Motivation – Peekaboo Saint
These pictures show the 2 and a half year transformation made by the user Peekaboo Saint on a forum I read. The first time I saw this, I couldn’t even put together in my head that it was the same person. Her starting weight was 416 in February of 2007 and she is currently at 164. That’s an incredible loss of 252 lbs. This just completely dumbfounds me. I weigh 243 lbs right now – so imagine the girl in that after picture carrying a person my size on her back 24 hours a day to give you an idea of exactly what she accomplished.
Here’s the incredible before and after shot:
Peekaboo Saint - before and after
Such a huge inspiration to me. She just looks like a completely different person in every way – if I had to guess without knowing they were the same person, I’d say the person in the before picture was at least 10-15 years older.
Day 15/63 – Workout Log – Muay Thai
Today’s Muay Thai class felt really great! I’m starting to feel like I’m getting some of my stamina back. I was able to keep a high energy level going through the entire class for the first time this month and still kept my mind on my technique.
Here’s the drills we went through:
- L jab, R cross, L hook, R cross
- L jab, R cross, L hook, R cross, L switch knee
- L jab, R cross, L hook, R cross, L switch knee, R round kick
- L round kick, R round kick
- L jab, double L jab, L jab, R cross
- L hook, R cross
I watched the advanced class for a bit after I was done. I really miss cross-fighting and sparring, but I need to get my stamina and technique back up to snuff before I start advanced classes again.
Day 11/63 – Workout Log – Weight Lifting
Today I went over to the gym at Kombat Arts for a weight lifting workout. Made some progress in all of my lifts – here are my results:
Squats: 5 x 45, 5 x 135, 5 x 175, 5 x 175, 5x 175 (+20lbs on the work sets)
Barbell Bench Presses: 5 x 45, 5 x 115, 5 x 135, 5 x 135, 5 x 135 (+35lbs on the work sets)
Deadlifts: 5 x 135, 5 x 155, 5 x 205 (+50lbs on the work sets)
Dips: 2 x 2 – Still tough for me right now with the extra weight I’m carrying – going to keep at it and focus on negatives
Supermans: 3 x 8
I really like this routine – it feels much more natural to do big compound movements and mentally it feels like I am accomplishing more. It sure beats messing around with a million machines too. Getting 205 on the deadlift was a good feeling. I’ve really never tried to lift weights this high because I’d use a lot of machines and dumbbells in my past efforts. It’ll be interesting to see where I stand at the end of the challenge.
Here’s what I did:
Squats: 5 x 45, 5 x 95, 5 x 135, 5 x 135, 5x 135
Dumbbell Bench Presses: 5 x 20, 5 x 40, 5 x 50, 5 x 50, 5 x 50
Deadlifts: 5 x 135, 5 x 155, 5 x 155
Dips: 2 x 2 – This is tough for me right now with the extra weight I’m carrying – going to keep at it and focus on negatives
Supermans: 3 x 8
Getting out of your comfort zone is the key to growth
I just read a really great interview done with Tom Venuto about the old saying “No Pain, No Gain” and the idea of needing to get out of the comfort zone. I fully agreed with everything I read and I know personally that progress comes from stepping into the unknown.
One example in my own life is learning to snowboard. I always believed I had terrible balance and that kept me from even trying a sport like snow boarding. Finally I gave it a shot and tried something that was new to me and outside of my comfort zone. My balance was terrible. I fell so many times it was hard to count and it hurt. The next time I fell a little less. Then I barely fell at all. Each time I got to this point I’d pick a new aspect of boarding to try and the falling would start all over again. So I’ll never stop falling but I’ll never stop growing and expanding my skills either.
Here’s a few excerpts from the interview I liked:
“You step out of what you’ve already done and into new territory because that’s where growth takes place. I think it’s one of the single most important secrets of personal growth and change: You don’t change by doing what you’ve already done.”
“The change is uncomfortable. Sometimes it’s physically painful, but always mentally and emotionally, in the form of discipline, uncertainty and fear. I don’t care what anybody says about “no pain, no gain.” That phrase gets knocked all the time as if it were wrong. Well, I’m going to tell you, the fact of life is that you don’t grow unless you step outside the comfort zone, and outside the comfort zone is discomfort.”
One of my new favourite quotes:
“Do what you always did, get what you always got.”
Go read the full article here.
