Week One: Getting started

My Ryan Gosling challenge didn't get off to the best of starts on New Year's Day as the nearest I got to lifting a weight was raising my arm to drink my way through watching a shocking Arsenal display at Southampton. In fact, I committed a body building cardinal sin by going for a 6k run instead so will have burnt off potential muscle mass rather than put any on!

Consequently, it was the 2nd when I finally dusted down my solitary dumbbell and curled my first irons of 2013. Having not done anything weights related in nigh on three months I wasn't expecting great things but the results were truly feeble. I managed a grand total of two sets of 10 bicep curls, 29 press ups and 62 painful sit ups. What's depressing is that it wasn't even with the full dumbbell weight - something I was able to do comfortably three months ago. I was so shattered afterwards that I felt a little bit like this dude:



Given how feebly my first 'session' went, I decided to start this challenge slowly which means shunning the gym until I can comfortably do three reps of a fully loaded dumbbell and 40 press ups. I think this is a sensible ploy for two reasons: 1. I would probably currently get laughed out of the weights area 2. There wouldn't be many machines I could actually use at such a weak starting point.

I have, therefore, plumped for doing weight sessions every other day, using the day in between to kick-start my London marathon training. This seems to have worked pretty well so far and while there's no real change in terms of muscle mass, I am already finding the weights easier to lift. The press up count is also creeping up and at time of writing I can do 32 in one stint.

Alongside this gentle 'routine', I've been doing my best to up the protein in-take. This has almost proved more difficult than the weights as whilst I enjoy my food I've never been a massive eater in the past.

Having done some research into the kind of things I should be eating, the underlying message was very, very clear - eat as many different sources of protein as humanly possible. So, cereal has been replaced by eggs for breakfast and lunch is now two pieces of chicken breast and steamed vegetables. Dinner's only requirement is further meat and in addition to all of this, of course, are the protein shakes.

As with the training, I opted initially to build the eating up slowly as I don't think I can physically fit the recommended daily intake in to my tiny frame! I've always struggled to put on weight and have always hovered around the 75kg mark (roughly 11 and a half stone) which for someone who is 6 foot(ish) is by no means large.

That was until I discovered yesterday during my registration at the local doctor's surgery that I've actually lost weight and currently tip the scales at a meagre 70kg. That's a loss of more than half a stone and has stung me into accelerating the eating side of this challenge. This means eating at every opportunity and at times when I'm not even hungry! I've struggled so far this morning but hopefully my body will get used to it quick enough.

None of this sits comfortably with training for a marathon, of course, and finding a way to marry the two together is, perhaps, going to be my biggest challenge of all.

Photo to follow later along with my week one stats.

Let the games begin!

A few weeks ago I made a drunken claim that I could beef myself up to resemble something like Ryan Gosling. I wasn't being serious and my girlfriend laughed at the very mention of the idea. However, it got me thinking how hard can it be? Given enough time and effort it's got to be possible, right?

Or at least that's what I thought a couple of ciders later. So, I went back to my girlfriend and declared that I would attempt the transformation in 2013. She seemed dubious and a £50 bet was put down. The 'Get Buff or die trying' challenge had been laid down.

Now for those of you who don't know me, I am a skinny, skinny little rake with a torso closer to that of a 12 year old boy than Ryan Gosling. I've never been 'stacked' and have never really had any desire to be so. I weigh eleven and a half stone and can't put weight on despite attempts to do so in the past. In addition, I run marathons and have done so for years (including London and Berlin this year). To make matters worse I hate the weights area in the gym and have never used a bench press.

None of these things work in my favour and as a result, I currently look like this:



When I need to look like this:

It seems a highly improbable transformation, I know, but I'm determined to give it a go and thought I'd document my unlikely attempt to get 'ripped' in 2013. I'll post a new picture every week for your general amusement and will keep you updated on any ridiculous potions I end up taking in my desperate attempts to win the bet (proceeds of which will go to charity if I win at least).

See you all tomorrow, before then have a great NYE!!!