One mile. That will be my training ground for the next month or so. In my quest to do a 5k this summer, I figure I'd better start with covering 1 mile first, then move on to 2 and 3 miles as I go. Ok, so when I walk at 3.5 miles an hour, I can cover a mile in a little over 17 minutes. As I've said before, I want to be able to jog and do it quicker. Today, I warmed up on the bike for 10 minutes, then I hopped on the treadmill. I set the program for 'distance' = 1 mile. It was then up to me to set the variable speed I would go at. In the end, it would tell me how long it took to cover that 1 mile. Watching my progress tick by in 1/100 mile increments, I decided I could jog at 4.5 mph for 0.1 miles at a time. So, I'd jog for 0.1 miles, and then walk for 0.1 miles. Back and forth. In the end I finished the mile in 15 minutes 10 seconds. Not bad for my first time trial. Hopefully, I can increase the amount of time I'm jogging, and get to the point where I can jog that whole mile. Gees, I have not done that since high school. It might kill me! :-)
Oh, and I need to stretch better before I begin. My hammies were a little tight when I was done.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Mind Games
I did not want to go to the gym today. I was tired, and I had done a bunch of 'cheat' eating over the weekend. I knew today's weigh in would not be stellar. To be honest, I didn't even think I was going to drop any weight, let alone 2.5 lbs. I guess some things are still going right for me.
The gym has got to be a habit for me. If I miss more than 1 day, my determination to go really starts to fade. The last time I went was last Wednesday. I was out of sync last night. I had to forcibly remember to get my gym bag ready for the next day, and I knew I had a lot going on today, so I didn't want to really go to the gym. But I went anyway. It was tough, but I got there. And I FELT GREAT! Its just getting there.
So, I'm a pound off my pace. 8 week contest, with a goal to lose 41 lbs, which means I need to lose about 5 lbs a week. That means I should be 25 lbs down this week, but I'm only 24 lbs. Oh well, I'm eating better today, maybe I can make up some ground this week.
The gym has got to be a habit for me. If I miss more than 1 day, my determination to go really starts to fade. The last time I went was last Wednesday. I was out of sync last night. I had to forcibly remember to get my gym bag ready for the next day, and I knew I had a lot going on today, so I didn't want to really go to the gym. But I went anyway. It was tough, but I got there. And I FELT GREAT! Its just getting there.
So, I'm a pound off my pace. 8 week contest, with a goal to lose 41 lbs, which means I need to lose about 5 lbs a week. That means I should be 25 lbs down this week, but I'm only 24 lbs. Oh well, I'm eating better today, maybe I can make up some ground this week.
Monday Weigh-In
Here are today's numbers:
Current Weight: 381 lbs.
Current Body Fat: 38.8%
Total Weight Lost: 24 lbs.
Total Body Fat Lost: 1.3%
Current Weight: 381 lbs.
Current Body Fat: 38.8%
Total Weight Lost: 24 lbs.
Total Body Fat Lost: 1.3%
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Tired Today
Decided to skip the gym this morning. I've been working double shifts the past few days, plus working out really hard at the gym. That extra hour of sleep this morning really felt good. After a high calorie Fat Tuesday, I was good with my eating yesterday, kept it under 2500 calories. I know that 2500 sounds like a lot, but it seems to be working. I should be able to keep on track today too.
But this is how I roll. As long as the weight is coming off, I am very motivated to eat right and exercise. My biggest fear is when I hit a plateau. I'll cross that bridge when I get there.
But this is how I roll. As long as the weight is coming off, I am very motivated to eat right and exercise. My biggest fear is when I hit a plateau. I'll cross that bridge when I get there.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Short Term Goals
I wish that I could keep up this rate of weight loss forever. I'd reach my ultimate goal in no time. For now I will take what I can get, but I do realize that it will slow down. Eventually, I will have to stop losing lean body mass and body fat, and pretty much stick to losing fat only.
I've been thinking about some near term goals.
1) Current weight loss contest at work. It is an 8 week contest. There are 13 participants, all at various levels of fitness. The winner of the contest is the person that loses the most weight by %, and the most body fat by %. Add those two numbers together, and the highest score wins. This means that, being the heaviest person in the contest, I have to lose more body weight just to keep up with the smaller folks (did I mention I'm 6' 4"?). OK, so I know its crazy, but I think I can drop 10% of my original 405 in just 8 weeks. Yes, that is a loss of 41 lbs! So, the goal is, on March 19th, Final weigh in, be at 364, and 37% body fat (which would be a 3.1% body fat loss).
