Acceleration week

This week I have started my acceleration week. This involves stepping it up a notch to see if I can accelerate my results.

You would have seen from my previous post that I attached my eating and training schedule, along with my latest measurements. So far I have followed the schedule as is . . . with extremely minimal cheating. :)

Getting up early and getting to the gym each morning hasn’t been all that hard, however afternoons are a real struggle. 2 sessions a day at the gym really does take it out of you. But I’m going to stick to this regime until Monday and will then report on the results.

My aim for Monday is to have lost at least 2cm from my waist and hopefully 2% body fat.

Fingers crossed!

Current measurements

Here are my current measurements - not bad progress so far!

Weight - 75.5kg (-0.8kg)

Body Fat - 22.6% (-1.5%)

Muscle Mass - 38.8% (+0.9)

Visceral Fat - 9 (down 1)

Days 7, 8, 9, and 10

No posts for a couple of days. Haven’t I been bad!

Posting every day is becoming quite a chore I have found. As much as I like the idea of being accountable during this journey, I am finding it incredibly difficult to find the motivation to keep my eating habits ED compliant, maintain an exercise regime, AND update my blog daily.

I mentioned in my previous post that I would post my plan for the week ahead. I have a confession – I haven’t finished it, nor have I been following the parts that I have done. Because of this I had some slip ups today again.

Something good has come out of this though – I am seeing a pattern of what makes me slip up . . . lack of sleep and poor preparation!

I have had some late nights and early starts with no breaks at all. I had a headache all day today which was not pleasant. So – I must get an early night sleep if I am going to keep on track.

I have a Summer Ball at the iconic London Gherkin building on Saturday 16 July. So that is my new short-term goal. I am going to try really hard to stay on the right path between now and then.

So I have finished my plan for the next 2 weeks and I am going to stick to everything 100%. It’s only for the next 10 days.

Let’s see what results I can get between now and then.

I will post my updated measurements in the morning. Perhaps these results will be a wake-up call!

Day 5 & Day 6

Friday was going very well until I arrived at my friends farewell party at about 8:30pm. 3 hours later I left . . . and had consumed a bottle of wine . . . and then had chinese takeaway on the way home. LOL.

Unfortunately today hasn't been much better. Had a few too many carbs and now there is the possibility that I am going out tonight which means I will be drinking. I haven't been out clubbing for months so I think I deserve this treat. I do!

Since my slip up on Thursday it has been extremely hard to get back on track properly. Although I would normally be disappointed - I'm not. I still have until the end of this month to achieve my goals and I am very confident that I AM going to reach them.

I am going to do some proper planning tomorrow as I know that this is the trick to success. I will post my plan in tomorrow's post.

I promise that I am going to pull my head in and remind myself why I am doing this challenge. Not that I am making excuses - but this month was probably not the best month to have taken on this challenge - therefore I am going to have to make some modifications to it and put my own little spin on it.

Don't get me wrong - I have done this program before for 18 days straight very strictly without any cheating or slip-ups and can definitely boast about the benefit of eliminating certain foods and poisons from your diet - but it takes more than will-power to change habits that are instilled within.

I have a few events coming up this month so I am going to take them into account when I do my plan (which I really should have done from Day 1 - bad Marcus!).

My admiration goes out to all those parents which have decided to take on this challenge. I can only image how much of a struggle it must be to be going through a major diet change and also keeping up with your parenting duties. I only have myself to look after and there are times where I struggle to even do that! So hats off to all the parents out there.

Thanks for all your messages about my toe. I can say that today it is actually feeling much better (although it still looks like a mess) and I will be resuming my exercise regime from Monday.

Happy Pride everyone!

Day 3 and 4

Starting to feel normal now which is a relief!

Got to the gym yesterday and did some weights and some interval training on the rower. Besides that nothing too exciting to report for Day 3.

Been having some really busy days hence my lack of post yesterday and combining the posts for Day 3 and Day 4.

Today I had a shipment of goods arrive that I had sent from Australia. Space is becoming an issue in my place at the moment and the arrival of 21 items (many boxes, bike, filing cabinet, cd cabinet, chest of drawers, air conditioner, etc) didn't help my stress levels.

