Oh Man! I ate way too much over Thanksgiving. I gain ten (10) pounds! That's crazy, until I read the charts.
Egg Nog 200 (empty) calories for 4 oz - I consumed at least a gallon on my own.
Pumpkin pie - so bad that they don't put information on it; expecting you know what you are getting yourself into.
It's like the motto of Max's Resturant. "This is a good place for a diet, and a bad place for a diet." If you are on a diet, don't complain about how tasty the food is; just eat and exercise more later, expecting you are on the road to "Fat-attude).
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Big Changes : Sugar Burn Verses Fat Burn
OK, I've been quiet for over four months. I have been experimenting with a major change in my workout. I wanted to see if it would work before I said anything. At first, the change completely wiped me out, but now I'm feeling better about it. What's the change? The process of my workout.
Over the last year, I have been reading that cardio should be done after your weight lifting. It appears that the initial burn during your first 30 minutes of exercise is all sugar based. The remainder of the workout is fat based. The sugar burn is great for lifting as it gives you an added boost to help push through. Cardio is mindless and can be performed without the sugar burn.
Well, last summer I tried it and I couldn't do it. Going straight to weights was too much for me and I barely made it through my cardio after, OK, I didn't finish it. Since last summer, I have been experimenting with this strategy and I think I finally found a good combination. Cardio for ten minutes, weights for 30-40 minutes and then cardio for 45 minutes.
It appears that I need to get my body going first before I attempt any form of strength training. So, I start by walking for a half mile, then jump into my weights and finish with the remainder of my cardio. I have had good success (not great) with this strategy. I'm still working out some kinks, but overall I'm pleased with my progress.
When I first started this, I was wiped out. I would do my weights and my muscles fought with me the entire time I went into cardio. It was brutal. It still is brutal. Yet, I have found that if I push though the first mile of cardio after my weights, my step and strength return to finish well. I'm not sure, but I think that it's after the first mile that I start burning the fat. So what are the results? I have improved strength, longer endurance and increased definition.
One thing I should mention is that I recently changed my strength training program as well. Last month, I have gone to a "max-out" routine. Max out means that I keep lifting until I can't anymore for one complete circuit. I don't mean they wimpy "Uh, that was hard" routine. I'm talking about gritting your teeth, squinting your eyes, and forcing the sweat out of your pores type of lifting. I allow myself 25 reps per routine. If I reach 25 reps, I increase the weight. I no longer go two complete circuits, but the results are looking good.
I will let you know what happens over the next month. Right now, I am struggling with getting through my leg days. After working on my legs with weights, I have difficulty walking and doing cardio after a leg workout has been a challenge.
If you try this routine in your own workout, expect to get some form of dizziness, the urge to barf, blurred vision and a deep desire to sleep. That's what I experienced at first, but things have improved. After three months, it's only on my legs days that I get these feelings. I hope this will improved over time.
Over the last year, I have been reading that cardio should be done after your weight lifting. It appears that the initial burn during your first 30 minutes of exercise is all sugar based. The remainder of the workout is fat based. The sugar burn is great for lifting as it gives you an added boost to help push through. Cardio is mindless and can be performed without the sugar burn.
Well, last summer I tried it and I couldn't do it. Going straight to weights was too much for me and I barely made it through my cardio after, OK, I didn't finish it. Since last summer, I have been experimenting with this strategy and I think I finally found a good combination. Cardio for ten minutes, weights for 30-40 minutes and then cardio for 45 minutes.
It appears that I need to get my body going first before I attempt any form of strength training. So, I start by walking for a half mile, then jump into my weights and finish with the remainder of my cardio. I have had good success (not great) with this strategy. I'm still working out some kinks, but overall I'm pleased with my progress.
When I first started this, I was wiped out. I would do my weights and my muscles fought with me the entire time I went into cardio. It was brutal. It still is brutal. Yet, I have found that if I push though the first mile of cardio after my weights, my step and strength return to finish well. I'm not sure, but I think that it's after the first mile that I start burning the fat. So what are the results? I have improved strength, longer endurance and increased definition.
One thing I should mention is that I recently changed my strength training program as well. Last month, I have gone to a "max-out" routine. Max out means that I keep lifting until I can't anymore for one complete circuit. I don't mean they wimpy "Uh, that was hard" routine. I'm talking about gritting your teeth, squinting your eyes, and forcing the sweat out of your pores type of lifting. I allow myself 25 reps per routine. If I reach 25 reps, I increase the weight. I no longer go two complete circuits, but the results are looking good.
I will let you know what happens over the next month. Right now, I am struggling with getting through my leg days. After working on my legs with weights, I have difficulty walking and doing cardio after a leg workout has been a challenge.