2) I want to run a 5K. First let me state, I detest running/jogging. Walking is ok, but me and jogging have never gotten along. But, I can't help but notice, at the gym, and elsewhere, that serious runners are some of the most lean people in the world. I can't even jog a 1/4 mile right now with out getting my heart rate way into orbit, and my knees don't care for the pounding they take in this activity. So, I've got to give it some time, and work into it. Its only 3.1 miles. I want to be ready to go by July 4th. I'm hoping that I can be down to somewhere around 330 by that point. My local town does a little 5K early in the morning on the 4th of July. I plan to enter. Now I can walk a mile in about 18 minutes, which means I could walk the thing in an hour. But the point is to go faster. Initially, I'm thinking 45 minutes. I know, thats a snails pace, but may be a jog/walk thingy. We'll see. As I train with this as a goal, I can refine my goal as I go.
Visualize the best YOU you can be.
I've been thinking about some near term goals.
1) Current weight loss contest at work. It is an 8 week contest. There are 13 participants, all at various levels of fitness. The winner of the contest is the person that loses the most weight by %, and the most body fat by %. Add those two numbers together, and the highest score wins. This means that, being the heaviest person in the contest, I have to lose more body weight just to keep up with the smaller folks (did I mention I'm 6' 4"?). OK, so I know its crazy, but I think I can drop 10% of my original 405 in just 8 weeks. Yes, that is a loss of 41 lbs! So, the goal is, on March 19th, Final weigh in, be at 364, and 37% body fat (which would be a 3.1% body fat loss).
2) I want to run a 5K. First let me state, I detest running/jogging. Walking is ok, but me and jogging have never gotten along. But, I can't help but notice, at the gym, and elsewhere, that serious runners are some of the most lean people in the world. I can't even jog a 1/4 mile right now with out getting my heart rate way into orbit, and my knees don't care for the pounding they take in this activity. So, I've got to give it some time, and work into it. Its only 3.1 miles. I want to be ready to go by July 4th. I'm hoping that I can be down to somewhere around 330 by that point. My local town does a little 5K early in the morning on the 4th of July. I plan to enter. Now I can walk a mile in about 18 minutes, which means I could walk the thing in an hour. But the point is to go faster. Initially, I'm thinking 45 minutes. I know, thats a snails pace, but may be a jog/walk thingy. We'll see. As I train with this as a goal, I can refine my goal as I go.
Visualize the best YOU you can be.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Monday weigh in - (on Tuesday)
Current Weight: 383.5 lbs
Current Body Fat: 39%
Total Weight Lost: 21.5 lbs
Total Body Fat Lost: 1.1%
Current Body Fat: 39%
Total Weight Lost: 21.5 lbs
Total Body Fat Lost: 1.1%
Friday, February 16, 2007
Ultimate Goal
Here it is in writing. By June 1, 2008 I want to be 220 lbs, and 15% body fat.
My reward: A cruise with my wife. I've always wanted to go on one ~ now it is my motivation.
Hence the name of this BLOG: Going the Distance. I've got to lose 185 lbs and 25% body fat to reach this goal. I put it out there about 18 months because I know it will take a while. Its like a long, long journey ~ which starts with a few steps in the right direction. The weight is falling off right now, but soon it will be only 1-2 lbs per week, so time is needed.
I CAN DO IT!
Thoughts on a Friday
So, when I started this blog yesterday ~ I had a ton of things running through my mind to post about. I can talk about goals, training methods, diet, what I can eat, what I can't, thoughts on being fat - and how much I hate it, how busy life is, how I like going to the gym - but don't think I have the time.... yada yada yada.
I'll get to all that. It's Friday. I did go to the gym this morning - yeah for me! I feel really good right now. The scale made me feel even better. I will only be posting official weigh ins on Mondays (Tuesday next week due to President's day holiday). After this contest is over, I think I'll switch to Friday weigh ins. I like those better for some reason.
Methodology: What am I doing? I'm trying to follow the guidelines of one Mr. Tom Venuto. He has a best selling e-book called "Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle". I bought this 2 years ago, and read some of it. I'm going through it again trying to better grasp what he is talking about. Its not that I'm stupid - just stubborn. He has a very no-nonsense approach to fitness and weight loss. His "no-bull" attitude, no pushing meals, supplements etc, really appeal to me. But trying to make permanent changes in my life, like eating healthy, in the right portions, doing the right amount of cardio and lifting, has proved to be difficult. BUT, I'm getting there. Things are making more sense to me ~ and thus I'm able to figure out how to dovetail them into my life.
See, I can just ramble.
Visualize the end result ~ the best YOU you can be!
I'll get to all that. It's Friday. I did go to the gym this morning - yeah for me! I feel really good right now. The scale made me feel even better. I will only be posting official weigh ins on Mondays (Tuesday next week due to President's day holiday). After this contest is over, I think I'll switch to Friday weigh ins. I like those better for some reason.
