Walking and Spinning

So I started walking, and doing spin class. I can't believe how I've let myself go. I've been walking 2 to 3 miles a night 3 to 4 times a week. After this week I will start doing the run/walk. I'll run a 1/10th of a mile and walk 3/10th. I'll do this for a couple of weeks, and then I will increase the running. Every couple of weeks I'll increase the run distance till I'm just running.

The other day I did the spin class and I hated it. Not because it was too hard, but because it had full length mirrors all around, and I could see just how large I've gotten.

The bad thing about weight loss is that it doesn't take long to pack the weight on, but it takes what seems like forever to get it off.

New Year

It is a new year, and at the beginning of each new year you are suppose to review the previous year, and set goals and objectives for the upcoming year. Recently I started a weight loss program at work. At the weigh in they take measurements to monitor your performance. I have to say I am not in good shape. I am heavier than I’ve been in the last 5 years, and my blood pressure is out the roof.

 

I am happy in my personnel life. Carol makes me happy, but I’m not happy about my health and fitness. A few years ago I was in the best shape I’ve been in since boot camp. My fitness is better than it has been in the past, I can still ride my bike a good distance, and swim a few laps. That said, my fitness is not good, and I need to do something about it.

 

What has changed? A few things, I changed jobs at work (returning to my old job), Cale passed away, and living with Carol.

 

The change of jobs was a good move for me, but it had a significant draw back to my fitness. At my old position I would ride my bike during lunch with my co-workers. Now, I go out to lunch with my current co-workers. This has had a big impact on my fitness and weight.

 

I have tried going to the gym during lunch, but even with it as close as it is, it is not convenient to do. The travel time is too long. When I use to ride during lunch, all I had to do is walk out the door. I find that the more inconvenient something is, the less likely I will do it consistently.

 

Cale passing has also had an impact. Cale and I would walk a mile every day. We didn’t set a blazing pace, but we were moving.

 

When I moved in with Carol, I moved further away from Atlanta. The longer travel time made it less convenient to work out with the tri club and left me less time because of the increased travel.

 

For a while we were going to the gym regularly (I find it is always easier when you have someone to go with or to meet). This was great, but soon her company was bought out, and she had to work later and later. Besides not being able to make it to the gym we started having dinner latter and later. Because it would sometimes be 7 to 9 hour between lunch and dinner, I would snack (I don’t snack healty).

 

After looking back at the why, I need to figure out what to do. This is my plan:

 

Join a group. It can be the Atlanta Triathlon Club, No Boundaries, Swim classes at the aquatic center, Chattahoochee Road Runners, Red Top Cycling, etc… I need to have a group that I’m accountable to. But it has to be convenient or I won’t do it.


Start doing something at lunch or in the morning, even if it is just going for a walk. And, going out to lunch doesn’t count as doing something.


Beer and Ice Cream only on Friday and Saturday, and cut out my unhealthy snacks.


The last thing may be the hardest one to do, but I need to eat dinner earlier. Because of the large gap between lunch and dinner, I tend to over eat. I eat late because I want to eat with my honey, and because she gets home so late I don’t want her to have to cook and eat even later. This will take some planning, and I’m not sure what to do.

 

I’m hoping that in 6 months I will be talking about all the improvements. I plan on blogging more about my progress, as I have found that writing about it helps keep me honest.

Striving to be in OK Shape

I ran the other day. This was the first time in a month, probably only the second time in 4 months, and first time on concrete in a year. It was not good.


I often delude myself with the idea that I am still in OK shape because I'm not as bad as I once was. This is a bad thing to do, and sometimes you are lucky enough to get your eyes opened. I ran about a mile and a half at a slow pace, and my legs still hurt days later. How can this be, I do aqua-fit, I do spin classes, I swim (although not often enough), and I ride my bike. This can be, because I am not in OK shape.

I’ve just started getting back into shape. I am working on some goals, and I have developed some rules:
• Ice cream only on the weekend, and in moderation (not the whole carton).
• Beer only on the weekend.
• Workout a minimum 4 days in the week.
• HTFU

Bike Rack

I recently bought a trailer hitch and a bike rack for Carols car.This way I can take one of my bikes on vacation with me. We usually take her car on vacation (it is newer, it gets better mileage, its a/c works better, it has cruse control, and it rides better).

Our next vacation is a beach trip. I am bringing my old road bike so I can go out for some morning rides. Traveling stresses me out, even to the beach. I find that if I can get a workout in I am less stressed, and being less stressed around family is a good thing ( nobody likes a cranky John).

Later in the year we usually visit her uncle in the mountains. He lives in a valley that is accessed by a 26 switchback climb up a mountain. Every time we have gone there I thought about how cool it would be to try and climb it. Lucky for me I never had a bike with me so I never had too. Now that we have a rack I'm going to have to try it, and I'm in no shape for it.

