5K Results

Well, I ran the first 1.5 miles no problem... I was actually doing quite well but then I felt terrible lol... I got through it in 37 minutes even which isn't very good, but I had to walk a bit after that 1.5/2 mile marker. So it was pretty bad, but I was thinking of the one I ran in December of last year, and I must have been going at snail speed because I didn't walk in that one and my time was close to today's where I walked a bit. So I guess I'm speeding up a little, but I just need to train more and not have weeks like I did last week. Oh well... another's coming up in September so more training...

5k tomorrow!

Sorry for not posting. I've got a lot on my plate these past couple of weeks with school, work, and personal stuff so I haven't had a chance to post. But anyway, just to keep you in the loop, I have my 5k tomorrow in downtown San Diego. I'm running the San Diego Blood Bank 5k run/walk tomorrow. I wasn't able to make it to the gym much last week and so I'm hoping that tomorrow's race isn't horrible lol... I guess we'll see. Chris is running it with me again :)

Underage & Overweight by Frances M. Berg

Everyone should read this Book "Underage & Overweight" by Frances M. Berg. This is the most powerful book I have read regarding obesity. I wish someone had told me about all this when I was a kid or had directed me somehow into the right thinking. Now at 25 years old, I am learning about all the misconceptions that I had and even still have to this day. I highly recommend that everyone read this book for those trying to lose weight. It is very well worth it!

Here is a link that talks a little bit about the book, but you can get it anywhere... http://hatherleighpress.stores.yahoo.net/unov.html

Diets do not work...

Dieting does not work. We all have gone on a diet, and we might lose a few pounds here and there, but as soon as we are off the diet, we gain the weight right back and even more weight than when we started.

You have to get past the diet part, and move on to a new perspective. You have to make the choice to make exercise and eating healthy a life change. You need to change your thinking that you can "quick fix" your weight through just dieting. You have to accept the fact that to live life to the fullness and healthiest, you need to be into this for life. Only then can you be successful in your weight loss goals. This is what I've had to learn the hard way, but now, I work hard for my gains, and you owe it to yourself to do the same.

Arm Workout

My friend put this amazing arm workout together for me that I did this past Friday. If you ever want to shake up your workout, this is a perfect one to do. I can curl 20's pretty good, and I'm actually starting to try the 25's, but by the end of this workout, I was failing with 5 pounds haha!
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Bi’s

1^st – Seated D-bell curls superset with, Concentration curls (3 sets…very heavy on the d-bell curls, 1x8,1x6,1x4 but on the concentration curls do 3x 12-20 reps

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2^nd – Standing Barbell Curls (power) superset with, Standing or seated Hammer curls (3 sets…very heavy on the barbell curls, 1x8, 1x6, 1x4 but on the Hammer curls do 3x 12-20 reps

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3^rd – Preacher Curls (power) superset with, 1 arm at a time d-bell preacher curls (3 sets…very heavy on the Preacher Curls, 1x8, 1x6, 1x4 but on the 1 arm d-bell preachers do 3x 12-20 reps

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4th - grab a light barbell and do a set of 21's and that's it for bi's

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Tri’s

1^st – French Presses (Skull Crushers) superset with, Close grip bench press (3 sets…very heavy on the Crushers, 1x8, 1x6, 1x4 but on the close grip presses do 3x 12-20 reps

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2nd - 1 arm seated d-bell extensions (heavy) superset with, either kickbacks or laying extensions d-bell... (3 sets.. very heavy with the seated extensions, 1x8, 1x6, 1x4 but on the kickbacks or... 2x 12-20 reps)

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3rd - Cable pushdowns (heavy) superset with, 1 arm cable extensions... (3 sets very heavy with the cable pushdowns... 3x12-20 reps with the other)

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4th – seated machine pushdowns (1 set…pyramid down stack) start at a heavy weight and do 4 reps and keep dropping weight while increasing your reps till you can’t do anymore!

Weight vs Overall Body Composition

So as I've previously mentioned, my goal is to lose 100 pounds which I am slowly making my way towards. Now, I've been holding the same weight for a couple of months now of about 188 pounds, but I am down a size in clothing. My overall weight is holding, but I am building muscle and burning fat at the same time. Which is a bit frustrating when you are trying to lose weight, but I realized that a few months ago there would have been no way I could fit into the size I am in now at the same weight so I know I am building muscle and I am getting much stronger. I still have fat to burn as I am not slim yet, but I don't think that I will be able to get tiny. I was watching the sports channel at the gym while I was running, and they showed a clip of Serena Williams. After looking at her physique and built, I think I am much more inclined to be built like her. So my new goal is to continue to lift and gain muscle, lose weight, but also to get a physique like hers...

Pictures

So I was flipping through some old pictures, and I found these two similiar style pictures taken from before I started eating right and going to the gym (~ 1.5 years ago) and a picture about 1 year into working out... I'm still on my way to losing about 40 more pounds but here's some idea of where I was...

Before Gym

About 1 Year into the Gym