Flash's Get Back in Shape Contest Journal

[The Flash]

This contest has come at a perfect time for me because I have let myself go big time. I was in really good shape this summer with a great diet and working out regularly. Then the college semester hit and it all went down from there. I stopped working out regularly and my diet went to crap. I also suffered a broken collarbone as well as a knee injury one after the other. I gained over 30 pounds since then and I look and more importanly feel like crap and enough is enough. This contest is exactly the motivation and kick in the rear I need to get back into shape.

12/7/07 Stats
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 231 lbs.

I'll be cheering for you.

What is this thing with USA Today? Hopefully you got it free. Showing your local newspaper makes for a more interesting photo.

Keep the pedal to the metal!

[The Flash]

Thanks Mr. P! And yes I decided to use USA Today because a) I got it for free and b) the contest said to use a national newspaper. I'm having trouble making the pictures bigger but the date of the paper is 12/6/07.

[.V.]

Hey Flash, thanks for joining up. This should be a great motivator for everyone who participates. And things look good for you here in this thing. The "let go" look is a benefit because well it's a "most improved" thing, not a "best physique" thing.

Looking forward to seeing your progress.

[The Flash]

I have decided to start from square one and get back to basics to start off. I also wanted to use a challenge type workout so I decided to go with Body for Life by Bill Phillips. This was a program I used when I first started researching weight training and I had good succuess with it so I'm going to give it another go. I'll turn to something completely different afterwards for the second phase.

BFL advises three days of weightlifting alternating between upper and lower body and three days of cardio on an empty stomach with one rest day. Obviously my selection of exercises will be coming from the compound movements (bench press, squat, row, etc) with the isolation movements at the end of the workout. I'm thinking of adding in another day of weight training but I'll wait and see how my body adjusts to the long layoff. I can tell you this week hasn't been a fun one getting back into the game but it's slowly coming back to me.

btw, I had a Biggest Loser type weigh in this week losing 5 lbs this week. I certainly dont expect to see anymore big weeks like this lol. I guess this is what happens when you get back into a workout schedule after being lazy lol.

Starting Weight: 231 lbs.
Current Weight: 226 lbs.