Well, its been about 3.5 months since I started my 'Program'. I originally started my own online journal, but was finding it hard to keep up with. Maybe here I will have a much easier time on JSFF!

I started at 250lbs. and 27.7% BF on January 18th this year. I am currently 206 lbs. and around 16% BF.
I have went from size 40 Jeans fitting snug, to size 36 fitting good, and my size 38's that I have the most of, are getting baggy.

I do ~3 days of weight training a week, and 3 days of cardio. The cardio is usually HIIT on the stationary bike, or I hit the pavement with quick runs, and walks (~HIIT).

The only 'setback' or problem I have really had during this time has been the resistant staph infection on my right forearm. I didn't work out for about 5 days, as it scared the hell out of me (having that strain of staph!). Also the hole in my arm that you could literally fit a quarter into freaked me out too.

My latest issues have been my ravenous appetite early in the morning when I get home after night shift (I work rotating shifts). Also, the 3 days leading up to my final in a class I was taking (Marketing), I was working 12 hours, plus 2 hours of driving, and then studying... I allowed myself to NOT work out. It was a concious decision, so I'm not too bummed about it.

My current goal:

200 lbs
14% body fat

Maybe I'll look at 195 lbs and ~13% BF after that... Before I start working a bulking program. I'll have to see how I feel and look.

My original Goal on the outset was 220 lbs for June 1, but that didn't include a BF goal, and I just blew past that thing. Of course, the decreasing amount of FAT I have, the slower it is to loose.

I will post some pics over the next couple of days. My 'beggining' ones are fuzzy...didnt know how to take a damn pic! The more recent ones are much better. Never much one for taking good pics.

Out
Jerry

Today I woke up around 1:30 pm (finished up night shift) and ate my 1/2 cup of oatmeall, drank 1 cup of coffee and sat out back in the sun with no shirt on, to wake up!

I did my leg workout today, and took my wife out to the garage to show her how doing squats with my current weight bench is at best, unsafe. She agreed, and I may start looking for either 1) Squat Rack or instead upgrade to 2) a Powerrack.

It was a good leg workout. I increased my weight on the lunges, so I may feel that tomorrow. I'm also interested to see if I'm more hungry tomorrow with such a heavy workout today.

Gotta Go

Well, today I was busy all day and didn't get to my back/bicep workout until about 8:30pm. I've lifted a few times at night, and I can say that I am not as 'strong' at night. I just don't seem to have the same strength that I might have in the morning.

I did notice something interesting on the software I use to track my food. I use 'Calorie King' for my PDA. I did a chart of my weekly weight averages for the last 3 months. I have only been using the software since early March, so here is what I have:

3/3 224.7 lb
3/10 224.3
3/17 221.2
3/24 218.8
3/31 215.4
4/7 212.8
4/14 212.0
4/21 210
4/28 208


I have been loosing slower, and seem to have a hard time getting past 206 right now. I have had lower calories the last 2 days (around 1400), and will try to do that for a few more days, before I shoot for 1700 or so. I had been around 1900.

Tomorrow I plan on HIIT in the morning, and a late afternoon chest / tricep. I normally don't do cardio/weights on the same day, but I will do this for 1 day to make up for my inconsistancy for the last 2 weeks (hence, maybe the reason for my weight plateu..??)

Adios

Jerry, apologies for hijacking you journal thread, but just wanted to say congratulations on your progress. 44 lbs and 11% BF loss in 3 months is exceptional :tu: Can't wait to see the pics.

:gl:

Thanks Craig,

I will now try, again...to upload my pics
I will be posting my side shots, the first from January 19th, the second from April 3rd...yea, I need to get busy and take some new shots!

I was around 18% body fat in the newest pic (estimated)
I will post front ones later, after I take some more pics.

Hopefuly this works....

Nice job Jerry, looking good. Keep up the good work.

OK, off my lazy horse. Here are my latest pics, celebrating Cinco de Mayo, of course.

I am not good a photography, but have read some of Andi's hints, to try to improve what I have.

These will be ones taken on January 19th again (at night with a flash a long distance away - hence fuzzy), compared to today, 5th of May.


I still have a large set of 'love handles' that hopefuly will be diminishing more this month. One more note. I'm either white, or red in color. So no tanning for me, no matter how low my BF % does get! Thats genetics for you!

