Goodbye June, Hello July!
Base Camp is over and as of yesterday, we’ve officially begun our 12-week fitness transformation journey with Strength For Life. Yesterday, June 30th was the first day of training to begin our journey for three months of heavy fitness training to get in the best shape of our lives. Read more about ending of Base Camp and the progress of Day 1, after the jump.
Base Camp officially wrapped up last Friday with two off-days from exercise and very tight diet, that we were all waiting for. I think the three of us took it somewhat easy on Saturday, having a beer or two, or expanding our pallet. But come Sunday morning, and the return of our last roommate back to Brooklyn, we all had a BIG brunch down the street where the return of bacon and sugar and cream, and eventually bread and cheese, were warmly welcomed. Dave projected that beer and cheese would be his most missed foods from the diet restrictions, but was surprised to find out that it was bread that tasted so good and that he found himself relishing after the first 12 days were over. For me, I was actually shocked to find that cheese tasted so good I wanted my head to explode, and having a simple wrapped enchilada was like heaven. And for Kelsey, bread and pastries rocked her world, and I have to give her extra credit for going thru PMS during these first 12 days and vehemently sticking to her guns and her diet, despite cravings that would probably make me eat my foot in exchange for a piece of chocolate. I’m very proud.
Which brings us to last night – Day 1 of the official Strength For Life – Transformation Training Camp. The first day of training started with “push” muscles – chest, shoulders, and triceps, with biceps thrown in because they’re used so frequently. Biceps and triceps will be included twice a week with a enough time between them for rest. It was a very good start with all of us using lightweight, after a light 5 minute warm-up, and getting used to going thru the motions with these muscle groups again, or for some of us, the first time as part of an official training. We had to wrangle a little bit to get into the local YMCA, as I tried to transfer my membership from the Harlem Y, discovering we DID NOT have everything in order, or to add people to the plan, but they let us in anyways.
So basically we had a great first day, and are already starting to find those small boundaries for “what is too little” vs. “what is too much”. I was worried I pushed myself a little too hard on some of the weight last night, getting excited to be back in the gym and using my body again. We’ll see tomorrow, when all of the real soreness kicks in. We also discovered that almost everyone’s left tricep is way weaker. Who knew?
Closing up, Day 1, we’ve begun – officially. Kelsey and I were able to take starting measurements of weight, body fat, and some muscle groups as well as “before” pictures. These are going to be important at the end. We’re gonna get Dave’s stats tonight. I also had the first six weeks of tracking forms for our exercises, printed and bound in a little book for each one of us, which I think makes it also feel a little more serious and real. And using that as a motivator, I will be posting my “before” picture in a subsequent post, making it that much more imperative that I complete the entire transformation to be able to put my “after” picture next to it, and not just leave it hanging on the internet.
Five more days for the first week, then the seventh day off. Then repeat for 11 more weeks. Today is the first cardio and abs day which will be twice a week. I gotta get the Y membership worked out, but then we’re off again. And I’m already so excited to start rocking some of the machines. I’m training to be able to run during this process, so the slow building up of my lungs and endurance will be a personal focus during the next three months. I’m excited. And got some new tunes for the running. Thanks M.I.A. & The Darkness!
See you in September.