Sweaty, Sore, Hungry and a Bet47 lbs LOSTso farSeptember 13, 2007 by Israel Lagares | 2 comments
Let me start off by telling you about my bet. I was helping my bud pack up stuff for a move when he jokingly offered me his large size Dallas Cowboys jersey. I told him it wouldn’t fit me and he agreed. I then told him to give me a few months before it would fit me properly but he scoffed at me. That’s when I decided to make a bet, a bet that I would fit into the jersey within 3 months and it would look GOOD.
So here is a picture of how the jersey looks on me now. The mere fact that I fit into it now is amazing. Deion Sanders, eat your heart out. Who said a 300+ pound man couldn’t where a size Large.
The last few days workouts have been busting my butt. I have upped the ante to two workouts a day so that’s probably the reason why. I have been aiming at having at least two cardio sessions a day. I start my day by eating some cereal, then heading into The Shack for my first session. The Shack, as I call it, is my workout haven. This usually consists of strength training and cardio on the treadmill. After about an hour and a half I get the heck outta there and then have my protein shake and lunch. My second session is usually a non-traditional workout such as going to the park and running around with my daughter or moving some stuff around the house. Although it may not seem like a strong second workout, it is effective because I sweat a ton.
My body is extremely sore from the extra exercising session, but I think I like it. I haven’t felt this kind of soreness in a while. I feel it all over my body. I was beginning to think that I was maybe not working out hard enough or effectively enough, so this is a welcomed change. The soreness goes away right before I workout, but returns right after which gives me a sore-less workout experience. A buddy of mine once told me that pineapples are excellent for muscle soreness. I take glutamine and protein, plus water and sleep. I think that works good for me.
I do get a bit scared about overdoing it. I don’t want to overwork my body to the point where I can’t workout effectively. That’s something I have been thinking about a lot lately. There have been times in my life where I have pulled muscles, broken bones, and twisted ankles. All of those suck big time and I just don’t want to go through that again.
Something else that I realized is that I have been really, really hungry over the past few days. I guess that the thermogenesis is really kicking in now. Which is good, because I need to keep my internal furnace burning if I am going to lose this weight. It’s also been an exercise in mental toughness. There have been moments when I just want to raid the fridge and fill the emptiness that I am feeling in my stomach. I have not been starving myself or anything like that so I guess it’s just the extra workouts that are burning up those calories faster.
On another note, I recorded myself doing some bench sets and running on the treadmill but I couldn’t upload the files to You Tube.
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Drink More Agua47 lbs LOSTso farSeptember 11, 2007 by Israel Lagares | 7 comments
I seriously mean it. Drink MORE water. It helps clean your system out. I tend to drink at least a gallon of water a day. Maybe more, I get really thirsty after intense workouts. I also get extremely hungry after an intense workout, but I will cover that some other time.
If you look close enough at the picture you will see my Nike Shox glowing in the background. These, and my New Balance 8500’s, are my favorite running and training shoes. And yes, we recycle.
There are many benefits to drinking water. One of the benefits for me is that it helps me curb my hunger. There are times when I feel hungry although I just ate 30 earlier. During those times I just down some green tea and I am fine (I get most of my water via my green tea). There are times when I seriously just want to binge, but then I open the fridge and the first thing I see is a huge jug of green tea. It’s like my liquid protector.
Another benefit is that I don’t feel dehydrated. I sweat a lot, A LOT! Getting water into my system helps keep me hydrated ahead of time. When I was in the military the drill instructors used to say, “If you’re thirsty, it’s already too late. You’re body is dehydrated.” They used to urge us to drink from our canteens every 15 to 20 minutes, even if we weren’t thirsty. I try, keyword here is TRY, to do employ this technique but the problem with me is that my kidneys process the water really fast. I pee a lot.
Having water circulate through your system helps you clean out your body and kidneys. Have you ever noticed that when you don’t drink enough water that your urine is yellow and stinky? Well, I do. I make sure to always drink enough water so that my urine is clear and odorless. Although I really dislike having to urinate so often, it is a necessary evil. 
Some people think that the more water you drink, the more you will retain. That’s the total opposite of what happens.
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I just had to take a water/piss break. I had to use the bathroom and then decided to drink some water while I was up.
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Something else I have noticed is that when I drink decent amounts of water, my skin is clearer. My pores are cleaner and more open and I have less acne and blemishes. This isn’t something I particularly care about, but some folks may see it as a welcomed side effect.
