Z's Shrink the gut expedition

Fine.  Embarrass me!

I started at around 193-195 lbs.  18%ish bodyfat
22.5" thighs
40" chest
39.8" waist (I told you it was bad)
11.8" biceps
14.5" calves
6.5" wrists
11.5" forearms

The only updated measurements I have right now are:

39.25" waist
185-186 lbs.
I need to see how the other stuff is going, but the concentration is on the blubber around my stomach

And the picture I uploaded makes me VERY unhappy!










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"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

Make a few tanning appointments, bro.  A wise man once said tan fat is better than white fat.  Seeing as how you aren't growing yourself a coat of fur as luxurious as mine a bit of clipping will also help.  You know, I'm beginning to suspect that you aren't really gay....
 
Keep your smile on.  Everyone has to have a "before" picture.  (This is Nav's way of cheering you up.)

RIP 2004-2007

Hmmm, ok, maybe I will go visit the salon.  I was thinking it was something to do after I got somewhere good.  Oh well, maybe I'll check out the wise cat's advice!

"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

Meals for Friday, August 18:

Breakfast 1/2 –
Small Oat Bran Bagel 91 Cal 2 –
Canadian Bacon Slices 137 Cal 1 oz
Sharp Cheddar Cheese 121 Cal 1/4 cup
Quartered Apples 16 Cal 1 cup
1% Milk 103 Cal


Snack 1 1/2 cup
1% Fat Cottage Cheese 81 Cal 1/2 oz
Blue Diamond Dry Roasted Almonds 85 Cal


Lunch 1 –
Tuna Sandwich 360 Cal 1 –
Medium Navel Orange 69 Cal


Snack 2 1/2 cup
Red Wine 85 Cal 2 oz
Brie Cheese Sliced-Cup 189 Cal 1 piece
Sprouted Wheat Bread 68 Cal


Dinner 2 servings
Cranberry Pork Chops 446 Cal 1/4 cup
Brown Rice 55 Cal 1/4 cup
Green Beans 11 Cal


Snack 3 2 –
Chocolate Whey Protein Drink Powder Mix 200 Cal

"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

August 19 w.o. part I



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"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

August 19 wo, part II

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"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

Meals for Saturday, August 19:

We were invited over to our friends' home, Brian and Benjeman (yes, his parents spell his name that way).  They are vegetarians, so that explains dinner.  They are some of the most charming, smart people you'd ever want to meet.  Benjeman is finishing law school, so we have a lot in common there, and was a trumpet/music ed major in college.  Brian is an awesome opera singer/producer, who is looking to earn his Ph.D.  We had great conversation all night, including a long discussion on the foibles of the German opera tradition in the gap between Mozart and Wagner, and the merits of Remedies law school class.  They also shared with us a very special bottle of Italian wine that is like a port, but caramely, and eaten with biscotti dipped into it.  A great evening.

Breakfast 1/2 serving
Scrambled Eggs with Cream Cheese 227 Cal 1/2 cup
Fruit Salad (Without Citrus Fruit) 31 Cal 1 slice
Toasted 7 Grain Bread 65 Cal 2 oz
Honey Smoked Ham-Cooked 69 Cal


Snack 1 1 cup
1% Fat Cottage Cheese 163 Cal 3/4 cup
Pineapple Chunks 59 Cal


Lunch 1 –
Ham and Cheese on Rye Sandwich 400 Cal 1-1/2 cups
Fresh Black Grapes-Cup 151 Cal


Snack 2 4 oz
Oscar Mayer Deli Thin Deli Style Roast Beef Lunchmeat 129 Cal 5 –
Keebler Toasteds Wheat Crackers-Each 77 Cal


