Yes, you are still on the right blog. I finally put a little time into personalizing it and making it my own. I'm stoked with how it looks now...no more of that obnoxious orange!
The shoes pictured are my trusty Kayano's that have been with me from the start. They were placed in the middle of Greenwood and I took a few shots of them with "my road" in the background. I will be making little updates to the look of the blog here and there and would of course love any ideas and comments. Don't be shy, really, I love the comments and will do my best to answer and feature any ideas you have!
Keep the faith!
January 31, 2009
January 30, 2009
Dream Run - #5 (Dublin, Ireland)
My next Dream Run is also one I've been on but have promised to do again! I will get back to more of places I haven't been but at the moment I'm enjoying going back to the places I've already visited! I'm speaking for "we" not just "me" in this post specifically because I have promised my Father-in-law that we'd go:)
Starting at the hostel I stayed at (which I'd never go back to) we head out to a park. We quickly leave and head up a pedestrian friendly area then head out to the first main thoroughfare we can find. Our sights are set for my first major point of reference. After awhile on this road we head toward the River Liffey just to change it up…Eventually the magic happens. We have arrived at the Guinness Storehouse, the brewery! After the tour they treat you to a free pint of Guinness at the top of their building in a circular bar called the Sky Bar. Gorgeous!
Reluctantly we leave Guinness but am happily reminded of our next stop. The Jameson Distillery for another tour and a taste! Ahh…the smooth, triple distilled Irish Whiskey! You can't beat it! The rest of the trip is just a wandering back to where we are staying. On the way we walk through the Temple Bar, a cobble-stoned cultural center…it's very cool and there are lots of bars but we are beat from a long walk and a few binges so we head back and take a nap.
Go to Dublin. Drink Guinness and try Jameson's. Life is Good!
Click on this link to see the interactive map: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2526435
Starting at the hostel I stayed at (which I'd never go back to) we head out to a park. We quickly leave and head up a pedestrian friendly area then head out to the first main thoroughfare we can find. Our sights are set for my first major point of reference. After awhile on this road we head toward the River Liffey just to change it up…Eventually the magic happens. We have arrived at the Guinness Storehouse, the brewery! After the tour they treat you to a free pint of Guinness at the top of their building in a circular bar called the Sky Bar. Gorgeous!
Reluctantly we leave Guinness but am happily reminded of our next stop. The Jameson Distillery for another tour and a taste! Ahh…the smooth, triple distilled Irish Whiskey! You can't beat it! The rest of the trip is just a wandering back to where we are staying. On the way we walk through the Temple Bar, a cobble-stoned cultural center…it's very cool and there are lots of bars but we are beat from a long walk and a few binges so we head back and take a nap.
Go to Dublin. Drink Guinness and try Jameson's. Life is Good!
Click on this link to see the interactive map: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2526435
Turning Point(s)
Last night when we were getting ready for bed and I was doing my new favorite ab routine, Sally and I talked about turning points. I was asking her when she thought my turning point was. When was that specific moment when I finally felt that my goals were possible and actually believed it!? It's far easier to say things like "I can't do it" or "I'm not good at doing that" or "my body doesn't like that" or "maybe I'm just destined to be big" or "I'm big boned'd" or any other phrases we tell ourselves. What makes this so hard for people (as I'm finding out first hand) is that you believe yourself a lot more than you believe anyone else.
[begin side-track] The best way to explain this is how I came to understand Advice giving and taking. Ever notice how when you get "good" advice it's usually what you wanted to hear? And when you get "bad" advice it's usually what you don't want to hear? I'm not saying this is the only way to understand or interpret advice but it definitely makes sense. Some advice, the tough advice is also "good" advice but you don’t know it until hindsight kicks in. Moving on…[end side-track]
What I'm trying to find out is when did I stop believing all the excuses I was making? When did I finally start to think, "hey, this can happen for me"? The inner dialog shifted and my quest now is to find that point. My guess is, is that it's less of a single solitary point but a series of smaller points. I thought about this as I was finishing up my workout and hadn't come up with anything solid enough to say was it so I went to bed.
I woke today thinking more about it. As I write this I'm still unsure what it was but one of the most noticeable changes I've made is I stopped telling myself I can't and started believing that I could. I know, I know…I said this to Sally and she said "wow Tony Robbins". I'm reminded of how annoyed I used to get by "motivational" quotes and speakers and this and that and blech! When you feel like you can't do it you believe it, it's what you know and it's how it will be. Changing my train of thought into a motivational tone (for myself) has been the turning point(s). My goal is to keep the motivational speaker in my mind going and eventually figure out when the change happened for me. I will inevitably share with you what I find, because that's what I do!
The trick to all this is to change the advice you give yourself, you are going to believe and want whatever it is you tell youself so if it's for the better then you are on your way to seeing your own low number and achieving whatever goal you set for yourself! I believe that now and that's the biggest change in me!!
[begin side-track] The best way to explain this is how I came to understand Advice giving and taking. Ever notice how when you get "good" advice it's usually what you wanted to hear? And when you get "bad" advice it's usually what you don't want to hear? I'm not saying this is the only way to understand or interpret advice but it definitely makes sense. Some advice, the tough advice is also "good" advice but you don’t know it until hindsight kicks in. Moving on…[end side-track]
What I'm trying to find out is when did I stop believing all the excuses I was making? When did I finally start to think, "hey, this can happen for me"? The inner dialog shifted and my quest now is to find that point. My guess is, is that it's less of a single solitary point but a series of smaller points. I thought about this as I was finishing up my workout and hadn't come up with anything solid enough to say was it so I went to bed.
