Invitation to join the 90-day challenge!
02-23-2010, 08:06 AM
#1
FitDay Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 3
Invitation to join the 90-day challenge!
From my personal journal:
On March 29th, 2010, I am beginning a self-designed "90-day challenge". This will entail eating perfectly and exercising perfectly for 90 days. I will eat exactly the right things at exactly the right times. My highly intensive exercise plan will follow suit. It will be based on high-intensity muscle and cardiovascular/pulmonary training. The only goal is to follow the plan every second, of every day, for 3 months.
I will monitor my experiences through this website. This is an experimental exercise in self-control, behavior modification, physical development, mental commitment, and happiness/subjective well-being. Dependent variables and results will be measured by general physical appearance, satisfaction with physical appearance, and emotional response.
My only goal is to eat perfectly and exercise perfectly for 90 days. The concept of perfect is highly subjective and will be defined by my belief in what comprises "perfection" for my body.
Nutrition: I will eat 6 small meals per day of approximately 400 calories comprised of 70% healthy proteins, 20% carbohydrates from healthy sources, and 10% from healthy fats. I will exercise with high intensity once or twice per day, depending on my body's response and conditions. I will never eat anything out of desire, not once, not even a morsel or drop (this will obviously be the most difficult part). I do not have a goal of losing weight, so caloric restriction is not an issue, but excess calories will not be consumed either. If I gain weight (hypothesized), it will be from lean muscle addition, and fat reduction.
Exercise: I will not follow a strict / structured exercise plan. However, some could consider it the strictest exercise plan around because I will exercise at a very high intensity level as long as I believe my body and mind are benefiting. This will revolve around weight/resistance training and sprinting. I will go to the gym every single day, at least once, and supplement the gym workout at home. I will only quit for the exercise period, or day, when I believe my body is no longer benefiting.
I will continue my "regular" lifestyle until March 29th. This includes running/jogging 3 times per week at moderate intensity and very infrequent mild muscle training. This also includes a nutritional profile only slightly better than the "typical" american.
Our wedding is July 1st, 2010 in Las Vegas. My challenge period will end 3 days before the wedding. I hope to feel and look as great as my bride! She is "kind of" joining me for the 90-day challenge. My mother has also "kind of" agreed to partake in my whacky experiment. Although my challenge is based solely on 100% dedication, and 99% dedication equals failure, I still appreciate and look forward to their own personal challenges and healthy behaviors.
I invite anyone, and everyone, to join me on this crazy ride!
On March 29th, 2010, I am beginning a self-designed "90-day challenge". This will entail eating perfectly and exercising perfectly for 90 days. I will eat exactly the right things at exactly the right times. My highly intensive exercise plan will follow suit. It will be based on high-intensity muscle and cardiovascular/pulmonary training. The only goal is to follow the plan every second, of every day, for 3 months.
I will monitor my experiences through this website. This is an experimental exercise in self-control, behavior modification, physical development, mental commitment, and happiness/subjective well-being. Dependent variables and results will be measured by general physical appearance, satisfaction with physical appearance, and emotional response.
My only goal is to eat perfectly and exercise perfectly for 90 days. The concept of perfect is highly subjective and will be defined by my belief in what comprises "perfection" for my body.
Nutrition: I will eat 6 small meals per day of approximately 400 calories comprised of 70% healthy proteins, 20% carbohydrates from healthy sources, and 10% from healthy fats. I will exercise with high intensity once or twice per day, depending on my body's response and conditions. I will never eat anything out of desire, not once, not even a morsel or drop (this will obviously be the most difficult part). I do not have a goal of losing weight, so caloric restriction is not an issue, but excess calories will not be consumed either. If I gain weight (hypothesized), it will be from lean muscle addition, and fat reduction.
Exercise: I will not follow a strict / structured exercise plan. However, some could consider it the strictest exercise plan around because I will exercise at a very high intensity level as long as I believe my body and mind are benefiting. This will revolve around weight/resistance training and sprinting. I will go to the gym every single day, at least once, and supplement the gym workout at home. I will only quit for the exercise period, or day, when I believe my body is no longer benefiting.
