Full Throttle - Days 34 and 35

This weekend was a good weekend. My wife and I spent the weekend celebrating our anniversary. Although we went to several restaurants, I was very careful with what I ate. For lunch one day we went to Benihana, and I ate only a small amount of rice, along with chicken, and calmari cooked on the hibachi grill. Then for dinner at another restaurant I had scrambled eggs with hamburger meat, spinach, and mushrooms. As most weekends, it is more difficult to drink as much water as I drink during the week days when I am able to drink water all day while sitting at my desk.

Full Throttle - Day 33

Today I was weighed and measured. I have lost 3 pounds in the last week, and I have lost a couple inches. I am excited that my weight went down, but I was hoping for bigger results. Maybe I have watched The Biggest Loser too much, and I keep expecting to have one of those weeks in which I lose 10+ pounds. So far, it has just been slow and steady. This week I ate really healthy, and so I had hoped to really see some results. However, I am down 12 pounds and 7 inches in just over a month, and my waist is down about 2 inches. I am so excited that my weight and size keep dropping. My wife and I are celbrating our anniversary this weekend, so I am really having to remain disciplined as far as my diet is concerned. My goal is to lose 15 pounds per month for the next few months.
This morning's training was intense (as always). I love the feeling after a good, hard workout. The video below was taken during our training today.
I have gotten behind on my blogging, so I am actually typing this several days late. I followed the same eating routine as I have all week with several meals. However, I do not remember exactly what I ate.

Full Throttle - Day 32

Today something happened that I have been waiting for. We all have those clothes that we hang on to "just in case" we lose weight and need them someday. Well, today was that someday, at least for one pair of shorts. I was changing clothes this evening and put on some of my favorite shorts, which I purchased last summer. Unfortunately, those shorts were now too big, and they were practically falling off of me. So, I went to the top of my closet and figured I'd give my old shorts a try. I had not worn them in over a year because they had become too small. Well, they are no longer too small, and I was so excited to be able to wear those shorts. I have half a closet full of clothes I like that I have not been able to bring myself to part with, and I know that within the next couple months I will be able to wear them all. I am a bit nervous about tomorrow morning because my weight and measurements will be taken. I have worked SO hard this week, and I fear seeing no change. However, no matter what any of those measurements say, I am able to wear shorts that have not fit me in over a year. THAT excites me.
Here is what I ate today:
7:45am - ProGrade Lean Meal Replacement Drink, several strawberries - 35 grams of protein
10:15am - 1/4 cup of almonds - 8 grams of protein
12:30pm - 3 steak fajitas with homemade guacamole using cabbage leaves in place of tortillas (surprisingly delicious!!!) - approx 80g of protein
4:00pm - Whey protein drink, pear, 1/4 cup of almonds - 60g of protein
6:15pm - 6 scrambled eggs - 36g of protein

Full Throttle - Day 31

Today's training was one of the most difficult yet. We did 10 pullups, 20 squats, and 30 new kind of kettlebell swings. After completeing this, we ran 400 meters. Then, we did it again... then again... then again... then again... as many times as possible in 30 minutes. It was unbelievable how difficult it was to run after working my legs so much. As I was training, I kept telling myself that good things will come if I work hard. If getting in shape and being healthy came easy, then everyone would do it. I know it is not easy, and I am reminded of this daily. However, I also know that the hard work will pay off, and eventually I will really see the benefits. I am already noticing that I have more stamina, and my legs feel stronger.
I am going to try to keep track of the number of grams of protein I eat in a day. I am having to do some research to try to figure out the amount of protein in each item I eat.
Here is what I ate today:
5:30am - Whey Protein Drink, about 10 blackberries - 52 grams of protein
7:45am - ProGrade Lean Meal Replacement Drink - 35 grams of protein
10:00am - Several blackberries
12:30pm - 2 smoked sausages, smoked chicken breast - 40 grams of protein
3:45pm - Whey Protein Drink, about 1/4 cup of almonds, pear - about 75 grams of protein
6:30pm - 2 small smoked chicken breasts, several zuchinni slices - 50 grams of protein
I drank over 150 ounces of water today

Full Throttle - Day 30

Planning out your meals for the week sure does make things much easier. It makes my choices much easier and makes it much more difficult to give in to temptation. Although I had to make some slight changes to my "road map" it was easy to fill in the gaps where necessary.
Here is what I had to eat today:
7:45am - ProGrade Lean Meal Replacement Drink, several strawberries
10:15am - handful of almonds
12:30pm - Salad with smoked chicken breast and mushrooms, with balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.
3:45pm - handful of almonds, pear, and whey protein drink
6:45pm - Smoked catfish, 2 handfuls of spinach
I drank over 120 ounces of water today

Full Throttle - Day 29

Today I gave my "road map" for my week's meals to BJ for him to review. He made a few suggested changes, which was very helpful for me. It made dinner tonight for our family very easy because we already had it planned.
Here is what I ate today:
5:30am - Whey Protein Drink, several blackberries
7:45am - ProGrade Lean Meal Replacement Drink, several strawberries
12:00pm - Salad with turkey, 1 egg, and light balsamic vinaigrette dressing
1:30pm - 1/4 cup of almonds
4:00pm - Whey Protein Drink, apple
6:45pm - Smoked chicken, green beans, and several slices of raw zucchini

Full Throttle - Days 27 and 28

This weekend it hit me how hard this whole thing can be sometimes. Right now I am finding the eating part to be the most difficult aspect of my transformation. I have eaten poorly for so long that it is taking much more effort to change my habits than I expected. BJ's comment on yesterday's blog kinda knocked the wind out of me a little and made me realize how poorly some of my eating choices are. I realize that I must plan ahead on what I will eat and to be prepared so that I do not make poor decisions. Today I planned out everything I will eat the rest of this week. Tomorrow morning I will take my plan to BJ so he can look over it and make any suggestions so that I can have a good week as far as my diet is concerned. I truly want to change my life, and my eating habits must change for this change to be successful. Almost seven days a week one of my kids has a baseball or basketball game or practice, or I have to umpire adult softball, or my wife has to work late, or any combination thereof. This hectic schedule has made it difficult for us to have time to prepare good quality meals at home. We must plan ahead so that we have food prepared when necessary so that we do not just go and grab fast food when we have a busy night. I am looking forward to the health benefits as well as the financial benefits of planning out our meals in advance.