Dinner 1 –
Vegetarian Vegetables Soup Condensed Canned-10.5 oz Can 176 Cal 1/4 –
Swiss Cheese Food Pasturized Processed-8 oz Package 183 Cal 2 pieces
Cornbread-2 1/2" x 2.5" x 1 1/2" Piece 304 Cal 1 serving
Vegetarian Cheese Quiche 84 Cal 1 –
Pepperidge Farms Caruso Almond Biscotti 90 Cal 1/3 cup
Sweet Port Desset Wine 126 Cal


Snack 3 2 –
Pro-Complex Muscle Building Vanilla Drink-Powder Scoop 250 Cal

"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

Meals for Sunday, August 20:

This was the final day of Chicago's amazing Air and Water Show, held on the lakefront.  My 10-year old son never misses it, and asked to come early (he lives with his mom in Michigan) so that he could see the planes rehearse on Friday. 

It was a stunningly beautiful day.  We watched the show from our friends' Rick and Mary's boat, docked in Diversey Harbor.

I tried to be good, and tried to keep a little track of what I ate, but . . . I must have really messed up, because in the middle of the night, I was overcome with cravings--a sign of messing up the diet.  The last "snack" represents two snacks--the usual evening one, and then the illicit nocturnal adventure in the kitchen.


Breakfast 1 –
Blueberry Pancakes Prepared from Recipe-6" 171 Cal 1/4 cup
Reduced Calorie Pancake Syrup 98 Cal 2 –
Canadian Bacon Slices 137 Cal


Snack 1 1/4 –
Cheese Puffs-8 oz Bag 314 Cal 2 oz
Hard Pretzels 216 Cal


Lunch 1 serving
Sushi with Vegetables & Fish 40 Cal 1-1/2 servings
Fresh Strawberries Large-1 3/8" Each 9 Cal


Snack 2 2 oz
Ruffles Baked Potato Chips 260 Cal


Dinner 1-1/2 –
McDonalds Caesar Salad with Chicken Shaker 150 Cal 1 oz
Chopped Dried Walnuts 185 Cal 2 –
Medium Apples 144 Cal 1/2 cup
Fresh Red European Grapes-Each 55 Cal 1/4 cup
Low-Fat Vanilla Yogurt 52 Cal 1/2 –
Wendy's Oriental Sesame Dressing-Packet 140 Cal


Snack 3 1-1/4 cups
Total Wheat Cereal 162 Cal 3/4 cup
Organic Original Soy Milk 98 Cal 1 cup
Post Fruity Pebbles Cereal 144 Cal 3/4 cup
2% Milk 98 Cal 1 oz
Keebler Harvest Mill Wheat Crackers-Package 135 Cal 1 oz
Cabot Cheddar Cheese - 1" Cube 110 Cal

"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

Dude...honestly...you dont look like you have a 39.25" waist...seriously, when i saw the picture i guesstimated around 34".
 
Maybe your tape measure hates you lol
 
The waist is a bad number, but like i tell most people who hate there bodies for fat reasons, its not the numbers, its the way you feel and look, and you dont look like a nearly 40" waist personally, so good work on your body for hiding that!
And at least youre working it all off now so no harm done, and when you do lose it all bulk up and get some muscle! Or arent you interested in muscle?

ORIGINAL: twistedlink

Dude...honestly...you dont look like you have a 39.25" waist...seriously, when i saw the picture i guesstimated around 34".

Maybe your tape measure hates you lol

The waist is a bad number, but like i tell most people who hate there bodies for fat reasons, its not the numbers, its the way you feel and look, and you dont look like a nearly 40" waist personally, so good work on your body for hiding that!
And at least youre working it all off now so no harm done, and when you do lose it all bulk up and get some muscle! Or arent you interested in muscle?

Next time I measure, I'll take a pic with the tape measure. (if the lens doesn't crack!)  I keep hoping it's (the measure) been lying to me all this time.  The only thing that is 34 are my jeans and pants.

I do want muscle, but not as bad as I want this gut to go away.  Since I've been lifting exactly 1.5 years ago (with about 5 months accumulated of missing the gym due to tendonitis and school issues, both now of which are gone), I've put on at least 15, closer to 20 lbs of muscle.  I was really really weak and small.  Now I'm just weak and kind of small .

