Day 10

Hello All -  I'm salty and sweaty still.  Just got back to ntckfit central and poured a cup of coffee.  Good stuff. 

I went to "Vietnam" in Milford.  Vietnam there is a mountain biking preserve.  NEMBA (New England Mountain Biking Association) along with a bunch of sponsors back some time purchased about 40 acres of land.  Mountain bikers have been there for awhile and the trails were laid down - but after the purchase, the trails grew in number and complexity.  The trail maintenance is excellent.  The thing about it that I like is the terrain.

(These images came of the internets, so props to all the riders in the pics and the sites they came from - oh, and the photograpers too.)
Some mtn bikers like drops, some downhill, some cross country.  I'm a cross country guy.  I love technical trails with lots of baby head sized rocks that I can either blow over super fast or that I can pick myself a line and cruise through.  I love to find rock gardens that are just that - only rocks that you have to carefully cruise through with little wiggle room for error  - mess up, and you head into the rocks. 

So, Day 10 workout is complete.  And now its onto working out cutting a bed on the side lawn.  The workout that is coming is going to be epic - I have no idea how much weight over all I'll be moving, but it's a lot.  

I was on my way home from the mtn bike ride and I realized something: I feel more in shape.  I haven't had that thought in a long time, and truth be told, it's great to feel.   

Day 9

Source: mylifebody.com

I just completed a shoulder routine with the new program which I'll call HP.  It's designed to work the muscles that create a shaped musculature based on hitting the high profile muscles that ultimately develop into a distinct shape.  Think Brad Pitt in Fight Club.   I'm working on muscle development and shedding fat.  Yes, fat is evil and should be punished. 

Here's something.  I suck at consistency.  Or I should say that I sucked at consistency of working out.  For too long I let the other crap in my life get in front of what is important - my physical and metal being.  I remember when I was in super shape and how I felt - awesome.  I like the feeling of looking good.  Vanity?  Yup.  But it was more than that.  It was a sense of pride that I was consistently doing better in the workouts, eating well.  I had a very good balance then and I worked towards that now. 

Mrs. Ntckfit is on the same path as well, and it is sweet being in the same place.

29er Mountain Bike29er Mountain Bike

Day 8

What a day.  Okay, this day was a low key workout day, but a workout nonetheless.  I turned 50 and my family bought me a paddle board.  It's great.  Mrs. Ntckfit loves hers, and would take off for up to an hour when we were at the beach.  So, it looked like fun and I was surprised when I was told that was the big gift for 50.  Very cool. 

We went to this local pond in Hopkinton and were out there for about 45 minutes or so.  It was a great core, shoulder, and arms workout.  And I felt it even more because I did my shoulders yesterday. 

Day 8 fini.

Later,

Day 7

Well now.  I tried a new program today, and it has shorter, more intense workouts than P90X.   The burn factor is so much more. And there's talk out there in the internets (yes, the internets) that the lengthier the burn the better. The thing about the intensity is each rep is super slow.  You're in total contraction mode and moving through each rep SLLOWWLY.  I'm about to head out for an incline walk. Back.  That was short and sweet. Thinking about either going for a ride or paddle board later in the day with Mrs. Ntckfit. 

     Squats (3×8)                                         25 lbs.

Wide-grip neck press (3×8)                 15

Side laterals (3×8)                               10

Preacher curls (3×8)                            10

Incline walking (10 minutes)

Later,

Birthday Weekend

Man oh man. That was fun. It did not, however, fit into the fitness/healthy living category. Hmm.  Let me be honest, I used it (the weekend) as an excuse to eat and drink. And I did. Not to excess, but definitely off the path. Definitely. So be it. What is one if not human. First rationalization drips off my fingertips too easily. The thing is, I will be back at it in the am on the morn.

Adieu, readers.

Day 6

Got up, dressed, grabbed the dog and went for a walk for 27 minutes,  Now, who said a good walk wasn't part of this plan?  I hadn't done that in a long time, just got up in the morning and gone for a walk with the dog.  I think that will change in the future.  There are two programs out there that insist that walking is integral to the program - one is the incline walk and the other is a 4 mph walk, but nonetheless, it's walking.

