My apologies for the crickets Polska... MKG has been sick again and making night time VERY tiring... I am to the point of dreading bedtime since he will just end up coughing crazily during some point. It is just a cold but the smokers lungs he has make it tough for him to get over it.
Nice to see you back on the "horse" so to speka Polska. Motivation can be a crazy thing and I am glad that you have it back.
I gained a total of 2 pounds on this trip to Florida... I have found it tough to lose them again. I seem to be stagnant on the weight loss front. To the point that I have been toying with the idea of doing the v-diet for 30 days just to get me over that hump. The v-diet is pretty strict though and I am really not sure I have the parts.
On the running side, I am ACTUALLY getting a little faster... It's wierd for a fat guy to say I know but it's true. I have run a couple of 5K's UNDER 26 minutes now... Which for me is fast. The first time I did 5K, I managed it in 32.25 minutes. Now I am trying to stretch that speed over longer distances without hurting myself.
The weight training is going well I think. I continue to do different things to keep the GUNS from getting used to the workouts so I am always sore. I wish we had a mountain conditioning class around here. I would try that for sure.
The golf course opens on Friday of this week so that will really help me out on the NEPA front. As a general rule, I have been only getting one workout a day these days. Which probably accounts for SOME of the slowdown in weight loss. It is actually warm here now so I MAY try and run outside one of these days. However, I REALLY like my TSN Sportscenter in the AM's.
Wednesday, April 15
Monday, April 13
Update to last post
The date of the White Party is May 16th. 33 days and counting. Let the games begin.
I wonder if I can quit drinking all together for 33 days. I am having flashbacks of many, many blog posts from my past.
I wonder if I can quit drinking all together for 33 days. I am having flashbacks of many, many blog posts from my past.
Maybe not a habit yet, but definitely a roll
Well, crickets on Peterborough's end for posting... I will talk to myself again. :-) Paying for class worked! Outside of getting to mountain conditioning twice last week, I ran on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday (taking off only Friday and Sunday in the week). Saturday I ran the longest I've run since November, 70 minutes on the treadmill doing the entire deck for Gambler's run.
I'm feeling better... lots of aches and pains, which is good I think. I'm starting to get used to getting up in the mornings, hopefully this will get better with summer around the corner. I came down with a sore throat and the beginnings of a cold yesterday, so I took today off to get back at it tomorrow.
All in all, I haven't reformed my exercise habit but I'm on a decent roll. I like this article about exercise habits. 30 days to form an exercise habit, I'm about a week and a half in. Much of this stuff we all know, but need a reminder or nudge along the way. I've been talking about losing the last 5-7 lbs for so long that I'm sure everyone is ready to kill me. That last few pounds, plus the stupid chin up that eludes me. Last year I set out to lose 10 lbs and set a date, and reached it... maybe later than I wanted to but I still got there. I set out to run the marathon, and with a plan and training and a set end date, I did that. So what date to choose, that is reasonable?
There is this "White Party" coming up some time in May. Basically you have to wear all white. Honestly, this is some mean joke played by really skinny and beautiful people. Nobody actually looks good in white. Especially white pants that show every ripple of cellulite. I have one pair of white pants that fit when I moved to Seattle. Haven't fit since... at one point I was 17 lbs off from white pants days, today it's more like 7 lbs. Maybe 10 lbs if we're being honest. I can't buy another pair of white pants, I have a perfectly good pair locked away in a storage bin under my bed... one of those things I keep holding out for and haven't been able to give to Goodwill.
I'm trying to track down the date of the aforementioned White Party. If it's the last week of May, that gives me about 6 weeks to lose 5 lbs. Urgh, I'd have to give up my one a day cookie habit. And probably cut back on the drinking. I'm so happy though, maintaining steady state with my two favorite vices in tow... ain't nothing in life that's free I guess.
I'm feeling better... lots of aches and pains, which is good I think. I'm starting to get used to getting up in the mornings, hopefully this will get better with summer around the corner. I came down with a sore throat and the beginnings of a cold yesterday, so I took today off to get back at it tomorrow.
All in all, I haven't reformed my exercise habit but I'm on a decent roll. I like this article about exercise habits. 30 days to form an exercise habit, I'm about a week and a half in. Much of this stuff we all know, but need a reminder or nudge along the way. I've been talking about losing the last 5-7 lbs for so long that I'm sure everyone is ready to kill me. That last few pounds, plus the stupid chin up that eludes me. Last year I set out to lose 10 lbs and set a date, and reached it... maybe later than I wanted to but I still got there. I set out to run the marathon, and with a plan and training and a set end date, I did that. So what date to choose, that is reasonable?
