Week 2 Goals

If I hope to achieve my goals it is important for me to set short term goals & objectives so I have decided to go week by week and try to schedule my activities.  I am currently involved in my rematch with Insanity and I am trying to prepare for my first ever 5k on February26th. I have set down and worked out out a training schedule that should help me accomplish both of my resolutions with very little alterations to ether program. Below are my goals for this upcoming week. I will update the blog as to how I do on these goals and i will track my runs with the infamous RunKeeper.


Monday January 10
Morning Run 1.5 Miles
Evening Insanity Cardio Power & Resistance (probably my favorite Insanity routine)

Tuesday January 11
Insanity Pure Cardio

Wednesday
Morning Run 1.5 Miles
Evening Insanity Plyometric Cardio Circuit
This is also the official weigh-in day

Thursday
Insanity Cardio Recovery

Friday January 14
Run 1.5 Miles
Cardio Power & Resistance

Saturday January 15
Insanity Pure Cardio & Cardio Abs (this is the first time we add in cardio Abs)
20 Minute EZ Run

This should be a challenging and fun week... I will need ll the support I can get.

Week 1, 2011

I shared previously about my Resolutions and goals for 2011 and I wanted to take a few moments to update after the first 7 days

I have so far succeeded in doing physical activity every day... that is a step in the right direction...I want to take just a minute to update on my four resolutions.

1. The hundred pound journey continues and I am only 4 pounds away from completing it... I am very excited... I think I will be there before the end of January if not before... I also wanted to take a breif second to brag... something I try no to do but there are a couple of things I am excited about. I wore a size 33 dress pant to work yesterday and they fit very nicely I also wore a size 16-16.5 dress shirt to work. Both of those are nice, but the thing that really make me happy is the wife bought me some size 33 jeans... and they are loose... I can actually fit into size 32.... that is the first time since 1994.. I will post a blog next week about some of the size differences now and 1 year ago... it boggles my mind.

2. My second resolution was to complete a rematch with the Insanity program... I guess somewhere in my mind I forgot how grueling this program is...but so far through 5 days I am thriving... after day 2 I had some discomfort and muscle soreness but each day my body has gotten progressively more adjusted and I actually feel like I am performing at a pretty good pace... even if I still have yet to complete Plyometric Cardio Circuit standing... I am grateful tomorrow is a day of rest

3. My 3rd resolution was to run a 5k before the end of march and a 10k by the end of the year.... I am beginning to doubt my own mental health..;.. I have found the 5k I want to run... it is Feb 26 in Biloxi and I have previously posted a link. The problem is I am so far from being ready... I have ran 3 times so far this year... each time I have not quite completed a full mile without some walking. Thanks to this wonderfully accurate little program called RunKeeper I have learned that a mile is a further than I thought.

I do love the results RunKeeper gives though;This morning I did complete 1.22 Miles it took me 15:47 seconds and burned 131 calories That is a pace of 12:55 per mile. Even if I could keep that pace up for 3.1 Miles it would take me 40 minutes to run the 5k. If my only goal is to complete it i guess that's not too bad... but right now I don't think I could complete it... I have right at seven weeks to keep preparing... I would appreciate any advise from more experienced runners...

4. My final resolution is to have abs by the end of the year... good thing I still have 51 more weeks to work on this one...

Thanks to anyone who may be reading I appreciate your support...

by the way if there is anyone in the Vancleave area who happens to read this and wants to run with my I can use the push...

I have found My 5k

Well, as I posted yesterday I want to run a 5k race before the end of March, and today I have found my race. Through the Gulf Coast Running Club's website I have found an Arbor Day race in Biloxi scheduled for February 26. This gives me almost 8 weeks to get ready and from what I understand this is a fairly level course which should be great for a beginner. Another thing I really like is it seems like the proceeds will be going to a good cause.

I am excited, but I know I have a lot of work to do...

Here is the 5k I am talking about

Resolutions 2011

It has been a couple of months since last i updated the blog. As we close out 2010 and look ahead to what will come in 2011 I thought it would be a good time to return to the blog and give a few thoughts.

