From grandpa to teenager ...

Tuesday 4 November. I probably could have chosen a less symbolic date - today's the day that Barack Obama is expected to wipe the floor with John McCain. Can't wait to see those results ...

Am quite chuffed about my own. I'll post all the measurments in the sidebar, but the main ones are quite encouraging:

Weight went down from 92.7kgs to 83kgs. It would have been more if it weren't for the fact that my muscle mass has increased by 3 kgs and my body water % from 50.8 to 57.6%.

The biggest shockers, though, are that my body fat percentage went to from 24.7% to just 12.4%, and my 'body age' went from 48 (ouch, and ouch again!) to 14 (yes, you read that right, FOURTEEN). So I went from grandpa to teenager ... That was the big surprise of the day!! When Des told me about my body's virtual age 12 weeks ago, I came close to depression. Now, it's the exact opposite ... I still struggle to contain my excitement.

So, in summary, if anyone is in doubt whether it's worth going for the USN challenge, I'd say it's an unequivocal yes from me. It wasn't always easy. The getting out of bed early. The sore muscles. Just the whole sticking to a routine thing (which is so not me) ... The chicken and broccoli ... The drinking water when everyone else is having a beer or a glass of wine. The not eating sweets ...

So yes, it's challenging at times. I got sick for 2 weeks and wasn't able to really push myself during that period. That may happen to you as well. Just don't use it as an excuse for quitting. Keep going to gym, even if you're only there for half an hour ...

As for me, I'm not going to stop here. I reckon I still need to lose 2 to 3 kgs - mainly tummy fat. I really want a six pack for summer, and luckily, the summer hols are still 6 weeks away, so I'll get there.

Des also told me that from now on (now that most of the excess flab is gone), the focus will shift from losing weight to building muscle. He especially intends to focus on the chest, shoulders, back and arms. Pretty much the whole upper body then ...

I think I'll ask him to do another assessment just before the summer hols, and will then also post another picture. One of the big questions that I had when I was investigating whether I should or shouldn't bother with the USN challenge was how easy it was to maintain that lifestyle, and keep that new body in shape.

That's exactly why I still intend to keep Des on as my personal trainer ... I wouldn't trust myself to stick to the plan if left to my own devices. This way, I'm forced to go to gym at least 3 times a week ... which can only help.

Over the last 2 weeks, I've definitely returned to our old lifestyle when it comes to eating out and drinking the occasional glass of wine. And you know what, I don't feel guilty about that at all. My wife and I should love doing that sort of thing, and any routine that doesn't allow us to do that, would simply not work long term. For the first 2 months or so, I'd definitely recommend sticking to the chicken and broccoli though - it helps you see results quickly and teaches you a more healthy way of eating. Even now, when we go out, it's usually for salads, or chicken, and only very rarely will I have a pizza or something ...

Alright, that's it from me for now. Will post the pic when my wife's home and will also post the final measurements. Leaves me to wish you best of luck on your journey to a healthier body!

OK, here it is ... the results of 12 weeks of hard labour :-)

Monday 3 November

Just one day to go! Tomorrow, my 12 weeks are officially over. I feel like I've been celebrating all of last week - it's definitely party season and we've been eating out so many times, I don't think I've lost any more weight since last week. But hey, if it wasn't for the regular exercise, and the fact that my metabolism is now a lot faster, I would've probably gained a kg or two, so am not complaining.

And all in all, I'm pretty happy already with the transformation - hard to believe it's the same guy as 12 weeks ago.

Had a really good cardio session today. Pushed hard on the bicycle as well - will need to step that up if I don't want to blow up at the 94.7 Challenge, which is now less than 2 weeks away. Still have to get a bike ... very organised, as usual ...

And now, we just wait until tomorrow night. My wife will take the pic when she gets home from work ... am really curious to see the results. Oh, don't expect me to look like some sort of Stevenegger - I've made good progress but I'm not going to be winning any Mr Universe competitions any time soon. And neither would I want to, that was just never the goal ...

Saturday 1 November

Definitely feeling a bit strained. We did do a full hour of weights, and it went well according to Des, but I felt like I was doing everything in slow motion. I probably was ... Did some cardio afterwards to make up for my lack of exercise yesterday, so all in all, today was a lot better, even though I didn't feel particularly strong.

It's weird really; it seems to be a bit of a trend that the body (or is it the mind?) longs for that day of rest. It's probably not for no reason that everyone always says that you shouldn't exercise 7 times a week ... I can definitely feel the need for that day of rest come Saturday, and always feel a lot fitter and stronger on the Monday ...

Friday 31 October

Eish, today was hard. Heart rate went bezerk almost straight away. Just didn't have any juice. Didn't get much sleep last night as it was so warm, and we have been eating out a lot all week so maybe that doesn't help either. Whatever the cause, I was pretty much knackered from the start, and didn't even complete the full hour of cardio. Bit disappointed ... but ja, there have been days like this before.

Thursday 30 October

Today went really well - another good workout. Definitely stepping up the pace now ...

When I first started, I could barely manage a 40 minute weights session with Des, whereas now, we definitely manage to push hard for the full hour. Getting value for my money :-)

Also did some cardio afterwards, always nice when you've still got something left to give after the weights session ...

