Even if those challenges are self-imposed. Have you made any resolutions since yesterday? Is there anything that you’re planning to start come New Year’s or are you going to start now? I’ve been struggling lately with working out on my own. Not with motivation, but figuring out what to do and how much to lift. I was spoiled for so long with Trainer Man handing me weights, telling me do this, lift that.
Now that I’m changing my own weight plates I’m discovering a bunch of things. It’s hard to figure out the correct weight to use so there’s a lot of trial and error. The first week was an experiment week for the most part and allowed me to get a starting point weight for the exercises I’m doing. I now know where I need to go heavier and where I should lighten up.
The other thing I discovered is that adding up weight plates combined with bar weight in my head is hard! I checked in with Trainer Man this week and my body fat has gone up. There was a bunch of raised fist shaking at that news. It’s now higher than I’d like so I’m going to nip this in the bud. Now… not in January.
I’m still working out 6 days a week so no problems there. With yummies being all around at work (see picture for evidence), hot dogs at hockey games, and a few too many splooshes of cream in coffee, it’s adding up in the eating. Calories count, even with consumed in little bites here and there.
Trainer Man put it in perspective. 200 calories extra each day is almost 2 pounds in a month! 200 calories is nothing and so easy to accidental scarf down. So I made the decision to challenge myself to get my eating cleaned up and under control. The opposite is true too. 200 less calories per day is almost 2 lbs gone in a month.
Yesterday I started the Whole30 Version 5.0 program. My eating is usually in the ballpark of this but I do have dairy, protein shakes, and the occasional diet soda thrown in. I also have grain free desserts and “real” cheats too. Following this challenge will remove all that and really force me to focus on eating right for 30 days.
I can do this. I stayed strong all day yesterday and ate perfectly for Day 1. I really wanted those chocolate covered balls of cookie dough, but didn’t. 29 more days to go. I’ll update you on my resolve and progress. Feel free to join me if you’re looking for a change or clean up in your eating too.
This Friday will be a challenge since it’s my Mom’s birthday. We’re going to a vegan restaurant to celebrate. I’ve already looked at their menu online to plan ahead. Dessert won’t be hard to pass up, but I’ll have to eat my protein (AKA animal parts) in the car. Shhhh, don’t tell the vegans!
Are you struggling with keeping your eating in check like I am? I’d love to have a Whole30 buddy (or even a bunch of buddies) to encourage each other. Wanna join me?
Since I mainly workout in the garage, or when the weather’s nice here in sunny So-Cal, I use my laptop to track my progress in a snazzy spreadsheet I made. But the important this I make sure I do is to always have the calculator up and running, so I don’t have to worry about doing math in my head when I should be focused on other things. That way, if I need to add on weight, there’s less chance for error.
-Mitchell
I need to start using the calculator on my phone while I’m there. I usually am not that bad at math but I think since all the blood is moving around, my brain doesn’t get enough during the workout. Ha! I like the spreadsheet idea. I have a printed one that I write the weights down in. I should just bring my laptop out with me. Thanks for the idea!