Day 1

Good Morning!

Well I decided to get up early and go the local super market and pick up supplies. I had to buy a whole heap of different foods and things so I can start getting my diet right to go with the training.

From today I will be starting to eat six meals a day, as opposed to the usual three I do now. It's also goodbye to my beloved Vegemite and cheese sandwiches for a while, but the meal plan I'm working off actually looks really good. Who can complain about eggs and an English muffin for breakfast?

I've already felt the consequence of what I have begun, but sacrifices must be made. Today, my sacrifice was my pride... As I fell off my bike at the main crossing today. Bloody snow! Not many people saw it luckily... Only like fifty cars were waiting at the red light there.



Anyway seeing as the gym doesn't open until 10 I'm just doing some last minute research into what I am trying to do. Believe it or not there is a huge science to it all, so it should be fun!

I'll make sure to let you all know how my first training session went later today.


*****EDIT*****


Okay I can see that I should explain some things. I'm not eating six meals exactly. It's more along the lines of my regular three meals plus three 'snacks' through out the day. The meals are smaller, but because they are separated through out the entire day it keeps my hunger to a minimum and at the same time keeps my metabolism burning. Kind of a two-fold thing, I get to burn more calories and at the same time not get hungry.

I've realized that I will face some difficulty with doing this to begin with until I can schedule my day properly. The first main issue is because I work late at night it changes when I can eat my meals. The second is that after working out my meals for the day I only have half the amount of protein in my diet needed for greater muscle development. Looks like I'm going to have to work that one out.

At the moment my meal plan looks like this:

Breakfast:
Egg sandwich (1 egg, one slice cheese, on english muffin or whole grain bread)
Green tea unsweetened

Mid morning meal:
One cup vanilla yogurt,
1/2 cup frozen fruit of choice
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Early afternoon meal:
Whole wheat sandwich (1/5 lb lean meat: Chicken breast)
1 piece of fruit (grapefruit, kiwi, mango, etc)

Late afternoon meal
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup raisins
1 hard boiled egg

Post-training recovery meal:
Post-workout recovery shake with 1 frozen
banana, 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup,1 cup skim milk

Dinner:
1/4 lb organic lean meat (Chicken Breast)
Steamed vegetables (as much as you want)

I'm pretty aware of the lack of a Protein Supplement but I am working on that, but if any one can throw in any advice or things I should maybe add/subtract please let me know. It's all a game or trial and error for me at this point.

With These Hands

Hey there,

Well undoubtedly everybody has seen my photos. I'm sure most of you have see me in some of those photos, and said to yourselves "Hmmmm, something is different about that guy... What could it be?" Well now I urge you all to come closer so I can tell you a secret:

"I used to be fat!"

Plain and simple. In April of 2007 when I began my weight loss journey I weighed a whopping 120 kilograms. In April of 2008 when I left home and moved to Japan I weighed 100 kilograms. As of today, January 13, 2009 I weigh 80 kilograms. Not a bad effort if I do say so myself.

For the most part I've done it on my own. I didn't make a huge fuss out of it, I just set my goal, aimed high and went about it on my own. It paid off.

As of today I can no longer do that.

For my next stage I want you all to join me and be part of my transformation into the kind of man I've always wanted to become. This is a photo of me taken today:



Take good long look at it because it is the last time you will ever see me looking like that. I have given myself 90 days, that's three months, of no sweets, junk food or anything that may affect my goal. My goal of having a six-pack by my 22nd Birthday.

I am going to take a photo of myself every day for the next three months and post it on here so that you can watch my progress. On top of that I will post a blog everyday with my photo to let you know how I am feeling or any changes that I have noticed.

Living alone in a country where I don't speak the language I am counting on your support and strength to push me when it gets tough. I don't ask for it often, but I need your help.

So wish me luck, and keep watching as I change myself once again.

Oh and if your wondering where the new blog name came from, I took it from this quote:

"Don't ask for it; go take it with your own hands. Do that and you will always be rewarded."

Better Late Then Never

Well first of all a big "Happy New Year!!" too every one reading. I know its later, but better that then not at all.

You might notice that the site will look a bit odd here and there, or things might just vanish from time to time over the next few days. I'm just sorting the site out and maybe revamping it a little bit so bare with me.

I will have a post up later this week.

The Best Laid Plans

I had fully intended to post this week, and in fact on Monday took a few hours out of my day to write up what I had been doing lately and explain my absence. It had photos and everything.

Then my computer decided to crash.

And now it's gone. So because I am heading to Tokyo to meet up with my family for Christmas I won't be able to post for a few weeks. Sorry!

I'll try my best to get something up while we are in Tokyo, but as for long rants, well they can wait until after the new year now. I have a few plans I want to begin after the new year rolls in so let's see how they go...

A few more photos...

I was able to take a few more shots before I left for work yesterday. It's too bad that it's pouring with rain today, the snow has all melted or washed away so it's just miserable looking. I liked the way the snow looked. I'm sure it will be back as the temperature gets colder though.



Anyway, these photos were taken just up at the local shrine near my apartment. I thought the place looked pretty cool and don't really think my photos did it any justice but here they are regardless.

I should mention that I also picked up a video camera last week. It's pretty nice and records in Hi-Definition so the footage is really clear. I've been running around getting strange looks while I filmed the most seemingly mundane things. So expect my first attempt at a video to be posted soon.



I also fully intend on (even though I sometimes am now with my SLR) becoming that annoying guy whose always in every one's face when they're out somewhere.

Hey I'm going to see a lot in three years and meet many people, I think I should be allowed to share that with you all.