Strength I: Week 3 (week 15) results

• Weight - 14st 3lb (down 2lb from last week)
• Body Fat % - 25.5% (no change on bio-impedence) 5.5% (Digi-callipers)
• Waist - 34 inches (fraction over but down 0.5 inch from last week)

These strength programs are tough going but seem to be doing the trick. There is now some movement in the figures. Granted this may not be as marked as the differences above illustrate since I've measured myself at a different time, did a cycle ride yesterday etc and these things would have some bearing on the figures so close to weigh in. Anyway that aside I have noticed a very slow but measureable change in the way I feel and look from the training so know that I have made progress regardless of what the figures say but to have them support that is doublely satisfying especially after the weeks of no movement.

Next week I'm away for periods so wont be able to get in the customary commute rides too and from work so suspect the figures may rise again next week. It's not too much of an issue because I now know the training has an impact on the plateau I found myself in for the past few weeks and if I've moved forward once I can do it again, so no worries there. Psychologically it is a big barrier that has been removed. I will still be doing the 2 weight sessions and the next one up is workout C, it's the one with all of the dead lift variations in and the one where my legs took a few days to recover fully from. Strangely the effects of the workout where felt a day or two afterwards (which seems to me the case with me generally). I suppose that is why it's important not to train on these sessions on consecutive days.

I'm one week away from my 34th birthday and I wanted to achieve visible abs by then but I suppose it will be a longer process than I initially thought it would be. I've made improvements but after some diet plan experimentation I put myself back a bit but then again it's all a learning process. Anyway, I think that the visible abs (without tensing dream - sorry objective) will become a long term goal to be achieved within a time frame of a year to fall around my 35th birthday. It's important to have a long term goal to aim for but I also need to break this down into markers of smaller goals so that I know I'm moving in the right direction. I suppose on the surface wanting visible abs might seem very superficial and vain but it's so much more than that. I've always been chubby as a child and have never, and I mean never seen my abs even though I 've always been an active person playing rugby for various teams etc so for once in my life I want to achieve that badge of health and fitness to prove to myself I am fit, active and alive!

Right so enough with the philosophising I just wanted to give a little insight into my reasons for wanting what first appears to be a vain objective. So I'll keep with the trainig and keep you uptodate on how things progress.

Cheers for now, BustaGut!