Time for a change of pace, measurments and a few goals

Weight loss
Nov 12 = 345
Nov 26 = 342.8 (-2.2)
November Total = 2.2

Dec 10 = 340.2 (-2.6)

Jan 03 = 344.2 (+4.0)
Jan 10 = 337.8 (-6.4)
Jan 17 = 340.4  (+2.6)
Jan 24 = 340.4  (0.0)

Total loss so far  = 4.6

As you can see my weight seems to fluctuate all over the place. I think it time to use this blog for it's intended purpose. The purpose was to keep me accountable, but I have not done anything to put myself out there. First off I need to start tracking what I put in my mouth, because I am working out more but I am not losing like I would expect. Well, lets not say what I expected, because I have been eating "crap". So, I have decided to write down everything I put in my mouth and then post it on my blog. It might be a little boring to read, but I did not make this blog for "YOU", I started this blog for me and I have to put me first. So, starting Sunday I will start putting my food intake at the bottom of my blog, written in my food notebook/journal and then adding the food to sparkpeople.com  (calorie tracking). There is going to be a ton of information on these things. Hoepfully, everyone will continue to read, encourage, and scold (when needed). 

Starting Measurements:
Neck: 18.0 inches
Chest: 55.5 inches
Waist: 57.5 inches
Hips: 53.0 inches
Right Arm: 19.5  inches
Left Arm: 18.5 inches 
Right Thigh: 31.0  inches

Left Thigh: 32.0 inches
Right Calf: 20.0  inches

Left Calf: 20.0 inches

Goal Setting: 
(This might be somewhat sporadic until I get all my goals together, I just need to start geeting them down in black and white)

1. Strength Train - 2 days a week
2. Run - 3 days a week
3. Write in the Food Journal everyday
4. Swim - 3 days a week
5. Run/Walk 400 miles this year.
6. Run a full 5K without walking

Where do I start!

Well, its been awhile since I last blogged. I think it has been about a week. So, I am going to do some updating and then we will move one from this and I will hopefully blog on a better schedule.

I have not worked out much over the past week, but there were 1 or 2 accomplishments that I am proud of, First, I clocked my best mile time (14' 28'') and then, I ran a 1/2 mile with out stopping this past Wednesday. Wednesday  (1/26) we went out to Nolensville to run with Mike, his wife and the Nolensville running club. I don't understand how anyone can want to run in the cold, but we do it every week. I am surprised I did not turn and go home. This not much to say about, it was cold, and Mike pretty much pushes me to my breaking point, but I am glad he his there to push me. I am pretty sure I would not have ran the 1/2 mile, unless I was getting pushed. My mind likes to tell me that I can't do it and I seem to listen a lot, but I am working on getting past that voice in my head.

01/19/2011
Morning Walk - 1.62 miles
Evening Run  - 2.24 miles
   Time: 33:31
    Pace 14:57 per mile

01/26/2011
Distance: 2.38 miles
Time: 35:22
Pace 14'50''

Monday, January 17, 2011

This evening we went running. Nothing to long, because this is the first day I have ran in about a week. Hopefully, this is the last time I have to write that phrase. There I go again writing hope and maybe, lets change it up! "This will be the last time I have to write that phrase!". I have to stop the negative talk and start believing in myself. Let's get back to the run. The run went pretty well, I was able to push myself pretty hard to just keep running. I still walked some, because my body is not to that point where I can just keep running. I will get there, but it will take some time and hard work, I just have to keep pushing through the "pain". We finished the run on a good note, as we got to the end of the run my wife turns to me and says that she has a deal for me that "If I run the rest of the way home without stopping, I would not have to do the dishes.". Well, I agreed to the deal and I ran the rest of the way home. I was pretty proud of myself. Now, I just have to get up to 2 miles at 15 minutes, but for now I will take this as a win.

Distance: 1.66 miles
Time: 24:26
Pace 15'18 per mile

Not living up to the ideal

This evening as my wife and I drove to my mothers, we discussed the fact that I want to lose weight and I want all this different things, but I am not putting the work I need into any of it. This blog was meant to motivate me to work towards a goal and hopefully inspire others to do the same , but so far I have failed. I seem to wish and want things to happen, but I never really put forth a real effort. I tell myself I am trying, but deep down I know that I make excuses for not working out or eating right. Well, what got me thinking was a statement my wife made. She said "That I was not inspiring to follow, if this is something you want you have to work for it!. You can not expect people to follow if you are not going to lead!". After, hearing that I was like "Man, she is right!". I can't think this is going to just fall into my lap. I have to go out and work for it, I have to move everyday. I know this, we all know this, but what in our head makes us turn away from the good voice and stay on the couch. I know this journey is going to be hard and there will be days I don't want to do things, but something has to change. No more can I tell myself I am to busy at work  to spend an hour on my health on my life. Excuses are going to come, but I have to make a decision to either give into these negative voices or push through and do what needs to be done to reach my goals. This is not going to be an easy task, but hopefully with the support of my loving wife, my amazing family, and friends; I can reach this goal and many more.

