Shape-Up 2009 general discussion

I'm doing great, apart from a bloody cough.

2010 Shape up entry

Not too bad

Everything was running to the plan until yesterday - had a god awful and stressful day at work so missed out the evening cardio and had the cheat meal early :/

Really need to get a bit stronger and making sure I don't give in.

Training by www.fitness121.co.uk :: Diet by www.healthyaction.co.uk

LOL I'm starting monday ;-)

WWW.MUSCLETALK.CO.UK 

Am tired today as I haven't slept well all week but otherwise everything is good...plus I get to eat carbs tomorrow!!!!

I've done pretty well all week - i'm going out for dinner tonght so I've had an extra 3 mile run just now (all of 300 cals burnt...).

I'm back to running 7 miles a day now, it's reallllllly fun.

Ironman Journal

Ah yes... The Goat, might read his journal and try his routine out next week
 
 
Some good finalists last year, its motivating to see the before and after pics!
 
 

Wasp


a bit annoying i have to spend 1 - 2 hours a night prepping my food for the next day
 

This is the hardest part for me, I get home from the gym  then immediatly prepare my PPW meal, eat that wash up if thats where it ended it would be o,k but I then spend about an hour preparing bland but nutritious meals for the next day when all I want to do is jump in the bath and veg out and watch junk TV or go on the internet for an hour before bed.
Love the training but not the preparation and diet part of it.

what takes so long with food prep, you guys making 4 course meals?

I tend to prep my main lunch on a Sunday, cook a load of it then freeze it in little tupperware pots.

I only spend about 10 mins on a weekday prepping food for the next day

Training by www.fitness121.co.uk :: Diet by www.healthyaction.co.uk

theiopener


what takes so long with food prep, you guys making 4 course meals?

Nah, i've just not ever had to make 3 meals at the end of a long day as well as my dinner & eggs before i go to bed. I'm sure i'll get used to it.

So dont make multiple meals, make less of them but still get in the cals.

Or go for options that are more grab and go?

theiopener


what takes so long with food prep, you guys making 4 course meals?

LOL, a 4 course meal would be nice but I live mostly on sandwiches while at work, wholegrain ones.
I think its boiling eggs- usually about 6 and then cracking the shell, slicing them up and putting them in sandwiches to snack on during my "tea breaks" that I find boring and time consuming, for lunch its usually chicken with rice or tuna pasta it probably doesn't take an hour though coming to think of it, I'm time-poor and lazy though
Might have to do as Welshy does and start making things in bulk on sundays, what kind of things are we talking here welshy? I'm crap at cooking and I'm scared of giving myself food poisoning or something thats why I'v never really thought of freezing meals, its o,k if you freeze them straight away though I'm guessing?

theiopener


So dont make multiple meals, make less of them but still get in the cals.

Or go for options that are more grab and go?

In your opinion, is it vital to eat every 2-3 hours/5-7 meals a day.. or is it not so important aslong as your getting the cals in?
 

theiopener


So dont make multiple meals, make less of them but still get in the cals.

Or go for options that are more grab and go?

Nah, then the meals are too big - I'm happy slogging along anyway.

Aim4

theiopener

So dont make multiple meals, make less of them but still get in the cals.

Or go for options that are more grab and go?

In your opinion, is it vital to eat every 2-3 hours/5-7 meals a day.. or is it not so important aslong as your getting the cals in?

Maybe if youre at the top of your game, been training for over 10 years and need every single miniscule amount of optimal increase then yes. To be more direct, no it isnt vital. Ive got to where i am currently on 3 meals a day, doesnt seem to have affected me in any bad way.

The only time ill eat more than three times a day is due to comfort levels. This is usually when i am carbing up and eating 3 large carb heavy meals will send me to sleep and make me feel bloated and not very nice. SO its easier for me to split them up. Same end result, just its more comfortable for me.

Well, if its good enough for you its good enough for me its served you rather well...
 
I think I would find it easier if I wasn't religiously trying to eat every 2-3 hours but rather just eat at times that are practical and when I'm genuinly hungry and just eat bigger poprtions when I eat so maybe I will go with that aproach.
Just take care of the big things before I start trying to refine things....

