Quest for the Best

[pp890]

Okay, so here?s how it goes. I grew up most of my life overweight. I remember briefly being skinny when I was younger, and then getting obese over time. I never really thought I was fat until about 5th grade when the whole ?girls? thing kicked in. I started liking girls probably liking about every decent looking girl in my grade, just hoping to be ?cool? like the other kids and have a girlfriend. There was one girl who I really liked, who ironically now is one of my best friends?. Oh yeah, I?ve also been friends with the same kids since I was about 4.
So, this past year I began college. My goal was to come back the first year thin and cut to impress my friends who have known me as overweight for so long. Well, I began school at 242 and cut down to around 220 by Thanksgiving. Then, I lost it for a while. Christmas came and between the holiday and everything else I got back up to 235. I?ve lingered around there for the past couple of months. In February I was supposed to meet a girl for lunch that my friend use to know, but she wound up backing out on me, and stopped answering my calls. That gave me a push to lose the weight, but it never really happened, as I lost the motivation after a while.
I started dieting again about 3 or 4 weeks back and managed to get down to 229.0. Between school and everything else I really haven?t had time for the gym (or at least my laziness hasn?t created time for the gym). I?m going to Florida on June 3rd, and summer is just 23 days away. I know I won?t be able to get down to 200 by summer, but I want to by June 3rd. My birthday is on July 10th and I?m really hoping to be down around the 175 mark as a birthday gift for myself.

Tuesday, June 22nd
Like I said, I have been going with the excuse that I haven?t had time for the gym lately. Well, today I made time, and went with a new workout and I feel great. I always had a saying for the gym. ?Once you stop going it?s the hardest thing in the world to get back, but once you?re back, you?re hooked.? I got a really good workout in today. My new workout plan can be found in the May edition of Muscle and Fitness. Other than the buddy curl, I began each workout with 6 reps of heavy weight. I then moved in the range of 6-20 reps of moderate-light weight.

Weight
March 25th, 2008: 237lbs.
April 22nd, 2008: 229.0lbs.
Next Weigh-in: April 28th, 2008
Expected Weight: 225lbs.

?Buddy Curl?
A Buddy curl consists of a dumbbell in which you choose a weight you would normally burn out on with 10 reps. You begin with 1 rep then hand it off to a friend. (If no one is there with you, you take a break evening out to the amount of time it would take for your buddy to do 1 rep) Then you do 2 reps, and hand it off again, going up to 10 reps.

BICEPS SETS REPS
BARBELL ?BUDDY? CURL 1 55
STANDING DUMBELL CURL 3-4 6-20
PREACHER CURL 3-4 6-20

TRICEPS
DIPS 3-4 6-20
TRICEPS PRESSDOWN 3-4 6-20
OVERHEAD TRICEP EXT. 3-4 6-20

CARDIO DURATION REPS
JUMP ROPE 1 MINUTE 3
BOX JUMP ------- 25

[pp890]

Everyone has this perception of who they want to be. From when you?re younger you have people that you look up to, whether it?s your parents, a sports star, or a local police officer, there?s that one person who you see yourself being. I always liked to set the bar higher for myself. I made these goals, and looking back now, so many I never kept. I wanted to lose the fat and get fast and become a halfback in football for my high school, I wanted to make the baseball team in high school, I wanted to learn how to skateboard. So many times I would try to do something and never fully accomplish it, or this dream would never turn to reality. I played football, but never started, I tried out for the baseball team my freshmen year, didn?t make it and never tried out again. I tried skateboard when I was younger but I didn?t have the balance to keep at it.
I?ve been trying to lose enough weight to be fully happy with myself for years. Never can I look back and say that I?ve truly been happy with the way I look. Sure, I?m happy with myself, I?m not some kid that?s depressed all the time, I have the best family and friends in the world, and I have so much in my life to be happy about. But there?s never been that time that I was able to step back and look at what I?ve done and truly say ?Hey, I worked so hard for this, and look at what I?ve accomplished?. Sure, there have been plenty of awards I?ve won, but the biggest award I could ever win would to finally be at peace with my weight.
I guess what hits the hardest is back in December of 2006 my dog past away. My dog was one of my best friend, because, no matter what you can ever say or do, a dog will always stick by your side. While this may seem crazy, to those who have ever had a dog, they know how I feel. Anyway, my dog was always overweight, and the vets always told us we needed to watch his weight. Well, he past away of stomach cancer that year. Before we put him down, I promised him I would lose the weight once and for all. Well, I lost some, but just like the baseball team, and football team promises I made myself, I could never keep with it.
Now I?m serious. I need to finally accomplish this for myself. I know this promise is like no other because I feel more motivated than ever before. I need to do this for myself, no one else, and I need to be happy.

