The Story So Far

Day 4 - The Story So Far

In todays entry I want to let you all know how I have been finding the first few days of my new Super Hero lifestyle of clean eating and exercising.

The Catch Up

You shouldn't need to rob a bank to get fit.

Just to make sure everyone is up to speed; I am 26 years old and pretty out of shape (Day 1 pictures are on their way), I have always been a big guy which used to be great when it came to playing games like rugby where I could monster down the field but I have never been a big guy with a Super Hero physique. Recently my fiancee told me that she was worried about the stress my weight was having on my heart and this was the slap in the face i needed to make a complete lifestyle change! In typical fashion I nerded out and read everything I possibly could on eating well and exercising right and quickly became exasperated by all of the confusing 'advice' that is out there that all seems to disagree with each other.

So I have decided to road test some of these more popular fitness methods to see if they actually work for a normal guy who has to work normal hours and isn't going to rob a bank to buy every new fitness gadget and gizmo going. 

The Master Plan

So I have started off with the 'StrongLifts 5x5 Ultimate Strength and Muscled Building Programme', http://stronglifts.com/, which supposedly follows the training method that the Terminator used to do back in his Mr Olympia days, it focuses a doing a few heavy big all body moves, claiming that this will build your muscles the most and that by simply having muscle you will burn more calories even when sedentary.

StrongList 5x5 claims to follow
Arnies old workout plan

For the meal plan I have turned to the Paleo Lifestyle which demonizes grains as the source of all evil, as well as cutting out the usual crap like fizzy drinks, sweeties and booze. I picked this one because after failing with previous 'diets' I thought that this would be one that I could stick to because I am a massive Carnivore.

Onto the Progress Report!

To be a Superhero you gotta lift weights

So I'm now four days in and other than a few little wobbles I think it's all going ok. The workouts so far are going fine although I think that for some people who try the Stronglift 5x5 they might need to start out with a lower base line, I don't know if everybody could manage 20kg overhead military presses straight from sedentary, I only just managed it. The workouts aren't that long and are quite enjoyable because you're not caught doing one thing for too long like trudging on a treadmill for an hour, also there is some satisfaction from just doing weights and feeling that power in your muscles that suddenly becomes unlocked when you ask them to start doing something for you.

A little salad won't cut it for this plaeo

The food for the most part has gone great, although by 'going paleo' I have learnt just how much other stuff I was eating, I was honestly stumped the first few days when I was packing myself up a lunch to take to work because I couldn't pack sandwiches and there is virtually nothing in the work canteen I can eat, other than a bowl of lettuce and cucumber which just isn't going to fill that hunger hole in a big guy, especially after going to the gym in the morning. 

Getting up an early to make up some lunch to take
to work can be nigh on impossible.

Instead I've found you either have to a) get up early to make something you can reheat or b) make something up the night before. This is a much bigger time sink in your precious free time hours than just chucking together a couple of sandwiches and I know that finding the motivation to get out of bed an hour earlier to make yourself some lunch to take and do the pots is super tricky. 

So my master plan has been to just make double of whatever I cook myself for my evening meal and then take half of it the next day for lunch. This doesn't really take anymore time seeing as I have to cook my evening meal anyway, all it takes is a little bit of thought about what you are cooking, because some stuff just doesn't seem to reheat well - steak for example - where as other stuff is just as good the next day - like my super hero chilli con carne.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog, for now I have to leave you because it's gym time, but don't worry another blog entry will be coming on Thursday with those infamous Day One photos!