Phase I, Day 14

Hello! I am happy to report that I am 2 weeks into Phase 1 of my physique transformation challenge and I am right on track to hit my goal. As of this morning, I am still hovering around the 206-207 lb. range, which was where I was earlier in the week. I believe the temporary plateau is more like a stabilization from having the flu last Sunday. I had a dramatic loss in the first week, followed by an additional 3 pounds from being sick.

I expect to be closer to 200 at the end of this week. When I started this phase, I was 216 pounds on Valentine's Day. I was completely dissatisfied with my body & self image and was ready to do something about. Well, I have done something about it. But I'm not even close to my ultimate goal: a 6-pack by my 32nd birthday, 5/25/09. Jess took this picture of me this morning and I really can start to picture what I will look like in almost 3 months.

After finishing the book Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle (by Tom Venuto), I have more knowledge than I have ever had before in my life when it comes to permanent fat-loss. The idea behind total fat-loss (and not just "weight-loss", which most of the time is just water weight) is combining weight-training, cardio, nutrition and motivation at the same time. Sounds simple enough, which it is, but I can't even begin to tell you how many times in the past that I've been in a weight-training or running phase, only to have my nutrition be at its worst. I'd make the excuse, "well, I'm working out, so I'll just burn this pizza, beer, wings, chocolate chip cookies, etc, off anyways". WRONG! While it may be true that my metabolism had increased with the increased exercise, I would usually fill the newly needed calorie void with "anything" I could get my hands on. Which 100% of the time would be something high in fat or sugar.

Anyway, enough talk. I'm ready for the start of week 3. See you tomrrow!