Gettin' Fit should not have all the fun..(an SoF post)
So EP we meet again. And this time you are allowing me to surf and check up on my friends? Wow, did you just throw a tantrum and not let pages load until enough of us got angry with you? Hopefully this lasts, as there are at least 2 blogs that I like to read on a regular basis, and then lurk...I mean surf, yeah surf around to see If I can help.
Song of the post: I am putting this at the top now, so you, the savvy reader, can play it while you read the post. Here we go, something other than dance, yeah I know, I am surprised too. http://www.last.fm/music/Editors/The+Back+Room/Lights The band has great tunes, so go out and pick it up if you are interested. I do have more dance for future posts. Speaking of which, I am throughly disappointed in the biggest loser workout cd. It is nothing more than crappy house versions of top 10 songs. Lets take anything that was popular enough to have a dance remix and throw it all together. yeah, then lets market this "dance" album to people. Yeah, it makes people want to move, why not call it a workout CD? /end rant. If you want Dance Music to workout to, go threw my old posts, or send me a private message, I will fill your ipod (or whatever you are using) with music of quality.
Triathalon training - Today was day one of full training. I lifted upper body, then I went to bike, then I walked on the treadmilll (stupid deal or no deal on TV), then I went swimming. I was out at the gym from 11 and I left after a nap in the sauna and showering about 2. So, I just have to go out and buy more food for the house, and I will be set.
For gettin' fit: My gym offers a 545 spin class. This means that I would arrive at the gym at 5 to lift, spin for an hour, then swim. This is going to be my M, W, F, mornings. Which also happens to be my school days, though I will have to skip the nap in the sauna. Happy 5 am to everyone. (it is really not that hard, it just takes practice, and less TV).
For Stardust: Please drop by and send her some love, She is out having back surgery, and will not be able workout or post for a while.
Appearantly it is october, which means halloween. I like to celebrate, though everyone else that I work with, this is there biggest holiday of the year. Or at least october. This means that I will have to dress up to go to work. Which means no fun costumes. I have a friend who does special effects, and she offered to help me dress up as Marv from Sin City.
that is a big no, as wearing silver paint/latex while making drinks in about 85 degrees not very appealing. Maybe next year, this one, I will just go normal, and wait for a costume party.
Which means that Nov and Dec are coming up as well, that time of year when the families all get together, and drive each other crazy only to realize why they do it once a year. Sigh. Jan is weeks away, though it is my new goal to arrive there in one piece.
Speaking of New goals. I am 28 percent body fat. Which is a far cry from 41 percent. So, I am planning out to lose about 10% during this next challange. That puts me at a health 18%, and is not too far off course. I will set the goal to lose the last 8-10 percent next year. Oh lets see, I will be looking forward to accomplishing more in the lifting catagory as well. Appearantly, I had not tried to bench press in a while. As it turns out, I only added 50lbs. since the last time that I did that exercise. Which puts me about body weight, and I am no small man. Also, I am in love with my calves right now. I have no fat on them, and there are great lines in them as well. I guess, I am working from the bottom up. That and do something small like a triathalon.
Wow, I am getting long winded here.
Vegan Recipe of the Post: Again for kate who ate, though for everyone here. This week Pasta. yep, pasta. Though a little differenly than you are used to seeing. Take and organic Zucchani and a potato peeler. Peel back small layers of the zucchani, and then roll them up. It is that easy, and you can eat it late at night and it will not throw off you carbohydrate intake. It makes a great snack, and it is easy to make. I am also about less processed foods (I get enough processed stuff with my suppliments).
Funny story of the post: I love my coworkers, they provide most of the funny stories, and I occasionally do as well. My co-worker was telling me about halloween, and how I could dress up as a power ranger from the Jungle Fever series. I tell her that I do not think of jungle fever in that way. What a gaff on their part. She then remembered the right name. (this is the same co-worker who said That don't make sentence, which I have not let her forget thusfar).
