Today is Day 2 of my 82 Days of Healthy Living To Shed Winter Weight Plan. As someone revered once said (Forster, I believe), 'How do I know what I think until I see what I say?'
I'm totally on board with that, so I'll be capturing all strategizing, kvetching, quantitative milestones and ingestions here. So let's start with the quant stats and the goals:
March 8 weight: 145.5 lbs
Goal weight by April 8th: 140.5
Goal weight by May 8th: 138
Goal weight by May 30: 137
How do we get there? It was exactly one year ago that I was in the midst of my 16weeksish program, during which I lost fat and gained muscle from January 31 to April 15, with an aggregate weight change from 143.5 to 136 lbs (7.5 lbs; yes, I know you can add.) Here's what I liked / worked:
Aesthetic changes.
I actually got lots of figure compliments. I've never felt so confident in a bikini; I unleashed the killer abs every chance I got-
Strength building.
Dude, this was awesome. I got strong! Strength is power! I loved the quizzical side-eye glances from the gym bros, who wondered (I fantasized) if I was really going to ramp up moar. I felt good and safe climbing trees and buildings; I ran, well, not effortlessly, but better than I had in the past. I was convinced I could cold turkey a <25 second 50-yard freestyle. My posture improved markedly.
Health and nutrition awareness.
I make a concerted effort to incorporate protein into my diet; I'm conscious of water and carbohydrate intake (a Catholic guilt, really); I take my fish oil and multivitamins.
Of course, there were problems, also. I think that by identifying them, I can solve them this time around:
Aesthetic changes.
So, aside from being slight, I felt a little butch. My arms were sinewy to a. . . kind of gross degree following dietary deficit.
Sustainability.
The deficit dieting, the 3x weekly lifts (and 1-2x weekly runs in between) were comprehensive - about 2 hours for one whole go - and the lifestyle made me pretty insane by May. I didn't do much drinking or eating-out during this time either, which are things that I enjoy.
Injury.
My shoulder STILL hurts.
So, two solutions:
-Less upper body work.
Nixing overhead presses, will, I think, cleanly solve the arms issue. I'm keeping the squat, the bench press (but only once a week, being mindful of my shoulder), the Pendlay Rows, and the occasional (probably no more than once a week also) dead lift, for posterior superiority.
-Take breaks.
I'm actually starting off this round with 3 huge advantages:
1. I'm already a lot stronger (read: more muscular) than the first time around.
2. I'm already drinking tons of water and eating good protein
3. I know the pitfalls, the process, and the product.
That being said, I'm not going to go to the gym 4-5x weekly. I think 3x a week is just fine; two lifts, and one cardio day. I'm going to be pretty disciplined until my birthday weekend, during which I'll gorge on the tasting menu at Per Se with S. I've ordered my Lean Cuisine lunches for the 30 day period from now to April 7. The break schedule:
March 22: Peasant (but go easy)
April 8: Per Se
April 30: Del Posto or Loconde Verde
A more balanced schedule should keep me from losing my mind by the time I make it to May, the Month Of The Wedding; May 12 - 22 should actually be a piece of cake since I'll be traveling in Europe.
Things to commit to, in the short term:
This week:
-2-3 liters of water daily
-Lift 3x
-One cardio class
-Don't buy weed
-Stick to frozen lunches. It's already Wednesday kid; you're doing great.
