Day 24 - New Gym Workout

Today I had a Personal Trainer appointment at my gym. Its a service thats offered at my gym, well everyones gym i guess, and they had a look at my programme and made a few changes to it to complement my aims, goals and current achievements.

Now, Im not looking forward to tomorrows gym round!

They have clicked that not only am I serious about my aims, but that I also know what I need to do in order to achieve it. So they seemed to talk to me as though I was a 'grown up' and took me seriously. Not just another one off the street who does as they are told!

I have kept my current weight programme, with the addition of one that will work my upper back, so will see how we get on with that.

The biggest change has been made to my cardio, both the amount of time spent on it and the intensity. Working on the HIIT principle.

I have to do;

• 10 mins on the cross trainer at 2min & 1 min intervals on resistance 9 and 14 respectfully. I know someone who cannot even move it on that high a resistance!
• 5 mins treadmill on a 'cross country' programme where the elevation of the treadmill changes up and down quite radically, and
• 1.5Km on the bike on FULL POWER! I had to set the benchmark today and done it in 3mins 15secs. (is that good? I dunno!)

I could hardly talk after the bike bit, and the trainer though it was funny, in a nice (sadistic) way im sure. He was a good guy really!

This is where my gym round really ramps up. As I only have limited time first thing in the morning to do it, Im really going to have to 'HIIT' it hard to make sure that I fit everything in.

I think I also committed to build my stamina up so I can start playing rugby again with a local team next season. Stupid or what!!??

Till tomorrow

Kelv

Day 23 - The Horror!

With the hard work Ive been doing at the gym, and the almost constant aching of my muscles, especially my quads, it seems im about to ache emotionally too.

Its all just got too much, the positive pressure wins out, and Im posting my Day 0 pic.

Ready.........................

What a horror!!! This was taken a couple of weeks prior to me starting out on this journey, and it was me stumbling across Adams blog that got me thinking about starting.

Note the can of cider next to me. Back then it was an almost constant vision, me with a can of something or other by my side. Well all that has changed now thats for sure.

And now for something completely different, my day 23 pics too. (Its really hard getting these pics posted! Im not that technical!)

Well, there you go! Guess the pressure is really on now, best get to the gym!!

Till tomorrow

Kelv

Day 21 Same old same old

Three weeks in and things are going really good. Apart from this morning!

Woke late, must have slept through the first alarm. By the time I was up there was no way I could get to the gym, do anything remote to a decent workout and get back to go to work in time. However, it was really good to spend some time with the family in the mornings. As my journey to work is so long, during the week I done get to see much of them. So this morning was nice.

Still felt guilty not getting a workout in. Just have to be an early rest day!

Yesterdays weight went under the 133Kg mark at 132.9Kg. That felt good. Also down another hole on my belt. Am sure looks are better that weight. Really must get the nerve to do the photo thing.

Till later

Kelv

Day 19 Still Going

Seeing as the gym round is still going well, and there is not that much to add to the statement 'gym round in full', I thought I'd mention my nutrition plan this time.

Easter holidays were difficult, especially with all that chocolate about, but I did well. I still cannot believe how much I am having to eat to keep my calorie intake up over 1500. And to think of the stuff I used to eat, I could probably do the same amount in one meal as opposed to the whole day.

Thats how much I have had to change my outlook on nutrition. Im getting well into it now. I haven't had a proper cup of coffee (a favorite at work) for nearly 3 weeks. I enjoy fruit and often have a large salad with most evening meals covering about half of the plate. Fat free yogurt and rolled oats is a particularly nice snack, even if the wife insists its 'minging' and my menu is so bland!

The weight isnt dropping off as fast as I thought it would, however I am noticing big changes with how im looking. Again, the wife said I didnt look pregnant any more. A compliment, i think!

Im liking the theory that I must be putting on similar amount of muscle than loosing fat as todays weight is 132.9Kg. 2Kg off from the start. Im going to invest in one of those body fat monitors as i think that reducing body fat is key over weight, After all, if you look good, does it really matter what you weigh?

