Day #104 - What A Great Day To Relax

I rarely get a chance to actually take some time to relax and do nothing. Many of you may know by now that I am a workaholic and with my crazy work schedule, I am constantly on the go. And when I am not wrapped up in work, I am running around trying to keep my personal life in check. However, I decided yesterday that I was going to do absolutely nothing today but watch football, eat healthy, and workout. And let me tell you, it was glorious. Granted I was woken up by a work call this morning at 8:00am and on Saturday no less, but I wasn't going to let that get in the way of fulfilling today's plan.

While relaxing on my couch today watching football, I was thinking of how the past week went. I started a new cardio based workout routine, got back to my normal healthy meal routine after a long holiday weekend, and of course I, some what, broke through the plateau I was stuck in for a week and a half. Not a bad week, if I do say so myself. However, I did notice one new pattern that developed this week that I was not aiming for. I noticed that I have been feeling hungrier during the day. And from what I can tell, this new found hunger started when I switched my exercise routine to a cardio based workout. I am not a 100% sure why this new routine has caused me to become hungrier but I do think it might have something to do with my metabolism.

From what I have learned in the past few months, cardio plays an important role in the weight loss process. Of course weight lifting is important as well but from what I can see, cardio gets the heart pumping more then weight lifting. And by getting the heart pumping, cardio also helps to boost your metabolism, which then cause the fat mass to burn more as well. If I am wrong with this assumption, please comment and help me understand it a little more, I am still learning as I go. I can tell you this though, since I switched my workout to a cardio based routine with weight lifting incorporated, I am sweating a whole lot more than if I was just straight up weight lifting. Anyway, since my hunger has increased, I am trying to control it with eating more fruits and 1 point snacks between my main meals. It seems to be working so far.

With that being said, let's get to the details of the day:

Meals of the Day (The Heavy Man - 38 Points)
(I am currently following the Weight Watchers Points System)

Early Afternoon - 1 piece of baked chicken, 1 serving of egg noodles with parmesan cheese, and 3 reduced fat crescent rolls = Points 11
Snacks During the Course of the Day - 1 pear, 1 Weight Watchers ice cream cone, and 2 reduced fat crescent rolls = Points 5
Mid Afternoon - 2 slices of Weight Watchers whole wheat bread with a serving of reduced fat shredded mozzarella cheese = Points 3
Late Afternoon - 1 Boca veggie burger with a serving of reduced fat shredded mozzarella cheese on 2 slices of Weight Watchers whole wheat bread and a pear = Points 6
Dinner - 1 serving of Beef and Vegetable Cheese Casserole (Weight Watchers Recipe) = Points 7
Dessert  - 1 Weight Watchers ice cream cone = Points 2

Total Points Eaten Today = 34 Points (4 points under my daily limit)

Exercise

Today I executed the weight lifting and strength portion of my new routine: Dumbbell Press, Lat Pull Down, and Dumbbell Curl (4 sets of each x 15 reps each), Stability Ball Squats, Lateral Raises, and Crunches (4 sets of each x 15 reps each), and Flyes, Straight Arm Push Downs, and Leg Extensions (4 sets of each x 15 reps each). Tomorrow I will be doing cardio.

Day #104 - Weigh- In = 253.8 lbs

Day #104 Weigh-In

Day #104 Front Shot