I woke today thinking more about it. As I write this I'm still unsure what it was but one of the most noticeable changes I've made is I stopped telling myself I can't and started believing that I could. I know, I know…I said this to Sally and she said "wow Tony Robbins". I'm reminded of how annoyed I used to get by "motivational" quotes and speakers and this and that and blech! When you feel like you can't do it you believe it, it's what you know and it's how it will be. Changing my train of thought into a motivational tone (for myself) has been the turning point(s). My goal is to keep the motivational speaker in my mind going and eventually figure out when the change happened for me. I will inevitably share with you what I find, because that's what I do!
The trick to all this is to change the advice you give yourself, you are going to believe and want whatever it is you tell youself so if it's for the better then you are on your way to seeing your own low number and achieving whatever goal you set for yourself! I believe that now and that's the biggest change in me!!
January 28, 2009
100 Motivational Fitness Quotes
I've been cruising around looking for other blogs that can inspire me and maybe you. I came across this yesterday and wanted to share. It's from a blog called "Trying Fitness - because you've tried everything else", I've linked to it from my Blogs to See area but can be found easily by clicking here.
Quotes have never really done it for me, I'll be honest. Lately though, I've really started to understand why quotes are so amazing...they can be motivating for one (and a bunch of other wonderful traits that are seemingly very obvious to everyone but me?).
On this blog she links to a pdf (found here) of 100 Motivational Fitness Quotes, check them out and share them with whomever you'd like!
Quotes have never really done it for me, I'll be honest. Lately though, I've really started to understand why quotes are so amazing...they can be motivating for one (and a bunch of other wonderful traits that are seemingly very obvious to everyone but me?).
On this blog she links to a pdf (found here) of 100 Motivational Fitness Quotes, check them out and share them with whomever you'd like!
Side Effects May Include...
A few things have been changing other than just the number on the scale, here are a few others...
I'm a lot colder…I have to wear a sherpa-lined hoodie just to stay warm, at work!
I finally get the whole "metabolism" thing…I don't know how to explain it, it's just very noticeable. I feel like my body is always running and burning, not sluggish like I used to feel.
A new wardrobe from stuff I previously "grew" out of…which now I've almost grown out of, too. *hint to anyone that knows me personally, my birthday is in June:)
Jogging is easier…at least physically! Mentally I still find it very challenging but now I when I go jogging I don't have that unsightly 60 pound fat sack strapped to me. My joints are never sore after a jog either!
I have a jawline…a visible one. I was going to attach a picture of Gaston but I realize the resemblance isn't at all accurate. I don't have a pony-tail nor do I have black hair;) OK, here's one
I'm more motivated in other areas of my life…I'm really focused on this weight loss and fitness thing but it has energized me in other areas such as writing and photography
I appear taller…according to Sally, but I suppose that makes sense!
January 27, 2009
Amendments - 1st Edition
I've had a few comments about how my posts are worded so I thought I'd clear a few things up.
Last post I talked about a bunch of things I do during otherwise boring moments: well, let it be known that although all of these have been done by me at some point, I never do them all on the same day every day. I'm motivated, but I'm not crazy!
For the record...when I'm lazy, I sometimes do nothing too...my body also needs to rest!
My new low weight was hit yesterday...217. However, in all fairness to myself and my readers...I only "count" what I weigh in the morning (precisely 5:50am) not what I weigh after a 5 mile jog. (but it is pretty sweet to hop on the scale to see a low number;)
Finally, let it be known that Sally (my wonderful wife) is only helping me attain my goals. She is mentioned many times in my blog but only because she is such a great support system for me. I will be expanding on the importance of support systems and how they have affected me very soon! As well as explain why I started this and why I'm even more motivated now than ever!
Thanks for reading and following!
Last post I talked about a bunch of things I do during otherwise boring moments: well, let it be known that although all of these have been done by me at some point, I never do them all on the same day every day. I'm motivated, but I'm not crazy!
For the record...when I'm lazy, I sometimes do nothing too...my body also needs to rest!
My new low weight was hit yesterday...217. However, in all fairness to myself and my readers...I only "count" what I weigh in the morning (precisely 5:50am) not what I weigh after a 5 mile jog. (but it is pretty sweet to hop on the scale to see a low number;)
Finally, let it be known that Sally (my wonderful wife) is only helping me attain my goals. She is mentioned many times in my blog but only because she is such a great support system for me. I will be expanding on the importance of support systems and how they have affected me very soon! As well as explain why I started this and why I'm even more motivated now than ever!
Thanks for reading and following!
January 26, 2009
Building in my Workouts
Here are 10 Things I do to take advantage of otherwise boring activities
1. When I need an elevator; I take the stairs (At work I climb 16 flights in 3 minutes.)
2. When I'm brushing my teeth; I do walking lunges or wall sits until my heart is racing or my legs give out
3. When I'm watching TV; I do a set of push-ups during the commercial break (max 4 sets, I'm still working on it!)
4. When I'm waiting for wife to come to bed; I do another set or 3 of push-ups or crunches and get all sweaty right before I hop in bed. Sal loves that.
