blackbelt's photos for Joe's '09 transformation contest

[blackbelt]

Much to my horror, my current stats at roughly 5'8" are:

-38.5" :shock: at what I consider my belt-line (I've been wearing 34" pants with elastic on both sides, and even they are snug lately)
-40" :shock::shock: at my belly, above my belt-line. Obviously this would be considered the widest part of my mid-section.
-192.8 lbs.

I'm not real concerned with the weight aspect of this. I just want to decrease some of the size. I hope to put a significant dent in that by July 25 when my wife and I go to visit her family in VA.

The training methods I will be using in expected order of frequency are:

Hap Ki Do - forms, techniques, and stretching
ISO’s – Primary focus will be on the more real-life functional positions of the IPB
Deep breathing
DSR’s
DVR’s
PC’s

I’m going to use a mixture of diet philosophies. The predominant part will be the consumption of MUCH less “junk”, more water, and generally higher quality foods, focusing on those listed on lists one and two of M7. I’ve already made my own “trail-mix” using almonds, raisins, and walnuts; I’m also going to TRY to eat every 2-3 hours as prescribed in many diet books particularly “The Metabolism Advantage”.

Overall, I think I have a good plan. I’m not just hoping and praying for the discipline and self-control needed to stick to it :)

[Greg Newton]

I’m going to use a mixture of diet philosophies. The predominant part will be the consumption of MUCH less “junk”, more water, and generally higher quality foods, focusing on those listed on lists one and two of M7.

Good plan Rob. Also cut out flour products in the short term. Good luck.

[blackbelt]

Thanks Greg.

I've already noticed a "flaw" in my initial plan. I've been eating more often. But, my meals, lunch in particular, have not decreased in size. As a result, I've actually been consuming more calories. Go figure why there hasn't been significant (if any) change in weight or size :sad:

I wanted to ask though. What exactly do you mean by cut out flour products in the short term

[Greg Newton]

Stay away from bread, especially white flour products. I'd have to do some research to give you all the wherefores, but grains tend to keep you heavy around the waist, especially white flour since it digests with little energy and is almost immediately turned into glucose which winds up being stored as fat if it is not burned immediately. White flour also hardens and lines the walls of the intestinal tract, preventing proper digestion and elimination. When John's virility book comes out, there is an indepth chapter on nutrition where he talks about this.

It also dovetails with my experience. For many years I had a 29 inch waist, but I didn't eat bread (I did eat oatmeal and brown rice). I didn't get so thick around the waist until I got married, started eating foods I didn't normally eat, began doing heavy lifting and began eating everything that didn't bite back. Four years ago I was getting a physical for firefighting, and the very obese doctor made fun of my muscular upper body and fat waist by grabbing the fat around the obliques and asking me if that was from too much fried chicken.

[blackbelt]

Gotcha Greg.

Actually, I tend to stay away from those products anyway. Looonnngg ago, someone made the analogy of white flour and paper mache. Since then, I've gone with whole wheat whenever possible.