Monthly Weigh-In

[Being_the_Don]

Monthly Weigh-In Sat. Oct. 25, 2008

Sat. Oct. 25, 2008

Right after I woke up this morning I weighed myself and was not entirely surprised to find that I had gained weight. The results were the following:

161 pounds with clothes subtracted. TBH, I was only wearing my briefs this time so I only had about one pound of clothes to subtract from the result. 161 pounds. Not good. In just one short month I managed to gain 4.25 pounds. And it's not muscle, it's fat. I was so disgusted that I didn't even bother to measure my body fat percentage. I looked at myself in the mirror, I don't really look as if I gained weight but I feel well...fatter.

I know it sounds like a broken record to some of you guys but I know what is comfortable for me, I just don't feel right if I'm above 159 pounds. There was a time that I had let myself go and I was up around 189 pounds and I will never never return to that miserable weight. I read that our bodies have a comfortable weight and before I had allowed that to happen I weighed on average 159 pounds.

Since I had caught a cold shortly after achieving that 410 pound deadlift about one and a half months ago, I have not been as active in the gym or in regular life. I was unable to leave the house for more than a few hours at a time and for a little while there I was stuck inside altogether. I had bad food choices and it seems almost as if my body was attempting to get nutrients that had been lost due to illness. But then again it seemed as if my body was revolting against the hard work and consumed sugar because it had been deprived of it for so long. I don't know. But I don't like it.

I've got to lose the excess weight and get back to where I should be. So I'm glad that I'm over this cold because I'm not missing anymore gym time.

 

[ssj4halo]

how are you calculating your body fat? caliper? 3-site?
I am a little shorter than you and am aiming for the 155 lb range as well. :]

 

[Being_the_Don]

how are you calculating your body fat? caliper? 3-site?
I am a little shorter than you and am aiming for the 155 lb range as well. :]

I use a tape measure and calculator. The way it's done is explained elsewhere in the Monthly Weigh-In thread.

 

[Being_the_Don]

Monthly Weigh-In Thurs. Nov. 27, 2008

Thurs. Nov. 27, 2008

I can tell that something's up when I forget to post my weigh-in for the month. I didn't occur to me until late last night that I hadn't posted up anything, probably in the back of my mind I knew it would be bad news. So I weighed myself first thing this morning using the standard digital scale. I averaged my weight after weighing myself four separate times using the digital scale. Here is the result: 168.25 pounds. This is even worse than last month. Why is this so bad? Because I weighed EXACTLY 169 pounds when I joined the gym Jan. 1, 2007. This is bull sh!t but I know where it is coming from and it has got to stop. I have no one to blame but myself for letting others get to me in the first place. I workout for myself not anyone else. I will not make others happy at my own expense. This means that I am fully aware that there are those who would love nothing more than to see me as a bloated fat guy walking around. Not gonna happen. I eat candy and cereal because I like the taste but if you eat too much of something ie with great frequency then it loses its initial appeal. Actually this is a symptom of something deeper going to negative influences from haters in everyday life going back several months (really to spring and summer 08). But I don't live for other people, I live for myself.

Yes, I'm in much better physical condition than I was in January 2007. At that time I would not have been able to bench press over 80 pounds and I could not do a single pull up or dip exercise. I struggled to do 5 push ups at that time. Last night just because I had a sudden burst of energy I did a quick set of 15 push ups just to burn the energy off (but it didn't help, I was still feeling restless; this is a result of testosterone output, I know). But I also know that when I look in the mirror, I don't look or feel as I did earlier this year or even late 2007. I can still see veins in my biceps, chest but they don't seem as pronounced as they had been and I feel that I'm adding on body fat. Some people have told me that I'd actually look better if I put on "20, 30, 40 more pounds", but for some of us that doesn't work. I don't look or feel better. This is not a diss on anyone, I know that they mean well. But this weight gain? It doesn't feel right for me. Ah, but I did this to myself. Because I have been getting tired of eating mere spoonfuls of peanut butter*, a few times I've added 3 slices of wheat and eaten PB & J sandwiches or occasionally with ground beef. Although it hasn't been frequently it is still something I have not done in a long time. No one made me do it, I did it to myself. Dumb. All my fault.

