K.C.'s Workout Plan (Pt. 8)

I'm going to give it you as straight as I can. I haven't worked out at the gym in a month (except for one trip on Thanksgiving with The Voice) yet I've miraculously kept the weight off. I'm hovering at 183 lbs. which makes my total weight loss since August a colossal 20 lbs.! Ironically, that was my goal when I began sessions with the nutritionist a few months back.

My health benefits commence in January so I've already made an appointment to see the doctor and I'm confident he'll be absolutely impressed.

If not, I know I am! My next goal is 180 or 175 but taken in baby steps.

My secret?

Having a boyfriend!

Nah, for real, the late nights at work, my hectic school schedule, the busy weekends and once-a-day meals are the most significant factors. However, I was enrolled in a nutrition course during the spring (2008) semester and currently concerned that I'm not getting the proper dietary supplements. While on winter break, I plan to return to the gym (starting Monday, Dec. 22nd) and endeavor to eat better.

So I'll keep you guys posted!

UPDATE: I initially wrote this entry a week ago and Monday, Dec. 22nd came and went. I’ve been exceedingly occupied with Christmas shopping and even endured some vehicular difficulties. I believe January might be a better time to return to the gym although it will be packed with New Year Resolution Makers.

Here I Am ...

Wow, I can't believe it's been so long since I've written on my blog!

First and foremost, my apologies to all my followers, readers and commentators. Obviously, school comes first but still, I have to say I missed you guys!

Now, it's been several weeks and a LOT, I mean GAZILLIONS of things have occurred in my life so I'm only going to touch on the most significant items such as school, work, The Voice, friends, family, and ME!

School: We finally passed the mid-term and there’s only a few more weeks to go (thank God!) The intensity in Jazz Band has increased. I've missed a few classes but I’ve managed to persevere. Our group chemistry is coalescing but we've quite a way to go before our final concert. By the way, our public concert is December 9th, at 7:30 PM on campus so just putting that out there! I'm also setting up a link to our band's blog page.

The Ear Training / Music Theory classes are becoming a bit more difficult. I mainly want to get to the next level, weed out the non-music majors and get into the serious business! BTW, I played in front of the class and everyone loved it; seemed to make a few more friends on campus and whether I like it or not, I've created a reputation.

My Haydn piece is coming along positively nicely and Professor Hand Killer has given me a new classical piece (Schubert) to work on. I'm extremely saturated with music this semester. Sometimes I think I hate music ...

Work: I finally got a job! I'm going to be working for Quest Diagnostics, Inc. and my hours will be 6 PM until 2 AM. I know, I know, I'll probably be a “dead brotha walking” by 2009 but so are the sacrifices I must make. It's a full-time position, with great benefits and the pay is MUCH better than my old job. I'm relieved to have a job now so I can return to the doctor, buy what I want and need (i.e. iPhone, clothes, laptop, etc.), and get Christmas presents for everyone! I'll let you know more after orientation next week ...

The Voice: Well, well, well ... what can I say? This man has made me the happiest I've ever been in my life. He has my highs, my lows, my ups, my downs, my heart, my soul, my mind and my ear. When he's away, his absence is nearly unbearable. My weekends have been exceedingly busy and a constant whirlwind of poetry clubs, dance clubs, meeting his friends, shopping, dining out and simply hanging out. We recently passed our two month anniversary this past Thursday and what a crazy two months it has been! I possess three teddy bears, roses (he surprised me the other day at Outback), and a ton of memories. I feel as though I’ve known him my entire life!

For his birthday weekend, I checked him into the Hilton at Logan Airport, left two roses on the bed, champagne chilling on ice, a box of honey roasted cashews (yeah, he has strange tastes) and treated him like royalty. I purchased tickets to see Roy Hargrove at Scullers Jazz Club. Overall, each weekend becomes better than the last ...

