jstanlick: Lean Mass Quest Part 1

[jstanlick]

A.  Beer is one of my the main food groups.  It is definitely good for you.

B.  You threw me when you talked about skiing.  My brain was definitely not working when I first read it.

C.  Tape and scale are an unfortunate necessary evil.  As long as you aren't too focused on one particular number derived directly from those devices - they can be viewed as tools.  IMHO.

 

I figure as long as it's a good beer or at least something I've never tried before, it's good for you. And, yes, I was referring to water-skiing. Although, the way I do it, it's more like fighting to stay upright while a 350 HP small block Chevy motor drags me across the lake. My wife's uncle's ski boat has the same motor in it that his van does, so we've always got extra parts!

 

AIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

 

no no no no no

 

Ah, its true. But this scale was far kinder to me than the one in the doctor's office a few weeks back. Amazing how much a phone, keys, wallet, shoes and clothes weigh. Either that or I lost almost 6 pounds in the last 2 weeks. Hmmm, maybe I'll go with that

 

Nah, it's alright. I need it to measure my progress and I can't figure out my lean mass without looking at the total mass first. As long as I don't climb on that thing every day, multiple times a day or use the number it states to somehow value myself as a person, it shouldn't be a problem.

[AgentsSka]

I figure as long as it's a good beer or at least something I've never tried before, it's good for you.

I don't consider the Bud/Miller/Coors type crap beer. It's just dirty water.

[cline]

I figure as long as it's a good beer or at least something I've never tried before, it's good for you.

 

...

 

As long as I don't climb on that thing every day, multiple times a day or use the number it states to somehow value myself as a person, it shouldn't be a problem.

 

mmmmm beer

 

I use the scale as validation.  Satan's toy is insidious.

[leighanne1941]

 

Nah, it's alright. I need it to measure my progress and I can't figure out my lean mass without looking at the total mass first. As long as I don't climb on that thing every day, multiple times a day or use the number it states to somehow value myself as a person, it shouldn't be a problem.

 

This is so very true.  The scale isn't the issue, it's our relationship with the number produced by the scale.

 

Vacation beer made with love by a friend is absolutely good for you

 

Interesting observation about your right versus left arm.  Are you right handed or left handed?  Could the right hand be stiffer because it is held in one position all day?

[jstanlick]

This is so very true.  The scale isn't the issue, it's our relationship with the number produced by the scale.

 

Vacation beer made with love by a friend is absolutely good for you

 

Interesting observation about your right versus left arm.  Are you right handed or left handed?  Could the right hand be stiffer because it is held in one position all day?

 

I'm right handed, and you're correct, my right arm often finds itself bent with my hand resting on my mouse. That's an interesting theory. It might also be a blood flow issue.

 

This morning I strapped on my band for my iPhone on my left arm. And after a few sets of curls it was getting more tired than my right (which is where I usually keep it). So, I took it off and set the phone on a shelf by the dumbbell rack and turned up the volume on the speakers. By the time I was done, everything hurt equally

 

I'll have to see how it plays out over the next couple of weeks.

[jstanlick]

I don't consider the Bud/Miller/Coors type crap beer. It's just dirty water.

 

The beer force is strong in this one.

 

mmmmm beer

 

I use the scale as validation.  Satan's toy is insidious.

 

I've decided its a necessary evil. If it starts effecting me more than a number to validate progress, I'm putting it away again.

[cline]

you are a strong man

[jstanlick]

Update time.

 

Diet: Slowly getting closer. Calories were right on for a rest day. Fat was about right. Carbs were lower, but still too high. Protein was higher, but not high enough. If I switched the carb intake with the protein intake, I'd be all set. On the plus side, very little of the carbs came from straight sugar. All starchy stuff except for the blueberries and a sneaky iced tea that I thought was unsweetened until I started drinking it. Damn mislabeled Pure Leaf. Instead of the unsweetened one it was the raspberry one, and I was super thirsty so I drank it. Then when I entered it into MyFitnessPal and realized its all sugar. 50 grams of carbs and 50 grams of sugar. If it had the right label on it, I would've just dumped the thing out. I didn't realize "Lightly Sweetened" was the same thing as "Instant Teeth Rot". I had a sad.

