Loose 10lbs by New Year! [Archive] - Kung Fu Magazine Forums

Chief Fox

11-27-2006, 07:56 PM

My family and I just got back from a weeks vacation at my parents condo in St. Petersburg FL. We had a great time but I've been feeling lately that I've been gaining a little weight. So I weighed myself this morning and I weighed in at 191lbs! I'm just not used to weighing that much so something must be done.

For those that don't know my story: I quit my kung fu school (for various reasons) about 8 months or so ago and have been unfocused since. I've dabbled in several different types of workouts and lately I've been going to a BJJ school but I still remain un-focused and to be honest, a bit depressed. I've had a few injuries and to top it all off, my job sucks right now too.

I really don't like sitting around feeling sorry for myself but that is exactly what I've been doing. THAT STOPS NOW! Between now and January 1st, 2007, I will loose at least 10lbs.

The kung fu school was always the back bone of my workouts. In addition to my kung fu training, I was running and weight training. I need to get that structure back.

I'm still not sure if I like the BJJ but I'm willing to give it a solid effort through the new year. So here is what I intend to do.

I will attend BJJ at least twice a week. The standard days will be Tuesdays and Saturdays. If I attend a third day, I will go on Thursday nights.

I will run at least twice a week. This is where I had an injury in my foot. It's not totally gone but I think that I'm on the down side of this injury so I should be able to run. Running days will be Mondays and Fridays at lunch.

I will also weight train 3 days a week. These will consist of an interval training workout, a strength workout and a full body kettlebell workout. These days will be Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

On the days that I don't run, I will practice my kung fu at lunch.

I'll keep track of my progress here.

Today is Monday so I'll be running at lunch.

BoulderDawg

11-27-2006, 10:29 PM

10 pounds is a very realistic goal for 5 weeks. As a matter of fact in the first week alone you might lose 4-5 pounds. Of course after that it gets harder however with your exercise you should still lose around 2 pounds a week.

Just remember to be sensible about your program.

Chief Fox

11-27-2006, 11:38 PM

Thanks. Being sensible has always been my undoing in the past. I tend to ramp up too quickly.

I'm really going to try to take it slow and steady.

I just got back from my run. It's like I'm starting over again. I was really sucking some wind.

I ran 2.6 miles in about 24 minutes. Pretty slow but it's a start. No pain, so that's good.

Tomorrow morning is my interval workout and tomorrow night is BJJ.

I'll be updating this thread just about everyday to help keep me motivated.

The Xia

11-28-2006, 01:02 AM

If you don't mind posting it, why did you quit your Kung Fu school? Did you just quit that school or are you done with Kung Fu all together?

Chief Fox

11-28-2006, 01:17 AM

If you don't mind posting it, why did you quit your Kung Fu school? Did you just quit that school or are you done with Kung Fu all together?
In a nutshell:
1. too many forms, not enough application.
2. Only light contact sparring.
3. I got too close to business opperations and was made too aware of the financial situation.
4. My requests for more realistic sparring and a more balanced forms to application ratio fell on deaf ears.

I was going to a new sifu's house twice a month but I sprained my ankle and am really looking for something that I can do several times a week. There is another kung fu school in town that I may try out but I'm gonna stick with BJJ for now.

I don't think that I'll ever be done with Kung Fu all together. But when all that stuff went down at my old school it really did a number on me. I was depressed, angry, sad, confused, you name it. I felt that I had invested so much just to find that it wasn't what I thought it was.

So now I'm sorta in an exploration period. I really want to find something that is going to work for me.

I suspect that my story may be a common one. What do you think?

The Xia

11-28-2006, 01:37 AM

I too suspect that it's a common story. I think you touched upon a topic that deserves its own thread.
http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=722361#post722361

franco1688

11-28-2006, 02:36 AM

It is definitley a common one. I went through the same thing at the first kung fu school I went to. Mainly forms and some light contact sparring. My second kung fu school (the one I have my black belt and instructor cert. from) was totally different. It focuses on fighting and trainings (iron palm, iron vest 1&2, iron wire and tiger claw) and we do forms also. If you have a hard time finding a school that suits your wants and needs you should try to find a boxing gym. I know a lot of people in the martial arts world put it down but, if anything, I believe it compliments and translates into any style. All of their training is focused around contact. Just some food for thought. Either way, good luck to you. I'm need to hop off now because I have to burn off some turkey and stuffing myself.

Chief Fox

11-28-2006, 06:07 PM

Thanks Franco, I've looked into a couple boxing gyms but I'm going to stay with BJJ for a while. It's funny, with kung fu, I knew right away that I wanted to practice it. With BJJ I don't have that same feeling. People say, give it some time and you'll be addicted. So I"m willing to give it some time.

