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Carnation · Top Carnivore Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 3586

I can hear the blackbirds outside of my office window this morning, and it reminds me that spring is just around the corner (so what if it snowed last night?). I am at a truly happy weight of 132 right now. However, I would still like to change my body composition. Over the course of the spring, I would like to lose 10 lbs. of fat, and gain 10 lbs. of muscle.

But for this month, my challenge is going to be a 5 and 5 exchange. I will be concentrating on increasing strength with my weight lifting, and doing lots of stairclimbing workouts at our massive outdoor staircase at the local rec center. I want to be in really good shape for hiking season this year.

Anybody else want to join the challenge? Lose five pounds of fat, and put on five pounds of muscle?

Carnation · Top Carnivore Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 3586

Here's my new workout buddy, the staircase, 9 flights of 12 stairs. I've been doing the stairs in my house for a few weeks, but now I've moved on to the big boy. Today, I started easy by walking the 1/2 mi. loop, followed by 2 sets of stairs, 4 times.

ReddyMcMeaty · The Boss Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 5776

omg i am so jealous! I love stairs as a workout!!
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"Man lives on one quarter of what he eats. On the other three quarters lives his doctor."

adwred · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:45 pm Post subject:

I think I'm taking a break from challenges for a couple of weeks... Shock

They seem to be doing no service for me, except to make me feel inferior. Laugh

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I'm a vegetable-eater by proxy. I make sure to get 5-10 servings of herbivore per day.

Carnation · Top Carnivore Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 3586

I'm a little sad that nobody wants to join me. Cry

I thought it sounded like a very do-able goal for a whole month. Oh well, I'm still going full steam ahead. I figure that losing five pounds of fat and adding five of muscle will end up FEELING like 10 lbs of fat loss. I know I don't have any real way to measure my progress, but I think my clothes should fit differently.

Puma · Hunter Joined: 02 Nov 2007 Posts: 180

I don't think 5 pounds of fat would be a really good idea for me LOL...I doubt I can put on 5 pounds of muscle in one month, but we'll see. Razz

Getting really good progress with my squats.

ReddyMcMeaty · The Boss Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 5776

I would totally join you if I could sleep at night! I'm working out.. and trying to lose fat, hopefully more than 5 lbs... but doubt I'll gain 5 in muscle. I'd want them all on my back and shoulders, yum. And calves, they're a little small.
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"Man lives on one quarter of what he eats. On the other three quarters lives his doctor."

adwred · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:09 pm Post subject:

LOOPS · Top Cat Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 457 Location: CHILE

HIya -

I would join you but I have no idea what is going on with my weight! HOWEVER, I am finally fully recovering from my tennis injury after a whole friggin year, so I am starting to do some serious tennis training again, so I bet I will put on the muscle.

Won't we need a body fat monitor for this???

Kristi31 · Top Cat Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 378 Location: Montreal

I love playing and watching tennis. Ever since I stepped onto the court with my wooden racket (back in the days), I couldn't keep away. Happy

_________________
"When you give up your dream, you die"

Avalon · Top Carnivore Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 3326

I'm running. Not much, but enough to feel some lung burn- consistently, which is new for me. I've been good at starting and then going- oh what's that over there and then I lose focus. I want to keep losing weight, but not gain yikes Yup

Count me in for the exercise part though.

I'm riding my bike a lot more also.

Race you to the top! hey, what's thatover there Grin

AND GO!

Carnation · Top Carnivore Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 3586

I'm not sure how to measure muscle gain. I was just kinda thinking my clothes would be significantly looser from the change in body comp. I don't know if it's possible to gain 5 lbs. of muscle in a month, but since I'm stepping it up with my lower body and big muscle groups, I hoping...

adwred · Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 4:28 pm Post subject:

OK, I've changed my mind! I'll join you. Happy

There's no harm in trying to build some muscle. I don't know I'll make it to 5 and 5, since I'm no longer weighing myself. But my goal will be to drop an inch in my waist and an inch in my thighs!
_________________
I'm a vegetable-eater by proxy. I make sure to get 5-10 servings of herbivore per day.

Carnation · Top Carnivore Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 3586

Yay! Muscles are delicious! Shock

Oops, didn't mean that in a cannibalistic sense. Muscles are beautiful and sexy and they make me drool.

Avalon · Top Carnivore Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 3326

Just one question, how will you know if it's muscle you gained? Roll Eyes

And how will you... Two Questions-

never mind Grin

Carnation · Top Carnivore Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 3586

I'm thinking, gained fat = tight clothes, gained muscle = looser clothes? I don't have any real scientific method for measuring at home. I asked a few weeks ago, and everyone said those body comp scales stink, so I dunno.

ReddyMcMeaty · The Boss Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 5776

Mmm you're already active right? If you were sedentary your muscles would shrink, becuase you'd be losing intramuscular fat or marbling ;) But as an already active person, if you build muscle you would not shrink unless you also lost fat. You know? It's growing, so you get bigger. But you look better anyway.
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"Man lives on one quarter of what he eats. On the other three quarters lives his doctor."

Carnation · Top Carnivore Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 3586

See, I was thinking that since 5 lbs. of muscle would be more dense than 5 lbs. of fat, the net would still feel like a loss, measurement-wise. Dunno

ReddyMcMeaty · The Boss Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 5776

well if you lost fat then YES the overall size would go down. But if you only gained muscle then you would increase in size in some areas. However, you're going to lose fat too so you'll shrink.
_________________
"Man lives on one quarter of what he eats. On the other three quarters lives his doctor."

ecrivain · Pack Member Joined: 02 Jan 2007 Posts: 90

Carnation · Top Carnivore Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 3586

As long as I look foxy.... Wink

Johnny Ace · Flesh Eater Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 25

Carnation · Top Carnivore Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 3586

Thanks Ecrivain. I got out my trusty tape measure, and according to the formula, I'm at 26% body fat. That seems pretty accurate to me. I'm at a good weight, but still feel a little overfat. I'd like to get down to 23% by summertime.

Carnation · Top Carnivore Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 3586

Well, I'm wrapping up this challenge. I have to say it was a success. My weight remained the same, but I dropped a dress size!

Avalon · Top Carnivore Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 3326

Proof is in the pudding, C! You did good Yup