Work Out – Erich John

The downside of working out…

Ok, not so much a downside, but still something to ponder. Some people join the gym and workout to loose the weight. The actual pounds. I started out at 210 at the beginning of the year. I wore extra large shirts and size 36 pants, which were tight. I’m down to 185 now. I shot past large shirts and find myself fitting mediums. My 36 pants are now loose. I’ve dropped to a medium in shorts. But because I am lifting weights as part of my workout I need to wear large dress shirts, for the arms. My wardrobe, some of which was only recently purchased is now baggy on me. One are still needing improvement is my backside. I have some back fat, or back rolls, and large thighs, which make my ass look small. I need to work on that. A rounder backside to fill out my jeans.

Progress doesn’t come easy. You have to work at it. Push yourself every day. Build your strength. I’ve started using more workout supplements. Like pre-working drinks and workout drinks to help fire up my system and burn more calories. My gut is slowing going down.

Progress report

here’s a little before and midpoint. Not done yet. But getting there.

When to Weigh in

I‘m trying to figure out when is a good time to weight in. I know I shouldn’t check the scale that often. I mean, that’s what they say right. Check the scale too much and you will get discouraged. Not see enough progress, etc, etc, ect. But its hard not to.

I can feel my shirts are getting loose, at least a bit around the gut, which is my main problem area. Next would be my back roles. My sleeves are getting tighter, from the lifting. Which is good. Tight sleeves I can deal with.

Gut, back roles, glutes, thighs. Those are my main objectives. I want to be able to look down and see my feet. Tie my shoes without loosing my breath. I want to walk without my legs rubbing together, causing rashes and iratations, I want my ass to look a little less like cottage cheese. More round.

So back to my main point. The scale. How often is to often? I’ve heard some say once a week. Others say once a month. Never before bed, just after you wake up. Is there really a rule on this? Or was that just something people tell you when they’ve hit their plateau and no long wish to check the scale.

Strictly cardio

Tonight was an hour of cardio. Something we haven’t done in a while. It was hard. But I pushed it. I set my mind on a goal, 1050 and beat that goal out of the water. My sides are sore, my legs are jelly. But I never stopped.

With an incline of 14.0 and speeds between 3.8 and 4.5. By the last 45 seconds I pushed my speed to 5.5.

Down 20

Down 20, but a long ways still to go. I’ve increased my workout routines. Started burning more calories. But I’m still far from where I want to be. In an effort to keep track of my progress I downloaded an app to help log. It’s my hope that seeing a visual of my workouts will help me keep pushing. Increase my weights, reps, time.

This morning I decided to take a look at myself through the camera lens. A visual of my body. I’m actually thinking of printing out the photos. Pasting them to my walls to help show me where I am.

The back roles!!!! Okay. Tone the stomach. Work on the glutes. Stop eating bad foods. I can do this.

The gym saga continues

Recently I joined the gym to get back into a healthier state of mind and body. I set goals, which for the most part I am reaching. Not only physical goals like loosing weight and gaining muscles mass, but psychological goals. Such as pushing past the barriers I have put up in my own mind. I’ve learned that a lot of what it takes to get into shape is telling yourself you can do it.

My speed and stamina on the treadmill has increased, distance, time, speed and incline. Where I used to tap out at a speed of 3.5 I can now maintain a speed of 4.0 for longer durations. I can actually jog for five minute intervals without loosing breathe or feeling side pains. My legs burn a little after, but the feeling or exhaustion has faded.

I find myself able to lift more weights than I ever could and I find myself able to use equipment that before proved to be a challenge.

Long term goals are still a ways off. I want to fit back into my jeans, so I have more stomach fat to loose. But I have noticed my shirts are starting to feel loose. I can tie my shoes again without loosing my breathe.

I want to eventually be able to run a marathon, or half marathon. I want to be able to see beyond my belly when I look down.

Before working out I was weighing in at 210. Now I’m down to 195, sometimes 190. My goal is to drop to 150 before I start to gain muscle mass. Get rid or the side and back roles.

Persistence is the key. The drive I need is in me. Healthier eating will help, but it’s just a small part of the diet.

Planet Fitness

Joined the gym. Going to try and get back into shape. Let’s see how long it lasts this time. Tonight will be our first time there.

I have also decided to try and get back to eating a bit more healthy. So limit the fast food, fried food, junk food… soda. More salads for lunch. Yum yum.

~Erich~

down 3…

It has been my goal for a while now to get back down to a medium shirt size again. I know that is a long way off. Especially since I have broad shoulders now, but still, one can dream.

This morning I stepped onto the scale and I was down to 196. Which means down 3 pounds. I know it isn’t a lot, but that means I am making some strides. So far my exercises had consisted of biking, squats, and what I call office push ups. Using the counter in place of the ground. I know you don’t get the full work out that way, but when you work in an office 9-5, you take what you can get.

I have started to feel the burn in my legs. Those burns that make it hard to walk correctly, but you know the pain is worth it. I knew going into this would not be easy, but in the long run it is worth it.

Rolling on two wheels

Tires on the bike are fixed. I was a bit nervous at first. Not because I can’t ride a bike, more because the bike is rusting. I was afraid it would fall apart on me.

But I now have completed my 2nd 2 mile ride home his week. I would love to increase to 5 soon.

Round is a shape…

Just not the shape I want to be. Nothing against those who are, and who look good. But for me its time to loose some pounds. More pointedly its time to loose some fat. I wouldn’t mind weighing 199, if that were more muscles. But when you see the rolls of fat on you back and sides. Not cool. So its time to change what I eat, exercise and really concentrate on loosing the bulge, in my gut.