End of Week 1

Yesterday was the second workout of the week and 8 days since I started working out and eating healthier.

It seems to be working and I'm seeing results rather quickly. It could just be a blip since it's only been a week but I do feel leaner and the scale says I lost 1.8kg (4lb) this first week. I don't expect such results each and every week, however, since 2lb is probably a more realistic goal.

In this first week I also learned that it's extremely hard to keep up with counting calories. The MyFitnessPsl app is great for foods that are pre made. It's easy to create your own recipes out of ingredients to count up the calories in a meal, but it's very time consuming to keep track of how much you're putting into various recipes. And once you fall behind in entering information it's hard to catch up. So while we are still eating healthy and making wise choices for theist part, I'm no longer as concerned with knowing exactly how many calories I'm eating each day.

The important lesson for me is to eat smaller portions, more often, chew slower and longer, and cut down on carbs. It's been working so far. If I notice that I'm starting to gain or not lose enough I may start counting again.

Today will be a test. I will be 'cheating' more than I should since it's 'beer bash Friday' at work. We have these once a month to mingle with our peers that we may not normally interact with on a daily basis. So there will be beer and appetizers. Normally this would be my dinner, and I'd pig out until I can barely move. Now I will have to control myself. To make matters worse, we are also meeting friends for dinner in the evening so I'll have even more opportunities to over indulge. I plan to get on the bike this weekend and try to burn off some of those extra calories.

So week 1 is done and here is a status photo.

So dead... Different kind of dead though

Yesterday Troy really killed me. Made me do some of the previous exercises I love/hate so much; pushups, lunges with weights, pulls in a squat, 4x20 dumbbell exercise while on stationary bike. But he also added a few new things that really did me in.

I noticed that when I work on my upper body it's what exhausts me the most. It starts with the pushups (even modified ones) and after that everything else is extra hard. The additions included two different triceps pulls, a pull-up, and a hanging crunch sit-up.

I was so dead that I could barely talk. But the good thing is that as dead as I was, I still managed to get home with no nausea symptoms like that first day. So there definitely is progress.

And people are starting notice that I look different. I don't know yet if I lost any weight, but I feel leaner. I will post an updated photo and weight probably on Thursday when the first week is over.

Oh and Bogna had her first trial workout this morning (with a trainer that's closer to us). Poor girl gets up at 5am so she's back in time for me to go to work. And she still managed to make me breakfast and pack my lunch. How lucky am I?

Day 1

I was feeling quite low in energy when I came to my second training session, so I was a bit worried how it would turn out.

Troy was waiting for me when I came through the door and asked me how I was feeling. After I changed and got on the treadmill I told him about how I felt after the first workout. He wasn't too surprised. He said it was probably my body going into shock and screaming "tym! What the hell are you doing to me!". It could also have been low blood sugar, and he encouraged me to try a supplement (both for pre workout and for recovery). One he likes is a locally made vegan product called Vega Sport. Coincidentally Bogna texted me from Whole Foods earlier in the day (after reading yesterday's post) and told me she bought me some samples to try (more on that later).

So as I was working up a sweat, Troy told me that I should really come in 15-20 mins early and get on the treadmill myself so that I'm dead and ready for more punishment by the time he arrives. That way I get the best use of my time with him. Great idea but only means I'll be even more dead next time :)

Moving onto the rest of the workout, Troy got me doing pushups once again, only this time I was so sore from night before that I had to do a modified version on my knees. It was still a killer to hold each one for 5 seconds.

This was followed by this other exercise that Troy encouraged me to do at home as well. Laying on my back he told me to place both feet together as close to my butt as possible, then lift one leg up as high as I could and then lift up my butt. Excellent workout!

Next he got me doing lunges from one side of the gym to the next and back. Each lunge was with weights in my hands that I had to curl, then push above my head. Really burned my quads!

I probably shouldn't have mentioned that to Troy because he took me over to this cable pull machine and told me to squat and do chest pulls. OMG Ithis was a killer for the quads and back. What did Bogna get me into???

Next we did some abdominal twists which worked the abdominals (duh!) and the back and shoulders (because of the elastic I was pulling with outstretched arms).

For my final routine Troy got me on the stationary bike. I thought this was going to be a cool down. Boy was I wrong! While maintaining 70rpm I had to lift weights. First arm curls, then lift them above my head, and finally straight arms to the sides. This was a total killer especially while trying to make sure I didn't fall off the bike.