Then my strength all came crashing around me when I had to move a broken microwave down the stairs. As I was lifting it the door of the microwave swung open and the glass plate came out and landed vertically right on my left toe! I don't think I need to describe it but there was a lot of blood and lots of swelling arrived not too soon after. It literally immobilised me.

I haven't experience pain like that for a while. I had no choice but to take pain killers (which I don't take if possible). As I lie on the lounge feeling sorry for myself, toe all black and blue, and at a loss as to where I was going to put my all the things that had just arrived . . . I caved in and had 2 things that I love and am not allowed at the moment - wine, cereal, and toast. LOL.

I have been extremely strict with my eating regime since Monday but today I tipped over the edge and the discipline went right out the window. I was starving and in such a bad mood that I couldn't even think about actually cooking myself something and cutting up a salad.

Anyway - tomorrow is another day and I'm sure after a good nights sleep I will be back on track again.

What is even more annoying is that I am meant to be in a boot camp session tomorrow morning but exercise is now restricted because of my injured toe.

I hope things get better tomorrow.

Day 2

Today was much better!

I had a really early night last night and managed to get 10 hours sleep. I think that was all that I needed - a good dose of rest while my body did its overnight repairs.

It was also my first boot camp training this evening. Will be doing this twice a week for the next 5 weeks on a Tuesday evening and Friday mornings . . . . that is if I can actually walk tomorrow which I actually may struggle with.

I've been keeping lots of 'compliant' food stocked and at the ready and been very disciplined to go out and get 'compliant' food if I have run out of something.

Breakfast today was 3 eggs and a baked tomoatoe.

Lunch was a gorgeous salad and some mushroom soup.

My snack was a mix of the Food Doctor's seeds.

Dinner was an organic chicken breast grilled in coconut oil and accompanied with a green salad.

Throughout the day I have been drinking Tulsi Tea.

Tomorrow I am off to the gym to do some weights and then a nice hot sauna afterwards.

I already feel thinner!

The flat stomach will be back before I know it. I don't think my partner believes that I used to have one. LOL.

Day 1

It’s amazing how the body behaves when it is starved from something that it has become so used to. Today I suffered a throbbing headache from about 1pm onwards and it is still with me as I write this entry.

I got through Day 1 with no slip ups.

From previous experience, the first 3 days are going to be hell - but the pain will not get the better of me. I know once I get on the other side of the 3 days then things become much easier and my energy levels will be amazing.

Anyway - I'm off to bed now. I am very tired!

Starting measurements

In order to assess track your results during the challenge here are my starting measurements:

1. Your bodyweight
76.2kg

2. Circumference of your chest/bust at the widest point
100cm


3. Circumference of your waist at the belly button level
97cm

4. Circumference of your upper arm at the largest point
L=32.5cm and R=31.5cm

5. Circumference of your hips at 'deepest' protrusion of your buttocks
96cm

6. Circumference of your thighs at 4 inches and 8 inches above the kneecap
Middle -55cm | 4" - 48cm | 8" - 56.5


7. Body fat percentage
24.1%

8. Muscle Mass
37.9%

9. Visceral fat level
10


Some Day 1pictures

My goal - turn back the clock 2 years

As I mentioned in my About Me post, I have been busy setting up my new life here in the UK. Prior to that I was a fitness machine. Unfortunately over the last 2 years I have 'let myself go' and a misguided focus has undone years of work.

That said - no use dwelling on the past. I only have myself to blame and now it is time to focus on the future.

Here are some pics of what I am trying to achieve. This is me 2 years ago!

Like anything, it takes focus and commitment to reach your goals . . . and I have to say - I'm now ready for this challenge!

I look forward to your support along this journey. Having trained with the London Personal Training Studio quite recently I can safely say that I am in good hands.

About me

I’m a 30-year-young proud gay boy from Australia. I have my own web and design agency Cows On The Roof and I work as a freelance website all-rounder and email marketer.

I moved from Sydney Australia in December 2009 to London and have enjoyed every second of my new life here in the UK.

Establishing myself in this new city has been quite demanding and because of my commitment to my business and my clients – my personal fitness has suffered. I am now determined to get back a better balance of work and play and reclaim my sleek bod that I used to have.

I look forward to sharing my results and showing the wonderful results along this journey.

> London Personal Trainer