From Fat To Fit

Ho Hum.

2006-04-23T05:05:00.000-07:00

Blah, what a shitty week.

No energy. No enthusiasm. No exercise.

So no real surprise either that I put on weight.

Weight: 110kgs.

Its only a kilo, I guess, but its a gain, and thats not what Im after. I feel a little pissed off, but my anger is unfounded and a waste of energy really, because its my own fault.

Tomorrow is a new week. Week 6 I think of this 8 week program, which leaves around 21 days. I wonder what I can do in that time.

Im also still waiting to get the official word from the Casino. They called me on Friday, asking for a medical/health questionaire to be filled out, and just like the police clearance certificate, hopefully theyre asking for a reason.

Huurrhhkkk!!! Blllaarrgghhh!!! Part 2.

2006-04-17T01:22:00.000-07:00

It all began innocently enough. A refeshing ale at the Elephant & Wheelbarrow, a bar/pub in Northbridge. L - R Jimmy, Marty, Farrah

Back at home, more drinking ensues. Marty was drinking Woodstock Blue, which he assures us is as potent as battery acid but far more harmful. L - R Marty, My Knee, Jimmy

Becks: Made from the Sweat of Gay German Porn Stars. Or so Im told. Jimmy loves the stuff.L - R Bowl of Peanuts, Jimmy, Becks

Yours truly, enjoyable a tasty salted snack of some kind. L - R Gate, Me, Brickwall.

Cnst Martin Collins. Showing us that hes man enough to take two lots of Wood at the same time. Snicker. L - R Woodstock, Woodstock, Martin

Our local Arab correspondent, Mohammed Al-Wankbar. L - R TED Dead, TED, Matty, Black Doug, Becks

Matt and Jimmy's bro-in-law, Paulo. Try as I might theres nothing bad I can say about him. I'll think of something. L - R Sliding Door, Paul, Sunlight

And we're in the city! Time for some delicious cuisine at Han's. Most of us were pretty tanked by this stage, I finished off my 6-pack of Strongbows, I know Paul finished off his Black Dougs, and Marty polished four lots of Wood. Hahahahaha. Gay jokes are great. F - B Matt, Paul, Jimmy, Marty

Marty tries to chat up the side of the photo, while Paul has trouble opening his menu. L - R Marty, Bald Dude (Not Marty), Paul

What can I say. Theyve known each other a long time, and were drunk. L - R Matt, Water Bottle, Marty

Paul gets lessons from Chris in how to open his menu. "Paul, its a menu, with pages, for fuck sake." L - R Paul, Chris, Water Bottle

"Im 18 now, my doodle is this big!" Sure it is buddy, sure it is. L - R Lightswitch, Jimmy, Doorway

I cant think of a single funny thing to say about this picture... L - R Marty, Paul, Windows

Pointing. More addicitive than crack. L - R Jimmy, Me, Spiderman

See, what did I tell you? Once you start pointing, you never stop. On display here: The Double Hand, The Single Hand Bi-Finger and The Retarded Hungarian Tongue Point. L - R Jimmy, Me, Matty.

I...well see...Paul is...umm...well....yeah... L - R Marty, Paul, Floating Buddha, Chris' Arm.

An absolutely humourless photo of Jimmy drinking water. Boring. L - R Wall, Jimmy, No-Smoking Sign.

Chris is happy in the knowledge that he could kick the living shit out of all of us due to his Kung Fu abilities. Its not fair though, he is asian, and being able to do Kung Fu is like white people not being able to dance, its something theyre born with. L - R Chair, Kung Fu Chris, Scared Menu

After dinner we all headed to the Brass Monkey, where we met up with Matt and Jimmy's sister Sophie. L - R Sophie, Marty, Matt aka Lord Turul, The Hungarian Chicken Beast Which Is Guardian Over All of Hungary and Its Goats.

