Turbocharge!

Today’s the first day of the rest of my life. Well, not really that long. Just for the next 12 weeks.

That’s because I’m starting the Transformation Contest today. For the next 12 weeks, I’m going to be working very hard to lose as much fat as possible, while getting into the best shape possible.

I cannot encourage you enough to join this contest. Besides having a chance to win lots of prizes (first prize, if memory serves, is $2,000!), it’s a way to really give a healthy kick in the ass to your fat-/weight-loss efforts.

The help and accountability at the Turbulence Training member area (via the membership there) is amazing. And Craig (the guy who came up with the whole TT plan and runs the site) is truly an inspiration and really helpful.

Here’s the deal, in terms of how I’m going to work this contest and this blog: I’ll post my overall progress here. But if you want to see my specifics (all of the specific figures, what exercises I’m doing, what I’m doing specifically with nutrition), you’re going to have to go on this journey with me. Yep, that means joining TT, becoming a member, following my specific posts in the forums there, and (hopefully) getting in the contest with me.

You don’t need to be in the contest to read this info, but I really hope you at least get started with TT’s “Turbulence Training for Fat Loss” program. The Introductory level workout is not difficult to do, yet it’ll get you started on the way (or should I say, “weigh” – I know, lame) to fitness and health.

You can do it; I know you can. That’s because I’m in the process of doing it. I got off of my lard ass last December and started losing weight with Smart for Life, and have already lost almost 70 lbs. with that, and now I’m entering the next phase of my Shrinking Man transformation with TC.

Wish me luck!

Computer, Disable Ignorance Mode …

Well, I broke down and weighed myself this morning. After going off the weight-loss road last week, I’ve really been hitting it hard this week, in terms of both exercise and diet. And my work has paid off — I’m at 258 this morning, which (if memory serves) is only a pound more than is exactly the same as my last weigh-in two weeks ago. Believe me, after the emotional roller-coaster that was last week, this is a big’un accomplishment for me.

What’s more, I think I’m down even more in terms of pure fat loss. I put on a pair of jeans today I have never been able to wear (size 40s — I’m here, bitches!). And when I say I put them on, I mean I put them on to frakkin’ wear today; not just to see if they fit. So that is a major accomplishment.

I’ve also noticed a bit more definition in my arms, legs and even my abs today; that tells me I’ve probably gained even more muscle. Believe me, I’m very far away from getting a six-pack, devil ears, etc. in the ol’ abs/lower trunk area. But I am starting to actually see progress. So I got that goin’ for me. Which is nice.

Additionally, I’m in the middle of another Eat Stop Eat fasting interval today. So hopefully I’ll be down even more in time for my Smart for Life weigh-in tomorrow. But even if I don’t lose an ounce of weight between today and tomorrow, I don’t care. I’m a happy, happy camper.

All of that, plus some good news with my work/career-related stuff (that I can’t talk about right now), and I’m going into this weekend on really, really high notes. Life is (very) good.

Then on Sunday, it’s Day 1 of the Transformation Contest for me! My next post will come on Sunday, and it’ll have all of the titilating “start” stats for this next major phase of my fat-loss life. See ya then!

Weigh-In, 4/26

Well, weighed in at Smart for Life today. I came in at 258, which is a 4 lb. loss. Pretty good. What’s more, my morning weigh-in (the number I really keep track of) was at 257.

Weight, what a funny thing. A constantly moving target. You never truly know what your weight is, which is why you need to do your “keep track” weight at the same time when charting it/remembering it/whatever. Usually that’s first thing in the morning, after you’ve done any bathroom business you need to do.

This week was week 1 of the multi-layered week, in terms of what I’m doing exercise wise and nutrition-wise. To sum up:

• Exercise: Turbulence Training Introduction program for bodyweight/resistance and Pace Fitness for interval training 3x a week; slow-go cardio for 30 minutes the other 3 days
• Nutrition: Smart for Life w/1 extra protein shake daily; Eat Stop Eat 24 hour fasting for 2 periods; Thintuition to know when I’m hungry and how much to eat

I’ll keep this up (while switching the TT program to the Beginner’s program probably the week after next) for … well … for as long as it works for me. Hopefully, that’ll be for a really long time, as I really like doing all of this.

