End of Week 10, Start of Week 9

So it has actually been two weeks since my last blog post. I am feeling really good about my progress since I wrote last. I've lost .5% more body fat (15.5%), and I've also lost 1/2 inch more off of my thighs (19.5"). I'm down to 119.6 pounds. My goal is to get to 15% body fat by July, and I am certain I will make that goal.

I don't have a set weight goal. I do know that a safe weight loss goal is between 1/2 and 1 pound per week. It has to be slow to ensure I'm not also losing muscle. I'm pretty sure I've done a good job of not trying to lose too much too fast. So I just try to keep my sights on a healthy fat loss goal.

Daniel had drill today, so he wasn't here to help me take progress photos today. So I will just take them next Sunday. If anything, I might see a more stark amount of progress. Also, next Sunday will put me at 8 weeks out of the competition.

I should not have trouble getting in all of my workouts this week, but it still stands to be a busy week. There seems to be something going on almost every day. Mostly Army stuff. I was supposed to sponsor a soldier to the promotion board on Tuesday, but that ended up being pushed off to August. We have to wear our class A's on Wednesday, which is an ordeal in and of itself. Then I have a company language meeting at 1600. Thursday I have a NCO Development Program class at 1630! I'm not sure where I'm supposed to fit in the company training meeting on Thursday (1530), but I'm sure it will all work out. Long days this week.

So I have finished the nutrition and supplementation unit in my ISSA course book. I really enjoyed learning about the zig-zag approach to dieting. I think it is why carb cycling works. Really one should focus on calorie cycling. Having super low carb days (50 grams or less), is unhealthy for the body. That is why people always feel so tired. Your brain and organs run on carbohydrates. So zig-zagging caloric intake will help keep one's BMR (basal metabolic rate) from readjusting too low, to accomodate for the lower caloric intake. So today I made sure to eat more food than normal, most of it in the form of additional complex carbohydrates. By the end of the day, I will have eaten around 2100 calories. About 35% of my calories came from protein, and 40% from carbohydrates. The rest was all healthy fats. On a normal day, I will ingest anywhere from 1400-1600 calories. This way, my BMR does not become too used to that reduced calorie diet.

So I guess that is all for now. I have an active rest day, so a run is on the menu! Good night everyone!

End of week 12, Start of Week 11!

June 2nd                                                         June 10th

So I'm within 12 weeks now of my competition. I really do like my progress this week. I lost another pound (122.6), and .5% more body fat (16%). My abs are really starting to show through, and my legs are still leaning out too.

This week was super busy. I had to get up at 0300 on a couple days this week. I supervised a PT test and made sure to hit the gym each day that I was supposed to go. Actually my new weight lifting program has me working out everyday, but I alternate with two high intensity days and then one low intensity day. The low intensity day is always just cardio. High intensity days are weights and cardio. Judging by my pictures, I would have to say it's working out for me. At least I know I'm getting enough rest now though. Despite my early days, I really felt like all my workouts were quality.

As I've been making my own progress, I have gotten to tell people about what it takes for me to get where I am. The main question is how I manage to keep up with all the work. Really though, when anyone really wants something, they do whatever they can, don't they? Like when a guy really likes a girl, he goes out of his way to takes her to nice places to eat (my clean nutrition), he makes time to see her, even when he has no time (my gym time), and he tries to get to know as much about her as he can (my pursuit of nutrition and fitness knowledge).

Earning an excellent body is just that, you have to earn it. You have to court it. It does take time, and it does take work, but doesn't anything worth having? Despite the fitness gimmicks out there, nothing that will last happens in 10/14/30 days. Real progression is made over time. If you take a pill that causes you to lose 15 pounds very fast, your body may be stripped of valuable muscle in the process. You have not learned to treat your body with the care it deserves. It is often said that the journey is just as important as the destination, and that is especially true for any fitness journey. It never ends.
Once you really hit a goal, the only thing to do is make a new goal.