Wednesday 29 October

Great cardio session this morning, even though my body was hurting a bit from the workout yesterday. Struggled to get out of bed at 5, so only made it to gym just before 6, but once I got going, I had so much energy ... great feeling.

I'm definitely getting a heck of a lot fitter ... can push harder and for much longer than when I first started. There's this ski-step thingymajiggy machine that I used to really struggle with ... 20 minutes on that thing used to be torture. Now it's dead easy. Even at level 10, my heartbeat doesn't go higher than 135bpm anymore ...

Have started to do a bit more cycling as well now, want to get ready for the 94.7. A quick calculation based on my speed on the stationary bike tells me that the 94.7 will take me between 4 and 5 hours to complete. What was I thinking? And I still don't even have a bicycle!

Tuesday 28 October - nailbiting finish!

Not liking the scale at the Virgin Active much today. After sending me very encouraging messages for the last few weeks, today it decides that my weight's gone up by over 2kgs in a week. I know that that's not the case, but now I'm starting to wonder how accurate the darn thing actually is ...

Oh well, arranged with Des (my trainer) that he'll do a full assessment next week Tuesday, to end the challenge.

He says I've been doing reasonably well so far, all things considered. He's trained other USN Challengers before, and some have even made it in the top 10, but he told me that usually those people have been working out for a while before they started the Challenge, or were already quite muscular but just a bit overweight (or have been 'pigging out' as he puts it) and that's why their results are at times so spectacular.

Me, on the other hand, I haven't been fit in over 20 years. Used to play a bit of soccer as a kid, but that's about it. So I think my progress is fairly representative for someone who's been a couch potato for many, many years, and then decides to do something about it.

I'm most definitely a lot more happy with the way I look now. It's not yet at the stage that I'd like to be, but I know I'll get there. We're leaving on holiday on the 12th of December so I've already told Des that he's stuck with me until at least then ... I'm afraid that if I just stop after the challenge is over, I'll go back to my old bad habits, as there won't be anything to spur me on and keep me motivated. I read once that for something to become a habit, you have to do it daily for at least 3 months. So the plan is to just go on after the challenge has ended, and make sure that I've got some sessions scheduled after the hols to make sure I get back into the saddle in Jan. Obviously I won't be posting daily updates then, but perhaps I'll post an update and a pic once a month or so, just to keep me focused and motivated ... We'll see how it pans out ...

Monday 27 October

Thought I was going to be sore from all the walking yesterday, but felt fine. Got up early, went to gym at 5 and did my hour of cardio and 20 mins of abs exercises. I'm definitely getting fitter, my heart rate doesn't go up all that high anymore and comes down a lot quicker than it used to when I first started - 11 weeks ago.

Sunday 26 October

It's official. My wife and I are idiots.

We thought it might be a good idea to go for a walk, so we walked up to the nearest Mugg & Bean for breakfast. Got there, had a nice light breakfast, then decided to walk to the nursery. Now that's a few kays away. And we're on slops. Got there, did our rounds, then walked back home, by which time it was almost 12. Time for lunch, so we decide to walk to Bell Air Mall, another few kays away.

Got back home at 6. Long story short, all we did was walk and eat out all day ... Not a bad way to spend a Sunday :-)

Saturday 25 October

Last work out of the week and not a day too soon. Gym's incredibly busy. Apparently the Virgin Active at Cresta is out for a few days so all their members are here at the VA Randburg. Chaos!

Really pushed myself today - seeing as the challenge is nearing its end, but I think I really need to get some sleep. I'm buggered.

Friday 24 October

Dunno why but felt a bit slap today. Haven't been sleeping very well this week and can definitely feel it when I work out. Oh well, just another weight session tomorrow and then it's Sunday and I'll get some rest.

Thursday 23 October

Woke up in the middle of the night ... turns out we forgot to switch off the stove so our chicken soup evaporated and the carcass had started to burn. Quite a nasty smell ... I reckon if I hadn't woken up, we might have accidentally set the house alight ...

Thought I'd do something useful whilst I was up so I got some work done. Then off to gym at 9AM for a workout session ... According to Des, it showed in my workout that I was a bit sleep deprived ... so not the best session ever then. Got 20 mins of cardio in afterwards nonetheless, so didn't feel too bad about myself.

Wednesday 22 October

Another good day today. Got to gym at 5, did cardio and abs exercises for about 1.5 hours. It's nice to be up so early, makes for very long days ...

Had a beer chicken braai at night, which probably didn't help with the weight loss :-(

Tuesday 21 October - just 2 weeks to go

Muuuuuuuuch better today. Slept well, gym was nice and fresh, and the whole workout just went a whole lot better. Even did 30 mins of cardio after the weights session.

Also weighed myself and I don't want to let the cat out of the bag now - and I'd rather wait for Des' final assessment as that will be very comprehensive - but it does look like I'm well on track to achieving my goal of a target weight of 80kgs. Just 2 weeks to go now though, so I'm going to have to be disciplined cos I've still got some flab to shed.

Monday 20 October

Feeling very rough today. Had a bit too much to eat and drink last night, so had to visit the porcelain telephone during the night. Got up at 5 to go to gym but just didn't have any vooma ... Just went through the motions and did about 55 mins of cardio but with no conviction. Felt flat the rest of the day. Aircon seemed to work though ... or maybe it's just because I was there so early ...