Diet/Eating Plan Comparison

Since about mid-June I have using a detoxification diet called the Fat Flush Plan (http://www.annlouise.com/fat-flush/overview/the-fat-flush-plan-overview.html). I have done two rounds (about 4 weeks) of the strict initiation eating plan under the FFP and I have lost about 20 lbs. I usually lose around 5 lbs. a week during the time I follow the initiation phase. While 20 lbs sounds great, it is really just the weight I gained since moving to Northern California a year ago. I was 179 lbs when we moved and I was in about the about the 6th week of Body-for-Life. With the move and a new job, I totally fell off BFL and just couldn't get to the gym or afford to repurchase the home gym equipment I had sold in Virginia to work out at home.

I was looking at my pictures from BFL and I definitely looked better at 179 lbs under that plan than I do at 179 lbs under the Fat Flush Plan. Mostly that would because I had actually lost more weight because I had also put on probably five pounds of muscle. So I my body fat percentage was actually less at 179 lbs under BFL.

While doing the Fat Flush Plan, I have been slowly increasing my cardiovascular workout. I started just walking, and I now daily run a mile and a half and walk half a mile. This daily workout only takes about half an hour and there is no travel time to the gym, so it really fits my busy schedule.

The things that I like about the Fat Flush Plan are 1) the detoxification really does help relieve my congestion systems, which is great; 2) it is easier to strict to because while the eating is more strict, it is less regimented in both its workout schedule and eating scheduled, which is easier for me; 3) because I have not gained a bunch of muscle mass, my weight loss is not dependent on my continued completion of the weightlifting program; and 4) I am much much less likely to injure my self with my very gradual increases in cardiovascular workouts. With BFL life, if I injured myself, which I did twice while on BFL and the weight came crashing back on because BFL is not a low calorie diet and the muscle mass starts breaking down into fat.

I admit that I miss the weightlifting in BFL. I miss measuring my biceps and calves and seeing them grow on weekly basis. And it is nice to be able to be on a plan where I am never hungry.

However, I have I cholesterol and family history of diabetes, so my main concern has to be major weight loss and maintenance of that low body weight. So I am trying shoot for more of a long distance runner's body. Once I reach my goals on weight maintenance, I will see if can add some muscle mass slowly, without injury.

Day 54 -- Back on Track

This week has been crazy because we were moving to California. I last worked out last Saturday. I am most bummed because I never had my chest work out with Ken (i.e., Marc's Mr. America Trainer). Anyway, I signed up for 24-Hour Fitness today because there is a gym just 1/2 a block from my new office in San Francisco. I did my upper-body work out. I benched a high of 185 and also did barrel presses which I learned last week. I also did shrugs with 185lbs and I can feel it in my neck. For my back I did dead lifts and arnold presses for my shoulders. For my triceps I did Ken's secret press and my inside triceps were on fire. I did not get up to 100lbs yet for the barbell curls, but I did do reclined curls and could feel the whole head of my biceps getting a good work out. Because I had not worked out in a week, I also added a 20-minute cardio and then added a 20-minute fat burn work out. Hopefully, I will be better on track this week. I cannot believe I have only 4 weeks left. Amazing!

Day 48 -- Seven Week Photo Comparison

No comment necessary!

Day 44 -- Working Out with Mr. America

Want to increase the effectiveness of your work outs? How about working out with a guy who actually placed in the Mr. America competition. My buddy Ken placed in the Mr. America competition quite a few years ago, but he is still extremely buff. I mean humongous! I have always been very intimidated to work out with him even though he has frequently invited me and we are very good friends. So I finally got up my courage and decided to let him "bring on the pain!" I met him yesterday at Gold's Gym in Herndon and the manager immediately gave "any friend of Ken's" a free 7-day trial membership. The pass lasts until September 3, 2008, which is the day before I fly off to California to start a new job and new life. So until then, it's just me and Ken at the gym every evening. Last night we worked on our backs. We "warmed up" doing a lift with a barbell wedged in a rack on one side and 45lb plates on the side we were lifting. Ken said the inside grip was better than the similar machine with the bicycle-type handle bars. I liked it cuz it felt "old school." Next, I learned how to do proper dead lifts. Dead lifts are apparently the best exercise ever invented for total body workout. Next we did a machine that was like a lat pull but worked more my upper back and Ken had me keep doing the exercise while he took off the plates and I couldn't pull back on the handles anymore without any plates left. So here I am feeling like if a two-year old ran into me I would fall over and Ken says we would finish up with pull ups. I have not completed a pull up for years. I say completed, not attempted, because about three months ago I was at a playground with my kids and I attempted a pull-up. I also charlie-horsed in both arms about half-way up. So, to my amazement, I did complete two pull ups and then Ken grabbed my feet and made me do 3 more. Needless to say, my back is very sore today. The great thing about today is I learned how (at 40 years old) to finally do proper squats. Ken trained me with just the barbell first and then I worked my way up to 185lbs. But the absolutely amazing thing was to watch Ken squat 400+lbs. That is 4 big plates on each side. The steal barbell actually bends down it has so much weight on it. There were some teenagers next to us squatting in the 200lb range and they all stopped and starred with amazement, just like me. Then Ken told me about back in the day when he would squat 600+lbs. Anyway, this post is getting long, so I will just say that I could barely walk down the steps from the gym when Ken was done with me tonight. Tomorrow -- biceps and triceps -- Wahoo!