Consequently, there is so much I've omitted on account of length (I could drone on and on for pages) but trust me y'all, he's captured my heart unlike any other man! BTW, my parents and friends have approved! Furthermore, there is more I'd like to discuss about The Voice but we'll save that for another post ...

Friends: Thai Guy has been going through some difficult times so I ask you all to keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

The Divo is nearing the end of his collegiate journey and I'm soooo very proud of him!

I'm contemplating one last attempt to reach out to D.G. I really miss her friendship. I know I'm stubborn (as a mule) but I also don't want 10 years of friendship to be dismissed just because of some stupid a** s***! I'll put up a post about her and you guys let me know what I should do ... okay?

Family: My cousin, The Black Elephant, has been added to my blog so check his page out when you get a moment! Yes, he's a Republican but if you are mature enough to remain open-minded, you'll find he's quite engaging!

Pops was in the hospital a few weeks back but he’s doing much better now. He's home and driving us all up a wall.

Rugrat got a job at Home Depot so I don't see much of him these days. He and The Voice have an ongoing rivarly (harmless banter) but it's resulted in Rugrat dubbing him the Predator (so named for his dread locks similar to the beasty from the movie). I suppose this means Rugrat approves.

And last but not least ...

ME: The most important aspect of this blog (that's a fact!) I'm down to 189 pounds and The Voice has encouraged me to return to the gym.

I ordered a laptop this week. I should have it next week and maybe I'll be able to keep up with my blog while at school or during my breaks at work.

I was in a car accident on Monday (there goes my spotless driving record!) however, I'm doing okay. This foreigner (I'll be P.C.) decided to stop upon merging with traffic. I slammed on my brakes and managed to stop but the vehicle behind me rear-ended mine. When we all got out to exchange papers, the foreigner took off. One of the girls in the truck behind me managed to get his license plate number but the state trooper told us he wasn't able to get anything on this guy. Oh well, I guess I'll sit back and watch my premiums go up! Oh yeah, my baby is fine, a few scratches to the bumper but that's about it. The other SUV? Lost a headlight and the hood was all jacked up. It seems Ford Escape's plastic bumpers are tougher than they look!

I visited the Fund today with The Voice as a way to close that chapter of my life; I'm ready to move on to Quest. I'm a bit apprehensive about the new job but I'm sure I'll be all right. I'm excited about juggling a full-time job and school as well as dating (I see our bond growing more profound and solid every week). I feel more mature as the days pass but still can't shake those misgivings I've spoken about in my past postings regarding the direction of my life ...

:: sigh ::

We'll see what happens as I take it one day at a time ... have a good weekend everyone! :o)

K.C.'s Workout Plan (Pt. 7)

My weight loss is proceeding quite nicely and I'm happy to report I'm hovering around 195 (on a good day!) It's definitely not an easy goal to achieve but I'm working at it slowly. Nevertheless, since returning to school, I'm finding it harder and harder to maintain a well-balanced diet. I don't like cafeteria food (haven't eaten it since high school) so I make my own lunches or go to Subway.

Furthermore, I attained a rather sweet milestone this past weekend! Saturday evening, The Voice and I went to the Seaport Hotel's corporate fitness center at the Waterfront. First of all, I'm not sure I even want to go back to Bally's after going there! The locker room looked like some fancy hotel room or designer closet with wooden cabinet style lockers, mag-locks, carpeting, mirrors and other amenities. The showers featured shampoo and conditioner and every client received a complementary towel. And the treadmills? I actually had my own television!

Maaan, a brotha could get used to that real fast!

Okay, back to the milestone. The Voice is a more seasoned runner as he has participated in the Boston Marathon and as well as shorter races throughout the New England area. I didn't want to compete with him but somehow I ended up running for an hour and half and averaged about eight and a half miles! Normally, I can maintain five miles but his presence (and my slightly competitive nature) drove me further than ever before! Trust, my sore leg muscles are my own personal testament to how hard I pushed!

Anyway, I'll let you guys know where I stand by the time I go back to the nutritionist in a few weeks ... keep your fingers crossed for me!