This morning I woke up a little late so I could only get in a short workout.

3 rounds of:
Row 500 meters
20 squats
20 chinnies
20 push press with 65lbs.

Total time was about 15 minutes. If I had more time I would have went for another round or two. I like this style of workout because there is no rest. You just move from exercise to exercise. You're constantly working for 15 minutes or more straight.

So after my run yesterday, eating well and then working out this morning I decided that I would get on the scale and I weighed in at 188.5 lbs. So I lost 2.5lbs. in one day. I'm sure it's mostly, if not all water weight but it is progress. I don't plan on weighing myself everyday, I was just curious. I'll probably weigh in every Monday. I've revised my goal to be 11 lbs. instead of 10. This would bring my weight to 180 on January 1st. I guess that I just like even numbers.

Tonight is BJJ class.

The schedule is looking like this:

Monday: Run at lunch
Tuesday: Interval workout in the morning. BJJ at night.
Wednesday: Rest day
Thursday: Full body strength workout. Sometimes BJJ at night.
Friday: Run at lunch
Saturday: BJJ class in the morning
Sunday: Full body Kettlebell workout. Go hiking with the kids.

I guess it's pretty plain to see that I like variety. :D

Ford Prefect

11-28-2006, 06:17 PM

BJJ is fun, but in all honesty, I'd rather be punching and kicking. Hitting up a boxing gym or kickboxing gym and jumping into sparring right away is a good impetus for getting into shape. Sucking gas and getting drilled by kicks and punches is far more unpleasant than gassing and tapping to an arm bar or being stuck in side mount.

Good luck. 10 lbs in 5 weeks shouldn't be very hard. Depending on your work ethic, keeping it off after the 5 weeks may be the difficult part.

Chief Fox

11-28-2006, 07:59 PM

Mostly I'm liking the BJJ because it's a good bunch of guys. I'd really like to find a good Muy Thai gym.

Thanks Ford, keeping the weight off shouldn't be a problem if I can keep from getting injured. If I'm healthy I'll run more, which has always been my first love anyway.

franco1688

11-28-2006, 08:27 PM

I like running myself. Personally, I find it to be the best and fastest way to lose weight, along with diet of course. The circuit approach you're doing with your strength training is, I believe, the best route, for not only weight loss/ strength gain, but it's ideal for martial artists and those whom have time constraints. Get in, gitter done and keep it simple. Congrats on the 2.5 lbs. loss, it may be water weight, but it still counts and it all adds up. When I used to cut weight for wrestling, I ran, sat in the sauna and ate ice cubes throughout the day. The reasoning behind the ice cubes wasn't to keep me from eating (or starving myself), it's because when you consume something that is ice cold your body burns calories heating it up. This may sound ludicrous but it's true. I think it's the reason why, in some chinese trainings, they tell you to not eat anything cold when you're finished. Any way-- good luck and keep on keepin' on.

WinterPalm

11-29-2006, 04:27 AM

When do you pracitice your kung fu?

jigahus

11-29-2006, 07:25 AM

I can't imagine losing 2 lbs a week. 1 pound a week is my goal and that is a work out for me heh.

Chief Fox

11-29-2006, 05:30 PM

When do you pracitice your kung fu?
Right now I don't. I'm not affiliated with a school at the moment. But I've been thinking that I need to go try this one school out. There's not much kung fu to go around in the town that I live.

The jury is really still out on this one. I'm not sure if BJJ is for me and I really enjoy kung fu.

But I also really just enjoy working out and being fit. I'm really messed up right now with what I want to do.

I'm so confused! :) :mad: :rolleyes: :eek: :D ;) :p :o :( :confused:

WinterPalm

11-29-2006, 06:21 PM

Chief Fox

11-29-2006, 08:08 PM

Just because you don't belong to a school doesn't mean you probably didn't learn anything at the last school you were at. I'm sure they taught you something you could practice on your own? Maybe the basics? Forms?

Oh yes. I can still work my old material and still do from time to time. But I'm really lacking the space and right now there's about 8 inches of snow outside.

I'm considering re-joing the YMCA. I used to practice all my forms in the racketball couts.

Thanks for all the input guys.

David Jamieson

11-30-2006, 01:29 AM

191! :eek:

that's pretty heavy for a guy who's only 4 feet tall!

man.

:D

j/k-j/k :p

bodhitree

11-30-2006, 02:22 PM

the YMCA. I used to practice all my forms in the racketball couts.

Thanks for all the input guys.

I used to do that to, awesome! Actually the recketball courts are on a floor with no staff members so a few friends and me would meet with our gear and do full contact muay thai sparring, we'd go to the locker room bloody and beat up and all the "silver sneakers" would be looking at us.....
good times good times.

