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Sky Fit Challenge

Post image for Blog 12: Jeff Lost 17 Pounds So Far!!!

Blog 12: Jeff Lost 17 Pounds So Far!!!

by Rob on October 6, 2009

After I found I out that my weight went down to 184 pounds the other day Rob asked me when was the last time I weighed that much.  You know, you were thinner at some point, when was it?  I thought about it, was about to give the stock answer of sometime in college (which is a lie) or sometime in High School and the truth is I did weigh that much at some point but it was never at a time when I felt good about myself physically.  So, I’m in uncharted territory and I cant wait to see where it goes!

Jeff Flex week 9

With nine weeks down in the Sky Fit Challenge here is what I’ve learned so far.  For workouts, three days a week over a five day period seems to be perfect. Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays is ideal giving me one weekend day off.  I prefer Saturdays off and do my long runs on Sundays.  Since the beginning of this challenge Rob has not laid a single weight in my hand.  We have used pull ups, resistance bands and my own body weight and at the end of every workout my muscles are sore and pumped.  The movements we do are never just simple up/down up/down.  Instead he often uses multiple moves in one set. Like a squat with shoulder press or a lunge with an arm curl.  This gets my heart pumping and my muscles working so I’m burning calories at a fast pace.

On the other three days I do cardio.  If you’ve read my blogs you know I love to run on the treadmill but I also spin, play tennis, football, softball and whatever pick up sports friends invite me to.  On my very regimented weeks I run and play tennis on Tuesdays, bike on Thursdays and do a long run on Sundays.  I watch TV on my computer for most of my runs and I need to make a special shout out to the instant player on Netflix.  I have become an avid fan of the Dillon Panthers on the NBC show Friday Night Lights.  That show is a guilty pleasure and like so many I have fallen under the spell of Taylor Kitsch.

Like I’ve said before, working out is the easy part for me.  The true test in making this challenge work is in what I eat.  Most people I know that want to lose weight say they need to start working out.  Heavy Pants Week 9Take it from me if you struggle with weight, you can workout and do cardio all you want but until you change your diet you will not lose that fat. The simple way of putting it is if you put more calories into your body than you burn you will not loose weight.  Most people don’t have the time or discipline to workout long enough to keep up a diet of coffee, muffins, snacks from a vendor, sandwiches and chips, soda and a dinner out with co-workers or family.  Christy does not have me on a diet.  She hates that word!  Over the course of the challenge we have added good foods into my life and slowly the bad foods are being replaced.  So now I’m simple eating healthy and having foods that keep my energy up and not feeling stuffed anymore.  Do I still indulge in sweets or better yet cookies from time to time?  Sure, but they come from restaurants, stores and other places that use all organic ingredients and natural sweeteners.  Trust me, for a guy who lived on cookies, I have found the best organic and “better for you cookies” out there (as well as other yummy sweets).

Pull Up Week 9

With food, most days consist of five meals that are broken up into the usual breakfast, lunch and dinner with two snacks.  I have found that quinoa in the morning with a little Tamari, almonds and raisins is awesome, I love my post workout shakes and  home made salads are a man’s best friend.

That’s my quick overview of what I’ve been doing so far.  Keep reading as I go into the home stretch of the Sky Fit Challenge.  I’m all ready starting to make some long term goals after the challenge is over.  I would love to do an olympic distance triathlon and maybe tackle a marathon in 2010.  Those should keep me motivated for the future.

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We are officially two thirds done with The Sky Fit Challenge with just one month to go!  At the moment my weight is 186 pounds, down 15 pounds from the start.  My body fat is 13.8% down 5%.  Feels really good and I cant wait to see where I’m at when this is over.

