waistline | Project Bulk

Day 46

Day 46
(See the gallery for more photos.)

Weight: 131.2 lbs.
Workout A: 21 minutes, 53 seconds. Next: Workout B on Oct. 22.
Total inches: 120.5
Protein: 150 g (27 g over target)
Calories: 2,559
See more measurements.

Being the same weight for your entire adult life, some two decades, allows for certain luxuries. Jeans that endure, long past when style or an errant knee hole would otherwise require they be tossed or donated.

I have old pants. I have old shirts. I have clothes from the previous millenium along with items purchased in this very decade. They all fit fine.

A math guy like me should’ve figured out something in advance about Project Bulk. More food + workouts on free weights = bigger body, specifically waistline.

While my arms and hips have remained the same size in the last 6 weeks, my waist has increased from 31.4 to 34.5 inches, a jump of 3 inches.

My pants are snug, and I feel a little uncomfortable in them. A whole closet full of dress pants, casual pants and jeans, all perfectly sized for me before, are becoming constrictive.

(No problem with shirts. Dammit.)

As I continue to gain weight, I’m concerned about outgrowing all my nice pairs of pants, not so much the ancient jeans. I hadn’t considered the real possibility to having to re-outfit myself.

I’m dreading it. Not so much the expense — though I do buy based on quality, style, fit and durability — but the shopping. How I hate hate hate the shopping.

And, I’m not entirely sure that my waist might shrink in the future, either through modified exercise or reverting back to my previous eating habits.

I guess I can stick with elastic waistbands and sweatpants for now, to go along with new tank tops and a sparkly visor.

day 15

Weight: 123.2 lbs.
Workout A: 20 min., 42 sec.
Total inches: 117.4
Protein: 140 g (22 g over target)
Calories: 2,799

If this project is about vanity, the biggest concern I have is having a gut. (Not guts. Gut.)

I’ve always had a small pot belly, which doesn’t jump out when the first thing people notice is how skinny I am.

So besides looking foolish, my bigger concern is coming away from all of this with nothing more than a giant gut. That little nagging voice in the back of my mind may be my built-in appetite suppressant. And for me, it’s always worked.

Having never counted calories in my life, I started checking today. To maintain current weight (given my height and gender) requires roughly 1,700 to 2,100 calories a day.

“The 4-Hour Body” [Amazon | iTunes aff. links] assures the reader that one won’t transform from average human to muscle-bound freak overnight. It is implied that one won’t also explode around the waistline either. But the fear lingers.

The obvious answer for my workout Saturday: Bake.

I’ve made Nestlé Toll House chocolate chip cookies all my life. They’re easy, and I rarely vary the recipe. I’m always trying to get the perfect finish, chewy and moist.

I don’t have that many out-and-out sweets in the house, so baking some fresh temptations should make it easier to indulge. Each standard cookie has 110 calories and 2 g protein.

I had four with my protein shake for breakfast dessert, if that’s what you want to call it.

I never imagined 2 weeks in that I’d be struggling with putting on the pounds. The tiny voice is laughing.

•

Nestlé Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies

2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups (12-oz. package) semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Makes 5 dozen cookies

Note: 1 cookie has 110 calories, 2 g protein.