 

Workout: No weight workouts, but that was planned. I was going to go for a run, but it was all rainy and I had to drop the car off for repairs before work.

 

Life Quest: 20 more pages before I got interrupted. At this pace I might finish that book by Thanksgiving.

[AgentsSka]

I am not envious of you and cline tracking all the foods and macros.  I may have to do it at some point.  But, right now, I think it would drive me bonkers.

[jstanlick]

Oops, that was what happened yesterday. Today, there was a weight workout. Workout 'A' (yeah, it's weird that Workout 'B' is the first one and 'A' is the second one) as it's called in the program. Mostly 1 exercise per body part with lots and lots of sets/reps. I'm definitely not used to this anymore. Heavier weights with less reps is what I've been doing, or less rest between sets so I don't need as many sets. We'll see how this goes for this challenge. Feels very different. Kinda like swimming upstream for me. I also realized, my playlist is not built right for these workouts. And these were the first Russian Twists I've done since college. My obliques are sore, but that's a good thing I think. Who knew a 10# medicine ball could be so hard to move? I'm still figuring out what my max working weight is on these so I can get the percentages close. Anyway, here's what it looked like:

Seated DB Press 8x12 70%

EZ bar curls 10x10 60% (alternating wide and narrow grip with each set)

French Presses 5x8 80%

Russian Twists 5x8 80%

Front Squats 5x8 80%

Leg extensions 8x12 70% <- I haven't done these since the 90's

Hamstring Curls 10x10 60% <- Same here

Standing calf raises 12x12 75% <- Same here

Wrist curls 10x12 70% <- Yep, this one too

 

 

I don't think I posted Workout 'B' did I? Well, it comes back around on Saturday, so stay tuned

[jstanlick]

I am not envious of you and cline tracking all the foods and macros.  I may have to do it at some point.  But, right now, I think it would drive me bonkers.

 

I honestly didn't think it would be this difficult. I'm not trying to be as exact as cline is, but she's training to fight which has some different requirements. When I started tracking the protein and realized how little I was consuming I decided to build some serious muscle I needed to increase my protein intake and reduce my carb intake. As I said, it's been harder than I thought it would be, but I'll get there.

[AgentsSka]

I am kind of curious about my own protein numbers.  I may have to try it for a week, just to see where I'm at.  But...  blech.

[cline]

Protein was higher, but not high enough. If I switched the carb intake with the protein intake, I'd be all set.

 

.....realized its all sugar. 50 grams of carbs and 50 grams of sugar.

 

Eat over half a pound of brisket for lunch man!  Damn that stuff pushed me to 200g of protein!  I've also had days where I eat a can of tuna and more fish at night and whey after a workout - BAM hit 229g that day!  HOOYAH! 

 

And 50g of sugar in a tea would give me cardiac arrest.  Seriously.  I would have to lurch about the office looking for the portable defibrillator and then shock myself.  It would be ugly.  Luckily, I don't like tea....

 

Oops, that was what happened yesterday.

 

Ha ha ha ha - it's the sugar!

 

Nice workout!!! med ball - ha ha ha.  Ugh.  How's the elbow?

[cline]

I am not envious of you and cline tracking all the foods and macros.  I may have to do it at some point.  But, right now, I think it would drive me bonkers.

 

it kinda sucks.  but it's nerdy too.... I  like to look at little pie charts of my macros.... *sigh*

 

I honestly didn't think it would be this difficult. I'm not trying to be as exact as cline is, but she's training to fight which has some different requirements. When I started tracking the protein and realized how little I was consuming I decided to build some serious muscle I needed to increase my protein intake and reduce my carb intake. As I said, it's been harder than I thought it would be, but I'll get there.

 

I want to grow up to be big and strong but lean and mean so I have to have more protein (I'm okay here) and just enough carbs to build the muscle but not too much b/c I want to lean out.

 

I am kind of curious about my own protein numbers.  I may have to try it for a week, just to see where I'm at.  But...  blech.

