Progress on the Slow Road to Hunkdom

One month of my yearlong remake is over, and I’m still alive--after 204 bicycling miles, 15 days of jog-walking, my first injury and no booze. (Do you know how scary that thought was at first?) I am also 14 pounds lighter and 6 inches smaller around the waist, and I wasn’t hungry once.

I lifted weights six days a week, too. How much total weight do you think a non-muscular, first-time lifter can lift his first month? Would 10,000 pounds impress you? How about 75,000 pounds? Neither should, for you’re reading about a man who lifted 365,000 pounds.

The greatest thrill of the month? When Kathy, a friend’s very beautiful, blond and athletic steady, said, “Remar, you really look good.” I think she said it with an exclamation point, but I’m trying to be conservative here.

I don’t think I detected the least bit of swoon or a soupcon of lust in this perceptive lady’s words or demeanor, unfortunately, but there was genuine surprise, and I’m real patient.

Just a few minutes ago, something nearly as exciting happened. After finishing my 20-minute, 22-position stretching routine, I, on impulse, decided to try a push-up. I did three. With perfect form.

Pride in Small Gains

Though that may not sound impressive for a man who in one month lifted 365,000 pounds, the accomplishment was as sweet to me as the small piece of chocolate pie we had for dessert Sunday, for I have never been able to do push-ups.

Many of the small gains mean a lot to me. One month ago, standing up quickly and walking to the beach path only 50 feet away tired me--and scared me, too, since the reality of heart disease had entered my consciousness.

I jog-walk two miles now, until I’m breathing hard, then walk until my breathing calms, then jog again. The first day, I shuffled along for 20 seconds before stopping. This morning, I went five minutes, passing an old lady and a slow-moving dog.

My attitude. I never really did like exercise, and I’m not a total convert yet. Though I don’t giggle at the thought of another 20 minutes of jogging or stretching, I do enjoy the biking (as long as the wind or the steepest hill isn’t against me) and the weight lifting when I sense progress (about half the time).

So far, I don’t mind my healthful diet and, so far, I savor the feeling of accomplishment each effort brings. I sleep better--the dead sleep of healthy fatigue. I move better, too--faster yet smoother movements described by a scuba-diving friend as athletic. My dictionary says that word means “strong, vigorous, muscular,” and you must remember dictionaries never lie.

The Booze Connection

I still think about alcohol some afternoons around 5 o’clock, my usual drinking time. Giving up booze completely wasn’t in any of my doctors’ recommendations, though all of them told me to lower my intake for physical reasons. None, however, mentioned psychological reasons for slowing down.

Probably because none knew those drinks were important to me. I have been a quiet but regular drinker for more than 20 years--perhaps cocktails with lunch, then a couple of drinks after work, a glass or two of wine with dinner and a nightcap. Though it bothers me to say it, those drinks were beginning to control me somewhat. Not drinking made me realize that. More on this later.

I don’t know yet what one month of all this good living and exercise has done to my health problems, if anything. But after all those self-conscious, lethargic years, I’m finally moving in the right direction. The least you would expect from a man who in one month lifted 365,000 pounds.

P.S. Almost forgot to tell you about my injury. I pulled my back skipping rope--on the first skip. I have recycled the rope into a potted-palm support.

Thinking of some changes in your life style?

“I want to lose weight, gain strength and stamina, tone up my muscles and have healthy insides.” Raise your right hand and repeat that sentence, please.

Realistic Thoughts

Good. Now that you’re thinking about making life a little better, here are some realistic thoughts on achieving these goals.

First, don’t waste your time or money on quick fixes. Lasting, safe change does not happen overnight. Easy ways out, like vibrating machines, don’t replace exercise. Oddball diet books won’t make you thin for long. What follows are some realistic expectations about the kinds of changes you can aim for.

Weight loss. The slower you lose it, the longer it will stay off. If you lose much more than two to three pounds a week, you will be losing muscle tissue as well as fat. Not a good thing. You’re also probably starving yourself. Also not a good thing, because you won’t do that for long. But eliminate just 200 calories a day (drink two Diet Cokes rather than regular Cokes, for instance) and you will cut out enough calories to lose 20 pounds, probably permanently, in a year.

Strength and stamina. Changes here can take place quickly, within a week or two if you are consistent in your exercise program. Anything more than your current activity level will promote change in these areas.

Muscle growth. Hunkdom comes slowly, very slowly. Change is measured in pieces of inches. If you’re older than 40, be happy with an inch on your arm in six months.

Changes on the inside. Even if you’ve spent a lifetime abusing your insides with bad food, smoking and a sedentary life style, you can make things better relatively quickly. Cardiovascular changes can take place in three to five weeks. Cholesterol and other blood-related factors can improve in several months. Vital Statistics

Beginning First Month Waist: 43 inches 37 inches Right bicep: 12 3/4 inches 12 1/2 inches Flexed: 13 inches 13 1/2 inches Weight: 201 pounds 187 pounds Blood pressure: 128/68 120/68 Pulse: 64 68 Bench press: 55 95 Hunk factor: .00 .08