In early January some friends and family started a Biggest Loser contest to coincide with season 9 of the TV show. We all paid $3 per week and weighed in every Wednesday. There is a winner every 4 weeks and it’s a winner collects all challenge. Anyhow, we had our weight in this past week and turns out I won round one having lost ~20 pounds.
I certainly didn’t expect to win but it certainly speaks to how hard I’ve been working this year.
I’ve stopped making excuses
I’ve stopped taking a few months off
I’ve stopped being tired
I’ve stopped with the eating bad
Gone are the “that’s good enough” … the “just a few more won’t hurt”
I’ve replaced them with sweat, sore muscles, and healthy whole food.
I’ve replaced it with great sleep, plenty of playing with Abby time, and fun family cooking with Amy.
I’ve replaced it with new goals (running a race in 2010), new hope (baby #2 arriving in 5 weeks), and a new found resolve that this is a lifestyle change.
Like all things that are good for you though, this change is a challenge. When health and fitness isn’t the norm it’s a challenge. When you can’t go to every restaurant and find something healthy on the menu it’s a challenge. When you need a chemistry degree to read the ingredients of food it’s a challenge.
I’ve never been one to run from a challenge … how about you?
sean friends & family, health & fitness fitness
I wanted to get out a progress update this morning. I’ve been working really hard the past 3 weeks and have quite a bit to show for it. I started the new year at 345.5 pounds and this morning I weighed in at 328.6 which is 16.9 pounds lost in 3 weeks which is about 5.6 pounds per week. Actually the losses were more like 9.4, 3, 4.5 each week respectively.
I’ve been trying to do some self evaluation to see what has and hasn’t worked in the past. Obviously I’ve been trying to get healthy in earnest for over 10 years but only last year did it stick somewhat. Here are some of the things I’m doing differently this time:
- More and More Real Food
- This may see obvious to some and I certainly knew this but implementing it in practice is an entirely different story. I have always eaten healthy but in the past I’d have a set of staple foods I always ate and some supplements I’d consume. This time around I’ve dramatically changed those foods to not only have more variety but contain more natural non-processed food sources. Things like dates, figs, walnuts, almonds, steel-cut oatmeal, salad, broccoli, etc. I’m also trying new recipes that I haven’t in the past in order to keep my body and metabolism from getting into a rut.
- Exercises Constantly Changing
- Again one of those things that seems and is obvious but isn’t often practiced. I’m doing entirely new exercises and I’m excited to do them, especially in my new shoes. I’m running (yes actual running), doing a ton of circuit training (thanks to the Biggest Loser DVD), elliptical, weight training, aerobics, step, etc. Just trying to constantly shock my body. No, not changing every 2-3 weeks I’m talking changing every 2-3 days. It means that I’m constantly sweating like crazy and am really tired when I’m done but the results show what can happen when you do this.
- Lots of Reading
- I’ve been reading a number of new books and blogs lately to keep motivated. Books like Born to Run, Sports Nutrition Guide, and soon The Omnivore’s Dilemma and blogs like The Anti-Jared, MizFit, and Jack Sh*t, Gettin’ Fit have really kept me thinking and pushing myself to new levels.
- LoseIt! Forums & Friends
- I’ve been using the FREE LoseIt! food and fitness tracking application on my iPhone since last year and in earnest this year. I’ve also been participating in the LoseIt! forums and have been adding Friends this time around sharing advise and receiving it from others. It reminds me a lot of the forum I used to use back in 2000 when I was hardcore Body for Life. Everyone is happy to talk about what has and hasn’t worked and offer sound advice on how to succeed. A fitness community sounding board can go a long way when you get into a rut and need help.
I’m really excited about this year and know I can finally hit my longterm lifestyle goals and push to be even stronger. No matter what, don’t make excuses, get out there and push to change and make yourself healthier.
sean health & fitness fitness, goals
I’ve been really pushing it this past few weeks. My workouts with my new DVD’s I got Xmas have been really great. I’ve been sweating like crazy by the time I get done, it feels amazing pushing my body through new barriers … I haven’t sweated this much in a long time.
I ran for 3/4 of a mile this past Sunday in my new Vibram Five Finger KSO’s and my ankle felt good. I stopped because running barefoot is hard on the bottom of your feet at first and I was starting to feel it. I’ve been worried that my weight was going to prevent me from running but so far so good. I’m going to take it slow but I’m excited wearing these new shoes and really pushing myself in my workouts.
I know it’s weird that some DVD’s, a book, and a pair of shoes are exciting and driving me but they are. I think what’s really motivating is thinking about what I can do, what I will do as I get healthy.
I love the outdoors but we don’t get out much.
I never used to be able to run but I’ve always wanted to.
I love canoeing but I’ve been afraid of sinking the boat.
I love camping in tents but my back is always killing me being heavy sleeping on the ground.
There is so much out there to do and now with kids I want to do it all. I WILL DO IT ALL! … This is the year I make it happen.
sean health & fitness fitness, goals
One of the huge motivations to my healthy lifestyle changes last year was my little girl Abby. I wanted to be there for her as she grew up. I wanted to be a role model for her, someone she could look at and learn not only how to be a good person but how to live a healthy balanced life.
I mentioned in passing in my 2009 Year End posting, but didn’t really highlight it, but I have a second huge motivation incoming. We’re expecting another addition to the family, also in March, a little baby boy. That means Motivation x 2 to reach my fitness goals.
sean friends & family, personal baby, goals, Kids
I wanted to share a receipt that we’ve been using for some time now. It’s one of my favorite simple dishes when I want to control calories yet still get good flavor. We’ve recently tried it with regular bacon instead of turkey bacon and it’s even better.
Freedom Beans (serves 4 @ 176 calories / serving)
- 6 x Slices Turkey Bacon; Chopped
- 8 oz Ham; Chopped
- 1 x Medium Onion; Chopped
- 3 x Cloves Garlic; Minced
- 2 x Can Great Northern White Beans
- 1 x Can Black Beans; Drained
- 1 x TSP Hot Pepper Sauce
Cook garlic & bacon in medium pot over medium heat until brown. Add onion & ham, cook 5 min until soft. Stir in remaining ingredients, cover, reduce heat to low. Simmer 1/2 hour.
sean health & fitness food, receipt
It’s not important what you eat between Xmas and New Years, what’s more important is what you eat between New Years and Xmas.
sean inspirational quotes
I may be crazy but I’m setting a goal for my birthday this year to run my first race. I haven’t decided the length but I am certain it won’t be a road race, it’ll instead be a trail race. I can’t see myself running on asphalt or cement, especially if I’m fairly heavy. I’m more of any outdoor woods kinda of guy and enjoy biking on trails etc so I figure a trail run would be best. In setting this goal I found a great website called Running in the USA to aid in the search. A quick search shows I have 4 races in September to choose from of varying distances, sweet! Check it out if your into running (trail, marathon, triathlon, ultra, trail, etc).
sean health & fitness fitness, goals, running