It's more than just losing weight

Like most things in life, when you realize there needs to be a change you get very excited and ready to conquer the world. Then after time, for one reason or another, the enthusiasm begins to wane. That is where I have been the last few weeks.

I accomplished some good things over Thanksgiving. I ran a personal best time at Turkey Trot. I lost my goal weight by Thanksgiving. Things were going quite well but then they just kinda layed there. I could come up with all kinds of excuses: VERY busy at church, cold outside, had my car totaled and had to find a new one, I could go on and on. But honestly, I just got tired and lazy. I got tired of counting calories, running, exercising, thinking ALL the time, "how will this effect my calorie count/calorie burn for the day." The more I didn't do anything the more I wanted to continue to do nothing.

What I noticed though, was that while I initially started all this in an effort to lose weight, there were other benefits. I just "felt" better. I now feel draggy, tired, and a bit depressed (depression...no need to worry about that...just normal case of the blues or self pity). I need the lifestyle I started not only to lose weight but for my overall physical and mental health. Hmmmmm...interesting. Plus Missy, told me I am in the period that most people quit exercising (after 8-16 weeks I think she said). To me, when she said that, it was throwing out a challenge even though I think she said it to make me feel better for slowing down a bit. I don't want to be a quitter. I don't want be a great starter and poor finisher. I see SO many relationships to exercise and working out the body and the spiritual life. Guess that is why Paul talked about it so much. So I will run the race...run the race to finish...run the race to get the prize. I wouldn't let someone at church give up on the Christian Life without a fight so I will fight to not give up on this healthy lifestyle. It's more than just losing weight.

TURKEY WEEK

I met another goal. Lose, cumulatively, 20 pounds by Thanksgiving. As of today,over the past 14 weeks, I have lost 21. I am grateful for that. I feel so much better and my clothes are finally telling me I am losing weight. My goal of 20 by Thanksgiving was to help me not pig out and scrap exercise during the holidays. I don't want to mess up what has been done so far. Crossing my fingers it works. Also, I am going to try to do a calorie count on all my favorite foods. Not to say I won't have them, but if I know that one piece of toffee bar is 800 calories I won't have 6 of them at one time (I don't know how many calories they are yet and I won't be so annoying as to let the rest of my family know, unless they want to know.)

On Thanksgiving Day I am running the Turkey Trot 5k in Springfield. My goal? To run the race in 37:30. That would be about two minutes off my last race. That is a lot to ask, I know. But got to have a goal.

I have had trouble with the mid-afternoon sugar fix. Haven't figured out how to overcome except the fact I have no money to buy something. :)

A Little Bit of Catch Up

It's been a while since my last post. A little to bring you up to speed on.

I ran another 5k in Springfield last week. My goals were met. I wanted to be able to run the whole race and break into the 30's on my time. I did run the whole thing and my finish time was 39:36. It was pretty cool because I got to run it with my brothers and nephews. That made it fun.

Tomorrow is my second "6 week test." I had some strength goals, 15 push-ups, 10 burpees? (I think that is right). I am not worried about those. I will do them. I set a 10 pound weight loss goal. I am a little nervous about that. I feel good about losing 7-8 but might fall a few pounds short of 10. While I have made great strides in eating and exercise I still have some habits to kick. I guess I can't expect to change 15 years of bad nutritional thinking in just 12 weeks.

Thanks for all the help and support. I am still, overall, having fun. The competitive side in me really likes setting goals and working towards them. I also think I am truly addicted to running. I know, hard for me to believe too. I didn't run yesterday and all day I could do nothing but try and think of how I can make time to get a run in. I enjoy the feeling afterward.

Run To Read 2009 - Race Results

Ran the Run to Read. 2 years ago this race was my introduction to the 5k. So to put this in perspective here are my results:

Run to Read - 2 years ago - 49:59
NewTown Run - Aug. 2009 - 42:45
Run to Read - TODAY - 40:50

I honestly was REALLY hoping to be in the 30's. I will let that go. I RAN two miles before I did any walking so that was good. On to more training and the Bass Pro 5k October 31st in Springfield, MO.