 

Join the cult.....

[jstanlick]

Eat over half a pound of brisket for lunch man!  Damn that stuff pushed me to 200g of protein!  I've also had days where I eat a can of tuna and more fish at night and whey after a workout - BAM hit 229g that day!  HOOYAH! 

 

And 50g of sugar in a tea would give me cardiac arrest.  Seriously.  I would have to lurch about the office looking for the portable defibrillator and then shock myself.  It would be ugly.  Luckily, I don't like tea....

 

Can't help it. My ancestry is Irish, Scottish and English. So, it's either whiskey or tea

So far today the carbs are at 64g and my protein's at 121g. I'm getting better. Needs me to hunt and gather some meat and veggies for dinner. Cuz tomorrow is 24 hour fast day. Man, what was I thinking. My body is my lab, or petrie dish. Fortunately, tomorrow is a no lifting day.

 

Nice workout!!! med ball - ha ha ha.  Ugh.  How's the elbow?

Elbow's fine. My bi's and tri's are a tad sore. Hammies too. But I tell you what, all those reps sure make a person swole. Just hope it's causing that muscle to grow while it's at it.

[jstanlick]

I am kind of curious about my own protein numbers.  I may have to try it for a week, just to see where I'm at.  But...  blech.

 

The myfitnesspal app makes it fairly easy. The hardest part is entering the actual amounts of what you ate. And, when it's something you make, you need to input the recipe so it can figure out the rest. The web site is easier for that kind of entry. But, hey, it's all free, which is nice.

[leighanne1941]

I'm right handed, and you're correct, my right arm often finds itself bent with my hand resting on my mouse. That's an interesting theory. It might also be a blood flow issue.

 

This morning I strapped on my band for my iPhone on my left arm. And after a few sets of curls it was getting more tired than my right (which is where I usually keep it). So, I took it off and set the phone on a shelf by the dumbbell rack and turned up the volume on the speakers. By the time I was done, everything hurt equally

 

I'll have to see how it plays out over the next couple of weeks.

 

There's a scientist in you!!  Hopefully that will solve the majority of the problem and you will be good to go!

 

Update time.

 

Diet: Slowly getting closer. Calories were right on for a rest day. Fat was about right. Carbs were lower, but still too high. Protein was higher, but not high enough. If I switched the carb intake with the protein intake, I'd be all set. On the plus side, very little of the carbs came from straight sugar. All starchy stuff except for the blueberries and a sneaky iced tea that I thought was unsweetened until I started drinking it. Damn mislabeled Pure Leaf. Instead of the unsweetened one it was the raspberry one, and I was super thirsty so I drank it. Then when I entered it into MyFitnessPal and realized its all sugar. 50 grams of carbs and 50 grams of sugar. If it had the right label on it, I would've just dumped the thing out. I didn't realize "Lightly Sweetened" was the same thing as "Instant Teeth Rot". I had a sad.

 

Workout: No weight workouts, but that was planned. I was going to go for a run, but it was all rainy and I had to drop the car off for repairs before work.

 

Life Quest: 20 more pages before I got interrupted. At this pace I might finish that book by Thanksgiving.

 

Damn you lying labels!!

 

I am kind of curious about my own protein numbers.  I may have to try it for a week, just to see where I'm at.  But...  blech.

 

I am finding myself mildly curious about my numbers.  I may start to slowly paying closer attention throughout this challenge.  But Jstanlick (that's long to type out, we need a nickname for you!) is right about MFP.  I track everything through the mobile app and it connects to my fitbit.  The biggest hassle is weighing and measuring everything to get accurate numbers.

[jstanlick]

There's a scientist in you!!  Hopefully that will solve the majority of the problem and you will be good to go!

 

 

Damn you lying labels!!

 

 

I am finding myself mildly curious about my numbers.  I may start to slowly paying closer attention throughout this challenge.  But Jstanlick (that's long to type out, we need a nickname for you!) is right about MFP.  I track everything through the mobile app and it connects to my fitbit.  The biggest hassle is weighing and measuring everything to get accurate numbers.

