Imablog Perspectives of a Canadian in the Old/Deep/New/Geographic South: This is where I ramble on about nothing in particular and post a few nice pictures.

Getting in shape

My wife and I have both decided it's time to get back into shape. I've managed to pack on a few extra pounds since I stopped cycling when I moved to the US, and wouldn't mind losing them. So we're going to try out the Discovery Health Channel's National Body Challenge.

In 12 weeks, my goal is to drop about 15-20 pounds and try to keep it off. It'll mean changing some of our cooking and eating habits, which I think is going to be the tough part. Starts at the end of the week on Jan 10. This ought to be fun :)

National Body Challenge Weigh In

Ok, today's the day. Discovery Channel's National Body Challenge weigh in.

So just how pudgy have I become over the past few years? Do I want to know? Stepped on the scale, listened to it groan, watched the dial spin and bounce back and forth until it settled on 176. 176!?! Must have been a mistake. Stepped off, made sure the scale was properly zeroed, and stepped back on. There again, it settled on 176. Oh dear. Guess I've got some work to do.

Logging into the website to record my stats, their calculator tells me that my approximate body fat percentage is 19%. I think that makes me pretty soft.

So here are the rest of the measurements I recorded.
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
Chest 37.75" (95.9 cm)
Waist 36" (91.4 cm)
Hips 41" (104.1 cm)
Thigh 24" (61 cm)
Bicep 12.75" 32.4 cm)

All the stats of a big oversized tube of goo.

Hopefully as I go along, some of these will change. If I'm really good, they'll even go down.

Fridge is stocked with lots of nice fresh veggies and fruits and other healthy things.

Let the challenge begin!

Body Challenge Week 1

Week 1 is over. No significant change in weight, but I didn't expect there to be any. We've changed our diet somewhat, and the way we cook, making an effort to introduce more veggies. Calorie intake is down, but that means I have that munchie feeling all the time. Eating smaller meals more frequently helps, but I think once I get used to the lower calories, the munchies will go away. Even though I haven't lost any weight yet, I feel better, and am looking forward to gearing up my exercise routine.

Based on what I learned during my past life as a runner and cyclist, I'm opting for the slow and gradual change, targeting to lose maybe 2-3 pounds/week. Nothing fast or dramatic. I'll be quite content if I've managed to drop 10 pounds or so by the end of this challenge.

Body Challenge Week 2

Ok, it's the end of week 2, and although I haven't been able to squeeze in any work out sessions yet (although I've been doing a lot of walking around and still take the stairs everywhere I go), I've still managed to drop 4 pounds, so now I"m down to 172. Feels good. Really need to start doing some workouts though, but with this AAPM assignment I need to get finished by next week, I don't seem to have much time. Maybe this coming week.

Body Challenge Week 3

Ok, week three is over, and I'm afraid I haven't really made much progress into starting my exercise routine. None at all really. But I've managed to maintain 172 lbs (78 kg) at least. Still walking and climbing stairs wherever I go.

Body Challenge Week 4

Ok, it's been 4 weeks since the Body Challenge started. I'm still at 172 lbs and I have to admit I've been a little lazy as far as the working out part.

Time to see if I've changed at all
Chest 95 cm (-0.9 cm)
Waist 91 cm (-0.4 cm)
Hips 102 cm (-2.1 cm)
Thigh 58 cm (-3.0 cm)
Bicep 31.5 cm (-0.9 cm)

So I'm making a little bit of progress. Just need to start working out.

Body Challenge Week 5

Week 5 of the Body Challenge is over. I'm down to 170 now, but I still haven't been able to drag my lazy ass out to the gym on a regular basis. Yeah, I'm bad. Still walking and climbing stairs though.

Body Challenge Week 6

Still at 170. Had a momentary lapse yesterday and strayed off my diet to satisfy a meat craving at Brinson's Beef & Brew. Not a bad place. Tasty burgers. I had the Tower of Chili burger, which I thoroughly enjoyed half of. Saved the other half for dinner tonight. Also had the Cheese Fries, which was ok, but would have been better with a cheese sauce instead of regular melted cheese. Add a little gravy to it (which they don't have), and mmmm, a plate of artery clogging goodness.

And now back to our regularly scheduled healthy eating.