Nudity is Only Skin-Deep

Well, gotta say, this Whole30 thing made a difference. I've lost 7.6 lbs and gained lean muscle mass all while eating like a ravenous beast and training like a crazy person.

( Here are the photos to demonstrate.... )

I think my trapezius muscles are getting meatier.



It's been a while since I've done progress pictures and measurements. I think I'll do some later today.

I need lessons on posing. And/or a coach. Or something.

I found a website on the classic poses, and I decided to give the rear lat spread a try.

Here I am relaxed:



And here I am attempting a rear lat spread:



I was afraid there wouldn't be a significant difference between the first and second photo, but I can see there is something there. It just needs a lot more work. Starting next week, weight training, with lat pull-downs and bent-over rows. Then maybe that triangle shape will be much more pronounced. Here's hoping!

The pose itself still needs a lot of work, though.

(Oh yes, the massage yesterday did wonders. And so did icing it, having a nap, and a hot bath. I'm still a little sore today, but it is soooo much better. No longer being in misery ROCKS.)

New set of photos to mark progress made with TRX training. These were taken on day 2 of TRX.

Weight: 139 (I'm retaining like mad today because of woman stuff. Blargh.)

Relaxed.

Measurements:
Neck: 12.75"
Chest: 34"
Waist: 28.25"
Hips: 38"
Left bicep: 10"
Right bicep: 10.25"
Left thigh: 21.5"
Right thigh: 21.5"
Left calf: 14.5"
Right calf: 14.25"

Body fat percentage to be measured, but when I measured last week, I think it was 16.7%.

( Read more... )

I've been working on a lot of things, lately. Mostly, I'm trying to improve myself in a general sense.

I'm trying to improve my cooking. That's going well. Maybe too well. The stuff I make is so delicious I might make myself fat eating it! I try to limit my baking to about once a week, although I did bake two things this week: crackberry pie and ginger banana muffins. They are both really damned good. I'll also be baking more things as Christmas presents. The curry peanut soup is delicious, and I feel less guilty about eating lots of it, because it's crammed with good-for-me: protein (chickpeas, natural peanut butter, and shrimp), and vitamin-rich veggies (sweet potatoes, bell peppers, onions, etc.). And it tastes even better after a day or two in the fridge. It's even better that it's f00dave-friendly.

My knitting skills continue to progress. I'm actually pleased with the stuff I've been making. It no longer looks like something a kid might make. It looks good.

My workouts at the gym have been irregular this month because of a pull in my SI joint, but the massage therapy and stretching I've been getting has been helping a lot. I'm starting to feel like my strength is getting back to where it should be. I need to work on my cardio, but my asthma makes it difficult, sometimes. Still, yesterday I was able to do a bunch of skipping (including crossovers which are nice for working the coordination), 320 jumping jacks, 120 dragons, and the rest of my regular isometrics and weight-training. It took me a lot longer than it should have, but I finished it all, so for that, I'm grateful.

I've continued my quest of doing at least one creative thing a day, whether it be cooking, writing, dancing, photography, or crafting. And I share it with others. I think it keeps my brain limber. It certainly fills the time more productively than watching television, and it leaves me with a feeling of satisfaction that I've done something to make the world a nicer place for at least one other person, too.

What I need to work on:

• Cardio endurance. Skipping is great for this. I should really start running the stairs in my apartment building again, too, now that outdoor running isn't a good option, anymore. It will do my legs and butt a hell of a lot of good, and will also burn off more fat, giving me more muscle definition.
  
• Reading. I just haven't been reading many books, lately, and it's pissing me off. The last couple of books I read and enjoyed were Robin Hobbs' newest dragon books. I devoured them pretty fast. I stopped reading Colleen McCullough's Marc Antony and Cleopatra, though. It was getting too silly. I also want to continue to read more of the literary greats. I've been reading Machiavelli and Plato, lately. I need to do more of that, to wake up my lazy brains.
  
• Latin. I miss studying it.
  
• General crafting. I did a bit of papercraft today, with the skullflake, but really, that's pretty simple stuff. I should be doing much more complex work than that, considering my craft background. It would help if I had some better supplies. The scalpel I was using is pretty dull.
  
• Sewing and costume design. I have rather a lot of ideas which I need to make. Everything from dance costumes to historical Viking costuming.
  
• Painting. It's been too long, and I'm itching to break out my acrylics again.
  
• Crochet. I suck at it. I need to not suck at it.
  
• Building more muscle in my arms and chest. I'm pretty pleased with my back, abs, and legs. But they are a lot stronger and more defined than my arms and chest. My shoulders aren't too bad, but they could be better, too. I just need to rack on more weights.
  
• Dance technique. I especially want to work on my armwork again. I've let it fall a bit by the wayside in favour of floorwork.
  
• Photography. Now that the camera has been repaired, I'm looking forward to doing lots more photography. I have willing human and critter models, and I don't need consent from the inanimate objects I want to do macro-photography of. Mwahahah!
  

Edit: Look at all the high-impact stuff I've been doing, like skipping and jumping jacks. And note that my bad foot hasn't bothered me since the summer. Is it possible it's finally healed? Oh, I do hope so! Once upon a time, I couldn't do any sort of impact movement with my feet without them swelling up. This hasn't been the case for a long time. I am filled with hope.

Looks like today is progress day! ( Here's where I am, now. )