Aim4



Might have to do as Welshy does and start making things in bulk on sundays, what kind of things are we talking here welshy? I'm crap at cooking and I'm scared of giving myself food poisoning or something thats why I'v never really thought of freezing meals, its o,k if you freeze them straight away though I'm guessing?

I make a mahoosive pot of mince stuff.

I put in there :-
1Kg lean mince
Onions
Peppers
Mixed herbs
Garlic
Celery
Kidney beans
Chopped toms
Brown rice
1 veg oxo and 2 beef oxo
Flaked chillis
Cayenne pepper

I cook the onions and garlic in a smidge of olive oil, then add the mince and brown it.
Add in oxo cubes, chillis and pepper and cook for about 2 mins
Then add in everything else ( inc rice )
Bring it to the boil and add in enough water to cover and cook for about 30 mins

You end up with a nice chilli and rice type dish, I cook the rice in it and it absorbs all the flavour

Divide it into little pots and once cooled chuck them in the freezer, I just take one out the night before for the next day

Training by www.fitness121.co.uk :: Diet by www.healthyaction.co.uk

That sounds tasty!!

I have just started making big bowls of salad, all prepared with 1 of those hand processors that chop them up real small.

the contents are.

1 apple
raisins
Sunflower seeds
cucumber
celery
red and green peppers
red and green finger chiles, seeds included
cherry tomatoes
grated carrot


I can then just have a couple of big spoonfuls with tuna or salmon and cottage cheese.

2010 Shape up entry

Well I've upped cardio, not really been lifting as I've been feeling rubbish recently. going out for a big night in Brighton tonight so any progress I have made will be destroyed with the meal out then few kebabs or chicken burgers and chips after.

My Journal

Welshy

Aim4



Might have to do as Welshy does and start making things in bulk on sundays, what kind of things are we talking here welshy? I'm crap at cooking and I'm scared of giving myself food poisoning or something thats why I'v never really thought of freezing meals, its o,k if you freeze them straight away though I'm guessing?

I make a mahoosive pot of mince stuff.

I put in there :-
1Kg lean mince
Onions
Peppers
Mixed herbs
Garlic
Celery
Kidney beans
Chopped toms
Brown rice
1 veg oxo and 2 beef oxo
Flaked chillis
Cayenne pepper

I cook the onions and garlic in a smidge of olive oil, then add the mince and brown it.
Add in oxo cubes, chillis and pepper and cook for about 2 mins
Then add in everything else ( inc rice )
Bring it to the boil and add in enough water to cover and cook for about 30 mins

You end up with a nice chilli and rice type dish, I cook the rice in it and it absorbs all the flavour

Divide it into little pots and once cooled chuck them in the freezer, I just take one out the night before for the next day

Sounds simple enough, might just give this a go, sounds like a tasty work lunch, better than just chicken with rice anyway!

I just had 2 Beef Burgers and a bowl of Wheetabix Mini's

I treated myself after I hard day walking around.

back on diet tomorrow

End of Cycle Review+Pictures

*Plyoathlete Crew*
*Muay Thai Crew*

Just finished carbing up

1kg oats
12 jaffa cakes
100g rice with sweet and hot sauce
some seitan

Feel utterly stuffed now. Stupid amount of carbs and cals, i hate carbing up with a passion.

theiopener


Just finished carbing up

1kg oats
12 jaffa cakes
100g rice with sweet and hot sauce
some seitan

Feel utterly stuffed now. Stupid amount of carbs and cals, i hate carbing up with a passion.

Excuse my lack of knowlegde but what does carbing up achieve?

I assume that you are having limited/zero carbs during the week? In that case is it juts to regain energy levels or water or something?

End of Cycle Review+Pictures

*Plyoathlete Crew*
*Muay Thai Crew*

Its to kick leptin up the arse as well. It stops me form losing muscle and to train at hgh intensities. You cant train without carbs.

Yes i go without carbs pretty much all week and i carbup.