I will continue to bike (mountain and road), walk, and swim.   I too will be starting the rehab protocol for my foot - it is susceptible to stress fractures.  And that is something that I WILL NOT DO TO MYSELF AGAIN!  Stress fractures suck. 

Day 5

Again. Yes, again. I worked out again. Today was Shoulders and Arm and Ab Ripper X.  I like the S&A workout the best of all the P90X workouts.  It seems that as I got fit that the fat seemed to leave my shoulders and arms first, and I could see definition of the muscles.  Fat comes off in layers, and the layers that stick longer go 'round my gut and chest. 

So, yesterday I completed that HIIT bike ride and came in and saw Mrs. Ntckfit.  She was a tad freaked out, as I was grey.  Yes, grey.  Which means that my blood oxygen level was WAY too low.  Kind of scary for the Mrs. and a wake-up call for me.  First get in shape then push myself that hard.  Walk before running.   

Day 4

Went out this morning at 730 for a quick ride.  The goal was High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and it worked. I rode 8 miles in 28 minutes with and average speed of 16.73.  Hammering for me. 

Ok, I've decided to look at my weight once a week and not be focused on weight. Also, that the part about diet is essential. Man, it is too easy to screw that up.  So, smaller portions, more meals a day, and clean eating are the keys there. 

Today:  Eat clean, work at the new job for a bit, and hang with Mrs. Ntckfit.

Later,

Day 3

Ok.  It's three days in and I'm feeling good.  Just got back from a 6 mile mountain bike ride with my bud in a place called "Vietnam".  No, not the country, but a parcel of land that was purchased exclusively for mountain biking.  And truth be told, it's one of the best places on the east coast to ride.  Very technical in parts, while in other parts, it's rolling trails. Good fun. Sweet workout.

 

This morning I did Chest and Back from P90X and that was interesting (for me).  The amount of strength I've lost is considerable.   As it should be because I've done squat for so long.  So be it.  Thing is if feel good, and that's the ticket. 

So I sit here and think that my birthday is coming up.  50  I wonder if I've done enough to be healthy.  Hmm.  Makes me think.  Truth is, its been a on and off eating well (clean) and working out for ages.  I worked out for two years straight and changed my body.  Big time.  But it all fell apart right around when I was dealing with my dad dying.   I lost the focus I had.

I hope that someone who reads this can identify with the struggle.  Fitness is a path.  Sometimes your find yourself on it and rock solid, other times you fallen in the rut on the side of the path.  Right now, I feel like I'm in the middle, maybe with some rocks that I can plow over on my mountain bike. 

Later,

Day 2

Well now, the day was a bit different than I thought.  My alarm did not go off as I expected it would (that has to do with my trying to set it last night without my new glasses on) so I got up late.  That led to eating late, then I had to get set and ready to go to my new job's HR department.  SO.... Mrs. Ntckfit and I rode in the evening = 12 miles on the road.

Truth be told, the ride was ok.  The roads were awful for half the ride.  But I got a good solid workout in.  I have to say that I feel good right now, out of the bike duds, cleaned up, and laughing at Mrs. Ntckfit.

I added a new widget to my blog from DailyMiles.com.  That's kind of cool.

Did you ever think that writing online would be a good way to motivate?   I recognized awhile ago that logging no matter how kept me on the path, so to speak.  So, I'll continue to blog away.

Eats: Clean and on target
Water: Some to go, but on target
Vitamins: Yup
Workout: Yes
Attitude: Positive and focused

Good Times!

Trip to the National Parks

Flight over the canyon

Grand Canyon

Right outside our room

On the road to Monument Valley

Mule Deer on the Bright Angel Trail at the Grand Canyon

Monument Valley

Arizona

Day One

I've decided to post what I'm doing to get healthy and to be consistent about it.  I look at the heading of the blog and feel that its as true today as it was when I wrote it: diet, working out, consistency, and determination.  The reality is that I have allowed other things to get in front of what is important - my health.  And that is not the way I want to live.  The fact that I've lived in a state of stress for too long (long story) has something to do with the falling off the cliff of fitness.  But that, in a way, is an excuse. So be it, I'm on the path again and feel good about it. 