5. When I'm walking around work; I walk with my abs flexed…builds core stability
6. When I'm carrying groceries; I do curls or hold my arms so they are parallel to the ground
7. When I'm putting on socks; I stand and bend at the waist pulling them on. (amazing core workout if done properly)
8. When I'm about to walk upstairs (at home); I do a set of incline push-ups
9. When I've turned on the TV and there isn't anything on for 8 - 9 minutes; no joke, I do a set of 8-minute abs (an oldie but a goody)
10. When I take the bus; I get off a few stops early and speed walk into work. It's actually comparable to walking normal speed from a closer stop. I've timed and tested it many times!
I'm always searching for new things I can do at the same time as a normal, everyday activities.
1. When I need an elevator; I take the stairs (At work I climb 16 flights in 3 minutes.)
2. When I'm brushing my teeth; I do walking lunges or wall sits until my heart is racing or my legs give out
3. When I'm watching TV; I do a set of push-ups during the commercial break (max 4 sets, I'm still working on it!)
4. When I'm waiting for wife to come to bed; I do another set or 3 of push-ups or crunches and get all sweaty right before I hop in bed. Sal loves that.
5. When I'm walking around work; I walk with my abs flexed…builds core stability
6. When I'm carrying groceries; I do curls or hold my arms so they are parallel to the ground
7. When I'm putting on socks; I stand and bend at the waist pulling them on. (amazing core workout if done properly)
8. When I'm about to walk upstairs (at home); I do a set of incline push-ups
9. When I've turned on the TV and there isn't anything on for 8 - 9 minutes; no joke, I do a set of 8-minute abs (an oldie but a goody)
10. When I take the bus; I get off a few stops early and speed walk into work. It's actually comparable to walking normal speed from a closer stop. I've timed and tested it many times!
I'm always searching for new things I can do at the same time as a normal, everyday activities.
If you have any to share please leave it in the comment field, I'd love to learn some more tricks!!
A Goal – Improve our Image
One morning, like many mornings, Sally and I sat with our second cup of coffee chatting about what we want to accomplish for that day. The conversation (as it often does) moved towards our new Photography Business (shameless plug “check us out at http://www.seastudio.us/”) and what we could do to build our brand. Out came the black notebook which is where it all starts. Another outline of ideas became goals but we touched on one that felt a little funny to talk about.
At the time I had lost about 25 pounds and I was feeling pretty good because I was back to the weight I’ve spent most of my adult life at…right around 255. I convinced myself that 255 was the weight my body “liked” to be, it was easiest to maintain and I felt it was who I was, my identity. (See this previous post to learn how I got over this). The idea of making goals isn’t about dwelling on the current state of affairs so we let our minds wander.
Our business gave me another reason to succeed. I wasn’t letting me down by not trying harder…I’d be letting down my wife (even though she wouldn't agree with that;) and possibly our well-being, our business. I know, I know, it can seem a little vain, almost narcissistic but seemed as valid then as it does now. Building a brand is a huge part of our business and gave me a goal beyond myself. I hit 218 this weekend and as I get closer to the number we wrote down that day the more I think maybe I sold myself short. An interesting, unexpected twist on goal setting!
At the time I had lost about 25 pounds and I was feeling pretty good because I was back to the weight I’ve spent most of my adult life at…right around 255. I convinced myself that 255 was the weight my body “liked” to be, it was easiest to maintain and I felt it was who I was, my identity. (See this previous post to learn how I got over this). The idea of making goals isn’t about dwelling on the current state of affairs so we let our minds wander.
Our business gave me another reason to succeed. I wasn’t letting me down by not trying harder…I’d be letting down my wife (even though she wouldn't agree with that;) and possibly our well-being, our business. I know, I know, it can seem a little vain, almost narcissistic but seemed as valid then as it does now. Building a brand is a huge part of our business and gave me a goal beyond myself. I hit 218 this weekend and as I get closer to the number we wrote down that day the more I think maybe I sold myself short. An interesting, unexpected twist on goal setting!
January 25, 2009
Mental Hurdle - #2
Diet and exercise, diet and exercise...I got so tired of hearing that's all it took. I would do the tricky, day-to-day "balancing" of what I thought was right. It usually included whatever I want whenever I wanted. With the help of Sally we started identifying all of my trouble areas when it came to eating. Slowly we started changing them and I found out that it really was indeed diet and exercise.
One day I was at work and found myself feeling very lethargic after lunch at work. That night I told Sally about it and we thought I should try something else. I took only a half sandwich, a piece of fruit and some crackers. It was crazy...I had been eating way more than I needed. I sit ALL day at work so I don't need a ton of calories to maintain. It was a Eureka moment for me and it made me excited to figure some more things out.
I started making sure I ate breakfast! This is hugely important...I read a quote about how to think of the meals we eat. "Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper." Think about it and give it a try.
While I was reigning in the amount of food I was eating I was simultaneously eating better foods. More fruits and vegetables (of course), more organics (everything I could afford), less fried foods, less fatty foods...and as time went on and I got healthier I stopped wanting things like chips, beer and other high calorie foods.
It was difficult letting go of some of these comfort foods but as time went on and my goals became more a part of my daily life the easier it got to stay away from them!
