So today was my fourth Physical Challenge since I started using Yourself Fitness again. The Physical Challenge is where you do a series of tests to determine how your progress is coming with the program. You do 2 minutes worth of jumping jacks to test your cardio fitness, squats to test your lower body strength, push ups to test your upper body strength, crunches to test your core strength, and a stretch to test your flexibility.

For the first time I’ve noticed some significant improvements.

For starters, my resting heart rate has gone from being about 40% of my working heart rate to over 50% of it, meaning that where two minutes of jumping jacks used to be a “moderate” level of intensity for me, it’s now considered “light.” I’m doing 10 more squats now then I was when I started, and about 7 more crunches. Unfortunately, my push up number hasn’t moved since day one (1 whopping push up, and barely one at that) and neither has my flexibility (although I attribute some of that to still having a bit much excess flesh on me to get into the full stretch). I’ve recently increased the size of the hand weights I’ve been using for my upper body workouts, though, so I hope to start seeing some improvements in that area soon.

All in all, I’m really pleased with myself and the progress I’m making. I’m starting to really see a difference both in my workouts and in my muscle definition. My arms are getting larger and more “cut” looking, and my legs (which were pretty spiffy to start with) are getting even more toned. It’s easier every day to find the motivation to do my workouts, and I’m actually on the verge of increasing some of them to 45 minutes a day (I’m doing 30 every day now).

I’m proud of myself, and I’m determined to keep this up. It’s going to be hard next month when rehearsals start for We Won’t Pay, but I’ll find a way. I’ll also have the added benefit of being physically prepared for the challenge that is going to be the rehearsal process. From everything maladr1n has indicated, this is going to be a taxing one.

Go me!

Your current weight | 279.6 lbs
Weight change since your last recorded weight | -4.0 lbs
Total weight change to date | -139.6 lbs

1.6 pounds away from my last known weight before Goth Cruise. Whoo hoo! Still sticking with the daily Yourself Fitness routine (haven’t missed a day yet), and seeing some very positive results in the muscle/tone department.

Now…Weight Watchers is beta testing a new program in our market (and, as xanyboi said, I didn’t sign an NDA with them). Basically, if you’re a guy, you’re getting more daily points. In my case, it’s a lot more. Nine a day. This may seem like an inordinate amount (and it may turn out to be so), but…

Well, I’ll just paste what I wrote to Xany in response to his displeasure about the new plan –

I think the change makes sense. I did the math again after we left the meeting. I didn’t get another 5 points a day. I got another 9. 63 more points a week than I’m currently supposed to be eating. Truth is, though, supposed to be eating is the key there. Even when I was having nothing but success on program I quite frequently went over my weekly allotment of points. For the longest time, Friday night was my “fuck it” night. I was going out with my friends to eat every Friday, and pretty much ordering whatever I wanted. I would journal all that day, and every other day in the week, but Friday nights I ate whatever the hell I wanted – and I consistently lost weight. I’d be willing to bet that during that time period I was eating in points about what I’ll be eating on this new program.

Here’s the thing, though – It means I’m going to have to be MORE diligent than I was before. Because if I’m eating these extra 63 points every week and still going over…I’ll have issues.

You’re right, though. I think we owe it to WW and anyone who joins after us to be REALLY diligent about this new plan to make sure it’s solid.

—

I’m kinda jazzed about the new changes. Even when eating well, I would often deal with late night hunger (not just munchies), and have a few reasonable snacks before going to bed. This would make me feel like I cheated, and I’d get discouraged by the end of the week. So…we’ll see.

419.2 / 279.6 / 225

I’m going to do this.