Fitness Challenge!

**Hachiman** · 9th April 12, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by biblemonkey

Cool! And good goals. I'll tell you, though, there is nothing so satisfying in your fitness as when you UN-grow a kilt and can sell it for a smaller one. I have a UT-kilt that I bought a month ago and it's now an inch or so too big. Great feeling.

Welcome to the thread!
Hugh

Oh yeah! An event tinged with sadness... the loss of a kilt, but an excuse to get a new one!! I'll be striving for that event as my next goal - once this one is achieved, of course.

**Redhawk** · 9th April 12, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by biblemonkey

Fantastic! What are your end goals?

I'm aiming to get to 175 by my daughters wedding in September. And I just realized I'm down 35 pounds. Tried taking in my McKay kilt ,but 8 inches was a lot and doesn't fit quite right. I still have my US Army that Rocky made for me... Had it made small as a goal to get to... Almost there!

**Mickey** · 9th April 12, 04:25 PM

After changing jobs about 12 years ago going from field work to desk work, and unknowingly developing celiacs, I watched my weight go from 160 a high of 197. Atkins would drop some, but it came right back. In the last year I dropped all of the excess and for two months have been a consistent 150.

Now, I finally feel good enough to take part here and start lifting again to rearrange where that weight is and add on another 10 to 20 of mass. Really looking forward to it! Been a long time since I've gotten the bug. Sides, gotta do the kilt justice

**Nick the DSM** · 9th April 12, 07:43 PM

I've been working out more consistently the last couple weeks. I've dropped a couple pounds, but I think I'm okay with that. Still trying to work a regime and a goal.

**biblemonkey** · 10th April 12, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Mickey

After changing jobs about 12 years ago going from field work to desk work, and unknowingly developing celiacs, I watched my weight go from 160 a high of 197. Atkins would drop some, but it came right back. In the last year I dropped all of the excess and for two months have been a consistent 150.

Now, I finally feel good enough to take part here and start lifting again to rearrange where that weight is and add on another 10 to 20 of mass. Really looking forward to it! Been a long time since I've gotten the bug. Sides, gotta do the kilt justice

Wow! Very nice! Remember no to get discouraged when adding lean mass. That can be a longer road than weight loss sometimes. Eating right and working a good and constantly varying routine is better than any supplement, by the way.

Originally Posted by Nick the DSM

I've been working out more consistently the last couple weeks. I've dropped a couple pounds, but I think I'm okay with that. Still trying to work a regime and a goal.

Let us know when you do. Looking forward to it.

**biblemonkey** · 10th April 12, 11:10 AM

And now what's up with my new routine.

Woof! Last night I started my new P-90X/race training hybrid to train for Warrior Dash and MAN am I beat! The plan is basically to do full Ab Ripper X with at least 25 lbs in hand or strapped on, then do half the lift workout with hypertrophy weight, then do 1/2 hour to 45 minutes of running or hiking on a local stair trail. On the cardio days I will mountain run or do the P-90X cardio workouts. Last night I upped the weighted vest from 25 to 50 lbs for body weight moves (pushups, pullups, etc.) and only did half the lift wokout and then I went on a 45 minute hike with my wife for the cardio. It’s like starting all over again and definitely gave me a new kind of challenge. I just have to start eating more (clean don’t worry) to make it up and get more sleep than I have been. Month two will probably see me ditching the vest and working harder on endurance to prepare for the obstacles at the race. Here we go! Gonna do my best and forget the rest!

Hugh

**McElmurry** · 10th April 12, 07:05 PM

Biblemonkey continues to challenge us to set goals. At my age I have found two methods of goal setting that work for me. The first is called a SMART goal and works well over a 4 to 8 week period to make an incremental change. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, reasonable, and time bound. An example is my current goal to get my waste measurement from 37 to 35 in 6 weeks. I will achieve one inch through toning my core and one inch by losing 6 pounds. You can use SMART goals to ratchet toward a longer term goal. The downside of short term goals that rely on an intense change in life style is you may not maintain the benefit in the long term.

The second method is to make a permanent lifestyle change. For instance after putting on 5 pounds a year throughout my 40s and peaking at a true waist of 44 I decided drastic measures were in order. I quit drinking alcohol and lost 15 pound permanently.

So, pick your poison, a SMART goal or a permanent lifestyle change.

**Mickey** · 10th April 12, 08:04 PM

Gonna have to do some research here. I know nothing of these terms. Current visuals aside, I'm an old school, free weight, pyramid builder. I was once a miniature LitTrog. I'd like to get back to that. I know what worked back then, but I'm sure advances have been made.

Gonna have to see what an old guy can do to regain his previous Greek god glory. LOL

**biblemonkey** · 11th April 12, 05:14 AM

Originally Posted by McElmurry

Biblemonkey continues to challenge us to set goals. At my age I have found two methods of goal setting that work for me. The first is called a SMART goal and works well over a 4 to 8 week period to make an incremental change. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, reasonable, and time bound. An example is my current goal to get my waste measurement from 37 to 35 in 6 weeks. I will achieve one inch through toning my core and one inch by losing 6 pounds. You can use SMART goals to ratchet toward a longer term goal. The downside of short term goals that rely on an intense change in life style is you may not maintain the benefit in the long term.

The second method is to make a permanent lifestyle change. For instance after putting on 5 pounds a year throughout my 40s and peaking at a true waist of 44 I decided drastic measures were in order. I quit drinking alcohol and lost 15 pound permanently.

So, pick your poison, a SMART goal or a permanent lifestyle change.

Good advice! I used similar goal setting methods to acheive my results over the last 3 months. First: get back into my tank preferably the tightest notch. Done in 2 months. Second: Lifestyle change and nutrition plan adhereance. So far so good. (;0)

Originally Posted by Mickey

Gonna have to do some research here. I know nothing of these terms. Current visuals aside, I'm an old school, free weight, pyramid builder. I was once a miniature LitTrog. I'd like to get back to that. I know what worked back then, but I'm sure advances have been made.

Gonna have to see what an old guy can do to regain his previous Greek god glory. LOL

The older I get the more I need to shake it up to loose fat and get muscular. This time around I did 2 months of toning weights and reps and changed my entire routine from month one to month two to month three per P-90X. Doing the toning weights was an exercise in self control as toning weights do not feed the male ego at all! Then in month three I used strength gain style weight and reps. I did a recovery week every fourth week that focused entirely on total core fitness, stretching, and cardio. I found out the hard way years ago that taking a day on a regular basis (once a week at least) to focus on stretching slowly and methodically from head to toe helped the changes along and prevented fatigue and injury. It was really tough to do nothing else those days as my instinct was to just keep lifting and get stronger but that would just have caused more muscle breakdown than my body could regenerate and would have LOST my results and not built on them.

Whatever program you use make sure it is comprehensive and structured in some way as starting up after all this time leaves some (myself included) just flailing around in the gym and actually fighting against maximizng our results.

**biblemonkey** · 8th May 12, 05:21 AM

I just finished the first month of my second round of P-90X. Been doing all body weight exercises with a 50 lb pack and I upped the weight to the hypertrophy level. I also only do 1/2 the lifting routines so I can get more cardio in to get ready for Warrior Dash. Then three times a week I run either 3.5 miles including a little stair running on a local hill or do wind sprints. This next month I may add suspension straps, a balance ball, and medicine balls to the body weight exercises and not wear the pack just for a change of pace and to increase balance and endurance. Warrior Dash, here I come!