There is this "White Party" coming up some time in May. Basically you have to wear all white. Honestly, this is some mean joke played by really skinny and beautiful people. Nobody actually looks good in white. Especially white pants that show every ripple of cellulite. I have one pair of white pants that fit when I moved to Seattle. Haven't fit since... at one point I was 17 lbs off from white pants days, today it's more like 7 lbs. Maybe 10 lbs if we're being honest. I can't buy another pair of white pants, I have a perfectly good pair locked away in a storage bin under my bed... one of those things I keep holding out for and haven't been able to give to Goodwill.
I'm trying to track down the date of the aforementioned White Party. If it's the last week of May, that gives me about 6 weeks to lose 5 lbs. Urgh, I'd have to give up my one a day cookie habit. And probably cut back on the drinking. I'm so happy though, maintaining steady state with my two favorite vices in tow... ain't nothing in life that's free I guess.
Thursday, April 2
I suck
For some reason or another, I can't make it to the gym on my own free will. I can't be motivated by others, I'm not even motivated by my growing flab.
When in doubt, turn to money as a motivator, especially during tough economic times. I paid the $73.58 on Tuesday evening to return to Mountain Conditioning for the month of April. And last night, even though I didn't want to go to bed early and definitely didn't want to get up at 4:45 am this morning, my CHEAP ass dragged me out of bed to class.
Carl didn't fail to bring me to an edge I haven't seen for a long time... and he took it "easy" on us because it was the start of a new month. Even the opening stretching exercises hurt today. I'm so out of shape... but $73.58 per month is going to make sure I start making my way back. Begrudgingly...
When in doubt, turn to money as a motivator, especially during tough economic times. I paid the $73.58 on Tuesday evening to return to Mountain Conditioning for the month of April. And last night, even though I didn't want to go to bed early and definitely didn't want to get up at 4:45 am this morning, my CHEAP ass dragged me out of bed to class.
Carl didn't fail to bring me to an edge I haven't seen for a long time... and he took it "easy" on us because it was the start of a new month. Even the opening stretching exercises hurt today. I'm so out of shape... but $73.58 per month is going to make sure I start making my way back. Begrudgingly...
Tuesday, March 31
Check In
Alright, alright... not only did I not do weights today, but I didn't go to the gym period. I decided to take the day off. No real reason, mainly to get sleep and see if that helped with my dragginess at work. I'll be there doing weights tomorrow.
But I am a firm believer in doing weights. I am exploring some options for keeping me on to some plan for weights. In general, I am going to stick to a plan of weights and running. If a skip a weights day, my next running day on the schedule will be replaced with weights. I am getting flabby and I don't like it.
The mysterious running gait... I think there are two things:
1 - Shoes and orthodics. I would have a specialist check your feet because that throws the gait right off and causes the pains you are experiencing.
2 - Natural gait. I used to think that longer strides were better but the experts are all saying that short strides are actually better for you, especially if that is your natural gait. All that work I was doing trying to elongate my stride wasn't necessary after all!
I like this article because it has very specific drills you can do to work on your running form:
http://ezinearticles.com/?4-Ways-to-Improve-Running-Biomechanics&id=237724
I'll also ask Colby for suggestions. Oh, and another article:
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267-268-8163-0,00.html
How is the weather and exercise going in Florida? Julio and I just booked a trip home, September 3rd to 13th! We fly into Buffalo because it's much cheaper, and we'll spend a couple of days in the Niagara/Hamilton area. Then a full week in Peterborough, including Labour Day Monday! Lots of time to hit the gym and have some fun with the Gaskell crew!
But I am a firm believer in doing weights. I am exploring some options for keeping me on to some plan for weights. In general, I am going to stick to a plan of weights and running. If a skip a weights day, my next running day on the schedule will be replaced with weights. I am getting flabby and I don't like it.
The mysterious running gait... I think there are two things:
1 - Shoes and orthodics. I would have a specialist check your feet because that throws the gait right off and causes the pains you are experiencing.
2 - Natural gait. I used to think that longer strides were better but the experts are all saying that short strides are actually better for you, especially if that is your natural gait. All that work I was doing trying to elongate my stride wasn't necessary after all!
I like this article because it has very specific drills you can do to work on your running form:
http://ezinearticles.com/?4-Ways-to-Improve-Running-Biomechanics&id=237724
I'll also ask Colby for suggestions. Oh, and another article:
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267-268-8163-0,00.html
How is the weather and exercise going in Florida? Julio and I just booked a trip home, September 3rd to 13th! We fly into Buffalo because it's much cheaper, and we'll spend a couple of days in the Niagara/Hamilton area. Then a full week in Peterborough, including Labour Day Monday! Lots of time to hit the gym and have some fun with the Gaskell crew!
