Just another day in paradise.

So, in case one of you had decided to just read this blog instead of my other one *cough* justathought-shepsus.blogspot.com, I haven't been doing great on my diet. I ate fast food once with a friend which I feel is justified, but my fresh food has been spoiling since I bought it in bulk and don't eat from it every day. My fruit intake has been through the roof, but the few vegetables I had have gone bad. Good news, though, is my workout has been consistent, and about to get better.

I hit both Tuesday and Thursday this week for working out with Jake. Tuesday was the normal abs/arms/chest workout. Thursday, however, is a morning run. Now, I am not a runner. I don't like running. The only time I have enjoyed running is with Linux and Joey at the park. But today with Jake wasn't bad. I held him back, I know I did, but he didn't seem to mind, "Any running is better than none," He said. We ran about a mile, my arms and legs were sore by the end, my shoulder was irritated and really bothered me.

We also did a small early 90s ab workout that someone put on Youtube. Though we laughed throughout the trainers presentation, it still kicked our ass. I left extremely tired and somewhat dizzy, but very happy that I made it and am actually looking forward to it next week.

It gets better.

I took a shower and passed out for ~6 hours. Woke up, sore, but not terribly so, I let my pups out of my room and sent a few texts to a couple people. I got on the computer to check my daily checks (Gmail, Facebook, Gizmodo, Lifehacker, and comics.) and in my Gmail I had an e-mail from my buddy Aaron, it worried me a little at first cause he has my cell number and we text semi-frequently. This is what it read:

Alright, so my buddy in maine has been running, says he's lost 20 pounds already.  I've been doing the bike since monday, and I woke up and weighed myself this morning, and I was 243.6 on monday, and this morning I was at 240.2...which is very encouraging, but I can't let that butthole think he's winning.  So, come payday (15th or 16th), we're joining LA Fitness, and don't you dare let me back out of it.

 

Let's DO THIS!

I replied with "F*CK YES". I am gonna try to get a two-a-day workout with him too, some more power lifting since we'll have a partner. And on his Tue/Thur I'll encourage him to do his biking.

Furthermore, I took another quick shower after I woke up, in the side mirror of my bathroom I saw me without my gut for just a minute. The mirror's reflection only showed my side, but I could see my muscles underneath the fat that still resides there. It's sorta self-inspiring to know that they are there, just covered up.

Anyway, more to come later. Come on readers, in the words of Aaron..

Let's DO THIS!

FINISH IT!

After napping, I ran late to working out with Jake. I have made it my priority to always be at Jake's on Tuesday's for workout. We're supposed to do Tues and Thurs, but have yet to hit both days in one week.

Anyway, I ran late, he forgave me, and we started working out. He got some new workout gear that we're currently in love with. Our workouts are independent, but follow the same structure. I like it this way, because I am NOT as strong as he is yet, and so it doesn't slow him down any when I choose to take a break.

It is something like this:

He does ten push ups while I do ten curls and ten bench press. We switch and I do ten push ups and he does something like twenty curls and ten bench press. Then he turns to punching his punching bag and I go back to bench press.
And we rotate, I don't do the punching bag because I am intimidated by Jake. I know HOW to punch, but I'd be terribly embarrassed if he watched me or something.. I'll get over it. I'm going to have to.. (I'll get to the reason why in a bit.)

After going through a couple sets of each, we lay out a mat and start up P90X.. For those who haven't done that.. It's the quickest, hardest 15minute ab workout of your life. They say multiple times that this isn't for every day use, and breaks are definitely acceptable when going through this the first several times. We don't take breaks.

Again, Jake is in better shape than I am, but we struggle together and curse at the TV throughout the workout, its just crazy difficult to keep up. However, even within these couple of weeks working out with him, I do see progress in both of us and it feels good knowing its getting me somewhere.

The final workout (after 340 different crunches) is a 40+10 bonus of ab curls. It's extremely difficult to do, especially after the other ab work outs. Today, Jake turned to me, wipes sweat off his brow and goes, "We're doing this, all 50, no breaks, you ready?" I laugh and say, "Sounds good."
And it begins.. It's the loudest I've ever heard my abs scream. I did take a break, but I kept my feet up so my abs had to stay flexed, then continued after a small rest. I did the 40, Jake completed the extra 10 the host puts at the end.

It's fifty seconds into this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIpSoMgTsaw

I do recommend the ab workout P90X for those who need a sweat. Well worth it.

Flawless Victory.

I went out and purchased the pineapple, frozen greenbeans and broccoli, and yogurt. I chose not to purchase the eggs, because I want to hard boil them, but I dunno how to do that yet. I am told its as easy as setting them in boiling water... Time will tell.

For my meal! Today I sprinkled the lemon-pepper seasoning all over my chicken breast, chopped up a red and green bell pepper, a little onion and pineapple and wrapped it all in tinfoil like you use in shish-kabobs (sp?). Then I put lemon juice in their little tinfoil pouch for them to soak up. I also threw some greenbeans in another tinfoil wrap.



Lemme tell you, one of the BEST smelling foods I've ever made. First time using the grill too. I made enough for 2 and a half meals. The taste is JUST as good and its healthy.. LOTS of green, a little red, and chicken. Top it off with my tea and O.M.G. Best meal I have ever cooked without feeling guilty.



Do you see that above? It's OK to be jealous :)
It took about 2 hours total, and that's partially cause I had no idea what I was really doing, just seeing what other people did.

OM NOM NOM NOM!

Very happy with this meal and I will continue to try and make more like it

Till Later Dayz
-_Brandon_-

Out with the old, in with the new.

So, I headed to Sprouts on Monday.

I purchased blueberries, strawberries, bananas, cherries, green grapes, apples, kiwis, bell peppers (green and red), and some chicken breasts. Total cost? $50.

I am gonna purchase some pineapple, mangoes, yogurt, frozen broccoli, eggs and some green beans.

The yogurt and assorted fruits are for smoothies. It's healthy and with my schedule I can have it right before going to bed without too much worry. Furthermore, a note from my friend Amy, you can throw in a vegetable (like spinach) and have a serving of vegetables without the taste.

For meals, (so far), I'm going to stick with anything I can cook at home. I know it seems like a slippery slope, but I have an issue right now with cooking ANY food, so right now it'll be this kabob-ish meal I plan to make along with lots of PBJ's. If the kabob goes well then I'm going to try and make other meals with it. I recently had a chicken-burger that was AMAZING that I'll probably try to recreate.. Which allows me reason to purchase vegetables, such as avocados. (Which were REALLY good on that burger.)

I don't have time right now for my workout that will be posted later.

Till Later Dayz
-_Brandon_-