In the next few days, I will post pictures of myself, measurements, and goals. It is time to put myself out there and not be afraid to fail!!!

Quote of the day:
It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed, - Theodore Roosevelt

Friday, January, 14, 2011

Today, Mike came over to the house during lunch and we did the P90X Plyometrics disc. Well, we did 45 minutes of the disc, because my legs were shot after 45 minutes. I was sweating buckets, but it was a very good work out. I am glad Mike was there with the encouragement. Even, if every time he pushed me I wanted to say F*&^ you and F*&^ this work out too. I did not curse him, but I did continue to push through the pain. Hopefully, in a week or two I will be able to push through and complete the full hour. I wish I had a picture post workout to show how tired I looked. Heck ya, I might be back on track. One nice workout done, lets keep this train going.

Thought this quote was good, with a little humor!
“The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph!” -Marvin Phillips

Let's just roll the last 4 days into one

Weight loss
Nov 12 = 345
Nov 26 = 342.8 (-2.2)
November Total = 2.2

Dec 10 = 340.2 (-2.6)


Jan 03 = 344.2 (+4.0)
Jan 10 = 337.8 (-6.4)

Total loss so far  = 7.2

Well, I've been fighting a cold since Monday or Sunday, I can't remember when I started feeling this bug hit. I tried to deny the whole thing , but it finally caught me! This week has been very not eventful. I have not worked at all, except for doing push throughout the day on Tuesday and today. I need to get back on track. Hopefully, Friday I will be able to get out and do some work.

During lunch tomorrow I am going to do the P90X Plyometrics disc. It should be fun. Hopefully, this workout can get me back on track


Quote of the Day:
“You must begin to think of yourself as becoming the person you want to be.” -David Viscott

Thursday January 06, 2011

Went to the gym today during lunch. I hit the stationary bike and the elliptical. I was on the bike for 15 minutes and then the elliptical for 15 minutes. I did not have a lot of time because I only have a hour lunch. The bike was pretty easy. I peddled as hard as I could . I believe I did 4 miles or 5 in 15 minutes. The first ride was a moderate ride(2.9 miles) and then a easy ride(1.? miles). The elliptical was pretty rough. I used the manual setting and ramped it up to 5 then towards the middle it was around 11 - 18 and then back down to 5-7 for the rest of the workout. My legs burned, during the 11-18 incline. I got through it and another day down. Looks like 2 more days to go for the week. I think its a Yoga day again tomorrow and if every thing goes right in the morning, I am going to go hit the pool. Wish me luck!!!  

Wednesday January 06, 2011

This evening my wife comes home and says we have to run at 8. Well, I tried to bribe her to not run tonight, but she would not take the bribe. So, we hit the road with some resistance from me. As we walked I figured I should make the best of this time and start running. So, it turned into a very good work out. I pushed myself pretty hard today. I tried to focus on my breathing and footwork.

Every time we start working out weird stuff starts happening to my body. First it was the front of my calve becoming tight and now as I focus on my breathing, I've noticed that my chest (upper chest) becomes tired. I guess it is just another hurdle I have to get over. The more work I do the slower my body will get tired.

Back to the run! Well, have way through I looked at my Nike plus app to see how I was doing. Well, I was pissed that my pace was slower then Monday. I could not believe it, I pushed myself during this whole run/walk. So, I got a little down in the dumps, until I ended the workout. My pace was so much better then I thought. I am pretty sure when I looked at my pace earlier, I was looking at my current pace and not the overall pace. As you can see below my pace was much better then the 21 minute pace I saw when I was walking. Awesome workout today! Another day down. I hope I can keep this up for the rest of the 6 days this week.

Distance: 1.87 miles
Time: 31:10
Pace 16'36'' per mile 

Tuesday January 04, 2011

Tonight was Yoga night. I keep thinking this stuff is easy, but sadly it is not. I did get a good stretch in, so that is a good thing. I didn't realize that my hips/hip flexors were so tight. Whoever said yoga is suppose to be relaxing should be shot. I was sweating pretty profusely by the end of the 30-45 routine. I am glad to done something today. One day down. I hope I can keep up this momentum.  

