Update: Month 2

Hey guys, /wave Chillen+Wesrman,

In case anyone needs a reminder: I was about 270lbs, smoking, and drinking way... way... too much. Not a drop or a puff of either since.

66 days in, I'm down to the smallest notch on my belt, so 3 notches smaller. I've been doing weights pretty seriously in the gym with a buddy of mine (helps keep me focused) and I've managed to increase the distance I can jog to just under 5 miles (4.7m).

The weight is really falling off me.

But I've got a question or two if you have a minute.

1. I heard you can't gain muscle and lose fat at the same time, but I swear I've made significant gains that have really helped balance out my body, while losing a lot of fat (especially on legs/arms/stomach/face). How's this working? But if I'm imagining it, what effect does weight training have?

2. Is it normal to feel like my muscles are all out of 'sync' so to speak, the closest I can come to explaining it, is that some muscles are in good shape and are easy to train, and others (eg triceps) or the muscles used in 'flat chest flies' are almost non-existant and completing the exercises properly is difficult as it almost feels like I'm lacking 'coordination'. This has begun to get better recently. Does this have something to do with supporting muscles etc? Thoughts?

*My diet, it consists mostly of the highest fibre bread I can find (with reduced fat houmous/butter), spinach, beans, cans of tuna, the odd baked chicken breast, apples, brown rice, lots of green tea and coffee, and some milk most days.

I've also noticed it's difficult to run to the best of my ability when I've done legs in the gym the day or two before. Is it better to rest up or just run anyway, even if I'm not able to put as much effort into it?

Thanks a lot for reading, I await your suggestions!

Chris
 
Hey guys, /wave Chillen+Wesrman,

In case anyone needs a reminder: I was about 270lbs, smoking, and drinking way... way... too much. Not a drop or a puff of either since.

66 days in, I'm down to the smallest notch on my belt, so 3 notches smaller. I've been doing weights pretty seriously in the gym with a buddy of mine (helps keep me focused) and I've managed to increase the distance I can jog to just under 5 miles (4.7m).

The weight is really falling off me.

But I've got a question or two if you have a minute.

1. I heard you can't gain muscle and lose fat at the same time, but I swear I've made significant gains that have really helped balance out my body, while losing a lot of fat (especially on legs/arms/stomach/face). How's this working? But if I'm imagining it, what effect does weight training have?

It can be done but its hard to do unless you're a beginner which you are so thats probably why its happening. Your body went from zero to 100 in terms of stress (exercise) so its responding. Also losing fat will make you look bigger beleive it or not. :)


2. Is it normal to feel like my muscles are all out of 'sync' so to speak, the closest I can come to explaining it, is that some muscles are in good shape and are easy to train, and others (eg triceps) or the muscles used in 'flat chest flies' are almost non-existant and completing the exercises properly is difficult as it almost feels like I'm lacking 'coordination'. This has begun to get better recently. Does this have something to do with supporting muscles etc? Thoughts?

Copout answer is that some muscles responde better and over time you will become more used to the exercises and therefore get a better mind-muscle connection. Theres more to it than that, but you dont really need to know it..lol. Try lowering the amount of weight you're using, concentrating on proper form and really feeling the muscle work both on the way up and the way down.

*My diet, it consists mostly of the highest fibre bread I can find (with reduced fat houmous/butter), spinach, beans, cans of tuna, the odd baked chicken breast, apples, brown rice, lots of green tea and coffee, and some milk most days.

Start counting calories and calculate your BMR, then eat less calories than you're burning to lose weight and eat more to gain weight. Also make sure you're getting lots of protein. Use these sites to help dial in your diet:
http://training.fitness.com/nutrition/lv-s-grocery-list-19098.html

http://training.fitness.com/nutrition/nutrition-101-a-32846.html

http://www.healthyde.org/tools/bmr.php

FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal

I've also noticed it's difficult to run to the best of my ability when I've done legs in the gym the day or two before. Is it better to rest up or just run anyway, even if I'm not able to put as much effort into it?

I would suggest switching to a full body routine. That way you wont be crushing your legs so much that it inhibits you from doing other things. Also you will be causing your body to release more HGH, serum testosterone, IGF-1 and other hormones that cause muscle and strength gains.
Something like Stronglifts or Starting Strength would be great.

How to Build Muscle & Lose Fat Through Strength Training in Only 3 Short Workouts Per Week | StrongLifts.com

T-Nation.com | Starting Strength: The Guide


Check out these sites too.
RossTraining.com • Index page

RossTraining - Articles

RossTraining.com • View topic - WORKOUT OF THE WEEK ARCHIVE


MapMyFitness.com - Map your Running Routes. Find Runs. Join our Community of Running. Runner Social Network. Calculate Calories, Online Pedometer, Distance, iPhone, and More.

Final suggestion is that you keep a log on here or at least on paper and take it to the gym with you so you can record your exercises, weight and reps so you can track your progress and ensure that you're constantly adding weight to your lifts and improving your times in your conditioning sessions.

Thanks a lot for reading, I await your suggestions!

Congrats on your success so far. Keep it up, and post around here more often.

Chris

...............
 
Weight

I bit the bullet and bought some bathroom scales today.

Last time I weighed myself (about 6 months ago) I was 287lbs.

I am now:

*Drum roll*

245lbs exactly.

42lb loss since December 10th when I began my weight loss attempt :)
 
Hey guys, /wave Chillen+Wesrman,

In case anyone needs a reminder: I was about 270lbs, smoking, and drinking way... way... too much. Not a drop or a puff of either since.

66 days in, I'm down to the smallest notch on my belt, so 3 notches smaller. I've been doing weights pretty seriously in the gym with a buddy of mine (helps keep me focused) and I've managed to increase the distance I can jog to just under 5 miles (4.7m).

The weight is really falling off me.

But I've got a question or two if you have a minute.

1. I heard you can't gain muscle and lose fat at the same time, but I swear I've made significant gains that have really helped balance out my body, while losing a lot of fat (especially on legs/arms/stomach/face). How's this working? But if I'm imagining it, what effect does weight training have?

2. Is it normal to feel like my muscles are all out of 'sync' so to speak, the closest I can come to explaining it, is that some muscles are in good shape and are easy to train, and others (eg triceps) or the muscles used in 'flat chest flies' are almost non-existant and completing the exercises properly is difficult as it almost feels like I'm lacking 'coordination'. This has begun to get better recently. Does this have something to do with supporting muscles etc? Thoughts?

*My diet, it consists mostly of the highest fibre bread I can find (with reduced fat houmous/butter), spinach, beans, cans of tuna, the odd baked chicken breast, apples, brown rice, lots of green tea and coffee, and some milk most days.

I've also noticed it's difficult to run to the best of my ability when I've done legs in the gym the day or two before. Is it better to rest up or just run anyway, even if I'm not able to put as much effort into it?

Thanks a lot for reading, I await your suggestions!

Chris

Sup! Chris! Welcome to the forum! :) :) :) I am just acknowledging your Profile message, and request to look at your thread. I am going to be busy this morning (off and on) putting some PC's together for a client, and will try to get to your opening post sometime today....

Didn't forget ya. :)

Best wishes for your fitness success!


Chillen
 
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