Day 10/63 – Workout Log – Biking
I’m busy after work tonight and I didn’t want to miss a workout so I went to bed early last night, got up early this morning and went out for a bike ride. It’s so peaceful being out there early in the morning. The sun is out but not blazing hot yet and it just felt like such a great start to the day.
I’m starting to see some results physically. I’m finding it hard to be patient with my weight loss this time around because I was just there and I already know how great it feels to have it off. I will keep reminding myself to think long term.
Day 9/63 – Workout Log – Conditioning / Biking
Today’s workout was Konditioning class at Kombat Arts. Linda runs this and it’s pretty much an hour of really tough boot-camp style drills. In other words, torture, ha. Here’s a list of what we did today – many of these were repeated a number of times and I missed a bunch, but you’ll get an idea of how the class goes:
- jogging
- sideways strides
- cariocas
- jogging
- crunches
- sprints
- backwards sprints
- wheelbarrows
- wheelbarrows with pushups
- backwards wheelbarrows
- jumping jacks
- ladder jumps
- sprints
- long jumps
- squat thrusts
- pull ups
- wide squats
- over / unders
- leg raises
- stretching
I had to stop a few times to catch my breath but I made it and I’ll be back every Tuesday now. I got home and hopped on the bike for a quick 3 km with Ozzy. He’s laying next to me passed out as I type this. I was pretty beat when I got back but I love taking him out for a bike ride. The big goofy grin on his face as he runs next to me makes it all worth it.
Ozzy - exhausted after his bike ride.
Motivation – Ca$on
I came across this story while reading the forums at johnstonefitness.com – which are an excellent resource for fitness information by the way. The picture is of the transformation of the user Ca$on on the forums and covers a time period of almost a a year exactly. Over the year, he went from 275 lbs to 179 lbs – amazing!
Ca$on - Before and After
I’ll never tire of reading these stories as they show what we are capable of when we set our minds to a goal and do everything we can to work towards that goal.
Re-post of Q&A with Ca$on is below:
Why did you decide to make a transformation?
After being in a relationship for almost 5 years I was working nonstop and never did anything for my health. So after seeing this commercial on TV about heart disease I started to think about what if I had kids and died from a heart disease at a young age. The commercial also said that a person walking only 30 minutes a day 3 times a week can reduce heart diseases by 300%! That’s when I realized I needed to do something. Also 3 months into the New Year my relationship with my fiancée was over and made me really kick it in high gear of what I wanted to do for my future. One year later I was addicted to body building and eating healthy.
What sort of planning did you do before you started?
The only planning I did at first was portion control and cardio with a treadmill and just your basic weight training nothing serious. Today I wish that I never jumped on that treadmill and I wish I spent more time with the weights. Eating habits were starting to change instead of fast food places I went to Publix for a sub sandwich or cooked at home. In June is when I really changed my diet and workout routine. I changed from working out 5-7 days a week to 3 days a week with Dr. Ellington Darden’s book “The New HIT” and no cardio or other form of exercise.
What were your initial goals?
My initial goal was to weigh less than 200lbs and fit into normal clothes not Wal-Mart huge sizes. To build back confidence in the way I look as well.
What was your diet and supplement intake like?
My diet is a low calorie high carbohydrate diet. The macros have been 60% carbs, 20% protein, and 20% fats. Calories ranged from 1800 to 1100 depending on weight loss and other items. Supplements were all from Chris with www.AtLargeNutrition.com (Thanks Chris) except BCAA caps from ON. Supplements used by Atlarge include: Nitrean, Nitro, Thermocin, Multivitamin, Fish Oil, Results, ETS. The supplements I use daily are Multivitamin, Fish Oil, and BCAA caps 2-3 times a day. Also a huge player in diet was good ole water. The intake of cold water was around 1 gallon to 1.75 gallons per day.
What was your training like?
At first training seemed as if I was not going anywhere quick, but then it started moving like a freight train in the last 6 months. Three days a week 90 minutes or less is all the time my training took with HIT. My common days for workouts were Sunday, Friday, and Wednesday. Those days I would spend 30 minutes or less at home using my Smith Machine combo from Sams club and a pair of dumbbells. I found that the optimal time for me to train was between 5pm and 7pm when I had the most energy. Every workout I did had 1 set and had to be on key to insure the intensity would get me leaner and grow muscle. Before this program I never experienced the muscular pump, gains, fat loss with anything else. Rest is very important and to not over train.
What obstacles did you encounter, and how did you overcome them?