Yours truly, after downing the 184th pint of cider. Why are human beings so fucking dumb? I drank so much I ended up spewing my guts out 3 times, and waking with a headache strong enough to kill an ox. L - R Me, Empty Pint Glass, Wall

Ahh Jimmy. Mate youre a legend, I hope you had a great night champ, sorry bout the beer spillage. L - R Blurry Person, Jimmy, Blurry Window

Matt points at Chris. Chris frowns. Martin hugs both of em. L - R Chris, Marty, Matt

Everyone leaves the Brass Monkey in search of fun and adventure, instead they find the Deen, the shittiest shit-infested shithole in Perth. I fucking hate the Deen. Its shit. L - R Chris "I hurt my shoulder trying to karate chop someones neck!" Jimmy "Man I hope my passport photo of when I was three gets me into a nightclub!" Marty "Lets get on it!" Matt "Praise Allah, Die Infidel, Durka Durka, Chicken Man!" Sophie, Paul.

Huurrhhkkk!!! Blllaarrgghhh!!!

2006-04-16T15:27:00.000-07:00

Friends.

Who needs em.

All they do is make you drink alcohol. Copious amounts of alcohol. Bastards. My saturday was going just swell until they showed up, with their Devil water. And it only went downhill from there.

Happy Birthday Jimmy. My spleen hopes youre happy.

Will post pictures of that tragic night when I get home from work.

Onto other more pressing matters.

Weight: 109kgs

No loss this week, but I really dont mind. Only managed to hit the gym twice for the whole week, thanks to a mix of 14 hour shifts at work, and some public holidays. Also considering I drank my own body weight in Strongbow cider, I really should have gained weight.

Maybe it was all the vomiting that helped.

Call me Burke. Don Burke.

2006-04-11T03:42:00.000-07:00

Before:

After:

I gotta admit, it was a good idea taking these photos, I sweated my arse off during the relay, theres a massive network of some old root system about 4 inches down, tough as bloody wire cables that the shovel would bounce off everytime I shoved it in the ground. Was starting to feel like I was wasting my time, but after looking at the photos I was very happy. As was Farrah (my fiance) and that was worth it too. Problem is, I did such a good job, we'll be doing other gardens now.

No gym last night (Monday) instead I went to the pub with Matt (that slack bastard) and his brother, father, and brother-in-law, for some much needed man-time. Played some pool, drank some drinks, listened to some dodgy music (thanks Paulo) and just let release.

Hit the treadmill tonight though. Its gonna be my regime for the next couple weeks. Walk 3.5 minutes at speed 6, run 1.5 minutes at speed 10. I covered 3.5klms, burned 180 calories over a total of 30 minutes. Felt exhausted afterwards, but enjoyed it immensely.

I gotta do it Wednesday and Thursday, and will try for Friday if the gym is open, as Saturday night is Jimmy's (Matts younger brother) 18th birthday.

Drinking, Eating, Swearing, Playing Pool, More Drinking, More Swearing.

Awesome.

One is the Loneliest Number

2006-04-09T05:01:00.000-07:00

Weight: 109kgs

Thats as of 8.01pm Sunday night, April 9th.

A loss is a loss I guess, and I should be happy. I am finally under 110kgs, and it was a small persoanl goal. I gotta admit, whilst its not a huge loss I do feel a lot better, health wise. This week only saw me do 3 cardio sessions as well, due to having the flu. I also developed a severe case of Gym-junkie-itis on Friday night.

Got home around 5, rushed to the grocery store, grabbed some things for dinner, cooked, ate, showered and sat down around 7.30pm, and it hit me like a ton of bricks, I REALLY wanted to do some work on the treadmill. Grabbed a towel, a bottle of water and my iPod and went to my local gym. Its now about 7.50pm, and I realise after about 5 minutes walking that the gym is gonna close at 8. Fark.

20 minutes driving and $11.50 later I was at another gym, sweating my ass off on a treadmill. It was bizarre, driving around desperately looking for somewhere to work out.

