Friday, October 12, 2012

week of lessons

     This week was good at the start but went downhill as far as training goes.  To start it off I ran 3 miles Monday morning!! which is good but then work got in the way the rest of the week and no running. I got blisters on my feet during the run which is due to loose socks and soft feet.  The problem I had later in the week is that at dark they close the park where I run, but, I  think I have come up with a solution.  There is a track that goes around Rice university and is about 3 miles long, and it is litterally a stones throw from the building where I work. So now when ever I get off work M-TH I will change and get my run in there and then drive home or to the gym.
     This week was a week of insight for me, I learned that while it was probably wiser (right now, until I get some moleskin) to lay off of running due to the blisters, it was so easy to let that become an excuse . I learned that I have to start developing knowledge of different areas to train at so if one falls through then I just go to the next one with out missing a work out.  Last and definately the most important realization was that while I talked a good game and worked half assed to achieve my goal of competing in Tri's I did not really believe in myself and that I was going to make it happen.  Yes it is a Major undertaking just to get to the point where I can train hard for the triathlons. 120 pound weight loss minimum!!! But I am over half way there!! and I did that, no surgeon, no tricks, to gimmicks, no pills and no harsh fad diets that I starve on. Not only did I do it but I am having success at it and have dropped these 68 pounds in 7 months and if you figure in the two months of self induced plateau, then I have lossed  68 pounds in 5 months of work and lost 52 inches off my whole body. That is success any way you want to look at it. yes, the work is not done and yes, it is too easy to just say that  that is good enough but it isn't. But, I would have to be plain dumb not to look at those facts and doubt my ability to be successful at getting there. It is time for me to BELIEVE in ME!!!
And I am starting to. It takes a while to change years of not believing you are good enough or strong enough, or smart enough to do something successfully. It does not happen overnight but it will.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Back at it again!!!!!

     Hello again!   Let me quickly get you caught up with my current stats ;  have lost a total of 68 pounds so far.  Found a paper from a weight loss company that I went to in January 2012 that said I weighed 360.  I disputed that number at the time probably due to denial of reality and shame, but in any sense I will now use that as the starting mark!!!
I have lost a total of 52 inches over my body but since I have started to add three weight work outs a week to my routine I have added to my forearms and biceps slightly.
     OK, now to get into it and let you know whats been going on and where my head is at.
I hit a plateau for two months starting around the 15th of July, some of this was self induced ie, fewer work outs, loosening up on my diet, and slightly any intensity to the few work outs I got in.  I wished it was because of some reason beyond my control but that is just not the truth.  I refuse to beat myself up over this, yes it was dumb but it is over with and I did learn a few lessons.  How valuable logging your intake is, while it is better than nothing you cant expect results from no intensity work outs, and yes, you can restart your metabolism again when it slows down,  But, I think that the most important lesson I learned is how much mental focus means in your ability to make physical gains.  
     For months all of my training has been done in a gym and to be quite honest that became such a drag, I came to hate workouts on the week days because I would get home at about 8 or 8:30. I have changed it up and now spend only about 4 day out of 7 in the gym but there is only two nights a week that I go to the gym and the other three days are outside running. Friday's session starts outside and then goes to the gym but that is an afternoon workout so it is cool.  As you may be able to tell, I have started to shift my focus on to my running in order to get that worked out and up to par. Still have not bought a bike yet but that is coming in the next few months.  I am almost up to par in the hour long spin class and have measured out on one of the bikes there in the gym that I average about 20 miles per hour, yes, it is slow by race standards but it is a great place to start and I think that by the time my first race does roll around I may well have it up to 25 or 26 mph.
    There will be three times a week that I add to this blog, Sat. Sun. and on wed.  so keep up and give me your feed back.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