First, what a year 2010 was... I have lost 95 pounds since December 2009 and that is just a start. In many ways 2010 was all about progress. After 4 years back on the gulf coast my family finally found a church home where we are growing more spiritually than ever before. My 7 year old was baptized, and my 15 Month old was dedicated. While I have not read 30 books in 2010 like my wife has I have read 10-15 and discovered some new authors I enjoyed (Vince Flynn).

I feel that my family has made progress, mentally, Spiritually, emotionally, and of course physically. I personally try to look at each of these areas of my life when I make resolutions.

Since this Blog has mostly been dedicated to my weight loss journey I wanted to take some time to share my fitness resolutions for 2011.

1. Complete the 100 pound journey and keep it off! I am currently only about 5 pounds away. I was hoping to finish this by the end of 2010, but I am not deterred by these last few pounds. I will continue to weigh-in and share my weight each Wednesday and I will continue to share any other helpful information that may help anyone else who is struggling with the same problems I am.

2. I will complete Insanity...Yes, I vowed there would be a rematch and now that I have recovered from whatever kind of pinched nerve I previously suffered I am ready to face this challenge head -on ( I took the fit test this morning and will post the results later in the week. For anyone who does not know this is a very intense workout program that will quite literally leave you in a pool of your own sweat... but the results are amazing... This is something I will complete in 2011

3. I will run a 5k and a 10k. I want to run the 5k before spring sometime before the end of March. I am trying to find a Valentines or Arbor Day run. I have never ran a 5k and I want to challenge myself and see if I can do it. I don't want to stop there... before the end of the year I hope to have also conquered a 10k... I can't even imagine running 6.2 miles... but I don't have to imagine it... I have to do it... before the end of 2011

4. Finally, this may sound silly to some people, but I have never in my life had abs... not when I played football, not when I wrestled... Sometime between now and December 31, 2011 I want to have abs... at least one...


I have one more resolution to share... I also resolve to do a better job updating this blog in 2011... I will kepp everyone updated on how the resolutions fare...



 

Rematch: INSANITY THOUGHT IT WOULD BEAT ME….

As most know I started the Insanity Workout program about 7 weeks ago. It is a very rigorous program that consists of a lot of intense cardio exercises with some plyometrics, resistance training mixed in just for fun. The workout consists of several DVDs and a schedule of when to use each one.

The workouts themselves are grueling and leave you out of breath and in a puddle of your on sweat. They are also quite rewarding as you feel a major sense of accomplishment for keeping up with the trainers and trainees on your screen.

The other grueling part about the workout is that it is six days per week and your body sometimes struggles to recover; especially when you are closer to 40 than you are to 20. The strength and stamina it takes to complete the workouts each day must be matched by the discipline it takes to actually do the workout EVERY day.

When I first began the program I thought there was no way I could complete some of these exercises, but gradually I got stronger and I worked very hard and I improved my performance in every workout. After the first few exercises I added a protein powder which included BCAA to my daily regimen.

My confidence was increasing daily and the little comments from my wife about the changes in my body were just that much more motivating…

Then it happened. I am not sure exactly what it was but as I was completing my last workout of my first month of Insanity I felt this very intense tingle run down my arm. I tried to keep going but with all the jumping and moving that you have to do for this program the tingle just kept getting more and more intense. I stopped and I consulted with a Chiropractor and a physical therapist and took off two weeks full weeks for rest. The 3^rd week I begin doing some light exercises and eventually worked my way back to doing the “lighter” Insanity workouts. Had I not had this set back I would be only 2 weeks away from finishing this program.

I am taking my weight loss journey very seriously and in fact I have now begun to think of it more as a quest than a journey. I am very driven to succeed in this quest and I will not be defeated by this injury or this workout.

I am committed to completing this program. I am starting over from the beginning and I will go hard for the next 60 days. I will update everyone on my progress from time to time, and you can be assured of one thing, I will not be defeated and I can not quit.