Dream Run - #4 (Dubrovnik, Croatia)
Admittedly this run is actually a walk that I did when I visited Dubrovnik back in 2003. I was curious to see how far I had gone because it felt like miles and miles. I suppose it was not knowing where I was going that made it feel long. Ends up this long walk was only 3.7 miles but the views on the way were so amazing that I would do it all over again!
It starts in the old town (like so many of my DR's do:)...then I climb up some steep, way too narrow stairs to the wall that encloses the old town. For a nominal fee you can walk around the top of it and see all of Dubrovnik from an unbeatable vantage point! I highly recommend visiting this "Jewel of the Adriatic"...I'm sure you all remember the wars that went on in this region...Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Serbs, Montenegrians, the Yugoslav Army and the like (early 1990's)? Well, mortars were basically lobbed down onto this town shelling out a large part of it. Now, after rebuilding you can see a stark contrast from the new and old. I'm attaching some pictures from that trip:)
January 23, 2009
Back to the Basics
It's time to get back to the basics, folks! The good 'ol push-up…doing them is one thing and doing them right is a whole other thing. Today I'm reminded of how important it is to keep them in my daily routine. When I was first getting started last year I would focus on doing sets of 25. At one point I was doing 4 sets totaling 100 per night (quick math;). I have since gone in and out of having push-ups in my routine. I received an email from Dennis today that really got me thinking again.
I thought of reasons why I talk myself out of them…I mean, who really wants to do a push-up?! As I was trudging up the 16 flights to my floor this morning at work it hit me. Push-ups are synonymous with the Army and when I started thinking about the connection (an obvious one at that) my mind wandered to visions of trench warfare. Down in the dirt, muscles grinding, teeth gritting, exhausting…I knew then and there that my focus had to go back to the basics. There's a reason so many people don't do them. They are free, convenient and relatively simple (as far as motions go) but no one likes doing them.
As I was re-reading Dennis' email he was telling me how he eclipsed some of his last push-up goals. Inspired by me at one point, Dennis started keeping track of sets and has reported faithfully back to me on his progress. He's kicking my butt and is twice my age. I started looking up articles about push-ups and found one right away written in a blog named "Well" that is featured on NY Times' website. It's a great look at the push-up and how this basic movement can serve so many purposes and help us age a little safer, perhaps.
Check out the original article and video on the "Well" blog HERE
The Well blog is being added to my "Blogs to See".
I thought of reasons why I talk myself out of them…I mean, who really wants to do a push-up?! As I was trudging up the 16 flights to my floor this morning at work it hit me. Push-ups are synonymous with the Army and when I started thinking about the connection (an obvious one at that) my mind wandered to visions of trench warfare. Down in the dirt, muscles grinding, teeth gritting, exhausting…I knew then and there that my focus had to go back to the basics. There's a reason so many people don't do them. They are free, convenient and relatively simple (as far as motions go) but no one likes doing them.
As I was re-reading Dennis' email he was telling me how he eclipsed some of his last push-up goals. Inspired by me at one point, Dennis started keeping track of sets and has reported faithfully back to me on his progress. He's kicking my butt and is twice my age. I started looking up articles about push-ups and found one right away written in a blog named "Well" that is featured on NY Times' website. It's a great look at the push-up and how this basic movement can serve so many purposes and help us age a little safer, perhaps.
Check out the original article and video on the "Well" blog HERE
The Well blog is being added to my "Blogs to See".
January 21, 2009
My New Favorite Ab Routine
The other day I was telling Dennis (my Father-in-law) about this great article I read in Men's Health. To better explain the situation I got down in the plank (the first move) during a large family party. I got a lot of weird looks but thought I'd post this workout as it truly has made a difference in my "abs". And yes, I'm starting to see them!
There are 3 pages you can click through...the first page is beginner, the next is the intermediate and finally the advanced. They are the same 3 basic movements with slight changes to make them harder. I'm in between beginner and intermediate at the moment.
Try them out, it takes just a few minutes! And let me know what you think:)
To get to the Men's Health article just click HERE!
Size 34, Really?
A few weeks ago I tried on a pair of size 34" waist pants. I was surprised that they'd even go on my legs and even more surprised to find out that I could button them. I looked like a sausage and took them off quick!
Last night we were out shopping around and we popped into Nordstrom Rack to look at some stuff. I meandered back to the men's area and started rifling through the size 36 jeans, grabbed a few pair then went to the 34's...just to humor myself. I held up a pair that looked so incredibly tiny that I thought only a child or a very small man could fit into. I took those with me.
I tried them all on and each one of them I was able to button up. In fact, one pair I considered but on closer inspection it had a very illogical placement of one of the rivets. It was placed in the middle front which instantly made me feel like less of a man. Hard to explain until you see it.
Regardless, I was stoked. Just 1 year ago almost to the day I was wearing size 40" pants. The 36" I tried on last night were big, it's crazy. Some people live by the pants not the scale and after tonight I can see why. One side effect of losing so much weight is that it can be expensive trying to replenish items like jeans when they only fit for a month...my 36's that I bought just a few months ago look big on me these days. It'll be nice to get to where I'm trying to be and settle into a few more options!!! Getting closer:)
Yes, those are Ads
I decided today that getting money from Google can't hurt, right?! Hmmm...we'll see.
When I Feel Lazy...
