Final Measurements

Well the day has arrived, and while my goal was set back a month I am happy I stuck with it this long. It is quite an accomplishment to see hard work and dedication pay off.

Throughout the majority of this program I didn't feel deprived and once I got past that first weekend, things got easier. It helped to have a plan laid out for me to just follow and not have to think too much about what to eat and when.

I learned a ton of new stuff like recipe ideas, nutritional strategies and how to transform your body super fast.

I have never been in this good of shape before. In 2004 I was 9.6% body fat but didn't feel as fit as I do now, and I honestly couldn't tell you what I was doing other than running 5 miles three times per week. Now I feel more fit, stronger and am not limping around all the time like I was then (I had an achilles problem due to the running). You are probably wanting to know the final measurements. Well here they are:

When I started the program my circumference measurements were:

3/7/08

Hips: 41.25

Waist: 34.5

Thigh: 25

Arm: 13.5

Today 6/29/08 they are:

Hips: 38

Waist: 30

Thigh: 22.5

Arm: 13.75

For a total loss of 10 inches

My current body weight is 196 for a total loss of 21 pounds

And my current body fat is 10% for a total loss of 11% body fat

I looked like this when I started:

And here is where I am today:

(Sorry I had to add that last one, my wife forced me to do it:)

Perhaps the most rewarding feeling is that fact that I am not ashamed of my body anymore. Growing up I was overweight and despised how I looked. After going through this transformation I have developed more confidence. So when it is hot out I am ok with taking my shirt off.

I am not self conscious any more. The weight that carries is tremendous and I am ecstatic to have that weight gone (pun intended).

The final week

This is it.

The final week of my transformation. Actually by now it is the final days.

I am very proud of how far I have come.

I am more fit now than I ever have been, and that makes me feel great.

While I probably am not going to reach 5% body fat, I know how I feel and that is what is more important.

I had an image in my head what 5% looked like and it is what I look like right now, so I guess the picture in my head was more like 9-10%:)

I think a lot of times we have images in our heads of what we want to look like and we place a numerical value to it.

Sometimes it is close and sometimes it isn't.

Regardless of how close it is, when we get there it is how we feel that matters most.

If you've tried to transform your body with success, you probably know what I'm talking about.

If you haven't, I have to tell you, there are few things more satisfying than having control over how your body looks and being able to manipulate it to become what ever you want it to.

Of course, we all have control over how our body looks and we all have the ability to manipulate it however we wish.

Take control and see how far you can go.

End of Week 3

So I've reached the end of week 3 and I've seen yet more changes.

First the measurements

Last week my circumference measurements were:

Hips: 38.5

Waist: 30

Thigh: 23.5

Arm: 14

This week we have this:

Hips: 38

Waist: 30.5

Thigh: 22.75

Arm: 14

Body fat also went down. I had been stuck at the range of 11-15% for a couple of weeks but this week my range is now 10.5-14% (I honestly think it is closer to 10.5% as I have been 9% before but didn't look this good:)

And for the visual proof, here are my pictures from last week:

And this weeks pictures (look at the side view)

Very pleased with progress. I could care less that my weight isn't dropping dramatically, my body fat and circumference measurements are dropping. I'm starting to think that 5% is too low for me and that a few percentages lower would be more than what I'm looking for. We'll see what happens this last week.

Week and a Half Left

Still not having crazy cravings.

I actually like a lot of the foods I am eating and realized the other day that I am not missing the whole grains that are non-existent during this program.

Lots of veggies, some fruit and lots of healthy fats and proteins.

I love it:)

And I'm sure if I wasn't seeing results it would be much more difficult to 'love' it.

Something I have learned about myself is that like many others I had a fear of fats, even the healthy ones.

In this program I'm eating more fats than I ever have and it is having the opposite effect that I expected.

Now I knew it wasn't the fats that were making me fat but I got sucked into the media and misconception that fats are the culprit of causing us to hold on to the body fat so many of us struggle with.

It isn't quite that simple.

There are a lot of factors. Quality nutrition is at the top of that list.
Poor carbohydrate choices and portions are also an issue.
The other biggie is overeating.

It's funny but I used to have trouble with snacking at night and I still do snack from time to time. However, the big difference is that I don't reach for the carbohydrates like I used to.

Instead I look for fat and protein combinations to satisfy my snacking and the choices I now make are supportive ones, meaning they are healthy.

I didn't expect to learn something with this program but it is always a plus. I guess I was a little naieve (did I spell that right?) to think I wouldn't learn anything.

I Cheated!

Yup its true.

Last night I cheated.

But not in the way you might think. I didn't cheat with ice cream, or chocolate, or candy, or pizza. I just had more than what I was supposed to.

My evening snack I had seconds on and I also had twice the portion for lunch. All healthy options but my calories aren't as low as they should have been.

It's a cheat but it is still a win. See I could have gone off the deep end and had pasta, ice cream and pizza, but I didn't. And even though this isn't the ideal situation, I did cheat but did so in a supportive way.

I felt bad about it for about ten minutes then realized that this is a huge step in the right direction for me moving forward. I am halfway through this phase of the program and am doing great mentally and physically. I took measurements today. My pictures show difference and there is some difference with circumference measurements and weight but not so much on the body fat percentage (although the measurements were lower not enough to drop percentages in body fat). Here are my current pictures:

Here are my pictures from two weeks ago:

My current weight is 198

My circumference measurements are:

Hips 38,5

Waist 30

Thigh 23.5

Arm 14

At the end of the last phase they were:

Hips 39

Waist 31

Thigh 23.5

Arm 13.75

Not a lot of loss, but I think the pictures show the biggest changes. I am also wearing a loose size 34 pants which I haven't worn a 'loose' size 34 since junior high school.

At this point I'm not so sure I care about what the numbers are showing, although mostly good, and I would like to see the body fat drop, I am pleased how far I have come with this program and how things are coming together physically.

A Good Week

Another good week under my belt.

Some great news is that I pulled out a pair of shorts that I had no chance of fitting into this winter.

My mother in law bought me two sizes: 38 and 34.

I had been wearing the 38 all winter and just changed on Monday. It was long overdue because these shorts were falling off me.

So I tried on the 34's and to my surprise, they were loose too! The last time I was smaller than a size 34 I was in Junior High (maybe even younger but that is as far back as Ican remember).

I actually don't know what size I was in junior high because I wore elastic band clothing back then.

They felt the most comfortable.

On another note, I don't think the scale has gone down but I don't give a crap, I look great. I'm hearing it from my boot campers, my family and friends.

That and the shorts are the real indicators of results, the scale just plain sucks.

I won't be a slave to that thing ever again.

Measurements on Sunday to see numerically how I have done, but honestly I already know.

Many are asking what my secret is. Well there are a lot of things but I am using this on a regular basis in my nutrition plan. I've got a lot of cool ideas using this and they taste awesome.

I made it!!

The weekend is over and I made it clean!

And it actually wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.

Once I got past Friday night, the rest was a breeze, well almost a breeze.

Yesterday was quite tough.

See, I didn't train yesterday so my calories were cut and I lost a meal (workout meal) and that made it tough.

I wasn't hungry, I just wanted to eat again. Purely a mental game.

But it is over, now its Monday and I'm moving forward.

As I mentioned yesterday, measurements didn't show much except for a 1/2 inch loss on my waist but I am seeing quite a change overall.

I can see my abs better (big bonus)
I can see more definition in my arms

Those are the two biggies. So I can tell it is working, I just may need to manipulate the menu a bit in a week if there aren't significant changes.