As a side note the treadmill is going really well, I walk at speed 6.00 for 3.5 minutes, then run at speed 10 for 1.5 minutes, over a total period of 20 (or time allowing) 30 minutes. I do have to be careful though, as both of my ankles have taken a little damage over the last 6 months (paintball and basketball, more dangerous than you think).

Also, just waiting now for my formal acceptance letter, outlining my enrolment in the Croupier Training School. Its gonna be a blast, and I just cant wait.

Edit: One other thing. I keep mentioning the guy called "Matt Szabo". Some of you may be starting to think he's a figment of my imagination. Thats ok though, Im starting to think the same way.

Hey Matty, get your shit together.

Maybe Next Time...

2006-04-05T05:21:00.000-07:00

Everyone has that list inside of their heads, you know the one. The List Of Things Id Like To Do Before I Die. Along with getting married, and having children, and owning my own home, being a Croupier was right up there on that list.

Being a husband and a father will be something that I will be eternally proud of, theres no doubting that. Being a Croupier though, thats the dream item. The thought of being so close to it, and then realising it will never happen is a pain that words cannot express.

I got a call yesterday from someone at the Human Resources Department of the Burswood Entertainment Complex. The moment he started talking I knew it wasnt good news. Theres a tone people carry when they have to deliver a message they know the recipient doesnt want to hear.

And so after not being able to think straight for almost two weeks, not being able to sleep at a reasonable hour due to sheer excitement, the last thing I wanted to hear was, "We regret to inform you..."

This wasnt one of those "Oh well" moments. I was shattered, I suddenly had no enthusiasm for anything, anymore. It was unbearable. I dont know what else the guy said, I hung up. Goodbye dream job....

Just kidding, I GOT IN!

FUCK YEAH! IM JOINING THE CROUPIER TRAINING SCHOOL BABY! WOOOOOOO!!!!

This isnt good though, cause I still cant bloody concentrate and getting to sleep at a reasonable hour is even harder now, Im just so excited!

WOOOOOOOO!!!!!

In other news Im solely doing cardio this week. I want straight up weight loss. Monday saw me do 3 x 5minute sessions on a rowing machine, for a total of around 3500mtrs. My arms, legs and abdomen were sore by the time I finished, and I was sweating like a pig, it actually felt like a work-out. From there I jumped onto the treadmill. Walked for 4minutes at speed 6.0, then ran for 1-1.5 minutes at speed ten, over a total period of 20 minutes. Again it felt like a proper workout. The same was repeated again tonight. Didnt finish work till 7.20pm on Tuesday, so missed a session there, but all things being equal I'll do the same workout Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Its Messing With My Head

2006-04-02T06:28:00.000-07:00

Having to sit and wait for a phone call that determines if you will or will not be getting the dream job of your life is seriously fucking mind-blowing. I cant concentrate on a damn thing.

Its been a big week, work-wise, and I havent updated as much as I would have liked. Thursday saw me do some strength training and cardio work, Friday was solely cardio, and Saturday was a fizzle.

And the best thing is all that amounted to...

...nothing.

Weight: 110kgs

Still.

Blech.

Anyhow, to those of you reading and keeping up to date with things I'll get back into the groove starting tomorrow. Feel free to bash out any words of wisdom you have via the comments link on each post, or in the new chat box, over on the right.

Place Your Bets.

2006-03-29T05:06:00.000-08:00

The title of this post is something I hope to be saying a whole lot of after the 9th of June this year.

As mentioned in an earlier post I recently applied for a position at the Croupier Training School, run by the Burswood Casino. Today was the group interview, and although I was a taut ball of nervous tension, Im pretty sure I blitzed it. I just had a good vibe for the whole two hours, and felt very confident as I walked out of the interview room. All I gotta do now is wait patiently (hahaha, yeah, right) for the phone call.

