About 8 weeks ago I started back at the Y.  I’ve worked out about 25 times.  Had a one week stretch without going; shoveled snow for several three-hour stretches during that week and those felt like workouts.

I’m up 5 or 6 pounds, but down a notch or two on the belt buckle.   Put at least an inch on the biceps, and an inch or two on the chest and shoulders.  I’m sure a pound or two are from holiday feasting.   The scale isn’t as important as the mirror, or feeling better than I have in ten years or more.

Regards,
Keith

Good routine, 35 or 40 minutes on a weight machine circuit, then walking/jogging and/or shooting buckets, then sauna and whirlpool.

Up from 12 reps to 15 on about a dozen machines.  Two of them twice – the ones for the core.

I’d love to get in one of the full court games after lifting, but it may be just as well I haven’t yet.  No legs after weight routine.

Weight stabilized quickly, but I’ve found myself tightening the belt a notch or too more than was possible before (depending on the belt).

Haven’t overdone it as I’m prone to do.  Look forward to several workouts over the Thanksgiving holidays.

Regards,
Keith

I was just going to get situated with the lockers and laundry and such on Sunday, November 9th, and ended up staying for a circuit on weight machines, shooting some buckets for 15 or 20 minutes and enjoying the sauna and whirlpool.

Really felt the machine circuit yesterday – in a good way.

Got in very early today, should be taking a mid-day Y break.  I work long hours and hope to increase my effectiveness during those hours by sharpening the ax through exercise and general physical activity.   

Regards,
Keith

Sure enough, I post about staying under 200 lbs for a week and WHAM!  Home-made apple pie, apple sauce, apple muffins, just plain apples from a friend’s orchard and a few other dishes over the weekend and I’m back to 202.  This is a typical time of year to add some pounds.  I think we’re hard-wired to know Winter is coming and our bodies say, “build up the reserves!”  Well, hopefully not this winter.

Regards,
Keith

When I quit smoking cigarettes perhaps fifteen years ago, I gained weight at the rate of an ounce an hour for a month-and-a-half. That’s 1 1/2 pounds a day, about a 65 pound weight-gain. I reached 263. I started smoking cigars about six or eight years ago. Dropped 15 pounds right away. Did some serious exercise a couple of years ago, got down to 215 then strained my neck doing crunches. Back to low-220s. Just started watching the diet and slowly shed. A year ago I dipped under 200 for a day just before Thanksgiving. Then worked up to 212 through the holidays and the (long) winter. Watched the diet again this year. Dipped under 200 a couple of different times this summer. Finally, been under 200 for a week now.

One more bowling ball to go. I’m four bowling balls (mens’ bowling balls are generally 16 pounds each) under my peak. Imagine carrying four bowling balls around! I figure one more…down to 185, and I’ll be five balls under my peak, and close to an ideal weight for me. That’s what I was at after basic training and MP school at eighteen years old, and I was in good shape back then.

The trick will be to drop the weight AND  drop the smoking.

Regards,
Keith