards the end of the week. Ultimately, your body does need time to recover. And if you are keeping it up the other days, your body usually deals with the calorie issue on it's own. I weigh myself every morning and not really change there with the extra day off.

Good luck with it.
My rest day usually consists of 4 to 5 hours of swearing in the yard [emoji12]

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With my first update posted, here is what I am actually doing:
5-7 minute treadmill or bike warm-up
Alternating chest press and seated pullback machines, 3 sets of 15.
Alternating military press and pull-down machines, 3 sets of 10/15.
Standing arm curl then press with dumbbells, 2 sets of 15.
Alternating leg curl and leg press machines, 3 sets of 15.

Then I do 20 laps in the pool. I do various swim stokes (none of which are pretty) mixed with different leg calisthenics, walking, duck walk, high knees, lunges, side shuffle, etc. I also add 20 perfect squats and 20 crunches in between some laps. I have to say, doing the pool workout is the difference maker for me. I feel good moving in the water and it helps reduce/eliminate my soreness. I highly recommend to anyone that is severely overweight to find a gym with a lap pool.

I do the above twice a week and am doing baseball 4 other nights of the week. I do leave one day free for recovery. I plan to continue this schedule until the end of baseball season, November 4th.

My diet has not been good, but I have been making small changes. I try to eat less at each meal and I have not missed breakfast but a couple of times. My water intake is up and my sugars are down slightly. This part will be the hardest for me, I am going slow so I don't get frustrated. As my physical condition improves, my morale and discipline will also improve. I have done Keto in the past with great success. I will get there eventually, but need to ease my way into it. (Last time I did it, I was not exercising.) Now, if I can just figure out how to sleep...

So, that is where I am today. Hopefully November will bring some exciting changes.
 
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Update #1

First off, thanks to everyone for the encouragement and suggestions. I am making small changes over a long period of time. Hoping to not cause too much stress to my system, I am afraid of it shutting down.

So, I had my first evaluation at the gym last week. I have lost 10 pounds and 6% body fat. :D I am happy to report no injuries or setbacks. I got talked into coaching baseball for my youngest son, so that really messed up my schedule. But, it has been a good thing as it has kept me more balanced in my approach.

I can tell the frame and springs are getting back into the groove and I am moving much better. That was really my primary goal in this initial stage, so I am pleased. As I get the foundation repaired, I will be able to add-on the extras.

Thanks again to each of you for just participating in this thread. Lots of good stuff to read and it is easier knowing there are others rowing a similar boat. I wish you much success.

Awesome job! Keep up the good work and know that the hard part is over (making the decision to change and actually working towards that goal).
 
Then I do 20 laps in the pool. I do various swim stokes (none of which are pretty) mixed with different leg calisthenics, walking, duck walk, high knees, lunges, side shuffle, etc. I also add 20 perfect squats and 20 crunches in between some laps. I have to say, doing the pool workout is the difference maker for me. I feel good moving in the water and it helps reduce/eliminate my soreness. I highly recommend to anyone that is severely overweight to find a gym with a lap pool.

Great job! Keep it up!

Swimming is such great exercise, and works muscles unlike any other aerobic activity. Watch some youtube vids on technique, try to make your strokes prettier....you'll get a better and more efficient workout.
 
Let's keep it up boys! I'm down around 15-20lbs depending on which scale I use. I am now doing 70 minute elliptical sessions daily. The machine tells my I'm burning around 1700 calories per session, so that's a happy thing.

The Matrix machines we have are wired for YouTube so I spend my time watching Highway to Heaven, Gun Reviews, or other movies. Keeps my breathing steady and takes my mind off the seconds as they tick by. But each session I up the resistance by a hair and keep the distance constant.

I can tell it's making a difference because my intensity is going up but my recovery is getting easier. My taint is now bullet proof from the chaffing and healing...so this will lead to an odd combat position I am sure.


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That's not the weirdest thing I've ever seen on Amazon, but it's trying.

Now get back to work...


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Weird, yes. Work? Absolutely. My warehouse has no AC, it's how I survive the summer and still walk.
 
Then I do 20 laps in the pool. I do various swim stokes (none of which are pretty) mixed with different leg calisthenics, walking, duck walk, high knees, lunges, side shuffle, etc. I also add 20 perfect squats and 20 crunches in between some laps. I have to say, doing the pool workout is the difference maker for me. I feel good moving in the water and it helps reduce/eliminate my soreness. I highly recommend to anyone that is severely overweight to find a gym with a lap pool.
Does you gym have Aqua fit classes? There are some new classes developed. I don;t do them because they involve impact on the feet. Degenerative osteoarthritis in both feet. Big toe joints.
Can't repeat The Pool" enough.
I first started trying to add swimming back in 2001 when we joined a YMCA in Lowell MA.
My first time in the pool I died after just 6 laps. Eventually I got up to 1 mile.
Long story short, I slacked off and got up over 310#
When I got back into changing my ways, I found it hard to keep my lower half up. So I used zip fins for a about a year. This helped distribute the effort to my legs. I also discovered that it helped build the needed core strength to develop a more planer body position. The first time I did 125 laps with the zip fins, I weened myself off them and focused on building upper body swim endurance. Now I only use the fins for drill laps.