SoF Interactive: What is your favorite exercise? Why? I will take any here, though I love leg press and cable crossover. I never miss these so I save them. They are my reward for doing all the things that of which I am not a big fan. I love seeing how much I can put on leg press, moving over 500 lbs is a great thrill. Cable crossover, is my favorite on upper body days. I do a lot at this station, upper, fly, lower and reverse. I would stay longer,though there is always someone who wants in. I am becoming a big fan of pullups, mostly because I can do them. Again, I am not a small man.
Enjoy everyone, I will be around to check up on you because EP likes me again. Take care and thanks for reading
Greetings all, as the title says, I have not posted, in part because as many of you know, my life does not change very often, and partly because of what you will read shortly.
Song Of the Post: http://www.last.fm/music/Rise+Against/_/Paper+Wings These guys are great, and really nice. I met them a while ago. The whole album siren song for the counter culture is great for fights and breaks ups.
Opening Shots: So EP is notorious for eating posts. I do not post as often as I should in BFL group because of it not accepting my posts even though I am signed in. I typically post everything there in here as well. So it got me to thinking, How many calories are in an EP post? Is it by the letter? By the word? I have often wondered if EP needs an EP blog about its addiction to EP posts. Will there be an EP post lite with 33% less words from bloggers and commenters? (Side note: according to the FDA for anything to be considered to be lite, it needs 33% less calories for fat and sugar).
With that
Updates: I have often said that the scale is a compass, it will guide you if you are diligent. My scale is really cool, though I have realized that the body fat percentage has not changed more than ~2 up or down for a year. With everything fitting better, more energy, and nearly fully healthy unprocessed eating, it is a little surprising. So, I will just ahve to find a trainer ro do a real test soon. I also know this because I workout 5-6 days a week, cardio and lifting.
Chicago Triathlon: that is the next goal, I am not a big fan of running, though I love biking a swimming. Since, I do not have access a pool yet, and my bike is in the shop, I have been running, or making the attempt. I have lots of experince with running, an old friend was a marathoner, and my old room mate was a swim coach.
Diet Update: I am on a mostly alkaline diet, which is a version vegan. The body naturally produces acid, specifically lactic acid. I will take from stardust and add recipes and other things.
For Kate who Ate and others: Vegan Mac and Cheese: I use rice noodles, boil a full package in water with olive oil and sea salt in the mix. Once they are the consistancy of your choosing, strain and set aside. Take a half cup of water and a half cup of vegetable broth, mix in a small bowl. Now for the "cheese". take 3 tablespoons of nutritional yeast, one tablespoon at a time, mixing it into the bowl with broth and water. This is done so it does not get lumpy. take your strained noodles, mixed broths, and mix over heat until you have the desired constistancy for the "Cheese" mix.
It depends on how much you are eating that determines the servings, though I use it through out the week.
Funny story of the Post: Is going interactive! So this lady came in the other day, and asked for a pumpkin spice latte not too hot, only about 375 degrees. (of all things working at a starbucks teaches you physics,). I immediately thought if we were making a drink or baking a pie. I told her that we cannot make drinks that hot. She then asked for it to be 250 degrees. Yep, the worst part of this, is that people do this all the time. So the interactive part of this: Have you ever said anything really stupid unintentionally in front of others? I have also been asked what is the difference between non-fat and skim milk as well as what is the difference between hot and cold.
I less than three all the comments from everyone. I will be around to post great things soon.
I am changing up the format again, though all your favorite sections will be here.
Song of the Post: http://www.last.fm/music/element one/_/Guanacaste. This is just amazing and it gets me pumped up. I listen to it a lot, and I put it in between Thomas Datt "2v2" and Tritonal's Essance of Kea. This will give you 20 mins of high energy, non-vocal music to listen to while you work out.
On to business.
Opening shots: I have started to keep a training journal again. I am looking into how to do this and not drive myself crazy. When I have a months worth of information, I will talk to a professional (I use that word strongly) Trainer. There are some at my gym that are not worth the $30 a session, and I know where my old trainer is working out of, and I know that he is a lot more, though you cannot replace quality information. I will be doing this to help end the plateau that I have been on, a as a way to stop losing the same 7 lbs every month.
