$600 Weight Loss Challenge: Day 26 of 70
April 5, 2010 Posted by Tyler CruzIt’s now day 26 out of 70 in my blogging weight loss challenge versus Paul Piotrowski.
Apart from just humiliation on the line, if one of us doesn’t lose our weight quota on May 21st, 2010 at 10PM Pacific Time, we will have to pay the other $600 out of our own fat pocket.
As a reminder, I must lose 12 pounds within 10 weeks and Paul must lose 13 pounds within 10 weeks. This works out to 6% of our body weight, in order to make it fair.
I have to tell you – that $600 penalty is really making me not want to lose. I’m actually more motivated to “not lose” rather than “to win”… I’m not sure if that’s a good thing, but it’s certainly very motivating.
Weight Loss Updates
I just texted Paul to ask him his weight as he is not answering me on MSN and hasn’t updated his blog with his current weight in several days. He responded saying he isn’t at home to weight himself right this moment, but estimates to have lost 3 pounds so far.
On April 1st, he lost 3.4 pounds so he seems to be hovering (well, fat people don’t exactly hover…) around the 3-4 pound mark.
I just got back from badminton and weighed myself and am down 2 pounds off my official starting weight. However, if you read my last update, you’ll know that my actual starting weight was really 203 so I actually lost 5 pounds so far. But I posted 201 as my official starting weight so I have to honor that.
That means that Paul and I each have to lose 10 pounds (and keep it off) within 46 days. It sounds easy, but I envy those of you who find losing 10 pounds in a month-and-a-half easy.
What I’ve Been Doing
I’ve been sticking with my regular routine (as described in my last update), except I’ve added another day of badminton to my weekly schedule and am now going to a different badminton club on Sunday’s.
This new club has players that are much better than the players at my other club, and so they tire the hell out of me. I sweat so much when I play on Sunday’s that sweat is literally dropping off my face and messing up the floor. I actually just got back from badminton an hour ago, and lost a pound as a result, and that’s with drinking 3 cups of water!
While adding this new source of badminton is a good addition to my weight loss, the bad news is that I haven’t been going to Westwood Lake very much at all. In fact, I only went twice during the last 18 days! Last year during my weight loss challenge I was going nearly every second day!
I admit that part of it is laziness, but it’s also been raining here a lot lately and I am often too tired to go with all my badminton nights and house viewings (where I have to clean like a madman beforehand). I hope to go again more though once the weather improves. I started my weight loss challenge a month later last year, which is why I never had many bad weather days then.
Since my last update, I also increased my daily crunches by 1, and my daily walk by a minute. Laughable, I know, but it adds up over time.
Here’s an update on my charts:
Westwood Lake Time
| Date | Time | Distance | Comments |
| My 2009 Best Time | 57:55 | 12 KM | Jogged much more in the middle area |
| March 13, 2010 | 1:10:12 | 6 KM | Feet and calves absolutely painful. Very dark out. |
| March 18, 2010 | 1:00:00 | 6 KM | Stretched and used “ML” shoes |
| March 23, 2010 | 1:01:25 | 6 KM | I tried, but in pain and out of breath |
| March 27, 2010 | 1:01:28 | 6 KM | Gave good effort again but too slow |
(Note: Times are for first 6KM only)
Weight Loss Status
| Date | Weight | Total Pounds Lost | Pounds To Go | Days Left |
| March 11, 2010 | 204 | +3 | 15 | 70 |
| March 19, 2010 | 203 | +2 | 14 | 62 |
| April 5, 2010 | 199 | -2 | 10 | 46 |
I only have 46 days left to lose 10 more pounds or I’m out $600. Wish me luck – I’m going to need it.
Hope you’re hitting the weights man!
I’m not doing any weight exercises… the closest I come to that is doing 10 daily pushups, haha.
Why? You’d dramatically speed up your results by adding resistance training. Don’t make me get into how muscle is more metabolically active than fat. If you’re serious about winning this challenge, then you need to know this stuff. Let me know if you need any help. I’m a fitness blogger.
You should definately be doing some weights, over cardio almost. It’s very important to do resistance exercise whilst losing weight, to avoid muscle loss over fat loss. If you’re not doing any resistance exercises, you will be losing a considerable proportion of muscle as well as fat, and it’s the fat we all want to lose! Weights are the best way to improve your metabolism also, as far as not only do you burn calories whilst you’re performing the exercise, but also as your body is repairing the muscle. Then in the future, increased muscle mass burns more calories per lb than just having fat sitting around.
Another thing to consider is some kind of high intensity interval training (HIIT) some info on wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_interval_training
I don’t claim to be any kind of personal trainer/etc myself, but I am someone who last year from early march to end of June went from 210lbs down to 168lbs. Total loss of 42lbs, at about 2lbs per week. Also managed to get stronger over the same period too, so with minimal muscle loss.
Yes, definitely weight and resistance training will burn a lot more fat off of your body in a shorter period of time than cardio alone. 🙂
How about that, you learn something new everyday. I always used to think that cardio was the quickest way to burn fat and stay in shape, not the other way around.
Till then,
Jean
Agreed. Frustrating to see you are doing the bare minimum required to maybe lose the weight you need to. If you want to lose weight you need to commit more fully.
duh! 🙂
Hmm, Tyler, I think you need to up the ante here, and start some strenght training. You’re gonna find it very hard to lose fat and keep it off if you stick to only cardiovascular exercises.