weeks recap

Wed. was a great cardio day, 1hr. and 15 min.  I felt spent but in a good way,  Thursday was a different story, I started cardio again because Fri. was weight training ,  I just was not that into it, after 30 minutes I called it a day. Had a good but not great day Friday lifting weights.  worked out arms and shoulders.  Friday was also cheat day on my diet, it was good to eat what ever and when ever but even though I know better I still felt as if I was shattering my progress and would gain all the weight back on over night.  Crazy I know but it is what it is.
Will get to the gym sometime today to swim but not real sure when.  Tomorrow is a go to the gym as soon as I get up and do cardio and then hit the tell tale scale.  I may tape myself today to see what changes have been made if any yet. I look in the mirror and am disgusted by what I see,  How did I let myself get this far gone?  This of course leads to impatience to get it all off. I want it to fly off every week, 10 pounds or more per week, Unhealthy I know and reality is that it will probably not get close to that, but if I can maintain about a 4 pound per week loss it would be good. it is just when I look at my reflection it does not match up with what is in my head about how I feel and think I should look.  But in the end, when the weight has come off and I am competing in Triathlons, I will probably be in the best shape of my life and hopefully will be proud of the reflection in the mirror or glass.  I am planning on a fairly active 2013 triathlon season, about one every month or two starting in march or April.  the last half of the season  July -  Oct will be focused on Olympic distance triathlons.  Well, I had better start making breakfast. and start the dietary day.  will check in this evening with the day's results.  GO STRONG OR GO HOME!!!  My new mantra,  kinda catchy isn't it :))
C.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Sunday 4/8/12

It has been a week since I last posted, There is a lot to update you on.  First, I lost 8 pounds last week! wow!  The change in diet is strange but not difficult as most would think,  The hard part is getting all the meals in,  5 a day and I am not hungry between meals unless I skip one.  This will be the first week that everything in my fridge is OK to eat. meaning it is on the approved list.  It really is amazing the amount of food you can eat for 600 cals. or less  I love it!!!!  This weekend I joust found out that the site of an Olympic distance triathlon is on my way to the gym. So I drove by it and then again today, but today was different, I started to picture myself at the various stages of the race as we passed by those areas.  To say that I am jazzed up about it is an understatement and it is going to be a tool for me to remain focused.  The race is in Sept. so this year I have volunteered to help out and then in 2013 I will enter it.  It will tell me if I can be ready for a 70.3 in early '14 or if it has to wait until later in the year.   Saturday I got back in the pool after about a 2 week lay off, it was OK,  my son was with me and so my focus was not what it should be, especially with the lay off.  But on the positive side, my opening swim with out stopping was 200 meters.  A first, not bad for a huge dude.  That only means that as the weight and size come off my distance should pile on.  I finished with a total of 300 meters of swimming, not very good but it is what it is and it was productive.  It showed me that I have a lot of work to do on my ability to focus in on what event I am currently doing in spite of any distractions around.  I am backing my swimming down to two days a week, wed. morning and then the Saturday workout. Monday will be the only day off from training that I have right now. The change is to focus more on cardio and weights right now for the weight loss and muscle strengthening and growth.  The swim workouts will be focused on getting a better foundation so that when the training goes full blast on triathlon I will be ready to push it hard.  I will try to post something every day except Mondays.
     If you read this blog often, please subscribe to it so I know that people are keeping tabs on me , it is an accountability tool for myself.   Also, please feel free to post any comments that you may have for me.  Thanks.
C.

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Saturday 3/31

was at the gym today by 8:30 am.  Met with the nutritionist Jennifer.  She is great and I think I would be stupid to try to wage this war with out her.  I think she may be more valuable to me then a personal trainer right now.  She has my diet composing of a large amount of protein, with a lot of veggies and of course some carbs.  She said that the focus for my diet right now is weight loss and later on it will switch to an endurance athlete's diet as the entire focus of my training will have to be triathlon training.  So I am going to use this time to get my core stronger, build a few more muscles and harden up others, and getting the basic foundation in each of the three events of the triathlon down.  The goal is to lose about 4 to 4.5 pounds a week, that would put me ready to commit to a March race in Sept or Oct.  6 to 7 months out.  Plenty of time to get ready if I have done my job and developed a good foundation.
     Today's workout was a total body weight workout.  it felt good, My son was with me today, it was fun working out with him.  I have lost another Two pounds. Tomorrow's workout is going to be mainly a cardio workout. Here we Go !!!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

