Pain plus some gain for our wannabe Jesus

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13: The Bermuda Sun’s photo editor Gary Skelton has been Shaping Up for the Saviour for more than a month now.

As first reported in our June 10 edition, he’s on a quest to lose some ungodly body-fat and sculpt a more ‘Christ-like’ body in preparation for the title role in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ at City Hall this October.

No-one’s going to believe in a Jesus with love handles, he figured, so it was off to the gym.

Here’s an update on his progress.

Like most gym virgins starting a fitness routine, I was filled with excitement, pride and determination as I grabbed those dumbbells in earnest for the first time.

Just a few weeks in, though, impatience began to trump the adrenalin: ‘Why is this taking so long?’ I asked myself repeatedly.

I wish there was a button you could press to make your gut suck in, your muscles puff out, and your man-breasts give way to a manly chest.

Of course, this is the flawed mindset that all those silly diet/fat-buster commercials appeal to and exploit. As Olympic Club owner Scott Stallard told me when I started — there’s no quick fix.

Don’t get me wrong — there has been progress. My clothes — and especially my trousers/shorts — fit much better. Friends pass compliments on my slimmer profile. I actually enjoy the training; I have more energy, feel healthy and I’m proud of myself for resisting snacking between meals (one of my worst habits).

It’s just that when I look at the photos of myself shirtless from one month ago, and take a peek in the mirror now, I know I’m still not ready for the loincloth.

However, I have been encouraged by advice from patrons and staff at the Olympic Club; my obstinate belly-fat may appear unmoved but it IS being broken down (along with any other body fat including internal fat between the organs). Before it becomes smaller, my gut should become softer (which it has) as I chip away at the old slab. If this is indeed the case, then I’m feeling pretty happy about my progress.

Regime

Scott Stallard has provided sound, practical advice on both diet and regime, much of it relatively easy to apply:

• More water: A gallon a day to aid the dispersal of broken-down fat. Yes, this also means extra trips to the bathroom, so I’m walking more, too!

• Cut out or cut back on white flour, white bread, white sugar, dairy products;

• Instead of three large meals, after breakfast eat smaller snacks throughout the day, every two hours or so. Make dinner your smaller, lighter meal;

• No fried food.

The last one’s a killer for me but, alas, this is the sacrifice I must make for my art. My love of KFC and Ice Queen must be denied for the next few months.

I’m now well into my second month of training and if you want to offer inspirational tips, e-mail me at: [email protected]. You can even sponsor me, with the proceeds going to Big Brothers Big Sisters Bermuda. You can decide how much to contribute when we publish before-and-after-photos at the end of the three months…

Alternatively, if you’re the sadistic type, stand outside the Olympic Club with a fresh bucket of the Colonel’s Special Recipe and see if you can make me cry!