Wallrus, you will surprise yourself with swimming. Increasing endurance is as easy as "one more lap." Each week do one more lap than you did the week before during your swim.
A tip on weights, increase the weight and lower your reps to 8 to 10. This will help increase strength and maintain muscle while losing fat.
 
Aaaaand let's try this again.

My love of beer and any food, especially during and after drinking, has caused me and lipids to blow up. After meeting with the new nurse practitioner during my last fasting appointment, I was convinced to change course, after that weekend. Lol.

I went back to what works for me..... eating myself thin. It's the dreaded low carb/high fat way of life. It usually works well enough that I lose weight, reverse my numbers, and have to either get a lower dose of BP meds or get off them altogether. I do enjoy eating like this, but the world and family make it difficult. The only beer I had was a six pack of RJ Rocker's Bellringers last Saturday night. I probably wouldn't have drank at all except my wife bought them. She knew how much I enjoyed them.

The scales told the tale for that misstep. I was already down 5.6lbs, but one night of drinking and my temporary weight gain was 2.6lbs over the next two days. No beer and back to eating my preferred way and I've shed two of those pounds as of this morning.

Come March and my next visit, I'm hoping to give my NP a big ole I told you so. She wants me on medication. I told her I was not interested.

Roughly 20lbs to go. :cool:
 
So, I'm not sure if I was overly confident after the Sprint in Asheville or work conspiring against my training/battling bronchitis did it, but this past Saturday's Super in Fayetteville was humbling. Probably a combination of both, with the former being the main culprit, if I am being honest. Started off okay but developed bad blisters on both heels between miles 2&3 (out of 8.5) and the lack of energy after mile 4 made for a trying day. Still a great father/daughter outing that I will remember for the rest of my life.

Definitely a learning experience and will only help me when I go for a Trifecta next year. Cardio, cardio and more cardio will be included in my workouts, as will stretching/flexibility training. Also need to find good shoes with a higher heel box and heel lock ability (my Inov8 Mudclaws were not deep enough in the heel to keep them from sliding around). Just putting this out there so I can be held accountable next year.

How was your Sprint, @Chuckman ?
 
@fsj80 it was a hoot. I had as much fun seeing all the weirdos (said in a good way) as anything. It's nothing I'd do 'seriously' or for time, but I'm definitely up for another!

Hot, though. I think there's one in Fayetteville in April, so it would be cooler, I hope. I'll get my kids into it (my 15 year-old with me, the youngers on the kids' course).
 
@fsj80 it was a hoot. I had as much fun seeing all the weirdos (said in a good way) as anything. It's nothing I'd do 'seriously' or for time, but I'm definitely up for another!

Hot, though. I think there's one in Fayetteville in April, so it would be cooler, I hope. I'll get my kids into it (my 15 year-old with me, the youngers on the kids' course).

Glad you had fun and people watching is definitely a draw haha

It really is a great time, especially if it is a family bonding event. My daughter and I talk about anything and everything during these races and I love that. It is also a great time to dole out life advice (like when my daughter couldn't complete the rope climb even though she crushed it every time in practice). It is a lot easier to tell her that life is like that and you have to push failure to the back of your mind and forge ahead when it is fresh :)

Yeah, the heat was something I definitely did not account for. We ran a Sprint in Asheville at the end of July and the difference was significant. Sunblock, water bladder and energy supplements (either in the water or food items) will be included for next year's Super and Beast.
 
Glad you had fun and people watching is definitely a draw haha

It really is a great time, especially if it is a family bonding event. My daughter and I talk about anything and everything during these races and I love that. It is also a great time to dole out life advice (like when my daughter couldn't complete the rope climb even though she crushed it every time in practice). It is a lot easier to tell her that life is like that and you have to push failure to the back of your mind and forge ahead when it is fresh :)

Yeah, the heat was something I definitely did not account for. We ran a Sprint in Asheville at the end of July and the difference was significant. Sunblock, water bladder and energy supplements (either in the water or food items) will be included for next year's Super and Beast.

I think the opportunity with your kids is incredible. The training and racing, and the life lessons.

Speaking of water bladder, it was amazing how many people in the Sprint had one. I never saw the need, personally. But yeah, tack on another couple or miles, I see the need.

I met with and had a long talk with COL. Nye (part of Spartan leadership, does Spartan Up! podcasts. Very neat guy...look him up), and the vendors were great (except for the food: only two food vendors).

Definitely a quality event.
 