On my way

Tuesday was a great hour of cardio, it was great to be freed from the TV. and enjoy a completely tiring workout.    
I have not yet figured out my exact schedule but that will be done by Sunday.  Saturday I meet with the nutritionist at lifetime. I am excited to get some straight answers to all the stuff that I have been reading in reguards to nutrition.  Some of the questions are; do I start eating the nutritional make up for an endurance athlete right now or do I focus primarily on weight loss or is there a real difference?  How many calories a day am I really supposed to be consuming to reach my weight loss goals in the time I want them.  Pretty much I want her to tell me exactly what to do and give examples not just a bunch of fitness speak.  I have enough work out background to be able to muddle through the work outs and chose the right ones and be relatively successful, but when it comes to nutrition I have no clue what is fact and what is just something that worked well for one person and what is utter rubbish.
     This weekend the refrigerator contents get overhauled and Sunday is a cooking day.  This week I ate pretty good, one egg, bacon, cheese, potato taco for breakfast, a side salad and soup, maybe some oatmeal raisin cookies and tea or water for lunch,  and then a salad and roast beef sandwich for supper.  I have felt, well, great.  interesting thing though, I broke down and had Mexican food for supper tonight and it felt heavy.  There is a first time for everything.
    My muscles in my chest and arms have pretty much stopped hurting so it must mean that it's time for another round of weights.  I really enjoyed the pain to an extent, mainly because I knew the old muscles were firing up again and it did feel great.  About the only muscles that I really want to get bigger are my biceps and my delts . the tri's need defining not growth.  I don't want to get Arnold big, just big enough to be slightly on the muscular side and still be fit enough for endurance races.
    I am fed up with this plantars faciitis.  I can not wait for it to be healed up so I can get back to running.  I never knew that I liked running as much until this happened, or , is it that it is one of the key parts to my triathlon goals and I need to get that heading in the right direction.  I am not sure, just frustrated with the whole thing.
    Monday A.M. I weigh and then I will be weighing in every Monday.  those weights will be posted here as well as the official weight from my meeting with the trainer once a month starting in May.  I am starting to picture myself and what I will look like when I am physically fit and sometimes I have to shake my head at my imagination.  sometimes it has me looking better than sly Stallone in Rocky 4, not realistic but fun at the same time.
C.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

gym change

it is official, I have switched from LA Fitness to Lifetime Fitness for about the same amount that I was paying.  lifetime is a much bigger gym but they just have more for what I am after.  They have a triathlon coordinator, a nutritionist on staff, cycling club, running club, masters swim with a coach. Everything is there to help me be successful in my venture to being a triathlete.  If you have a lifetime fitness in your area I suggest you check them out.  The physical trainer who worked me out today used to be big so he understands where I am at and what is going through my mind some times.  starting in May he will be my "fitness coach"  I am stoked at this development.  Interesting that the scale there is 6 pounds heavier than at LA Fitness.  so my starting weight there is at 342 which means that according to their scale I was 356 when I started.  omg.  it is depressing that I allowed myself to get that far out of control. NEVER AGAIN!!!!!! That is more than I was humping around in the woods in the army !!!!  Time to stop losing and start winning.  I have got to stay focused, which is sometimes hard for someone with ADD.  Bit it WILL be done and I WILL be competing in triathlons in 1 year.
He put me through a good quick work out.  I enjoyed it along with the pain..
c

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

set back

    Well, it has been a while since I logged in; I have been sick and am just now starting to feel close to 100%.  I will resume training Friday or Saturday. in the mean time I have been watching my diet and feel good about where it is at.  It is interesting where the support for this endeavor comes from but most of them I think , think it is just a fat man talking big and they don't really think that I will enter a race.  Good !!! I look forward to the expression on their faces when I tell them how long it took me to complete that first triathlon.  I do feel how ever that as long as my plantar faciitis is active that I am not training like I should but that is me putting the cart before the horse so to speak.  I know I need to get a good foundation in swimming and cycling and this does give me that opportunity to do so with out worrying about running as well.  When I break the 300s I will know for sure that I am on my way. but that is about 36 pounds away.  I wont enter a race until I am down to 240 or less. so there is work to do.
     I have come to the conclusion that I am addicted to the television.  I realized that I plan things around certain TV shows.  I am determined to break that addiction and turn TV into an entertainment to fill  in when I am not busy doing other things.  besides, on demand is a wonderful tool, one which I will use more often.
     Please feel free to leave messages in response to any postings that you desire. All constructive ones will be appreciated .
C.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

march 14

lost another 2 lbs.  brings my total to 14 since starting last month.  On the way !!!!  had a killer work out today, swam for 30 minutes this morning and then tonight I rowed 4 miles and then biked for 6. my new schedule looks like this for now; Mondays and Wednesdays : swim mornings and then after work cycle, Friday mornings is swim and off in the afternoon and then Saturday morning cycle .  I will try to keep it like this for at least  another month. then we will re-assess .   I came across a form of triathlons that intrigues me. It is called xterra and is an off road triathlon.  will tell more later. for now it is off to bed to get some needed sack time.
this weekend I get taped for the first time, just another way to assess progress besides just the scale.
c.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

