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.