If you try this routine in your own workout, expect to get some form of dizziness, the urge to barf, blurred vision and a deep desire to sleep. That's what I experienced at first, but things have improved. After three months, it's only on my legs days that I get these feelings. I hope this will improved over time.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
BMI of Body Builders
In looking for more information about the BMI of bodybuilders, I found a great site: http://www.true-natural-bodybuilding.com/bmi-bodybuilders.html created by Jos TN of True-Natural-Bodybuilding.com. Jos has done a great deal of work tracking the history of body builders since the 1950's. I highly recommend that you visit his website for more information.
I would like to point out that Jos charted the BMI of body builders over time and there is an interesting trend. Take a look and make your own conclusion.
Notice the trend? The BMI of body builders has increased substantially. Jay Cultler, four time winner of IPBB Mr. Olympia, has a BMI of 40.5 at a weight of 273. http://www.jaycutler.com/bio.php Of course, Jay has enormous muscles which account for the weight. But I thought the trend of all body builders over time was very interesting. Jos has tracked many of the past competitors to create the chart.
What do you think?
I would like to point out that Jos charted the BMI of body builders over time and there is an interesting trend. Take a look and make your own conclusion.
Notice the trend? The BMI of body builders has increased substantially. Jay Cultler, four time winner of IPBB Mr. Olympia, has a BMI of 40.5 at a weight of 273. http://www.jaycutler.com/bio.php Of course, Jay has enormous muscles which account for the weight. But I thought the trend of all body builders over time was very interesting. Jos has tracked many of the past competitors to create the chart.
What do you think?
Saturday, January 8, 2011
BMI & Muscle Verses Fat
Since I started exercising and lifting weights three years ago, I have gained weight. Yes, gained weight. After the first six months of exercising, my weight dropped about twenty pounds and hovered for a year. Then my weight started to climb and has seemed to plateau at an unhappy 300 pounds. This has concerned me greatly.
I visit my doctor for checkups every three months and a continuing theme of concern is my weight. He has always told me not to worry about my weight, but to keep doing what I was doing. His point was that my health was improving even though my weight was increasing. I pointed out that the BMI (Body Mass Index) puts me in the Obese category. As shown below, the Average BMI squarely places me into a nasty place showing I should be under 200 pounds. Not good!
My doctor informed me that the BMI does not take into a number of factors about a person and it is just a swag of the Caucasian section of the US population. He pointed out that I have a long torso, short legs, and a larger than normal frame. In addition, it did not take into account all of the measurement. So I left satisfied with this information.
However, my medical insurance carrier recently started to judge me based upon BMI and gave me a low score. I'm not sure if it affects my rates, but they must be doing something with it for why would they make me take this test. As such, I dug further and found a different BMI chart for body builders which is below.
In addition, we have to consider that muscle density is 1.06 g/ml and fat density is (about) 0.9 g/ml. Thus, one liter of muscle would weight 1.06 kg and one liter of fat would weight 0.9 kg. In other words, fat takes up a lot more room than muscle and the BMI does not account for this fact.
So with that all discovered, if you are struggling because your BMI is showing you to be obese, don't worry, keep going and don't stop. I'm going to contact my medical insurance carrier and set things straight. And I'm going to continue my exercise and lose that remaining fat.
I visit my doctor for checkups every three months and a continuing theme of concern is my weight. He has always told me not to worry about my weight, but to keep doing what I was doing. His point was that my health was improving even though my weight was increasing. I pointed out that the BMI (Body Mass Index) puts me in the Obese category. As shown below, the Average BMI squarely places me into a nasty place showing I should be under 200 pounds. Not good!
However, my medical insurance carrier recently started to judge me based upon BMI and gave me a low score. I'm not sure if it affects my rates, but they must be doing something with it for why would they make me take this test. As such, I dug further and found a different BMI chart for body builders which is below.
Compared to this new BMI, I am dead-on in all measurements, showing I'm about six pounds over-weight. My Body Dimensions as of this morning are as follows: Neck 19.5”, Chest 55”, Bicep 21.5”, Forearm 15”, Wrist 8.5” Waist/Belly 48”, Hips 52”, Thigh 31.5”, Knees 17.5”, Calves 18.75”, Ankles 11". The only areas where I need work is my waist and hips which I have been focusing upon.
In addition, we have to consider that muscle density is 1.06 g/ml and fat density is (about) 0.9 g/ml. Thus, one liter of muscle would weight 1.06 kg and one liter of fat would weight 0.9 kg. In other words, fat takes up a lot more room than muscle and the BMI does not account for this fact.
So with that all discovered, if you are struggling because your BMI is showing you to be obese, don't worry, keep going and don't stop. I'm going to contact my medical insurance carrier and set things straight. And I'm going to continue my exercise and lose that remaining fat.
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