Keeping it real

Despite a rough start, I'm trying really hard to stick to the calories and macros that Superman suggested. I've fallen into a routine, and found meals and snacks that I can almost enjoy. There are still a few days a week where I struggle to get my mid afternoon snack in, but I do try.

I'm still doing my upper body workouts 2x a week. I don't have time to hit all the muscles every week, so I picked two workouts that I alternate.  One is back and biceps, the other is chest, shoulders and triceps. All my Monday workouts start with a 'dead hang' to help with my grip strength. Yesterday,  just for grins, I took this picture between sets. 

Tough love

Superman did my bodyfat with calipers. Since I'm a normal person (not a competitor ) he only used 3 points instead of 7. He used the calipers to pinch a skin fold on my triceps, my thigh, and my belly. According to his measurements,  my body fat is between 37 and 38 percent.  Earlier in the day I used my bathroom scale and a handheld device to do it on my own. The handheld and the calipers were within a few points of each other, and the scale was about 10 points higher.

So, at 37% body fat, at minimum I need to lose 7 percentage points off my body fat. 10 points would be ideal.

I started my diet this week, but there have been tons of issues. Birthday cake, birthday dinner....working a double the ONE day I neglect to bring a real meal. I'm trying though. I'm doing my best to eat my protein, and the right amount of carbs. To spread everything out over the day. To find recipes for real food that I enjoy eating.

When I look in the mirror,  I'm happy with my lower half, and I'm ok with my top half...except about a 6 inch band around my belly button.  That's where I hold all my fat. My goal is to lose the fluff there so my clothes fit correctly. So my pants don't roll down.

The strong and athletic look is something I like. But I want enough body fat that I don't lose my curves ( low body fat generally means a small chest. I like my DD chest).

Epic FAIL

Yep, that's right. My pull up attempt was an epic fail. I tried twice, and pulled up a tiny bit...so little that you cannot even tell on the video that I have started my attempt.

It's OK though. I've known for a while that I was not going to be able to do it. But I had to attempt it. There have been so many times that Superman asked me to do something that I thought was impossible...and I did it. Even though I failed at my goal, progress was made. When I started on this journey a few months ago, I struggled to bench 95 lbs for 8 reps. Now I struggle to bench 105 lbs 8 times. I started doing my shoulder presses with 20lbs dumbbells, and now I can do a set with 30 lbs dumbbells. Superman noticed that the increased shoulder strength made holding the bar for front squats easier.

I'm not quitting til I can do that pull up. The last week or so I have been researching and planning. I'm continuing to work upper body on Mondays and Thursdays. Exercises specific to pull up strength (such as dead hangs, and negative pull ups) are being incorporated. My next attempt will be the last week in March.