I started posting this in a couple different threads, but in my long-winded, detail-oriented, OCD way, the posts got so long that I figured it'd be more appropriate to make my own progress thread. My intention is to log in here daily or weekly or as often as I can, to create a journal for myself for reference, or maybe in hopes that my trials, successes/mistakes etc. could be of use to others.
So, in the interest of logging my fitness journey, thought I'd start with where I'm at and what I do...
I'm 37, male, newly sober (64 days AF at present). Ex-smoker and fast food/junk diet. Trying now to be very consistent and motivated with healthy living, especially since it can help with keeping sobriety on track. I've lost about 20 lbs in the last 4 to 6 months (not sure when to count my starting point) and have about 20 lbs more of fat to lose.
Just for the record, my basic outlook/plan is a bit out of the norm, a bit out of the mainstream, and some would call it just plain loony, but it works for me and I'm sticking with it for a while.
My diet could be described as sort of hybrid of SCD/paleo/juicing.
95% of the time (the other 5% being celebrations, slip ups, and cheat meals), I don't eat any sugar, processed foods, gluten, beans, or grains except for white rice. I do eat healthy fats such as butter, Omega 3 oil, avocado, coconut/MCT oil. I eat eggs, maybe twice a week, and I eat lean meats such as chicken and turkey, beef, bison, and elk, fish, and pork, all pastured/grass-fed/organic/wildcaught when I can get it. I juice tons of veggies and select fruits such as berries. For carbs, I eat select few complex carbs such as sweet potatoes and white rice. I eat nuts such as almonds and macadamia nuts and seeds such as pumpkin. I do eat a piece of dark chocolate (organic 85% cocao or above) per day.
For drinks, I do Bulletproof Coffee (Upgraded Coffee, grass-fed butter, MCT oil) during the day and switch to Skullbaby Lemonade (ice, water, splash of organic lemon juice, 8 drops stevia to sweeten) at night.
I also follow the IF/LeanGains method with quite good results so far.
I make sure to get between 7-9 hours of sleep per night. I really try to guard my sleeping time ruthlessly so that nothing infringes on it. I'm trying to do that with exercise now, too.
For exercising, I do 3 days of heavy/intense lifting per week, of which I'm using a RPT (Reverse-Pyramid Training) method. I use 90% compound lifts (deadlift, squat, bench, pullups) and add the occasional targetted muscle exercise. On off days I'm trying to get in the habit of doing just a little bit- stretching, then 20 min of yoga, 3 min of jumproping to improve cardio, and abs exercises. Or some combination of those. Then on Sundays, I do 8-10 hill sprints for HIIT.
I supplement with Vit C, D, B, Creatine, Cal/Mag/Zinc, fiber, and protein shakes.
I've been doing the above for about 4 or 5 months and have lost a lot of fat and put on a lot of muscle. I test my blood regularly and my labs all look really good.
I'm really seeing for the first time in my life how dedication to health (not to mention sobriety) contributes to a healthy mind, spirit, and self. One really affects and informs the other.
Lastly, my worst craving foods tend to be pizza and donuts. (And beer, but I'm working on that too).
I just moved to a new city and I have a meeting with a trainer at a gym today at 8pm- the move has caused me to miss training for 2 full weeks which is waaay too long. No more. I jump into training tonight! I must commit to it and make the time for it every day. After two weeks of no training, my re-entry is gonna hurt... more than usual
I'll check in tomorrow and post how it went...
So, in the interest of logging my fitness journey, thought I'd start with where I'm at and what I do...
I'm 37, male, newly sober (64 days AF at present). Ex-smoker and fast food/junk diet. Trying now to be very consistent and motivated with healthy living, especially since it can help with keeping sobriety on track. I've lost about 20 lbs in the last 4 to 6 months (not sure when to count my starting point) and have about 20 lbs more of fat to lose.
Just for the record, my basic outlook/plan is a bit out of the norm, a bit out of the mainstream, and some would call it just plain loony, but it works for me and I'm sticking with it for a while.
My diet could be described as sort of hybrid of SCD/paleo/juicing.
95% of the time (the other 5% being celebrations, slip ups, and cheat meals), I don't eat any sugar, processed foods, gluten, beans, or grains except for white rice. I do eat healthy fats such as butter, Omega 3 oil, avocado, coconut/MCT oil. I eat eggs, maybe twice a week, and I eat lean meats such as chicken and turkey, beef, bison, and elk, fish, and pork, all pastured/grass-fed/organic/wildcaught when I can get it. I juice tons of veggies and select fruits such as berries. For carbs, I eat select few complex carbs such as sweet potatoes and white rice. I eat nuts such as almonds and macadamia nuts and seeds such as pumpkin. I do eat a piece of dark chocolate (organic 85% cocao or above) per day.
For drinks, I do Bulletproof Coffee (Upgraded Coffee, grass-fed butter, MCT oil) during the day and switch to Skullbaby Lemonade (ice, water, splash of organic lemon juice, 8 drops stevia to sweeten) at night.
I also follow the IF/LeanGains method with quite good results so far.
I make sure to get between 7-9 hours of sleep per night. I really try to guard my sleeping time ruthlessly so that nothing infringes on it. I'm trying to do that with exercise now, too.
For exercising, I do 3 days of heavy/intense lifting per week, of which I'm using a RPT (Reverse-Pyramid Training) method. I use 90% compound lifts (deadlift, squat, bench, pullups) and add the occasional targetted muscle exercise. On off days I'm trying to get in the habit of doing just a little bit- stretching, then 20 min of yoga, 3 min of jumproping to improve cardio, and abs exercises. Or some combination of those. Then on Sundays, I do 8-10 hill sprints for HIIT.
I supplement with Vit C, D, B, Creatine, Cal/Mag/Zinc, fiber, and protein shakes.
I've been doing the above for about 4 or 5 months and have lost a lot of fat and put on a lot of muscle. I test my blood regularly and my labs all look really good.
I'm really seeing for the first time in my life how dedication to health (not to mention sobriety) contributes to a healthy mind, spirit, and self. One really affects and informs the other.
Lastly, my worst craving foods tend to be pizza and donuts. (And beer, but I'm working on that too).
I just moved to a new city and I have a meeting with a trainer at a gym today at 8pm- the move has caused me to miss training for 2 full weeks which is waaay too long. No more. I jump into training tonight! I must commit to it and make the time for it every day. After two weeks of no training, my re-entry is gonna hurt... more than usual
I'll check in tomorrow and post how it went...
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