Wednesday, April 23rd
Summer: 22 Days
Florida: 42 Days
Next Weigh-in: April 28th, 2008
Expected Weight: 225lbs.
So, I?ve eaten pretty well so far today. In really good news, I got ready to go to lunch and I put on a t shirt that usually ?fits? for those that know what I mean. Basically It was a little snug when I got it, and now it?s nice and baggy. That made me feel really good. What blows my mind is that I have only lost 10 pounds since my parents last saw me, yet when they came up this past Saturday?. Or down my mom said I looked ?awesome?. Could have been mom being mom but my sister IMed me saying she had told her all about it. Could I have lost body fat? I know that when losing weight it takes time to show, and have convinced myself to be proud at the loss of about 8lbs. I didn?t think it was much, but when I went to the gym, I picked up an 8 lb dumbbell (yeah they make em) and felt the difference it makes. So I think it?s finally starting to show. Anyway I haven?t worked out yet because of class but I?m going to around 7pm, No excuses. Today looks like Legs/Cardio. Below is the workout for today.

Legs SETS REPS
Barbell Squat 3-4 6-20
Leg Press 3-4 6-20
Leg Extension 3-4 6-20
Lying Leg Curl 3-4 6-20

CARDIO DURATION REPS
JUMP ROPE 1 MINUTE 5
Treadmill--Walk 25 MINUTES 1

[pp890]

Growing up overweight is never easy to do. I always tell myself that when I have a family, I?ll only have cakes and cookies in my house for big occasion (birthdays, holidays). I never want my kids to go through what I went through growing up. One main problem like I said was always girls. I guess you can attribute it to my confidence, because, according to girls it?s not about looks (wink). But, my best friend was always very thin and athletic (I played sports, a lot of sports, just not at his caliber) and always big with the ladies. Not that I am jealous, I?m happy for him, but for a kid who?s never been very good with girls, it was tough seeing how easily he achieved success. Not just girls, but respect-wise. You ever take time to look at a thin person, that at an overweight person respect-wise. Thinner people seem to get more respect from those around them. Not really sure of the reasoning, I guess because people think that overweight people are easier to take advantage of (probably a confidence thing)? But, just one of the reasons why I?ve been trying so hard to lose the weight
Friday, April 25th
Days until summer: 19
Days until Florida: 39

Is there really 19 days until May 14th? Is it really April 25th? This freshmen year of college just seemed to pass by so quickly. Looking back now, I realize how well I was doing on my diet, and how I was down to 220 at one time. Makes me wonder if I hadn?t gotten off track, I would have been sitting peacefully at my goal and not biting my nails off about meeting goals by summer and June 3rd. Oh well, couldda, shouldda, wouldda. So yesterday I got a bit off track. I had ice cream and pizza. Why am I not getting paranoid? Well, when I began this diet I allowed myself one cheat day per week. I know, ?excuses, excuses?, but no, I did. And where I would usually use it on the weekend, I used it up on Thursday. Not the best day to use it up as it?s usually my off day from the gym, but I did.
But, as much as it got me down to cheat, I was in high spirits. Lifehouse was performing at my college and I had tickets to go with my friends. It was a blast. One thing I noticed is that for once I wasn?t thinking about my weight. Call it having my mind off of it, or being proud of losing almost 10 lbs, but whatever the case, I wasn?t thinking about it. I actually at times felt confident. Maybe it worked, my friend brought some girls with him, and for the first time in almost my life, it seemed as if they were paying attention to me. THEY were starting conversations with me, THEY were joking with me. Sure, I sound like a little school boy and it may sound laughable, but for once I felt like I was in the driver?s seat.
Anyway, so today I woke up and took a marketing test, I was not very prepared for, and went to breakfast. I had a bagel with cream cheese. I know, I know, not the best choice. But, now, I?ve had my large amount of carbs for the day, and my fat for that matter. I had 100 calorie almonds, which are really growing on me (I?m usually not a nut person). So, I?m getting ready to go to lunch around 12pm. My workout today includes calves and cardio I believe. I?m really gonna work hard at cardio to get back from last night and today?s breakfast. I?ll update tomorrow, that?s all for today.