...I think of how much closer to my goal I can get if I just force myself out the door. Often when this happens I have found if I just come home and put on my running clothes without any emotion involved. 9 times out of 10 (no I haven't counted, this is just a guess) I end up going jogging. Once I'm out there and past mile marker one it's all good.
Yes, I'm having one of those days...thinking about how good it feels to have it behind me doesn't always help...sure I love how it feels, who doesn't. I find that tricking myself out of laziness can work. Wish me luck! My plan (even though at the moment I don't want to) is to jog my 5 mile loop and try to better my time again:)
Yes, I'm having one of those days...thinking about how good it feels to have it behind me doesn't always help...sure I love how it feels, who doesn't. I find that tricking myself out of laziness can work. Wish me luck! My plan (even though at the moment I don't want to) is to jog my 5 mile loop and try to better my time again:)
January 20, 2009
Dream Run - #3 (Florence, Italy)
When we are on the road traveling, the easiest, cheapest and one of the most rewarding things to do is go for a walk around the city or town you are in. Take in the sites, see it from a different view and possibly or most likely stop for some gelato along the way!
Starting at the last place we stayed we head towards the River Arno, cross the closest bridge and make our way up to a wonderful viewpoint, Piazza Michelangelo. From there we make our way down a small path that leads into a very small, quiet part of town along the wall. The road twists and turns through and comes out along the river again. This time we follow it, checking for HUGE rodent's in the water, then taking a right across the Ponte Vecchio.
Following the tourist route we walk towards Piazza della Signoria and set our sights on the Duomo. From the Duomo we hang a left, stealing a glance at the gates of paradise and head down a main street. We stay left on the Y in the road and end up at Santa Maria Novella. Chug a Guiness at Diane's favorite pub (I always forget the name) and then walk up past the train station, hang a right then another, pass by the hostel I stayed at and walk down one of my favorite streets in Florence. Then we cruise through the flea market by San Lorenzo then head towards the back of the Duomo.
From there we weave through some tiny roads and end up at the best gelato place in Florence! Then it's a few blocks and we are back to the hotel to get ready for an amazing dinner:)
Starting at the last place we stayed we head towards the River Arno, cross the closest bridge and make our way up to a wonderful viewpoint, Piazza Michelangelo. From there we make our way down a small path that leads into a very small, quiet part of town along the wall. The road twists and turns through and comes out along the river again. This time we follow it, checking for HUGE rodent's in the water, then taking a right across the Ponte Vecchio.
Following the tourist route we walk towards Piazza della Signoria and set our sights on the Duomo. From the Duomo we hang a left, stealing a glance at the gates of paradise and head down a main street. We stay left on the Y in the road and end up at Santa Maria Novella. Chug a Guiness at Diane's favorite pub (I always forget the name) and then walk up past the train station, hang a right then another, pass by the hostel I stayed at and walk down one of my favorite streets in Florence. Then we cruise through the flea market by San Lorenzo then head towards the back of the Duomo.
From there we weave through some tiny roads and end up at the best gelato place in Florence! Then it's a few blocks and we are back to the hotel to get ready for an amazing dinner:)
When an Article Hits Home, Finally!
I've read this article probably 10 times throughout the last year. "10 Secrets of the Effortlessly Thin" It wasn't because I was looking for inspiration or for any new tips on health and nutrition but mainly because it is THE most popular article on MSN's Fitness & Nutrition category and it's featured on the MSN homepage just about every month and it's always disguised as a different article.
What I find so interesting is they are all very obvious traits/"secrets" but don't make sense until you are doing them yourself. The further into my life-changing journey to be thin the more I adopted these traits without even knowing it. I don't know if I ever made any of these goals of mine but with the help of Sally (who incidentally lives these on a daily basis) I started doing these things.
The other day, just after the New Year, it was featured prominently on the rotating images so I clicked on it. At first I dismissed it thinking "I've seen this way too many times"...then as I clicked to the next slide I kept thinking "I do that" click "I do that" click "I do that"..."that's weird, I do all these (*except one, I'll explain another time)"...it was then I started to realize just how much I've changed and a few days later I started this blog!
Check it out: http://health.msn.com/weight-loss/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100218116
What I find so interesting is they are all very obvious traits/"secrets" but don't make sense until you are doing them yourself. The further into my life-changing journey to be thin the more I adopted these traits without even knowing it. I don't know if I ever made any of these goals of mine but with the help of Sally (who incidentally lives these on a daily basis) I started doing these things.
The other day, just after the New Year, it was featured prominently on the rotating images so I clicked on it. At first I dismissed it thinking "I've seen this way too many times"...then as I clicked to the next slide I kept thinking "I do that" click "I do that" click "I do that"..."that's weird, I do all these (*except one, I'll explain another time)"...it was then I started to realize just how much I've changed and a few days later I started this blog!
Check it out: http://health.msn.com/weight-loss/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100218116
The Importance of Goals
This should come as no surprise to most anyone but setting goals has played a very large part in my overall weight loss. What made this goal-making experience so different that any before is that I made sets of goals - large and small for various amounts of time. Putting a time constraint on a goal, an actual physical date has made the single, largest difference to achieving my goals than anything else. More than my desire to lose and more than seeing a "fat" picture of myself.
