Another big week!

The official weigh-in was moved to Wednesday this week and next for the Holidays. I lost 7 pounds this week to bring the 6 week total to 59 and my weight down to 296. I am really excited. I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I will continue to do the shake only thing through Feb 5, then I will incorporate fruits and vegetables into the program. I hope to get real close to 250 by then. At the current rate, my goal of 220 may be attainable before I know it!! Also my running is going well. I ran 4.5 miles yesterday and felt really good. I will start the training plan for the Nashville 1/2 marathon the first week of Feb. Thanks for all your support! I will keep you updated.

UNDER 300 POUNDS!!!!

Today is the day, I stepped on the scales and it read 299.6. I am under 300 pounds for the first time in a long long long time. It has to be almost 7 years since I was under 300 pounds. The scale I am using here at the house is the same one that I tiped at 380 last year, so I have lost over 80 pounds in the last year. I am sure that when I have the official weigh in at St. Bernards on Wednesday I will have another good loss. It may not be as big as the last couple of weeks, but it will bring the total on this program up to over 55 pounds in the last 6 weeks. My next big goal is 250, I hope to be in the 250s by Feb 5th. This is a pretty big goal, but the way things are going I am going to dream big.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Down 9.7 POUNDS today

That brings the 5 week total to over 50 pounds!!! I am scared to death as to what this week will bring. Christmas, the birth of our second daughter, and all just two pounds from the ever elusive 290's. I have run over three miles three times over the last week and have had a couple of great swim workouts. I hope that I will not lose much momentum this week. I will keep you up to date. Thanks for the support.

Gliding and Grinding

I run, kind of, it's pretty slow but it burns calories and helps feed that competitive side I have. Monday I ran 2.5 miles in 29 minutes and 59 seconds. I felt like I was flying, it was smooth, my breathing was great and I felt good after the run. I think that was the first time ,at least in a while that I had run that loop under 30 minutes. Today over lunch I went to run the same loop, and within the first hundred yards I was feeling a little fatigue. I thought to myself, ok, time doesn't matter let's grind this loop out and go get back to work. I did not even look at my watch to check my time at any point during the run because I knew it was going to be bad. So the end came and I looked down and it was 29:42. How did that happen? Monday I was gliding and today I was grinding, but it was faster? I think there is a moral to this story, but I am too busy to figure it out.

First 4 weeks down 8 to go

After four weeks on this diet I am down a total of 42.2 pounds!!! Yeah. I lost 7.7 this week and that get me just 13 pounds shy of 299. I think I can be under 300 by Christmas. Also I ran the inside loop at Craighead (junst under 2.5 miles) in 29 minutes today, that is my fastest ever. I will keep you updated, but these next couple of weeks are crucial because it will be easy to go into cruise control, but I will need to stay strong in order to reach my goals.

Down 9.9 pounds and did the 5K

It has been a great week. I ran the 5K in Memphis on Saturday and weighed in last night and lost almost 10 pounds. This brings the 3 week total up to 34. The most they have ever had anyone do in 4 weeks is 31, so I am already the "biggest loser" I am shooting for 40 in 4 weeks. All is going great, I am feeling good, and all is going well.

25 Pounds in 2 Weeks

Not bad, I have to say. It is the hardest way to lose weight, but it is also very effective. The people at the hospital made fun of me for not being real happy with a 6.4 pound loss in a week, but it was Thanksgiving and I gave up a lot!! I was really expecting at lest 10, but they say this week should be a big one. Something about my body getting used to the physical activity and less calories.

Greg and I run the big 5K in Memphis this Saturday, I am pumped about that. I will be running at less weight than I ran last year, but just by around 10 pounds. I wonder if that will help my time??

Long Hard Week

It is Friday and I made it through Thanksgiving, it was tough but I stayed on the program, and I have run over two miles on two seperate occasions over the last week. I am really getting back into seeing the weight go down and my mileage go up. I have a had a much tougher day today, trying not to cheat then I did yesterday, but if I can do well till Christmas, I might eat a little real food. I can't wait to report on how much I lose Monday.