K.C.'s Workout Plan (Pt. 6)

It doesn’t appear that I’ve lost weight but I am seeing considerable definition in my shoulders, arms and chest and even a modest amount on my "abs" (albeit there is a gut obscuring them) I'm still eating healthy and doing my weekly shopping routines however, I don't know how much longer I can keep it up since I'll soon be unemployed. Nevertheless, I've been consistent with my morning workouts and I’m rather proud of myself. I slacked off a few mornings ago but I've made up for it. Progress is forthcoming but exceedingly slow ...

Meanwhile, my tatted, bulging hottie I mentioned in some previous posts has secured my attention every morning. I think I'm going to call him Lil' Ronnie because he looks like a smaller version of professional bodybuilder, Ronnie Coleman. This morning, he was on the treadmill (which is rare considering he's one of those guys usually found by the massive weights flexing in front of the mirror) and I was watching him like a freaking groupie while I worked out! I swear, I'm trying to convert my obsession into incentive. Guess which one is winning? It's too bad SGL desires don’t come with an off-switch, kind of like Data’s (Star Trek) emotion chip. Man, that'd be convenient. I swear I'm even more "guy-crazy" while Twists is out of town! Oh well, at least I have mild entertainment while I work out!

K.C.'s Workout Plan (Pt. 5)

Last night, I went to the supermarket and bought my first batch of healthy food. I'm so glad I'm not married with children. I spent nearly $100 just in an hour of being in there! I started picking out items that weren’t on my list. I bought wheat pasta (never tried it before), peaches, apples, pineapple, Honey Nut Cheerios, yogurt, granola bars, salmon and lean boneless chicken breast. There was more but I'm not going to drone on. You get the idea.

Additionally, today was my first early morning cardio workout in several weeks and I managed about 2.5 miles on the treadmill and I didn't have to stop in between runs. You see, I'm lousy at stretching. I end up getting hip or leg cramps during my cardio workout. There are some days I've managed close to 6 miles (I’m on a roll) and still others when I can barely make 2 miles. It basically depends on my mood and physical stamina. But when I’m feeling good, I love to freak people out. I'm short and thick so people think I'm going to run for a minute and quit or slow down. After an hour, they're walking out the door and I'm still cruising at 6 MPH in the zone! I love running!

I recently read a post on Deonte' K's Spot, titled Deonte’s Top 5 Gym Pet Peeves, and he suggested that most gyms should provide a separate area for SGL guys to concentrate on our workout. I agree wholeheartedly! The buffed up tatted guy I see all the time on the train and in the gym, was there this morning (I've got to find him an alias: suggestions?). Not to mention this hot 30-something black guy with a nice tight ass which I ended up intently gazing at while running. Extremely distracting! Why can't there just be old white fat guys there?!?!

K.C.'s Workout Plan (Pt. 4)

Many individuals have extended their support regarding my workout plans and I want to say thank you! Due to the deluge of encouragement, I'm shifting into overdrive. I have exactly three weeks (8/16) until I revisit my personal physician.

One blogger said he lost 40 pounds and looks fantastic (and mad sexy!) from the many pics I have observed. In addition, I saw a huge buffed dude at the gym during my early morning workouts and he was always eyeing me every time I came through the door. This past week, I saw him on the subway twice (in a suit which hugged his body deliciously!) I believe the gym is haunting me based on these signs!

I can feel the weight gain (I've gone from 200 to 205) and I'm fed up. So I'm going to set up a better plan. I am not a diet believer and thanks to my nutrition class last semester, I learned a lot about how the body processes food. My professor emphasized avoiding supplements and utilizing natural foods to maintain your health.

Initially, I'm setting my alarm and forcing myself back into the early morning workouts. I am a sleep-lover but that's got to change. I'll probably get used to the early morning workouts again after a few days.

