So, it is about time, maybe way past time... but either way, it is time. I want to start living a healthier lifestyle. I've been a part of this board for a LONG time, never really post... just kind of read and stalked. So, lets start with what I want from this journal...

I want to be the person I want to be. So, this seems to be a good spot to start. I will probably delve way to far into personal stuff, but you can throw that out if you want. This first post will probably be very generic, but in the future I hope to put more out there. Get more into the life and times of BeachStrat. If this gets too long and boring, just smack me...

I'm 29 years old and live in Virginia Beach, VA. I'm about 6'1" and weigh right around 250 lbs. I've had a gym membership seemingly my entire adult life, but haven't taken full advantage of it. Both my parents are right at 60 and starting to see major health issues (bypass surgery and some mild seizures). These are some things I want to avoid, scares the piss out of me. I know a healthier lifestyle will help avoid this. I figure I will post generally what I'm doing at the gym, away from the gym and some basic goals.

At the Gym: I'm working with a 3-day split I picked up from a guy at the gym. It is a concept of working push muscles one day, then pull. I figure I'll use this at least till the New Year, then adjust. Details will come as I post each day's workouts. Here is what I got:

Mon: Back and Bi's
Wed: Legs and Traps
Fri: Chest, Tris and Shoulders
Off days: Jog/Elliptical


Away from the Gym: This is THE MAJOR ISSUE! Not only am I very weak when it comes to eating right, but my job and my gf are plotting against me. My job requires me to miss lunch/breaks and stay late if a machine requires it. So planning exact times to eat is out of the question. My girlfriend loves (or should I say obsesses over) pizza and fast food, and hates veggies and fish. So, this is the real challenge. I hope this journals helps most with this area.

Goals: Short term, I want to keep 'em simple. Right now I want to make it to the gym for each of my workouts everyday until I visit my family for Christmas. I want to be able to do actual pull ups, in sets, by New Years. I want to cut down drastically on the alcohol consumption, to 1 day per week. These will be adjusted constantly and will be added to with personal, financial and other short and long term goals.

So more will come, this is just the beginning, a first step (or leap??) in the right direction. I went to the gym today, so a post with that info will be next. Sometime in the future there may be pics... if I grow the balls to post them (the progress shots, that is)... Stay tuned... Feel free to comment...

So here is today's workout. I decided to workout Legs/Traps today because it has been the longest since I've worked any of those of the three, and I won't work them again until Wednesday. The exercise names may not be correct, but I can recognize them :) Here it is:

90 degree Leg press: 290(8)-290(8)-290(8)
Squat Jamn: 135(8)-135(8)-135(10)
Single Leg curl: 100(8)-100(8)-100(8)**
Leg Extension: 130(8)-130(8)-130(8)**
Seated Calf: 70(8)-70(8)-70(8)
Standing Calf Brutus: 1(8)-1(8)-1(8)
Shrugs: 50(10)-50(10)-50(10)
Captain's Chair: 10-10-10**
15 min 5R-3.41mi-118.7cal

Some other basic info. The ** means next time if I can get the 8 with good form after 2 sets, I go up in weight for the third. One * is the same but after 1 set.
I do the Captain's Chair and the Leg Ext at the same time, kind of like a superset??? I guess???
And I have to do some biking afterwords or I won't be able to walk for two days and I need to be able to do that...

I drank my shake (http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/myo/after.html) on the drive home.
So I am pretty tired and need a shower, but I am excited I have started this journal! More to come!

Good luck. You seem to have a good plan in place.

BeachStrat, best of luck to you!

One thing to note: I recently learned that studies show that spacing meals out during the day doesn't actually have a significant impact on metabolism. I can get you the studies on it if you'd like.

But it's still good to try to have them spaced out merely to get in the habit of not binging and keeping nitrogen levels balanced.

I think don't worry too much about it and just focus on your overall calories throughout the day as well as WHAT your eating.

Sounds like you'll definitely have a challenge with a girlfriend not in to the food that should be eaten. Being married I definitely know that it is much easier to fail without that support. What it comes down to is pushing yourself.

Good luck again!

Good luck. You seem to have a good plan in place.

Thanks Seltzer, I appreciate you stopping by!

BeachStrat, best of luck to you!

One thing to note: I recently learned that studies show that spacing meals out during the day doesn't actually have a significant impact on metabolism. I can get you the studies on it if you'd like.

But it's still good to try to have them spaced out merely to get in the habit of not binging and keeping nitrogen levels balanced.

I think don't worry too much about it and just focus on your overall calories throughout the day as well as WHAT your eating.

Sounds like you'll definitely have a challenge with a girlfriend not in to the food that should be eaten. Being married I definitely know that it is much easier to fail without that support. What it comes down to is pushing yourself.

Good luck again!

That is interesting about the spacing of meals. It would be a real interesting read, if you don't mind posting the studies. I will take a look around the internet machine to try and find something along those lines as well.

I think you are dead on about the binging and it is probably mostly in my head. My brain is probably telling me since I haven't eaten for 4-6 hours, it would be a good idea to binge. I'll try to keep that thought in my head.

I appreciate it guys!

Today wasn't really a bad day whatsoever, but could have been better. Eating went well. Not perfect, but nowhere near as bad as usual. I had to work today, so the gym was out of the question (it closes at 3). I wanted to do a 15 min HIIT session on the elliptical, if my legs weren't too sore from yesterday's workout. But, every step I take right now is a major chore! I just debated getting out of the chair to answer the phone! So, no workout, but that's OK. Can't miss tomorrow tho!

But, for the bad news... THE BROWNS LOST to the RATBIRDS!!! AGAIN!!! Makes me sick! Oh well, Denver on Thursday...

Gonna eat some dinner, watch some football and get some sleep...

Here's a good one, Beach:

http://leangains.blogspot.com/2008/0...criticism.html (http://leangains.blogspot.com/2008/07/tom-venuto-responds-to-criticism.html)

Here's a discussion on intermittent fasting that first addresses meal frequency and metabolism, and has citations:

http://www.alanaragon.com/an-objective-look-at-intermittent-fasting.html

Hey Beach, how you doing on this? You still working on the fitness? I hope so!