I lost a lot

Actually the most anyone has ever lost in one week in this new program, 18 pounds!!! I ran a little and drank my shakes and went to the doctor and all is going well. I ran well this week as I continue getting ready for the 5K on Dec 2. But today has been a rough day, I have really wanted to eat lots of things I should not. My goal is over 35 in 4 weeks, lets just keep it at that for now. One day at a time, and this Thursday (Thanksgiving) is a big big day.

On The Road Again

It seems like a different lifetime that I was down to 309 pounds and staring the 200s in the face for the first time in a long long time. Because I started this week at 355(that's pounds), it hurts my fingers just to type the numbers. The reason I weighed was that I was weighing in at the local hospital because I have just enrolled in their medically supervised weight loss program. I know you are thinking... You are really fat, but you are also asking yourself "Is Brad crazy, why is he getting serious about a diet the week before Thanksgiving? Well friends, let me tell you. I am an addict and if I don't get this under control then I will be in serious trouble come the first of year. I can't allow the gain to continue, and the doctor told be I have some syndrome that is a precursor to diabetes. With all that said, now seems to be as good as time as ever. This diet is very similar to the one Arkansas Govenor Huckabee used to lose all his weight. I will be limited to 500 calories a day, which I will get with 5 shakes a day. The idea is to lose weight really fast and then protect my weight loss. My good friend Ken here at work says I will not make it all 13 weeks, my aunt Sandra says I can't do. I want to do this for me, but for my short term competitive nature I want to do it to prove them wrong, I also want to lose more weight in the first 3 weeks of the program than anyone has so far, that would be 31 pounds. My weigh in is Monday, I will update you on Tuesday.

Here I AM

Not much time, but here is the deal. I am up to 337, now that is a gain of a little over 20 pounds. The good news is I ran yesterday for the first time in a while and I has signed up for a bike ride on the 21st and going to do the same 5K I did last year in December. I am hoping I can get back on track and start losing. I will let you know if I did not Friday.

I am getting Fatter

After getting rid of 80 pounds, I have really sucked it up for about month now. I have not weighed in because I am too big of a wus to see how much I have gained. This is stupid, so I think I will weigh Friday and just get it over with. I have got to get it back in gear. I want to run the Memphis Marathon, but the training is not starting out so well. I have been traveling a ton and never eat good on the road. I am leading the University Life Ministry (the Southwest Ministry to ASU) and I am working my regular job and being a daddy and husband and all the other normal stuff. It just gets so freakin busy. But I have nothing that other people don't have to work around. If some have done a marathon without a leg I should be able to handle a few schedule conflicts.

I will let you know more as I progress, but just wanted to update you and let you know I am still alive and trying.

Where Have I Been

HELLO Again!! I have been very separates in my post lately and I am so sorry about that. I know I have many adoring fans waiting to hear from me( Hi DAD) Anyway, I have fallen off the wagon. All the travel to Chattanooga and the awful realization that I will not be able to do the triathlon I have been training for because of a scheduling conflict has caused me to lose focus. I have not worked out in over a week and have eaten like I am having my last meal for at least 2 weeks. But today I have had a really good day and feel that I am getting back on track. I will not weigh this week, but anticipate the next official weigh in to be a week from Friday. I just can't make myself look at the way I have gone backwards, if I don't see the number real high, maybe I won't be as depressed. But here is the deal, I am going to train for the 1/2 marathon here in conspire that will be in October and then hit it real hard and do the St. Jude Marathon in December in Memphis (my first marathon) This will be hard and take some serious dedication that I have not shown since the Nashville 1/2, but I think I need a big challenge to rise to. I will try and post the plan I am going to use and the link to the race.