[pp890]

Wednesday, April 30th
Summer: 15 days
Florida: 34 days
No cute story to lead me into this one----so this is how it goes. I've been pretty tough on myself since this past Saturday. I really did not eat right from Thursday to about Saturday-- Nothing to kill a diet, but nothing to help it either. With that said, all excuses aside, I have not had a second to myself the past couple of days. My 10 page research paper and 20 research logs were due on Monday, I had to do 50 Algebra problems and study for a test last night (Tuesday) and had a 6 page Management paper due today. I honestly feel like I'm 100lbs lighter right now (I wish haha). Like I said, I've definately been busy, and haven't had a second to go to the gym. Today, I'm planning on getting back and starting a 6-day routine. I know with finals coming up it's going to be tough, but I will find a way to manage my time. The past couple of days were a result of procrastination. I'm at 229 right now, my goal is 220 by May 15th. I know, it's a very high expectation and many would argue it's not very healthy, but sometimes we need to set the bar high to accomplish those little goals.
Looking at my calendar, I have a lot of regrets. If I would have kept my diet and exercising from Fall on, I would not have to worry about all this. Or, even an easier goal-- from before St. Patty's day on-- but back to reality: I didn't. And now, what seemed to be a long time goal not too long ago: Losing sufficient weight before summer, has become a short-term goal, and the goal of losing a great amount of weight before my Florida trip, which seemed "in the bag" is going to be very tough.

[Shhmmooove]

Good luck......dont burn yourself out by trying to achieve your goal in the shortest time. Work hard, eat smart, rest smart, and get your cardio in as often as possible.

[pp890]

So I got a little off track during the weekend.. my parents came down to see me and start getting clothes and stuff to bring home for the summer. I started the day off right with some egg whites and grapefruit juice and whole wheat toast. My parents brought me out to my favorite italian restaurant for dinner but I tried to keep it as healthy as possible--- a pasta with grilled chicken and veggies-- but it was a cream sauce. My mom and sister kept telling me that I looked like I lost weight-- but my sister who is a physical education teacher told me there's still a lot of work to be done (tough criticism but i love her for that). I got back in the gym yesterday after about a 4 day off time. I feel this new sense of motivation. I know I said it before but now it's like no other -- i feel really good about myself when I'm in the gym and after I work out.
So today I did biceps/triceps. I'm really trying to work myself back into my cardio routine. Last summer I was jogging with my uncle and in the best physical shape of my life (even thought it didn't look it on the outside. I walked the track for 2 3/4 miles and jogged for 1/4. I'm going to do this about 2 or 3 more times and then get up to jogging 1/2 mile and so on. I know I'm not in the shape I should be, and I feel motivated to get in shape, and finally lose this weight. Oh, for those of you that actually read, I have posted a new goal you'll see at the bottom.

Florida: 30 days
Goal by Florida: -15 lbs.
Birthday: 64 days
Goal by birthday: -30lbs

[pp890]

So here's how it is. Im done with the cheating. It was my last "Thirsty Thursday" last night and i went out and drank and ofcourse cheated. When I woke up this morning I felt terrible about it. I went ahead and looked myself in the mirror and said "you did this to yourself". It's the truth. So many times I've told myself I'm gonna do this, so many summers I've said this is the year I am happy wiht myself on the beach. Hey, school ends in 5 days and I'm no where near where i want to be. Florida is in 25 days and I doubt I'll get down to what I wanna be. I guess going home will help, but this is a new day. I told myself that when I wake up tomorrow morning it will start. No more junk food, no more "nothing". I skipped today in the gym to study for finals and what not. I worked the gym into my schedule for the next few days. Now is the time to get the momentum going. I may not be at what I dreamt by Florida, but I wanna make a deant. When I go home I'm gonna start riding my bike to the beach and back every day (8 miles) and having a solid routine in the gym. I'll keep my readers updated day to day from now on.

[pp890]

Hey guys, thought I'd be able to keep up with this more but because of finals I haven't been able to. I had a final this morning, so I had eggs on a whole wheat sandwich and a half grapefruit. I always drink water with every meal, while at college at least. I can't wait to get home to ride my bike back and forth to the beach every day (8 miles total), and get back to my usual gym. The gym seems like a long shot with all this studying, so I'm just going to need to eat super-clean. Best of luck to anyone else taking finals.
--- By the way, as much as I may have cheated, I guess the working out helped cause I lost a pound-- im now down to 228. I'm still not happy with the fact I cheated-- I could have been down 3 pounds maybe had I not cheated.

Summer: 2 Days
Florida: 23 Days
Birthday: 59 Days? .. no time to double check

[pp890]

Arite well it's been a while. I went grocery shopping on Monday to get some healthy food. I bought Natural Peanut Butter, Sugar Free Jam, Egg Whites (carton), cottage cheese, and laughing cow low fat swiss cheese spread things. I'm getting back in the gym tomorrow. I've really been pretty good, just dinner has killed me sometimes, as my parent's don't cook the best food, but I've spoken to both of them and they're gonna start cooking better food. Tomorrow night we're making an egg white wrap (I'll post a recipe). Well, tomorrow is work, but I've decided that from now on I want to really take working out seriously, so after dinner tomorrow evening I'm going to the gym, and I'll just have to meet up with my friends wherever they are, instead of worrying about them first.

[xXBoStErXx]

Good luck bro, it seems not many people like either of our logs lol. Check out mine and see what you think.

Looks solid but stay dedicated.