Also the vascularity i have right now is kinda freaky

Anyone else struggling already?

just got back for the Osteopath, my Planter Fascia foot injury is now developed into a "chronic" state so both cardio and weight training is now very limited

cant do running, boxing, rowing or most sports as it aggravate it, so cardio limited to cycling really for me

and as far as weights only seated exercises to avoid any extra weight being put on the injury, and no leg pressing etc or squats & calf raises,

which I did yesterday as I thought it was only aggravated by movement didnt think of the pressure effect by weight pressing down on it

think my progress will be very limited now

 

I'm struggling but for different reasons to yourself.  More to do with over indulgence than injuries ;-)

Did a 10 mile walk yesterday along the canal but also had a roast dinner.

Journal + Fitness Equipment + Cheap Webhosting

I'm doing ok, hitting PB's and losing weight steadily.
See you at the finish

My Journal

http://www.northmidlandspowerlifting.co.uk

I have had an awful week so far. Ramping it up now though.

Cardifflads journal - feel free to explore and add your two pennies

ive had the worst 10 days or so, my best friend got married on the 1st of may and my sister got married on the 9th, so lots of alcohol ,late nights and crap food !! feel like crap now, plus im now skint !lol  but at least its over now

deadlift- 225kg
bench-120kg
squat-150kg 
http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/fb.ashx?m=3231476

40 plus


I'm doing ok, hitting PB's and losing weight steadily.
See you at the finish

glad to hear it, by your last shape up you should do well, I may have to pay more attention to diet now that running etc is off the menu, was relying on that to shed weight
 
off topic slightly, but do you know anything about the new gym in Long Eaton, aptly named The Long Eaton Gym, behind Do it All over the road from the Osteopathic Centre on Gibb Street, a mate told me today that if you do a three year membership then its only £16 per month

 

huskyboy

40 plus


I'm doing ok, hitting PB's and losing weight steadily.
See you at the finish

glad to hear it, by your last shape up you should do well, I may have to pay more attention to diet now that running etc is off the menu, was relying on that to shed weight
 
off topic slightly, but do you know anything about the new gym in Long Eaton, aptly named The Long Eaton Gym, behind Do it All over the road from the Osteopathic Centre on Gibb Street, a mate told me today that if you do a three year membership then its only £16 per month

This one won't be like the previous ones mate, I'm not going all out to drop fat, just lose a few pounds and get stronger.
There are quite a few people in this time who I think will do really well.
 
I've seen where the gym is, there are signs outside, but I know nothing about it.
3 years is a long time though, Intrim do a 1 year membership for £25 per month.

My Journal

http://www.northmidlandspowerlifting.co.uk

Sorry to hear about your setback due to injury huskyboy - like you say, maybe have to pay a bit more attention to diet if cardio etc is limited?

yeah I think I will, pity as I'm not great with my diet but atleast it means I'll have to take the time to learn

 

Back on it today. Good diet and hour cardio. Feel knackered but happy, food prepared for tomorrow already. Taking these 11 remaining weeks very seriously now.

Cardifflads journal - feel free to explore and add your two pennies

things going ok with me

cut out some carbs and upped cardio

I say upped but i mean im actually doing some now!

Drago


things going ok with me

cut out some carbs and upped cardio

I say upped but i mean im actually doing some now!

That is upping the cardio for me too

Cardifflads journal - feel free to explore and add your two pennies

After shedding some water and other internal weight (thanks to fibre) last night I'm changing pretty good.  Waiting for a re-jig from Drew so am hoping to ramp things up a little.

Wil be having a treat tomorrow in the form of a meal with a VIP so a nice energy boost will be had for friday.

Current avi 246lb
Prep Journal http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/RACK-Leeds-UKBFF-2012-m4666355.aspx

Done pretty well up until just now - McDonalds blueberry muffin.

300 sugar laden cals.

I've been doing double cardio all this week though so I wont lose any sleep.

Ironman Journal

I have overtrained soleus muscles so cardio has been given a back seat in terms of volume so no SSCV first thing in the AM for me.

Im hoping instead of losing 1kg a week i can just lose 1lb a week without the excess cardio.

We shall see.

I HATE CARDIO!!

 PB's 1RM

Deadlift 270kg  Start BF%25     Start Weight 100kg
Bench   130kg  Current BF%19 Current Weight 93kg 
Squat    210kg  Target BF%10-12