Good Day

I biked 15 this morning with my friends Jason and Kevin, we did some major hills. I have not eaten well since the tri and have proably gained a few pounds, but my friend Rob has inspired me today with his comment and I am pumped up to train for the Jonesboro 1/2 marathon coming in Oct. Also I am afraid I will not be able to do the tri on Aug 20 becasue I am do the campus ministry at ASU and that is the first weekend of school and I probably need to be here. I will find another soon before or after that one.

Thanks again for the comment Rob, it sounds like you are doing well. I hope to email you soon and here more about your journey.

Biked 17 ran 3

My participation in my first triathlon went well. My friend Jason did a great job in the swim and I jumped on the bike and had a pretty good ride. I got passed by a few people, but was still in the middle of the pack when I started the run. That my friend is when it went down hill, well I wish it went it downhill, it seemed to go up up and up. My legs were like big piles of rocks for the first mile and 1/2 and that is not good on a 3 mile run. I got passed by a lot of people. But in the end we accomplished our goal 1. FINISH and 2. Finish in under 2 hours. 3. Don't come in last! We accomplished all 3 goals and now I am ready to get more serious about Aug 20, when I will do all 3 by myslef.

Look for a weight update on Friday!

Back, Kind of

Well the weight is not going as well and neither is the training, but either way I compete in my first ever triathlon tomorrow!! I have not gained too much weight, but I am going in the wrong direction. I will do the 17 mile bike and the 3.1 mile run tomorrow for the Jonesboro Triathlon. I am pumped up about it, my good friend Jason will be doing the swim. I hope to use this event to propel me on to bigger and, or should I say smaller things. I am hoping to really buckle down on the ole eating plan for my next event which is looking like Aug 20, (a sprint tri) and then I hope to take part in the Jonesboro 1/2 marathon in April.

I will let you know how it goes Monday.

Back Down

I am reporting today with mixed emoitions that I am back down to 309, which is what I was before vacation. Just a few pounds from the ever elusive 299. I usually take a free day which turns into free weekend, so until I real the new numbers I will only have free meal, and something chocolate. Today I am going to eat Pizza and I alredy had my sweet brownie frappacino from SFBC.

I rode 17 this morning and will ride 20 in the morning. I am really enjoying riding and trying to build up for the tri on June 24. More updates later.

The BIG THREE

Well my eating has gone real well this week, after a surprise trip to Chattanooga last weekend where I got off the eating plan for the whole weekend we are back and working hard. I have riden my bike a couple times this week for over 20 miles and I have run a couple of times this week for 3 miles at a time, and I went swimming twice this week, once with my neighbor Jason who really helped me understand my form better. I have been amazed at how friendly and helpful people are, and how much they want to help. It is relly awsome. Kim and I went bike riding with the Ridge Rider club on Monday night and we did not know one of them, but they were all as helpful as could be and the leader, Jim, rode beside me for a while talking about swimming and offering to come help me out with my technique. I know I am not near the conditioned athlete that many in the club are or others that have actually done triathlons, but they make one who is just trying to lose a little weight in get in shape like one who belongs.

My plan for the Conway CATS tri is off, I have to leave for Portland on that day, so it looks like my only two chances to do a triathlon this summer will be the bike and run part of the one Jason and I are doing on the 24th of this month, the one in Forest City on the 15th of next month, or the Degray Lake on Aug 20th. I am very confident I could do the bike and run part today, it's that swim I am a little worried about.

WEIGHT UPDATE COMING TOMORROW!!

I am still here

I have been on vacation, but don't worry I am still working at losing weight and getting in better shape. I will admit that I ate like a salve just released from indentured while in Florida. I have key lime pie, I had steak, I had hamburgers and fries, I had shrimp by the pound, and that was just the first day. Kim and I took our bikes and we rode a couple of days and ran another day, so I tried to stay in the habit of working out, but it is tough with a 2 year old on vacation to find time to do stuff alone. But all it all it went well and now I am back and hitting it hard again. As is my tradition when I have been gone I don't weigh the week I get back as not to be depressed, but I did sneak a peak today and things could be worse, so 299 is still in the near future.

