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Well, my body has reached a bit of a metabolic set-point. The cycle I've been on recently is to diet strictly for 2-3 weeks, be disappointed I only lost 1 pound of body fat (or, due to creatine intake, have my calipers and Omron report that I've GAINED body fat), fall off the wagon for a week and gain 2 or 3 pounds of body fat, then do it all over again.

Luckily, I identified a big part of the reason why I've had so much internal turmoil and difficulty focusing on my training goals. I'm working through them, and they have nothing at all to do with training and everything to do with family life. So often, it's easy to lose sight of your goals because you're so distracted by angst-inducing real-life events.

I plan to get back on the bandwagon for August.

--Matt B.

redgiki wrote:Luckily, I identified a big part of the reason why I've had so much internal turmoil and difficulty focusing on my training goals.

Sorry to hear about the issues that you're dealing with. Too bad life has to get in the way sometimes. I've been slammed at work lately and have been seeking comfort food. So, I'm kind of in the same boat. Despite the fact that I know stress and crappy food make a great cocktail for fat production. It happens.

Interesting, common scenarios guys. Its the classic catch twenty two, but simultaneously a deluxe chance to benefit. When we realise we are causing ourselves to feel less than good by our reaction to events, to life, its a crux point. We have the choice to stop it, change it, the, our reaction, causing our undesirable feelings, the instant we begin to notice and recognise them, when we feel our less than desirable emotions (warning, guides, signposts... turn here, go the other way)! Or, just let ourselves be swept away.

Actually, the reality is, we sweep ourselves away. Then the snowball gathers momentum, and dramatically effects our whole lives. Yet, we can choose at any, any time to feel better. Its absolutely possible, at any moment to think things, or think and focus in a way to create beneficial feelings and emotions, and allow that snowball to gather momentum, effecting our lives in the totally opposite way. Compare the performance of someone stressed, worrying, tight, tense, angry, unhappy, confused, etc, etc, compared to someone relaxed, confident, open, happy, alert, sure, etc, etc. I think its what the David/Goliath thing is about.

And either type of reaction is strengthened, eventually becoming habitual, unconscious, each time we choose it. I hope this come's across right guys. As a personal trainer it really, really interests me, because I realised that the whole thing, the key to results, to training people, either way is mental, training their thinking, or somehow helping them, prompting them to choose new thoughts, leading to new results. And it is the same in every aspect of our lives. We create, we alone are responsible for exactly how we feel and so live. And, when we truly take that on board, we are instantly very empowered, with amasing opportunities always open to us.

Uplift wrote: We have the choice to stop it, change it, the, our reaction, causing our undesirable feelings, the instant we begin to notice and recognise them, when we feel our less than desirable emotions (warning, guides, signposts... turn here, go the other way)! Or, just let ourselves be swept away.

I identified the cause of my turmoil, confronted it, faced the angst and disappointment along with two weeks of extremely intermittent sleep (some nights up all night, some up just half the night)... and lost ten pounds without thinking about it. And my lean weight remains largely unchanged.

I'm not happy about how I got there, but the scale is at 213.5 today, down from 218 at the start, and today I'm fasting for additional spiritual strength to make it through my crisis. Keep smiling!

--Matt B.

Here's an update after a few weeks. I got a little off track but hope to get back on this week.

Weight - 258 (+7)
Bodyfat - 26.4% (-0.3)
Waist - 46 (+1)
Chest - 48 (+1)
Calf - 16
Bicep - 16 (-1)
Bicep (flex) - 18.25
Neck - 18

I've had more carbs than normal the past few weeks. I'm retaining a lot of water right now.

I've attached two pics to give you an idea of how my weight is distributed. I apologize for the lack of clarity.

redgiki wrote:I identified the cause of my turmoil, confronted it, faced the angst and disappointment along with two weeks of extremely intermittent sleep (some nights up all night, some up just half the night)... and lost ten pounds without thinking about it. And my lean weight remains largely unchanged.

I'm not happy about how I got there, but the scale is at 213.5 today, down from 218 at the start, and today I'm fasting for additional spiritual strength to make it through my crisis. Keep smiling!

We are the cause of our reactions. For instance I can think, you have caused me to reply, in this particular way. When in reality, its totally my choice. Even if due to whatever circumstances, I had to reply, my thoughts and feelings about that reply are mine alone. My choice.