Mondays workout session went pretty smoothly this week, it was pretty much an exact duplicate of last week, with the only differences being the added weight on some exercises, and the extra repetitions. The 30kg benchpress is getting a lot easier, after only five sessions, and whilst some may scoff at the low weight level, its an achievement for me.

Tuesday I met with Matt (whose lazy arse still isnt able to post here yet, due to a possible retardation) and we played a little basketball (without me falling over), followed by a 10min walk, and a 1500mtr row. Im gonna hit cardio a little extra this week, and those following. Whilst I can see the benefit of a strong upper body, its pure weight loss Im after right now. Walking (running if Im able), rowing machine and a x-trainer looks like the best bet.

As for tonights workout (Wednesday) it just didnt happen. Finished work at 7.20pm, got home, with a head full of excitement, had some dinner, chatted with my fiance and looked at the clock, already 8.45 and the gym had closed 15 minutes ago.

I'll hit it hard tomorrow.

One Down, Seven To Go.

2006-03-26T05:41:00.000-08:00

Well, the first week of training is over and done with, and Im still alive. Fridays workout went pretty well, the Abs cicuit is getting easier, though Im still failing miserably on the Bridge.

Abs Circuit:

Traditional Crunch - 12reps - 1 Set
Bent-Leg Knee Up - 12reps - 1 Set
Bridge - 3reps - 10seconds each
Back Extension - 12reps - 1 Set

Total Body Circuit 1:

Squat - 15kgs - 12reps - 1 Set
Bench Press - 30kgs - 15reps - 1 Set
Lat Pulldown - 30kgs - 15reps - Set
Travelling Lunge - 15kgs - 10reps each leg - 1 Set
Military Press - 17.5kgs - 12reps - 1 Set
Upright Row - 17.5kgs - 15reps - 1 Set
Step Up - 12each Leg - 1 Set
Triceps Pushdown - 30kgs - 12reps - 1 Set
Leg Extension - 30kgs - 12reps - 1 Set
Biceps Curl - 17.5kgs - 12reps - 1 Set
Leg Curl - 30kgs - 12reps - Set

Total Body Cicuit 2:

Squat - 17.5kgs - 12reps - 1 Set
Bench Press - 30kgs - 15reps - 1 Set
Lat Pulldown - 30kgs - 15reps - Set
Travelling Lunge - 15kgs - 10reps each leg - 1 Set
Military Press - 17.5kgs - 10reps - 1 Set
Upright Row - 17.5kgs - 15reps - 1 Set
Step Up - 12each Leg - 1 Set
Triceps Pushdown - 30kgs - 10reps - 1 Set
Leg Extension - 30kgs - 12reps - 1 Set
Biceps Curl - 15kgs - 15reps - 1 Set
Leg Curl - 30kgs - 12reps - Set

Some parts of the workout are getting a lot easier, and Im upping the kgs as I go, and as such after only 1 week (only 3 strength training sessions) I can feel a difference in what Im able to do.

I'll post a full set of updated stats tomorrow night, as my assistant is currently away, but I can post one new stat, and thats my weight.

As of 9.48pm

Weight: 110kgs

Thats two kilos less than a week ago, and Im pretty happy with it. This coming week Im gonna hit the cardio a little harder, probably with the rowing machine and the x-trainer, see if I can equal or better the weight loss for next week.

Wednesday's Workout.

2006-03-23T04:01:00.000-08:00

Man, Wednesday was crazy.

First thing Wednesday morning I find out applications for my dream job closed on Tuesday, the day before.

Then I gotta drop my fiance off at the airport, and I wont see her for 5 days.

And then I twist my right ankle playing basketball as an alternative to a warm-up before my workout, instead of doing the crunches etc.

Fuck.

