thoreau: (Default)
Thoreau ([personal profile] thoreau) wrote2008-06-09 08:32 am

trimming the fat

When I moved to San Francisco - I was overweight for my height. By a lot more than I realized at the time. In my first year in SF - I did the Weight Watchers thing and took the weight off - but my body was still shaped like it was heavy - and my posture said "look how unhappy I am with my body." While I was happy with the weight loss - I was still unhappy with my body image and makeup. So in the nine months - working with the occasional trainer session in cooperation with the www.realjock.com workouts - I've been working on toning, gaining strength (vs. size) and posture change. I wasn't smart enough to take before and after shots.... but.....



I was pleased today that I'm actually seeing my 'tummy' start to go away and reveal a stomach. This morning while doing the Medicine Ball Situps - I realized that I could feel muscles work and I was no longer dreading doing situps. My latest realjock setup - has me doing at least 50 incline situps between each excercise with weights - and 100 medicine ball situps immediately after my cardio warm up. and I am so glad to see (and feel) it working. Also - yoga and stretching at home on my mat before bed is making dramatic changes to my posture and walking attitude. For years I always looked down as I walked - and now I stand straight up and don't slouch.

anyhow - sure this post is a bit of a YAYME post - but we need to do those every once in a while. It's the first time in years I am really happy with how I look and feel everyday. I also know that the stronger I get - next will come a year or two of working on bulking up a bit - then perhaps I can workout with Tommy [livejournal.com profile] notdefined or Christopher [livejournal.com profile] octothorpe or Paul [livejournal.com profile] excessor without feeling like I'm working out "out of my league." :)

[identity profile] notdefined.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 03:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Y'know kiddo, you never had to worry about working out with me. The point about working out with someone is that both parties work to compliment each other. Granted, if I'm working out with Louk, then it is just the two of us and that's how it has to be, but any other time, I can adjust what I do to meet the other person half way. Besides, before much longer you will probably leave me in the dust! :)

[identity profile] budmassey.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 04:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Who knew you were such a furry beast? WOOF!

[identity profile] low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 04:39 pm (UTC)(link)
*blush* yep - I'm a carpet - and you haven't seen my back yet. :) (wink)

[identity profile] budmassey.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 04:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Stop it! Hairy backs are the shit!

[identity profile] tbone1961.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
that would be THE shit!!

[identity profile] tbone1961.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 05:29 pm (UTC)(link)
btw. lookin mighty fine there Robert!!!

[identity profile] low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 05:32 pm (UTC)(link)
:-P thanks love - the daily routine REALLY has changed my life. :)

[identity profile] tbone1961.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 05:33 pm (UTC)(link)
I truly envy your devotion to this!! Box up some of dat there motivation and send it back east...;-PP

[identity profile] tbone1961.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 05:30 pm (UTC)(link)
it truly is all about the fur!! top, bottom, right, left, front, back.

[identity profile] hwynym.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 04:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Well - this helps inspire me to try to do the same. I'll never have the 6-pack - I'm OK with that - but I've got to lose the belly. I've got what I've seen described as a Nordic body type - thick through the chest and the waist, with no dramatic v-shape that mediterranean body types get.

But yeah - not only weight loss and toning are required, I need to regain some flexibility, especially in the hips! I found out the hard way how much it hurts to try to bring my hips square while trying to work out in my karate katas.

[identity profile] low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 04:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Yoga has been revolutionary for my posture and flexibility. I'd encourage you to find a beginners yoga and enroll. :) also - for learning to eat differently and still feel like you don't have to eat celery and salad for the rest of your life - I cannot praise Weight Watchers enough. It totally changed my life.

[identity profile] hwynym.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 05:16 pm (UTC)(link)
I haven't had the same experience with WW. I just left it about a month ago, after my second attempt in as many years. The group leader of the one I can attend during work hours is just not even recognizing that men are in the group and I wasn't feeling very supported. It's probably easier to find a more male-accepting environment in San Francisco, though!

[identity profile] bukephalus.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 04:35 pm (UTC)(link)
I am a firm believer in YAYME posts, and you totally deserve this one! Congratulations my friend. And as you would say:

Yay3

Whew, 50 incline situps and 100 medicine ball situps!? OMG! I would so be in pain. And I really need to follow your example with the yoga thing. Especially now that I have a yoga teacher for a roommate. Anything to help my lousy posture would be great.

[identity profile] ubermunkey.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 04:57 pm (UTC)(link)
hey wild man
I've got a bit of a small house warming thing for ya but need your new addy. Please to oblige?!

and GO GET EM!

[identity profile] low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 05:05 pm (UTC)(link)
:-)
Robert and Kateydog McDiarmid
1390 Market Street #2612
San Francisco CA 94102

[identity profile] musicbearmn.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 04:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay Me posts are just fine! Your work spurs on my work...

[identity profile] nudewoody.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 05:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Very nice Robert! Yayyou!

[identity profile] coryblank.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)
You look amazing, Bob! Way to go!!!

My tummy is like a bowl of Jello. I need to give it some TLC.

*HUG*

C

[identity profile] hereticsoul.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 06:20 pm (UTC)(link)
YEA, Robert! I'm so very proud of you. Your return to a steady exercise habit was in no small part an inspiration for me to do likewise. I got my start shortly after we met last summer. Sooner or later, we're gonna cross paths in the real world again and I'll be very proud to show you how much impact you had on me :)

[identity profile] inbhirnis.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 07:31 pm (UTC)(link)
That's very inspiring!

I need to take a page out of your book and hit the gym so I can fit into my Star Fleet uniform more easily.... ;-)

[identity profile] balanceinchaos.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 08:32 pm (UTC)(link)
YOU GO!

Congrats on the progress, it only gets better from here!

[identity profile] airporter.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay you indeed! Of course the fur covers all of the rippling muscles. You'll have to shave it all off to give us the definitive picture! Afterwards I'm sure there will be volunteers (starting with Dave) to rub lotion in while all grows back...

[identity profile] ruralrob.livejournal.com 2008-06-09 10:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay you!

[identity profile] starzinked.livejournal.com 2008-06-10 08:19 pm (UTC)(link)
wow. wish i could get that lean!

[identity profile] moved.livejournal.com 2008-06-11 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
*lick*

[identity profile] cuboz.livejournal.com 2008-07-18 12:55 pm (UTC)(link)
...I'm sorry, I was more focused on all that FURRRRR on your tummy.

I'm sure your muscles are just as spectacular! *wink*

xxx