Snow Shoveling is Good Cardio

Snow shoveling is good cardio. This week we (Montrealers) had our first winter storm. There was an accumulation of about 25 centimetres of snow. This meant that I had to shovel a clear pathway around two cars. What a workout. Although I took my time and didn't feel too winded when shoveling, I was drenched afterwards. I took a shower following this new-found aerobic training, and noticed that I looked pretty lean. The fatigue caught up with me a little while later, and indicated to me that if I do cardio in the gym (even if it's only once a week), then I might burn myself out. I want to burn fat, but I can't afford to lose any muscle mass. The snow shoveling in itself really felt like a good cardio workout. Of course, it's a bit of a combination of functional strength, muscular endurance, and cardio... but I feel like it's mostly cardio.

In a way, the snow which I often looked at as a burden is kind of helping me. At least during this winter, I could focus solely on weight training and muscle building when in the gym. It looks like I may need the entire 6 months of my journey to reach my goal... Simply because concentrating on leaning down during the winter is too great a task for me. But like I said, snow shoveling is good cardio... and will help me to burn fat. For those of you who have been following me on my quest to become the biggest natural bodybuilder of all-time (here on this blog, weekly) you've probably noticed that I change my plans quite often as I go along. Being dynamic was actually part of my original plan. I have to improvise on this journey and not be such a perfectionnist... otherwise, I will never reach my goal, let alone reach it within 6 months time. If I could suggest something to you when you're ready to follow your dream, it's to think of your ideal plan beforehand... then start taking action... and adapt throughout the journey. And remember, any obstacles you'll encounter should not discourage you as they are actually signs (or lessons) to help put you on the right path. See you guys back here this week.

190 Pounds of Lean Muscle Mass

I'm currently a lean 190 pounds of lean muscle mass. I weighed myself just before my workout this evening and saw what I was hoping for. I've basically gained about 14 pounds since just over a month of starting my journey (which officially began on November 5th... for those of you who are tuning in for the first time). I'm learning to improvise, and not be such a perfectionnist... as on this quest, there are many obstacles that come in the form of inconveniences. Anyways, things are working out pretty well. I'm going to do my best to gain at least two and a half pounds every week for the following few weeks. Given that type of progression, I should have plenty of mass to start cutting up within about 3 months. I intend on achieving my goal a bit earlier than the 6-month deadline I originally gave myself. Still, six months is a little more realistic and provides a type of mental cushion for me. By the 3rd or 4th month of training, the snow here in Montreal should begin to subside... and then I'll really start improving. I think it will be possible to actually some more size even though at this point I'll be 100% focused on losing body fat. On the final 9 days of my journey I won't have any concern with building muscle at all, as I will need to dedicate all of my energy to getting shredded. What I mean by this is that I'll be getting into 'bodybuilding contest shape' (which is ultra lean and ultra dry). On top of all the cardio I'll be doing, I'll probably get the help of a healthy, natural nutritional cleanse. One of the awesome side benefits of a detoxification system like the one I'll be using, is that unwanted fat is released from your body. For someone who is already extremely lean (as I plan on being right before I start the cleanse), a nutritional cleanse could bring a person down to 5% body fat (or lower). The very few bodybuilders who use and endorse the products have even reported that they actually gained weight (by the last day of the cleanse). More muscle and less fat. What could be better than that. See you guys and gals back here tomorrow. PS: I just filmed the second part of my upcoming documentary, and it's looking good. And I'll be posting some updated pictures to this blog, probably by the end of the week.