Week 3 results

I did do these first thing yesterday morning, before my cheat day started in earnest but forgot to post.

To be honest I had no real movement in inches - a lot of very small fluctuations on various parts of my body - probably just from discrepancies in taking my own measurements.

I did lose 1lb though, so total loss of 7lb. I certainly won't be complaining about that! Wish it was more of course, but a pound off is 2 pounds lower than a pound on!

I am thinking about switching over to doing geek to freak after a couple of weeks but I'm not 100% on that. I'm starting some out and out resistance work in the coming week and want to see how that impacts before I consider changing my nutrition again.

Goal re-assessment...

Been thinking long and hard about my goals. I have decided to change up a bit.

At first, I said I want a lean slim physique to be proud of. Then I realised that with clothes on I would look the same as any skinny guy - 6 pack or no 6 pack.

So I have decided I want to put on a bit more muscle and have a physique which looks great with my top on and even better without... ;)

Something like this, maybe a bit less on the arms:

What you think??

Day 19

Another straightforward day. I tell you cooking in bulk makes things soooo much easier. I had no temptations to go off plan, had minimal meal prep time, filled up and good, tasty, slow carb friendly food and really have no complaints.

I didn't think it would be this easy. I will see what the results say on Saturday, but assuming they are on course, I think I can get this thing getting me flying towards my goals.

Did another bootcamp - that's 11 in 11 days. I am deferring my rest day to Sunday as I now have 3 personal training sessions on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, but I am loving my training. On this plan I have so much more energy which is letting me train and push myself harder than before, which is reaping me rewards too.

My arms and legs are aching now - badly. Think I will need to rest up tonight so I can give tomorrow morning's PT my all!

Bring it on!!!

10 days 10 bootcamps

Some of you regular readers (and I believe there are a few of you??) know that I go for regular outdoor fitness bootcamp sessions at Strictly Bootcamp

Today I have completed an awesome 10 bootcamps in 10 days and I have honestly never felt fitter or stronger. Or leaner!

Amazing thing is that it has complemented the slow carb diet perfectly - the nutrition gives me enough energy to work hard in the sessions and recover quickly enough to go again the next day.

I am sensible and know it isn't sustainable and shouldn't be done regularly but I felt like setting myself a challenge to see if I could do it, and well I did. And did well.

I don't doubt it has helped me with getting the results I have had so far - well my week 2 results anyway.

My trainer is back from his holiday though so back on to some hardcore strength sessions with him to really build some muscle. Woohoo!

Day 16

Easy peasy day, really getting the hang of things.
First day of properly trying the PAGG supplementation and I find it really does help fill you up. No other major side effects or anything to report.

Decided against weighing myself post-binge day because I think that sort of thing will probably be counter productive - paranoia creeping in and all that.

But I spent 3 hours in the kitchen this morning getting my meals ready for at least the next week, maybe the next 2! Woohoo go me. The next week I will be cruising food-wise.

Came in at about 2100 calories today and completely stuffed so things are well and truly back on track after yesterday's indulgence.

What will be different in week 3

I wanted to get these thoughts down as I was thinking fresh about them. I am writing this before I get my week 2 results sorted (although posting after), so it isn't dependant on what I did in the last 7 days, but just what I think could be changed up to help me on my way.

1. Cooking in bulk
I have realised (finally!) how much easier it is to make a huge batch of things and keep them in the fridge. It would help my discipline on this plan infinitely, as I have found over the couple of days. Definitely needs to be done I think. My Sunday morning at least is going to be spent cooking.

2. Stopping the peanut butter!

Week 2 results are in...

...and 3 more lb off. Really don't know how that happened because I was really "feeling heavy" all week.
But I am so pleased.

That is 6lb off since 1st Jan 2011. Woohoo.

Another 3 inches off as well, bring my total inch loss to 7 inches. Wicked!!

The two big shifters this week were an inch around my belly button and half an inch from the hips. The other 1.5 inches were pretty spread out. Only downside is my biceps seem to have shrunk slightly, but that could just be a bit of fat getting shifted - I don't really know.

Anyway 2 weeks in I think it is all going well. I am mid way through supplementation and cheat day, kicking off week 3. Head is spinning from a sugar rush, and I already feel pretty full but I am determined to make myself sick - last week by Tuesday I was getting cravings again which I want to avoid. Lets do this!

Day 14

I think I have really got the hang of things a lot more now.

Breakfast today was some left over pork roast (yeah I don't know how I could stomach it first thing in the morning either) and my broccoli, cauliflower and kidney bean concoction. Using ghee adds such a nice flavour, it is definitely going to be a regular in all my meals. In fact today it was.

Had another bootcamp session and my goodness I was aching afterwards. If you have a fitness boot camp near you, go try it! If its even half decent you won't regret it.

Lunch I had out at Nando's so really easy to slow carb it. Half a chicken, removed skin, plus a side of ratatouille and used my diet coke quota for the day as well.

Snack was some grilled prawns with

Day 9

I for no apparent reason decided to try tracking calories today, just to see how many I was getting in to my system out of my own curiousity. Before I started slow carbing, I was probably having 25-2600 calories a day MINIMUM, often still feeling hungry, with the intention of trying to put on some muscle. More on my findings shortly.

Week 1 in review

The results are in! At the end of one week of slow carbing, here are my measurements:

Results as at 8 Jan 2011:

Weight: 166lb (was 169lb)

Right bicep: 12.5in (was 11.9in)

Had a thought...

Read this from Tim Ferriss on Twitter the other day:


The path of least resistance is only paved for the first 200 yards


Makes complete sense. Don't expect things to come easy, put in the hard work and reap the rewards.


Get your mind right and go for your goals!

Goals

It's all well and good setting off on a new year, new start, new eating plan....but I haven't sat down and set out my final destination yet. When you get in the car and drive, you know or at least have some idea where you're planning on going - this should be no different.



Goal setting is a hugely powerful process for motivating yourself. Achieving them gives you that buzz and feels majorly rewarding. Working towards them - well that is motivation in itself. 


Some people go for easy goals so they can be confident of reaching them. I personally like to set myself a challenge. 


On this slow carb plan I could aim to:

• Lose 10lb of fat in 5 months or 
• I could aim to lose 30lb of fat, gain 15lb of muscle, and 3 inches off my waist in 5 months and take 6 minutes off of my 10k run time. 

(Yeah most people would set a 6 month goal but I have a 10k run in 5 months, on 30 May 2011 to be exact so it seems a good milestone to aim for.)

I can probably do the first one pretty comfortably by the end of February, think I have achieved something great and slack off for another 3 months. Or do the second one. 22 weeks to the end of May, meaning I need to lose more than 1lb of fat a week and gain about 0.7lb of muscle. 

You see that torso in the site banner? That is my real aim, to look like that!

What is yours?