Monday January 03, 2011

Weight loss
Nov 12 = 345
Nov 26 = 342.8 (-2.2)
November Total = 2.2

Dec 10 = 340.2 (-2.6)



Jan 03 = 344.2 (+4.0)

Total loss so far  = 0.8

Today, the wife and I went for a walk/run. I walked the whole time, due to the tight muscle in the front of my shin. I am trying to figure out the best way to stretch this muscle. I need to get back into running, so I can push myself before the next race. Luckily it was way to cold to continue the walk last night, but I will keep moving this whole week. I believe Tuesday night I will be doing yoga. So, that should be a good stretch.

Distance 1.40 miles
Time 29:03
Pace 20'43' per mile''
 

Saturday, January 1st, 2011 - First 5K

We woke up at 6:45 am. It was extremely hard to wake up and get going, but my wife helped out a lot. We got dressed and had a Potato Egg Bake for breakfast. After breakfast we were out the door, headed to Mike and Courtney's house to head downtown. On the way to their house it was raining the whole time. I was trying to find a way out of this BS. I was not looking forward to this run. I asked myself "why must it rain on this day?". As we got off the interstate it stopped raining. Awesome I thought, but that quickly faded, because once we got to Mike's house it started raining harder. Great, now we really have to run in the rain. According to the race website, the race will go on unless it is lighting. Since, it was not lighting we still have to run. At this moment I am nervous and not feeling this race. As we get closer to the race site, I get more and more nervous. Wondering "if I am going to puke due to the nerves, am i going to be the heaviest one there (well, yes), and how am I going to do this?" As you can see my mind would not just shut off and just be silent.

Mike and I Pre-Race

Shannon, Me, Mike and Courtney Pre-Race

We get to the race site, sign in, stretch , and warm up. Then it's time to line up at the starting line. There was a ton of people at the race. All different ages and sizes. As the gun goes off Mike and I head out, we hit 1st Avenue and we have a good pace going. Then, I saw the hill up to Memorial bridge. I pushed myself towards the hill, as I started to slow down Mike started to encourage me to keep moving as long as I keep moving I am doing well.  We get to the hill and I have to walk. I walk up the hill and over the Bridge. We get off the bridge and Mike tells me we have to run. So, we start running and it is so hard. I have not even hit a mile yet, but we are running/jogging. My legs are pretty shot. We hit a mile at about 17 minutes. Not my best mile but we are still moving. As we turn the corner onto Industrial way Mike tells me he has to pee. Well, since we were walking by this time and we are passing a porter potty. Mike says he has a challenge for me. He says if he runs to the porter potty I have to make it to the corner before he is done. He goes to pee and I start to run. I run as far as I could, but I did not make it to the corner. As Mike caught up to me he was excited to see that I did try to run to the corner. For some reason that bastard thought I would not run, that I would slack off and just walk that stretch. Yeah, I have walked a lot of this race, but I am trying to push myself pretty hard. But back to the race, we round the corner on to Shelby street Mike and I almost get hit by a freaking taxi that drove between the cones. I was to tired to freak out, but the cop at that junction had out back. We start running from the gas station to the street comer again. We keep jogging , but at this point every thing in my body is telling me I should have stopped at the gas station for a big gulp or a slushy. I think I have cursed at Mike more then I've said anything else to him. As I start walking a lady and her child passes us and Mike says "Come on, keep running, look even that little girl is passing you". The little girls mother bursts into laughter.(not at me, but Mike's comment) She said something, but I was to tired and my ears were not working. In our jog/walk around LP field we met a lot of nice people. There was a old lady who was 63 (My carrot/motivation), who I tried to keep in my sights and chase down. Her power walk was awesome. Once we hit the Pedestrian Bridge, she was gone. Then, there was two other ladies, one of which had lost 73 lbs since last march(My Inspiration). That is such a great accomplishment, It made me want to stick to this weight loss journey. Once we hit the Pedestrian Bridge, my body wanted to revolt, that bridge is no joke. I had to tell Mike to shut up, because could he kept asking me questions and I could not breath enough to talk and keep moving. Once, we got off the Bridge and hit the street we started to jog out the rest of the way. Once I saw the finish line, I started to pick up speed and crossed the finish line. To the Cheers of a few of the people we meet on the run, my wife, Courtney, and Mike. Wow, what a feeling, I actually completed a 5K. I thought this would happen for a long long time. I am proud of myself, but I feel I can do better. We walk around and then we get to the car and talk some more with Courtney and Mike. Once, in the car I start some of the negative talk I usually start, but my wife looks at me and says "No, you will not start this, you will not talk negative about this race. You just completed a 5K, you should be happy about what you have accomplished. No negative thoughts". So, I stopped thinking about the stuff I could not change and we started looking towards the future. Our schedule for next week and out next race.      

William and Mike about to cross the Finish Line