JSL Fitness

Okay okay, it's been a long ass time since I posted to this...but I've actually started making progress on my fitness lately, where I had hit a plateau for quite some time and didn't have the time to work out due to having two jobs. I've been doing a new workout routine put together for me by my friend Jason, eating a massive amount of protein and I'm actually seeing some changes in my body for the first time in years!




That's my workout. It's very basic, but seems to be effective and, best of all, doesn't keep me in the gym for more than an hour.

Thoughts?

Okay okay, so it's been a looong time since I posted to this blog. School started up again and it just hasn't been on the top of my list, but I'm trying to commit to writing more since I'm stopping my video blog for a while. Anyway, I have noticed something lately that I wanted to throw out there. As a gay man I'm always checking guys out. What I have noticed lately, both this past summer in the city and even on television is that I'm seeing less and less guys with those picturesque ripped abs we've come to expect from the covers of such publications as Men's Fitness. Here's a great example:

This picture is of Matthew Fox of "Party of Five" and "Lost" fame. I saw him on Saturday Night Live this weekend. In one sketch he had no shirt and I thought his little furry belly was so freaking cute. The fact of the matter is, I've always been more attracted to guys with what I perceive to be "normal" bodies than guys with abs you could scrub clothes on. I think a little tum tum shows that a guy can be healthy and balanced and not have to be a diva about how he looks. Little bellies can be extremely sexy.

That does not mean, however, that I find the following attractive:

As you can see, there is a fine line between sexily saftig and precarioiusly plump. I prefer the former. So for all y'all who are trying to crunch, run, eliptical and otherwise burn those last 4-5 vanity pounds away, I say leave 'em and have some damn egg nog. You'll be happier in the long run.

It's been a while since I posted to this blog, so I thought it was time for an update. I'm back at work now and I'm tying to fit working out back into my daily routine. During the last three weeks of summer I did well, working out 3-4 days a week. I didn't experience a great deal of weight loss per se, but I can tell the difference in my muscle tone and endurance, so I'm satisfied for now. It isn't one of my goals to have washboard abs. Instead, I think it's more important to have a workout plan that you can integrate into your life to stay healthy, rather than doing it for simply cosmetic reasons. I'm happy with how I look but I'm excited to keep working out and watching how my body changes. Thanks to those of you who have checked back and read my posts. I'm still here!

I took a day off yesterday for the holiday. I didn't binge or anything, but I did have a little ice cream and a muffin. Today I'm back on the wagon. The only problem is, I'm having a small skin surgery this morning that will hinder me from heavy-duty working out for the next two weeks while it heals. My tum tum is starting to look a little smaller, even if it's just my imagination.

Woo hoo! I know that it's probably water weight, but I always enjoy the first few pounds that seem to slip off so easily when you start a diet. I hopped on the scale today and it read just over 174. Today was arms, I worked my upper back with the pull-down machine, dumbell chest presses, shoulder presses, biceps on the bicep machine and triceps with a dumbell. Then I did 25 minutes on the eliptical machine. I felt really tired going into the gym today, but I feel better now. I can't wait to be rid of this annoying spare tire!

So far this blog has proven to be quite ineffective at helping me get into shape. In fact, I've gained weight since I started it! And I don't mean that I've bulked up, no no. My belly has gotten bigger. Four pounds bigger, to be exact. I put on that weight between my two very long drives to and from Ohio and all of the Indian food, ice cream, goodies and alcohol I had while I was there. I finally got back to the gym today and hopped on the scale: 176! That's the heaviest I've been in over a year. It is now my goal to not only lose the four pounds I put on in the past two weeks but also two more. I WILL lose six pounds in the two weeks I have before I go to Florida. Men can healthily and realistically lose 2-3 pounds a week with a healthy diet and a reasonable amount of exercise, so that's my goal. I will be keeping track of my progress every couple of days on here. Wish me luck!

Day 1: (176) I started today with a breakfast of fresh fruit (kiwi, strawberries and banana) and whole wheat toast. I should have had the toast plain, but I had a little peanut butter on one piece and marmalade and a little butter on the other. I can't give up everything or I'll be miserable! I went to the gym and did legs (leg extensions, calf raises, leg curls and that machine that works your inner thighs) and abs (floor crunches, crunches with a stability ball and leg raises). I also ran/walked three miles at a pretty brisk pace, burning over 400 calories in the process. For my lunch I'm having Ruby Reds nutrition juice and a serving of Designer Whey protein. For a snack later I'll have a handful of nuts and raisins. For dinner, I'm making stuffed peppers with lean ground turkey instead of beef. That should be tasty!

This is not a paid plug, but it's something I wanted to share with any readers I have just as a point of information. I've been drinking Ruby Reds juice for several weeks now at the urging of my boyfriend. I had never heard of this product before, so I thought I might disseminate some information about it. Basically, it's a powdered juice mix that is full of vitamins and good-for-you stuff from fruits and vegetables. It isn't a workout supplement, it isn't a weight-loss supplement, it isn't for energy specifically and it doesn't promise miracle results of any kind. What I have found, though, is that my immune system seems stronger, my digestive system more regular, I have more energy and overall better health since I've been drinking it. Both my boyfriend and his sister swear by it and I'm starting to see what they mean. So, if you're interested in doing something healthy to offset some other bad eating habits you may have, I can recommend this product.

On the fitness side of things, I have to admit I've been slacking. I'm a teacher and as we get towards the end of the year it is becoming increasingly more difficult for me to stick to a regular workout plan. I feel healthy and I hit the gym when I can, but I know I could go more. I wanted to use this blog to track my progress, but the results haven't been quite as dramatic as I'd intended. Do check back occasionally, though, as things are bound to improve. Summer is coming and I would like to be beach-ready, so I think it's time to kick myself in the ass a little harder. Are you getting in shape? Let me know what is working for you at joelstuartliving@mac.com.