60 to Sexy

More info in the next few days…

Question for everyone: my back, mostly lower along the spine has been hurting a lot lately. When I do situps it feels like I’m bumping on my spine, and it’s been a painful standing up and sitting down. Any ideas on how to fix this? Could it be something worse than I’d like?

Help….

Sorry about the accidental non-fitness post this morn. Human error via tumblr app. But by all means check out my full time blog: blog.andrewmuto.com

If you guys remember, I had a major struggle with fitness, health, and diet in the middle of the year. I was in great shape at the start of June, but between food poisoning, bad diet, and a lack of exercise in Egypt, then a busy schedule in school, I had put on a bit of weight and lost most of my gains from the spring. But I’m happy to say that that’s on a reversal. I’m back on my diet, and making sure I am exercising, if not back to my five days a week schedule, two full workouts a week plus constant pushups, cat vomits, etc. throughout that week.

But, things are good now. Today was a bit of a big victory. I just hit 11-12% body fat, which was a major goal for me. Here’s hoping I can maintain it and keep exercising. This winter it’s back to weight training and parkour, lots and lots of parkour. Oh, and I need to get back into martial arts.

spytap:

So one again, I’ve found myself inspired by Taryn O’Neill to actually act on something I’ve been thinking of doing (damn her and her pesky actioning of items.)

Ever since I joined blip, I’ve been slacking off on my workouts. When I was in total control of my schedule, I had a routine of 10am workouts scheduled into my calendar. But that’s the thing about routines - they can get interrupted by an understandable inability for your new employer to accept your coming in at noon-ish. So I’ve been more sporadic with my workouts, and less set with any actual routine. Coupled with my earlier injuries, it’s lead to a schedule of “less than I’d like” for my workouts, and a noticeable slide in my overall fitness.

So this week, inspired by Taryn’s 5toFit project, I’m launching my own 7-day-straight asskicking endeavor. I didn’t name it, but it essentially amounts to actually putting appointments into my calendar and announcing it publicly, thereby opening myself up to shame and ridicule should I fail to follow through.

I’ll be alternating days of 60-90 minutes of weights at the gym with 60 minutes of Krav Maga, with the exception of the weekend which will be Krav both days. It’ll be tough, because it’ll also mean waking up at 6:30m to make the 7am Krav classes on Tuesday and Thursday so I can make it into work at a reasonable hour.

So here’s my pledge for this week: 7 straight days of working out - three at the gym, and four at Krav Maga. They’re in my calendar, I’m committed, and hopefully I’ll reap the benefits. It’s a good start to what will hopefully kickstart me into finding a new routine.

The best news? Day one is already in the can.

This was an interesting 60 days.  Judging by the above progress pics, it’s clear that I gained some weight.  I found that upping my workout schedule from 2 full body days to 3 (so that I could rack up points and keep up with everyone) resulted in a BIG increase in appetite…. and while I’m demonstrably stronger in bench press and pull ups, the overall cost was muscle definition.

Feels like now is a good time to start a “cut” and really count calories…go back to the 2 days a week in the gym.  Maybe it’s worth trying to fight for those low calorie days while still lifting 3 days a week.  

Thanks to everyone who competed this season.  You guys (and gals) kept me motivated and got in my head to not skip a workout day or puss out on a lifting session.