Some of the obstacles I faced were full time college schedule and two part time jobs. This made time very valuable. Other factors that I had to face were of course losing my fiancée, the passing of my father from a massive heart attack, and some heart issues recently discovered by my doctor that I might have. All of these items I turned into a positive and motivation to better myself.
How has your life changed?
My life has changed dramatically. I have more confidence with my appearance and I can shop at pretty much any store to buy clothing. Women have noticed the changes and are of course some are acting more friendly than before. Overall I feel incredible and not sluggish like before. Building muscle and being able to see it in the mirror is astonishing of what a human can really do. After a work out when the blood is flowing and the pump is strong….The best feeling in the world to me is looking in that mirror and flexing every muscle I can and posing. I feel as if I am the incredible hulk and unstoppable.
How did JSF and the JSF Forums help you?
At this time I would have to give a HUGE thanks to a member on JSF. His name on the forum is rtestes, without him I would not be where I am at. He helped me with my training schedule and my diet. If I had any questions about Darden’s book he was right there with an answer. Also I would have to thank all of the other members that have helped me or motivated me through my journey. I push harder everyday because I know that someone is watching. Last but not least thank you John Stone for having this great online forum and community, I consider everyone on JSF a friend and would help them in any way I can.
What advice would you offer to others?
Stick with it! Don’t get caught up in the science and studies and this and that. Find a program and stick with it. If there are no results by the second month then start looking at a change. Results will come only with what you put into it. Ask questions if you think you might be doing something wrong or incorrect. There is no need to be ashamed everyone has to learn somehow. If you are serious about a change be serious with what you do. Anything is possible….
Any closing thoughts?
Only closing thought that I have is I can’t wait to get to that next level. Until then I will be pushing like a madman to get there. Thanks for your time.
Day 8/63 – Workout Log – Biking
The weather outside last night was perfect. The sun was out and the temperature wasn’t too high and I really felt like spending some time outside.
Ozzy knew what was going on as soon as I grabbed my camelback. His eyes popped out of his head the second I put it on and he started running around in circles.. . crazy pooch! I hooked him up to his harness and we did a couple of km which is good for him still. We ran into my roommate on the way back and he came out for a ride after I dropped Ozzy off. We did another 8km then came back.
I did some pull up work after, starting with some negatives and then did some with the bar down laying on the floor underneath it and pulling myself towards it. My pull up strength is still miserable and the only way it will get better is if I really plug at it so I’m going to get on that bar every time I pass under it.
Next bike ride will be longer as well – going to map out 20km, throw on some music and get at it.
Day 6/63 – Workout Log – Weight Lifting
Did my second weight lifting session today. Still taking it easy and getting a feel for what I can do. I’ve got plenty of time to improve and add weight. I know some of these numbers are low but they’re mine and they’re what I’ve got to improve on.
Here’s what I did:
Squats: 5 x 45, 5 x 95, 5 x 135, 5 x 155, 5 x 155, 5 x 155 – working sets up 20 lbs from last workout
Dumbbell Military Press: 5 x 20, 5 x 25, 5 x 35, 5 x 40, 5 x 40, 5 x 40
Barbell Bent Over Rows: 5 x 45, 5 x 95, 5 x 125, 5 x 125, 5 x 125
Pullups (laid under bar in rack and pulled myself up to that): 4, 4, 4
Supermans: 3 x 8
My legs were pretty sore from the last couple of days but that went away after the first warm up set of squats. Once the blood gets flowing all the soreness is forgotten.
Day 5/63 – Workout Log – Muay Thai
Today I had Muay Thai. For some people working out is the last thing on their minds at the end of the work week but for me I’ve always found that it really helps to blow off all of the steam of the week off all at once. Instead of having it gradually reduce over the weekend Ifeel like it drops to nothing instead and the rest of the weekend is perfectly relaxed.
We did some cross-fighting today with a bunch of different drills doing various attack and counter-attack scenarios. I feel the old knowledge creeping back in and it feels good. I still have way more improvement to do on my technique, stamina and co-ordination before I start taking the advanced classes again. I’m going to see how it goes but right now I’m aiming to start up in advanced classes by the end of the nine week challenge.
We also did a torturous amount of squats tonight – which was not that fun seeing as I did weighted squats yesterday for the first time in years. Tomorrow morning I’ll be back to the weights and Sunday I’m going to take the dog over to the 9 week challenge hill and see how many times I can run it.