The first date I put on a goal was to walk 50 times around Greenlake by the time we left for Hawaii last April. We did it, too (on the last day)! During the 3 months we gave ourselves to walk these 50 laps around Greenlake a funny thing happened. I started making more, mini goals. They all fell within the realm of my original goal and included adding on jogs around Greenlake to make it harder on ourselves. Along with setting a time limit or a specific goal date I began tracking my workouts as well as my weight daily on a calendar. I will expand on those ideas later in a separate post because they are almost as important as setting goals with a set date on them.
Another thing I learned about myself is once a big goal is attained my tedency was to enjoy it then forget about all that I had worked so hard for. I maintained throughout all of summer and stayed steady around 255. I had reached my goal and went back to life, living as I wanted. As Summer was waning I read about this website called Fatbet.net. The idea of tracking my progress so other's could see what I'm up to would keep me honest, it would motivate me to get back on track and most importantly give me a new goal. It forced me to write what my weight goal is as well as set a date for me to reach it. Amazing results…I had lofty goals and nearly made it but the transformation during this last push hasn't slowed down in me at all. Since late August I've lost an additional 35 pounds.
My goal is still losing fat but as I lose more fat I'm seeing more muscle and bones. When this started happening, I took a more aggressive approach to my goals. I added in jogs, yoga, sit-ups, push-ups and some free weights. I'm sampling all sorts of different workouts to find the best fit for me. Below is my graph from Fatbet.net which shows my weight loss since late August to today. The link will take you to the most current Fatbet we have going.
http://www.fatbet.net/viewBet.aspx?BetId=1119&Digest=2HOA7OyvgW5C167vYhcdag
The first date I put on a goal was to walk 50 times around Greenlake by the time we left for Hawaii last April. We did it, too (on the last day)! During the 3 months we gave ourselves to walk these 50 laps around Greenlake a funny thing happened. I started making more, mini goals. They all fell within the realm of my original goal and included adding on jogs around Greenlake to make it harder on ourselves. Along with setting a time limit or a specific goal date I began tracking my workouts as well as my weight daily on a calendar. I will expand on those ideas later in a separate post because they are almost as important as setting goals with a set date on them.
Another thing I learned about myself is once a big goal is attained my tedency was to enjoy it then forget about all that I had worked so hard for. I maintained throughout all of summer and stayed steady around 255. I had reached my goal and went back to life, living as I wanted. As Summer was waning I read about this website called Fatbet.net. The idea of tracking my progress so other's could see what I'm up to would keep me honest, it would motivate me to get back on track and most importantly give me a new goal. It forced me to write what my weight goal is as well as set a date for me to reach it. Amazing results…I had lofty goals and nearly made it but the transformation during this last push hasn't slowed down in me at all. Since late August I've lost an additional 35 pounds.
My goal is still losing fat but as I lose more fat I'm seeing more muscle and bones. When this started happening, I took a more aggressive approach to my goals. I added in jogs, yoga, sit-ups, push-ups and some free weights. I'm sampling all sorts of different workouts to find the best fit for me. Below is my graph from Fatbet.net which shows my weight loss since late August to today. The link will take you to the most current Fatbet we have going.
http://www.fatbet.net/viewBet.aspx?BetId=1119&Digest=2HOA7OyvgW5C167vYhcdag
January 16, 2009
Dream Run - #2 (San Sebastian, Spain)
One of my favorite locations I’ve visited while on my travels is the beautiful San Sebastian located in the Basque region of Spain. I loved that place so much that I went there 3 times in the same trip. San Sebastian is known for it’s culinary prowess and is often considered having the best foods in Spain…which makes it an equally important location to throw in a jog or a walk.
We start in the Parte Vieja (Old Town) and head out towards the aquarium. Circumnavigating Mount Urgull along the water we take a right to go back through town on our way to La Playa de la Concha. We follow along the beautiful promenade until we reach the park at the base of Mount Igueldo, take a breather and watch the waves crash into the rocks with iron sculptures mounted on them…courtesy of Challida!
Then it’s back to the beach where we kick off our running shoes and walk along the beach and back up the ramp to the promenade. We then head back towards the Old Town to get ready for our night of pub crawling and tapas eating! Maybe throw in a Kalimotxo which is a drink my brother Steve found out about from a local which is 50% red wine and 50% Coca-Cola…ahhh, the Basque people had it all figured out!
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2494992
We start in the Parte Vieja (Old Town) and head out towards the aquarium. Circumnavigating Mount Urgull along the water we take a right to go back through town on our way to La Playa de la Concha. We follow along the beautiful promenade until we reach the park at the base of Mount Igueldo, take a breather and watch the waves crash into the rocks with iron sculptures mounted on them…courtesy of Challida!
Then it’s back to the beach where we kick off our running shoes and walk along the beach and back up the ramp to the promenade. We then head back towards the Old Town to get ready for our night of pub crawling and tapas eating! Maybe throw in a Kalimotxo which is a drink my brother Steve found out about from a local which is 50% red wine and 50% Coca-Cola…ahhh, the Basque people had it all figured out!
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2494992
January 15, 2009
DURING - Slowly Melting
These range from Spring to late Fall. I swear the more I lost the happier I look, or maybe it's because my teeth appear that much bigger? Whatever it is, you can almost see a difference in energy level!