Anyway, enough for today, need my recovery (beauty) sleep. Till tomorrow

Kelv

Day 17 - Easter Hols

Easter upon us and the amount of chocolate going around is unreal. However, as my journey really ramps up I am not tempted to partake what so ever! I have surprise so may people having got this far, including myself, and this just spurn me on even more.

What can I accomplish, how will I look, how will I feel, what will people think of me, how will my body look?? All questions that will be answered over the course of time, but I cannot help but think of what the answers may be already.

Gym work is going really well. I had a rest day over the weekend and went in this morning an put an extra 5Kgs on each of the weights in order to push myself even harder. My current weights at the gym are

• Leg Press - 100Kg - 2 x 15
• Bicep pull down - 50Kg - 2x15
• Chest Press - 40Kg - 2x15
• Shoulder Press - 20Kg - 2x15

This in addition to my HIIT on the cross trainer is really making me sweat!

Getting excited about the results as you can probably tell!

Till next time

Kelv

Day 14 - Two Weeks In

First two weeks done, and it flew by. Have learned so much over this time and am starting to put it into practice ans I can tell Im getting results already.

I have kept it secret from friends and colleagues at work, the journey im doing. Im waiting to see who is the first to notice any change and to see what they say.. o the anticipation!

Easter holidays upon us. Will get plenty of cardio in as we decorate our spare room!

Gym in full today
Todys weight 133.3

Kelv

Day 13

Not much to report today. Typical boring day at work, and usual evening routine getting everything ready for tomorrow mornings gym round, then off to work again!

Still pushing myself at the gym, but I have noticed now that if I go up a flight of stairs my legs do not ache as much as they did, so thats something.

HIIT is starting to get easier. What I mean is im getting use to the burn and the process. Never thought I would have done this for nearly 2 weeks, let alone go virtually daily to the gym. Commit ed to the cause!

Calorie counting has ceased. Over the past 2 weeks I have never gone over 1,700 calories, and cant believe how much Im eating. Alot more fruit and salads, along with a source of protein, chicken, eggs and the like. So menu is pretty much sorted and I have a good variety.

Gym in full
Todays weight 133.3Kg

Kelv

ps. Daily weight fluctuation has gone back down, strange....

Day 12 Info Overload

Since getting into this, I have been doing the on-line research and can not believe the amount of information out there, how many different programmes there are and how many e-books you can get for 39.95!

Im happy with my current work out, hell Ive got a long way to go before even starting to think about a six pack yet, but am starting to see the difference. Even my wife has passed the odd comment so I must be doing something right.

Having said that I did have a slight disappointment today. Every day I weight myself and today, for the first time, it went up! Im now 1Kg odd target, though am still happy that Im lighter than what I was when I started. It could of course just be a blip and find Im back on target tomorrow morning, who knows!

Gym in full - starting to get into this HIIT thing!
Calories today 1586
Weight today 133.8Kg

Till tomorrow

Kelv

Day 11 - HIIT'ing it hard!

No blog entry yesterday, but that doesn't mean I didn't do my gym round. And with the weekend away, thought a double hard shred session was in order.

Ive started experimenting with HIIT and boy, what a shock. Both yesterday and this morning I tried a few variations to get the feel of the burn and to see how hard I can push myself on the 'sprint' and I was pleasantly surprised at what I achieved.

As I had been reading so much about it and understood the science behind it i thought I would give it a go and am now quite curious as to what it will achieve and, more to the point, how I will feel by the end of the week! I am doing it first thing in the mornings on an empty stomach in order to maximise effect. Will see how it goes.

Even though Im not the slimmest guy in the world, and lack self confidence (not that you could tell, no pics................yet) I can feel myself changing on the inside and am carrying myself with what feels like more authority, if you get what I mean. Feels great!!

Todays Calories 1,647
Gym round done.......and then some
Todays weight 133.4kg.

Till tomorrow

Kelv

Day 9 Visit to the Zoo

Had a couple of days away with the family this weekend, so gym round has failed to happen. And I feel real guilty about it. I even tried to fit in an early morning round the day we were leaving but that didnt happen either. Tomorrow morning will be my first opportunity to get back and I will be banging on the doors to get in when they open!