Standing NormalStanding Normal

I had something really exciting happen this past weekend.  I was coming home from playing football for almost 3 hours with my buddies and I had forgotten to eat dinner.  In the past I would have been so excited.  That feeling of working out then being super hungry was something I was addicted to.  I would rush to my favorite takeout restaurants or the food bar at Whole Foods and stuff myself when I got home.  At this point it would be late at night and with a stomach full of food I wouldn’t go to bed till 2 or 3 in the morning.  But not this time.  As I drove away from football and thought about what I was going to eat the feeling never came, that love for food and dessert that comes over me like a high school kid seeing the girl he likes walking down the halls just didn’t happen.  Swear to god, that is how much I love food and want it when I’m hungry.  But that feeling didn’t come this time!  I’m not saying that because of this challenge I’ve lost my love of food, far from it.  What I’m saying is the addiction is going away, I’m starting to see food for what it is: fuel for the body not the way I used to see it as a sport or a hobby.

After working out on my own for almost 2 weeks it was great to be back with Rob.  We got back to our old schedule of 3 days a week with him and 3 days a week on my own.  Generally I take off Saturday and do my long run on Sunday. Everyone who runs has there favorite way.  There is the outside runners, the treadmills runners, the road runners, the trail runners and so on.  Chin UpThen you have people who use Ipods, others who need TV’s or just plain old nothin’ but your thoughts, those people are machines in my opinion.  Me?  I like the combo of treadmill and TV.  Specifically my computer and Netflix instant player.  I can watch more crap movies and TV shown while running to the end of the earth (of course, in reality, I’m running in place in the corner of my living room).  But with those movies I’m lost in a world of Mad Max and Rambo or lately season 2 of Friday night lights. That show is like crack.

So, on to the final month!  Wish me luck.

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How about that! Down in the 180’s for the first time since….. lets call it forever.  189 to be exact.  The first thing that comes to mind is that I feel like I look better in clothes now.  I always complained of clothes not fitting well but now I see it was me who didn’t fit well in clothes.  Another thing I’m noticing is that I don’t fuss with myself as much.  Being self conscience of my body I touch my belly a lot, pull my shirt out, etc.   So that’s two positive signs and overall I’m feeling and looking better.

Day 1

Week 1

Week 6

Week 6

After being back in LA for a week and doing 3 solid workouts with Rob I am back on track.  I’m noticing my abs and core are feeling much stronger.  That same place I used to touch on my tummy might still have some fat on it but right below is some strong muscles.  Feels good!!  As for the cardio, that is where I’m feeling a huge difference. It is taking harder and longer runs to give a good workout and that is great for me cause one of my long term goals is to run a marathon. As for biking/spinning and swimming I’m still not doing them enough cause getting to the gym is more work than hoping on the treadmill at home.  That is about discipline for me and it is still a weak spot I can improve on.

Unfortunately, I’m going out of town again on Sunday for a week of work. The good news is I’ll be at a nice hotel with a gym and good food.  This will be a whole different challenge for me.  I’ll be with colleagues who can drink and party a lot.   I’ll be interested to see how that affects my workouts and sleeping. Will I workout on hungover days? On days with a ton of work will I still find time for the gym?   We’ll see and I will report.

As for eating, it is just so much easier when you’re home.   The routine is easier, I don’t crave as much crap food and my wife is right there to help out.  So, again, it is about discipline and I’m working at it.

So, this is life. I’m a actor and my jobs come up at the last second and I have to learn to adapt to stay in the shape I want. It’s a challenge that I’m ready for.

Jeff's Got Abs

I've Got Abs!

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It has been six weeks and we are half way through the Sky Fit Challenge.

Rob has created a six day workout regimen for Jeff.  Three days out of the week Jeff trains with Rob doing a combination of circuit training and plyometrics.  The remaining three days Jeff has been performing a high intensity cardio program on his own.  What type of cardio?   Well, because Jeff has a treadmill at home this seemed the easy solution, but to mix it up he has also been swimming, cycling and playing tennis.