High Energy: I get out and do a lot during the week, I tend to hang around here when I am not out and about during the week. I make plans, and I just go out. I know that I cannot meet people if I am locked away. That brings me up to the next part of my weekly tale.
Back to searching: So, I am back to searching again. The girl who said that she wanted to be with me, and the same person that I spent 3 years talking to, helping and pining for, has vanished. I talked with her once in the last 2 weeks and it was her cancelling plans. I have not been able to reach her since. I feel terrible about this, though I used her email address to see if she had been to myspace. She has since out last talk, though her page is private. I abhor myspace, I should not say that, I have an addictive personality. The last thing that I need is a needle in my arm. I have enough of them with Yoga and Martial Arts. So, I have been on a string of bad outings and shot down a few times since all it went down. So I am out trying still. Though I realize that I am fishing for salmon in trout waters. (that is my reference to the demographic, almost everyone out in my area has antithetical beliefs to me). So, I will be travelling North and more into the city when I have time. If I have time. So, I am rejoining the single life. Again...
My mother always teases me about being in a relationship with myself. Between Yoga, School, Martial Arts, my diet, travelling to see my friends, I do not have the oppertunity to date someone. Where in my lifestyle would I put them? Why is a relationship so important to me? Basically, because I am the last person on my branch of the family tree. When my mother goes, I am left with only family that is removed, and at least one time zone away; for good reason though. I have posted in the past about my mom and her current health.
On to better things.
Funny story of the post: My co-worker and I were talking about the USRDA of Fiber. It is 24 a day grams for those unaware. She goes on to tell me that there is no way for anyone to get that much. "I do not understand how you can do this without taking a fiber suppliment". I tell her that I get about 100 to 150 grams of fiber a day. I think that 24 is too little. I was talking about normal people. and how normal people cannot get that much fiber. I reply so what am I then?
I hope that everyone is having a great week, some had a short week, others not so much. Best of luck towards your goals, and thanks for Reading
How many people blog about the dreaded starting over? That point when you realize that the bender is over and you have to go back to the real world? What is that point? Does anyone know when to call it, Done, and walk home? I have read about this decision, and the aftermath, and thought that posting about it would be kinda fun.
Dun Dun Dunn....
The Peak Point: There is that point of peaking, where you are following everything according to plan, things are going your way, and all seems well. This is the point that we look to achieve again.
The onset: There is always that on set, that start event that will start the downward spiral. It may be a birthday party with booze and cake, it may be that your friend is having a bad day and during the consoling you split ice cream. For me this was needing to take my bike into the shop.
The Binge: There is the point where the binge begins, something that allows you to start with the downward path. Mine was too few calories, I was not getting enough calories on my diet, though it just so happens that all i was really eating was fruit. It progressed down the line to something worse. When you start a low calorie diet, the first thing that happens is that you crave all kinds of food, mostly junk food. This is the body trying to stablize itself, lots of healthier foods, do not satisify you the way that junk food did. Once you get used to it, there are few things that can bring you down. Once it happens it is hard to escape from.
The Recovery Phase: There has to be that one thing that makes you question what you are doing. Are you on the right track, what is going to happen to day from day to your goals. Mine was sitting around eating cold pizza. After eating a lot of raw food, food temp does not bother me as much as it did. Then I thought about heating it up to make it warm. That was that quintessential final straw about where I was heading.
Today's workout was amazing, something I have not done in a long time. I am looking forward to continuing the diet that I have been on, with some improvements. I.E. Adding more fat to the meals that I make either with Coconut milk for shakes or Nuts with salads. If you do not know the wonders of coconut milk yet, it is time for it to come off all junk food lists and be added to the list of foods to eat very often. I have some coconut related product everyday. Cultured yogurt (by So Delicious, a soy company), Coconut milk as a thickening agent for Frostings, smoothies, in soups, etc. Also there is Coconut water, which has the all the properties of sports drinks without any of the fillers, colors, or sugars. I digress...
