The Dog Days of Winter

I haven’t posted much recently for a couple of reasons: 1) I had to take on another job to make ends meet; and 2) I just haven’t had much fire recently. I don’t believe for a second that 1 & 2 aren’t connected — even though the job is in fitness, which is great, I’ve been working full-time from home since 2007 and not being able to do so anymore has been tough, no matter the spin I put on it.

As far as the Challenge goes, I’m in a bit of a rut. I fear my diet, which I always thought was ridiculously light given my size and activity level (typically, well under 2,000 calories), may have actually lowered my metabolism. Recently, I’ve been terribly tired and, worse, terribly hungry — all the time.

The odd thing is in the past couple of weeks I’ve gained weight, yet may have (probably have) lost fat. But I’m still frustrated by how slow the process has been: my shin splints seem to get worse every day, making the treadmill a half-hour of torture. The thought of upping my time, given that I’m already doing it every day…

So, I’ve decided that, starting today, I will do different types of cardio—I like push-ups, I can do burpees, I can run in place with minimal pain (probably because it’s more of an up-and-down rather than a reaching motion).

Overall, I look a lot better, but there’s still a long way to go… and, now, a short time to get there.

To Those About to Sweat, I Salute You

Every once in a while it’s nice to get some positive feedback — from non-family members. Today, I received just that at the gym when not one, but two, people asked me for training tips. Now, granted, they might just as easily have asked me for advice on how to eat an entire pecan pie in 30 minutes or less — I still have a lot of weight to lose — but at least it’s nice to know that I have a few things going for me.

Of course, I know for some — those that have even more weight to shed than I — having others notice and comment on their progress is unlikely. Sadly, among its other negative properties, excessive body fat has a way of obscuring the positive changes one is undertaking (and sometimes the scale is a willing accomplice).

So, to those who toil in anonymity, I salute you. Anybody who works hard has my respect and admiration — especially you nuts running on the treadmill as though you’re being chased by a pack of rabid dogs.

Frustration Building

Although it’s only been a couple of days, this has already been a tough week. I learned a while back that I was losing a long-term client to the tough economy (the financial newsletter I’ve compiled since 2007 will be no longer as of the end of this month). Well, as of this week, I haven’t had a single response to the dozens of resumes and cover letters I’ve sent out.

It’s frustrating because, when the newspaper I once worked for also folded — do you think there might be a trend here? — I had all sorts of responses. In fact, I had a job with the ill-fated financial newsletter before the ink had dried on my final newspaper column. 

Add to that continuing impatience with my fat loss in general and the “sleep number zero” consistency of my stomach and you have an idea why it’s been a bad week. Yeah, I see potential — there’s muscle under the flab — but I just wish I could speed up the weight loss/fitness process. As it is, I’m now spending 2-3 hours at the gym every day.

I understand that one can’t really target fat loss, but I wish I could just get blasted in the midsection by a laser... preferably one mounted on the head of a shark.

I'm Not Crazy, Just Obsessive Compulsive

Ronnie Coleman

Sometimes — well, a lot of times, really — I wish I wasn’t so impatient. Maybe it’s borne out of my career disappointments, maybe it’s just age (although I thought people got more patient as they got older), but when I want something, I want it yesterday.

So it’s little surprise that this Challenge has been testing what little patience I do have. Even though it’s unrealistic — and I know it’s unrealistic — I can’t help but want to see my weight and body fat going down every single day. Even though I’m on track and I can see the positive changes, I want my waist smaller — today! I want ripped abs — today!

When I’m not neurotically obsessing about these things, I feel good. Luckily, I haven’t lost much muscle mass as I’ve tried to trim down and I continue to tinker with my diet to find that perfect balance of nutrition and exercise.

Today (Sunday, Jan. 27), I’m going to meet with a trainer friend of mine and we’re going to do some bicep exercises. As 8-time Mr. Universe Ronnie Coleman used to say: “Gotta get bigger, baby!” 

Of course, Coleman was full of #$%! It’s true in my case.

Past the Plateau

Well, I’m finally starting to make significant progress with my weight. After losing just three pounds from Jan. 12 to Jan. 21, I’ve lost about four pounds in the past three days. My calorie intake has been a little bit lighter — closer to 2,000 calories/day compared to the 2,100-2,300 before — but I think some of the loss can be attributed to fewer carbs and especially fewer carbs at night.

Today, however, my total calorie intake was 2,036… and I had an apple and banana at 7:30 p.m., so it’ll be interesting to see what effect that will have.