by Mike Vifquain on June 9, 2010
Yep, I admit it. I’m a bad blogger.
Life has gotten in the way of my blog posts, once again. Here I am almost 90 days later, a few lbs heavier and finally posting about it.
First – The Good news:
- I have still been working out. (Weight training 3-5 days a week)
- I have increased my strength, BIG TIME!
- I have added 8-10lbs muscle mass
- I haven’t been traveling.
Now – The Bad News:
- My diet sucks. I’m not eating often enough or well enough.
- I am not doing enough cardio, in addition to my weight training.
- I have gained a few lbs. (287lbs as of this morning)
One could argue that the bad really isn’t that bad; I’ve added muscle and maintained fat %, while really not pushing cardio and a proper diet. I don’t see it that way. My initial goal was to lose 100lbs by today. I have lost only 20.
Lets cut to the chase here and let you be the judge.
Now, if we compare to the pics in my last post you will see a few things:
- I am MUCH more tan. Its summer and I am out on the boat a lot!
- I am definitely “larger”. But is this muscle growth or fat?
- I clearly have no fear of posting embarrassing “fat” pics of me online.
I know what I need to do. I know I need to get more serious, but didn’t I say this before?
I’m searching for some encouragement by way of true criticism with this post.
What do you think of my status here? What is your take on my status pic? Better/worse?
by Mike Vifquain on March 14, 2010
As I’ve started to feel down about my weight-loss progress, I really haven’t taken time to think about what I have accomplished so far. I know I am working hard, and not starving myself with a 1500 calorie a day diet. I know I am getting stronger and building muscle. I just don’t see it reflecting in the scale. It’s time to see exactly what I have accomplished.
The photos below are a compilation of my weight-loss progress to date.
Now that I look at the pictures, I do see progress. I feel a little better. I have a long way to go.
Can you see a difference?
by Mike Vifquain on March 13, 2010
Here I am, 92 days into my journey and I’m still feeling lost. The weight just isn’t coming off how I intended. Not like “last time.”
As I mentioned in the last post, I needed to do something different. I needed to hold myself accountable. I am.
Just over a week ago I started attending a “Punch Boxing for Fitness” class for cardio, in addition to my weight training. I must say, it’s a really good workout – and keeping me motivated. It’s a mix of stretching, calisthenics and boxing that is always followed by a great core/ab workout. I leave the class drenched in sweat and feeling great about myself. It’s addicting. Almost too addicting. I’ve been every day since I registered. I forced myself to take yesterday off as to not “overtrain.”
For the first time in over a month, I saw the scale move.
Current weight: 283lbs
To be totally honest with you, I gained 3lbs the week before, so I was 288lbs. This moves this weeks “real loss” to 5lbs. Hooray me!
It’s taken me 92 days to lose 23lbs. I was sure I would be down at least 50lbs by now. I’m not.
Head up, Think Positive and Move Forward.
by Mike Vifquain on February 24, 2010
On February 1st I was excited. I finally broke my initial goal of losing 20lbs with my weigh-in of 285lbs. At that time I started to focus not only on cardio, but lifting weights. Things were looking up.
Then I went to LA for work, and got stuck in snow on my way back to Florida. I got sick, which meant no workouts for a week. Fast forward to now and we get to todays weigh-in.
Drum roll please….
Current weight: 285lbs
I didn’t lose a damn bit of weight! Could it be the sick week with no workouts? Could it be the weights I am lifting 3-4 days a week?
I feel like I wasted all of February, instead of losing the 10-15lbs I had targetted! I guess no loss is better than a gain, but it’s still ZERO PROGRESS!
So, I’m left trying to figure how to get myself out of this rut. I need to think a little more about my course of action, however I think this is what I am going to change.
1) Log my food and calorie intake on DailyBurn.com. I’ve already started to do this and see that I am eating way to more carbs than I thought.
2) Increase my daily cardio from 30-45 minutes to 45-60 minutes while paying much closer attention to my heart rate.
3) Take body measurements and track them much closer.
4) Most important. Really watch what I eat. It’s time to really get serious.
I will organize my thoughts and plan a bit more and post here.
by Mike Vifquain on February 17, 2010
Where did I go? Did I give up and binge on Twinkies and Double Fudge Sundae’s?
No, nothing crazy or drastic like that. I was out of town on business last week, in LA actually. I was too busy to get on the computer, and when I did have time I was working out with 100 pushups or doing crunches. I tried to stay active, whether walking around town or fitting in some physical activity daily.
Upon my return Friday, I was stuck overnight in Charlotte, NC as the snow rolled in. US Airways was nice enough to put me up in the roach trap called Red Roof Inn, where I must have picked up some form of GonaSyphaHerpelAids (Get it?). Fast forward to now and I feel like death warmed over. Or what I imagine death would be like. My sinuses are clogged, insane headache, cough, fever, stomach pains and nothing I eat wants to stay inside my body. I’ll let you use your imagination with the rest. Hooters has nothing on this!
I’ve been sleeping for a few hours, then awake an hour, then back to sleep for a few hours. The only good coming of this is the forced change in my body and I’m sure to lose a few pounds!
So bare with me, my friends. Positive Mike will be back soon. I’ll post some progress pics tomorrow if I feel any better.
How has your week been? Are you making the losses you expect this month?
by Mike Vifquain on February 7, 2010
This week was a wash. I missed 3 days of workouts due to either sick kids or too much work to do. I found myself just hoping to maintain loss rather than add weight-loss.
I had to skip Mondays workout due to work issues, but I did manage to bust out some crunches and leg lifts. Tuesday was a solid workout. Wednesday was a scheduled miss as I had to take time off for my 9 year old, Hailey, to get her cast off – Yay! It turned into one long day at the walk-in clinic that ended with my 4 year old son, Harrison, being diagnosed with strep throat. Needless to say, Thursday was a wash. I managed to workout on Friday, but ruined that with a trip to the Sate Fair on Saturday.
Yes, I had a corn dog and some great tasting red beans & rice at the fair. It tasted wonderful and I rationalized my eating with the tons of walking I did that day. SShhh! I don’t need your chastising. I know I was wrong.
Fast forward to today, Super Bowl Sunday. It’s Drew Brees and Who Dat Nation against Peyton Manning and the Colts. This is The Man’s Holiday filled with beer, wings and tons of carbs.
What am I to do?
I am going to a friend’s house, so I cannot control the menu. I can control my choices though. I will do my best to make the right choices and stay away from beer. I know I will give in some, but just how much?
On a positive note, I hit the gym this morning and pulled off just under 700 calories in 35 minutes.
Next up, I’m heading to Hollywood, CA for another tradeshow. The good thing is it’s California where there is plenty of healthy food choices! The bad is staying on track with my workouts. I leave Monday and return Friday, hopefully I can fit in a few workouts during the week.
How was your week?