With all of that being said… Insanity I am ready for my rematch! Bring i

Two INSANE Weeks and FIT Test 2

As most everyone who reads this knows, in an effort to accelerate the loss of the last few pounds and improve my overall fitness level I began doing  the Insanity workout program.

Insanity, which is produced by BeachBody Fitness (the same company that makes p90x) is a video series that incorporates Plyometrics, Yoga, Strength & Resistance, and a lot of Cadio. The workouts are led by Shaun T and are very intense but uses no weights or equipment. The workouts are on a series of 10 dvds each with a different focus and each that will challenge you in new ways. The entire program is designed to last 60 days (well 63 actually) and is designed to be challenging no matter what your fitness level is when you begin.

I have reviewed a couple of the workouts and will review a couple more as I go along, but I wanted to focus today on my first 2 weeks as a whole. At first I was very concerned about not being able to keep up physically, but there are constant reminders from Shaun T to take things at your own pace and to know your limits. Also it helps to see the athletic people on the screen have to stop and take breaks it makes me feel a little less guilty about taking my breaks.

The exercises that you do are challenging and will challenge your flexibility, your balance, your coordination, your strength, your cardiovascular fitness level and mostly your self determination. Each day presents a new challenge and leaves you completely spent. However after a few days you begin to notice around 45 minutes after your exercise your feeling of being completely spent is replaced by a feeling of invigoration.

I am proud to say I have gotten up early every morning and completed the required routine. Some mornings have been harder than others. I have learned a few things that I would like to share.

1. Insanity is NO JOKE, It is difficult, but it can be done, and I do have what it takes to complete it.
2. It is important to judge your performance against yourself not against anyone else, and it is important not to get discouraged if you can't do everything as well as the people on your screen just keep working as hard as you can. 
3.  It is very important to make sure if you embark on an intense regimen like this that doesn't give your body a lot of time to recover that you are properly fortifying your body.

• It is important to eat the right foods loaded with the proper nutrients. 
• It is equally important to adjust your calorie intake appropriately. you are burning a lot more calories and you need to make sure you are giving your body the fuel it needs to keep going.
• A good Multi-vitamin (or vitamin pack) is essential for any nutrients you may be missing in your food.
• Your body needs help recovering and you may need to use some supplements that contain protein and essential amino acids. There are some very good powders out there that combine all the needed ingredients and they don't actually taste horrible.

Now what you really want to know, does it work?

Well that can be measured a couple of ways... Do I see a difference in the mirror, I think I do, but it has only been 2 weeks... ask me again in 2 weeks. More importantly, can my wife see a difference yet? She will have to answer that.

But for the real tangible results. On day one I did my first Fit Test and I posted the results previously. Today was my second Fit Test and I think the results are pretty extraordinary; see for yourself.

  

Insanity Fit Test
         
         
Day 1   Day 15  
Switch Kicks 52   82  
Power Jacks 47   57  
Power Knees 54   61  
Power Jump 32   34  
Globe Jump 7   10  
Suicide Jumps 9   14  
Pushup Jacks 16   31  
Low plank Obliques 34   40  





 

Counting Mile Markers

You know how when you take a long road trip and you start watching the mile signs for your destination you begin to get excited about certain significant markers. When you are only 50 Miles away you begin to get a little excited. When you get inside of 25 Miles from your destination it feels like you are almost there. IT gets to the point that you excitedly start counting every mile marker you pass knowing you are getting ever so close...

I posted a couple of days ago thanking every one for all their support, I would not have made it this far on my weight loss journey with out the support and accountability from all my friends. Today When I stepped on the scale I passed a very significant mile marker.

Today I feel like I am almost there... I have only 24 pounds left to lose... that's right 

I have lost 76 pounds. 

Please don't mistake this for bragging I still have a long way left to go... If I stop the journey now I will never reach my destination, but passing 75 pounds just feels so very significant to me. 24 More pounds to go... Stay with me just a little ways longer the journey is getting closer to a successful completion... just keep counting the mile markers... Only 24 more to count!!!