Here are a couple of other things in the near future. Coming up on June 24 I will be doing the 17 mile bike and 3 mile run portion of the Jonesboro Triathlon. My friend and neighbor Jason will be doing the swim portion and together we will try not to come in dead last. There is pride on the line between another of his co-workers and a freind,they are both real skinny, I think Jason and I are getting 5 seconds a pound. I think I have decided not to do the tri in Forest City that I was going to do for my first official triathlon and do my first with Jason in Septmeber in Conway. I have not made up my mind for sure not to do Forest City, but I do want to do Conway with Jason, and we could train together for it and all that good stuff.

This morning Jason and I biked the 17 mile course for the tri here in town and it is HILLY, I think they are trying to kill somebody, I just hope it's not me.

Triathlon Training Going Well

I have lost all the weight I gained over the D.C. trip and Nashville and now under 310 again, going in the right direction to 299. I have swam 200 yards and biked 13 and run a few miles over the last week and really looking forward to the July 15 Mighty Mite triathlon. I really want to hit the workouts hard this week and do real well eating, becasue we will be on vacation next week with Kim's family in Florida. But this moring I am struggling with my gout arthritis more than I have in a long long time. It is really hurting and is very uncomfortable to just walk much less run. I am going to the doctor this moring and see about getting a shot or something that will make it better. I have not had a problem with gout since I started working out and running until a week before the 1/2 marathon. I will let you know how it goes.

GOAL COMPLETED!!! I AM A 1/2 MARARHON FINISHER!!!!!

It was an awsome experiance. I finished the Nashville 1/2 marathon with an average of about 14 min miles. This is not bad for my first time and to still be so overweight. It was one of the proudest moments of my life. I would have to say it ranks up there under getting married having a child and comes very close to great football memories. I never really hit the wall, I feel like Greg and I trained well for it, Kim ran with me for most of it and was a great encouragment. Now I am going to recover and hit the weight loss hard, and start triathlon training for either Forest City or Degray in August. As usual I will keep you up to date.

I am really begenning to realize that there is truth in the syaing that "life is not a spectator sport"

Where Have I Been???

I'm glad you asked. I have been not running and eating way to much in our nation's capital. I am one week out from the big 1/2 marathon, and all last week I ate like a fat man and got in no workouts. Kim is making me feel better by telling me we walked at least 5 miles a day, and I am sure we did, but that still will not make up for the missed 10 mile jog. But all I can do it stick to the plan this week and eat well and finish on Saturday. I will finish on Saturday! I can't help but know that all that football and never give attitude will kick in and I will jog, walk, or crawl to the finish line on Saturday. I have looked at the forecast and it should be cool, and that it one of the biggest things for me, all the training runs I did, were much better the cooler it was. I am not going to weigh this week, becasue I know I have gained weight and don't need that mental barrier for the race. I will eat well this week and run the race and then weigh next Monday. This will be a great mile marker along the way of my journey and I look forward to getting there getting it done and setting my sights on the next challenge.

I WENT 9 MILES (and that's a lot)

It was hot, it was dusty, and it was windy. I was coming back from a week of not running because of my foot and I made it!! All 9 miles. One more week of serious training and a 10 miles mext Sunday and then I tapper down to the 1/2 marathon in Nashville.

I am a little sore today.