Drinking an adequate amount of water is good for you, but be wary of drinking too much water. There have been cases in which some people have gotten water poisoning. Sounds weird right? Well, it’s true. A few month’s ago a lady died from over drinking during a radio station contest. She was trying to win a video game system for her kids. She was a single parent. It is important to try and spread out your water drinking and to not drink too much at one time. If you do, you may be drowning your body. That’s what happened to that poor lady.
Did you know that the human body can only last about a week without food and water? But it can last up to a month on only water? Crazy right? Now go drink more agua.
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Replace, Remove, Repeat47 lbs LOSTso farSeptember 9, 2007 by Israel Lagares | 8 comments
I was having a “comment conversation” with Jesse from Former Fat Guy and as we were discussing a post of mine I blurted the phrase “replace, remove, repeat.” It was in reference to starting out slow and then gradually, over time getting acclimated with the new changes you have made in your life.
Many people fail with their diets and workouts because they make drastic changes that simple leave them feeling empty. By drastically removing things from your life you leave yourself wanting those things and most likely go back to them. There is the occasional person that uses the drastic change technique and is successful, going to boot camps, fat loss farms, military camps, but for the most part it fails. Some folks have the inner warrior that allows them to use this method and succeed. I do it sometimes. What I do is short term drastic changes. What is that? Well, I will set a predefined amount of time that I will practice my drastic change. So say for a month I decide to not eat any bread or rice, I do that for the month and then go back to normal. It may be the difference in losing a few extra pounds or in lowering my cholesterol.
I don’t do that too often, and don’t suggest it either. What I normally do is use the replace method. Instead of permanently removing a food or habit from my daily routine, I replace it. That way I gradually get it out of my system and won’t miss it. It’s almost like the nicotine patch idea: you slowly ween yourself off of the cigarette addiction.
An example of using the replace method is instead of watching television for 3 hours on the couch, replace 30 minutes to an hour of it with some push ups, air squats, and crunches. While you’re are it, do some jumping jacks in between commercial breaks. Another example could be to drink 3 glasses of water for every soda you drink. Little things like that will make you feel way better, both mentally and physically.
So next time you are thinking about starting a new “thing,” don’t make drastic changes. You should instead try to replace something. Over time this will eventually remove that from your life. Then all you have to do is repeat that method.
Simple right? Give it a try and let me know how it goes.
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I’m a Soy Milk and Green Tea Kinda Guy47 lbs LOSTso farSeptember 5, 2007 by Israel Lagares | 19 comments
Each day I make sure to have at least 1 gallon worth of green tea. Why so much? It’s an antioxidant and it helps me get my daily serving of water. I don’t drink anything but water and green tea. There is the occasional soy milk with my morning cereal, but that is about it. Here are some of the benefits of green tea.
I like drinking soy milk with my morning cereal instead of regular cow’s milk. It has a good amount of protein and fiber. It is also low in cholesterol when compared to cow’s milk. I happen to love the creamy taste it has. Well, at least the brand that I buy tastes creamy. According to some studies, soy milk also has some cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis combating elements. It does have a negative side though: its lack of calcium. But that’s no biggie, I don’t depend on it for that.
As you can see I keep my fridge stocked with about 2 or 3 weeks worth of soy milk. I love the fact that it has a long “shelf life.” I think the ones I have in my fridge expire in early October.
Well, time to do some push-ups and go to bed. Hasta las vista!
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Interesting Conversation with my Cousin47 lbs LOSTso farSeptember 3, 2007 by Israel Lagares | 29 comments
I had a very interesting conversation with my cousin the other day. It centered around his wanting to get back into shape. He hadn’t been over my house for a few months and realized how I was living a healthier life: green tea and soy milk in the fridge, tuna in the cupboard, salads and fruits on the counter.
He was kind of shocked. He knows me as the big, fat cousin. The guy that was always a big football player. I explained to him that I have been wanting to change my life. He too wants to change his life, but hasn’t done anything to better it. He eats all the wrong things and doesn’t do anything remotely close to exercise.
I started telling him that he needs to dig deep inside and find that inner warrior that will help him in his quest. He needs to find that one thing that will make him stick to doing anything. For me it’s being able to play with my two year old daughter in the park. Knowing that what I am doing will give me a better quality of life is all I need in order to keep in plugging away with my healthier lifestyle.
I also told him that the change doesn’t need to be drastic. Adjusting some small things such as eating more fruit or walking around outside for his lunch break will be a great start. He was telling me that he doesn’t know how to begin. The thing with him is that he has never had that exercising background. He has never eaten healthy either. He was always able to maintain a decent figure up until a year ago. I guess life caught up with him, but I explained to him that anyone can do anything.