Chief Fox

11-30-2006, 03:57 PM

This morning I got up and did an interval workout.

3 rounds:
500 meter row
20 box jumps 20 inch box
20 push presses 65lbs.
20 Kettlebell swings.

Man this was tough. The box jumps and kettlebell swings keep your cardio going.

Total time: 17:29

I'm going to the Y today to see about a membership.

See you in the racketball courts. :D

BoulderDawg

11-30-2006, 09:42 PM

Just a side note on weight loss:

I caught a half hour of a TV show last night called "The Biggest Loser". The people on it were losing 10-12 pounds a week! One guy had lost 45 pounds in three weeks!!!!! That's nuts!

I didn't like this show. People are going to watch this and then wonder why they can't lose that much weight in such a short time. Of course I would like to see some of these people 6 months to a year down the road....with all the weight put back on.:eek:

GunnedDownAtrocity

12-01-2006, 07:55 AM

Chief Fox

12-01-2006, 05:54 PM

you can tell you like the crossfit stuff. :)
Yeah, I really do. I've got a few versions of that workout.

They are all based on the Crossfit Fight Gone Bad workout.

FGB goes like this

1 minute of push press
1 minute of sumo deadlift highpulls
1 minute of box jumps
1 minute of wall ball (throw a med ball at a 10' target, catching and lowering down into a squat. Rising up and throwing again.)
1 minute on Rower. (count calories burned)
1 minute of rest.

The idea is to count all of your reps for 3 or 5 rounds to come up with a score. The only problem is, you need a partner to record your numbers so you can move from exercise to exercise quickly.

I changed it to 20 reps per exercise and started to record my time so I could do a similar workout on my own.

I really like th concept because when your time improves, you know you are gaining fitness.

I switch up the exercises all the time. It's always a mix of 4 of the following.
rowing, pushpresses, box jumps, KB swings, pushups, squats, med ball slams, chinnies, and sumo deadlift high pulls.

The possibilities are really unlimited in a workout like this. I've even done a version were I jump rope for 100 turns and then do form. Jump rope, different form, jump rope, different form and on and on.

I also do it with my weight vest sometimes.

Anyway, that's alot of info there. Sorry.

Today it's supposed to be in the 30's so I'm just going for a simple run at lunch.

Chief Fox

12-01-2006, 11:27 PM

Just got back from my run. I ran just over 3 miles in about 28:15 or so. I think it was something like 9:17 a mile. Again, not great but at least I'm out there. I've been out of commision on the running for a long time and am just now trying to work myself back into it. I'm feeling pretty good though so I'm optomistic.

Tomorrow will probably be a strenght workout and then on Sunday I think that I'm heading up to the mountains to go snowboarding with my daughter. Should be fun.

GunnedDownAtrocity

12-02-2006, 07:34 PM

Yeah, I really do. I've got a few versions of that workout.

They are all based on the Crossfit Fight Gone Bad workout.

FGB goes like this .........

man just reading that makes me feel out of shape. i really need to start up some cardio. rolling twice a week doesnt count.

Chief Fox

12-03-2006, 01:47 AM

Not much of a strength workout today. This morning I rented an appliance dolly and moved a refidgerator up a flight of stairs. So lets call that 15 refridgerator deadlifts. Kinda tweaked my back a bit. Then I ripped down some sheet rock in the spare bedroom. Tomorrow is snowboarding with my daughter.

I made some beef stew today. Haven't eaten it yet, it's in the crock pot brewing all day. Smells really good right now. mmmmmmmm :)

Chief Fox

12-04-2006, 06:00 PM

Well I ended up eating a bunch of that beef stew. It was awesome.

I used some beef chunks, baby carrots, a big russet potato, some frozen mixed veggies, beef stew spices, 1/4 cup flour and 4 cups of water. Put it all in the crock pot and let it stew for about 4 hours.

While eating my stew I had a Sam Adams Winter Lager. It was some good stuff. Almost the perfect meal.

So Snowboarding yesterday was fun. My daughter is still learning and took some pretty good falls. For the most part though, she did great and I'm really proud of her. We'll probably go up again in a few weeks.

So I stepped on the scale this morning and I weighed in at 187.5lbs. So I've lost a total of 3.5lbs. since last week. It probably would have been more had I not eaten so much beef stew. I know I'm not dehydrated because I've been getting up every night to pee. So the workouts and diet are working.

It would be nice to loose another 2.5 this week and get down to an even 185 but well see what happens.

Today I'm running at lunch.

Chief Fox

12-04-2006, 11:52 PM

Just got back from my lunch time run. I ran just over 3 miles in a little over 28 min. The pace ended up being about 9:03 a mile.

