Tag Archives: goal

Day 162: Where does it end?

Day 162 - front

Day 162 – front

Weight: 137.0 lbs.
No workout today; next: Workout C, Feb. 11
Total inches: 124.3
Protein: 140 g (11 g over target)
Calories: 2,305

Project Bulk started as a 30-day plan to see if I could gain muscles and weight, having been stuck in the 120s for my adult life. Now nearing 6 months, I ask myself again: Where does it end?

For dieters, it ends at either a lower number or in frustration. I thought I might stop after adding 10 pounds of muscle. At this point, I’m just about there.

Chart: Lean mass, through Feb. 9

So many questions, without ready answers …

Do I keep doing what I’ve been doing?
If I stop, how quickly will I regress to that 120-pound blandness?
What should my maintenance workout schedule be?
Should I keep up the protein consumption, meaning a shake a day plus lots of meat?
Keep taking daily photos? Recording weekly numbers?
What does success look like?

It may take a while to figure out.

Day 161 - side

Day 161 – side

Day 49: Milestone

2 Replies

Day 49 - front

Day 49 – front
(See the gallery for more photos.)

Weight: 132.0 lbs.
No workout today. Next: Workout B on Oct. 22.
Total inches: 121.1
Protein: 131 g (8 g over target)
Calories: 2,534
See more measurements.

I hit one of my original milestone goals today. I gained 10 pounds.

I thought it would take only 30 days, but I was guessing based on limited information.

I started out at 121.8 pounds, a weight I’ve been for my entire adult life. To be up 10.2 pounds in 49 days is a small miracle. I can project that if I stay the course, by Day 100 on Dec. 9, I will be 141.8 pounds, adding 20 pounds total.

weight - day 49

Weight: Day 49

Why that date and weight? I figure that if my ratio of what I gain stays constant, that will mean roughly 10 pounds more of muscle, and consequently 10 more pounds of fat.

That’s not to say Dec. 9 would be a stopping point. It depends on how I look, too. If I look brawny and muscular, mission accomplished.

But if I feel like I need more toning and shaping, a more likely scenario, I can tinker with daily protein intake, daily calorie intake, frequency and type of workouts. Perhaps it will be back to normal caloric intake (roughly 1,700 to 2,000 a day), the same higher protein intake and a twice weekly kettlebell workout to develop my arms.

I can feel the difference, but not in a “I have all kinds of energy” way. It’s more of me getting used to my new shape, which is rounder in the middle and has some trouble with pants.

But getting here was very easy. I can’t pretend to say it was that challenging to gorge myself or exercise moderately every few days. It took discipline to record all the numbers and to eat enough calories a day. But I wanted it to be easy, so that quitting wouldn’t be an option.

See you at 140.

Day 49 - side

Day 49 – side

Day 34: The questions that remain

1 Reply

Day 34

Day 34
(See the gallery for more photos.)

Weight: 129.4 lbs.
Workout A: 21 minutes, 51 seconds. Next: Workout B on Oct. 10.
Total inches: 120.1
Protein: 153 g (31 g over target)
Calories: 2,247
See more measurements.

Entering month 2, the road ahead is easier to see.

Five workouts, instead of nine. No need to increase the recovery time, as 5 days is the maximum time required.
Steady on with eating. Weight has gone up fairly steadily, even with the regular up-down cycling.
Five or six posts, nothing back-breaking.
Daily photos and measurements.
Similar menu and grocery shopping.
Maybe, big maybe, some yoga or walking.

What remains uncertain is how much and how fast. I gained 3 pounds in 30 days, with nine workouts in 3 hours, 42 minutes. Let’s say the five workouts this month run about 20 minutes each, so 1 hour and 40 minutes. “The 4-Hour Body” [Amazon | iTunes aff. links] says this is plenty, as muscle growth takes time and protein.

So this 31-day period should tell me plenty about my muscle growth rate and how it affects my upper body. We saw in the first month some reduction in “love handles” and some fleshing out of my chest. I’d love to see some growth in the arms, but I bet I might need to switch to an all-kettlebell routine in month 3 or 4.

The questions I need to answer: What does success look like? Will I know it when I see it? Is it a number on the scale or on the tape measure?

Will I need to switch to a different routine to sculpt the arms or abs? How far do I want to take this?

The original goal was to see what changed, if anything, after 30 days. Now I need to set a new goal.

For now, the goal is: Let’s see how I look on Halloween.

Stud or freak, toned test subject or fitness zombie?