Methodology: What am I doing? I'm trying to follow the guidelines of one Mr. Tom Venuto. He has a best selling e-book called "Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle". I bought this 2 years ago, and read some of it. I'm going through it again trying to better grasp what he is talking about. Its not that I'm stupid - just stubborn. He has a very no-nonsense approach to fitness and weight loss. His "no-bull" attitude, no pushing meals, supplements etc, really appeal to me. But trying to make permanent changes in my life, like eating healthy, in the right portions, doing the right amount of cardio and lifting, has proved to be difficult. BUT, I'm getting there. Things are making more sense to me ~ and thus I'm able to figure out how to dovetail them into my life.
See, I can just ramble.
Visualize the end result ~ the best YOU you can be!
Thursday, February 15, 2007
What I kind of look like now....
This was taken a few years ago. January 2002 to be exact. Its about the same level of fitness I'm at right now.
This is where I begin.....
I really need to lose weight. I've been poking around the web and have seen others who have used a blog to chronicle their weight loss, and I thought I 'd do it too. Blogs still kind of freak me out. I still see them as some sort of exhibitionist activity ~ for all the world to see your private stuff. But, I guess its up to me to share what I want to share.
So, where to begin? I've been big and heavy most of my life. I've always had some 'pudge'. In high school, I was in pretty good shape, playing basketball and varsity football. Ever since college, and my first desk job, I've been slowly getting heavier. The last 5-6 years have been a real yo-yo, and I go up and down. I understand that the basics of losing weight consist of good nutrition and consistent exercise, not some magical pill. The problem has been that I do this for 1-3 months, then I hit a plateau, lose my motivation, and quit all together, and head back to McDonalds.
My weight would be chronicled like this:
1990: Begin college: 240 lbs
1993: Get married to the love of my life: 280
1994: Get internship~start life in the business world (used to be finish carpenter) 300
1996: Enter weight loss contest at work, beginning weight 349, after contest 319
1997-2002: Weight balloons up to 391
2002: Weight loss contest at work, drop down to 341 ~ 50lbs lost!
2003: Went back up to 357, then lost 25 lbs down to 332
2004: Yo-yo'd more, up to 362, down to 340
2005: Inspired by NBC's Biggest Loser ~ another contest at work. Starting at 371- end at 345.
2006: Took the year off from exercise and eating right. Gained 60lbs
Jan 2007: ENOUGH! tipping the scales at 405!
And thats where I am today. Well, not exactly. Yes, we started another contest here at work. I'm determined to not lose my motivation this time. We began the contest on Jan 22. We weigh in each Monday. Here is my progress so far:
Jan 22, 2007: 405 lbs 40.1% Body Fat
Jan 29, 2007: 399 lbs 39,9% BF
Feb 5, 2007: 387 lbs 39.8% BF (I was sick this week: lost fluids)
Feb 12, 2007: 390 lbs 39.6% BF (see, I went back up, regained my fluids)
And so it goes. I will be checking in weekly, at a minimum. I will try to post pictures of my progress. I will post my goals. I want to talk about my methods, what is working, and what is not. But for now, I think this is a good thing ~ it gives me some sort of public accountability and record to show what I have done.
~Matt
So, where to begin? I've been big and heavy most of my life. I've always had some 'pudge'. In high school, I was in pretty good shape, playing basketball and varsity football. Ever since college, and my first desk job, I've been slowly getting heavier. The last 5-6 years have been a real yo-yo, and I go up and down. I understand that the basics of losing weight consist of good nutrition and consistent exercise, not some magical pill. The problem has been that I do this for 1-3 months, then I hit a plateau, lose my motivation, and quit all together, and head back to McDonalds.
My weight would be chronicled like this:
1990: Begin college: 240 lbs
1993: Get married to the love of my life: 280
1994: Get internship~start life in the business world (used to be finish carpenter) 300
1996: Enter weight loss contest at work, beginning weight 349, after contest 319
1997-2002: Weight balloons up to 391
2002: Weight loss contest at work, drop down to 341 ~ 50lbs lost!
2003: Went back up to 357, then lost 25 lbs down to 332
2004: Yo-yo'd more, up to 362, down to 340
2005: Inspired by NBC's Biggest Loser ~ another contest at work. Starting at 371- end at 345.
2006: Took the year off from exercise and eating right. Gained 60lbs
Jan 2007: ENOUGH! tipping the scales at 405!
And thats where I am today. Well, not exactly. Yes, we started another contest here at work. I'm determined to not lose my motivation this time. We began the contest on Jan 22. We weigh in each Monday. Here is my progress so far:
Jan 22, 2007: 405 lbs 40.1% Body Fat
Jan 29, 2007: 399 lbs 39,9% BF
Feb 5, 2007: 387 lbs 39.8% BF (I was sick this week: lost fluids)
Feb 12, 2007: 390 lbs 39.6% BF (see, I went back up, regained my fluids)
And so it goes. I will be checking in weekly, at a minimum. I will try to post pictures of my progress. I will post my goals. I want to talk about my methods, what is working, and what is not. But for now, I think this is a good thing ~ it gives me some sort of public accountability and record to show what I have done.
~Matt
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