Jeff has seen some major results in the last six weeks.  From his weight to his waist line.  If he’s had this much success so far, how much will he achieve by the end of these 12 weeks?  Check out his results so far:

Results Chart

Jeff has lost a total of 12 pounds in 6 weeks and decreased his body fat by 4 percent. That is an amazing accomplishment. He has also lost an inch in his waist and legs, but everything else has pretty much stayed the same. Why? Well, Jeff is converting his fat to muscle mass. We may not see it clearly with the circumference measurements, but we have to remember muscle is denser then fat. So, as Jeff works out his body my get bigger where he’s building muscle, but it will shred fat in other places. Let’s see a progression of Jeff from week one to week six.

Week 1Week 6

As you can see Jeff has had significant fat loss throughout his midsection.  In the first week there were no signs of oblique muscles along the rib cage, but now we are starting to see some real definition there.  And he has obviously lost quite a bit of that tire around the waist line.

Way to go Jeff, you’re looking great!  Keep up the good work!

Jeff doing long jump

Jeff Doing A Long Jump

Jeff doing long jump

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Jeff doing long jump

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Jeff doing long jump

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Post image for Blog 6: Let’s Keep On Track On Vacation

Blog 6: Let’s Keep On Track On Vacation

by Rob on August 26, 2009

I’m lying on my dad’s floor in Hebron, CT watching the Red Sox vs Yankees which means the family vacation officially begins. My first challenge: Don’t raid the fridge, Second: Try to find time to workout, Third: Stick to the plan.

Before I left on Thursday night Christy and I sat down and made a food plan for the next 4 days. One little Christy secret she gave me was if you can’t find something in small town USA, bring it with you. In my suitcase she put a zip-lock bag of Quinoa that should last the whole time I’m here, a bag a dried organic mango to snack on and some Lara Bars that taste so good.

As for my workouts, technically I’m only missing my Monday with Rob but it feels like a long time. So, I took Friday off after a killer leg workout on Thursday…those dam stairs. Oh, by the way, where there are stairs there is also a hill. Don’t get me started on the hill. So, Friday off, cardio on Saturday and Sunday, then Rob will email me a workout I can do with bands on Monday. As with the food Christy gave me, Rob sent me with 2 bands, all of which takes up very little room in my suitcase.

We all know when you’re with your family food can be a little rough. The chip dips seem to line the fridge walls. Your step Mom asks you if you want homemade blueberry or apple pie and the local diner makes some sweet ass pancakes. At least in small town Connecticut they do. So, my challenge is to limit those foods, workout and as some dead English guy said, “stay the course.”

All in all, 5 weeks are down in the Sky Fit Challenge. I’ve lost almost 10 pounds, I’m down about 3% body fat and I really feel good.

Week 1

Week 1

End of Week 4

After Week 4

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Post image for Blog 5: One Month and I Feel Great!!

Blog 5: One Month and I Feel Great!!

by Rob on August 18, 2009

One month is done, two months to go.  12 total workouts with Rob and a month of healthier eating with Christy.

Here is what I have learned so far:  The workouts are a lot easier for me than the eating.  I show up to my training with Rob, do what he says and an hour later I’m sweating, fatigued and done.  But the food part is everyday, all day.  Christy can’t force feed me and watch every move I make like Rob can for the most part.  So much of eating is instinctual.  I’m hungry, I eat.  But what I put in my body is the rub.  So over the course of the month Christy and I have made foods at home on Sunday that will last all week. Go to my food blog on Christy’s website to see what those foods are. Keeping prepared food in the house keeps me away from going out to get unhealthy meals or bingeing. When we do go out together we share one dish instead of ordering two ( I can’t tell you how much that has helped with overeating).  And the big thing is saving money!  We all know organic food can be expensive at times but this way helps with saving.

One Month Bicep Pose

On to the workouts!  First off, what do you think of the shaved chest?  Hair or no hair, that is the question.  Personally, I like my hairy chest but not when it gets so long I look like a wookie from Star Wars.  This is my vein side talking.  After all, I’m doing the Sky Fit challenge for many reason but on a shallow level I want to look good with my shirt off so a little landscaping is needed.  Workouts Jeff!  Talk workouts.