"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

Meals for Monday, August 21:

The last snack and dinner should be reverse, but I was too lazy to change it.  You'll notice that the last snack was half naughty.  I got stranded at work, w/o food and no way to leave the office (I was waiting for a client to call back on a project that was due today).  I was really hungry, and it was just me and Mr. Evil Vending Machine (which is literally 10 feet from my office).  The cashews didn't come close to cutting it, and I fell prey to one of my work "comfort" snacks:  Fritos and a Diet Coke.  Bad dog!

Oh, heh heh, the cupcake . . . that was from out next door neighbors who made them for us as a surprise. . . it was an obligation, practically.

The same issue kept me out of they gym for the day, but check out the next day's entries .

Breakfast 2 –
Poached Eggs 147 Cal 2 –
Canadian Bacon Slices 137 Cal 2 slices
Toasted 7 Grain Bread 131 Cal 1/2 cup
Sliced Strawberries 27 Cal


Snack 1 3 –
Sargento Snacks Mild Cheddar Cheese Sticks-Single 330 Cal


Lunch 1-2/3 cups
Spinach Salad (Without Dressing) 179 Cal 1-1/3 Tbsp
Reduced Fat Cucumber Ranch Salad Dressing 40 Cal 1-1/2 cups
Progresso Hearty Black Bean Soup 255 Cal


Snack 2 3 –
Sargento Snacks Mozzarella String Cheese-Each 240 Cal


Dinner 2 servings
BBQ Chicken Breasts 460 Cal 1/4 cup
Green Beans 11 Cal 1 –
Medium Baked Sweet Potato 103 Cal 1 –
Low Fat Chocolate Cupcake with Frosting 131 Cal


Snack 3 1-1/4 oz
Fritos Original Corn Chips 200 Cal 1 oz
Salted Dry Roasted Cashews 163 Cal

"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

August 22 workouts

Yesterday I didn't make it to the gym.  It was a wimpy leg work out, and I did it today.  But then, cardio was originally scheduled for today (intervals).  Checking the clock, I was done with the lifting workout plenty early, so I added in the intervals.  I was done within my hour time limit on the gym floor.  And it felt damn good.  I was really fast for me in the intervals, although I suspect the machine was off, even if it was the same brand as the ones I always use. . . .

First up, the weight workout ...




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"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

August 22 workout, the cardio (part II).




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"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

Meals for Tuesday, August 22:

The veal was supposed to be for a meal from last week.  It is half the portion the plan called for . . . I just couldn't bear to spend that kind of money, but  the thought of veal sure sounded good.  And it was good :).  This week's dinners are less interesting than last week's.

I love mandarin oranges.

Breakfast 1/2 –
Monte Cristo Sandwich 276 Cal 1/2 cup
Strawberry Halves 24 Cal 2/3 cup
1% Milk 69 Cal


Snack 1 1 –
Power Bar Banana Energy Bar 230 Cal


Lunch 1 serving
Chicken Caesar Salad 443 Cal 1 –
Medium Apple 72 Cal


Snack 2 2 –
Primo Max Supplement High Protein-Powder Scoop 277 Cal


Dinner 1/4 cup
Rice Pilaf 65 Cal 1 –
Italian Breaded Veal Steak 4 oz-Frozen 267 Cal 1 cup
Chopped Broccoli 55 Cal


Snack 3 3/4 cup
Mandarin Oranges 69 Cal 3 Tbsp
Salted Dry Roasted Pistachios 136 Cal

"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

Dude,
 
Your doing great, and have been seeing changes, Keep up the great work. 39 is a very workable number, be thankful its not 46-50
 
Nice to see someone else here with the same challenges I have, Keep it up!

Eat...Lift....Sleep......Repeat

Enjoy the process.. but crave the goal.