No doubt I've probably added some muscle with the fat but it's the FAT that I'm concerned about. After learning this disappointing weight gain, I took a fish oil suppl. I'll be taking them more frequently now-6 to 9 per day. I purchased some olive oil about a month ago, it's expensive so I hadn't used any of it yet. I'll have to add it to my diet now. It's Thanksgiving but it starts now. I know what I need to do to get back down to my own comfortable weight. No cereal, no candy for a long long time. And even though it's much colder outside I've got to find a cardio exercise that I can do regularly to get this weight off. I will have better results next month.

* but when I record "2 tblsp peanut butter" I am eating it plain ie not as a peanut butter and jam sandwich

 

[Being_the_Don]

Monthly Weigh-In Thurs. Dec. 25, 2008

Thurs. Dec. 25, 2008

First thing this morning I weighed myself using two different scales. Although the body fat percentages were slightly higher than last month I discounted the results because I'm more concerned about the weight results.

I weighed myself four times using body fat scale and have the following result: 169.04 pounds with clothes subtracted.

I weighed myself three times using the regular digital scale and got this result: 169 pounds.

So now I weigh 169 pounds. Since last month's weigh in I have drastically cut back on the cereal, candy and other foods that I felt had contributed to my weight gain (but I'm taking it easy on the fish oil suppl's). All the same, I weigh even more now. So I think something else is at work. I had been talking to WBA since November's weigh in and he figured that I'm probably adding on muscle and a little fat. I'm inclined to think that during these past couple of months I've probably been adding more muscle. But why now? My routine is fairly consistent which primarily is to increase the amount of weight lifted while performing low reps per set. I'm going to take some photos to compare what I look like now with what I looked like during the summer. I can't always tell anything from the mirror but as far as I can see, I don't look heavier. If it's increased muscle that's okay but my goal is to lift heavy while maintaining in the 150s class. My body seems to have a "mind" of its own right now. Perhaps I'll have to start tweaking things a bit. We'll see.

 

[Being_the_Don]

I just took some photos. Comparing them with those taken in 2007 back when I had weighed in the upper 160 pound range but was only just staring to work out with weights I'm much more muscular now than back (as I would expect). But I look a little heavier than I did last summer. I don't like it. I'm going to need to increase my protein uptake and cut back even more on the easily digestible carbs.

 

[Being_the_Don]

Sun. Jan. 25, 2009

First thing this morning I weighed myself using two different scales. After averaging the weights I got the following result: 169.02 pounds. Not any change since last month, and has been holding about steady since November. This all started back in October when my weight crept up to 161 pounds. Overall, I don't see much change in my appearance which is a good thing. I don't think about cardio when I go to the gym, as soon as I get there I head straight for the free weights and I'm onto my workout. I wish there was room to sprint there but if I add some time on the treadmill, I could put up with it for a few minutes. Running in place doesn't appeal to me. :crazy: Not a knock on anyone who uses elliptical machines, since for some folks that's the only way they can exercise, it's just not my thing is all. But if I keep it short I won't get maybe I won't become bored. I'd love to ride my bike but it's too cold right now. When it warms up outside I'll definitely be adding that back into my routine.

I look good in the mirror, though. I'm liking the effect the hack squats are having on me, I'm looking even better in my jeans now.

That's all for this weigh-in. I'll post a new report next month.

 

[Being_the_Don]

Monthly Weigh-In Wed. Feb. 25, 2009

First thing this morning before taking a shower I took 3 body weight using my digital scale. Result: 174.6 pounds. My weight is going in the other direction.

I was looking at some videos of myself from last August, looking good at ~158 pounds. Now fast forward to February and I've got some fat on me at approximately 175 pounds. Disgusting. How could I have let this happen to myself? I know what I should do but it's not as easy right now. I'm working out at the gym but something is missing. I've been busy with projects and not getting out as much as I should. In other words since I'm not socializing as much my thoughts about my outward appearance have been pushed onto the back burner. Put in more straightforward terms part I'm not thinking quite as much about how women will be looking at me which has had a negative affect on my physique. I've been so busy working on the financial and academic areas of my life (while still regularly hitting the gym) that I've neglected that other and very important area of my life: women. And women want guys who are athletic and in great shape. I'm not a fatty but I don't look as good as I did last summer because of the 4-8 pounds (at least) of excess fat.

