Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Day 244: An Amazing Realization!

G'day,

After taking yesterday's pictures and then comparing those pictures to my Day 136 pics at the end of Mission 2 (seen in the graphic to the right) I started to feel a little frustrated!

The Good News

This frustration stems from the fact that I am lifting more weight now than I ever have. My 1RM (1 rep maximum) weight increments on the Barbell Bench Press and Front Squat are higher than they were back on Day 136.

Of course, this is a good thing as we all like to see a progression in raw lifting stats over time. An increase in weight lifted over time indicates a higher volume of muscle tissue which is absolutely a good thing because building muscle is just as important as losing fat while on a weight loss journey.

The Bad News

So, how can it be that I am lifting heavier weight now than ever before but my physique lags so far behind those Day 136 pics?

You guessed it...Bodyfat!

Yes, this is quite clearly a function of bodyfat as I am carrying an extra 5 kg's of fat compared to Day 136. This was always inevitable when I took 95 days off from hard training and extreme diet discipline between the end of Mission 2 and the start of Mission 3.

I also noticed that my bodyfat levels increased significantly during my 21 day layoff from Day 169 to Day 190 as a result of the wrist injury I sustained.

So, Why The Frustration?

Well, to be honest I feel as though my physique is not progressing fast enough since I started Mission 3. On a pure muscle gain basis I know I am progressing but I have not seen much improvement in definition since I started.

My Amazing Realization!

Seeking answers to my current frustration I re-read my Mission 2 Nutrition and Training Log and subsequently made a stunning discovery! As I began to read the log it provided a lot of clues as to what may be behind my current lack of progress.

Then...it hit me! I stumbled across what I think may the biggest factor between my Mission 2 progress and my current progress! It's so simple I can't believe I missed it!

Can You Guess What It Is?

Can you guess what it is? If you'd like to take a stab at the answer just leave a comment to this post. I'll reveal the answer tommorow.

Peace,
Adam Waters, NESTA-CPT

P.S. This "missing link" that I discovered may also be a factor for you if you are not currently getting the results you desire.

P.S.S. Below are Day 244 pictures for July 10, 2007 - Mission 3 Phase 1: Day 15 of 60