Good thing this was the end or I wouldn't have been able to go any longer. We finished with some stretches and then it was off to the changing room.

Now this is the time last workout I began to feel dizzy and nauseous. Surprisingly this time I felt much better! Still a bit lightheaded but I could actually get dressed without feeling like I would pass out. I got to the bus stop much earlier than the night before and on the bus I could read instead of curling up in a fetal position :)

When I got home Bogna gave me one of the Vega powders to drink. Pretty yukky!!! But I think I could get used to it. 25g of protein in 100 calories. But I couldn't wait for dinner that Bogna prepared for us. Baked salmon with a green salad. Soooooo gooooood! A healthy meal anyone would enjoy!

Today I'm feeling sore but quite energetic. I think things are looking up. Hopefully my choices for breakfast and lunch will keep me satisfied.

And TGIF!!!

Feeling a bit low...

I'm struggling a bit today. I feel as if my blood sugar is too low or something. Feeling a bit hungry after lunch too. I'm not sure how many calories I should be eating in a day (something I need to ask my trainer today). The app I started using to track calories says 1200 based on my current weight and my goal. Seems kind of low. I've already gone over (by 360) and it's only 1pm. Don't know if I will have enough energy for a good workout in 4 hours. Maybe it's just being up since 5:30am...

Day 0

Today I officially started my journey.

Close your eyes and close your browser if you don't want to see a topless fat dude. Sorry... In order to keep myself motivated I decided I'm going to keep these progress reports raw.

My starting weight is 86.6kg (though yesterday morning I was 85 on the dot so these things seem to fluctuate based on a few different factors, and time of day seems to be one of them).

4 hours ago I had my first fitness test and assessment with my new trainer. First he took a few measurements and asked me questions about my routine, diet, and health and activity history.

Then he put me on a treadmill and I began walking, while he gradually increased the speed and incline. Each time he asked me to tell him how I felt on a scale from 1 to 10 where 10 means I can't go any longer. The goal was to get my baseline fitness level including my max heart rate. Turns out that I'm in pretty good shape, or the machine is not working properly. He was surprised by my # of about 120bpm. He said we'll have to redo the test another time. I was tired and out of breath after about 20 minutes but felt pretty strong.

Next he asked me to do some pushups which I was able to do with proper technique. Then we moved onto some squats with a 20lb weight. Did OK but I started to feel more tired and a bit woozy. We moved onto some pull downs. After a few reps I started to feel 'cotton mouth' and a bit more weak. Everything started to add up.

Since it was now coming to the end of our session he said that it's probably a good point to stop and move into some stretching exercises. Good thing because I don't think I would last much longer. After doing a few yoga-like stretches we ended our session and I hit the locker.

At this point things got weird. I expected to continue winding down and regaining strength but I only got more dizzy and nauseous. I sat there doing breathing exercises hoping it would go away. It didn't. But I had to get dressed and the bus was in ta few minutes so had to get out if there. Somehow I dragged myself to the bus stop, boarded the bus, and for the entire 40 minute ride closed my eyes and breathed, hoping to not pass out.

Incredibly I felt this faint for at least 2 hours after. Is it because I'm so out of shape? Was my blood sugar to low? Maybe a bit of both. I started feeling better after I ate dinner. But maybe it was just the time.

But I survived, and tomorrow is another day and another session. Wonder if I will feel the same way? Need to ask my trainer what he thinks about this. Is that normal?

The journey to fitness begins today

Last year (2011), my wife and I were blessed with our first child, Noel. He's the greatest gift my wife could have given me, and I love being a dad, and love him more than can be expressed in words. But as he gets bigger and more energetic I worry I won't be able to keep up with him. I've always struggled with not having enough energy, and have had a few ailments over the years that I've used as excuses to not be more active. I used to play hockey and participated in other sports, but somehow over the last 10 years I've let myself go in some ways. I'm by no means obese, but I could lose a few kilograms, I'm sure. But the main thing is I need to increase my fitness, and energy, so I can be healthy and active and be a better husband and father.

My dear wife gave me a Christmas present this past year that is both a show of her love for me and a challenge. She found a fantastic personal trainer and signed me up for 20 sessions over the next 2.5-3 months. The goal is for me to be fitter and healthier by the time I turn 40 in April.

In order to help motivate me and keep myself on track I've decided to blog about this journey. I hope to post here on a regular basis to update on my progress.