My bodybugg told me I burned about 800 calories in the race. That is crazy. What a great return for 40 minutes of workout. I just might be bit by the running bug.

Amber rocked the race. You did great! Missy and Andrew both came in first in their brackets! I would have been 2nd in Andrew's bracket if I was just a BIT younger. :)

Tomorrow is Racing Day!

WHOOOO HOOO! Tomorrow morning is racing day. Washington Missouri Read To Run 5k. Goals: Run non stop for 2 miles and break 39:59 or less (3 minutes off my last race and breaking the 40 minutes mark.

Could it Be I'm More of an Addict Than I Think I Am?

So I must admit a downfall. I went WAY off diet on Saturday. I ate a candy bar, smarties, and drank an energy drink. I'm not claiming temporary mental insanity here but it was odd how when in the store by myself I was able to justify my poor decision quite easily. Something else I have noticed is that in my old life, as well as on Saturday, I can't just eat a little. When I go off board I GO! While I make a little light of this I do need to say sorry to Amber: for straying from a commitment and keeping it from you, granted we are talking about eating candy BUT we are doing this together and I didn't tell my partner. To Missy: You are giving me your time and knowledge. I don't want to give that away. To myself: In the end, I am cheating Chris Strickland and setting him up to fail. I logged my candy fix on my diet chart...869 calories. Brings me from a 1683 deficit to 815 calorie deficit. The candy was definately not worth it.

You may be reading this thinking, Good grief, a little emotional over a little candy setback! Yeah, it is just candy. But it's a new way of life. I move on from here and learn from my weakness. Proves to me all the more that I need help.

On a lighter note, I started doing two-a-days yesterday. I ran for 2 miles in the morning and then did a Missy style workout last night after the kids went to bed. I like it. I am scheduled for a day off today so I think I just might run a mile and be done. I think I am at a point where I need to put this "project" in front of me and a priority each day. Saturday is RACING DAY! Washington Run to Read 5k!! I'm excited because this was the first 5k I ever ran. I remember the first time I didn't make it around the other side of the lake (maybe .25 mile) before having to walk. I am shooting for running at LEAST 1.5 miles of the race without walking. I will. :)

Results a week late

Last time I blogged I was about to go to my first 6 week evaluation. It went well. I dropped two inches from my waist, 4 inches from my hips, lost 6 pounds, did 10 push-ups (first time I only did 5), and I am drinking more water, not quite teh crazy 4 liters a day I set out to do but definately more. So good stuff.

New goals for next 6 weeks:
10 pounds
2 inches off measurements
15 push-ups
10 burpees (crazy exercise that kicks my butt everytime)
RUN 1.5 miles by October 10th (Run to Read 5k)
RUN 2 miles by November 1st (Bass Pro 5k)
RUN a whole 5k by Thanksgiving

My Bodybugg arrived today. Basically, a device I wear on my arm that downloads calories burned, steps, and activity meter. Then I go to the software every night, put in what I ate and it automatically calculates if I had a calorie defiency. Also helps me figure the math...I want to lose 10 pounds in six weeks so I need to eat X amount of calories and burn X amount to have a defiency every day of X. Then I can see for instance, yesterday I didnt make it so I need to burn more/eat fewer calories today to make up. The cool part about the Bodybugg software is that it has a tutorial about how weight is lost, setting realistic goals, what you have to do to achieve...and EVERYTHING I already knew because it was information my great trainer, Missy had told me already. Thanks Missy, you are the best!

Thanks to all of you for your support and encouragement. I don't know if you read these blogs and that is okay if you don't. It has been a good place for me to reflect. Most of all, I want to thank Amber. Without your encouragement, movtivation, and pushing me along I couldn't do it. We are doing this together!

tomorrow morning is the big day

Tomorrow, Wednesday, is my 6 week check in. I'm nervous. My endurance is SO much better but I don't think I have lost more than maybe 4 pounds or so. My goal is 302.8. I will let you know how it goes!

what's coming up?

