Thread: The DaMayor~RFL~Phase II~Journal IX~Saga

Food....Same Ol' Same Ol'..

873 Calories, 8.2g Fat, 5.4g Carbs., 180.7g Protein

Calories are a little low today, although I doubt this will have any major effect after yesterday's free meal. While I realize that I am only just over a week into the diet, I'm having to fight off the "it's not working" anxiety again. I know better, of course, but this seems to be a common, recurring thought when I do this diet. A thought that was reinforced when I looked in the mirror this morning and thought, "I should be further along than this, damn it!!"
So, in an effort to minimize this nonsensical and premature notion, I am going to completely eliminate the (smallish amount of carbs and fat in the) creamer I've been adding to my coffee, increase my water intake two-fold, and re-evaluate how focused I am on my workout routine. I've been having a bit of difficulty getting back into the groove with the workout. Due to tightness in my lower back and neck, I basically cut the workout in half today.....Not cool.

Pondering Progress~Inhibiting Psychology

Now, let me preface this by saying that I have always been an "average" to possibly a slightly more muscular guy than the hardgainer variety, for the majority of my life, normally hovering at or between 190-200lbs, and that my recent dieting venture has not started from the same point as "The Biggest Loser" contestants. Of course, I was getting close this past year..(250).but we'll let that slide.

The Question:

After reviewing my comment about "the mirror" yesterday, I began thinking about the psychological aspects of "weight loss". Now, I do not believe that I have ever been (nor will ever be) conflicted with Muscle Dysmorphia, or any other major self esteem issues, after seeing the images attached to several "bodybuilding over forty" articles I've read in the recent past, I have caught myself thinking, "Jeeze, by the time I get as lean as I want to be, I'm gonna be SMALL". Of course, I have to counter this thought with my usual use of humor (to take the edge off of what could be considered serious by some) with, "There's a lot of muscle under that fat!". My concern lies with the former....I'm a little worried that this perception is, or may, interfere with fat loss.
With this said, how do those of you, my fellow 40~ish constituents, view self perception when dieting...or bulking, for that matter?

Hmmph. Guess I'm the only one.

The Numbers

923 Calories, 26.6g Fat, 6.1g Carbs., 160.6g Protein

Originally Posted by DaMayor

Pondering Progress~Inhibiting Psychology
The Question:

After reviewing my comment about "the mirror" yesterday, I began thinking about the psychological aspects of "weight loss". Now, I do not believe that I have ever been (nor will ever be) conflicted with Muscle Dysmorphia, or any other major self esteem issues, after seeing the images attached to several "bodybuilding over forty" articles I've read in the recent past, I have caught myself thinking, "Jeeze, by the time I get as lean as I want to be, I'm gonna be SMALL". Of course, I have to counter this thought with my usual use of humor (to take the edge off of what could be considered serious by some) with, "There's a lot of muscle under that fat!". My concern lies with the former....I'm a little worried that this perception is, or may, interfere with fat loss.
With this said, how do those of you, my fellow 40~ish constituents, view self perception when dieting...or bulking, for that matter?

How about under 40.

I've run into the same issue myself these last few weeks. I keep re-evaluating myself on "should I do a hard cut" to get my stomach were I want it, or "should I keep hitting it hard and just watch what I eat". Every time I go back to 2 things:

1. once I get to my "goal weight or see detailed abs" and lose the muscle and fat it takes to get to that point what is it going to get me. How long could I maintain that without keeping the diet going.
2. if I keep going like I am and the Body fat keeps going down (slow as hell of course) but keep lifting and gaining muscle as much as possible then at least I know in the long run at some point I'll find a place and be happy and able to maintain.

I don't know if that made any sense, but guess I'm trying to say anytime you let yourself guess or think your going to be something you don't want to be in the end will keep you from going all out. Be it the diet, weights or even work.

Originally Posted by DaMayor

Pondering Progress~Inhibiting Psychology

(snip)I'm a little worried that this perception is, or may, interfere with fat loss.
With this said, how do those of you, my fellow 40~ish constituents, view self perception when dieting...or bulking, for that matter?

The muscle mags have distorted my perception of what it takes to appeal to the average joe or jane.

I get compliments on my appearance yet often feel lacking because I don't look (nor will I ever look) like an Arnold Schwarzenegger from 1974.

So my goal is to realize that I've got to throw out that unrealistic image and become the best me. I know what I consider my weaknesses and I know what my expectations are. Self perception can definitely work for or against you or, rather, attitude can make you or break you, right?

My advice, fwiw, hang in there! Plow ahead. Set a goal and stick to it like glue.

If you need any additional clichés you know where to find me. lol

Originally Posted by Curt James

The muscle mags have distorted my perception of what it takes to appeal to the average joe or jane.

I get compliments on my appearance yet often feel lacking because I don't look (nor will I ever look) like an Arnold Schwarzenegger from 1974.

So my goal is to realize that I've got to throw out that unrealistic image and become the best me. I know what I consider my weaknesses and I know what my expectations are. Self perception can definitely work for or against you or, rather, attitude can make you or break you, right?

My advice, fwiw, hang in there! Plow ahead. Set a goal and stick to it like glue.

If you need any additional clichés you know where to find me. lol

Hey, you found me...cool.

Well, I have decided that my recent self perception is based on a couple of things. A few years ago, yes, I had gained a substantial amount of fat, but at the same time I had also retained a certain amount of muscle. After slacking off for quite a while, I lost a good bit of the muscle, then, after losing a good amount of fat during my first round of RFL, I was left with a sort of out-of-whack composition. If this makes sense. So, after a miserable second phase during the past couple of weeks, I have determined that it might be more reasonable and do-able (with all of the stuff I'm working on right now...some good, some stressful) to back off of the extreme RFL diet, go with a disciplined/clean maintenance or just slightly reduced calorie diet through the fall and early winter months, (i.e.eat and lift like I want to for a while) build my strength up, gain a tad of muscle, and then resume the cut/RFL in the spring.

I'm not bailing out, just doing what makes sense for a little while. And, for whatever the reason, during this last RFL phase I have felt terrible...nothing like the first time. I would really like to heal up where I need to heal up, and increase my lifts, or at least be able to go all out without the fear of killing myself due to low intake, lol.