Just a Bad Week

Well this week pretty much sucked. I gained 2 pounds. I think it was a combonation of things. First instead of free day last week I had free weekend. Second for the first time in a long time I had the gout arthritist flare in my foot. I could not straighten out my ankle for most of the week and it is still very sore, I have not run all week. Third I have not lifited all week. I think my lack of exercise this week can be attributed to my foot and just a lot of stress and just not feeling like I have time to do it. I would like to give an optimistic look at the next week but it is not going to be easey. We are going camping this weekend and will just have to eat whatever the people we are going with cook. We leave for Baltimore on Tuesday and will be there through the week till next Sunday. I am pretty depressed about it to tell you the truth, I have fallen 12 pounds short of my goal to be under 300 by my birthday. I need to run 9 miles Sunday, if that goes well I might have a little better outlook on things, but for right now I am concerned as to wether or not I will be ready for the 1/2 marathon and I am conerned about how much the next week will set me back on the weight loss journey. I am really going to try to do well this weekend and just stick to the program next week, but I know some stuff will be out of my control and sometimes when I am away I get the "hey we are on vacation mentality" and just forget it. I wish I could give you a good note to end on for this week but I really don't see it. I guess you could say this is the Empire Strikes Back of the Brad Getting Fit blog.

DOWN 2.2 POUNDS TO 310.8 total loss 70!!

It has been a long time since I was truly happy with the amount of weight dropped in one week. I know you are thinking I am doing it the right way, averaging 1 - 2 pounds a week is how to keep it off..blah blah blah. And all that is true. I am going to take a moment from being dissapointed that I have not reached 299 and be very happy that over the last few weeks I have dropped 15 pounds after being stuck on 325 for what seemed like forever. I know that 299 will come, and my running has gone well, I have made ever run this week 8 miler, two 5 milers and lifted weights. 2.2 pounds is nothing to be ashamed of and I am getting closer to 299 each week.

Now my long run for this week is only 6.2 miles, did I just say "only", well anyway then I will have a 9 miler and 10 miler then the 1/2 marathon. The problem is my life is about to be very hectic over the next couple of weeks. We are going camping with firends next weekend, and going to be in D.C. from the 18-23, and my birthday is in there somewhere. That is a lot of opportunity to not eat well and get off track. All this new discipline is really going to be tested.

On a happy note, someone who had not seen me in a while asked me just how much weight I had lost, and was amazed that I was stll over 300 pounds, they said they would have thought 240 or so. It made me realisze how lucky I am to carry my weight well, and still have some athletic build to me as not to look as fat as I really am. The bad thought of that is when I start to get to where I need to be for me to be healthy, I know some people (my mother for one) will say I look sick, but I will really just be healthy. I will be glad when that is problem I have to deal with, until then I will just "keep on truck'en"

8 Miles is a long way!

It was hotter and more windy than I had expected. My legs felt more fatigue in the first 3 miles than they had in a long time. I really did not think that I would be able to make it, but somehow I just kind of feel into a rythem and made it through. 8 miles, it is a milestone for sure and one I am very proud of. I do feel like I got run over by a truck today. I am sore.

Eating did not go so well this weekend, with Kiley's birthday party and the in-laws in, lots of celebrating. I will have to be very strict this week to have another good week.

Down 1.8

Not a ton of weight, but going in the right direction, I need to make up my 4.5 mile run I missed for Thursday today, I did get in Tuesday run and weights on Monday and swimming on Wednesday.

(read next section with best Wrestler announcer voice) This Sunday Sunday Sunday ONE DAY Only 8 count them 8 MILES. (if I make it sound like a tractor truck pull maybe I can get siked up)

I have a big weekend planned, and hope to eat real well today and get my workout in and then cheat a little on Saturday and then back on track Sunday, Just 13 more pounds to 299!!!

I RAN SEVEN MILES!!!!!

I felt like Forest Gump, I just kept running and running and running. It is really hard for me to comprehend that I actually made it. I am so pumped, it has given me a renewed zeal for eating better, and at the end I actually felt like I could go a little longer. Nashville here I come!!

I talked to a friend last night who was a competetive swimmer and we are going to get together at the YMCA pool tonight and go over some swim basics, so that I can better cross train and get ready for the triathlon, I am excited about this too.

Only a few more weeks of training, I am really going to have to stick to it and press on here at the end, my time will not be anything to brag about in Nashville, but I am confident that I can finish the race and that was my original goal.