The ways I could reply and think and feel about it, are infinite, limited only by my own creativity and imagination. I might be strongly conditioned, in the habit of easily being angry, frustrated, so I would unconsciously reply that way. As those would be the filters I habitually think through, its all I would tend to see, think is possible. Then I could justify it, by saying its the natural, best thing to do, I had no choice, you made me angry and frustrated, I didn't deny it, I faced it, dealt with it, you, now it is done, another success, my beliefs, my habit, satisfied and confirmed.

Someone might say I could deal with that scenario perhaps more successfully, beneficially, totally differently, without becoming frustrated or angry, and simultaneously learn to empower my self, my spirit, by carefully choosing to be totally in charge of my reactions, my expression, by creating new habits/beliefs. My conditioning, catch twenty two feedback, would make that very difficult for me to see, perhaps even threatening to see if I identify myself with my conditioning/beliefs/habits. There are unlimited, infinite reactions to facing and dealing with any scenario. There are unlimited habits and beliefs I can adopt. We, through our belief shaped choices, express that limit. We have been bestowed with the gift, the completely unlimited miracle of imagination and creativity. And the choice of what we do with it.

Redgiki, I respect your resiliance and determination, your Spirit.

Well done, Vaughn! Keep up the good work!

These are some of mine. We three are very close on measurements

Age:19
Height:173cm - 5'8''
Current Weight: 70kg - 154lbs
Starting Weight: 55kg - 121lbs (before two years)

*Flexed But Not After Exercise:
Chest: 42.5*
Shoulders: 47 (I am not so sure about this measurement,but must be close)
Left Arm: 14.9*
Left Forearm: 11.8*
Waist: 31.5
Hips: 36.5*
Left Thigh: 24.5*
Left Calf: 15.7*

Last measurement on 12/7/2009

New measurement on 31/8/2009
That was 1.5 month on very high calorie GLAD diet(for me at least) and Max-OT training. I was having days of high fat eating with minimal carb eating too ,for a change.

BW: 75kg (165lbs)
Chest: 44.4 (my lats grew a lot thanks to weighted pullups ,chest ok)
Left Arm: 15.2(I was expecting some more )
Left Forearm: 12.2(with no direct isolation work seems pinwheel curls do their job)
Waist: 32.7 (I gained abdominal fat I know ) 34 is my limit when I reach I will stop gaining
Left Thigh: 24.8
Left Calf: 15.9

Still not enough time to notice enough good improvements(except lats,chest) but I am generally happy and it is going well.
Got stronger on everything.Hit 145kg(319lbs) on bb squats for 6 reps and weighted dips with 32.5kg added for 6reps are some of my best.

Next measurement on start of November. Going cleaner from know on.

Last Measurement:31/8/2009

Age:19
BW: 75kg (165lbs)
Chest: 44.4 (my lats grew a lot thanks to weighted pullups ,chest ok)
Left Arm: 15.2(I was expecting some more )
Left Forearm: 12.2(with no direct isolation work seems pinwheel curls do their job)
Waist: 32.7 (I gained abdominal fat I know ) 34 is my limit when I reach I will stop gaining
Left Thigh: 24.8
Left Calf: 15.9

New Measurement:10/9/2009

Age:19
BW:80kg (176lbs) +5kg (+11lbs)
Chest:45.3 (+0.9)
Left Arm:15.4 (+0.2)
Left Forearm:12.6 (+ 0.4)
Waist:33 (+0.3)
Left Thigh:25.8 (+1) !!!
Left Calf:16.1 (+0.2)

My thighs and chest/back keep getting bigger. Arms and calves got a little,I am not very pleased but I know they didn't get the same amount of work as legs and my torso so it's ok,they will come eventually.Waist stayed almost the same which is good.

Some of my improved lifts are BB Squats 180kg x 1RM and 160kg x 7RM , BB Bench Press 100kg x 4RM(need more!), Leg Presses 330kgx8reps, BB Rows 92.5x8reps, Pinwheel DB Curls 30kgx5reps

Everything is going well. Next measurement on 2010.

Lift,eat,sleep and be patient

Those are cracking results mate, well done.