Doug has been my trainer since September 2013. The first few months were really spotty with it being the holidays, a one-year-old baby and getting used to working out. It wasn’t until January 2014 that things settled down into a solid routine. Nevertheless, Doug came up with a plan to increase my overall strength levels, get my diet cleaned up and lose weight. I am 6’3” and weighed 185 pounds – tall and skinny – so it might sound odd that I would have to lose weight. But I did need it. Tall and skinny guys can have a problem with weight too, called “skinny fat.”
Increasing Protein Intake
For those few months in 2013, I worked on increasing my protein intake, cutting fats, and watching my carbs. Minimal fats. I saw my weight drop down 20 pounds in those 3 months. Starting January 2013, I had a base of 164.5 and it was time to go! Over the course of 2014, I have steadily gained weight and strength levels. While I am not fixated to the scales but instead keep tabs on my overall strength increases and “how I look in the mirror”, I have progressed to 190 pounds as of last week; that’s about 2 pounds per month. I have never weighed more in my life. As a tall and skinny guy, this is great stuff!
Along with my weight gain came solid strength gains as well. My bench press started off <100 pounds and now I just (barely) hit 185 pounds. My dumbbell presses have moved from 25/35 pounds to around 55 pounds (each hand). Dumbbell rows have similarly moved to 80 pounds. If I pushed it a little more, I can probably exceed those levels. Amazingly, I can now squat around 300 pounds! I never thought that would happen.
Have Fun and Work Hard
Doug has implemented several different routines over the year to keep it fresh and my body constantly trying to keep up. Sometimes it was over 150 incline push-ups, pull-ups and sit-ups…each! In one session! Sometimes it focused on heavy weights. Sometimes it was high reps. Sometimes it was supersets (no real rest between sets, moving between different exercises). Through all of this, Doug and I had fun and worked hard at it. From time to time, Doug would even work out next to me and keep up the pressure. Right now, we are concentrating on old school style: lift heavy. This is my favorite routine so far.
Keeping Me On Task
My goals are to hit 200 pounds, eclipse the 300 pound squat, achieve at least 70 pound dumbbell
presses (140# total), and smith-machine press 200 pounds by July 2015. Then, cut back on some of the fat I have inevitably put on during my weight gain phase.
Doug is someone who has always been there to train and motivate. He’s an inspiration, and I can always trust that he will give me 100%, just like the efforts I place on myself. Always quick to smile, he will keep you on task and keep it fun. And you gotta love Pete!
I’ve still got what seems like a mountain to climb, but I’m taking it one step at a time.
Looking forward to 2015 at SonomaXFitness with Doug McKinney.
Chris