I did get a lucky break in regards to my dream job though. You see for as long as I can remember Ive wanted to be a croupier (a dealer) in a casino. Ive been watching Burswood Casino's website for the better part of a year waiting for the Croupier Training School to open for applications and on Tuesday night, around 10pm the links were up allowing people to download the application forms. Woohoo! I downloaded both sets and looked around the site for the closing dates, but couldnt find any. So I rang them Wednesday morning, only to be told that the applications had closed the day before BUT if I could get the apps to them today, it should be ok. So I did, and at about 3.30pm that afternoon I got a phonecall asking if I could make it to a group interview next week! Booyah! Im very excited, lemme tell you. Anyhow, I digress, onto Wednesdays workout.

Abs Circuit:

Didnt do the circuit as set out in the book, instead settled for a good 25 minutes of basketball. Yeah, I know its not the same, and when we (Matt and I) finally headed upstairs to start our strength workout, I did a couple parts.

Traditional Crunch - 10reps - 1 Set
Bent-Leg Knee Up - 10reps - 1 Set
Back Extension - 12reps - 1 Set

Total Body Circuit 1:

I messed up when I started this set, read the wrong page from the book and partly did Friday's workout, which has a few extra new exercises. Oh, also...and this is stupid...but the weights from Monday for the Benchpress are out by 20kgs, the weight of the bar without the 10kgs I put on it.

Squat - 10kgs - 10reps - 1 Set
Bench Press - 30kgs - 10reps - 1 Set
Lat Pulldown - 30kgs - 12reps - 1 Set
Travelling Lunge - 15kg - 10reps each leg - 1 Set
Military Press - 17.5kgs - 12reps - 1 Set
Upright Row - 15kgs - 12reps - 1 Set
Step-Ups - Unable to do them, my ankle was throbbing from rolling it during the b-ball warm-up.
Triceps Pushdown - 30kgs - 15reps - 1 Set
Leg Extension - Unable, ankle.
Biceps Curl - 17.5kgs - 12reps - 1 Set
Leg Curl - Unable, ankle.

Total Body Circuit 2:

Squat - 10kgs - 12reps - 1 Set
Bench Press - 30kgs - 12reps - 1 Set
Bench Press - 35kgs - 5 reps - 1 Set - Matt pushed me here, and Im glad he did, pushing out even an extra 5 reps, with an added 5kgs was cool.
Lat Pulldown - 35kgs - 15reps - Set - As with a few of the other exercises, Im adding 5 or so kgs on the second set, and at every new workout as I set myself some levels to work with.
Military Press - 30kgs - 5reps - 1 Set - Grabbed the bar off the benchpress, not realising it actually weighed 30kgs, and then sat there after 5 reps wondering how I had become to damn weak. More concentration required.
Upright Row - 17.5kgs - 12reps - 1 Set
Triceps Pushdown - 30kgs - 10reps - 1 Set

By this time my ankle was really starting to hurt, I wanted to get home and take my shoe off and pack some ice on it. Feels a lot better today, Ive got a slight limp, and have to be careful not to twist it the wrong way, but a full workout should be possible by tomorrow.

The food side of things is coming along pretty well. I still havent had a fizzy drink, and even though its only been 4 days, its still an achievement Im proud of. Thinking about it, I would usually drink between 1 and 2 litres of Coke a day. Two 600ml bottles is easy to put away when you arent thinking about it, and thats a lot of sugar. A lot of sugar I havent put into my body for 4 day.

Yay for me!

Off Topic, But It Must Be Said...

2006-03-21T02:13:00.000-08:00

I heard this afternoon that Ben Cousins recieved a whopping $900 fine after pleading guilty to his escapades a few weeks ago involving an RBT and a refreshing night-time jog.

I also heard he didnt actually attend todays court hearing.

I also heard that his lawyer thought that Ben had been the center of a nasty and malicious media scrum, and that he had paid dearly by losing the captaincy of the West Coast Eagles.

Well Ben, BAD FUCKING LUCK. You ran away from a goddamned police RBT. You parked your car in such a way in your haste to escape the law that you blocked the lane you were driving in, causing a traffic jam, and had to divert police away from the RBT to deal with the shit you made. Plus, they had to chase after you. And you couldnt even attend the court hearing.