One thing I did notice whilst I was away and that was my approach to eating. Usually you have a mini-break and you eat all the stuff that you are not supposed to, but the efforts to 'Eat Clean' extended to this too. For here was I with others eating chips from a chip shop, and I was more than happy tucking into a couple of apples!

I really and changing on the inside!

On one of the days I got one of them pre-prepared salad bowls you can get, it had tuna in it. Thought great, that will do. Started to eat it and I could not believe the amount of mayo hiding under the first lettuce leaf! not so much eat clean as eat slime!

No daily weight today as its late and I do it first thing in the morning, same time and all that, so that will be back in tomorrow. Will be interesting to see how I have coped and to see if my metabolism is kicking in.

Till tomorrow

Kelv

Day 7 - Gees my legs hurt!

Having really pushed at the gym the last couple of days Im really, really feeling it in my legs. Even going up stairs reminds me of the ache in my quads. But im reassured that having this feeling I know that it must be working and i constantly see improvements in my performance every morning.

Monitoring my nutrition has also been easier than I had originally thought. I have a fair idea of the right types of food to eat, and the importance to eat clean, little and often. Though Im wondering if im eating enough, despite almost constantly eating if that makes sense. I dont think Ive ever gone over 1,800 cals.

Still, I know there is still a very long way to go and this is only the end of the first week, but the results so far are spurning me on!

• Gym compleate in full
• Todays calories 1,516
• Todays weight 133.4Kg

Still shredding..........

Kelv

Day 6

I must admit, this real time accountability thing is really good. For I have started my journey and am already starting to get comments left, and replies to comments left by me on the Blogs of others. Not only is this down to me, but Im also accountable to the whole world. No pressure then!

One of the main things I can do to ramp up my own accountability is to post the dreaded before photo. This is a real toughie for me at the moment as I am sooo ashamed of what I have become. Its the one thing I really should do, yet find it hard coming to doing it. Does that make me weak, or just shy?

I have been really impressed with some of the increases into accountability with just about everyone within the Shreddersphere and am amazed at the power of these blogs. Well, just watch this space! For Im sure I will come up with something, too.

Anyway, this mornings gym round went well, Im really starting to push myself on the weights in order to get that muscle base to get my metabolism up. I seem to be eating tons of food and am careful of what I eat making sure im eating the right kinds of food, but never seem to get my calorie intake over 1,700.

Weight loss is slightly ahead of target and am really looking forward to the future results.

Anyway, time to go.

Kelv

Day 5 Back into the Swing

Gym visit went better than expected this morning. Had to modify my programme slightly as I couldn't do the row, so I did an extra 2 mins on the cross trainer half way through my weights. Just to make it interesting I thought I would up the resistance. That made me sweat!

Weights are getting easier too, I increased the leg press as this was the easiest so far of all of the sets. Im surprised im not aching as much as I thought. Maybe I really need to increase the weights.

Todays calories 1,734
Gym program com pleat with slight modification
Todays weight 134.6

'till tomorrow

Kelv

Day 4 - Or should that be Day 1 again??

Well, What a weekend. After setting myself going on Friday for the real transformation Ive promised myself, I find that the wife had organised a bit of a birthday bash for me with a few friends.

I so wanted to be good and found myself trying to find excuses, and not reasons, for being good. Well I failed ! And really bad too. I knew I have overdone the drink, but I was conscious about what I was eating. Calorie counting went out of the window and I kept saying that I was going to start on Monday 9th for a while.

And thats exactly what Im doing!!

In the Gym this morning, 6:30 and did my programme, this being the third time. I can feel it getting easier already, its true! Energy levels are generally up and I can feel my mind changing too. Much to the annoyance, im sure, of my beloved wife.

I am going to put up the weights tomorrow as some are fairly easy and I must push myself as always.

• Todays calories 1,691
• Gym programme done in full
• Todays weight 134.6Kg

Shred On !!!

Kelv

PS. Can you believe it. Ive made it onto the VIP roll at rtp-BLOG! And comments from the Adam waters himself. Well that it. This blog is now public and out there. Lets Shred!

