Today was a great workout day, but not a great day at work (more in a minute).

I am still immersed in this current nutrition plan and I feel like it has really stoked the fat burning fires in my body.  I've dropped 2% body fat since the start of the plan and it just keeps dropping off daily.  I have people recognizing that I'm looking thinner yet they recognize that I have not really lost weight (and that's really my goal–stay the same but lose the fat).  It is exciting to see the results and even more exciting that those close to me are noticing it as well.

At work today I have an employee who is currently on probation for a variety of issues.  I confronted him about one of those issues happening again and he completely denied it.  I had found out that he was working off the clock (illegal), but he denied it.  I had my Network Administrator do some research and discovered that we could prove he was working at the time he claimed he wasn't.  Thus, he lied to me and will be terminated from his job on Monday.  It is a sad thing because I don't like that I was lied to.  I have no problem letting someone go for dishonesty, but I really hate that he lied to me.

The strength training workout was awesome today. I like days like today because I can focus on my form and the mind-muscle connection.  It was not even as crowded as usual at the gym (yes, there are other crazy people like me working out at 4 a.m.).  This was a nice change as it gave me some time to review my workout.  When I say “review” I am meaning that I was going over the quality of my form as I was doing the exercises. Sometimes you get a weight to the point that it is actually too heavy and you force your way through.  This is not the desired response at all.  Thus, I did a mental checklist and corrected any possible issues.

Accountability Log:

Nutrition Log:

Workout Log:

Thought for the Day:

Life is about having fun.  You can do anything you want, but if you are not having fun, why bother?  Go out and have some fun!

Until tomorrow…GET BACK TO LIFTING!

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Total immersion is a complete state of mind.  It involves every fiber of your being.  It is exactly what it sounds like–totally immersing yourself in something.  In this case it is the shredder lifestyle that I'm talking about.

To some it may seem to be an obssession, but to me it is total immersion in an idea.  I have found that the more committed I am to something the better my results are at it.  I have that type of personality.  When I am interested in something, I read everything on the subject.  I learn as much as I can.  I immerse myself in the material.  The subject itself becomes living and breathing to me.  I become a mini-expert.

My body is no different.  I know how hard I can push myself.  I know what my limits are.  I know the signs that my body gives off.  It is all important to the process I am going through. 

Lately I've been totally immersed in my nutrition plan.  I'm now playing with what is the right amount of cardio for this plan.  I am also messing with some spreadsheets that will help me use this plan for bulking later.  To me, the key to all of this bulking talk is to do a “clean bulk.”  What's a “clean bulk” you ask?  I'm so glad you asked that question!  First, in order to do a bulk you have to eat alot of food.  Alot of people bulk using whatever food they can muster up.  However, in a clean bulk you attempt to keep your nutrition clean and under control, but you up the calories.  I am experimenting with ideas on how I might use my current nutritional approach for a clean bulk situation and I think I've nailed it.

To me it is a great deal of fun to be immersed in something.  I like this shredder lifestyle that I've developed and I don't plan on ever going back to my old way of life.  I've found that my endurance, while it has a long way to go, is much better than it ever was before.  My strength has improved tremendously.  My mental attitude is sharpened.  I have more motivation than ever before.  And now I want all this to rub off on you.

Starting this weekend I'm going to be doing a podcast series on the topics I just mentioned–endurance, immersion, strength, mental attitude, motivation, bodybuilding and the shredder lifestyle.  There will be a new podcast each week.  I am also trying to figure out how to do a tips on lifting video podcast.  I have to work out those details for the future.

If you want to get some great information, return this weekend for the new and improved Fat Burning Machine Podcast.

Accountability Log:

Nutrition Log:

Workout Log:

PACE cardio on elipptical machine for 24 minutes

Thought for the Day:

If you're going to do something, go all the way.  Never give up half way to the finish line.

Until tomorrow…GET BACK TO LIFTING!