 

My wife and I took a personality trait test once. They basically broke people down into 4 major groups. Catalysts (the life of the party, full of ideas, lacking on action), Helpers (trust and relationships are the most important thing for them and they're willing to go out of their way for otheres, somtimes to their own detriment), Thinkers (ya gotta have a plan and think things thru to completion, but sometimes lack on the execution because they're still thinking about "the best way" to do it) and Organizers (the get it done people who can't stand chaos, indecision or Catalysts for that matter). Everyone has traits of each, but typically there is one trait that stands out above the rest. So, you get a score in every category and the one with the highest score is your dominant trait. Mine was Thinker followed closely by Organizer. Like most scientists. My wife is an Organizer/Helper. No Catalysts in our family. We're too busy to come up with ideas and rock the boat I guess

 

Which brings me to my user name. Not a lot of creativity there either (or anonymity). I've thought of changing, but I'm not sure what I'd change it to. My other online names (like the one attached to the avatar) aren't very nerd-like and even longer to type. So for almost a year now it's been jstanlick. Wait, it's been almost a year since I joined NF! Wow! That flew by ridiculously fast!

 

There's a couple of things about MFP that I don't like. First, if you enter cardio exercises, it adds calories burned to increase your caloric deficit for the day. If you add strength exercises, nothing. Apparently, pulling/pushing large amounts of weight doesn't burn any calories. I know it's a little harder to estimate, but then why allow me to enter anything at all? Second, the analytics. I can get a daily breakdown of macros and even nutrients, but when you go to weekly, it's just total calories. Now on the website I can get a rolled up chart of the breakdowns, but it's one chart at a time. Like, how much protein this week. Carbs? Reload the chart. I can't get the 2 overlaid in the chart.

 

But, to be fair, it's completely free. Given that, it's a pretty good app/website.

[jstanlick]

There you go, a whole bunch of stuff about me you didn't know or probably didn't even think was worth knowing.

 

Quest Update time:

 

Workout: Today, took the dog for a long quiet walk this morning. It was good for both of us. We didn't even mind the rain. Yesterday was workout 'A', and I'm not as sore today as I was after Tuesday's Workout B. Still sore, but not as sore. I think that's a good thing.

 

Diet: For the first time this week, protein intake exceeded carb intake. Sweet! I'm still about 50g short on where I'd like the protein to be, but it's getting there as I find what's working and what's not. At 6:30 PM, I'll complete my first 24 hour fast of this challenge. So, about 11 more hours to go. Shouldn't be too bad unless Satan's minions stock up the break room with crap today.

 

Life: No progress on this one. Didn't get to the book and didn't have any networking opportunities yesterday. But, I'm meeting with someone today about some other possibilities and I brought the book to work with me. We're having a DR test, and I often find myself with some downtime while I'm waiting for servers to start up at our BCP site.

[cline]

Happy protein dance!  And happy dog walking dance.  Sometimes I sooooo wish I had a dog. 

 

I've thought about changing my username too but meh..... 

 

I would totally be a catalyst but also an organizer.  I mobilize, excite, tell stories and jokes but then get it all organized and done!  BAM!  I guess I would hate myself.... LOL. 

 

I was in a training once and we did a similar test about learning - visual, auditory, experimental, or something else I can't remember.  Turned out I was all four.  People were not happy b/c they couldn't put me in a box.  Ha ha ha.  I offered to draw and explain the box and then suggested we could build one to see if I'd fit.... they were even more unhappy at how oppositional I am.  Ha ha ha. 

[AgentsSka]

I don't have a personality.

[cline]

I don't have a personality.

 

LMAO

[jstanlick]

Hmm, I wonder if the absence of a personality would score the same as being in all of the categories equally.

[cline]

Hmm, I wonder if the absence of a personality would score the same as being in all of the categories equally.

 

LMAO ....

 

Hey.....

 

wait a minute....

 

[jstanlick]

Perhaps ending a 24 hour fast with a bourbon barrel porter wasn't the best choice in the world, but it was damn tasty and had a bigger kick than usual

Tonight is book time and then Workout B in the morning.