Unusual Friday

I usually really look forward to Fridays, I know I am going to wake up and get on the scale and see the numbers go down, but not today. I knew I would not see the number go down and more than likely it would have gone up, so I just skipped today, I think everyone deserves a pass in life and I took one of mine today. I also missed my Friday lunch weight workout because my 10:00 meeting ran over. So I did not lose weight today and I did not lift today. I am going to try and get in a 3 mile run this afternoon and then maybe lift tomorow and get mentally ready for the big 7 miler on Sunday. My good freind Greg (the marriage and family therapist) who usually runs with me is having a tooth pulled today and has said he will not feel like running on Sunday. I have made him feel bad enough with all my football theology and pain is just mental talk, so I will not give a hard time anymore, but Greg if you are reading this, you know what part of the body you should leave at home and just come run Sunday.

I have just got to bare down and sacafice and get these last few pounds off so I can give myslef the road bike I have already bought. If I am going to do this triathlon in August I am going to need to start riding and swimming more, but for now I will concentrate on the 1/2 marathon and the short term weight goal. It seems to be going so SLOW!!!! I think some of it has been the stress I have been feeling lately. It is a lot harder to fire and hire people than I thought. I dreaded all day yesterday knowing that I had to let a lady go, and I guess eating makes me feel better, I had choclate and a lot of it. I have however taken the advice of yesterday's comment and bought a new hat to run in, it is one of those cool triathlon hats that wick sweat away and keep you cool while keeping the sun off my head. I think it will motivate me, at least it sounds good.

Skipping this week

There will be no official weigh in this week. Here are a couple of reasons. 1) I make the rules and I have decided not to weigh in this week. 2) I was sick last week and I think that contributed to my big loss and I feel that if I wait a week it will all even out and look better. 3) I have had one of the worse weeks of my weight loss journey and would be sure to gain and I just don't need that right now.

Now for the bright side of things, I plan on runnng my 7 miles on Sunday and training continues on pretty well. I will not take a free day this weekend as I normally do and I think that will help me for next week. I will let you know more as I know more, but for right now I need to regain focus on 299!

Down 3.2

3.2 pounds seems like a lot, I am excited about it. This brings the overall total to 65.2!!

I did not get in my four miles yesterday, I was feeling a little under the weather, I hope to get to feeling better and do it this afternoon.

I only have 3.1 for the long run this Sunday on the program, so nice of them to give me some rest, but next Sunday is a 7 miler so I better get all my runs in next week for sure. April 29 (the day of the half marathon) is approching, Kiley's birthday is the 2nd of April, we are going camping for my birthday on the 15th, and the next weeekend I will be in Baltimore and the D.C. area for almost a week, and then the big race. I am going to have to be very creative with my time management to get in all my runs over these next few weeks.

I really feel a since of accomplishment and look forward to continuing along and enjoying each day of this journey.

Great Run

Yesterday I ran four miles and actually made it around the 3 mile loop at Craighead in a record time for me, 36 minutes and some change. I know my pace is still more in line with a sumo wrestler than a distance runner, but it is coming down. I remember the first time I went all the way around Craighead and it as like 45 minutes, so it is good to know I am getting bettter.

Four more miles tomorrow and then a 3.1 on Sunday for this week before a big 7 next Sunday. It is getting closer, and I am getting more and more pumped.

Eating is going well this week too.

6 Miles!!!

About all I can say about my 6 mile run Sunday is that I finished it. I think I thought a little more highly of myslef than I should of. I had never ventured outside Craighead Forest for a long run, but for some reason I thought my 6 mile long run was a good day to do it. So I plotted a 6 mile loop around the Forest, and it had more hills then any run up to this point, add to that it was the hottest day of the year so far, add to that I ran into a very brisk wind for most of the run, add to that, that I had no shade for a little bald head. Well you can see it was pretty much doomed from the start, but I finished it, I had to stop and walk some for the first time in a long time, but I finished all 6 miles and still on track to be able to finish the 1/2 marathon before they close the course. By the way I am a little on the sore side today. I realized I need a running hat, some sunglasses, and some sun block for my next adventure.

