http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513 I began to implement this plan a few weeks ago, and I'm seeing steady improvement.&nbsp; The dietary aspect of my plan simply includes the application of common sense.&nbsp; It means significant reductions in carb intake (mostly whole grains and fruit when carbs are ingested); dramatic reduction in sugar; lots of vegetables (mostly raw); plenty of healthy snacking (in the form of fruit and sugar-free trail mixes); plenty of protein, (especially in the form of chicken breasts and fish); and an overall reduction in portion size.&nbsp; I really mix it up when it comes to excercise.&nbsp; I'll ride my bike to work 2-3 times per week; I'll swim laps 2-3 times per week; and I'll engage in weight training&nbsp; (high reps,&nbsp; relatively low weight); and finally, I will do various forms of sit-ups and other ab excercises with my weight training workout.&nbsp; Apart from riding my bike (which can take from 45 minutes to an hour each way, all other excercise routines are only done for about 15-20 minutes. Well, that's the plan.&nbsp; I call it a &quot;shrink-2-fit&quot; workout because, first of all, I am a shrink, and, second, I plan to shrink 2 fit into clothing I haven't been able to wear for awhile.&nbsp; I'm not necessarily recommending this plan to others because I believe excercise and eating programs should be tailored to the individual, but, so far, this is working for me. What about the rest of you?&nbsp; Are any of you presently involved in excercise and/or dietary plans?&nbsp; If so, what's your plan, and how is it working for you?&nbsp; BTW, that's not me in the photo.&nbsp; Not even close.&nbsp; But it doesn't hurt to dream, and then, as Howard Jones once said in a song, put a &quot;dream into action.&quot;&nbsp; I began to implement this plan a few weeks ago, and I'm seeing steady improvement.&nbsp; The dietary aspect of my plan simply includes the application of common sense.&nbsp; It means significant reductions in carb intake (mostly whole grains and fruit when carbs are ingested); dramatic reduction in sugar; lots of vegetables (mostly raw); plenty of healthy snacking (in the form of fruit and sugar-free trail mixes); plenty of protein, (especially in the form of chicken breasts and fish); and an overall reduction in portion size.&nbsp; I really mix it up when it comes to excercise.&nbsp; I'll ride my bike to work 2-3 times per week; I'll swim laps 2-3 times per week; and I'll engage in weight training&nbsp; (high reps,&nbsp; relatively low weight); and finally, I will do various forms of sit-ups and other ab excercises with my weight training workout.&nbsp; Apart from riding my bike (which can take from 45 minutes to an hour each way, all other excercise routines are only done for about 15-20 minutes. Well, that's the plan.&nbsp; I call it a &quot;shrink-2-fit&quot; workout because, first of all, I am a shrink, and, second, I plan to shrink 2 fit into clothing I haven't been able to wear for awhile.&nbsp; I'm not necessarily recommending this plan to others because I believe excercise and eating programs should be tailored to the individual, but, so far, this is working for me. What about the rest of you?&nbsp; Are any of you presently involved in excercise and/or dietary plans?&nbsp; If so, what's your plan, and how is it working for you?&nbsp; BTW, that's not me in the photo.&nbsp; Not even close.&nbsp; But it doesn't hurt to dream, and then, as Howard Jones once said in a song, put a &quot;dream into action.&quot;&nbsp; en-us Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:51:37 PDT I love half naked men with six packs.&nbsp; HOooooWL! http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102653 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102653 I love half naked men with six packs.&nbsp; HOooooWL! <p>Well, we could have the next ACB meeting at our house, and we can display both halves.</p> <p>And yes, I do look like that once again.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102659 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102659 <p>Well, we could have the next ACB meeting at our house, and we can display both halves.</p> <p>And yes, I do look like that once again.</p> <p>Well, there's a reason I'm not half-naked (other than my Mennonite sense of modesty).&nbsp; It's because the sixpack is, at this point, only visible (partially visible)&nbsp;in certain shades of lighting.&nbsp; The rest of it is there, it's just slightly covered up (with a thin layer of fat that turns a bit thick when I sit down, and, with a thin layer of baggy clothing), but I will shrink-2-fit, and when I do, I'll be a little less modest.&nbsp; </p> <p>I won't turn into an exhibitionist or anything like that, but in the middle of summer, I will dress like it's the middle of summer, and not like it's late October.&nbsp; </p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102660 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102660 <p>Well, there's a reason I'm not half-naked (other than my Mennonite sense of modesty).&nbsp; It's because the sixpack is, at this point, only visible (partially visible)&nbsp;in certain shades of lighting.&nbsp; The rest of it is there, it's just slightly covered up (with a thin layer of fat that turns a bit thick when I sit down, and, with a thin layer of baggy clothing), but I will shrink-2-fit, and when I do, I'll be a little less modest.&nbsp; </p> <p>I won't turn into an exhibitionist or anything like that, but in the middle of summer, I will dress like it's the middle of summer, and not like it's late October.&nbsp; </p> <p>To answer your own blog question, Doc, I was an athlete and bodybuilder in my early 40s.&nbsp; Then a few near-simultaneous tragedies in life kinda shot me out of the sky.</p> <p>I decided this year to get it all back.&nbsp; And I did.&nbsp; Lost 35 pounds, am getting the sharp muscle definition back, and the 5-K run is back under 22 minutes.&nbsp; (It was in the 16 minute class when I was 40.)</p> <p>I'm taking a slower pace with the strength building, though.&nbsp; It'll take a while to get the 295 pound bench press back.&nbsp; I may <em>look</em> 30, but my joints and ligaments know the truth, that I belong to the previous generation.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102673 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102673 <p>To answer your own blog question, Doc, I was an athlete and bodybuilder in my early 40s.&nbsp; Then a few near-simultaneous tragedies in life kinda shot me out of the sky.</p> <p>I decided this year to get it all back.&nbsp; And I did.&nbsp; Lost 35 pounds, am getting the sharp muscle definition back, and the 5-K run is back under 22 minutes.&nbsp; (It was in the 16 minute class when I was 40.)</p> <p>I'm taking a slower pace with the strength building, though.&nbsp; It'll take a while to get the 295 pound bench press back.&nbsp; I may <em>look</em> 30, but my joints and ligaments know the truth, that I belong to the previous generation.</p> <p>Well, Hardliner, I'm sorry to hear about your &quot;near-simultaneous tragedies,&quot; but I'm glad you're bouncing back.&nbsp; You make a great role model for others who are experiencing, or have experienced, major setbacks.&nbsp; </p> <p>Life is full of unexpected twists and turns in the road, but it's all about finding the strength and courage to forge ahead when things become overwhelming.&nbsp; Like they say, &quot;When the going gets tough, the tough get going.&quot;&nbsp; To borrow from the Beatles, more power to you in your efforts to &quot;Get Back&quot;, Hardliner!</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102677 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102677 <p>Well, Hardliner, I'm sorry to hear about your &quot;near-simultaneous tragedies,&quot; but I'm glad you're bouncing back.&nbsp; You make a great role model for others who are experiencing, or have experienced, major setbacks.&nbsp; </p> <p>Life is full of unexpected twists and turns in the road, but it's all about finding the strength and courage to forge ahead when things become overwhelming.&nbsp; Like they say, &quot;When the going gets tough, the tough get going.&quot;&nbsp; To borrow from the Beatles, more power to you in your efforts to &quot;Get Back&quot;, Hardliner!</p> I don't have a six pack, I have the whole keg!! http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102683 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102683 I don't have a six pack, I have the whole keg!! What, no custom BLT work-out tunes?&nbsp; :) http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102709 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102709 What, no custom BLT work-out tunes?&nbsp; :) <p>That's good, anon.&nbsp; I'll be hitting that keg as soon as I reach a few more of my fitness goals : #)</p> <p>I was waiting for a question like that, Jason.&nbsp; In the works, my friend, in the works.&nbsp; The&nbsp;delay is designed to keep people revisiting this blog post : )&nbsp; My posts are like Cracker Jacks boxes, only every once in awhile, there's no prize :&nbsp; )&gt;&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102716 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102716 <p>That's good, anon.&nbsp; I'll be hitting that keg as soon as I reach a few more of my fitness goals : #)</p> <p>I was waiting for a question like that, Jason.&nbsp; In the works, my friend, in the works.&nbsp; The&nbsp;delay is designed to keep people revisiting this blog post : )&nbsp; My posts are like Cracker Jacks boxes, only every once in awhile, there's no prize :&nbsp; )&gt;&nbsp;</p> But Cracker Jacks is fattening.&nbsp; :) http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102720 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102720 But Cracker Jacks is fattening.&nbsp; :) <p>All the more motivation to hit the gym :&nbsp; o&nbsp; ))</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102721 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102721 <p>All the more motivation to hit the gym :&nbsp; o&nbsp; ))</p> <p>Now that I have it back, I want to explore a new frontier that I didn't do before -- take up a martial art.</p> <p>So, I reckon that I'll be running into RoyTullis or his grandkids one of these days.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102723 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102723 <p>Now that I have it back, I want to explore a new frontier that I didn't do before -- take up a martial art.</p> <p>So, I reckon that I'll be running into RoyTullis or his grandkids one of these days.</p> That sounds great.&nbsp; It sounds like you're making the most of life and that you're enjoying yourself.&nbsp; Go for it! http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102755 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/10513/#c_102755 That sounds great.&nbsp; It sounds like you're making the most of life and that you're enjoying yourself.&nbsp; Go for it!