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Today was another great strength workout.  I am starting to really enjoy the schedule I'm on switching between training with the trainer and doing my strength training.  It really helps to keep me focused.

I also had a nice PACE session this afternoon.  During that session I listened to more of the podcast with Dexter Jackson and Jay Cutler. It is awesome to hear the dedication these men have to the sport of bodybuilding.  They obviously live and breathe it, but they are also fairly humble.  Neither man wanted to admit that he was a favorite at the 2008 Olympia Weekend in Las Vegas, yet it will likely come down to them in the #1 and #2 slots.  Watch and see!

I'm still really focused on the fact that I can and will do whatever it takes to achieve my goals.  This crazy nutritional scheme I'm on just continues to amaze me.  I keep losing fat and holding or increasing LBM and that's the goal ladies and gentlemen.  I am excited that the planning and tinkering I've done is working and have decided to add a chapter to the eBook regarding this nutritional scheme.  I am journaling my feelings and thoughts about it as I go along (thanks to Mike: Aussie Body Builder who inspired me to not only take daily uncovered pictures, but to journal my experience).  I will use the journal to share my experience with you all when this is over.

God is with me on this one.  Obviously carbs (as you can see from my ratios) are not as helpful for me as they could be.  I wish I could reveal more, but I've actually come up with a plan for using this extreme approach on a regular basis once this experiment is done. 

Accountability Log:

Nutrition Log:

Workout Log:

PACE Cardio for 24 minutes on the treadmill in the afternoon.

Thought for the Day:

You hit your goals by keeping them in front of you at all times.  Review them daily and you are bound to hit them.

Until tomorrow…GET BACK TO LIFTING!

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Today began the official Shredder Council 2.0 28 day shred.  I am not changing anything that I'm doing for this shred.  It will end a little after my nutritional experiment.  I have already planned how I will be integrating this extreme approach into my normal eating schedule for Mission 3.  As usual, Mission 3 will be a 100 day mission.  I will likely focus on mass building regardless of where I end up on the body fat.  At the same time, the way things are going, I'm pretty sure the body fat numbers will be low enough.

Today was a good workout.  He had me do the 300 workout again.  It is a pretty intense experience to say the least. 

An employee came back to work today after being on maternity leave.  That was actually a huge relief for me.  She's responsible for a large portion of our development staff and having her back on site is nice.

I'm tired and ready for bed.  Can't wait to get around to the other shredder blogs tomorrow.

Accountability Log:

Nutrition Log:

Workout Log:

Thought for the Day:

Take what you learn and apply it in every aspect of your plan.

Until tomorrow…GET BACK TO LIFTING!

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Today was a rest day for me.  I spent the day relaxing and enjoying myself.  It was a nice day.

I've been doing alot of thinking about motivation and drive and it excites me.  Adam Waters always talks about primary motivating factors, but I think that there are also primary driving forces at work as well.  I honestly think  that at times the PMF and the PDF are the same, but most of the time they are different.

For me a driving force is my health while a motivating factor is to be in a bodybuilding competition.  One is more likely to be a problem than the other.  In fact, the motivating factor can change and probably will change over time, but the driving force is never going to change.  I will always be a shredder for my health.

I think this is an important distinction to remember.  Our goals are PMFs and our life, health and longevity are our PDF.  I believe that we need to plan our focus on both areas.  At the same time, we can't give up.  We can't make excuses because excuses just give us a way out.  We want to remove our way out because they are really just excuses that get in the way of our accomplishments.

As I stated the other day, God doesn't ever give us more than we can handle and always gives us the strength to accomplish what we are looking to accomplish.  When we fail it is because of our own limitations.

Accountability Log:

Nutrition Log:

Workout Log:

Today was a rest day.

Thought for the Day:

At some point you must ask yourself do you want your life filled with excuses or accomplishments?

Until tomorrow…GET BACK TO LIFTING!

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