Eating was OK this weekend, I did eat way too much Pizza Friday night and Japanese on Saturday night, but not too much during the days. I hope to lose at least another 2 pounds this week, but at this rate 299 seems so far away. Anyway I can't complain, I am accomplishing everything I wanted to be doing, so if it takes a little more time then I thought, then so be it.

Down 2 More

The official weigh in today shows a 2 pound loss for the week. That brings the total up to 62 pounds lost and gets me in to new numbers as I am now under 320 at 318.

I saw a good freind I had not seen in a while yesterday and he could not believe the amount of weight I had lost. He told me it looked like I lost a person and that he would never think I still weighed over 300. That really made me feel good, and this fellow that was walking around Craighead yesterday while I was running, gave me words of encouragment both times we passed. I have been very blessed on this journey by both friends and stangers, it is pretty cool!

As an added bonus my wife said I looked sexy during my swim workout Wednesday, she could tell I was getting more defenition in my upper body and I was pumped up about that too.

5 more miles

I am pumped up after my long run Sunday. Greg and I ran 5 again this week in our training for the Nashville half marathon and it went real well. I actually felt that I could go a little longer after our run. That is good becasue we are supposed to do 6 miles next week and I am a little nervous about it. I felt I we had a good eating weekend, I did eat too many sweets, but felt that I kept most everything else in check. I have not weighed since Friday and I am going to try and wait till this Friday to weigh, but I know I should lose some weight this week.

I have noticed that I am not really reaching my goals in the time frame I had originally set. I am not real upset about this as I am still going in the right direction. I am not sure it was reality to think I could be at 250 by April 15, so I am going to re-state that goal and say I would like to be at 250 by October. I think this will still push me to stay on track and be more realistic at the same time. All in all I think I can be very very close to the 220 mark by the end of the year. I am realizing that I am going to have to have athletic goals like the half marathon and triathlon and such to stay foucsed on eating right and exercise. I kind of have an addictive personality and I guess it is better to be addicted to a heathly lifestyle than bad food.

GREAT GREAT WEEK

This week I lost all 7 pounds I gained last week plus one. I am down to 320 even. I also ran 12 miles in all this week and got in all my workouts. It was a good week indeed! This weekend I will run 5 more miles and continue on the journey that will take me to the finish line of the Nashville half and more.

Weight Update

Although I usually just weigh in on Fridays I was so depressed from the gain last week that I had to take a little peak at the scales this morning. I am glad to say it was under 325 and back on the right track. I will have the offical weigh in info on Friday, but for now running is going well (3.5 miles yesterday) and eating is going well this week also.

5 MILES

This weekend I ran the farthest I have every run, 5 miles!! Greg livingwithfaith.blogspot.com and I are still in training for the big Nashville half marathon and we ran together on Sunday afternoon, if was slow but we got it done. I am still very sore, but have a great sense of accomplishment. I ate pretty well this weekend, but could have done better.

I have purchased the bike that will take me to my first triathlon and to a new world of fitness this spring. I had no intention on buying a bike until I got to my goal weight, but I went to Gearhead to just look, and there is was a shiny new Allez Elite, it is a 2005 model, and was marked down $400 buck so I could not pass it up. My loving wife has agreed to hold me to my original plan of not getting a new bike till I reach my weight goal by not allowing me to ride it till I get to the goal. I am kind of glad, because I want it to be a big deal, so I will look at it everyday in my garage for inspiration. If I can figure out how to post a picture or a link I will show you all.

It is going to be great spring and summer of fitness. I am more excited about the coming months with family and vacation and all that comes with spring and summer than I have been since the summer Kim and I got married. I know it has much to do with the blessings that God has given us with our friends and church family, but it also has a lot to do with this being a summer of excitment about my physical condition.