Cheer up though mate, I reckon you could easily get a spot in the 2008 Olympic team in the 400 metre sprints.

The First is Always the Hardest.

2006-03-20T04:07:00.000-08:00

Today was Workout No. 1, and goddamn it was harder than I had anticipated. I finished a little over 2 hours ago and the aches I have just go to show how entirely out of shape I am.

I will be following to the best of my ability the Abs Diet Total Body Strength Training Workout with Ab Emphasis. Im following (as closely as my persoanl tastes allow) the food reccomendations, so it would be crazy not to follow the training regime as well.

Heres what I did today:

Abs Circuit:

Traditional Crunch - 15reps - 1 Set
Bent-Leg Knee Up - 15reps - 1 Set
Oblique V-Up - 10reps each side - 1 Set
Bridge - 2reps - 10seconds each (this needs serious work, I should be able to hold the position for atleast 30 seconds...something I'll have to work harder at)
Back Extension - 10reps - 1 Set

Total Body Circuit 1:

Squat - 10kgs - 10reps - 1 Set
Bench Press - 10kgs - 12reps - 1 Set
Lat Pulldown - N/A - Only 1 machine at my gym, and there was a queue of people waiting for it.
Military Press - 10kgs - 11reps - 1 Set
Upright Row - 10kgs - 12reps - 1 Set
Triceps Pushdown - 20kgs - 11reps - 1 Set
Leg Extension - 20kgs 12reps - 1 Set
Biceps Curl - 10kgs - 10reps - 1 Set
Leg Curl - 20kgs - 12reps - Set

Total Body Circuit 2:

Exactly the same as above. All weight values are exactly the same, I managed a couple extra reps on some and a couple less on others.

The weight values I used today were simply a starting point, theres no actual reccomendation made in the book. I have to admit struggling towards the end of my set on the bench press, and its only 10kgs. A little disappointing, but its an area that will improve with time.

This 3-stage workout happens every second day, so Mon-Wed-Fri, with light cardio work on Tues and Thurs, and a small Abs Emphasis workout on Saturday with some interval cardio training. Sunday is a free day, some time for muscles to catch up, or so I assume.

All of this exercise is of course a waste of time without the right foods, and being able to eat 6 times a day is something most guys I know wouldnt have a problem with. Its what we eat that makes the difference. For me today:

2 slices toast + peanut butter
1 bowl of UT Plus Sultanas and Bran + skim milk

Unsalted Peanuts, Cashews and Almonds
Red Globe Grapes
All Natural Vanilla Yoghurt

Salad - cos lettuce, capsicum, celery, carrot, fat-free cheese, light balsamic vinigerette
Small can tuna
Rice Crackers

More peanuts
Apple
Be Natural Almond Bar

Banana Smoothie (1/2 hour before the gym) - protien powder, yoghurt, skim milk

Beef and Veg Stirfry
Brown Rice (as gross as it is, I'll eat it on anyday Ive already had white bread or potato)
Steamed Brocolli

Now this might seem like a lot of food, but even I have figured out that its not how much you eat, but what you eat. All the foods that Ive listed here are easily used by the systems inside my body, theyre all broken down into the fibres and minerals and proteins that my body needs to build muscle and burn fat. Its so simple, its almost crazy.

Along with this massive amount of food I drank a bucketload of water, and a little juice once I got home. The hardest thing by far will be not drinking Coke/other fizzy drinks. The addiction I have (or had, hopefully) for this shit is far stronger than my smoking addiction (quit 3 months ago). Theres 6 vending machines where I work, 3 of which dispense Coke, in cans or bottles. It isnt easy, but I will keep in control.

Stats and Stuff.

2006-03-19T04:34:00.000-08:00

Here are my official stats as of 8.33pm, Sunday night, 19th March 2006.

Weight: 112kgs. Im a little surprised at this, its a good 3-4kgs less than I expected.