Another bit ‘ good news. When I weighed in, the S4L doc (a great lady, BTW) weighed me on the extremely high-falutin’ Tanita professional scale (that could help you hack into the Pentagon). While I don’t remember the percentages, my body fat was down from a month ago, but my muscle mass was up! This means I’ve lost even more fat than what the overall “scale” number indicates — which is why I hate our society’s over-dependence on the “scale” number. It’s extremely inadequate.

I may even have to add another protein shake in during the day, which would be cool. I think that it would spike my metabolism even more. I’ll give that a week or two, though.

She even said I’m “ahead of schedule” in my weight-loss efforts. Cool.

So all in all, a great week! Looking forward to another one this week, especially now that I’ll be working out in my home.

A “Big” Announcement

… I always hesitate using the word “big” in a blog about weight loss    .

Any-who, the big news is I’m going to join the Transformation Contest when it starts back up. Cash and prizes, plus the ultimate in accountability (a contest!) — you can’t go wrong. I’ll post details as I come across them. Click on the link to see the winners from the last contest. The winner is kinda hot, too.

Coming up tomorrow or Sunday … an update on my weigh-in this week — the first full week of Turbulence Training with some Pace Program tossed in, with side dishes of Smart for Life and Eat Stop Eat and a dash of Thintuition. Could I fit more things into my life right now? Eh, maybe. But for now, this’ll do, reader, this’ll do.

BTW – the weigh in? Let’s just say I have a really good feeling about it. After all, I’ve had a sneak peek at week-to-date results.

An Update, then An Update, and Finally an Update

First, weigh in. I weighed in at Smart for Life at 262 – I’m essentially at 65 lbs. lost. Pretty snazzy. I’ve got to admit, though, the weight is getting tougher and tougher to drop. I’m wondering if this plan has run its course with me, in terms of effectiveness. My body really needs different stimuli to “shake things up,” and I think that 5 months on S4L may be the max for it. Believe me, I love S4L and would recommend it to anyone. But as you read so often, “No diet works 100% of the time,” and you need to do the ol’ “Shake things up” thing.

Second, Eat Stop Eat. My jaw almost dropped to the floor when my wife said, “yes,” she’d do it with me. So we’re doing the fasting thing as a trial. We’re starting today at 6 PM, and not eating again until Monday at 6. Wish us luck! I’m also hoping that combining this with S4L will be the “shake up” thing I need the next few months. I’ll update how it went tomorrow night.

Third, Turbulence Training. I’m back on it as of today. I’ll be going to work out this afternoon, marking my return to my original schedule of 2 heavy days (Sunday and probably Wednesday) and 4 light days each week. Don’t want to burn myself out! After a few weeks, it goes up to 3 heavy days a week. Can’t wait for that. Seriously!

This Sucks!

Smart for Life cookies + Reynolds Handi-Vac = crazy delicious! **

Seriously. Now that the cookies are better again — not quite what they used to be, but better nonetheless — I recommend using the Handi-Vac bags to keep your cookies. They’ll stay fresh longer, even though S4L is back to using the packaging with the little windows that re-seal.

This helpful hint brought to you by the letters S and L, and the number 0.

** If this line sounds familiar but you just can’t place it, it is based on a Saturday Night Live Digital Short (Wikipedia, do your magic with an entry on the video) a few years back. The real line is “Mr. Pibb + Red Vines = Crazy Delicious.” You’re welcome.

New to the Mix …

Eat Stop Eat … ? I’m seriously thinking about it. Have to get it past the wife unit (who is also S4L’ing with me).

The bigger question is, can I fit all of these different philosophies into one way of life? Actually, I think I can!

The Plan

Okay, so after a bunch of contemplation, research and just asking myself, “Can I really do this,” here’s my test plan for the next two weeks:

Eating

• Smart for Life: 6 cookies during the day (unless I’ve eaten one of the new yummy Eating Right soups from Safeway for lunch; it’ll be 5 for those days), then a dinner on their plan, except for 2-4 oz. more protein
• Nature’s Best Zero Carb Isopure, Creamy Vanilla flavor, mixed with already-prepared Crystal Light orange (the line that’s designed for mornings). Drink after exercise for 50g of protein over and above what’s provided for on S4L (which I still think is too little for people)

Exercise

• in the AM (ugh), Sunday through Friday
• “Hard days” on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday; “Easy days” Monday, Wednesday and Friday
  • Hard days: Turbulence Training for bodyweight exercises for muscle strength/building, and Pace Power for the interval training on the elliptical (40 mins. 10-15 mins. for TT bodyweight; 20 mins. of Pace Power)
  • Easy days: Turbulence Training’s interval training on the elliptical and/or recumbant (just 20 mins.)
• Saturdays off – S4L weigh-in day

As I said up top, I’m giving this two weeks, to see how my body reacts vis-a-vis the “scale.” I’m guessing my weight loss on the scale will slow, but at the same time I’ll be gaining muscle while losing fat. When I’m at S4L this weekend, I’ll get my weigh-in on the fancy-schmancy Tanita scale that does a good job at analyzing fat and muscle loss/gain, to see what’s happening.

