Time for a nutrition review

"Shut up and put your money where your mouth is!", I said to myself very quickly after posting the post prior to this one.

I spent a few hours yeterday going over my nutrition plan to make sure I hadn't slipped up too badly.

What I found was a bit surprising. I discovered that I was actually eating smaller meals than my 1,500 calorie a day plan allows. No wonder I was always so hungry at night and basically going bonkers without snacks.

Fortunately for me I've been snacking healthy and not letting too much crap get in me. But it's starting to make sense.

So, after some careful consideration I've made the proper adjustments to my meal plan and I'm back on track. More food earlier in the day to curb the nighttime snacking fits that turn directly into fat. So, rather than eating it at night I'll eat it throughout the day.

Hopefully this will cause a quick melt on the remaining love handle/back fat situation.

Height: 5'6
Current weight: 155 lbs
Target weight: 160 lbs
Current body fat: 16.4%
Target body fat: 10%

That means I still have 11 pounds of fat to lose and who knows how many pounds of muscle to gain. But I'm comitted to my goals and I will get there!

A work in progress

My wife wanted to see the original photo from my last post (maybe I'll post it eventually). She asked me why it was cropped? I answered that I needed to hide my weakest asset (my stomach).

Like all good photography I generally only to to accentuate my positive traits which is why this photo ended up getting cropped.

I do truly wish after a year and a half that I've been doing this workout routine that I'd finally be able to say TADA...I'm happy.

But, at 5'7 and 160 lbs I've still got some chunk left in me and it's taking it's sweet ass time!

I must admit that although I still eat clean I haven't been as cautious about measuring the quantity of food and I know that that's the primary source of my frustration

I think it's clear that I'm committed to getting lean but MAN it's not easy.

I keep trying to focus on the positives. For example, I bought a new belt in January, it was getting too big by April. I added a hole in May and now it's June and I need to add another hole.

I just want to finally be rid of this McBelly once and for all and be able to post a pic without feeling that I need to crop it.

As always, I do understand that this is a work in progress. I found a sign that I liked so I posted it below.

Progression

So I know it's early but I wanted to post at least 1 updated photo.

Seeing this photo gave me one of those "Is that really me?" moments.

It's funny how my mental image of myself seems to lag about 6 months behind my actual physical body. The way I appear to myself in my dreams for instance is, very often, still the old me. The me that I used to see in the mirror. The me who was overweight, eating badly and basically planning for a life of heart disease or worse yet, an early death.

Now, I like to take photos not only to remind myself of where I've been and to celebrate the progress I've made by looking at physical changes in my photos but more importantly to look at "today's" photo and really witness the body that houses my mind.

If you're travelling along a similar path, losing weight and getting in shape I strongly urge you to do this too. There's hardly a more rewarding feeling in the world than looking a photo and not recognizing yourself because you look better than you ever imagined possible.

Early to rise

Now that I'm doing the "2 days on, one day off" routine I'm working out 5 days a week now. This takes a lot of time!!!!

So, even though I know it's not perfectly ideal, I've moved my workouts to the morning before work so I can still spend time in the evenings with my wife.

I've read that this is not such a great idea from a muscle building perspective however when I only have 4 hours a night after I get home from work (and dedicate 2.5 hours to working out, shower, supper) that doesn't leave much time to chill with the lady I love.

I'm gonna give this a shot for the next couple of weeks and see if this really has any impact.

Targeting Toronto

I wasn't sure at first if this would have actually made the news in the US or not but I see it on both CNN and Fox News' homepage about the thrwarted major terrorist attempt in my city, Toronto Canada.

From what I've read so far, this appears to be most well staffed (with 17 arrested so far) and organized effort since 9/11 itself involving huge amounts of explosives targetting currently unreleased targets in either Toronto the surrounding area.

Now for those of you who aren't too familiar with Canada's landscape, Toronto is currently the financial epicentre of the country and we are all keenly aware of what that means for those of us who work and live in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

As a commuter I've though many times about the poor souls in Madrid and London, as a person employed in Toronto I'm keenly aware that we're home to the world's tallest building and how that may equate to the World Trade Center based on Toronto's economic capital.

Like all good people I felt anguish when I heard the details of what was happening in New York city on 9/11 but I also felt a kinship fully knowing that not only are we not geographically distant from each other but also we share the purpose for our respective countries.

And although I am fully aware that there are people in the world who hate and I've come to accept the post 9/11 world by making changes in the paths that I take to work. I'm stunned and saddened to hear that this act (like in London) was going to be purpotrated by Canadian citizens born in Canada.

I believe in Canada's dedication to multiculturalism and diversity even though the answers are always hard and rarely make everyone happy. What I cannot accept is Canadian citizens retaliating against other Canadians because of their beliefs. It's purely not Canadian. It is in fact the antithesis of everything that being Canadian means.

If these citizens had actually wanted to effect change in Canada they certainly had government policy on their side.
1) A strong commitment to multiculturalism
2) A population who doesn't support the war in Iraq
3) A majority immigrant population who is keenly aware of the challenges in mixing cultures
4) The freedom to effect change by participating in government
5) A very flexible Canadian Identity

I've drawn a conclusion today that is concerning to me. Even with the tools at their disposal to help reshape Canada into whatever they wanted it to be in a democratic way; to help define Canada's foreign policy to a policy that better reflects their beliefs, these people appear to have choosen violence for the sake of violence. A violence not intended to persuade or to effect any type of change but a violence intended only to create pain and death.

In my Canada, there's a place for differing opinions and lots of healthy debate. There's room for different languages and different religions. There's room for different sexual preferences and political stripes. There is no room for pure ignorance and unadulterated hate.

Lastly, I'd just like to thank those who took part in capturing those who intended to cause so much suffering and death. You know you saved a lot of lives today (maybe even mine).

Should these individuals be found guilty I certainly hope as Canadian citizens that they are also charged with treason.

If devastation had taken place in my home it would have destroyed more than my city but, I fear, the spirit of acceptance and a desire to make multiculteralism work that comes with being a Canadian. It only works if we all agree.