Rob and I trained on Monday, Wednesday and Friday this past week and I have to say that formula is feeling like it works the best.  To sum up what we do on those days is strength training and plyometric work (including those dam stairs) and on Tues and Thurs I do cardio (run, swim, bike).  I feel like a good rhythm to the week is forming and I think that can stick for a long time.  Cause that’s my long term goal.  Use Sky Fit as a launching point for the rest of my life.  Strength training and cardio throughout the week set to a great schedule that isn’t to much but keeps me in shape.

But we are not just doing this workout for me.  Were also doing this for you folks out there.  We all have different schedules and for some of you my schedule doesn’t work.  Maybe you get to work to early or the best time for you is in the afternoon or evenings.  What does that do to the body different from morning workouts?  How does your eating change?  In a few weeks Rob, Christy and I will try that out and blog to you lovely readers about what I learn.  But first another obstacle.

Tuck Jumps

In the next few weeks I’m going out of town for work and pleasure and were going to really focus on what needs to happen during those times to keep me on the path.  What do you tell your parents when your with them?  Family has a tendency to make you fall back into bad habits.  What do you do when you’re at a hotel and only eating out?  What if there is no gym around?  I will have to face all these challenges but Rob and Christy are up for it!  After all, it’s what they do.

Week 5 on the other hand will stay right here in sunny LA, sticking to the same formula.  My weigh in with Rob is Monday morning and I expect to be in the low 190’s.  If that’s the case it’s been a long time since I weighed that much.

Also, remember this is a blog so if you have an questions or comments feel free to write back to me.  I’m very interested in what you have to say!  Thanks all.

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Three weeks in and I’m feeling good. One thing that’s nice is people are starting to notice.  Friends here and there have said some nice things about how I look.  Tell you what, when you’ve spent the better part of your life looking a little thick, that’s nice to here.

Funny, while I write this my wife is reading over my shoulder and it makes me insecure. Which makes me wonder if I am being totally honest with you? Lets see.  Yes, I have been working hard with Rob.  Yes, my eating has changed so much in the last 3 weeks but my past struggles still haunt me and I worry.  Will this all be for not in 6 months?  After this is over will I go back to overeating and feeling like I should “loose a few pounds”?  Tell you one thing, at the moment, I really don’t want it to. I like this.  No, I love this. Mainly cause it’s not that hard. I’m still eating good food and having fun.  When you think about it, it’s just 3 hours a week with Rob, playing tennis, running, eating healthier foods and being conscience of how much I eat.  My demons tell me to eat a bag off chips with a large sandwich and a cookie but when I get home making a yummy salad with peanut dressing and tuna is just as good.

Sorry, If I sound a little sappy but I just saw Julie & Julia (total chick flick) and it made me think about my blog and what it really means to me.

Single Arm Medicine Ball Chest Pass

So, on to the workouts.  My legs!  Holy god, my legs have been feeling it and I love it.  Totally had one of those mornings were sitting on a chair kinda hurt. The quads are the biggest and strongest muscles in the body & they let you know when they’re sore.  But it gets better a few days later and they feel stronger all ready.  If you don’t know Rob uses bands not weights to do arm workouts.  You big muscle jocks might think that’s lame but it’s not.  They are just as tough if not harder on the muscles.  For some reason it’s really hard to cheat with bands.

As for my eating, Christy has been introducing more raw foods into my diet.  Instead of pasta with sauce, she served shredded zucchini with raw Alfredo sauce made from nuts.   And just tonight we had veggie burgers topped with a raw cheese sauce (no actual dairy in it).  Pretty cool.   I’ve never ate food like this before and I dig it.  It’s like she’s fooling me with foods I used to like.  Tastes like pasta and sauce but it’s made with veggies and nuts.  As usual if you want to know more about my eating lately, check out my food blog on her website www.howtochow.com.
Vertical Jump

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Post image for Blog 3: Working Out is Hard…but FUN!

