Hey folks, next week I’ve committed myself to starting a new Health Challenge. Well, technically I stole that name from Jack Finlayson, our CEO at Layered Tech. You see, every year Jack runs a Health Challenge for the folks at work. It works about like this…
- First of all, participants are all on the honor system. You can choose to participate or not, but if you are disqualified then you have to admit it and you aren’t eligible for the prizes that come at the end.
- There are some exercise requirements.
- There are some dietary requirements.
- It lasts for about 12 weeks.
At the end of the challenge, whoever has shown the most notable improvement wins! So, starting this coming Sunday, April 12, 2009, I’m going to be kicking off my own little health challenge right here for readers of my blog. Complete with glory and prizes! You’ve got the rest of this week to prepare, but then the progress begins next week!
Personally, I am starting out at 188.8 pounds and 22.5% bodyfat. My number one goal is to lose inches off my waist which is 34″. Ideally I would like to have a 31″ waist.
Here are the Rules
- Almost completely eliminate sugar from the diet. No more candy, Coke, or other sugary drinks. In fact, nothing but water! One Coke and one candy bar per week are allowed.
- Decrease food portions by 40-50% for all meals. Instead of eating whatever looks good, stop eating after you feel full. (Overall, I want to consume half the calories I used to.)
- Snack all you want, but only fruit or nuts are allowed!
- Exercise every single day. This doesn’t mean long exercise daily. It means frequent bursts of exercise. Pushups and situps as many times a day as you can squeeze them in. Whatever you are capable of, just lots of it!
In a few days I’ll give you my Marine Corps style workout schedule. Perhaps I’ll even video a few of the exercises guaranteed to get you in shape… That’s it! Now, some of you are going to have to follow a couple extra rules if you decide to go along with me here.
- If you are a big beer drinker, you are going to have to treat it the way I treat Coke. Cut it out! Only one or two per week!
- If you are a smoker, I would prefer to see you quit altogether, but at a minimum you must cut down by 50% during the Health Challenge.
My Progress
As I’m going through the health challenge I’m going to report back right here on my progress pretty regularly. I’m also going to tweet periodically about it, so if you aren’t following me on Twitter, feel free.
| Date | Pullups | Squat Thrusts | Pushups | Arm Curls | Treadmill | Weight | Body Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 6 | 35 | 34 reps / 60 lbs. | 188.8 lbs. | 22.5% | |||
| April 9 | 30 reps / 60 lbs. | 186.5 lbs. | 22.1% | ||||
| April 12 | 50 | 20 | 87 reps / 60 lbs. | 185 lbs. | 21.7% | ||
| April 15 | 80 | 57 reps / 60 lbs. | 183 lbs. | 21.5% | |||
| April 20 | 15 | 125 | 20 | 25 reps / 70 lbs. | 182.4 lbs. | 21.3% | |
| April 25 | 50 | 181.1 lbs. | 20.9% | ||||
| April 29 | 15 | 50 | 56 | 75 reps / 60 lbs. | 178.6 lbs. | 20.4% | |
| May 8 | 176 lbs. | 20.1% | |||||
| May 13 | 174.5 lbs. | 19.2% | |||||
| May 16 | 300 | 30 reps / 60 lbs. | 174 lbs. | 19% | |||
| May 22 | 30 | 75 reps / 60 lbs. | 172.6 lbs. | 19.1% | |||
| May 24 | 100 | 30 reps / 60 lbs. | 172 lbs. | 18.9% |
How to Join the Health Challenge
If you’d like in on this Challenge, here’s what all you can do:
- Drop your Twitter ID in the comments and I’ll follow you back (maybe you can follow each other too), as long as you promise to stick with it and give us all updates as well! Motivation is key people!
- You can give updates here in the comments on this blog, or via Twitter, or on your OWN blog, but your progression must be documented in order to be eligible for any sort of prize at the end.
Right now I don’t know what the prizes will be, but I’ll think of something if anyone actually joins me here and completes the challenge!
One last thought. A program like this always works best with peer support. So even if you don’t join in, how about sharing this with other people on your blog, or Facebook or Twitter or whatever. I’m committed, but I could use all the partners I can get!
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Very informative information.i am crazy about this challenge.sure i will participated in it.Best of luck for all….
Great idea! I’ll take the John P. challenge!
I’ll throw together some kind of way to log my activity and post back.
John, today itself I told myself about dieting. I am glad you started this challenge. I am in. I am following you on twitter.
My aim is to bulk up a bit and increase mass, both are the same thing, LOL. Need to cut flab a bit and to get my dream 6 packs, I am considering swimming. Motivation is the key. There are a few videos which I watch which motivate me alot. One is of Jakub Hašpl, whose video working out at the age of 16 years is something which makes me go running to the gym. You can find the video on youtube.
I’ll join you in this, John! Except I started challenging myself at least a week ago. Do I get to count that in my progress, haha? :)
Cali,
As Queen, you get to count anything you want!!! :-) I’m glad to have you joining in!
John
I found Jakub’s videos, you are right very impressive!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcb2uGjcfGE
So guys whats the progress? I avoided all types of junk food today. Will do pull-ups and stretching exercises today. I had done legs and biceps yesterday. I had lots of protein food today to stay on track of a healthy diet. What about you guys, please update what you did today, so we can keep a good track :)
This sounds very similar to the 100 hundred push up challenge @ hundredpushups.com
Btw that actually works
Guys any updates on today? Did heavy workout (according to me) on chest and little of triceps. Continuing to eat healthy food and avoiding junk and fast food.
John try this technique, I am trying it to. Here at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioM_tEgiP8g
I totally want to do this with you guys!! I have a rotten stinkin’ killer migraine today – so I can’t hardly even think about any of this right now! I’ve been meaning to get my tush back on track, though, and hopefully you guys will be just the push I need! Better write myself a note so I remember to revisit this when the DEVIL gets out of my brain!!
That is a fantastic link. I had not heard of Vince before, so thanks for sharing it! I’m going to definitely give this workout a try. It’s very similar to my Marine Corps workout with a couple of slight improvements.
John P.
I started my diet/work out 2 months back… Am I allowed to join? :D
Absolutely! The more the merrier!
Oh! But are you going to be able to cut your cigarettes by 50% ?!? I don’t think you can!
hehehehe
Can you please elaborate on the Marine Corps workout? There are quite a few good videos on youtube on working out.
Hehe, I think you should at least cut back 75% on the number of cigarettes you some per day.
This sounds like an excellent plan! I’m long overdue a good detox so I think I’m going to give this a go too!
I don’t have a twitter page but I’ll update next week. :)
I’ve changed my mind :P
John i tried doing the exercises shown in the video i posted, they are really exhausting and it felt more hardwork then even doing cardio. I couldn’t do more then a set!!
Dude – what was I thinking? Easter Sunday???? No go, dude. LOL I’ll try get on the bandwagon tomorrow!! ;)
I’ll do it. @jrleblanc
I look forward to this competition and I want to join in, I’ve been looking for the right motivation to get into shape and this is exactly what I’m looking for. My twitter tag is @SelfUpgrade
Good to get some outside motivation, I will join up @davidebrady
Sounds great! @oldlymie17
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