I recently attempted Kennesaw mountain (to gauge my climbing ability). Even though I rode it a number of times in the past, I am not in the same shape as I was. I have a lot of work to do before we go to the mountains.

I Am Funky

I can't seem to find my motivation. a couple of years ago I was so into the triathlon lifestyle. I was a member of a great triathlon club (Atlanta Triathlon Club). I rode my bike at lunch and even got my co-workers riding. I swam all the time. I was a triathlete.

Now I'm a fat guy (with no dogs). Recently I started doing aqua-fit with my sweetheart. I figure it is easier to do something when you have someone to do it with. It is a good workout, but it is not triathlon training.

Since moving up north I am no longer a member of the tri club. It is just too far to travel. But, that is an excuse, not a reason. There is a tri club that does stuff up here. We have bike shops that have group rides all the time. I belong to LA Fitness, so I can swim anytime I want to. And, if I step out my door, there is a street I can run on.

Even with these opportunities to train I make excuses. And, it seems any excuse will do:

Re-join ATC- - It's too far to travel.
Go to the gym during lunch - I get all sweaty, and by the time I get there and change it is time to head back.
Go for a run when you get home - It's too hot.
Go for a run in the morning - My knees hurt running on concrete.
And, the list goes on...

I do miss having people to work out with, having people made it easier, but not having people should not stop me. I am in an exercise funk, and I'm not sure how to get out of it. I know sooner or later I will break out of this funk, I'm just hoping it's sooner.

Goodbye Cale

It has been a couple of weeks since I lost baby girl (Cale) to cancer. I still fell pangs of sadness in the mornings when I wake up, and in the afternoons when I get home. This is the first time in 18 years that I don't have a dog. When I lost Tosi, I still had Allie; when I lost Buddy, I still had Allie; when I lost Allie I still had Cale; but when I lost Cale, I have no dog. I feel a little sad and off without a dog. I know we will get another dog in a few months, Carol needs some time. But, the house feels a little bit lonelier without a dog.

Goodbye Cale. You were a wonderful dog.

Aqua Fit Again

I took an aqua fit class again. I know aqua fit is just a less girlie way of saying water aerobics, but I'm liking these classes, even though they aren't going so well. After the first class, I hurt for 3 days and could barley move.The second class was so poorly done, I could have gotten the same calorie burn by taking a nap. The third class was awesome. It was so awesome I had torn the skin off a couple of my toes, and had a blister on the ball of my foot the size of a silver dollar. Yesterday's class was hard. I had trouble breathing, but so did everyone else; the pool was over chlorinated, and the fumes was messing with everyone respiratory system (we had a couple of people that had to leave). We had to stop doing the cardio, but we finished with arms the last 20 minutes.

Aqua Fit and Other Forms of Torture

A few weeks back, Carol called on her way home and asked if I wanted to meet her at the gym. We had been talking about working out together (it is always easier if you have someone else depending on you), but up till then we had only talked about it in general terms.

I met her at the gym, and I decided to run; she rode the exercise bike. I have not run in about a half a year. I had, in the beginning of winter, took a running mechanics class with hopes that it would kick start my running again, it didn't. So this was my first run in a while. And, I could tell.

I ran 2 miles (ran/walked) on the dreadmill. It took about 25 minutes. I ran at about a 10 minute mile (that is fast for me) and walked at a 20 minute mile. It was not a bad start, as long as you don't count the fact that the dreadmill through me off  while I was trying to fix my headphones. I landed on my feet, but I did give all the people on the elliptical trainers a good laugh.

It took me a couple of days to recover before I ran again.. For two days I walked around making old man noises every time I stood up, sat down, or transversed steps. I am so out of shape.

The second week we hit the gym 5 days, and mixed it up a bit. Monday we swam, I did 800 meters (16 x 50m sprints). I discovered I no longer have any swimming endurance. Tuesday we did Aqua Fit (water aerobics, or in this case water boot camp). It was a substitute instructor, and he kicked my ass so hard I hurt for 3 days.Wednesday I walked on the treadmill because my legs were so shot from the Aqua Fit. On Thursday we went to the Aqua Fit at another location (we are trying out different instructors). This was not the same Aqua Fit. This was water aerobics for little blue haired old ladies (I didn't mind, I was still sore from Tuesday's Aqua Fit). I never really got much out of it. Friday I was feeling a bit better (less sore), so I ran again, I ran 2.5 miles.