Day 1 - Feel the Burn

Today was the first day of my transformation and also the first time doing a gym workout for some years. Boy, what a body shock!! Arms like jelly after the weights and the lungs fit to burst from the cardio but it felt great.

Being in the right frame of mind is so important and I have to keep reminding myself to be disciplined. Im sure I will be ok.

Todays workout went like this

• 10 mins Cross Trainer
• 1000 m row in 5:14s
• Weights all done with the exception of the Leg Press.

Time was getting on in the gym and I didn't want to be pushed for getting to work. Now I have a fair idea of how long my workout takes it should be all done tomorrow.

Calories today - 1,893

Weight this morning 134.9Kg. Day 1 and under target already. Shred On !!!

Kelv

Challenge

Mission 1 : Loose 35kg in 25 Weeks

Phase 1 : Weigh 128Kg by Day 35

Countdown Change & Lock Out!!

Can you believe it. Blogging for two days and already locked out. Whats that all about? Anyway, the friendly people at Blogger have sorted me out in super quick time and Im able to get back to what I wanted to do.

Change of Plan

Over the past couple of days I kept thinking why wait 'til Monday to start? What better birthday present can I give myself than the beginning of a journey that will most definitely change my life for ever. I could find no reason all.

So, the journey starts tomorrow, March 7th. Day 1.

Does this make today Day 0?

I will log all exercise and nutrition for full accountability and I'm sure by blog will change over the next couple of weeks as I work out how to get info uploaded. I may even publish pictures, hideous though they may be.

Kelv

6 Days.........

The closer I get to the deadline, the more excited and determined I seem to be getting.

I often find myself saying why the hell don't I start now, rather than waiting! The truth is that I think I need to be 100 prepared for the challenge so, over the next few days I will be pulling together a weekly meal plan and identify some key indicators that I can use on a daily basis in order to track my progress.

I have an exercise plan already. This was put together for my by my new, and very friendly, gym. Thanks must go to Matt for his encouragement of my challenge. He says its achievable, so at least I haven't been living in cloud cookoo land!

Time is really my limiting factor when it comes to getting workouts in, so I will be one of the few training first thing in the morning. I have a programme that should last 30-45 mins and is currently made up of

• 10 mins Cross Trainer
• 1,000m Row
• Leg Press
• Chest Press
• Lat Pull-down
• ..and the one where you push away from you! Whatever that's called.

With these I should be able to chart my improvements over the next few weeks, and change my programme as I get fitter.

I will try and work out how to get graphs in to show how I'm doing. I'm trying to get the courage to publish pics as well, maybe when I have something to show then I can share my journey then.

Kelv

Let the Countdown begin! 7 days to go....

Well, this is it!

After years and years of being unhappy with just about every part of my body, I have decided to get off my arse and do something about it.

I have drawn my inspiration from the tremendous work of Adam Waters, WWW.rtp-BLOG.com. To have done what he has, and to have documented it in such detail, I felt that this would be the best way for me to achieve my goals, of which there are plenty!

This 'Blogging' is totally new to me and I'm sure I will learn just as much about web technologies available, as I do about my own body, nutrition and exercise.

My PRW

This one is easy. My Powerful Reason Why is small, cute, gorgeous blue eyes and has the ability to make you smile even if you are feeling down. I'm talking, of course, about my 2 year old daughter. Not to mention my beautiful, and supportive wife.

It is for them that I wish to undertake this journey, as well as my own health. I'm fed up of being out of breath whilst playing in the garden, and fearful of the mocking looks that I will get as my daughter grows up.

Day 0

This has been set for Monday, March 9th 2008. Why this date? Well, its just after my 32nd birthday and seemed as good a day as any as I need to get my nutrition plan end exercise sorted out in the week before. As they say, if you fail to plan, then you plan to fail!

I have, today, joined a gym! This first time in quite a few years, I can tell you. As soon as the induction is out of the way I will be off!

Aims

I have a number of aims, which I will post during the week as the deadline approached. This first, and probably the biggest is to loose the Fat! I am aiming to weigh 100Kg in 25 weeks time. This will mean loosing some 35Kgs. I cannot remember the last time I weighed 100Kgs! Mind you, I did weigh 7lbs 6oz once!!


For now

Kelv