The main part of this is that if you fall off it is not enough to get back up, you need to regain your convictions. Convictions are not enough, you muct practice. Practice is not enough, you must challange yourself to see how far you have come. The challange is not enough for you must learn, and understand all the things that are happening to you in order to truely succeed.
Wow, that is a lot. Ok, so what else is happening out here? I am trying to register for classes, though it seems that the schools that I could go to are too on different schedules. One has started and is not accepting any more people even if the classes are not full. I go tomorrow to register at the closer school(which is considered out of district for me, so 3x the price for classes). I am working out my calling, trying finish off so that I can leave the wonderful world of service, which is funny to me as I like my job, just not the people. If I could take some of them out of the equation, I would be much happier.
Funny Story of the Post: It is funny to me that as soon as I tell people that I am seeing someone, people come out of the woodworks and want to hang out, couple to couple. I have had more offers to see people in the last week, than in the last few months. My answer to all of the requests: " If you happen to talk to her, Would you tell her to call me? (Some relationship eh? I think it is called buyer's remorse or being cautious of what glitters).
Song of the Post: I am blaming Stardust for this one, I have Bloc party signs as the first page on my you tube iphone extension. I was not too impressed with some of their stuff, though I may have to reevaluate some, as i like the song. Though there are some bands that I hate thier older stuff and love the new stuff. The opposite is more common that not.
I will get back on track here, All the typical posts, and post topics. I hope that everyone has had a great summer.
Opening Shots: If you are on a highly-restrictive diet, travelling is the toughest part of it. I was in Indy over the weekend, I could not really follow my diet, though I had packed lots of snacks, though nothing of sustanance. In turn, I ended up hunting down things, I did not do so well, though I was thinking about, it, I need more appropiate calories in my diet, I have been eating mostly fruit.
The Big news: So some of you have been following for a while, so there was a post about people who were in my life. About 3 years ago, I met a woman who was engaged. This would typically a deterant, though she confided in me about being unhappy, and not knowing if she was making the right choice. So while I did everything that I could to make my case, she decided that she would go to Vegas with him.....Only to break up a month later. Yep, I had called it, and we were both talking about it. Off and on for the last three years, we have been talking and just going about our lives. In april I got an email from her about finally moving back to IL. We made plans, talked some off and on, though nothing really came of it. I finally set a day, time, and place, and it worked for the two of us to get together. I will say that we are both really excited about being together, although one of my favorite lines was that this could have happened three years ago. I guess all things in time. Hence the Title of the last of the great SoF's. For the time, I am no longer single.
Funny Story of the Post: When ever I am out to a place with a lot of androgeny, I will have to make sure that I do not assume anything. As part of the trip to Indy, there was an Anime convention. This is bad, very bad for those of us who are not savvy with tact or lacking a brain to mouth filter. I will not go into the actual event suffice to say I tried to set our gay friend up with an apparently straight female....[insert D'oH here]
Song of the post: I have been listening to a lot more varieties of music lately, so I am posting about Mogwai, specifically Auto and Glasgow mega snake. The are another great instrumental band, the songs are great, and worth the time to listen to.
I did not place one last time, so here is the one that I have promised...
A woman comes in the other day, really skinny waist, small size, and a really big chest in a tight shirt. As any red blooded male the first thing that came to my mind was "My, her back must kill her at the end of the day"
Wow, so I know that it is not the end of summer. I also know that some of you are still having a great time with the weather and family.
How has the challange been going? I have been eating mostly vegan. The diet has been going great, as I can do a lot, have teh energy to do more, and I am not super weighted down for the rest of the day.
Biking has been great, I was up to 15 miles before my tire went out. I have to go get it replaced, though I have travelling coming up so, I have to have it fixed afterwards. I also went back to martial arts again. I had just stopped going for a while because I was always working or tired when class was going on.