Carol and I didn't go to the gym during the weekend. We started back Monday, she rode the bike and I ran. I still don't like running on the dreadmill, but at least I'm no longer falling off. I did 2.5 miles at a 10:30 pace. Tuesday's Aquafit was the regular instructor, and she kicked my ass. It wasn't as bootcampy. It was continious, and it worked a bunch of muscles I have not been working in triathlon training. I left the pool exhausted and with blisters on my feet.

The rest of the week my brother was in town, so we didn't go to the gym.

We started back this week, and I'm hoping we can keep the momentum up.

Weigh-In Wednesdays

Has it been a week? My weight went up this week, but I can explain; I sat on the couch shoving food and beer into my mouth. (I didn't say I had an excuse, I said I could explain.)

I still have not found a groove. Since leaving the Engineering Department, at work, I no longer ride at lunch. That use to be a big part of my fitness program. I had fellow riders that helped keep me motivated (and I helped them stay motivated). Here at my new position I don't have that. I started going to the gym at lunch, but more often then not something comes up and throws that off. It is a big hassle to drive over to the gym, change, workout, shower, and drive back in an hour. With the riding, I changed in my office and out the door I went.

I've got to get into some kind of groove because I am not happy with my weight.

Weigh-In Wednesdays

I am starting weigh-in Wednesdays again with the thought , if I have to post my weight, I might just skip the seconds.

It hasn't been going well. After my first lunch time spin class I tweaked my neck and have sit out since. I am hoping to be back in the saddle next week.

An Accidental Athlete

I recently finished the book, An Accidental Athlete by John Bingham. I have read articles by him in Runner's World, Competitor, and Triathlete magazines; and have found him funny. An Accidental Athlete is a collection of stories about his progress from couch to runner. I enjoyed it very much. The stories were short enough to fit in my schedule here and there, they were humorous, and inspirational.


I recommend this to any beginner, or late in life athlete. You may not relate to all the stories, but you will relate to the struggle of change. It is a good read.

Heft on Wheels 2012

A few years ago I read a book called Heft on Wheels. On the cover was the author naked on his bike. I thought, “You can tell why the book’s called Heft on Wheels.” The picture truly showed how overweight he was, even though he was a recreational athlete. I have thought of that book, the title (which I’ve used to describe myself many times, even in this blog), and the photo(which I thought was inspirational (I would picture myself in that pose on the bike and how I would look)) many times as I’ve battled my weight.


As I start the battle with my weight once again, I’ve been looking for inspirations. I thought to myself, why don’t I take a picture like the cover of Heft on Wheels for motivation? So I set up my bicycle and camera and took a few versions of that photo (I took a G, PG, and R version). I edited the R version and posted it in my bathroom and on the fridge as a motivator to get out and to stop grazing. Below is the G version:






If this doesn’t motivate me to work out I don’t know what will. I am Heft on Wheels.

Today is going to suck.

Today I woke up and couldn't get up. I was tired, dead tired. I sat on the edge of the bed listening to Carol sleep as I willed myself to move. Ten minutes later I actually moved. I hopped in the shower and stood zombie like. I had to stand there 10 minutes before I could remember what soap was. I was in a pee soup fog of the brain.


I only just started coming out of my fog as I got dressed, and it's a good thing. Thirty minutes earlier, and I would never have noticed that it was 3am, as I put my watch on.

I got undress and went back to bed. I checked my alarm clock, and it never went off. I dreamed my alarm clock went off, and that is why I got up. Not only does it suck that I woke up early, but it sucks that my dreams are so boring that I dream about sleeping.


I just know today is going to suck.

Back in the Saddle Again

Yesterday was my first day back to working out. I went to a spin class at the LA fitness by work. It wasn’t a cycling oriented spin class, like the ones put on by the Atlanta Triathlon Club (ATC), but it was a good lunchtime workout. I figure the only way I will get back in the swing of things is if I can get my workouts in without impacting the rest of my life too much, and working out during lunch is one of the ways I can do that.

Today I plan on run /walking or swimming during lunch. My plan is to work on my base fitness, and to drop about 10 lbs before I start training for a triathlon. I figure to ramp up in late March for John Tanner. That is when I will probably rejoin ATC.

Much of the next few weeks will be figuring out when to work out and where to do it. I’ve been contemplating the idea of coming in, in the morning, to work out, but I am not a morning person, and getting up 30 minutes earlier just to do something I don’t like, like running, doesn’t appeal to me. But, it is good dead time I could get a workout in with little impact. I’ve also thought about working out when I get home. Carol usually doesn’t get home till a couple of hours after me, and I could use that time. Plus, as a bonus, one of our neighbors goes to the gym at that time, and you know what they say, “You are more likely to stay with a work out regiment if you have someone to do it with.”

I will let you know what I come up with in future blogs.