Secondly, I plan to change my eating habits. The cookout is over so I'm going to start buying my own groceries instead of relying on my family's food. My family doesn't really buy healthy stuff. Pops always has potato chips, cakes or other sweets lying around which lead me to "binge" when I come home from work. Essentially, every healthy thing I eat (Cheerios, salads, fruit) throughout the day is irrelevant once I come home. Smaller portions, no seconds, more fruit and veggies and water and I should be on course. Additionally, we love to order out, however, I won’t be able to partake in that for a while.

Finally, I'm going to concentrate on weights and the ab machines. I'm a cardio-fanatic. I love sweating and I'll take a treadmill or stair climber any day over weights. Nevertheless, ::sigh :: I know I need to firm and tone. A month ago, I was starting to feel rock hard abs underneath my gut so I know I was doing something right.

Do you mind if I’m narcissistic for a moment? Good! I was going to anyway! I don't think I'm a bad looking guy in the face and legs (they're in good shape from all the running I've done) however, the foremost problem area is my torso. Therefore, my target weight for the next three weeks is hopefully 195. That's approximately 10 pounds. Once I’m into a routine, it shouldn't be hard to maintain. I'd really like to dial it back to 180 but you have to crawl before you can walk.

K.C.'s Workout Plan (Pt. 3)

I think I've gained a few more pounds since this weekend. My goal was to lose some weight before I see this dietician in August but following this cookout, I don't know if that is attainable. I feel like crap so I'm going back to the gym this week. Meanwhile, that big sheet cake, brownies, sodas, ribs and pasta salad are at home calling my name ... K.C. ... K.C. ... K.C. ... K.C. ...

K.C.'s Workout Plan (Pt. 2)

So I haven't lost any weight (still hovering around the same number), however, I've been doing pretty good for the past two or three weeks. I've been forcing myself to get up at 4:30 every morning and get in the gym early. I've tried out the new stair climbers, lifted weights, worked out on the ellipticals and the hybrid ellipticals (yeah, my legs were burning after that!). While my legs are the strongest part of my body (all the running and walking I do), the upper body is still struggling along. I'm still barely squeaking out 65-75 pounds on the machines. Nevertheless, I'm managing about 150-200 crunches on all the ab machines.

The result?

I've been feeling pretty good for these past few weeks. I feel more fit and energetic. I've slacked a bit this week due to the 10 page paper I waited until the last minute to write for class. Hopefully once this semester ends (this week), I can get back on the gym wagon.

K.C.'s Workout Plan (Pt. 1)

I've been inspired lately to do a makeover. See, I was checking myself in the mirror and noticed how much I've changed physically in the face over the years. The glasses and the dread locks do make me look like a different person. It's almost like being Superman disguised as Clark Kent. This past Sunday, my sister and her family were shocked by my new look, as are most people when they see me again after a long time.

But I want to do more than just makeover my face. I've been going to the gym now for over 3 years and haven't seen major results. Sure, I can run over 5 miles without being winded and I was lifting over 100 lbs. (don't laugh, I'm so weak!). However, I've been feeling the effects of too much food, and not enough exercise. My doctor wants me to see a dietician and that's the mother of all insults! So I'm determined to drop at least a good 10+ pounds by the time I go back to see him. This is the heaviest I've been (201) and I don't like it. Pants are tight, gut is sticking too far out and I just feel friggin' bloated!

I returned to the gym this morning (5 AM) for the first time in weeks and ran about 2 miles. Felt good. Tomorrow I'm hoping to get in there and do weights. Cutting back big time on my portions and sticking to my salads and fruits. I doubt I'll ever look like some cute lil' gay model but at least I can tone some stuff up and maybe not feel as big.

My mantra is "it's my body" and I'm topping dominating it. I'm already on the right track since I took a nutrition class and I already go to the gym. I just hope I can stay focused and not slack off like I have in the past. I'm inspired by Bullet Proof Soul (BPS) and his 40/40 and plus I'd like to look good for SideKick. I'll update every week, so wish me luck! ...