I even invited him over after work to workout with me a few times a week. He said he would take me up on the offer. I hope he does because we all need someone to help us through life.
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Sinfully Spiced Plantains with Chocolate Sauce47 lbs LOSTso farAugust 31, 2007 by Israel Lagares | 15 comments
Being that I am of Spanish decent, I love eating plantains (those banana looking things). Ever since I was a kid, my mother would cook some up with some salami or eggs and I would scarf them down. Ahhhh, the memory makes my mouth water.
Anyway, I was at Wal-Mart the other day and came across a little recipe index card that they had laying around. It was for heart-healthy plantains. I decided to incorporate my own little touch, so here goes. Enjoy it, its extremely tasty and health conscience.
Step 1. Preheat your grill at medium heat.
Step 2. Sprinkle a little cinnamon sugar on each side of the plantains. Grill the plantains on a grill rack covered with nonstick cooking spray over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes on each side. Be sure to cover grill with lid during grilling process.
Step 3. Pour on the chocolate sauce and enjoy.
What you will need:
2 tbsp. Cinnamon sugar
4 ripe Plantains, peeled and sliced
1 cup jarred chocolate sauce or topping
How long and How many:
Preparation Time: 4 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Serves: 8
More details, nutritional, per serving:
250 calories
2.5 grams of fat
0 mg cholesterol
63 mg sodium
60 grams carbohydrates
1.5 grams protein
4 grams of fiber
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Afternoon Sweat Factory47 lbs LOSTso farAugust 30, 2007 by Israel Lagares | No comments
I had one of the best workouts I have had in a while today. Yep, I must say I am proud of myself. Although it is very early in my weight loss journey, I am extremely satisfied with the start. If this is a look of what’s to come then I will be at my goal faster then expected. I do expect some road blocks in the coming months, but I will be prepared to stick to the task at hand.
Today I lifted weights and did some cardio. I did a quick bench and triceps workout that consisted of 4 sets of 15 to 20 reps on the bench. Then I did some tricep extensions: 3 sets of 15 reps each. The best part of the workout session was when I stepped onto the treadmill and jogged at a decent speed for 10 minutes non stop. It doesn’t seem like much, but for being a 345 pound guy that hasn’t worked out in a while I am extremely happy with where I am at. I could have stayed on the treadmill longer but my buddy needed me to help him move some large furniture from his new house. I figured I would get a second cardio session in by helping him. Every time a bud or family member needs help moving, they call me up. I guess it’s because they look at me as the big strong guy.
By the time I was done with my workout I was drenched and loving every minute of it. At first I felt as if I should have worked out a bit more, but by the time I got out of the shower I realized that the workout was just fine. I think tomorrow I will step it up a bit, maybe do 15 minutes of cardio. I eventually want to do anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes of cardio per day for about 5 months. Then once I drop most of the weight I want slow it down to 3 to 4 days a week of cardio and 3 days a week of weight training.
Well, I also ate really well today. Some cereal in the morning, fruits for lunch, and chicken and veggies for dinner. It is becoming easier and easier to control myself from all of the enticing delicacies I am used to eating. Things are picking up. They sure are.
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Controlling My Calorie Intake47 lbs LOSTso farAugust 28, 2007 by Israel Lagares | No comments
The last couple of days have been pretty satisfying. I have managed to mentally suppress my appetite. As soon as I get up I make a protein shake and eat a bowl of raisin bran cereal with soy milk. Then I eat a yogurt, fruit and or a half a can of tuna for lunch. Dinner has been grilled chicken with salad.
Here’s a pic of an awesome tasting grilled chicken with romaine lettuce and virgin olive oil salad. Man was it good. My wife definitely knows how to make a mean grilled chicken salad.
The last few days have been all about “getting it done.” I have been mentally preparing myself for each day by telling myself that I WILL DO THIS! No matter what. The truth is that I must do this, there is no room for failure here. Not this time, not again. That’s the approach I am taking. That’s what has worked for me in the past, so that’s what I will do.
The working out and eating right part will come. I know it will. It all starts up there in your head. This past weekends workouts still have my body aching, but I like it. It reminds me that I am on my mission and that nothing will stop me.
Not even me.
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Day 1 All Over Again, 345 lbs with Videos47 lbs LOSTso farAugust 27, 2007 by Israel Lagares | 2 comments
Yep, that’s right. I was on the right track for about a month, doing my workouts and eating the way I needed to eat. I was even mentally “there.” But that’s behind me now because today was the day I started all over again.