Outside of that, I am reading more, I been catching up on all the book that I have purchased in the last few months as my life seems to be settleing down.
I cannot think of a funny story at the moment. I will post a new one later
Song of the post: Essence of Kea by Tritonal. I have followed this song since it was an unsigned track. It was a great track, and I listened to it a lot, then the track got signed and it got better. Dash out and grab it.
I will try to catch up on everyone soon, I have some time with the bike out of commission.
There are so many types of protien out there. Here is a little guide to help you.
If you are going to take a protien powder, which is the easiest way to incorperate more protien in to the diet. Adding it to a smoothie or juice is the quickest way to add it in.
Whey Protien: By far a great protien, though it is also the most trouble some. Digestion rate about 2 hours. It has a full amino acid profile, the muscle builders. This issue is that not too many people can digest it. Lactose intorolant people have an issue with digesting it. It can be bothersome with out special enzemes.
Egg Protien: Digestion rate 2-3 hours. Similar to whey though a little lighter on the body. It does not act as a weight suppesant like whey. Can cause some digestion issues.
Casin Protiens: Digestion rate 6-8 hours. This is great if you know you will not be able to eat for a while. Causes the same issues as Whey.
Soy Protien: Digestion rate about 4 hours. This is a great protien, though there is some issues with hormones in them though. Soy naturally has hormones in it which can help balance you when you hormones go crazy (this happens to everyone).
Rice Protien: This does not have a complete amino acid profile, though it is easy to digest. Digetsion rate about 1-2 hours. This is great as a preworkout snack or to toss in juice. It is one of the few that is good for everyone.
Hemp Protien: By far the most expensive. Though this one also has the highest bio-availability (the amount of protein that the label says versus the amount your body actually gets from the protien). This is a preferred protien of vegans. This one also has a large amino acid profile, though not a complete profile.
Mixture Protiens: There are several of these out there for people do not want several protiens hanging around or do not want to pay for several kinds of protiens. These have all the advantages and disadvantages of other kinds of protiens.
There are several issues with bio-availability in protiens. If you look at the labels, what the label says vs what you actually get out of it is up to your body and how it takes to the protien.
I presonally use Hemp and Vega whole food health optimizer. The Vega WFHO is a mixure of Hemp, Rice, and Split pea. As well as other things.
Wow, it has been a month hasn't it? I find my self in front of a computer with time on my hands crazyness.
So my first challange ended. OK, so the stats on that. I gained. Yep. I gained 15 lbs of muscle. In the last 4 weeks, the weight did not change, only the amount of muscle. that was up 4 lbs.
So how goes the vegan plan? We it goes, I am eating a lot better, though that was not was not bad to begin with. I will give you a run down of the food after I catch up.
Exercise, Yeah, I increased the intensity of my workouts, so much so, that during a pickup game of football with all of my friends (most of whom workout, not to the level that I do though as I will explain). After the game, I am the only one not huffing and puffing, though a couple recovered better than others. We had to stop playing because one of them started to lose lunch. It was funny though.
I will walk you through a typical workout week for the summer.
Monday: Leg day, Squats, leg press, Dead lifts. Etc. I also Bike about 10 miles.
Tuesday: Upper body day: I was doing so many exercises, that I split some into the leg day. No Biking
Wednesday: Long bike day. Between up to 20 miles. Depending on time constraints.
Thurdays: Repeat monday
Friday: Repeat Tuesday
Sat: Repeat Wed
Sun: The quentessential sabbath.
I still work 30 hours as well, in addition to planning for school.
Food Planning:
Meal One: 4 tbsp of Hemp protien with OJ Calcium. This is also my pre-workout meal. One of the two most important meals of the day.
Meal Two: 1 Serving of Vega Whole food Health Optimizer with OJ. This is my post-workout meal. The most important meal of any training day.
Meal Three: If I am having meat I typically have Eggs. About 4 egg whites, 2 bananas, and 4 dates. If I am eating more Vegan, then I have my salad typically. Mixed nuts, fruit, spinach, other good things.
