northernmusician's Journal, 14 May 14

Toe the line!

I really appreciate you guys. Sometimes I wonder how anyone could ever do this on their own. It's important to have others who are struggling along with you. It's important to have people who have accomplished their goals who can say they've been there and then slap your a$$ and tell you to keep going.

As I approach the end of my 'bulk' phase, I find I'm looking at the upcoming weight loss with trepidation. I'm not sure if I'll be trying to cut a pound a week. It's unlikely since I'm not that heavy and I want to continue the strength gains through the process. I may shoot for a half pound a week, which is far more reasonable, but will in some ways be more challenging since it is likely I won't see what I want to for up to two weeks time. I may do a couple of weeks attempting a one pound loss and then taper it off. The speed of the loss isn't that important. It's the fact that you see it happening and know you'll persist that's important.

I don't believe in huge muscle gain during a three month bulk for a natural lifter, but I'm still quite pleased even now with the way I look. External obliques are still quite well defined, but there is a layer of fat on the 'six pack' that has made me lose definition. I do have some love handles now. I want rid of those.

At the end of the month I'll get rolling on this, one way or the other. I've actually lowered my cal intake some to get a handle on where my maintenance actually is now. It's become more of a game to me. In the long 65 pound weight loss, it was no game. It was deadly serious. I've learned since then to make my body my plaything. It's an amazing puzzle.

"It's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself." ~ Muhammad Ali

I want everyone to see this in themselves. I'm with you all. I hope for you all.

80.1 kg Lost so far: 1.0 kg.    Still to go: 3.9 kg.    Diet followed: Reasonably Well.

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2190 kcal

Fat: 136.58g | Prot: 128.63g | Carbs: 115.69g.   Breakfast: Cheddar Cheese, Olive Oil, Lettuce Salad with Assorted Vegetables, Egg, Butter, Espresso Coffee, Unsalted Butter Stick. Lunch: Cheddar Cheese, Almonds, Light Tuna Fish (Drained Solids In Water, Canned). Dinner: Hollandaise sauce, Brown Rice, Broccoli, Beef Bottom Round (Lean Only, Trimmed to 1/8" Fat), British Columbia spartan apple, Grapefruit, 1% Fat Milk, Quaker Old Fashioned Oats. Snacks/Other: Egg. more...