I actually do like the reaction I get from women, and since I've been depriving myself of these very needed interactions I'm seeing the bad effects of it. I need to start going back to the places I used to hang out and get myself back into things. This is part of what has been bothering me lately and it has to stop. I need to get to where I should be all around. Time to get rid of the excess fat.

 

[I-tallionStallion]

Stress can lead to fat gain. Do what you have to do

 

[Being_the_Don]

Stress can lead to fat gain. Do what you have to do

Yeah, that's true, Stallion. I don't wanna go into all of it here since I don't have the time for a long post but it is important to take it easy and ignore the haters. On a side note I decided to run my body fat measurement through the online calculator. My body fat is at 10.9 % now. That's more than 2 % above where it should be.

 

[Being_the_Don]

My Monthly Weigh- In Fri. March 26, 2009

I wasn't able to weigh-in until this morning. After 4 weigh-ins using the body fat scale (w/ the body fat % excluded) and 4 using my regular digital scale I averaged the weights together. The result is 168.395 pounds which is still high but better than the disappointing 174.6 pounds of last month. I then measured my waist and neck using my tape measure then ran my body weight and the waist measurements through the online body fat calculator and the result is 12.1 % - 13.2 %. Now the increase in body fat whereas my body weight went down from last month really doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I guess that's just the quirkiness of the measurement.

The combined strength training/HIIT workout is good for me. Unfortunately I'm dealing with a cold therefore unable to hit the gym this week (something that has me PO'd). I did some push ups yesterday afternoon and they were relatively easy. I will probably do some today as well.

So getting my diet back in order coupled with the combined workout means that my weight should be back down to normal soon.

 

[Being_the_Don]

My Monthly Weigh-in Sat. April 25, 2009

I weighed myself 8 times this morning, 4 measurements with the digital scale, and 4 using the body fat scale. I averaged them together and the result is 173.38 flookin' pounds. That's a 4.985 pound weight gain from last month. Last month I was relatively happy, the unwanted pounds were coming off but then I got sidelined by that unexpected cold. Thanks to that I gained back those 5 pounds that I had lost the previous month.

People tell me that I'm not fat but I think they just want to make me feel better. Granted I don't look fat in the sense of being overweight or obese but I know what is comfortable for me and this isn't it. I feel as if I'm becoming fat and that's what matters. I won't feel comfortable until I'm back down to what I was last year. I know for some of you guys I sound like a broken record but I can't explain it to you really, it's just that I know what I should look like and right now I'm not there. I haven't been able to get to the gym as often as I would like and that is a factor (among other things) and my diet is not as rigid as it had been up until a few months ago. It's like I got off track and trying to get the train moving again. That's what this log is for (and my fitness journal). I'm going to get back to where I belong as far as weight is concerned.

 

[eatgel]

Gain some weight " skinny "

 

[Being_the_Don]

Gain some weight " skinny "

You're an idiot. :kick:

 

[Being_the_Don]

Monthly Weigh- In Mon. May 25, 2009

Mon. May 25, 2009

This morning just before taking a shower and w/o having eaten or had anything to drink since last night I weighed myself 4 times using the standard digital scale. As of now I weigh 167.75 lb, if you discount the lowest weight (167 lb) then my weight is 168 lb. Okay, so I weighed roughly this much in December 25, 2008; January 25, 2009 and March 27, 2009 in which I was not doing the combined HIIT/ strength training program nor restricting my carb intake. The February 25 2009 reading indicated that I had ballooned up to 174.6 lb and on April 25, 2009 I was at 173.38 lb. I had been eating WAY too much during those two months. So since April 25, 2009 I have lost 5.63 lb all of which is fat. Sheesh, this really lets me know how much weight I actually gained these past months. Since I'm now back down to ~168 pounds, how much of it is fat and how much is muscle? I've still got more fat to lose, I estimate that losing roughly 5 pounds per month, I will return to the 150s class by July or August 2009. So this is good riddance to the fat.