Next week will be the 6 week test to see how I have improved. Anxious. Hope I dropped a few. I know my endurance is better.

October 10 - 5k Run to Read here in WashMo. This is the race that starts at Lion's Lake. Serious hills. Should be fun.

October 31 - 5k Bass Pro Run in Springfield, MO. Would LOVE to be able to actually run at least 2 miles of the 3.1 by then. That would be great.

Today is a day off. Tomorrow, I am going to get up early and run a mile in the neighborhood.

A Small Victory

"Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another." Walter Elliot.

Small victory today. I ran a mile without stopping. Took me 11 minutes. Amber slowed her pace down to run with me and push me. Actually I think I could have gone a bit farther. Next goal is 1 and a quarter mile (5 laps on a track) without stopping. 6 weeks ago I couldn't do it. Amber encouraged me while we ran..it was great! Thanks to her for her help and thanks to Missy for all the training and pushing the past 6 weeks too.

Race Results

Saturday I ran my 5k. I ran it in 42:32. The first time I ran in 49:59. I'm good with that. My new goal is to run a 5k without walking through some of the course. Thanks for all the support. I am having fun. Got back in the Y today. A little sore, a little tired, had to turn up Eye of the Tiger a little louder.

Just ready to see some weight results. I am going to make a very hard effort on diet this week.

5k Tomorrow

Tomorrow will be my second 5k race. Actually, my first was two years ago so in a way this is the first....again. The first time I broke no land speed records. I came in at 49:59. Yes, one second under 50 minutes. That is about a 16.5 minute mile. My goal tomorrow is 40 minutes. That would be just over 13 minute mile. I'm pretty sure I can do it. Looking forward to it really. The race is in downtown historic St. Charles. It's a night race starting at 6:30.

Training this week has gone well. Still can't get a hold of eating the right things. I fall into old habits easily and rationalize so well. The only thing I can say is: I'm doing better than I did 5 weeks ago. For that I am grateful and will continue to press on.

HERE WE GO!

Playing Jr. Psychologist on myself

Have you ever seen The Biggest Loser? I always begin to laugh and mock when Jillian starts playing what I like to call Jr. Psychologist with her team. It seems like she makes things bigger than they need to be and every problem comes back to why people eat the way they do. What a joke!

Or is it?

Today was a crazy day. I was running around helping Amber get ready for MOPS, fixing the internet at church (or helping those who DID fix it), taking medicine to one child in her school, taking the other child to school...and all that before 11:45.

After I got back from lunch and was only at my desk for a few minutes, I started looking at the to-do list on my desk, thinking that I'm already a day short due to Labor Day and now half the day shot do to "other stuff." That is when I knew what would help me. A Coke and candy. I scraped together a dollar going through my desk, car, pockets, looking around on the floor. I would have gotten candy if I had the money...no DOUBT I would have, I just didn't have any to spend. I went and got my Coke (regular by the way, not diet. Why? Because after the day I have had, I deserve it.) Running to the Coke machine like a drug addict to his dealer for his next fix, the machine couldn't dispense fast enough. AH!! COKE! Somehow, God was able to let me see how ridiculous this whole scenario really looked. I was drinking sugar/caffeine and again WOULD HAVE eaten candy should it have been there because I was stressed. I needed comfort. Sugar would supply it. Coke would be my "dark master" (kudos if you caught the Seinfeld reference).

So not to push my problems off to stress of the job or something other than myself but maybe I was catching a glimpse of a weakness I have in making right choices. Food, no matter your situation, in shape or morbidly obese, shouldn't be where we look for comfort, peace, or help. I joked earlier about acting like a drug addict but isn't it the same in principle? I have placed my peace, comfort, and help in something other than Jesus. I need to be able to recognize that. I need to have a plan, a course of action for when the stress or disruptions happen. I need to be preventative instead of reactionary. Now I know.

