Five pounds and not an ounce of a clue

I weighed myself a few days ago, and to my surprise:

 

Despite my recent rants about a growing gut and disappearing jawline, I am five pounds lighter than I was two months ago.

 

Not bad. Though I'm not sure from where the five pounds were shed. I can't tell by looking in the mirror.

 

And I am not even sure I can credit the gym. I have been on the road in small towns most of April, staying in motels along two-lane highways, where the restaurants' best menu items aren't exactly high in beta carotene or probiotics.

 

Maybe this is a delayed reaction from my regular gym schedule up until the end of March.

 

Or maybe I have a tapeworm gobbling all those bacon cheeseburgers I have been stuffing in my mouth with greasy fingers the last two weeks.

 

Whatever the cause, I had better get back in the gym before April's excesses catch up with a weighty wallop.

 

And I am also thinking about going more often. Two to three times a week isn't enough, I don't think.

 

I am not sure I have the dedication to do the full routine of treadmill/weights/treadmill every other day. But it could be that going more regularly is what counts, even if on some days I only do cardio.

 

I'll let you know how it goes ...

Comments

[Chris McGrath]

Sometimes all you can do is 'show up' and you'll get results. In the past week or so, I've been struggling a lot with work, etc. and had to convince myself to simply get my butt to the gym. Even though I was only going through the motions, I at least committed to sticking to my schedule, to following my program (albeit begrudgingly), and to trying not to veer off track. Sticking to the week as planned kept me connected to the good behaviours, and actually ended up in a 7 pound weight loss. Again, like you, not sure how it happened, but it happened. Weight loss is interesting that way...sometimes your body hits a point where it's a metabolic furnace, and even though you're not feeling like you're doing all that you can, your system seems to keep ticking along and doing good things. I guess one of my most important lessons, which I reflect upon quite a bit in my blog too (see this link specifically: http://secondcomingofchris.blogspot.com/2009/03/its-about-showing-up.html), is that when there are times when all I want to do is kick back with a hot veal sandwich and take a week away from the gym, that by simply showing up (physically at the gym and emotionally for myself), can still yield some pretty amazing results and continue to help me change and grow. The dedication piece is tough, but it comes. With time. With trust. With faith. It'll come. Give it time.

[sue]

Tell us about your routine... what do you do? Details... how hard are you working?

Over the past month I've been doing a pretty good job of getting to the gym, regularly, and obsessively weighing myself every Monday. No weight change whatsoever. BUT I am noticing that my clothes are fitting differently. I can feel my legs and arms being more muscular, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'm on the right track.

The good thing is that I have been enjoying my time at the gym - I think I'm past the point of feeling like its a chore or an inconvenience to fit into my schedule. Thats probably the thing I'm happiest about is that I don't feel like I'm dragging my ass there because I "have to", you know?

If I don't lose any weight, well thats ok I guess, because I will never give up enjoying a good meal or turning away a slice of the fresh apple cake I made last night. Its just important to be healthy and have fun staying healthy. Also I'm 40 and will probably never look very good in a bikini again.

[sgp]

I read this (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/05/health/nutrition/05fitness.html?_r=2&em) a couple of months ago and passed it on in the office. Three days later I was in a bet for $50 per person, 8 weeks of hellish weight loss ahead of us with greatest percentage of weight lost the winner ($600ish).

I took the approach of eating mostly healthily, but working out lots. I work out twice a day three times a week, and once a day the other three days. One day off. I am not a natural exerciser. I hate hate hate it, but having a definite end point makes it much easier to go hard straight up. Whilst I'm going to the gym way too much now, it's forced it to be habit. I work crazy and irregular hours, but now going to the gym is part of my life, after only 5 weeks or so. I don't look forward to it but I also don't think about it, I just go.

When this period of torture is over I'd like to go in 4 times a week and think this is much more achievable now (think about all the spare time I'll have! woot!). Just go I reckon. Doesn't matter what you do so much, just get your butt in there and flop around a bit - it's better than not going in at all.

[Chris]

I think you're on to something to go more regularly and maybe do shorter routines -- I seem to have the best luck just heading to the gym every morning that I can and some days doing the full shebang and other days just doing the cardio or the weights or whatever. Some days when I'm really not into it, I only manage some abs and stretching. But by pointing myself to the gym every morning before work, I get more workout out of my week.

[summer]

I'd go with the tapeworm theory.

[Nate]

It's possible that you've lost muscle mass due to your scheduling which would result in decreased weight without an accompanying decrease in waistline.

[C.J. Chow]

Okay, first thing you should know about keeping fit... pound for pound, muscle tissue weighs more than fat tissue. If you were training for a while, stopped, and then lost weight, chances are you lost muscle mass. For someone just starting to get fit, three days a week of exercise is fine. After a while though, three days a week just maintains your current fitness level - unless you increase the intensity of your workouts on those three days (i.e., heavier weights, more time on cardio). Failing that, you should work out more often if you want to actually gain muscle toning, muscle bulk, better cardio, and increase your overall fitness level. You should, on occasion, push your limits.

Regarding the "gut" issue, you should try to breathe through your diaphragm. When working out at your maximum intensity, you will feel your diaphragm contracting repeatedly. It's a sure physical sign that you are working at your hardest. When you are not exercising a lot, you don't need the amount of calories that are in a cheeseburger and fries, unless that's all you ate all day, and even then, I'd say go for a long walk. To avoid having a gut, you really need to keep up with the cardio.