I weighed myself today and was at 345 lbs. I told ya it was day one all over again! So that’s the starting weight I will use. So I woke up today and told myself “Israel, get off your butt and do this! Just do it!” I know I have it in me darn it. I was on a high school football team that was borderline torturing us for practice and I made it through Parris Island in South Carolina (that’s the Marine Corps Boot camp). So this should be super, duper easy. But you know what I realized? I had peer support during those tough times, working out alone in my shack doesn’t provide me that. So that’s where this blog comes in, along with some offline peer support from some friends and family. So I suggest if you are planning on embarking on a mission such as this, you do not do it alone.
So my first workout in a few months was a good one. Here are some videos of my bench workout. I managed to still be able to rep 225lbs 10 or 12 times. That’s pretty good muscle maturity I got going. I started out benching 205 lbs to warm up.
Repping 205 lbs on the bench
A close-up of my Y R U So Small Shirt and pumping out that last rep.
Me repping 225lbs on the Bench
Afterward, I almost passed out. Not because I was intentionally trying to push myself to the point of exhaustion, but because I think my body was SHOCKED! I knew that I had to stop so I came inside and got a cup of water. Then I started feeling dizzy and my stomach was in knots. I had passed out once before many years ago but it was nothing like this. So I sat down and collected myself for a few minutes. After it had passed I made a whey protein shake: Two 25 gram protein packing scoops of muscle building goodness. I then scarfed down some amino acids, creatine, glutamine, and a multi vitamin to wash it all down. The only supplements that I plan on taking include protein, glutamine, creatine, amino acids, and a multi-vitamin. I won’t be taking any appetite suppressants, rapid-energy boosters, or what ever else is out there. Not until I am at least 50 lbs lighter or so.
All I did for today’s workout was upper body. I benched, did some lat pulldowns for my back, and some standing bicep curls. That little and I still almost passed out. Go figure…I guess I am that much out of shape.
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Finding It Hard to Exercise and Eat Healthy47 lbs LOSTso farAugust 23, 2007 by Israel Lagares | 12 comments
Ever since getting back home from New York I have been finding it extremely hard to exercise and eat better. I told myself that when I got back home it would be back to my normal routine that I followed before heading off on vacation. Well, disappointingly I have not lifted one weight or eaten anything healthy. It has been about 2 weeks since I got back. Ugh. I can’t stand myself right now, but I know that I need to get my act together.
The closest I have come to a workout has been running around the house playing tag with my 2 year old daughter. I know that I lost what I gained (stamina-wise) because running around the living room makes me lose my breath and I start breathing really hard. I have also manage to break a sweat by changing the car seat from car to car outside in the hot sun. Besides that there has been nothing.
I do have the desire, but I am not sure how to kick start myself. My wife is back on track, working out and eating right. She tries to motivate me but I resist. Those darned Burger King Rodeo Burgers are too irresistible, and they are only $1 for now!! How can I say no to that? Anyway, I guess I need to dig deep and man up (as they say back where I am from).
I have already failed my goal of being at a decent weight by end of August. I managed to gain back all the weight I lost and lose all the stamina and energy that I gained.
Here is to hoping that I can man up and start getting my act together.
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Steady Progress47 lbs LOSTso farJune 27, 2007 by Israel Lagares | No comments
It has been a while since I posted. Since my last post I have been hitting the weights and cardio on a consistent basis. Except for a couple of days last week when some “things” happened that required my undivided attention. But besides that I have been on a role. I have already made this my way of life. One thing I am looking forward to is the day when I can eat whatever I want and not have to worry about it. But that is a long way away, possible some time around Christmas, which would be perfect because my family tends to make some of the best food around the holidays.
Other than that I feel really strong. Stronger than before. I have also incorporated some different exercises into my routine which have helped me get hit some untapped parts of my body. I am also looking forward to being able to do some more cross training.
One thing I did notice today was that as I was on the treadmill I felt the weight holding me down. It was as if I had on a fat suit and it was pulling me down towards the earth. I hated that feeling!!! It made my legs feel heavy and my back hurt. Just thinking about it now makes me feel sluggish. Once I drop the weight I will try my hardest to keep it off.
I have decided to not weigh myself for a few weeks, maybe months, and to not take any pics until I do weigh myself. I will just post my progress by how I am feeling physically, by how my clothes fit, by how my body fits in the world around me (chairs, amusement park rides, tight places, etc.), and by how people react to my appearance. Besides that I won’t be officially measuring my progress with a scale for a while.
Well, that’s all for now. Until next time… Get it done!
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