The love handles are barely noticable now, so well done, it certainly gives me hope.

I would have to guess that you're quite tall 'cos in the January shots you don't look 250 lbs and also 27%bf isn't too bad at 250 lbs.

I would have to guess that you're quite tall 'cos in the January shots you don't look 250 lbs and also 27%bf isn't too bad at 250 lbs.


Yea, I'm 6'4" (76 inches), but I looked 7 months pregnant in January! ha. Unfortunately this is just after getting back from a vacation in Hawaii...my wife and I were both so disgusted with how bloated we looked in a Luau (sp?) picture, we started looking into how we would reduce our fat. Too bad we didn't get busy BEFORE the vacation to Hawaii!



Thanks

Hey,

Just read through your journal. Nice work mate.

I wouldnt drop ur cals too low mate. Its so tempting to think when you hit a weight plateau, you need to lower your cals. In fact, a lot of people up there cals and break through it ! Are you haveing a cheat meal every week or so? Maybe your thyroid needs a kick in the ass, if you aint cheated for a while, have a day of like 3000 cals, then drop low to maybe 1500, then go back to your normal day (1800 did u say?)

Might be worth trying, just a word of advice. :)

Congrats again. I havent seen many people loose a gut like that in such a short space of time. A few more BF% and you'll be ripe for a good bulk. :flex:

Keep us posted.

Thanks for the Info Reno_1ted

I havent had a big calorie day in a while ( a few weeks). When I last did, took 5 days to recover, but raising my calorie intake for a day is probably a good idea now.

And, I am definately looking forward to getting in position to start bulking. Some fat still left before I get there, but will enjoy the change.

Jerry

May 8th 2004

Last night after work I did HIIT on the road. Spent about 24 minutes doing sprints / walks around the neighborhood. The only down side to this is that my last meal comes 'after' I work out, which puts it around 8pm, and I am in bed only 1.5 hours later, so I can get up at 4am for the next workday...

This morning I weighed in at 207lbs, still dangling around 206-210, a pretty wide range. I will be taking a rough body fat measurement in the next few days, and hopefuly that is the number that will be lowering!

This week I will probably have a cheat 'meal', try to up my calories a little, but still keep the food clean.

Tonight after work the plan is to do my leg workout. Again, this puts me consuming my last 'meal' 1.5 hours or so before bed, but I need to both, get the workout in, and get the food in after the workout...

This dilema will not exist for the next 7 days starting Monday, as I will be off the entire week....the joys and the upside of working a rotating shift schedule.

May 12th, 2004

Well, on May 5th I felt a 'twinge' in my middle back that worried me. I decided to stop any weightlifting that would put 'undue' stress on the middle back: Squats, standing/even sitting tricep extensions, military press, etc.
So far so good. My back is fine. The only time that I did notice it was when I was trying to use it during lifting. I'll skip some of these excercises for another week, and then try them out, watching my form more closely.

Well, I'm still hanging around 206-208. I'm not overly concerned now, as I know it will eventually break thru and head down a little further. I've lost most of my weight possibly a little too fast, it won't hurt to slow it down a little. I WILL be having a higher calorie meal tonight. My nephews birthday, so we are all going out to a buffet restaurant. Luckily they do have plent of 'clean' food to eat (skinless chicken breast, salads, fruits, other more fatty meat, various baked fish, sweet potatoes, etc)

Today I avoided the 'back' portion of my workout (note above), and so just did my bicep workout. I felt like I didnt get muched accomplished so I went ahead and did my HIIT run/walk. Yea, I know...don't lift and do cardio within 8 hours of eachother.

I need to get some 'Financial Accounting' homework out of the way, so I'll report back in a few days.

Well I'm still hanging around 206-208 lbs. I have tried increasing calories for a few days, lowering them, eating a large 'cheat' meal and really boosting calories. Next is just to reduce calories and stay with that for 2 weeks. I will try to get around 1700 now for the next two weeks. If THAT doesnt work...then I will be doing some more research and asking for some input.

I did 21 minutes of HIIT sprint/walk just a little bit ago. It's getting fricken hot here now (Houston area), and I will have to start getting that done in the earlier morning. Also I will be looking into swimming at our subdivision pool, incorporate HIIT and swimming for a change. I THINK that early mornings (i.e. 7am or so) they have 'adult' only time for excerising....I'll look into that.

