Fitness baseline, 2010

In March 2009, I weighed 305 pounds.  My performance in the gym was as follows:

• Max Benchpress: 230 lbs
• Max Bicep curl: 60 lbs
• Lat pulldown: max unknown, I was doing sets of five reps at 190 lbs
• Leg press: max unknown, I was doing sets of five reps at 350 lbs
• Shrugs: max unknown, I was doing sets of ten reps at 205 lbs.
• Swimming: 22 laps in 28 minutes

In June 2009, I weighed 275 pounds.  I don't know what my max performance was, but I swam 44 laps in under 40 minutes.

Today, in January 2010, my weight has increased back to 299 pounds.  I am unhappy with this regain of weight I worked so hard to lose,  but I'm still in better shape than I was a year ago:

• Max Benchpress: 310 lbs
• Max Bicep curl: 75 lbs
• Lat pulldown: max unknown, I'm doing sets of five reps at 250 lbs
• Leg press: max unknown, I'm doing sets of five reps at 500 lbs
• Shrugs: max unknown, I'm doing sets of ten reps at 295 lbs.
• Swimming: 22 laps in 24 minutes

I've also made some progress on with my diet.  I haven't had a soda in two months, and I've nearly stopped my alcohol consumption.  This week I am going to cut out the junk food as much as I can. I'm going to  try cold turkey.  We'll see how it goes.  This week I am also going to step up my gym routine and try  to go 4-5 days a week instead of 2-3.  I'm going  to start posting my weekly "I'm a Loser" updates again, no matter how poorly I fare.  The goal is to lose ten pounds a month for five months.  At the end of May, I want to weigh 250 pounds.  I know I can do it, if I can just get my diet under control.

My biggest challenge is that I eat when I get stressed or depressed.  I eat to calm down.  I need to train myself to use a different coping mechanism.  I'm strongly considering amphetamines or cocaine. (I'm kidding!)

In all seriousness, I think I'll get some exercise equipment for the house.  I want to get a home gym built so I can stop paying the fitness center $45 a month.  It will also help me with stress if I can lift dumbbells instead of cupcakes when I'm stressed.  At work I'm not going to carry money or cards with me so I can't hit up the cafeteria, vending machines, or ATM.  I'll go  to the gym after work, burn out my stress, and go home.  If I don't pig out during dinner, the day will have been a success.