I have set myself an 8-week weight gain and exercise challenge, mainly as a way to keep tabs. You see, it's roughly 8 weeks since I was able to go back to the gym properly after being diagnosed with thyrotoxicosis. Even though I wasn't properly measuring anything I know I have achieved the following.
Gained 6 kilograms (admittedly I have lost one, but still).
Going from no workouts to on average four per week.
Increased the free weights from 2 kg to 5kg or even 6kg in some cases.
Increased the weights on machines from 5kg or 10kg to 20kg or 25kg. Except for the shoulder press which I do at 5kg and hiss in agony towards the end of the last set.
8 weeks ago I couldn't do even one push up without having my knees in the floor. Yesterday I was able to do 5. Yay!
Maybe I should add that the kind of weight gain I am looking to do is neither healthy nor possible in normal cases. Regular readers will know I was diagnosed with Thyrotoxicosis in May. This meant that in April and May I lost 10kg, and went from 58kg to 48kg! I would like to get back to 56kg or 57kg, so my goal is for me to reach 57!
Here is a reminder of my goals for the coming 8 weeks, the whole post is here:
Gain 3 kg (there's 2.2 pounds to a kg, you do the maths)
Exercise a minimum of 4 days per week
Do at least 1 day yoga per week
Do some exercise every weekend
In order to be able to gain weight whilst doing all this exercise I have to be quite organised with food, ensuring I have plenty of snacks with me and consume enough protein every day. And I have to plan in rest time as well. I will put my food diary on here for starters for those of you who want to know but I am not sure I will continue. It will become fairly obvious what I eat soon.
Oh, and I try to walk between Kings Cross and my office, which is on The Strand, it's roughly 25 minutes reasonably fast walk.
15th of August 2011 - Day 1
Rest day
16th of August 2011 - Day 2
I discovered I have lost another kg! I have to go back to my doctor, do another bloodtest and see if I should increase my medication again. And eat more!
1 hour yoga
Breakfast: Smoothie with fruit and cashewmilk
Mid-morning snack: 2 ricecakes with peanut butter
Post workout: hardboiled egg
Lunch: Leftover coconut and sweet potato coconut milk curry with brown rice
Mid-afternoon snack: crudites with boradbean, asparagus and mint hommous
Dinner: Eggfried millet with bacon and vegetables, homemade sorbet.
17th of August 2011 - Day 3
3 km very fast paced walk, plus push ups, 6 sets of 3, with arms either wide, under shoulders or together under chest. Tried doing them without my knees in the ground but had to relent. Actually, first attempt I managed 3 with my arms really wide, and two with my arms shoulder width without knees. Third one I just fell to the floor. So the rest were with knees.
Breakfast: hardboiled egg, fruit smoothie and hazelnuts.
Mid-morning snack: Oatcakes with olive paste
Lunch: Nandos (naughty, I know).
Mid-afternoon snack: homemade cake.
Post workout: hardboiled egg
Dinner: Quinoa with a mince and veg stew, and more cake!