I'm going to try to get Sal to do a mini-shoot with me in different locations so I can update what I'm looking like now. What really excites me is that I've gotten so far but really do have quite a bit more to lose...check out the difference though:)
I'm going to try to get Sal to do a mini-shoot with me in different locations so I can update what I'm looking like now. What really excites me is that I've gotten so far but really do have quite a bit more to lose...check out the difference though:)
BEFORE - En Route to 280
OK, OK...so I've been searching for pictures of me just before I went on my journey to losing a 1st grader's weight in fat over the last year! What I found is quite disturbing...I was bigger than I ever imagined, in fact, I remember thinking I looked good for some. I'm going to post a few because I think it's crazy how different I look now.
My 5-mile Route
I used to live on 82nd St between 3rd and 6th Avenue about 6 years ago. When I lived there I ran this same route except it was stopped short because I lived on 82nd.
We now live on 103rd so this new, improved run has a built in 40 extra blocks. City running isn't nearly as scary as you'd think. Sally is always making sure I'm being as safe as possible. Honestly though, I feel safer on a sidewalk near a busy street than I ever felt when I jogged in the suburbs. Go figure?!
Anyways, here's where I'll be between 4:30 and 5:30 today if you're looking for me;)
January 14, 2009
Building in my workouts
I figured out a way to build in a workout that I could easily follow every single day I worked. I work on the 16th floor of a building downtown on 7th between Olive and Stewart streets. Stairs!
I don’t know why I started it but last year some time I was on the 10th floor getting my coffee (they have a café on 10) and I was waiting for the elevator to come and I thought, eh, why not, give it a try. 6 floors later I was huffin’ and puffin’. After a few weeks of doing that I would show up to work and ride the elevator to 10 then climb the remaining set of 6. The beauty of this was it was always there and only my laziness made it not a viable option.
Skip forward to today...I get in around 7am and start my day by climbing 16 flights. I get my coffee and climb 6 more. On days where I want to mix it up, I will climb all the way to the top of the building, yeah, that’s 23 flights. Below is a picture of my building.
What I learned from this was the huge benefit of using your everyday situations to your advantage.
I don’t know why I started it but last year some time I was on the 10th floor getting my coffee (they have a café on 10) and I was waiting for the elevator to come and I thought, eh, why not, give it a try. 6 floors later I was huffin’ and puffin’. After a few weeks of doing that I would show up to work and ride the elevator to 10 then climb the remaining set of 6. The beauty of this was it was always there and only my laziness made it not a viable option.
Skip forward to today...I get in around 7am and start my day by climbing 16 flights. I get my coffee and climb 6 more. On days where I want to mix it up, I will climb all the way to the top of the building, yeah, that’s 23 flights. Below is a picture of my building.
What I learned from this was the huge benefit of using your everyday situations to your advantage.
Mental Hurdle - #1
Much of my struggle to lose weight came in various forms of mental hurdles that, as one would expect, have changed quite a bit since I’ve started. When I figured out that much of what was holding me back was myself I took to identifying the hurdle and treating them as a goal.
Through this blog I will be outlining a few of the major mental hurdles I’ve faced along the way. These will not be in any specific or chronological order.
When I entered High School I weighed 200 pounds. With the help of my football rosters and an easy weight gain pattern I’ve remembered this for years. My sophomore year I was 230 pounds. Junior year I was tipping the scales at 260…when I graduated I’d settled into my comfortable 250-255 range.
One of the most interesting mental blocks I’ve faced thus far is shedding my “big guy” identity. It was acceptable to say I was big boned or that my body “likes” being 255. In fact, during high school some of my friends called me Mungo after the character in “Blazing Saddles”. Mongo (not Mungo *note, my friends were good friends but not the sharpest tools in the shed) is a huge oaf and in an infamous scene punches a horse in the face. I played football and many of my friends were big guys so I just felt comfortable at that weight and comfortable with my "big guy" identity.
Only until recently after one of my many inspired talks with Sally did I realize there was a fear of losing my identity. I felt doomed to be what everyone knew me as “a big guy”. After that talk I came to my senses…being the “big guy” or the “big brother” never suited me well inside. I was over it, way quicker than it took for it to be gradually and deeply ingrained in me.
With that hurdle for my former “identity” behind me, my workout and determination became way more focused. I get excited to see people I haven’t seen in a few years, even a few months because I’m a changed man and I never thought it could feel so empowering!
Through this blog I will be outlining a few of the major mental hurdles I’ve faced along the way. These will not be in any specific or chronological order.
When I entered High School I weighed 200 pounds. With the help of my football rosters and an easy weight gain pattern I’ve remembered this for years. My sophomore year I was 230 pounds. Junior year I was tipping the scales at 260…when I graduated I’d settled into my comfortable 250-255 range.
One of the most interesting mental blocks I’ve faced thus far is shedding my “big guy” identity. It was acceptable to say I was big boned or that my body “likes” being 255. In fact, during high school some of my friends called me Mungo after the character in “Blazing Saddles”. Mongo (not Mungo *note, my friends were good friends but not the sharpest tools in the shed) is a huge oaf and in an infamous scene punches a horse in the face. I played football and many of my friends were big guys so I just felt comfortable at that weight and comfortable with my "big guy" identity.
Only until recently after one of my many inspired talks with Sally did I realize there was a fear of losing my identity. I felt doomed to be what everyone knew me as “a big guy”. After that talk I came to my senses…being the “big guy” or the “big brother” never suited me well inside. I was over it, way quicker than it took for it to be gradually and deeply ingrained in me.
