Day 303 – front

• Weight: 138.2 lbs.
• No workout today; next: Workout C, July 1
• Total inches: 125.3
• Protein: 134 g (4 g over target)
• Calories: 2,124

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*I started these exercises on different dates.

Discipline is easy without distractions.

But July will likely be a challenging month.

June has become busier with work, so staying on track with exercise and diet has been more difficult. Last week, I fell asleep one night before having my protein shake.

It took 4 extra days to make up the deficit in calories and protein. From one single shake.

I find myself looking forward to 2 months from now, or the 1-year mark. I feel like scaling back at that point, though I’m willing to bet my body fat percentage will still be a source of concern.

Fortunately, I have chapters yet to read in “The 4-Hour Body” [Amazon | iTunes aff. links] that can help with losing fat.

I will likely drop the daily photos and weekly blog posts, switching to monthly updates. I may continue to keep my daily diet recorded, if only to ensure I manage my nutrition properly and measure the impact of any changes.

And I daydream about trying out a full-on 3-month workout camp, just to test my limits. What I do is easy, because I have designed it that way. Putting myself in the hands of experts and truly bulking up would be a real mental and physical test.

I’d either end up ripped, or broken.

But first, I need to get through the next 2 months …

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June’s average workout time was 26 minutes and 29 seconds, the same as May.

I averaged 2,159 calories a day in June. I also had 132 g protein a day on average.

The project has cost me $286.73 so far. I spent $70.15 less on food in June compared to previous monthly averages.

You can see all the numbers updated in real time on the Measurements page.

Day 301 – side

Day 1 vs. Day 303 – front
[Click image for a larger version.]

Day 1 vs. Day 301 – side
[Click image for a larger version.] 

Day 273 – front

• Weight: 138.2 lbs.
• Workout C: 28 minutes, 26 seconds; next: Workout C, June 3
• Total inches: 124.6
• Protein: 134 g (4 g over target)
• Calories: 2,173

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*I started these exercises on different dates.

This month has been messy.

My diet has been smooth, but my exercise has been sloppy: bad form, off dates, light weights.

My form can be increasingly askew during workouts. I noticed my kettlebell swings were becoming lower and lower (they should peak parallel with my shoulders). As I worked on bringing the swings higher, I tired out quicker. But at least my form is back where it should be.

If I were more rigorous about my schedule, I’d stick with my Monday-Wednesday-Friday workout routine. However, I have occasionally slid into the next day. Sometimes, it’s laziness. Sometimes, it’s my very busy work schedule. I’m not crazy about working out on the “wrong” day, but I’m at least maintaining three sessions per week.

My muscle development has slowed because of one simple problem: lifting weights that are too light. My Yates rows have been easier and easier since I haven’t added weight to the bar in 2 months. I must find some low-cost weight plates (15 and 25 pounds) to add to my collection.

Even my single-arm kettlebell swing should have been bumped to 35 pounds, after finishing a full set at 30 pounds in April. But I forgot to add weight to those sessions, both times in May.

The only one holding me back from my full potential is me.

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May’s average workout time was 26 minutes and 29 seconds. It should hold steady from now on, based on numbers of reps.

Having dropped to the 2,100-to-2,200 range for calories, I averaged 2,154 calories a day in May. I also had 131.5 g protein a day on average.

The project has cost me $356.88 so far. I spent $37.43 less on food in May compared to previous monthly averages.

You can see all the numbers updated in real time on the Measurements page.

Day 273 – side

Day 1 vs. Day 273 – front
[Click image for a larger version.]

Day 1 vs. Day 273 – side
[Click image for a larger version.] 

Day 243 – front

• Weight: 139.0 lbs.
• Workout D: 26 minutes, 14 seconds; next: Workout C, May 3
• Total inches: 125.0
• Protein: 131 g (0 g over target)
• Calories: 2,140

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*I started these exercises on different dates.

April was filled with the unexpected.

I used up all my heavy plates in weightlifting, so I need to shop for a couple of 25-pound plates.

I had to redo my protein shake recipe because of my gross accounting error.

I went up in body fat percentage.

It had been a relatively smooth ride, and then this past month has been quite bumpy. It will smooth out as I adjust.

Total workout time by month

My average workout time continues to grow and won’t stop until I plateau at 50 reps of “cat vomit” (already at 46). April’s average was 25 minutes and 3 seconds.

Because of the protein shake adjustment, my calorie goal has dropped from the 2,300-2,400 range to the 2,100-2,200 range. The April daily calorie intake was 2,276 on average.

The project has cost me $315.14 so far. I spent $11.50 more on food in April compared to previous monthly averages.

You can see all the numbers updated in real time on the Measurements page.

Maybe May will will be more like a lamb and less of a lion.

Day 238 – side

Day 1 vs. Day 243 – front
[Click image for a larger version.]

Day 1 vs. Day 238 – side
[Click image for a larger version.]