Meal Four: Sometimes I have A vegan raw Pizza, these are amazing, and I have gotten my co-workers to enjoy it as well.
Meal Five: Typically a mix of nuts and fruit. I make raw burgers, from vegan sources. these are also great.
Meal Six. If I am having meat, it is Tuna or chicken with EFA oil. Otherwise it is just mixed nuts.
I have very few true grains anymore, I have rice, though not too much.
That is about it for me. I will offer this as advice for those looking to be more active. When you are planning a meal, use this simple formula:
Fiber Fat carbohydrate(from fruit preferably) Lean Protien. In that order for importance. I could go on about how this is effective, and tell you all the great point about it, though there is this great chart off to the side that tells you how I am doing.
Since I am not one to mix words, I have started to formulate the BFL session 2. Since BFL session 2 is about taking on the impossible, there is that inner voice of the Ego going to me:
"If you take on the impossible for challange 2 what will you do next?" I have to reply with the ever scientific "Shut Up". Then the logic kicks in, and I think about this. When this is done, I will know if I am heading off towards BFL Challange 3 or BFL Challange X. While I am not a pessimist, I am a very realistic person. I am a planner now, thanks to Gettinfit. (I also think that I will be taking after her in a sense, more on that later).
So what is this challange. I have been doing my research, and I have been looking into a way to transisition, and tweak my diets. I have found a 12 week diet program that is 6 meals, and 12 weeks of meals planned. It fits in perfectly with the BFL workout routines, that I have been following (and also tweaking). As all of you know, I have been on a body building version of this program, and I am going to keep that up. Adding in something completely different.
I do not want much, Just the best of many worlds.
1) Body builiding/ Endurance sports: I want to keep up the lifting, though I am going into a cycling training for the heartland Aids Ride, I do not think that i will be able to do it this year, as it happens in a couple of weeks, though I am looking to do it next year. Training will include rides to work where I my car is not in the shop. Yeah. The body fat ratios are similiar, though the training will vary depending on what events I have comming up.
2) Bodybuilding/ Endurance Sports and the big one: Veganism. Yes, Veganism. I am not a big dairy person, I am not big on eggs, though I will eat them if they are around, I have given up meat before, and I have done this before (though mostly I ate pasta). I will keep this up with the No Soy and Wheat as well. The meal plans I am in the process of sampling, and I have until the end of June to "Dry" out.
I am looking forward to this, I have been for a while now, since I started reading a new book. It is about plant based nutrition. Lastly, I have a friend on this. Glory has offered to do the 12 weeks with me. We are starting up the new BFLs the first week of July.
New goals;
Complete Both the veganism and the new BFL challange.
Actually track what I am lifting, I have been just going by feel, which is great for me, because I do not get distracted and I can actually focus on my workout. I would like to start keeping a Program journal, what I ate, what I worked out, any changes that occured.
Get out and ride for goodness sake, it is great out there, and I have been able to ride the past few days. I am looking to ride as many days as I can. On my days off, those will be my long ride days. (15 miles).
Continue to help as many people along the way as I can.
There you go, goals for the next challange, there will be more depending on how I modify the plan, though for now, those will work. I will be radio silent for parts of the summer, so i will only be checking out the site when I make the time to, it is just too pretty to sit in front of a computer.
Funny story of the post: So a while ago, I was at a diner, and all the servers were wearing these great big green buttons with white lettering saying "We're #2." I had to ask what was up with the button. The server tells me because you (i.e. the customer) are #1. I start laughing, and tell her that not only do the let the servers know what they think of them, they advertise it for everyone else to see. The server said it was crappy, though they had in internal joke about telling customers to "piss off" by telling them about the you're #1 promotion.
Song of the Post:
So, I have been listening to Deep Blue still, so I will be recommending Thomas Datt 2v2, it is great listening, and at 9 mins, it makes workout time go by quicker.