I’ll make some kind of decision about what I’ll do going forward in two weeks. So, April 26th will likely be a big day in the Shrinking Man process. No matter what happens, I’ll still lose weight. This is just an experiment, as I try to pull together the best of everything I’ve found and put it to use. Wish me luck!

What I Said…

Well, when I’m right, I’m right. I weiged in yesterday at 265. Just about half-way there. Cool.

If you’ve been a fan of this site, you know I’ve had some physical problems that have kept me from exercising like I said I would. That all changed today. I did my first Turbulence Training beginners exercise, and combined it with Dr. Al Sears’ Pace Power. Basically, I’m using TT for the bodyweight training (no weights, just muscle building via bodyweight) and Pace for “aerobics.”

Let me quickly explain why aerobics is in quotes. Any more, I’ve been reading about how the old thinking about aerobic exercise is no good anymore, and that interval training is even better (I’ll add links for all of this later). Between TT and Pace, I find Pace to be more challenging. I have a high metabolism rate, so the challenge of Pace fits me better.

I also put aerobics in quotes because my idea of aerobics is keeping my heart rate up on an elliptical or exercise bike (or recumbant). I used to do the aerobic classes, but I’m gettin’ too old for that stuff. And get off my lawn, damn kids.

I’m doing all of this while still being committed to Smart for Life. This means I’m still doing 6 cookies a day, but I’ll be adding my protein power in as a 7th “meal” during the day. I’ll update my progress as I go along.

Gout + Colchicine = Instant (Insane) Weight Loss!

I’ve lost 5 lbs. so far this week. Unfortunately, it wasn’t because of the Smart for Life diet. Well, I’d estimate about half of it was due to S4L, actually.

I have a condition called gout. A condition that, well, really sucks to have. You can’t walk because it is so painful. While it occurrs in different places with different people, I usually get it in the joint just below my big toe, or in my ankle. Every once in a while, I get soft-tissue gout, which basically affects the skin on the upper part of my foot. Yeah, not nice.

What’s worse, the main drug you take during a gout attack, called colchicine, does really, truly nasty things to your digestive system. I’ll just leave it there, because what you’re imagining now is probably pretty close to what it is like to go through.

I started taking colchicine last Monday, because I twisted my ankle the day before and could start feeling it come on (and yes, a trauma to a major lower body joint like the ankle can bring on an attack). So starting that night and all through the next two days, let’s just say that the drug was having its way with my stomach, colon, etc. My body became a processing machine, in that it processed everything I ate right out of it. Not in a pleasant way, either.

Since I stuck with S4L even though I was in the middle of an attack, there wasn’t a whole lot of food to process, which made my body even more unhappy. It’s a vicious circle. Plus, you tend to get hydrated while taking colchicine, and dehydration is one of the key factors that brings on a gout attack. So echo the “vicious circle” comment here. Lotsa water drank.

About the only good thing to come of a gout bout (poet and don’t know it) is that I lose larger amounts of weight than I do on S4L. I’m not advocating this, er, “method” of weight loss, though. It’s just really a bad experience to go through, from both the gout/pain standpoint and the “shock and awe” it causes to the digestive system. And at the same time, too — woo hoo!

I was at 266 this morning. I’ll probably be below 265 by weigh-in on Saturday. At least that means I’ll have lost 60 pounds, and I’ll be 70 away from my goal. Almost half-way. And yet, the past few days weren’t worth it.

At least I’m now off the colchicine as of today, and am getting back to normal digestive-system wise. As you might expect, this news makes my wife and our dogs happy, happy creatures.

(And before anyone says, “Yeah, but you could be dying of/suffering through cancer/heart disease/something else equally bad or worse,” all I can say is, I know. When pitted against some of the truly terrible diseases and conditions out there, gout ain’t bad. But it still is a negative thing to go through.)