I will continue my "regular" lifestyle until March 29th. This includes running/jogging 3 times per week at moderate intensity and very infrequent mild muscle training. This also includes a nutritional profile only slightly better than the "typical" american.
Our wedding is July 1st, 2010 in Las Vegas. My challenge period will end 3 days before the wedding. I hope to feel and look as great as my bride! She is "kind of" joining me for the 90-day challenge. My mother has also "kind of" agreed to partake in my whacky experiment. Although my challenge is based solely on 100% dedication, and 99% dedication equals failure, I still appreciate and look forward to their own personal challenges and healthy behaviors.
I invite anyone, and everyone, to join me on this crazy ride!
02-23-2010, 08:31 AM
#2
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Slidell, Louisiana
Posts: 8,232
I have some questions/ concerns: (this is just my thoughts & opinions, so don't take offense, maybe it'll add to the challenge aspect of it)
How did you come up with a 70/20/10 ratio? That seems VERY extreme in my opinion. I don't see how you'd have enough energy to "I will exercise with high intensity once or twice per day, depending on my body's response and conditions". I think the latter half of that statement will take over at those ratios. Depending on how long and how intense you plan on training, you could easilly be over training, which is counter productive. Your body needs carbs for energy and fat to burn fat, I think you are too low on BOTH of those. You will likely burn out.
I think that expecting to eat perfectly and workout perfectly EVERY day for 3 months is setting yourself up for failure. We all need a break (mentally and physically), what happens if you get sick, injured, just need a day to recover, or need a "cheat day" to kickstart your motabolism?
If you are so gung-ho and making it so hardcore... why wait another 5 weeks? Why not start now? It's going to take a lot of discipline and tweeking to make this work.
Like I said this is all my opinion. But I am speaking from experience (albeit my experience and everyone is different), but I too thought similar to you but realized that it wasn't the best course. I will say that I did a pretty drastic change, stuck out the entire 90 days (only took off because of an injury) and began another 90 days, which I'm almost finished.
What kind of supplements will you be taking?
Mike
How did you come up with a 70/20/10 ratio? That seems VERY extreme in my opinion. I don't see how you'd have enough energy to "I will exercise with high intensity once or twice per day, depending on my body's response and conditions". I think the latter half of that statement will take over at those ratios. Depending on how long and how intense you plan on training, you could easilly be over training, which is counter productive. Your body needs carbs for energy and fat to burn fat, I think you are too low on BOTH of those. You will likely burn out.
I think that expecting to eat perfectly and workout perfectly EVERY day for 3 months is setting yourself up for failure. We all need a break (mentally and physically), what happens if you get sick, injured, just need a day to recover, or need a "cheat day" to kickstart your motabolism?
If you are so gung-ho and making it so hardcore... why wait another 5 weeks? Why not start now? It's going to take a lot of discipline and tweeking to make this work.
Like I said this is all my opinion. But I am speaking from experience (albeit my experience and everyone is different), but I too thought similar to you but realized that it wasn't the best course. I will say that I did a pretty drastic change, stuck out the entire 90 days (only took off because of an injury) and began another 90 days, which I'm almost finished.
What kind of supplements will you be taking?
Mike
Last edited by 01gt4.6; 02-23-2010 at 08:33 AM.
03-09-2010, 05:37 AM
#3
FitDay Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 3
You're exactly right with the ratio. What the heck was I talking about? I definitely will not attempt to get 70% of my caloric intake from protein. That would be unhealthy and nearly impossible. 100-200 grams of protein will be a maximum intake. That's only 400-800 calories per day = closer to 25%-40%. I will likely have approximately the same number of carbs (based on caloric percentage), and slightly fewer fats.