With that hurdle for my former “identity” behind me, my workout and determination became way more focused. I get excited to see people I haven’t seen in a few years, even a few months because I’m a changed man and I never thought it could feel so empowering!
January 13, 2009
Sigg
I just filled up my Sigg for a second time today and felt compelled to write about them. Since we made the switch from Nalgene and other (begin sarcasm) awesome BPA leaching bottles (end sarcasm) I've drank more water than I ever have, have been more hydrated than I ever have and have been to the bathroom more than I ever have!
They can be found virtually anywhere these days and have tons of cool designs...just remember, NEVER freeze them.
Check out REI, Amazon, the Sigg website and any other outdoors store near you!
Here's the one I've got...we bought it at the Kokua Festival in Hawaii!
They can be found virtually anywhere these days and have tons of cool designs...just remember, NEVER freeze them.
Check out REI, Amazon, the Sigg website and any other outdoors store near you!
Here's the one I've got...we bought it at the Kokua Festival in Hawaii!
Dream Run - #1 (Makaha, Hawaii)
When I couple traveling to favorite locales and my new found love of working out a beautiful thing is born. I'm calling this series my Dream Runs. Some of these places are places I've been that I would LOVE to go back to and revisit and some are going to be places that I just want to go!
Like so many of my goals have been so far, these places and ideas are just dreams right now...but like so many of my goals also have been achieved and therefore coming true. I will go to these places someday...and I will walk, run, jog, bike, skip...whatever it takes to make them happen.
The first is the beautiful Makaha! A 5-miler that takes you up in the valley then spits you out onto the water so you can mingle with the Turtles and walk back on the beautiful Makaha Beach! An obvious first in my Dream Run series!!
Click on the link to see more details: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2487016
Like so many of my goals have been so far, these places and ideas are just dreams right now...but like so many of my goals also have been achieved and therefore coming true. I will go to these places someday...and I will walk, run, jog, bike, skip...whatever it takes to make them happen.
The first is the beautiful Makaha! A 5-miler that takes you up in the valley then spits you out onto the water so you can mingle with the Turtles and walk back on the beautiful Makaha Beach! An obvious first in my Dream Run series!!
Click on the link to see more details: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2487016
January 12, 2009
Fitbit - Pedometer
Saw this in an article about the Consumer Electronic Show and thought it was really cool. The device clips on to your clothing and keeps track of your steps, calories burned and answers the question - did I get enough exercise today?
It's wireless and when you walk within 25 - 50 feet of your computer it automatcally uploads to the Fitbit website. Once your info is uploaded you can logon and check out the analysis, share with friends and create collaborative workout goals and routines with family and friends.
Seems pretty cool to me, a toy down the road perhaps?!
http://www.fitbit.com/
It's wireless and when you walk within 25 - 50 feet of your computer it automatcally uploads to the Fitbit website. Once your info is uploaded you can logon and check out the analysis, share with friends and create collaborative workout goals and routines with family and friends.
Seems pretty cool to me, a toy down the road perhaps?!
http://www.fitbit.com/
Seeing 210
Like every blog that I've ever started, the desire to write until I have perfected an intro that will inspire other's to read on weighs heavily and seems so important. That's a lot of pressure so I'm going to jump right into the basis of this new blog.
I'm naming it "Seeing 210" because of a phrase that my inspirational Father-in-Law coined on one of our many emails back and forth about my newest endevour.
Around this time last year, January 2008, I weighed an astonishing 280...I've never been so much. I have always gotten away with being a "big guy" but 280, really! We had booked tickets to Hawaii in April and there was no way I was going to be the beached whale I had envisioned so Sally and I took to walking. The biggest step we took was making a goal, a goal of 50 walks before we left. I'm sure I'll be posting much about goals and goal-making as that alone has been a huge part in my quest to see 210.
This blog will explain my journey through thick and soon to be thin. If no one else reads this except my family then at least they can attest to the difference losing 60 pounds in one year can make on a person.
I look forward to any input, any ideas, new studies, different workouts and inspirations as I shed these last few pounds and see 210 for the first time since my Freshman year in High School! Who knows, I might see 210 then keep on going...it's hard to say, but having support along the way always helps!!!
Thanks for tuning in!
I'm naming it "Seeing 210" because of a phrase that my inspirational Father-in-Law coined on one of our many emails back and forth about my newest endevour.
Around this time last year, January 2008, I weighed an astonishing 280...I've never been so much. I have always gotten away with being a "big guy" but 280, really! We had booked tickets to Hawaii in April and there was no way I was going to be the beached whale I had envisioned so Sally and I took to walking. The biggest step we took was making a goal, a goal of 50 walks before we left. I'm sure I'll be posting much about goals and goal-making as that alone has been a huge part in my quest to see 210.
This blog will explain my journey through thick and soon to be thin. If no one else reads this except my family then at least they can attest to the difference losing 60 pounds in one year can make on a person.
I look forward to any input, any ideas, new studies, different workouts and inspirations as I shed these last few pounds and see 210 for the first time since my Freshman year in High School! Who knows, I might see 210 then keep on going...it's hard to say, but having support along the way always helps!!!
Thanks for tuning in!
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