The beginning... At last

I'm what I would call an average 23 year old.  I have a desk job, that I've had for 2 years, so needless to say my physique isn't what it was in high school.  I live in a 1 bedroom basement suite, and I drive a reasonably priced used car (which I love more than anything). I get some exercise in when I can, but that's usually only a couple times a week - if I'm lucky.  And I am, in the worst shape of my 23 years.

Well, I watched Thor last week, and that movie just makes you wanna get jacked.  So after a careful (drunk) birthday weekend, I decided that's what I'm going to do.  Not just for any reason, but because I've decided I'm going to be a Viking for Halloween this year... Yes. In 7 weeks.

Growing up ski racing competitively, I understand what it takes to be in shape: how to eat, how to train.  I'm a CSCF (Canadian Ski Coaches Federation) Level II coach, which also makes me an NCCP "Development Level" coach.  I've even taken a few evening "classes" about nutrition and training.  I have the basic know-how, I've just been too damn lazy.  The basic outline of the plan is this:

Weeks 1-3: trim up, shed some excess fat, using body weight/light weight exercises.  This will help strengthen the muscles needed to stabilize/support when I start going harder, and get my body ready for what I'm about to do to it.

Weeks 4-7: Go big!  This is where it's gonna hurt. I'm going to be eating big and lifting big, to well.. Get big! I mean really, when was the last you saw a picture of a small Viking.

My week 1-3 secret weapon is the Wild Rose Herbal D-Tox (about $35 at Planet Organic).  Basically, it's an herbal "detox" that helps clean the toxins out of your body, and flushes your GI tract.  It's pretty simple, take some pills with breakfast and supper, and follow their recommended diet.  Their diet asks you to eliminate all flour (gluten), fermented foods (vinegar, soya sauce, yeast), dairy, oily nuts, and refined sugar during the detox.  I've done this before, and as recommended (by them) I'm doing it again about 6 months later - they recommend twice per year.  Last time it definitely kick-started some weight loss; but more importantly when I was done, I felt great. It wasn't such a battle to get out of bed in the mornings, and I didn't crave salty, oily food... I just felt, better.

Wild Rose Herbal D-Tox

The few first days are going to be hard, no doubt about that. But Day 1 is tomorrow, so follow along as I  transform myself into a Viking.