“I will gain 20 pounds of muscle.”
Or so I like to tell myself, because I’m embarking on an exercise/food/whatever regimen with a good friend. This ties in appropriately with my resolution to eat healthily this year. I found it very. bloody. difficult. to go a week without McDonalds (having just done so this past week), but I like to think it’s a good start. The lowdown: working on eating right and cardio exercises before we get into strength training (if we do at all), so I can extricate fast food from my diet and concentrate on - wait for it - the five food groups! Hooray. Plus cardio crap to come as it progresses. The fine print (as per a MySpace message back and forth sent a few days ago, negotiated over and over, then send back and forth a few more times):
- Write down everything we eat. Everything. we. eat. I managed it yesterday and I stopped eating so much out of pure shame, so at least I know it works.
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday will be days of 30-minute runs in the pattern of run for 4 minutes, walk for 2, run for 4, walk for 2, etc. Can be replaced with 45 minutes of indoor mild aerobic activity (i.e. treadmill, exercise bike, etc.) in the circumstance of bad weather.
- Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday will be devoted to a routine of core exercises. All of them, yes, but not necessarily in one go. These are okay to not follow through with, but I like to think I’m determined and motivated (despite being on holiday for a third of a freaking year) enough to follow through anyway. Essentially, in listing whatever exercises we’ve done, it’s to ensure we don’t both end up cheating in the long run.
Simple. Straightforward. And doesn’t even require a gym membership (gyms scare the shit out of me anyway). My main motivation for doing all of this: I suddenly felt extremely bloated after reading all of that, the dancing year is starting up on February 4th, and what with doing two long-ass three-hour classes a week and regular competitions, I need to get into shape. Skinny (read: anorexic-looking) does not necessarily equal in-shape, ergo I need to start getting off my ass and doing something constructive and productive for a change.
So. Xuan’s Generic Mantra for … however long this regimen will go for: “I will gain 20 pounds of muscle mass by the time the State Champs roll in.”
And … Xuan’s Actual Mantra For This Regimen: “I’m sick of feeling bloated all the fucking time, so let’s do this already and take it a day at a time. WOO! *bounce*”
Mmm. The smell of productivity. Now I’m off for a run/walk/breakfast.
[#] Aisling, on January 21, 2008:
What I’ve been doing is watching what I eat, by just… not eating when I’m not hungry. Also, my parents are doing similarly, and my brother is away, so there is *NO JUNK FOOD* in our house. So, even if I want to eat something, all of my options are healthy.
Then, I use my treadmill, and jog a mile or so, a day. :)
[#] Kaylee, on January 21, 2008:
Good luck! I hope you can keep it up :D I always fail at lifestyle changes like that.
[#] Jean, on January 21, 2008:
You know we are going to rock this shit. ^_____^
[#] Paddy, on January 21, 2008:
There was a stage where I was doing 30 minute solid runs 3 or 4 times a week. Then I took up smoking, drinking and chicken nuggets… but I’ve just stopped smoking and chicken nuggets.
I think I’m going to follow your plan! …sorta
[#] Jamie, on January 21, 2008:
This post was quite inspiring to get me back to working out.. thank you and good luck to you!
[#] Chien Yee, on January 21, 2008:
Ahh, muscle gain ;) Good luck with it :D I know I find it hard to control my diet even until now, and it’s hell starving myself during school because I have no time to eat. Fortunately I don’t eat junk food anymore because my allergies to it are dead horrible.
[#] Skye, on January 21, 2008:
When I cut out fast food, I GAINED more weight. So I went back to it and discovered the secret: moderation and smaller portions. I ate an average amount of food, but it was too much for ME.
Good luck! *hugs*
[#] Kristina, on January 22, 2008:
Good luck with it all, I hope it goes well for you =]
[#] Stephanieq, on January 22, 2008:
Twenty lbs of muscle = lots of weight lifting. But its great, once you start, you lose fat :D
+oil~
[#] Rilla, on January 22, 2008:
Wow… You crazy hardout! But I guess that’s healthy. I still prefer going to the gym though. :P Good luck sticking to your plans!
[#] Summer, on January 24, 2008:
The only resolution I have in the way of being healthy:
1. STOP BINGE-EATING.
No one will believe me but I’ve been eating enough to feed all of Africa in the last two days! It’s ridiculous! And I always feel so sick afterwards, but I never really realize until AFTER all the food is inside me. I don’t even /know/ how I manage to pack that much in! *looks at own stomach in wonder*
[#] Katy, on January 24, 2008:
Here’s a useful site to record your daily meals:
http://www.thedailyplate.com/
Good luck on your plan!
Reply: Nifty! Thanks for the heads-up. :)
[#] Sue, on January 25, 2008:
That’s pretty cool that your goal is to gain 20lbs of muscle and you already have a diet and exercise routine planned out. Plans like that are hard to follow through, however, especially since you have exercise planned everyday except Sunday. Right? No Sunday? Well, I wish you the best of luck with the consistency, and transforming your body into the shape you want! ^_~*
[#] Jen, on January 28, 2008:
It’s been my resolution for the longest time to just *gain* weight, but then even though I’m eating three decent meals (as opposed to my previous 2 during high school), I’m still not hitting the 100lb mark — I’m still hovering around the 95lb mark. Woe! Haha, I find it rather funny that we’re in Australia and yet we’re talking in pounds :P
[#] Anna, on February 10, 2008:
LMAO, that’s the most sophisticated plan I’ve ever seen! Hopefully you’ll keep up to it (: I find the whole limiting the food thing doesn’t help me at all, but then again, I consciously control my eating now anyways.
[#] Ivy, on February 12, 2008:
Good luck! Though, if you want to gain muscle, you should be doing strength training. Even as a girl, I gained unbelievable amount of muscle after 3 months of strength training (which is why I stopped).
Strength training doesn’t necessarily involve going to the gym, though you get to work all muscles groups at the gym. Sit ups, squats, push-ups can go a long way. Just remember, it’s not the number that counts, it’s the frequency and consistency. Also remember to work out your muscles only once every 2 days. This gives the muscles the appropriate rest, so that it can grow. And of course, STRETCH, not only for cardio but for strength training. It allows your fibers to be more flexible, thus allowing for greater buildup of muscle.
And don’t be afraid of the gym. Once you get to know the machines, it’s the best way to get your dose of strength training.
Sorry, if I sound like a mum. I had a personal trainer once. The tips I got did wonders for me, until I was barred from the gym due to some genetic health issues.
[#] Arwen, on February 16, 2008:
Finally! Someone else who realizes that losing weight =/= getting healthy!