I went for another mountain bike ride today.  33 minutes in the heat and humidity - nice workout.   Mrs. Ntckfit wants to do laps in the local pond here later.  Sounds good. 

Today:

Today: 181.6 BF%:   24 43.58 lbs. fat
Goal:   167.0 BF%:   18 30.06 lbs. fat

Goal calorie intake: 2400
Goal water intake: 72 ozs.
Goal Calorie Deficit: 500 - 600

This is the plan for the remainder of the year:

Cycle One: (3 Months)

P90X  -      Weight Resistance: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
                   Cardio (HIIT, mountain and road biking, swimming laps, chasing Mrs. Ntckfit) Tuesday,
                   Thursday, and Saturday  (Not doing the program's cardio bits)

Cycle Two: (2 Months)

P90X/Insanity Hybrid       Cardio and Weight Resistance as Above

Cycle Three: (2 Months)  Cardio and Weight Resistance as Above

Kettle Bells, TRX, WODs, Tabata fun

One of the things that I have in the quiver of programs is the Hollywood Physique.  It's a program that focuses on developing specific muscles that create the definitive Hollywood body - think Brad Pitt in Fight Club.  Now, I like the program for its focus on the creating of the body type, yes I'm vain, but the diet is wacked.  Eggs and more eggs ..... then more eggs.   I can appreciate that the protein is natural, that the focus on fats (animals?) is what they are after too .... but the diet is not for me.  I'll take parts of it and run with the things that I find helpful.  I like one of the things that they focus: slowing down and focusing on every single rep to the point you are totally wiped out at the end of the workout.

Ok, enough said for today.

Right.  I haven't posted all summer.  Like to think that was because I was too busy working out and stuff, but not so.  I was looking for a job. Still not a good reason, but I'll use it.  Oh, I got a job.

So, what have I done for workouts this summer? Hmm.  I went mountain biking, which is a blast in one of the best places on the east coast, a bunch.  I went for some road rides on the cape and around here.  I swam laps a few times.  I hiked the Grand Canyon for a hour, then a day later, Bryce, then later still, Zion.  Wow, that was amazing stuff.  A workout at elevation.  I have no wind.


My first view of the Grand Canyon:


So, I've been working out a bit, but it's not enough.

My weight today:  186.3 Body Fat 23%    Ugh
Goal weight:          167.0 Body Fat 18%

The trail on the Grand Canyon.

What is the plan?  6 meals a day.  Eliminate processed food and sugars.  A lot of load of water.  B12, Calcium, and Multi Vitamin each day.  Two workouts a day.  Alcohol consumption eliminated. Sleep 8 hours a night.

I have to choose a program to begin.  These are the options:  P90X, Insanity, Hollywood Physique, TRX and Kettle Bells, Turbulence Training ...... oh, the decisions.

I'll start out with P90X.  It's known and it works.  I transformed my body with it before.  Ok, that's the start.  Going to do early morning workouts.  Then have a post workout drink then breakfast.

Diet.  If I burn about 500 cals working out each day, my nutritionist says I should burn eat 2900 cals a day.  With a 500 cal deficit, to lose weight, that translates to 2400 cals.  I want to eat as close to paleo as possible but found it to be tough.  I'll start that again too.

Biking in The Fingerlake Region of New York

Wow.  This place is designed for road biking.  Open roads, no cars, really, and great sweeping views of farmland and the lakes.  Sweet.

Road yesterday for an hour and ten minutes.  Today, 50 minutes but about twice as hard.  Good workouts both.

Twenty Minute Run Foot Feeling Fine

In from a run.  Gah.  The head is not in it and that has to change.  Ran for twenty minutes and walked for ten.  Foot feels fine. I have yet to hit a consistent stride diet and weight resistance wise.  It's a mind (*&k what stress can do to you.  And what is odd is that - actually not odd - but the lack of motivation is linked in a way.  But I did something today and will again tomorrow.  

What is so fu*&ed about this general malaise is that it is not who I am.  It's not.  And I hate it.  Hate it.

Well, I feel good now, sweaty, and out of shape.  A stumbling start, but one nonetheless.