Agreed on not needing the bladder for the Sprint. There were enough water stations and the miles were few enough that they really aren't needed. Definite need for the Super and Beast, though, if nothing else than to get BCAAs and electrolytes into your system.

Vendors were definitely cool and the food was okay. My only complaint was they didn't have any big boy sizes (XXL) but my wallet probably appreciates that they did not. lol Wish they had a bigger variety of food because I was famished after the race!
 
Not attempting to drop weight but I'm certainly wanting to increase endurance. Started adding some runs back in on top of the rowing and lifting.

This humidity still suuuucks.

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Started alternating Planks with my crunches/supermans. What a difference, assuming that is what is doing it. Pretty sure it's my Psoas Major that is acting up, but it is flaring up muscles all the way into my calves. So I have started some new stretches too. But it's very difficult to really stretch the Psoas and the hamstrings. Finally found some that work there too. So it could be a combination of stretch and planks. But I think the planks are finally building up the Psoas that got weak from an injury. Doing a 2 minute, 1:45, then a 1:30 and trying to work up more.
 
No super, duper weight loss system will ever do you any good. Nothing but loss, gain, loss, gain.
There is only one way and one way alone for sustained weight loss. That's a lifestyle change.
You must know when to stop lifting the fork.
I'd love to help and sell you a fork-lift.
 
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Not sure exactly how this worked out but I lost 4 lbs between the Monday before Thanksgiving and yesterday (and I was not shy or disciplined Thurs-Sun). 3 rounds of golf W-F probably contributed to the weight loss as well as all the “projects” leading up to the in laws appearance.

Still following the FST 7 workout and it is brutal. Definitely adding muscle where I want to but the sheer number of sets and reps is still tough (around 17 sets and a minimum of 140 reps per muscle group). Will stick with it through the end of Dec, then switch to strength training and cardio to get ready for my Spartan Trifecta goal for next year.
 
I will “weigh” in here, as I could use some accountability. I started 15 days ago at 271. This morning I was 254. Mostly diet- low carb, high protein and portion control. I hope to be able to keep it up. I am a big yo-yo dieter and this is the point I usually lose focus.


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Doing 10 min a day of: 3 min plank, 30 lunges, 30 shoulder exercises w/light weights and 30 push ups plus some supplements & I've dropped over 20lb in the last 2 months. Enough to cause my wife to be concerned about my health. I'm fine, my clothes just look stupid now.
I'm taking 1 Textmax HD in the morn (2 make me jittery), and a Textmax 1000 pack with dinner. The wife appreciates the T level increase. Know what I mean? Awwww! Right... Say no more.
https://www.amazon.com/Strongest-Testosterone-Supplement-Increase-Replacement/dp/B06XVZQWWJ
 
This time of year what with all of the yummy holiday foods and treats we all need a simple exercise to quickly burn some calories. I found this gem from the Spartan website:

This workout burns approximately 100 calories per round. Do it five times through and you’ll blast away 500 calories.

50 Jumping Jacks

40 Butterfly Crunches

30 Air Squats

20 Pushups

10 Jump Squats

This workout alone with no change in diet or no additional exercise, you burn a pound a week.
 
I will “weigh” in here, as I could use some accountability. I started 15 days ago at 271. This morning I was 254. Mostly diet- low carb, high protein and portion control. I hope to be able to keep it up. I am a big yo-yo dieter and this is the point I usually lose focus.

Horrible time to start, during the holidays. Don't be discouraged if it's two steps forward/one back sort of thing....just keep at it. Stay focused, exercise, and get some good sleep.
 
This time of year what with all of the yummy holiday foods and treats we all need a simple exercise to quickly burn some calories. I found this gem from the Spartan website:

This workout burns approximately 100 calories per round. Do it five times through and you’ll blast away 500 calories.

50 Jumping Jacks

40 Butterfly Crunches

30 Air Squats

20 Pushups

10 Jump Squats

This workout alone with no change in diet or no additional exercise, you burn a pound a week.

I saw that today and bookmarked it so I can add it to the rotation next when when I am getting ready for the Spartan races and when I just need a change or extra calorie burn
 
I what to wish everyone the best of luck on their weight loss challenges. Over a year ago I decided that at 32 I shouldn't feel as bad as I did every day so I completely cut soda, tea, and juice. Only thing I drink now is coffee in the AM, water and of course beer. As I started to lose weight from not drinking soda, I started a workout regiment of 50 jumping jacks, 10 situps, 10 pushups, and a little stretching. I started with a weight of 200lbs and now I weight 150lbs, I feel much better and have so much more energy. I thought people were crazy when they said exercising was addictive. Now I wake up every day and do 550 jumping jacks, 100 crunches, 100 pushups, 100 situps, 50 weighted lunges, 100 weighted squats, and I run a 5k at least 5 days a week. If you stick with it, it will become addictive especially once you start seeing those abs pop out! Good luck everyone!
 
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