And as a popular cartoon from my childhood would say, "And knowing is half the battle."

Getting Rid of UFOB

I just realized it. I have a 12 year old boy that follows me everywhere I go. EVERYTHING I do, EVERYWHERE I go, he is there. I like to call him UFOB. He is not a foreign exchange student. His name comes from Unwanted Fat On Body..UFOB. As stated in earlier blogs, so no secret, I weigh about 309 pounds. I would, in the end, like to weigh about 100 pounds less, which is about the average weight of a 12 year old boy. How much easier would it be to play with my kids without having the weight of an extra person to lug around. How much easier would the 5k be?

No offense, UFOB, but I am working at getting rid of you for good. The sooner the better.

On another note, Saturday is my second 5k. It's been almost 2 years since my first. I am looking forward to beating that time.

Half way check in

Here we are. I started three weeks ago with some 6 week goals. Today I started my 4th week. The results are in and honestly, not that thrilled.

I have lost 1 pound. Not at all what I expected. I have spent more time in the gym and more consistently than ever. So, I will not come up with excuses. Just know that I need to do some tweaking.

I think my workouts are good. I am burning calories. I think my adjustments need to be in the eating area. I opted to not go on a "diet" but to just control portions. I have done that for the most part. But I think I need to be more strict with myself. I still refuse to "diet." I just need to go back to being aware of my food intake and how much I eat. I also need to drink more water.

Overall, at the half way check in I would say it has been successful. I am in the habit of working out. That is good. I have somewhat watched my food. Just need to do more. Hopefully tangible results with follow.

I thought I was prepared....

The last few weeks has been good. I have made the commitment to work out four times a week, watching what I eat. Things have been good. Maybe too good. I think I was starting to slip into a sense that everything was okay. I had lost the urgency of my problem (refer to first blog and the term MORBIDLY OBESE)

Today I worked out with Missy. She is my trainer. We met at the park for about 45 minutes. She led me through a workout of running/walking, jumping rope, lunges, crunches, and a really hard exercise that I don't remember the name of at the moment (involving falling to the ground, shooting my legs back, doing a push up and jumping back up not easy to do for a big boy) and some other stuff. It was a good workout. I was tired, out of breath, and my heart was racing. But it was a good kind of tired. I appreciate Missy for doing it.

Got me to thinking though. As I drove away I thought, "you know that would have been so much easier 100lbs lighter. I bet if I work harder through the week, it will have a dramatic effect on the really hard days with Missy. My body won't try to reject working so hard; I will be more flexible; My lungs will not think they are going to explode." Yeah, I'm sure it will help.

Sorry to get all spiritual on ya here, but here was my other thought. We often come to church on a Sunday morning and sometimes singing songs seems so comfortable and casual. Praying and spending time in mediation on a Sunday morning can seem awkward at times. I bet that if we worshipped (sang, prayed, spent time in scripture and mediation) it would make Sundays more powerful. It wouldn't seem so "different" but just something we are used to doing except this time on Sunday we join with other believers as a body. Yeah, I'm sure it will help.

Beginning of week 3

Okay, so I started off this week right. I was in the gym this morning and took care of all I need to do. I feel like really working hard this week. Really doing some sweating. I think it is working. I FEEL better. I have some energy...I sleep better. Although, I think going Mon-Thursday and having Fri-Sun off is not going to work. I need to figure out something for those days.

So at the end of this week, it will mark half way through the 6 week goals. I will weigh in on Monday. Goals - 10 pounds, 2 inches, 10 push ups, habit of drinking water

I LOVE MONDAYS

Mondays are a great day for me. It feels like a new start. Today I began with excitement to keep up with the commitment. I made it to the Y by 7 and did my prescribed workout. Now to drink my water and watch what I eat. Good day! Im excited.