Waist: 45 3/4" or 116cm. This is the one I want to (and will) hit hardest. Goodbye belly.

Hips: 43 1/4" or 110cm. Another one I wanna tackle. A new pair of jeans when winter hits will be a size or two smaller.

Thighs: 27 1/4" or 70cm. Not one I expect to change much.

Upper Arms: 13" or 33cm. Once the weight starts to peel away from my stomach and chest area strength training will increase, and bigger upper arms will hopefully appear.

Chest: 45" or 115cm. Along with waist and hips this is the other majorly important area I want to work on.

Went and had dinner with Matt and his lovely girlfriend Sarah last night, and he is as excited as I am. His regime is a little different to mine, he will be putting on weight, but I'll let him explain that once he gets his ass back online.

Im really looking forward to this, to changing my self physically which can only be a good thing, as my health in a complete sense will also improve.

Well Im off to start planning meals etc for the next week.

Take care,
Rick.

p.s. Ive taken a front and side photo...which Ive decided Im not going to post just yet. Seeing ones self in a photo is bad enough, having to share it with everyone is something else. I'll take a set of shots every Sunday of every week, and post them all at the same time in 8 weeks time.

Gearing Up.

2006-03-16T23:15:00.000-08:00

Hi, Im Rick, welcome to From Fat to Fit, a web blog run by myself, and my good friend Matt. This will be an 8 week journal recording everything we do, showing how we both get to the same goal of a healthier lifestyle and also changing our body styles along the way.

I wont tell you any of what Matt is trying to achieve, I'll leave that to him. He will be able to do this once he murders his younger brother Jimmy, and steals back his wireless router card and mouse. How the hell Jimmy managed to steal them in the first place is beyond me.

Now, I'll be 29 in around 3 months time. And a year after that will be the big 3-0. For quite a while Ive known that I was over weight. Im a big guy, coming in at around 6'5" or 195cm, and Im constantly having people tell me that even if I say Im over weight, I dont look it. Which is nice in a way, but does nothing for the enthusiasm to go out and exercise. Hey, if other people think I look fine, then I must be fine, right? Wrong.

Ive got a hell of a gut when ever I sit down. Pokes right out there. A fair sized love handle on either side. And an upper body shape thats starting to look like I need to wear a training bra. Not pretty, at all. And its not just the weight, its an overall feeling of just being out of shape.

Using a standard BMI scale, at 195cm tall, and weighing around 113kgs, that puts me into the obese catergory. Obese, its not a pretty word in anyones language, and its a word no-one I know would feel proud being labeled with. I know for certain its something Im no longer willing to be.

Officially our campaign to better ourselves starts on Monday, 20th of March, but prepartions have already begun. Both of us will be (loosely) following the Abs Diet, produced by Mens Health magazine. Now, in the past Ive never liked diets, Ive always thought of them as fads, far too many rules and restrictions. The Abs Diet does have restrictions, and there are some I will be choosing to ignore, but as a general rule it will be the guide I follow. Sorry guys, but I f*cking loathe brown rice. Health benefits be damned.

One thing that is taking a little getting used to are the protien shakes. Maybe its the cheap ass brand of protein powder I bought, but they always leave a weird taste in my mouth. Protein seems to play a huge part in this diet, its good for building muscle, and supplying energy, I think. I'll have to read the book again. 6 meals a day, each packed with protein, calcium, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Sounds hard but it isnt. I'll be posting what I eat from day to day (or week to week if I get to lazy to update every day) and showing you what contains what.

Both of us have also bought a new pair of shoes each. After having Brad from Athletes Foot in Perth City spend 45 minutes with me explaining how my feet work, I settled on a pair of Brooks Addiction. I gotta tell you, at 180 clams I was a little hesitant, but damn these things are comfy.

Im pretty sure thats all Ive got to say for now. No doubt once we actually begin training I'll be posting all the time complaining about how much I ache and hurt, etc.

But thats to be expected.