So that's improvement. I was probably pushing a bit too hard but it actually felt good to be pushing it a bit.

For the next few weeks I intend to stick with running 3 miles twice a week. Then I'll add a third day a week. At that point, I'll switch my routine up to running on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. The Saturday run will be in a local park and will probably be a bit longer, brining my weekly mileage up to 10 miles a week. If I can get here and maintain injury free running it will be a dream come true. :)

I'm feeling pretty good right now. I get that runner's high. Someone would literally have to smack this grin off my face. :)

Tomorrow is interval training with thr rower and some weights.

Chief Fox

12-06-2006, 12:15 AM

I felt so good yesterday after my run and this morning too that I decided to run again today at lunch. I didn't take my watch so I wouldn't be tempted to push for a "good time". I just ran easy. It felt great to be out there. Today was probably my best run since getting back into it.

My right foot is a bit sore so I will probably put some ice on it tonight and take some ibuprofin. I won't run again until at least Friday.

Decided to weigh myself again this morning just to make sure that 187.5 is my true weight and not my dehydrated weight. Low and behold, I weigh 187.5. So I'm pretty happy about that.

Distance = 3 miles
Time = ???

Tonight I'm thinking about doing a deck of cards workout.

Pushups
Squats
Chinnies
Not sure what else maybe some KB windmils or rows.

Chief Fox

12-08-2006, 06:24 PM

I took Wednesday off. That run on Tuesday that felt so good at the time may have bruised my foot. No biggie, I'll just have to switch things up a bit.

Yesterday I joined the local YMCA. The Y is just a few minutes from where I work so I can workout at lunch or right after work. I also live close enough that weekend workouts aren't a problem either.

So last night I went in to workout. The plan was to do a full body workout and some cardio.
I started out on the rowing machine to warm up.
Then I did some ab work.
Bench press
Shoulder Press
Rows
Deadlifts
Squats

Then I got on one of those eliptical trainers and did that for 20 minutes.

The whole workout lasted about 45 - 50 minutes or so.

I feel GRRRRRREAT!

I'm so psyched that I joined. I used to be a member before I started Kung Fu. Going to the Y, lifting weights and running were all I did. Then I added Kung Fu into the mix and I started getting injured. Didn't realize this until yesterday but for the past 5 years I've been dealing with all Kung Fu related injuries. Where I had none before.

Lately I've been thinking about joining a muy thai gym. But now I'm thinking why would I want to bring all of those injuries back on to me? I do enjoy sparring though.

That will be something to think about after the new year. For now, I'm just going to loose some weight and get into better shape.

Tonight I'm going to do some more cardio work and I'm thinking some dumbell snatches.

Chief Fox

12-15-2006, 12:18 AM

This week so far:
Monday: Full body workout and 30 minutes on Eliptical Trainer
Tuesday: Brief Ab and pullup work out. 15 minutes on bike. 20 minutes on eliptical
Wednesday: Ran 3 miles AWESOME RUN!
Thursday: Full body workout at lunch. Tonight I'll hit the Eliptical for 30 minutes.

I'm feeling pretty good. My shoulders are holding up and getting stronger. My cardio is improving and I'm loosing weight.

Current weight: 186.5lbs.

That leaves me 2 weeks to loose 5.5lbs and reach my goal of loosing 10lbs. before New Years.

I'm sure I can do it. Just gotta keep eating clean and working out.

I'm really liking the eliptical trainer. Basically, it's all the benefit of running with out all the pounding. Still nothing beats getting outside and going for a run but this way I can build my cardio, strength and endurance on the eliptical and then go out for just a couple quality runs during the week and not get injured.

After the new year I'm thinking about ramping back up into my kung fu training. Really just working forms and some drills with a friend. Nothing too serious for now. I'm just starting to feel "normal/healthy" again and I don't want to ruin it with a stupid injury.

franco1688

12-17-2006, 03:11 PM

Chief Fox

12-18-2006, 01:23 AM

If your suffering from injuries due to kung fu it is probably because of the person you were training under. In all my years in CMA (and in various other martial arts and training methods) I have never been injured (aside from bumps and bruises asociated w/ sparring and an MMA injury). I'm sure there were times I could have potentially injured myself, but if you're under the watchful eye of a good instructor you shouldn't have to worry too much. But eitherway, if you're happy doing what you're doing, keep doing it. Congratulations and good luck.
I agree. This really just strengthens my belief that quality kung fu instruction is very rare.

I was feeling really bad yesterday. My crappy job has really been messing me up latetly so I went to the Y to workout.

I did an upper body workout and then 20 minutes on the bike, 20 minutes on the treadmil and 20 minutes on the eliptical.

Today, I've just been working around the house. I've got my in-laws coming in a few days so we've got some work to do.