I think you have to work harder now Tyler, if you continue doing the same thing and your weight will only drop a little bit, don’t think you can hit the target. Perhaps you should look for Parth who is a fitness guy. 😉
I did diet before and I was success doing it, I played football every evening and ate less for my 3 meals, I was changed from a fat boy to a thin guy. That really needed a lot of effort. 😀
Anyway, good luck Tyler!
Regards,
Lee
Are those times for Westwood Lake you running or walking?
Brisk walking. I have a heart murmur so there’s no way I could run it.
I would suggest combining strength training with cardio for better result.
12 pounds in 46 days is going to be tough Tyler. Good luck!
Hehe, that’s nothing. One of my lady friends lost 20 lbs in 30 days. 😀
Till then,
Jean
Great Stuff Tyler – for what its worth my money is on you!
Wife and I have been doing P90X for a month now and eating right. Dropped 10lbs. no problem. You need to GET IT DONE.
Oh yeah we are on the lead with my bet! Go!
Get yourself a training partner. Come over the the mainland and I’ll take you through my routine, all it’ll cost ya is a linkback 😛
Good luck!
oing countless sit-ups and leg-raises or slogging out day in and day out on the latest abs equipment without paying heed to your diet and an aerobic activity is not going to make your abdominal fat go away. What these exercises do is to shape up and tone your abdominal muscles, but do nothing to metabolize away the layers of fat covering them. That is why the shaped and toned muscles remain elusive to the eye.
Hi guys,
Reading this blog reminded me of going to the gym. A place that I have avoided for a year. But I occasionally work out at home. Good Luck Tyler!!!
Kind regards,
Sam
X
I stopped going to the gym because of the people there I didn’t get along with, and the music they’d play, which was more of a headache for me. 🙁 Ultimately, I stopped going there and started doing personal exercises like running or cycling and some cardio at home.
Till then,
Jean
If you want to loose weight without doing anything you may invest in a standing desk with a treadmill (or simply a treadmill desk). Just use it at walking speed and the pounds will melt away. Much better than sitting on your ass all day 🙂
get a training instructor and he’ll show u how to work out, better than that tho get a female trainer and you’ll have an even better time.
Then he’d be out $600 anyway. lol
Oh! I second that! A female trainer is the best thing a guy can do for his fitness. You’ll work your ass off like never before, cuz no guy wants to look like a sissy in front of a girl 😉
Haha Jonathan I strongly agree with you, no guy wants to look weak in front of girl, especially sweet and pretty girl, right? 😉 Tyler, you can consider following Jonathan’s guide, it’s working I believe. Call up a gal and go to gym together. 😀
Regards,
Lee
I’ll be cheering for you Tyler. I believe in you, I am sure you will find a way!
Yup but this is not as easy as that! ^_^ good luck
Keep up the good work, Tyler.
Hahah, good jumpstart for my bet, we will take it all the way
Tyler get some stress in your life. I’ve lost 5lb in one week through nothing more than stress.
Some of use eat more when we are stressed.
Definitely agree with you! I eat more when I’m under pressure, so that I can release my tension. Perhaps it depends on people, some eat more when stress, while some doesn’t.
But I’m sure lose weight because of stress is definitely not healthy, not the right way. 😉
Pressure isn’t stress. Even what most people think as stress isn’t stress. “I’m stressed so I’ll eat some chocolate” – isn’t stress 😉 Increased metabolism, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, “tight”stomach are symptoms of real stress. Your body feels like it doesn’t need food. It’s fight or flight syndrome and that doesn’t invoke a response to pig-out.
Not that it’s healthy but it does work wonders in losing weight 🙂 The only problem is genuine stress can’t be turned on like a tap.
How about the hallenge progress?? Do you achieve the target?
Set aside 20 minutes a day for an intense work out.
Why 20 minutes? That’s just about as long as it takes for your body to change state and for the exercise to start giving your real benefits. You’d be much better doing 30 minutes less intensive exercise.
Maybe try weight training to lose weight? It worked wonders for me
yes gain a little muscle and it burns up more carbs and fat…. forgot about that one when i took a weight lifting class years ago..
Hmm, Tyler, I think you need to up the ante here, and start some strenght training. You’re gonna find it very hard to lose fat and keep it off if you stick to only cardiovascular exercises.
remove one of your meals, that will really help you as you will decrease your eating by 1/3.
Once I finished my project. I will also try to lose weight. I’m getting weaker.
Weight Loss has to be one of the most difficult things to do. Some people just cannot handle it, or be disciplined enough to stick with it. I think your challenge works out as a good motivator. I just might try to find someone that I could do that with to help motivate me to stay on target. I wonder if you would do a double or nothing, with a win or loss, just to help continue the process.
Weight Loss has to be one of the most difficult things to do. Some people just cannot handle it, or be disciplined enough to stick with it. I think your challenge works out as a good motivator. I just might try to find someone that I could do that with to help motivate me to stay on target. I wonder if you would do a double or nothing, with a win or loss, just to help continue the process.
Keep up the good work, Tyler. 😉
great keep working out and eating healty and you will get there
Hahah, good jumpstart for my bet, we will take it all the way
Hmm, Tyler, I think you need to up the ante here, and start some strenght training. 😉