However, the 90-day challenge is a challenge that not many people could finish, or even attempt. I'm talking about eating perfectly and engaging in ultra-high intensity training daily (muscle training and cardio). I will not need a break. I will not burn out. Well, that's my goal at least. If I do, I fail. That's fine. It's a test, not an easy diet or exercise routine with days off and breaks. I can still exercise if injured; no excuses. I've never been so sick that I couldn't exercise or eat well. Crossing my fingers I guess.
However, the 90-day challenge is a challenge that not many people could finish, or even attempt. I'm talking about eating perfectly and engaging in ultra-high intensity training daily (muscle training and cardio). I will not need a break. I will not burn out. Well, that's my goal at least. If I do, I fail. That's fine. It's a test, not an easy diet or exercise routine with days off and breaks. I can still exercise if injured; no excuses. I've never been so sick that I couldn't exercise or eat well. Crossing my fingers I guess.
03-09-2010, 11:42 AM
#4
FitDay Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 19
My only concern with this is muscles need time to heal in order to get better and stronger.
Working out every day gives your body no time to heal and will just end up injuring yourself, and if injured you still continue to work through it, I think at the end of the 3 months your body will be screaming out in so many ways that you won't know what to deal with first.
My suggestion is do this hardcore, but every second day. That gives you a 4 day work out a week, with 1 day in between to rest your body, this doesn't mean DONT do anything on those days, just do a sport, go walking, do something active that is not hardcore to keep your body going without over-doing it.
I like that you are determined do this, and I would be happy to say I will do it with you, but I can barely go a day without eating something with the word chocolate in it... :P
as Mike said, this is my opinion and my opinion only
Best of luck with it, keep us updated on the pain.. *process!
Working out every day gives your body no time to heal and will just end up injuring yourself, and if injured you still continue to work through it, I think at the end of the 3 months your body will be screaming out in so many ways that you won't know what to deal with first.
My suggestion is do this hardcore, but every second day. That gives you a 4 day work out a week, with 1 day in between to rest your body, this doesn't mean DONT do anything on those days, just do a sport, go walking, do something active that is not hardcore to keep your body going without over-doing it.
I like that you are determined do this, and I would be happy to say I will do it with you, but I can barely go a day without eating something with the word chocolate in it... :P
as Mike said, this is my opinion and my opinion only
Best of luck with it, keep us updated on the pain.. *process!
03-09-2010, 11:55 AM
#5
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Slidell, Louisiana
Posts: 8,232
Matt, how old are you and what is your height & weight, and what is your goal? I'd HIGHLY recommend taking pictures though your journey. You'd be surprised at the amount of motivation you can get from pictures! I wish you the best of luck, I'll be joining a gym soon (probably around the time you start your 90 day program) so I'll be going along with you, I'll just be doing my own thing. But I'm here for you if you need some help along the way!!!
The reason why I though you were setting yourself you to fail is because you are setting really really high standards. I'm a firm believer that you can do anything you set your mind to, but set realistic goals. I had a goal to get down to 10% BF within my 90 day program. I realized along the way that it wasn't going to happen b/c it wasn't realistic. I sat back, and decided that I'd finish my 90 days no matter what. I did, and I continued on but still haven't reached my 10% BF goal. It will be some time before I get there but that's not stopping me. Why? B/c I have the pics to show me how fat I was and I'll never go back there again! Here's my story with pics. http://www.fitday.com/fitness/forums...tory-pics.html
If you need anything, just ask!
Mike
The reason why I though you were setting yourself you to fail is because you are setting really really high standards. I'm a firm believer that you can do anything you set your mind to, but set realistic goals. I had a goal to get down to 10% BF within my 90 day program. I realized along the way that it wasn't going to happen b/c it wasn't realistic. I sat back, and decided that I'd finish my 90 days no matter what. I did, and I continued on but still haven't reached my 10% BF goal. It will be some time before I get there but that's not stopping me. Why? B/c I have the pics to show me how fat I was and I'll never go back there again! Here's my story with pics. http://www.fitday.com/fitness/forums...tory-pics.html
If you need anything, just ask!
Mike
Last edited by 01gt4.6; 03-09-2010 at 12:05 PM.
