Denton's Goals

[Denton]

I want to lose most of my love handles/gut by April 16 (Little 500, a whole week of partying). I have longer-term goals, and this is the first time I've really enjoyed working out. I love it.

I'm about 5'9". Probably 182 lbs. but haven't weighed myself. When I was at the top of my game 2 years ago, fit and strong, I was 170 lbs. with lots of lean muscle. I haven't looked at a scale and don't care to, it's just not an accurate indicator of fat/muscle. It's just a number.

My daily workout:
45 minutes of the elliptical (8/20 resistance, 19/20 crosswhatever). Then I walk on the treadmill at 4 MPH for 1.5 miles (inclined, too).

I do dumbells every other day for upperbody, and do the leg machines the days I'm not doing upperbody.

What I'm really trying to do:
Lose fat, gain muscle. Easier said than done.

I've got little muscle in my upperbody, so I'm really needing to bulk up there. Mainly arms/chest/shoulders.

My diet is the hard part. I live in a frathouse (don't say anything) so I can't cook where I live, only microwavable food and takeout.

I drink about 8-9 16.9oz bottles of water a day.

Breakfast:
A piece of fruit, maybe two, and a Light & Trim whatever Dannon yogurt.

Lunch: This is what varies. It's really whatever I can get. Maybe give some recommendations...

Dinner: Sometimes I'll eat at the frat. Maybe spaghetti, maybe pitas, don't know. Probably not healthy, and if y'all say so, I can cut the frat dinner right out and microwave something healthier.
Salad with as little as possible Italian dressing
Some sort of meat
At least one piece of fruit.

For example, tonight's dinner was a foot-long Subway turkey sandwich and an orange. I seriously feel that I can't trim my portions. My stomach is HUGE and I don't see what I can do about it.

I don't eat:
Dessert, fries, soda.

I keep to a minimum:
Diet Coke (only when drinking Bacardi) and that's only 2x week MAX.

What I need lots of help on (not that you can do anything really) is smaller portions and no late-night snacking. Yesterday was a bad day, as I ate roughly 900 calories late-night, when I wasn't especially hungry. :fire

[Denton]

Here we go with a pic:


Small arms, weak shoulders, fat face (believe it or not, got rid of that!), and I've got boobs instead of pecs. That needs to change.

That was a month ago, and happy to say that after only a week of working out and watching what I eat, I look better.

[S54MCoupe]

You're on the right track. If you want to avoid those late night snacks, make sure your last meal is realistic. Often times I will skimp on my last meal and not get enough calories, stay up later than expected, and end up eating a huge meal before bed because I am so hungry.

You're better off eating more earlier and none later, than a little earlier and a lot later.

Good lucK!

[LoveGuinness]

First of all, it doesn't look like you weigh more than your 34!

Look at your dinner, the foot long sub. If you have a large appetite (nothing wrong with that) try the wraps instead of the sandwhich. You'll be cutting out a lot of carbs and calories that way. You can also look into just a really large salad with lots of chicken and veggies. They can be very filling.

Now for lunch, what is your schedule like. This will determine what you feasibly eat.

As for your workouts:
You can hit the weights more often and do a variety of things. Try squats with dumbless instead of just doing leg machines, deadlifts, also check out using a bosu for your cardio. Giving yourself some variation will keep you wanting to work out!

Good luck with your goals!

[Denton]

Thanks for the advice! Great idea about making sure my last meal is somewhat substantial.

The good thing about Subway is that not only is it healthy, but I can get most of my daily veggie intake there. BTW: I go to the Subway that Jared Fogle lost all of his weight! :woo

It's somewhat funny how most people can control their diet easier than I can, because they live at home. But many don't have a gym membership or can't find the time to go, which I've got plenty of time and an absolute BALLER University gym. :bdance

Cindy: I'll look into all of that stuff. The hard part about doing the squats is that at the gym, it's always huge guys hanging around it. A little intimidating. Thanks for the tips!

[bellavus]

You may want to add a little more protein in at breakfast, in addition to the yogurt. (maybe some PB on a piece of toast as well).

Just keep your portion sizes down for dinner, and you should be OK eating whatever the fraternity serves.

[Denton]

Originally Posted by bellavus

You may want to add a little more protein in at breakfast, in addition to the yogurt. (maybe some PB on a piece of toast as well).

Just keep your portion sizes down for dinner, and you should be OK eating whatever the fraternity serves.

Thanks Kate, I'll definitely do that.

PB on toast is no problem, can do that any day.

Forgot that I can make a PBJ for lunch any day, probably should make one on wheat on the bad lunch days.

Now headed to the gym! :woo

[bellavus]

good luck with your weight loss goals!

[bsb4tyke]

i think the idea of incorperating a bigger salad is good. you need meat so get some chicken breasts that are already cooked and cut up and froze so when you want them they are about 2min from perfection in the microwave. add lots of different greens, veggies, some nuts, easy on the cheese, lemon juice instead of dressing, and there you go, a nice salad.

i also agree with the subway wrap idea, cuts major calories out!

[Denton]

I'm eating a lot better now, but still have much more to go.

I'm still working out every day, upper body one day, legs the next. I'm procrastinating a bit in incorporating situps in my routine since they're at home...maybe I'll find a place at the gym to do when since I'm no-B.S. there.

I don't weigh myself, but I have definitely lost quite a bit of fat. My pants are less-snug now, and I can now get to the 3rd from last hole in my belt. :bdance

It's too early in the game as far as muscle-building goes, but I can see where I'm going to start getting definition in my arms and chest. I'm trying to straddle the line of heavy weights without pulling or straining anything, God forbid.

My next big challenge is this weekend: I'm going to a buddy's lake house with 15 guys and 15 girls. Oh God, I wish I had started this exercise regimen two months earlier! At least I've got a start, and look much better. The challenge will be not only driving back to Bloomington to go to the gym for a few hours a day, but also eating right. Plus we'll be drinking a ton of beer, so I may need to do the Bacardi Superior+Diet Coke route.

Thanks, and I'll update in a week or so.

[bsb4tyke]

if you are going to the lake house and you find a cute girl that you like, suggest you two go for a scenic jog...or you and a buddy could go or just you. regarding eating right, it can be done.

yes do the barcardi and diet coke....best advice is to drink it slowly so you dont add up on the calories.

[Denton]

Originally Posted by bsb4tyke

if you are going to the lake house and you find a cute girl that you like, suggest you two go for a scenic jog...or you and a buddy could go or just you. regarding eating right, it can be done.

yes do the barcardi and diet coke....best advice is to drink it slowly so you dont add up on the calories.

Hehe, that's actually a really good idea. I'll do both!

And also, quite disgusted at how many calories the stuff I eat is...A Chipotle burrito has some 1300 calories! Never again! I really do need to stick with the salads, etc.

[Sportsmedjosh]

Originally Posted by Denton

Hehe, that's actually a really good idea. I'll do both!

And also, quite disgusted at how many calories the stuff I eat is...A Chipotle burrito has some 1300 calories! Never again! I really do need to stick with the salads, etc.

you could also make your own burritos.

[Denton]

Originally Posted by Sportsmedjosh

you could also make your own burritos.

Meh, would be so difficult in my situation.