Pushing on towards the goal!!

The Largest Gain EVER

This week was a week for the ages. Last Thursday we left for Gatlinburg and for a solid week I have not exercised and have had no control over my food intake at all. Today I paid and paid dearly. Up 7 POUNDS. I did not know this was possible in one weeks time, but perhaps I have set some kind of record. I think it is a wake up call that I have needed, too much cheating and just being too lose with the plan has caused me to be very lax. I think all the praise of what a sucsess I am was going to my head. I rationlized that I could cheat a little here and there. I must draw the line in the sand today, there will be no free day this weekend. I have got to get under 300 so I can get my new bike, bu spring. I have already sold my other on in anticipation. I have a wedding to be in and I gave them measurments based on losing quite a bit of weight. So anyway, here I go, back on the wagon. I am going to try and pick out a bke this weekend and link to it so you can see what my motivation is.

Down Again

Today I weighed in at 321 down a little over 3 from last week and the lowest yet I think. I am sorry to be so sparadic on my post lately but I have been real busy. My running is on schedule and I hope to be ready for the 1/2 marathon by April 29 and under 300 very soon.

I will be leaving town today and not get back till next Tuesday, and usually suck at eating when I am on a road trip, but maybe I can hang in there. The running in the mountains is what I am worried about also.

I am still on the right track and will be at goal before long and I will buy my new bike when I get under 300!

Middle of the Desert

Or should I say dessert?? I have not lost a pound in over a month, I have stayed the same and one week even eeked out .2 pound, but that's it. I guess you could call it a rut, or you could call it laziness. I have not done a lot of working out and I have not been as disciplined on the ole eating plan. So today starts the 12 week 1/2 marathon plan and it is time to get really serious. My knee still hurts some and my back has been aching a little bit, but surely I can get through 12 weeks. I will keep you updated as usual, I am exxctied to have another goal that is coming soon, I think part of the peoblem was feeling like Nashville was so far off, but now it's do or die time.

Not Sure This Week

I have to be quick, going to bed... I lost one pound last week, but had a horrible weekend in Dallas. I did have a great run today, but have not done real well this week. More info coming Friday. Till then See Ya

DOWN AGAIN!!!

I am glad to post a 2 pound loss this week!! I have not gotten in as much running I would have liked, but I am back on the bandwagon that is headed in the right direction after my holiday horror of 6 pounds to the plus side. I am still feeling great and progressing towards the Nashville 1/2 marathon in April. I read an article in Runner's World that says you should always have your next goal picked out so that you never have a time you are not working for something, so today I announce the goal after the goal. If all goes as planned and the 1/2 marathon is finished with no injury I am planning my first ever TRIATHLON on August 20th!!
http://www.dltmultisport.com/Sprint_tri_home.htm Check it out. The way I see it I will have built up the cardio enduarnce for it already, so all will have to do is learn how to swim 500 meters without killing myslef. We won't talk alot about it till after April 29, but that is the plan.

First Weigh In, In 3 Weeks

For the first time in three weeks I was home for my daily weigh in. NO it was not pretty, in the time over the holidays and my week in Hattisburg for YIA Gulfcoast and my trip to Nashville I gained a total of 6 pounds! It has been hard to take a set back mentally, but in reality I am not too discouraged. I am still down almost 60 pounds for 2005 and have continued my running and working out over the last few days and feel that I am back on track for the most part. I have given my measurments to the formalwear people in Chattanooga for my brother-in-laws wedding in May, and lets just say that unless I stay on track I will look like a Chris Farley impersonateor doing Fat Man in Little Jacket from SNL. I am encouraged that it is still on the top of my mind and that I have goals to reach. Numbe 1 being to get under 300 pounds very soon, #2 To continue my training and run the Nashville Half Marathon on April 29, and #3 to do a triathlon this year. I think if I reach those I will reach the ultimate weight loss goal or be very close by the end of the year. Look for a good loss next week!!