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This journal will focus mainly on a "leaning out phase" that I started as of yesterday.
In the past, I haven't been real good with keeping online journals. I always keep a personal version for myself, but I usually get too busy/lazy to log it online as well. I will do my best to keep it up-to-date. The main benefit of this journal, I hope, will hopefully be some much needed help when I get stuck. I usually have a hard time breaking through sticking points. So, by all means, any advice is appreciated.
I'm turning 33 this April (15th). I have a wonderful wife, a 2 year old son, and another baby on the way in mid-March. (NOTE - my journal might not be up to date around this time.....lol) I'm around 265-270 lbs at 6'-1". I've been at this weight before in the past, but I'm leaner now. Still way too fat though. I’m tired of the profuse sweating, heavy breathing, the poor sleeping, and the less-than-desirable waistline. I want to be a healthy & active dad too. Moving heavy poundages no longer is a priority for me.
Realistically, I have probably around 210-215 lbs of lean mass on my frame. Unfortunately, that makes me much fatter than I should be....probably around 20%. I can still see some resemblance of abs, so maybe I'm being a little hard on myself, but there's plenty of extra hanging on my lower back and obliques. Sitting behind a computer screen for 40-50 hours a week doesn't allow for much wiggle room diet-wise! And let me tell ya, I like to eat.....
In the past year, I’ve really debated about where my goals were leading me. The past couple years I had the urge to step on stage. I no longer have that desire, for various reasons. Nowadays, I'm becoming more & more focused on longevity and the benefits of maintaining a leaner condition year round. Chasing size sounds fun at first, but when all the side effects arise (see above), then it doesn’t sound so fun anymore. I always have this desire to get lean and maintain a healthier weight year round……..but I always have regressed back to the size game. However, it’s time to make that shift.....permanently.
So…..how drastic of a fat loss are we talking here? Well, I’m not sure yet. This is NOT a contest prep. In fact, I'll probably handle this in 2 phases. Phase 1 will be just trimming off the easy & sloppy weight. To get to this point, I'll be around 240-245 lbs. Phase 2, if I decide to do it, would be to get sub 10%. This would require me getting to the mid 220's.
Phase 1 shouldn't be too bad. I prefer a slightly aggressive gameplan over a long & drawn out method, but that's only because I hate the process so much! I'm a big fan of Skiploading, which has always worked well for me.
Phase 2 (sub 10%) is where I will likely run into road blocks. Experience has taught me a couple things:
1) Getting that lean is not easy, seeing how I’ve never been able to do it
2) Getting that lean for purposes other than contests is usually counterproductive since it leads to a point of diminishing returns.
I’ve also been doing some reading (and brief testing) of intermittent fasting. I think I might try this out…it has some merit amongst many respected members on here. I’m considering fasting from 6pm to 9am (15 hours) and feeding from 9am to 6pm (9 hours). I’ve tried it out…..it’s not bad at all. In fact, I didn’t even notice the hunger. I just sipped some BCAA’s in the morning and had my first meal at 9am. During the feeding period, I cram in the same amount of calories, so my meals are bigger and more satisfying. This might be an effective diet tool…..we’ll see.
I'll post up more info later....
In the past, I haven't been real good with keeping online journals. I always keep a personal version for myself, but I usually get too busy/lazy to log it online as well. I will do my best to keep it up-to-date. The main benefit of this journal, I hope, will hopefully be some much needed help when I get stuck. I usually have a hard time breaking through sticking points. So, by all means, any advice is appreciated.
I'm turning 33 this April (15th). I have a wonderful wife, a 2 year old son, and another baby on the way in mid-March. (NOTE - my journal might not be up to date around this time.....lol) I'm around 265-270 lbs at 6'-1". I've been at this weight before in the past, but I'm leaner now. Still way too fat though. I’m tired of the profuse sweating, heavy breathing, the poor sleeping, and the less-than-desirable waistline. I want to be a healthy & active dad too. Moving heavy poundages no longer is a priority for me.
Realistically, I have probably around 210-215 lbs of lean mass on my frame. Unfortunately, that makes me much fatter than I should be....probably around 20%. I can still see some resemblance of abs, so maybe I'm being a little hard on myself, but there's plenty of extra hanging on my lower back and obliques. Sitting behind a computer screen for 40-50 hours a week doesn't allow for much wiggle room diet-wise! And let me tell ya, I like to eat.....
In the past year, I’ve really debated about where my goals were leading me. The past couple years I had the urge to step on stage. I no longer have that desire, for various reasons. Nowadays, I'm becoming more & more focused on longevity and the benefits of maintaining a leaner condition year round. Chasing size sounds fun at first, but when all the side effects arise (see above), then it doesn’t sound so fun anymore. I always have this desire to get lean and maintain a healthier weight year round……..but I always have regressed back to the size game. However, it’s time to make that shift.....permanently.
So…..how drastic of a fat loss are we talking here? Well, I’m not sure yet. This is NOT a contest prep. In fact, I'll probably handle this in 2 phases. Phase 1 will be just trimming off the easy & sloppy weight. To get to this point, I'll be around 240-245 lbs. Phase 2, if I decide to do it, would be to get sub 10%. This would require me getting to the mid 220's.
Phase 1 shouldn't be too bad. I prefer a slightly aggressive gameplan over a long & drawn out method, but that's only because I hate the process so much! I'm a big fan of Skiploading, which has always worked well for me.
Phase 2 (sub 10%) is where I will likely run into road blocks. Experience has taught me a couple things:
1) Getting that lean is not easy, seeing how I’ve never been able to do it
2) Getting that lean for purposes other than contests is usually counterproductive since it leads to a point of diminishing returns.
I’ve also been doing some reading (and brief testing) of intermittent fasting. I think I might try this out…it has some merit amongst many respected members on here. I’m considering fasting from 6pm to 9am (15 hours) and feeding from 9am to 6pm (9 hours). I’ve tried it out…..it’s not bad at all. In fact, I didn’t even notice the hunger. I just sipped some BCAA’s in the morning and had my first meal at 9am. During the feeding period, I cram in the same amount of calories, so my meals are bigger and more satisfying. This might be an effective diet tool…..we’ll see.
I'll post up more info later....
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