 

[Being_the_Don]

I think I know when the problem began

Reviewing earlier log entries I see that the problem started late 2008 more specifically in October. I went from 156.75 pounds in September up to 161 pounds by October. I had just been recovering from one of those colds at about that time. By November 27, 2008 my weight had increased to 168.25 pounds (note that this is right after Thanksgiving) and ever since that time I've been at this weight give or take a pound. My problem was letting things get to me: haters, dummies (including some women from last summer) and even the unfortunate colds I endured. I talked myself out of the strict dietary habits I had been following until that time, convincing myself that I was doing allright so long as I was still hitting the gym. Of course, that is not true and deep down I knew it. Diet, strength training and cardio each play a role in how much fat vs lean muscle mass my body will have. On top of that is mental attitude, keeping a positive frame of mind and not allowing others to affect the way I see myself, obscure the vision of what I see for myself and what I shall become. I'm gradually returning to the state of mind I had before that unfortunate stumble and I'm feeling better about myself for that. Now that I know what the problem is I can defend against it and remember what Pook said about keeping frame of mind and the saying "as you think so you shall become". :yes:

 

[Being_the_Don]

Monthly Weigh In Fri. June 26, 2009

Fri. June 26, 2009

I weighed myself first thing this morning before taking a shower and on an empty stomach. I weighed myself a total of nine times using my standard digital scale and the body fat scale. Then I averaged the weights together. According to the scales as of today I weigh 164.64 pounds. So this means that I've lost a total of 3.11 pounds since last month. It's not as much as I was hoping for but it is still some lost weight and I'm on my way back to my own healthy weight. Cutting back on the carbs is definitely helping me, and consuming more protein and fat is good for me, too. As I mentioned in previous posts, setting aside two specific days for fun carbs ie cereal (and on very rare occasions ice cream, milk shake or candy) I reduce the craving for these foods and at the same time regulate how much of them I will consume. It's helping me to shed the unwanted fat. The body fat scale says that I'm at 13 % body fat now. I don't trust that one. I used the online body fat calculator and it says I'm at 9.8 %. That seems a bit too low at this point so I'll say it's somewhere around 11 %. I expect to have lost more weight by next month.

 

[Being_the_Don]

Monthly Weigh-In Sat. July 25, 2009

First thing this morning using the regular digital scale I weighed myself a total of seven times. The result is that I'm now 162.2 pounds. During the past month I lost 2.4 pounds. I didn't measure my body fat percentage this time. I wasn't able to get to the gym as often as I would have liked and for the past couple of months I've been concerned about respiratory attacks which has meant that I've cut back on riding the stationary bike at the gym because the equipment is situated directly under some ceiling fans. I'd like to jump rope but I need to be careful just the same. But I did lose weight this month which is a good thing. I'm only a few pounds away from the 150s class and I'll be getting back to that weight soon.

 

[Being_the_Don]

My Monthly Weigh-In Tues. August 25, 2009

Better late than never, right?

Tues. August 25, 2009

First thing that morning before shower and breakfast I weighed myself seven times using the same scale, after tossing out the highest and lowest readings I averaged the others together. The result is that for August my weight is 157.42 lbs - I finally got myself back down to my comfortable body weight. I also ran several body fat calculations and got a range from 8.6 % - 14.8 %. I don't trust the calculations that much, the main thing is that I can see my abs in the mirror which is good enough for me.

 

[Being_the_Don]

Monthly Weigh - In Sat. Sept. 26, 2009

Sat. Sept. 26, 2009

I weighed myself 5 times using the body fat measurement scale but I was only interested in the weight measurement. The result is that for this month I weighed in at 158.48 pounds. This is an increase of 1.06 pounds from last month. I haven't been getting to the gym as much due to respiratory attacks, biking hasn't been as frequent either. Still, it appears that I'm at maintenance. TBH, I'm surprised I didn't gain a lot of weight considering the fact I've been eating more carbs this past month. I'm actually relieved. As for body fat, I didn't take the measurement this time because after my weigh in I showered then had breakfast. Breakfast was 5 oz Honey Nut Cheerios, 12 oz milk, 1 chicken patty, 21 g corn curls and green tea.