start # 2

Well last week was a bust as far as work outs went, from work to the gym changing locker security, I just let it all get in the way.  Diet was pretty good and stayed at goal or little below for almost the whole week.  This week will be better, the locker security thing is fixed and handled, work , well it is work so we will see, if anything it will interfere with the evening workouts which is only on Mondays and Wednesdays  right now.
 There is no progress with my plantar faciitis except on Thursday it was worse.  It is frustrating that it is not healed up yet but then again it has only been about 6 wks since it was diagnosed.  I am getting impatient with it but that is life.  Saw a video on you tube about a guy who weighed 430 and started training for triathlons and at the time the video was put together he weighed 240. wow!!!! way to go dude.  Whether or not I ever complete an Iron man race (it is in the back of my mind and quite honestly may stay there!) I want the fitness level that being able to do three different types of sports in one race will give me.  I will be 50 in about 2 1/2 years and want to be one of the fittest 50 year olds around.  Both of my parents died in their 60's, my dad at 64 and my mom at 69, my dad had a bad heart and my mom had Alzheimer's. I would be lying if I said that it did not concern me that I could continue this trend but I try not to think to much about it except for motivational purposes.
    I was looking online yesterday at bicycles and have almost picked out what my first bike will be, but, just for giggles I looked at triathlon specific bikes and was blown away at the cost. 2 to 15 grand.  YIKES!!!!.  that is crazy but I guess if you are a dedicated triathlete and wanting to really get competitive then they are worth the investment as long as you use them.  I'll wait until I am in the position to decide on whether or not to go for Iron man status (completing an Iron man race) or not.  If I do then it might be worth while because then I know that I like triathlons and plan to do them as long as I can.   Well that is all for today. will check in tomorrow with update on current weight and such.







Monday, February 27, 2012

and so it Begins

Day 1.  Swim went real well, worked on new techniques to improve stroke count and to cut down the energy required to swim any distance. From what I have read this is important when it comes to triathlons so might as well get in the habit now so I do not have to spend time breaking bad habits when I start getting ready for a specific race.  Calorie intake went well, had a salad and soup for lunch and a beef patty and vegetables for supper. Total calorie count for today is 2100. not bad.

Friday, February 24, 2012

the start of the journey

2/24/12
Someone once said that the first step of anything is the hardest. I have found that to be true. I am 47, 6'1" and 337 lbs. I have always wanted to be fit like I was when I was in the army . Yes I have tried dieting and working out but never with a goal of anything more than to look good or be more appealing to the opposite sex. so why will this time be different?  Maybe because I am not so focused on weight as I am on getting in shape to enter into a triathlon.  When most people hear triathlon they immediately think of the Iron man world championship race held in Hawaii every year and broadcasted on television.  They think it is all about swimming 2.4 miles, bicycling 112 miles and then running a full marathon of 26.2 miles. But, there are many different triathlons of varying distances. One of the shortest ones is called a sprint, and it consists of  swimming 750 meters, bicycling 12.4 miles and running 3.1 miles. and that is where I will start in 2013. Yes, I am sane, no I am not having a mid life crisis. (at least I don't think so) I am starting this blog at this time in the journey more of a therapeutic thing than anything else. So, what type of diet are you going on? you may ask. Well, let me tell you what I have come to believe about the word Diet. It refers to what you eat so everyone has a diet, we (humans) have bastardized that word to where it means something bad.  In answer to your question, yes I am changing my diet to a more healthier one, but not starving myself, which is where I messed up in the past.  I will eat smaller meals consisting  of around 400 Cal. with a total intake goal of about 2110 Cals. per day.  I also will work out every morning before work and at least 3 to 4 evenings a week plus Saturday mornings as well. my schedule of what I will be doing is not completely set yet but I can tell you that Monday , Wednesday and Friday Mornings will be swimming. Tues and Thurs. mornings will be weights. I am looking at doing some cycling (spinning) classes in the evenings two to three days a week but that is not yet confirmed.  Running is out of the question right now due to a case of Plantar Faciitis on my right foot. once that is healed then running will become an important part of the routine as well.  On this blog I will update it a few times a week with whats going on and definitely with my progress in weight loss and gains in workouts.