General Notes...
As noted before, it had been problematic going to the gym for a while. It wasn't out of apathy, and I am squarely back on the path. I have been lifting a fair bit but due to time constraints, among other things, I hadn't been able to get back on the stationary bike.
That changed today, though I wouldn't necessarily say for the better. After almost a month not riding, it was a tough sell to tell my body to keep going. I did, however, and there were some interesting outputs. As I've noted before, I've been tracking this stuff in the spreadsheet. Overall, this workout was pretty mid-range as far as efficiency and over all performance went, maybe even a bit better than that.
For some reason, however, my heart rate was through the roof this workout! I'm usually in the mid-150 BPM range for any given ride. According to the bike, today's average was 168, which seems sort of crazy! To be honest, I'm wondering if the bike's calibration is off, but I will say I felt a bit more strain than I was used to, as well.
Progress...?
While I'm here, I might as well talk about any progress I've made, or feel I've made -- or even lack thereof.
In short, as far as the primary goal stated in the past (lose 30 lb or so), I have not had much success. Maybe, at best, 3 lb. Meh.
That said, I'm definitely seeing progress elsewhere. My jeans are getting dangerously saggy -- jeans which, in the past, I feel I was sort of deluding myself into thinking fit well in the waist. I probably need a new belt soon, or should reuse an old one, because this one isn't going to do the trick much longer.
I'm much happier with how shirts -- t-shirts, at least -- are fitting again. I've regained a bit, just a touch, of upper body definition. Probably related to the jeans above, I feel like I've lost a little fat along my sides/ribs, though the gut is still there. Even it, however, seems to me to be in better shape, or maybe that's just wishful thinking.
To be honest, I think I'm in that "honeymoon" phase for a workout/weight loss program -- that wonderful time where you can simultaneously gain muscle and lose fat. That might explain some of the failure to lose weight. I will have to keep an eye on this, because as I'd stated, while I don't have to necessarily hit a hard goal of "lose 30 lb" to get my tattoo, I'm still quite certain that barring any miracle, I won't magically put on 30 pounds of muscle while cutting all the flab.
Finally, I quite simply feel a lot better, as well. A lot of those aches and pains have started going away, as I became less sedentary. I don't think I can necessarily thank weight loss for that, but rather just things (e.g., core stability muscles) firming up, getting acquainted with being used again.
In the end, I'm pretty sure I'm a good ways down the 'right path'. I'd just like to see that reflected on the scales a bit.
That said, I'm definitely seeing progress elsewhere. My jeans are getting dangerously saggy -- jeans which, in the past, I feel I was sort of deluding myself into thinking fit well in the waist. I probably need a new belt soon, or should reuse an old one, because this one isn't going to do the trick much longer.
I'm much happier with how shirts -- t-shirts, at least -- are fitting again. I've regained a bit, just a touch, of upper body definition. Probably related to the jeans above, I feel like I've lost a little fat along my sides/ribs, though the gut is still there. Even it, however, seems to me to be in better shape, or maybe that's just wishful thinking.
To be honest, I think I'm in that "honeymoon" phase for a workout/weight loss program -- that wonderful time where you can simultaneously gain muscle and lose fat. That might explain some of the failure to lose weight. I will have to keep an eye on this, because as I'd stated, while I don't have to necessarily hit a hard goal of "lose 30 lb" to get my tattoo, I'm still quite certain that barring any miracle, I won't magically put on 30 pounds of muscle while cutting all the flab.
Finally, I quite simply feel a lot better, as well. A lot of those aches and pains have started going away, as I became less sedentary. I don't think I can necessarily thank weight loss for that, but rather just things (e.g., core stability muscles) firming up, getting acquainted with being used again.
In the end, I'm pretty sure I'm a good ways down the 'right path'. I'd just like to see that reflected on the scales a bit.
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