I'm still avoiding excercises with my back. I honestly now think I may have hurt my back during dumbbell curls on an incline bench. That seems pretty wierd, but I could really feel it when I did my last bicep workout...and I remember feeling 'it' before my back was feeling sore....
No more dumbell curls on an incline for me....at least not for a while.

Well, I'm checking in. No weight lifting or running for about 1 week now. My back has been worse. I visited the chiropracter for the first time today. I have many issues, as most people do probably. Bottom line, sore muscle, some vertebrea that are a little skewed in the same area, right leg about 12 mm shorter than my left, etc. Received some 'shock' message and a small 'adjustment'. I will probably go back a few times and hopefuly all will be better.
For now, I'm at 205lbs, and of course maintaining my 'diet' portion still of course. Just no help from burning fat exercising.

Checking in again.
Still not back to lifting weights, but will start in 2 days. I have been HIIT / Jogging the last week though. My weight is at 207lbs, a few pounds more than before.

My diet hasn't been as strick. It usually is, but I cave in to cravings occasionally...once every couple of days. I'll be working on that! I just need to concentrate on eating 5-6 times a day, and I don't think I'll have much for cravings.

Thats it, over and out.

Jerry

Well, well well.

Im back on the wagon again. Im 208 lbs, but getting 'fatter'! I havent been excercising, except sporadically. That changes now. When I did, I had terrible problems with my right knee. Now its back to the bike.

My diet hasnt been too bad, except the occasional 'snickers', I guess... Yea, thats bad.

Today, August 20th starts my new 'start', getting strict with the diet, and execising 6 days a week again.

Well, heres to a new me.

So far so good, for my first 3 days back on the wagon.

I did HIIT (mini) on the bike after getting up at 1:30 pm (nightshift), and letting my oatmeal settle. No empty stomach exercising for me!

I worked back / bi's yesterday (Saturday that is), didn't get too crazy, don't want to be in a position of hitting it too hard on my first day back lifting. Tomorrow after I get up I will be working chest & Tri's.

I have been ravenous today, wanting to eat everything I can get my hands on. I have kept it healthy food, but eating more than I will want to make a habit of. Maybe it's the exercise for the last 3 days that has my body 'hungry'. Or maybe it's just that I am a damn pig!

Well, since originally doing great in 2004 (early) I have really not watched my food intake well, or managed to exercise regularly.
I'm at 235 lbs now, and 25% body fat!!!
I don't like how I look really, or more importantly how I feel.
Time to restart, again, and the main thing I need is motivation.

Here we go again!

January 1, 2007 and I'm back to FAAT again!
I haven't stuck to diet / excercise of any type for ~ 2 years...sad sad sad.
264 lbs.
Day 1.


Starting today, I'm back to eating cleanly, 6 meals a day.
Lifting weights, started about 2 weeks ago, with my 12 year old son, teaching him how.

Today:

Lifted Chest / Triceps.

D

Welcome back :)

I think that's great that you're teaching your son. My mom always encouraged me to weight lift when I was younger and to be physically fit and strong. (I remember seeing Terminator 2 when I was 7 and thinking Linda Hamilton looked totally awesome.)

:tu:

Im still watching you !

Get goin !!!

Welcome back. I am sure you will have a bunch of us in your corner.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone.
I at least feel confident as I've been successful before (short term), and really have to just figure out how to make it a complete 'lifestyle' change and not just a short term change.

Today, lifted, did back and biceps.
I've eaten cleanly for 3 days now, and I feel pretty good, not all bloated up! I did not do any cardio yesterday - not good, but will tomorrow.
Feeling pretty good now though, all things considered.

Yesterday had a migraine pretty badly, and the worse part was the fact that I was at a job interview...
I eventually got over it with some sleep and by 8pm did 24 minutes of cardio on an eliptical. I was happy to get over the head ache and get on with some excercise. I have gotten these head aches about once every couple of months.

Today after going to the movies, my son and I will do a back/bicep lift.

I was happy to see that I had lost a little weight. I hadn't stepped on the scale in probably 5 days. Down by 7 pounds and I have been eating pretty well.

Down by 7 pounds and I have been eating pretty well.

:tu: