I'm back! I'm finally back into the swing of things again, and I'm making progress. I've been working out steadily for the past few months, but I wasn't really focused much on what I was eating. I know, from my my history, that simply working out just isn't enough for me. I did see some minimal results from lifting weights for an hour three times per week.
Three weeks ago, however, I came across Dr. Ian K. Smith's book SHRED Revolutionary Diet. What intrigued me about the SHRED meal plan is that its principles are very similar to a bodybuilder's diet in that it requires you to eat very small meals very frequently throughout the day. From being a competitive bodybuilder, I was cool with planning meals and eating every 2.5 hours or so. The SHRED, however, suggests that you eat every 1.5 hours. This was fine, but what I really like about the SHRED is the variety of foods you can eat. It allows you to eat CHOCOLATE! I'm hooked!
So far, I've lost four pounds, and I have three more weeks to go. When I'm finished, I can choose to start the six-week cycle over or just take some of the principles and apply them. I love that this diet teaches you how to eat what you like but in the right way. I can certainly live with this.
What has been difficult is that during this first six-week cycle, the plan requires you to do cardio only. Everyone who knows me knows I HATE cardio and LOVE lifting weights. So, I have had to find a compromise. I have chosen cardio machines that allow me to crank up the resistance like the stair climber, row machine, and this really cool cross country ski machine thingy I found.
I'll keep you posted on my progress!
Happy healthing!