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Name: Eddy Schumacher
Before:
After:
Like most typical guys, I could look in the mirror each day and say "I look fine". I taught karate and could still do pushups, so I didn't really feel like I had a problem. I let the beard grow for a theatre job, and then saw photos of myself with the beard at the beach for a karate event, and, well, reality is quite a wrecking ball! So, as soon as the theatre gig was done, I shaved the beard, thinking that would do it! Hardly.
  Click Image To Enlarge.Eddy Schumacher's Weight Progress. I still had to buy larger pants than I'd ever had to before, and my stamina was low, so I did less participation in my karate instruction and more standing around while giving instructions. Then another theatre job came up and it called for a bit of a different body than what I had. The beached whale photo, the lack of stamina while teaching, and the opportunity for the new acting job all combined to kick start my change.
I'd had various home gyms and resistance equipment in my karate studios over the years, but never made any concerted or organized effort to use them. They served many purposes - extra spectator seating, wardrobe space, dust collectors, and even occasionally to check strength - but never received any regular or consistent use for the purpose they were designed to serve. At the point where I realized how far I'd gone downhill physically, I happened to have a Bowflex. I'd seen the ads, even toyed with using it, but decided to actually study the manual, and put their program to the test. I started seeing changes immediately!
 Click Image To Enlarge.I Started Seeing Changes Immediately. I followed the manual to a "T", lowered my calories, increased meal frequency, did the 3 day-a-week beginner program, and in about 90 days had a whole different body! Inspired, I moved to the more advanced training programs, one after another.
 Click Image To Enlarge.I Had A Whole Different Body. I set a goal to see if I could actually go on stage as a bodybuilder using only the Bowflex! In two short years using nothing but the Bowflex and their training manual, I placed second in the 2007 Utah NPC Sr. Master's Division. I then switched to our local gym and continued improving my shape and strength. At 49, I feel like I'm 30 again!
 Click Image To Enlarge.I Feel Like I'm 30 Again.
The initial weight loss and re-shaping of my body took 3 inches off my waist and put 3 inches on my chest. Without proper nutrition, resistance training alone would never have done that.
 Click Image To Enlarge.Proper Nutrition Was The Key To My Weight Loss. At first I was less educated about the good vs. bad carbs, and was primarily concerned with macronutrient ratios and calorie totals. So I shot for about 200 grams of protein, 200 to 250 grams of carbs, and under 25 grams of fat for a total of under 2000 calories. I also shot for a minimum of 1 gallon of water throughout the day.
Meal 2: Meal 3: Meal 4: Meal 5: Meal 6: Post-Workout Meal 7: When I was trimmed down and reshaped enough to start the growing process, I added more protein and carb calories to the eating plan. I currently take about 1.5 to 1.75 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight, 1 gram of carbs per pound of bodyweight, and up to 50 grams of mostly healthy fats. That gives me around 3200 calories a day at my current weight of 210 lbs.
The Bowflex plan called for no cardio on off days. This was to allow maximum recovery and not interrupt the muscle building process or deplete low energy stores from the low calorie diet.
The first wrokouts were circuit training/full body. This was the more intermediate split I used after the first 3 months.
Wednesday: Back & Arms
Friday: Legs
As my strength and drive increased, I went gradually to more advanced splits of 4 and 5 days, hitting single body parts each day.
 Click Image To Enlarge.I Gradually Moved To More Advanced Splits.
In the cable TV age of informercials, you could be led to believe that there is such a thing as "easy", "quick", "guaranteed" weight loss in "2 minutes a day", "30 minutes a week", or a "no exercise" way to get in shape, be lean, or muscular. There are miracle methods, quick cures, and fast fixes being hawked on every cable channel, non-stop. The truth is you have to eat right, do resistance training regularly, increase your cardio, and stay motivated even when it's hard. I love the quote in Flex magazine from a soldier in Iraq - "Go to the gym frequently. Lift heavy objects repeatedly. Avoid the pound cake!"
 Click Image To Enlarge.Stay Motivated, Even When It Gets Tough. 
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