Flex Appeal

[shanmonster]

I've paired them up as relaxed and flexed.













Here are the most recent measurements:

Shoulder: 18
Chest: 34.5
Waist: 27.25
Hips: 37
left bicep: 10
right bicep: 10.25
left thigh: 22
right thigh: 22.25
left calf: 13.75
right calf: 13.75
Neck: 13.5

The weird thing is that although I'm getting stronger and stronger, I am also shrinking. This would make sense to me if it were fat loss, but in the instance of my calves, well, I don't think there ever was any fat there. My calves are fantastically strong, but almost puny. How weird is that?

The biggest change is my waist, which has shrunk by almost two inches. However, if I remember correctly, I was a bit bloated the last time I took pictures, which would account for at least part of the difference. I do think the jumping jacks have been going a long way to burning off what little fat I have, though.

I eat more, now, and not less.

Comments

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Your obliques look great!

Fringe on bikini top = adorable.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

:) Thanks!

I'm so glad I found those fringed bikinis this summer. They were soooooo cheap ($5 each), and they suit me a lot better than my more expensive swim suits.

[verdant-hills.livejournal.com]

Inspiring! You can really see a difference from your last progress post. What is your ultimate goal?

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

I have no ultimate goal, really. Eg., no set weight or measurements. I just want to keep improving for the rest of my life.

I would, however, like to be able to participate in a fitness competition by the time I'm 40. I don't expect to win, but I'd like to not look out of place.

[verdant-hills.livejournal.com]

Great goal! Sometimes the best ones are unquantifiable. Good Luck!

[forestmaster.livejournal.com]

What kind of fitness competition?

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking fitness model.

[forestmaster.livejournal.com]

I looked at a website (http://www.fitnessatlantic.com/) today that had info for competing (http://www.fitnessatlantic.com/entryforms.htm) for bodybuilding, fitness modeling, bikini, fitness figure, etc. Interesting food for thought... I think my first bellydance instructor did some kind of fitness modeling back in the day.

[badrahessa.livejournal.com]

Fantastic goal!

shrinking

[forestmaster.livejournal.com]

Muscle is denser than fat, so it takes up less space.

Has the quality of your food changed any? Meaning you could be eating more quantity of food with a lower calorie density or the like? That might also be a factor...

I can see the reduction in your waist/more definition of the V-shape/triangle from your shoulders down... awesome :)

Re: shrinking

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

I really don't think the quality of my food has changed substantially in the last couple of months. I'm still eating most of the same stuff, although this week, after researching Omega-3 and Omega-6 oils, I decided to ditch margarine in favour of butter. I really doubt that would make a difference.

I still think it's peculiar that my calves are shrinking, when in the last month, I've gone from doing 360 on the calf raise to 410 lbs.

Just because I'm proud of him, take a look at my buddy Kyle's change in the past month.

From this:



To this:



I'm definitely seeing more muscular definition and a more pronounced V-shape. :D

Re: shrinking

[forestmaster.livejournal.com]

I can see it too - awesome indeed.

Ditching margarine for butter probably wouldn't make a difference in only one week... long term? Time will tell.

Calves... are you doing more/less walking than before? Different types of exercises to them besides more calf raises? I know for me that I noticed more leaning from body extremities (legs, arms) before I saw it affecting my torso as much... maybe you're seeing that too, even if you have less fat to lose, now that you're gaining lean muscle mass? :)

Re: shrinking

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I'm probably doing less walking now than I was a few months ago, that stint as an ad-deliverer notwithstanding. Before, I was jumping rope for warmups. Now I'm doing jumping jacks, and more of 'em.

I don't expect the change from margarine to butter to impact my measurements at all. I don't use much of the stuff, anyhow. I just put it on toast every now and then, really.

Calf raises are the only calf-specific exercise I'm doing, though they certainly come into play for jumping jacks, dragons, and low kick squats, which are also part of my regular cardio. Now that the weather is cool again, I may try running again, as well as more cycling.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I popped back here a couple days later to check which measurements you got and realized I didn't do shoulders. Ah well.

But I'm glad I came back, because I wanted to congratulate you on ditching margarine. That stuff is nasty. Real butter, all the way, baby. Good for you!

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I grew up with both butter and margarine, and think I mostly switched to margarine just because of convenience. Butter is too hard to spread, and goes smatchy if left out too long. But I'm just putting a little bit out at room temperature at a time. Hopefully, that will do the trick.

f00dave doesn't like butter, for whatever reason, and has eats different food than me, for the most part, so we have warring sections of the refrigerator and cupboards. It makes space a bit of an issue, for sure. The kitchen isn't that big.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

May I direct your attention to The Butterbell. This thing is the shit. I love it. And it's small! So shouldn't take up much room, and you can just tuck it in a cupboard somewhere.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Awesome! That looks perfect! I just bid on one on eBay.