Day three and four of working out

Well, this week didnt go to schedule but that is fine. I got my 4 workouts in this week. I had to just run the treadmill the last two times. I am SO looking forward to getting our family back on schedule next week. Now we are past the fair, concerts, retreats, and too much extra stuff. Looking forward to dropping Eden off for school and heading straight to the Y.

I haven't done the BEST with my diet and water the past few days. I need a plan. When left to last second I don't make the best choices. This actually could be carried over in many areas of life. When left to the last second, I usually eat bad, spend money, and don't do what I really want to do. Hmmmm.....will have to work on that one.

day two didnt happen...lesson learned

So I slept in a bit day two but had a plan. I brought clothes to church so that I could work out before going home. Well, ministry and life happened. An emergency trip to KC was needed instead.

Okay, so I learned that as much as I hate it, early morning is the ONLY time I can lay complete claim to. Also, when life happens, BECAUSE IT DOES, don't sweat it, just get right back to doing what you need to do.

SO, with that in mind...I'm leaving for the Y right now!

A New Day

I started my trek today. I got to the Y about 8. Biked, lifted, walked. I feel great.

Starting weight is 312.8 pounds.
Goal by September 21st is 302.8

Tomorrow morning is the beginning

Just for some accountability...I will be hitting the gym about 7:30ish in the morning. Day 1. I'm excited. The workout is only half of it. Have to stick to the eating healthy too. Let you know how it goes in the morning, as well as starting weight.

2 more days...

So I am two days away from beginning my new life. Today is going to be a heat index of 101 and we are going to the Town and Country Fair in Washington, MO. It is a big deal here. At first I thought I would probably sweat off a few pounds but since I have two days until I "start" I think me eating some fair food will cancel out the sweating. Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches, Turkey legs, roasted corn on the cob, popcorn, cotton candy, pork steak sandwiches. Okay, I won't eat them all because if I did I would probably spend $100.

2 more days!

Trying To Be A Loser?

No, I haven't lost my mind. No, you don't need to worry about me slipping into depression. I WANT to be a loser. Yep, I'm going on record saying that I am a touch overweight. Okay, this is supposed to be a journal of my journey so let's be honest. I am what is medically defined as morbidly obese. There I said it.

I have tried to lose weight throughout my life. Why is this time different? Because I feel like I am finally grasping the idea of it being a lifestyle change. I also have a dear friend that will be giving me help in the training process. Honestly, I want this for me. But I want this for my family as well.

My wife, Amber is amazing. Her love for me, I have never doubted. I want to be the best husband I can be for her. I want to be the most attractive husband I can be for her. She is a mover...she is not content to just chill and hang out. She likes to do stuff. I want to be in a healthy condition so that I can do things with her (play tennis, go on walks, hikes) with better energy now and continue to do so the older I get. I want good health for me FOR her. I want to do all I can do to live as many days as God grants us together. We vowed to love each other until we die. I don't want that end to come because of my poor choices. Remember, I am MORBIDLY obese.

I also have three children. Eden, 6, Eli almost 4, Tobe 1.5. I want to be have the energy and health to go and play with them. I remember playing catch with my Dad in the backyard. Those were precious times for me. I want the same for them. I want to set a healthy lifestyle for them. I want to see them play sports or music in school. I want to see them graduate. I want to give my daughter away in marriage, when she is 28 :-), I want to see my boys find their wives. I want to see grandchildren.

Will this be easy? Absolutely not. I have failed at this many times. Will I fail this time? Oh, I will make bad decisions, maybe skip an exercise day or eat an extra piece of cheesecake or another braut. But this time that won't spell failure. I will just let it go and get back on the healthy lifestyle.

I need your help though. If you received an invitation to this blog that means you are someone that I consider to be a close friend. I will be completely honest (including my start date weight). I will keep nothing back. I will need the encouragement from you to keep going.

Start date: Monday August 10. First few sets of goals...over the course of six weeks I want to lose 10 pounds, two inches, drink 4 liters of H2O each day, do 10 push-ups and maybe a few more small goals. I will let you know what I weigh as of Monday.

Here we GO! I am SO excited.