To keep fit, you need to keep active. There is no shortcut to being fit. Some people may be genetically pre-disposed to being thin, but that does not even guarantee fitness because without muscle training and cardio, thin people are just weak walking skeletons. With proper weight training, a person with a small body frame need not necessarily be weak! How I know this is simple...

I have a small body frame, but I am not weak. I am 5'3" and I weigh 54 kg (about 115 lbs). I was always fit and active as a teenager and the past 10 years I have dedicated myself to staying fit and healthy (this should be about your health and not just appearances). I started doing martial arts (because I never got to as a child and because I missed getting exercise - there was no time when I was in university), over the years I included weight training and running. I do taekwondo on a regular basis and cross-train that with running, cycling, and weight training. I also include skipping in my workout routine as it builds the calves and the shins. I had a knee injury and surgery almost 6 years ago, and I took the physiotherapy exercises I was given and improved upon them. I am actually stronger than before my knee injury.

A while back, I kept a training blog detailing my training up until I tested for my 2nd dan black belt - Cass' training blog. It takes more than an hour three times a week to really improve. I generally prefer two-hour workouts.

To sum up, anyone can be fit. No excuses. It is a lot of hard work. There is no shortcut, no easy way. It gets easier over time and you will feel better about yourself. BUT you really have to WANT to be fit and healthy. You have to be determined, and you got to love being healthy. If you exercise for any other reason but fitness and to be healthy (such as for appearances' sake), you're more likely to get frustrated and find it all worthless. After you get used to working out over time, a good workout should leave you smiling and feeling good about yourself.

[Bobby]

This guy doesn't actually seem to be working out.

[Kerrie]

I agree. It's disappointing because I really liked this blog, and started getting in shape in January as well. But it seems like I'm still working out and the author has given up. Too bad because his blog was funny and refreshing when he was actually going to the gym.

[Scott Enman]

Poor sap is probably on his way to new hampshire, desperately trying to keep the ambers alive. Gotta respect that in the guy--- the new lid, that's another story. I predict some new material in the next 24 hours, if for no other reason than to keep fishcakes at bay. Hang in there Dave, I'm rooting for ya.

regards, benny beam

[jess]

I guess this is over?

[summer]

I agree as well, dude is not working out.

[Bobby]

People start out with a gym membership everyday just like David. Most of them quit pretty soon thereafter, but unlike David they can fade into the background unnoticed. He is probably trying to figure out how to get out of this with his dignity, as this blog is a pretty sad attempt at keeping up his pretenses.

[Michelle]

So, where are the new posts? I was following this with interest - but there has been nothing new. David, have you given up?

[Matt]

I can't comment on how you might have lost the weight, but instead of being a gym rat, have you thought about joining a sports club? I was a competitive swimmer for a long time, and recently started training for triathlons. It's a big part of my life now, and the daily exercise (training) I do is not out of a necessity to stay in shape, rather it's a way to have fun in a friendly competitive environment that's social, and rewarding. You already run on a treadmill, why not take your running outside, and join a local running club and/or running clinic? The pounds will melt away, and you'll meet some fun people.

[Robb]

Let's up the ante--instead of just insisting he's not working out, let's also assume that he's eating poutine with extra gravy every day.

[Jackie]

I give up! I'm not going to bother checking for new posts any more. This blog is dead.

[Doug Jackson]

Your comments about gobbling greasy burgers is not the way to help people meet fitness goals. I ask why are you writing this blog? Is it for comedy sake and are you afraid to face the reality of your own destructive behavior. You are a young guy with potential to turn your life around but if you continue to eat the "crap" you joke about you will end up having a stroke or a heart attack in your 50's. Just think by quitting smoking you lessened your chances of lung cancer by enormous odds by laying off the fatty foods you may just prevent that health crisis you are heading for.

[R Sole]

Perhaps he's going so often, he doesn't have time to blog any more? Okay, that's unlikely...

[summer]

Apparently quitting smoking is much easier than going to the gym.

[Fausto Rodriguez]

I like to think David has chosen to fade back into the dark, to train, and to wait for that perfect moment in which to return and reveal... David 2.0!

Okay, it may be a silly thought, but I really do hope you come back, David. But your blog was great, and they certainly helped me get on the right track, I've made huge strides since January, and I'm going to keep it up!

Best of luck!

[Alice]

I too was following along. I was rooting for David to persevere, it's liberating to see the changes and feel the strength one can build and develope by consistant workouts and I was hoping he would 'get it'. I returned to the gym 40lbs heavier in September, after a 1 year hiatus due to severe back problems and now finally in May people are starting to comment on my appreance. I went from starting twice a week and now I'm up to going 4 times a week and fit into smaller clothes all the while still eating and drinking all the tasty goodies out there (in moderation) Physical fitness is a necessity for living. Hope we hear back from you bud.

[sue]

Hi David -

Friday will be one month since you posted.

So will your confession be a) A guilty conscience haunting you to admit your lack of exercise or b) Triumphant stories of how you've been so busy at the gym you forgot to write?

At least give us some *closure* ;)

sue

[Cabana Boy]

Hey Dave: How be you call your column ...THE UNFIT BLOG..Its been nearly a month since you've submitted a word. Were you realizing your readers were beginning to get fed up with your BS? You should have kept your goals about getting fit to yourself.You drew me in initially, but it became apparent you were not really serious. Now if you blog this week that you turned your life around with diet and exercise I won't believe a word of it.

[summer]

I think we should keep leaving comments until we hear from David.