Get Gary Fit

Just finished watching Fat Head with three friends. Great movie as it illustrates concepts that were outlined in Gary Taube’s book, “Good Calories, Bad Calories”. Basically, fat is not bad. Your body needs fat; it can even help lower your LDL and raise your HDL.

On my journey to losing 45 ( or 44 depending on the day ) pounds, I tried a few methods over the last few years. I’ve done low fat, low calorie and low carb. Eating primal or low carb has helped me the most. I’ve stuck with that now for a good 4 months. Sometimes I cheat. However, I have noticed a significant weight drop even then.

That being said, I’m fat.

Once again proving the scale has nothing to do with progress, I weigh 137.52 pounds as of today. And I am 28.4% fat.

To give a little perspective, I went with a friend today who is about 33 years older than I am. He had 8% body fat. That will motivate you.

How do I know how much body fat I have? After reading a recommendation in Timothy Ferris’ book, “The 4 Hour Body” , I decided to give BodPod a try. Even made it a goal. That is one more goal completed!

My Stats - October 16, 2011:

Based on the report that I was given, I have “Excess Fat”, which “Indicates an excess accumulation of fat over time.” Yea, no kidding.

The Plan or Phase Two

What next? Two things: do a juice fast for 10 days as described on my goals page and begin a high intensity workout session. I’ve already begun planning this.

When I begun two years ago, I decided that I would lose as much weight as possible with no or little exercise. Tracking only the scale. You cannot track progress without a measurable metric.

Once, I got low enough on the scale then I would begin Phase 2: Body composition and muscle building. It is now time for Phase 2. And it will be tracked with BodPod and the goal of lowering my percentage of body fat.

Time to kick the fat to the curb!

I hit the “130s” today! I can barely believe it. Only 9 more pounds to go until I reach goal. We’ll see how much belly fat I still have by then. I swear there is this one area in the middle around my belly button that I call my “kangaroo pouch”. It is proving to be the last to go and still bunches up when I sit down.

I can do this! 130 and/or flat stomach, here I come!

Wow it has been over a year since my revised goal list ( April 10, 2010 ) and September will be two years of eating healthy. In those two years, I’ve never gone back over 155 lbs. At my lightest I’ve lost 36 lbs 45 lbs. I’ve dropped the ball a few times but I’m committed to never quitting entirely.

My mindset has shifted from focusing on the scale’s number to perfecting my body composition. Low body fat percentage, more muscle, and getting rid of the belly fat are what I’m focusing on. The sidebar has been changed from “Goal Weight…” to “Goal: 130lbs or a flat stomach”.

In regards to this blog, I essentially have two overarching life goals. They can be seen in the sidebar ( as a daily reminder ). Below are my goals for each area and a timeline to get them done.

Overarching Life Goals

• Eat healthy - Start Date: 9/21/09
• Exercise - Start Date: 4/5/10

Healthy Eating Goals

To give a picture of where I am at now, except for the occasional slip up, I do not drink sugar based sodas on a regular basis. My primary staple is Coke Zero or Diet Coke. I used to drink nothing but HFCS based regular Coke. My biggest weakness is Mexican Coke, which is made from cane sugar. Yum.

Thankfully, the city that I currently reside in has no fast food places near me. It’s either a $20-40 meal out or I cook at home. Budget reasons alone are encouraging me to eat more at home. I see this as a good thing.

• 30 Days of Paleo
• Pressed Juicery Cleanse
• 30 Days of Tea ( no diet soda )
• 30 Days of Water ( no tea or diet soda )

Body Goals

Instead of calling it exercise, I’m going to call these my body goals. The main focus is improving my body and learning to love me at every stage.

• Get a BodPod measurement done. First Test 10/16/11
• Lose 1-2 lbs a week max.
• Decrease body fat while increasing muscle.
• Have a flat stomach before I’m 30.
• Complete Couch to 5k.
• Take Crossfit Foundations at Push511.

It is always a journey and never about reaching a “destination”. I see goals as markers to show overall life improvement. In an eternal infinite universe, how can there be a “finish line”?

Updated 10/16/11 - Completed BodPod measurement. Added new goal of taking Crossfit classes.