Burn the Fat - Feed the Muscle

Well, I hope that is what is going on with me this week. I gained one pound this week. This is the first time I have gained weight since I started this way of life back in January. Sometimes the scales is not our friend and not a true reflection of what is going on with our bodies as a whole. When we feel better, look better, and have so much more energy than ever before, things can't be wrong. I weigh myself everyday just to keep myself on track from day to day. At one point this week I weighed 246 pounds for a two pound weight loss for the week. But then I always log my weight on Tuesday mornings. Well this morning I was up. Up one pound from last Tuesday. It was a little shocking but not really all that surprising. I have been actually eating more this week than I had been. All good healthy foods of course but I don't let myself go hungry at any time. I have been fueling the fire and have been doing the same workout routine. It's time to bump up the workouts. It's all about burning more calories than you consume that way you "Burn the Fat and Feed the Muscle". As we all know muscle weighs more than fat so hopefully I really lost about two pounds of fat this week and gained 3 pounds of muscle. Hmmm....works for me anyway. So I will keep on keepin' on.

Muscle Bound and Out
Macco

This Really Is Pretty Simple Stuff

I think I'm starting to figure this stuff out. It's really pretty simple, you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, drink lots of water, eat fish and chicken, whole grains and stay away from processed foods. A little daily exercise and you got a real plan to go by. How easy can it be? Well that sounds pretty easy, but, there always is a but right? When we let our heads get involved and tell us, I wish there was an easier way or I wish I could just take a pill for a quick fix then that is our downfall. Yeah we all want to take a pill, go to sleep, and wake up the next day skinny with muscles. Gee wouldn't that be nice. But we have to remember that with no work comes no reward. Hard work, yeah that what it really takes is hard work. With that hard work comes great rewards. Not only looking good but feeling good mentally, physically, and emotionally. Why? Because we worked hard and earned it. It's not just the final end result but the whole journey that makes us the better us. Well, I only lost 2 pounds this week. But you know what? Hey, I lost 2 pounds this week! That's right, I didn't gain. I worked hard all week and I feel good about losing 2 pounds. This week has been a wonderful chapter in the journey. I am also so lucky to have the most wonderful support team in my life there ever could be. My wife to start with has always been one of the best cooks I have ever known. Guess what, she still is, she can cook some of the healthiest low calorie meals that taste out of this world. She is also so supportive in other ways always spending compliments on me and working out right along side of me. I love you honey. Then there is my mother, she makes me feel so good about this journey, always bragging about me to her friends and relatives and telling them how much weight I've lost and how good I look. Thank you mother, I love you. Even my bratty little teenage daughter who used to like to sit at the diner table and say, um this butter is soooo good, when this all first started, now puts zero calorie butter spray on her vegetables. I'm am so proud of her. Also most of the people at work have been very supportive and pretty free with the compliments. This all really is pretty simple isn't it. So, keep on keepin' on.

Not so Fat man Out!

50 pound milestone hit!!! Walking on!

Wow I hit the 50 pound milestone this week. Boy was I excited. Now the next 50 pounds is what is going to be the hard part. But I guess it will only be as hard as I choose to make it. The good part about this next 50 pounds is that a lot of it can now start taking place outside in the fresh air. The weather is finally starting to break here in the mid-west and we are looking forward to spring. Walking outside, biking outside, the start of camping and fishing season, and hiking in the woods, oh my. I have posted some pictures on my Sparkpeople page if anyone cares to view them. Before and after shots. I can really see the difference in my waist line in those pics. Well I will keep on keepin' on.

Macco

Down two pounds this week

Being down 2 pounds is so much better than gaining 2 pounds for the week. Well this week was actually a good week. I ate right, exercised right, drank plenty of water and got plenty of sleep. Why only 2 pounds lose then? Hmmm....I don't know. But I feel ok about it. I didn't reach my walking goal I had set for last month, I only walked about 80 miles last month. But that is ok too. I have added so many other activities to my routine. I am now strength training 3-4 days a week for about an hour to an hour and a half each time, I am still walking and also biking for my cardio now so the walking alone has become a bit less important at this time. My body shape is changing too, I am losing my man boobs and my belly both. I can feel my muscles getting much stronger because I find it easier to actually run at a 6 and 7 mph pace for a minute and not be so out of breath. My workouts in the gym for my strength training are getting a little easier each time so I keep adding weight to my workout at least every week. I am going to try and add rope jumping to my routine for a little extra cardio during the day. We will see how that goes. Also only losing 2 pounds this week, I may look deeper into the calorie cycling SparkTeam and see more what that is all about. BTW, my wife was so excited that this week I was able to bend over and trim my own toe nails. So for this week Not So FatMan (but still obese by my BMI) will keep on keepin' on.

Macco