levis tattoo challenge(pics)

decided to write a journal about my attempt to get from 16% bf to 12% bf by november. the date i have set for my christmas present of a backpiece tattoo.

i did post some photos of my starting point, but chickened out and took them off again.[:I]

i have made a lot of progress in the past 18 months but i'm not counting this as, it was recovery from thyroid problems so would have happened anyway.

a brief history is that i have been training mainly running based for 12 years. had 2 children during this time and recovered in 3-6 months.
then 2 years ago my thyroid shut down completely. i still tried to run but it was hard, i had no appetite, and was just too tired to do anything. i gained a little weight but lost a lot of muscle. then when i was diagnosed and given thyroxine things improved, lost fat but more muscle also. so 18 months ago i weighed 119lb with little muscle and had to wear childrens clothes (age 8 at my worst).

so after my husband complained about having to shop for my underwear in the children dept (funny looks). i decided to do something. so now at the start of this journal i weigh 144lbs with 16% bf. i am 5'6'' and 33yrs old.

i started this 10 days ago and am now 142.5lbs and 15%bf. this is male tanita taken first thing in morning i get consistent readings so it should be a good guide to gains/losses if not actual bf%

my cardio routine is;

monday 48mins (weightloss setting) elliptical (no carbs)
tuesday 8 mile run - target sub 60mins (no carbs)
wednesday 8 mile run - target sub 56mins (with carbs)
thursday 48mins (weightloss setting) elliptical (no carbs)
friday 8 mile run - target sub 60 mins (no carbs)
saturday 8 mile plod - no target (no carbs)
sunday 8 mile run - target sub 56 mins (with carbs)

(if husband has early start so i cant go out on a running day, i will do 6 miles on treadmill and 24mins (interval setting) on elliptical)

my weights routine done on every other night alternately, so each set has 3 days rest.

i set the weight where i struggle to do 3x5, increase to 3x10, then increase weight again to do 3x5 etc.

set A
bench press - 90lbs
seated pressdown - 50lbs
shoulder press - 45lbs
vertical press (reverse grip)- 90lbs
tricep pressdown - 40lbs
lateral raise - 10lbs
press-ups - as many proper ones as i can, made up to 15 with girlie ones x 4

set B
rowing to chest - 75lbs
upright rows - 30lbs
weighted cable crunch - 60lbs
seated rowing to chest - 70lbs
reverse grip curls - 30lbs
weighted cable crunch - 60lbs
seated low row - 70lbs
pulldown to chest - 80lbs

i train at home, converted kids playroom to gym now they are at school. i have to use a home gym - york 925, as i do most of the childcare and work full time. so this is the only way forward. however it is better than saying i never have time to exercise with work/kids etc.

my diet doesn't vary that much i still don't get hungry and don't need to eat that much, i dont think synthetic thyroxine is as good as natural so you never fully recover. however i make sure i eat a can of fish and pot of cottage cheese daily, sort of like a protein supp.

5.00am either banana or whey depending on whether my cardio is for speed or fat burning. 1-2 pints of sugarfree squash with pinch biosalt

6.00am cardio

7.00am banana , 1-3 pints water or biosalt drink as before.

8.00am whey drink

1.30pm 1/2 cucumber, 3 tomatoes, pepper, 1/2 jar beetroot, can tuna or mackerel with a bit of cooking sauce

5.30pm 200g cottage cheese, slice of burgen bread with soya spread.

7.00pm weights 30-45 mins (every other night)

9.00pm 200g light yogurt, 2 pints water.

i drink 1 - 2 litres squash with biosalt during the day and snack on apples(4) carrots (4) and breakfast cereal maybe 100g trying to give this up, 4 squares of chocolate and about 1 pint of milk in tea(i like milky tea).

supplements are
7 keto dhea seems to help with t4-t3 conversion so i am less tired.
e/c/a 20-40mg before cardio depending on how i feel and what my goal is that day.
gaba at night to help with muscle recovery.

thats the story so far, hope i haven't bored you all too much. please comment.

starting today - sunday 15th, i ran 8 miles in 59.19 this was 12 secs off my pb of 59.07 so pleased with that. running without eating carbs before was hard at first but has definately helped with fat burning, and has improved my times if i do have carbs.

i will try to post my progress weekly as i don't expect much change day to day. and maybe be brave enough to post pics.

thanks for reading.

Hey Internet Guru's!!! Why can I only see a JPG Icon...no pict?
I recently had to do a clean install on system software.
Using MAC OS 9.2 and Internet Explorer. I do have Netscape I could use.

Nice definition all over, good muscle base Levi, you look lower than 16% bf in my opinion!

Lats seem quite nicely developed & shoulders a good size.

How long u been training?

p.s you should include your before photo's will help to see how far you have come, no need to be embarassed about what you were as it's what you are and what you wanna be that matters

Especially if she is running in Plymouth on the streets... major hilly area!

Your hot! body fat looks fine and big muscles but still looking feminine

looking good, you dont look 16% BF 2 me.

i have found the only before photo and added it.

however this was taken at a friends wedding when i was a bridesmaid.

this was just after starting t4, so my real starting point was 28lbs lighter, but very little muscle.

so for that reason i have decided to use how i am now as a starting point.

from taking photos i have noticed a difference in left/right arms so i will be doing more free weights, and only using my left arm on elliptical.

the week started well, mid week was 141.5 lbs 15%bf. and ran in 59.41 on wednesday.

getting more definition, which suprisingly my husband is finding sexy - result.

then the second half of the week not so good. had a bad day at work, so pigged out on wednesday.

forgot to take thyoxine tuesday morning so took it 9pm tuesday night with the next lot at 5am as normal. big mistake very tired friday and now on saturday i have symptoms of hyperthyroidism. heart racing, headache, nausea, muscle aches. i feel terrible, but at least i wont make that mistake again. hopefully it will pass by tomorrow.

no posts for three weeks? c'mon levi! keep at it!

nice pics, as seen in friends, how you doing, any other pics lol