A New Year...Fitness Goals

Wow, I did not realise it has been over a month since my last posting. 2009 was certainly interesting to say the least.  I got married, moved to a new loft apartment downtown and I finally started a personal training program at Body 3 Fitness.  The gym's owner Tom Jacobs and our trainer Carlos Camacho could not have been more wonderful and supportive in our goal of getting more fit.  Our 2009 stats:

• Weight Lost:
• Me: 40lbs
• Wife: 50lbs
• Percentage of Bodyfat lost:
• Me: 2.7%
• Wife: 3.0%
• Clothes size:
• Me: down 2 sizes
• Wife: down 6 sizes

Needless to say I have some catching up to do.  Due to my competitive spirit I feel I must reach the finish line first...ok well maybe tied since she is my wife and all :).  The ultimate goal before our anual two week trip to New Jersey for Christmas, is to loose 100lbs each of us.  We are currently on track to accomplish this.  It is hard to imagine that kind of weight loss, but averaging 2lbs a week, should do the trick. 

Tomorrow starts our 5th month of personal training and it has certainly paid dividends.  While the scale is not as impressive as I would have liked, I have gained lean muscle (a pound of muscle burns 35 calories a day at rest) and I can actually run up stairs without feeling like I am going to pass out.  I do not have the body type that will be rail thin, but if I am healthy at 225lbs then that is where I want to be.

Recent Fitness Results

Now getting back to the real reason this blog was created - a way of tracking my fitness goals.  We went in for our 3rd measurements since starting our personal training program on August 10, 2009.  Our latest results:

Myself:

• Another 8 pounds lost
• Another 3 pounds of muscle gained
• Lost an additional 2% of body fat.
• Overall (16 weeks):
• lbs lost: 20
• Inches lost: 3
• % of Body fat: 3 

This makes since May 2, 2009 a total of 40 pounds lost. I still kick myself for not doing this sooner. Its been a struggle since I have been back in NJ since we have great food back home.  But so far its working, being smart on ordering when eating out, and eating correctly when at home.  Reading nutrition labels when shopping.  All of this was a learned process, not something that came naturally.  And while results are slow and steady, at least its in a healthy manner.

10/13 - Personal Training

Today was one of the hardest workouts I have had since joining Body3fit.  Carlos really worked us hard and fast today, I had nothing left to give him at the end - which I would summize is the goal.

Our exercises:

• 3 sets of a Shoulder Press x 15 reps
• 3 sets of Bendover rows using dumbells x 15 reps
• 3 sets of leg press x 15 reps
• 3 sets of jumping rope for a minute
• 3 sets of bicept curls using individual machines x 15 reps
• 3 sets of alternating planks for 2 minutes
• 3 sets of scissor squats x 30 reps
• 3 sets of arm extentions to shoulder press - using dumbells x 10 reps each.

It was pure hell, but that is what we pay for.  Carlos takes so much abuse from everyone, me included, but its worth it in the end.  With Carlos its service (or pain depending on your viewpoint) with a smile.  Just like the rest of the staff at Body3fit.

I highly suggest joining me in my misery :)

Body Combat 10/11

Yesterday was a great BC session.  Again it was a mix of BC editions from 37 through 40.  I think our instructor Carlos took the best tracks from each session and man it was a workout. The muggy weather made it feel like a sauna inside, but I think it was worth it.

10/08 - The Workout

Just like Tuesday's workout routine, Thursday's workout was short, compact and intense. My exercises:

• 3 sets of standing rows using rope handles - 15 reps
• 3 sets of standing bicep curls, alternating each leg (stork) - 10 reps each leg
• 3 sets of back extentions - 15 reps (this one was a little hard on me today)
• 3 sets of squat to shoulder press using a 35 lbs plate - 15 reps
• 3 sets of dips using a bench - 15 reps
• 3 sets of directional cruches - 10 reps each side.

Plus our usual 30 minutes of cardio - stationary bike.

Body Combat

This was a fun night and always a fund class. This time our instructor - Carlos (Also our trainer), decided to take tracks from BC releases 37 through 39. Boy it was a workout! I havent been this sore since my very first combat class. Saturday should be more of the same - a best of BC. Two weeks until the new release of 41! For those in the Houston area - check us out at Body 3 fitness.