Crossing The First Hurdles

Last week we were heading into my oldest daughters’ high school graduation – which entailed having a big party at the house afterward. Between getting some needed home improvements done prior to the party and prepping for the party – this presented some serious challenges to eating right and working out.

I work long hours at my full-time job and then had to come home and do several hours of work on the house, or party prep, almost daily. Even on my Free Day (Sunday) I worked for 6.5 straight hours. All of this left me pretty tired and there were gaps in my workouts. With all the demands on my time eating 6 meals a day went out the window.

For the most part I did eat cleanly (during the week), but only managed about 3 meals a day. During the graduation party on Friday and the family gathering on Saturday, I didn’t do horribly, but I could’ve done better. I did okay on Father’s day too, but still didn’t get 6 meals in.

I had a really good upper body workout on Monday, and I’m still sore. My son finished Jr. High yesterday, and a bunch of his friends and their families got together at an Asian buffet. Staying on track was easy here as the food SUCKED! After a tasting a couple of things I decided to just stick with water – lots of water.

My next big hurdle will be 4th of July. It’s my daughter’s birthday; there’ll be family and friends, BBQ, cake and beer. I’ll have to make it my Free Day – but still keep MODERATION in the forefront of my mind.

Day 1 of 84 – Done

Great leg/abs workout yesterday. I’m still getting used to the new machines. I especially like the Linear Leg press. Just pushing up on the 45-degree sled starts you out at 80lbs. and with two sets of weight racks on the sled allows you to really crank it up. I maxed out at 450lbs.x6 – far below my high of 720lbs., but I’m working back up to it.

I was able to squeeze in my 6th meal in the form of a Myoplex shake w/ Phosphagen. I had concerns about adding creatine to my supplementation. I know it’s great for building muscle, but I’ve read that it can also make you gain/retain weight. With so much weight to lose – I was a little reluctant to use it. I posed this question on the Tracker forum, and one post suggested I was okay to use the creatine – so I did.

I have to say I’m feeling pretty good – feeling like I’m getting stronger. I know my official start date was only yesterday, but I began working out BFL style, when I got back from vacation on May 29th.

Today is D-Day

The die is cast, I’ve thrown down the gauntlet – I’m in. What better day to make an Official Start on a new BFL Challenge but on the anniversary of D-Day.

“Do, or do not. There is no try”
~ Jedi Master, Yoda ~

The quote may come from a muppet in a sci-fi movie, but the words could not be more true.

I’ve been doing pretty good so far. I’ve been going to the gym – only missed 1 day since my last entry. I have been making the workouts intense and feel it. Keeping up with the 6-meals a day has been an issue. I’ve been getting at least 4 – but have been catching a fruit, or yogurt snack pretty regularly. I really do need to get more protein in my meals – time to get a new container of whey protein.

I had to use Sunday (6/3) as my free-day as we had a large family gathering to celebrate a bunch of birthdays, anniversaries and a graduation. I didn’t do too badly with the food, but definitely not BFL challenge level.

The gym finally has all of its equipment, weight plates and dumbbells. I’m still feeling my upper body workout from Monday. I’ve actually missed this sort of soreness – it means I’m making real progress. I like going to the gym, but I’m not one of those people that like to spend two hours there. I like following my BFL worksheet, and getting my workout done in the time goal set on the worksheet. I especially like the HIIT cardio training. It’s only 20 minutes, but I really feel like I got a great workout when I’m done.

I’m a history buff and D-Day has a lot of meaning for me. It’s the day the Allies turned the tide and saved the world from unimaginable tyranny. I am proud to have had the privilege of meeting and getting to know many fine men, who in their youth, landed on those beaches on that historic day to defeat the Axis powers. Most of them are gone now, but their deeds live on for an eternity.