Monday, March 30
Weights I tell you, weights...
I know it is REALLY easy to do what you are good at Polska... However, the weights will make you a better runner in the long run and I hate to say it cause you look good already but LOOK better...
Let me put it another way and ask you a hypothetical question... Who looks better:
1) Kenyan Marathon Runner???
2) Monica Brant??? (If you don't know who she is, google is your friend)
The answer is TWO... Of course it is... Skinny is good but TONED and fit is better... Trust a guys opinion on this... Run to much, lose the bum... NOT good.
Anyway, I do digress but I do know BUMS.
I have a second question... This coming from the fat guy... How does one improve their gait when running??? I ran to the gym with Ange this morning and she mentioned that I really don't look SMOOTH... I make it look like it is a massive effort and it really shouldn't be. I guess it is partly because I am still a massive mass of humanity. Don't get me wrong, I still get there and I am getting better... 5.4K round trip in ~24 minutes... That's decent for me but apparently I look like a moron doing it. Is it sheer repetition that will get me the smooth gait or do I need to be doing something else???
Let me put it another way and ask you a hypothetical question... Who looks better:
1) Kenyan Marathon Runner???
2) Monica Brant??? (If you don't know who she is, google is your friend)
The answer is TWO... Of course it is... Skinny is good but TONED and fit is better... Trust a guys opinion on this... Run to much, lose the bum... NOT good.
Anyway, I do digress but I do know BUMS.
I have a second question... This coming from the fat guy... How does one improve their gait when running??? I ran to the gym with Ange this morning and she mentioned that I really don't look SMOOTH... I make it look like it is a massive effort and it really shouldn't be. I guess it is partly because I am still a massive mass of humanity. Don't get me wrong, I still get there and I am getting better... 5.4K round trip in ~24 minutes... That's decent for me but apparently I look like a moron doing it. Is it sheer repetition that will get me the smooth gait or do I need to be doing something else???
When you can't find it within, find it in others...
Kirk, reading about your progress (and Ange's!) is starting to draw out the motivation in me. I've had a number of conversations in the last week with people around here all complaining about the same issues... no motivation, constantly hitting the snooze button and just generally being tired of winter.
I know I can't sit around and just wait for motivation to happen. I know that once a person puts one foot in front of another for a a few consecutive days, it starts to become habit.
Winter is turning around, Julio is moved in, ski season is coming to an end... only I can push myself into the habit. I like reading up on what you're doing on vacation because vacation really is a hard time to stay on program. Road trips = junk food. When you combine that with a gym that caters to the 65+ crowd, that really can make for a bad week! But if you stick to the plan and add some golf, you're going to have a great week!
I went up to the mountain yesterday and had a great day skiing... it was a hard effort, so I almost bagged on the workout this morning. I got up anyways, and went in for 35 minutes on the treadmill.
I haven't decided whether or not I'm going to sign up for the Seattle Rock n Roll Half Marathon on June 27th. It's still 3 months away, everyone is doing it, so I should just sign up. The forcing function was that I would have a reason to get running again, and to dedicate myself to workouts. Colby is also making me run it, he's putting together my plan this Sunday so that I don't bag on the race. Sign up, pay, train, race.
I also have to weight train twice a week and when I get lazy I end up running a few times a week and never step into the weight room. I'm going to do weights tomorrow morning, and I'm saying that because I'll have to blog about it tomorrow. I can't blog about nothing... and feel free to rip into me if I don't do it.
I know I can't sit around and just wait for motivation to happen. I know that once a person puts one foot in front of another for a a few consecutive days, it starts to become habit.
Winter is turning around, Julio is moved in, ski season is coming to an end... only I can push myself into the habit. I like reading up on what you're doing on vacation because vacation really is a hard time to stay on program. Road trips = junk food. When you combine that with a gym that caters to the 65+ crowd, that really can make for a bad week! But if you stick to the plan and add some golf, you're going to have a great week!
I went up to the mountain yesterday and had a great day skiing... it was a hard effort, so I almost bagged on the workout this morning. I got up anyways, and went in for 35 minutes on the treadmill.
I haven't decided whether or not I'm going to sign up for the Seattle Rock n Roll Half Marathon on June 27th. It's still 3 months away, everyone is doing it, so I should just sign up. The forcing function was that I would have a reason to get running again, and to dedicate myself to workouts. Colby is also making me run it, he's putting together my plan this Sunday so that I don't bag on the race. Sign up, pay, train, race.
I also have to weight train twice a week and when I get lazy I end up running a few times a week and never step into the weight room. I'm going to do weights tomorrow morning, and I'm saying that because I'll have to blog about it tomorrow. I can't blog about nothing... and feel free to rip into me if I don't do it.
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