Blog 3: Working Out is Hard…but FUN!

by Rob on August 5, 2009

My legs hurt!  We did this killer hamstring workout today.  It wasn’t even that much but holy god, my legs burn.  So I’m just two weeks in but already seeing results!  How cool is that?  Rob and I have locked down the 9am hour for working out 3 times a week.  I initially thought the early time would be really hard for me because getting up is tough most days.  Turns out it is hard for me cause of eating late at night.  Christy has me not eating past 8pm and by 10:30pm I’m dead tired.  But all day I have tons of energy from the early workout and multiple meals throughout the day.  I got to say I give loads of credit to those folks who have to get up super early to workout before work, go to work, then go home and be with their kids.  Here I am struggling with 9am cause of my love for late night food.

Anyway, I’m happy that I’m seeing results but still feel like the ultimate goal is far away and I have lots of work to do. I’m trying my best to not ”settle.” It seems easy to settle but at this point in my life that’s not good enough.  I feel like my next challenge is to keep up with my workouts on the days I’m not with Rob.  We have an in house treadmill which helps but I need to keep doing the early morning workouts so I don’t let the day get in the way and boy is that easy.   Busy or not busy, sometimes 8pm roles up on you quick and you say, “where did the day go?  I didn’t do this or that.”  I hate that!   And I feel like I spent the better part of my 20′s with that problem.  So, no more wasting time.  Workout in the morning, get on with my day and be productive!

Plyometrics

As for my actual workouts, Rob keeps changing things up on me to keep me on my toes.  I like that.  We keep the same overall structure but each individual workout changes a little bit week by week.  Last week it was one kind of squat, this week another.  Makes it fun.

My eating was okay in week 2 until Christy and I had the talk which was basically her sitting me down and saying, “Talk to me.  I want to help you but you have to tell me what your feelings are around food.”  For me, that’s a big one!  But we got through it and it helped so much.  To here more about my conversation with Christy surrounding food go to www.howtochow.com

Check back in next week after I finish week 3 of the Skyfit Challenge!!
Abs

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Post image for Blog 2: Week Two and 3 Pounds Down!!!

Blog 2: Week Two and 3 Pounds Down!!!

by Rob on July 28, 2009

The first week is in the books. How do I feel? What did I learn? Did my body change? So many questions!! It’s hard for me to say, I feel like a lot of things. First off, I do feel great and am excited for more. I worked out 3 days with Rob as well as 3 other days of cardio at his request. Friday was my day off. We worked outside in the morning at this beautiful park on 6th between Fairfax and LaBrea. I like the morning cause it’s not to hot yet but you still get a good sweat on.

Of the 3 days with Rob, the first was the toughest. Not because it was any harder than the other 2 days but because it was the first and my body was shocked to say the least. After Tuesday’s cardio, I was ready for workouts number two and three and by the end of the week I felt soar but really good! Friday was a much needed day off. I went away on business over the weekend but kept up with my cardio by running on the hotels treadmill. I’m actually a big fan of the treadmill, I can put on an action film and run forever. And when I say forever, I mean about 5 miles. I’m a work in progress. I say action film cause I’m an emotional guy and let me tell you running and crying is tough, same goes with laughing.

Something else I liked that Rob does is an active warmup. Instead of “stretching” we actively warmed the body up. Sit ups, squats, Jumping Jacks, etc. Really gets the body ready for what’s ahead. Their is also a set of long stairs at the park and without giving his workout away…he uses the stairs.
Skaters

So, I’m really pumped. I think I can do this. My main goal is to stay focused and consistent. Try not to miss a day with Rob and stick to the plan Christy and I have worked out with food.

As for the food, what a week! I’m no longer eating red meat, cut down my cookie intake, portion controlling and not eating past 8pm. You would think that’s a lot of change but it really doesn’t fell like it. They’re simple steps. Christy refuses to call it a diet. Instead she says were just adding foods into my daily routine. I like that. Doesn’t make me feel like I’m giving up to much, just enjoying healthier foods. PS- cutting out red meat was my choice. Read the book Skinny Bastard or Fast Food Nation and you’ll see why I stopped.

For my complete food blog go to www.howtochow.com

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