It's Been Sooooooo Long

It has been so long since I updated my blog. A lot has changed since the last post (last year at this time. The biggest news and change has been Carol and I are engaged. We are planning a fall 2012 wedding, but are not sure of what we are planning (small, big, destination, outdoors, etc...).

Much of our wedding planning has been derailed by house issues. This summer we had a couple of trees fall on the house, and before we got it fixed our a/c unit went out. It seams the old saying "If it's not one thing it's another" is pretty accurate.

I am still a member of the tri club, but I've not been as active as I was last year. One of the problems is I am now further away from town, and it is a bit inconvenient. Another thing is that when you go from a single guy with not much to do, too a relationship, your priorities change. I have recently joined a gym, and I go in the morning before work, but I haven't found a groove yet.

I need to develop a more consistent training plan. I've gained a bunch of weight back (having someone to go to dinner with will do that), and I'm not happy about it.

I recently returned to my old job (Technical Instructor). I had to take a cut in pay, but I was happier doing the instructor job. Plus, I will save about the difference in gas (it is closer to home). I will be working later, and I hope it will give me more opportunity to attend some tri training. We will see how things go.

P.S. I hope the job allows me to update the blog more often than once a year.

Update

I haven’t been blogging much lately. Most of my free time is split up between triathlon stuff and my girlfriend. My job has been busier than ever, so I don’t get as much free time as I use to. I am not complaining; I am in better shape than I have been since my 20s, I love spending time with Carol, and I am still employed even when my company has been laying off people. That is why you don’t see many posts anymore.

Triathlon Training
Here is an update of what is going on. After 5 triathlons I am pretty much calling it a season. I’ve started falling apart. I was supposed to do a race in August, but I tweaked my back (lifting my laptop out of its case of all things). I also think I did some nerve damage to my feet on a sixty mile ride (I had to finish the ride with my feet on top of my shoes) (I’ve recently switched pedals to help prevent this from happening again). But, one of the biggest things has been a tight chest with some shoulder pain when it happens (I been to the doctor and had a stress test, my heart is great). These things, along with the fatigue that accompanies training, means, it’s time to take it easy for a while.

I am still doing the Monday swims, and Wednesday spin classes, but I am cutting the intensity of the swim (if the coach says do 90%, I do 80%), and I am not doing double spins. Tuesdays I’ve been riding the Silver Comet with Carol. I have also been walking Cale every morning.

Because this year was my first year doing triathlons, I didn’t know what I was doing (even with the guidance of my friend Don and the Atlanta Triathlon Club (ATC). Next year I will be a little more prepared. I plan on only doing 3 triathlons (John Tanner Sprint, Chattanooga Olympic Triathlon, and Augusta Half Ironman). This will give me a steady progression of training, and hopefully not burn me out.

Carol
I’ve been dating Carol for 6 months now. Things are going great. We spend most weekends together, and will often meet once or twice during the week for a bike ride or dinner. I have met her mother and brother; and I will be meeting her dad during Thanksgiving. She has met two of my sisters (and she didn’t go screaming into the night), and will be meeting everyone in March for my mother’s 80th birthday. She has also met my dog (Cale thinks of Carol’s as her second home). Cale adores her (I think she may adore her more than she adores me) (Bitch).

As the t-shirt says, “Life is Good.”

Work
I survived this group of layoffs. My boss didn’t (I’m not too sad. I don’t want anyone to lose their job, but I was tired of working for him. I had started looking at other jobs in the company before he was let go.) I like the new boss, but he has a lot of stuff on his plate, and he is starting to become stressed. A stressed boss stresses out him employees.

He is starting to stress me out a bit. He keeps on sending me to meeting. I hate meetings.

Indian Springs Sprint Triathlon

Indian Springs (Tri the Parks) – Sprint Triathlon
Date of Race: June 26, 2010
Total Race Time = 1h 44m 23s
Overall Place = 308/408
Age Group = Male Master Clydesdale
Age Group Place = 15/22
________________________________________

Pre-race: I’ve gotten into a ritual the day before a race. I pack my tri bag, I go eat pasta (chicken penne pesto), I fill the truck up (if needed), I clean/lube the bike, I set the clock, I take a Motrin PM, and I drink a beer.

In the morning I shower (even though I’m about to jump into a lake), load the car up and head out. On the way out I will stop by Dunkin Donuts for a coffee and a bagel (I will also drink a mix 1 on the drive to the tri).

Warm-up: I am not much into warm-ups, but I did a short swim. After last week’s swim, I was nervous. After the swim I was walking back to transition and I overheard a couple talking. The guy was saying he would just swim with his eyes closed. I interrupted them and asked if he needed goggles, and if so I had some in my car. He did need goggles, so we headed towards the car. As we were walking to the car the girl jokingly asked if I had a extra helmet. I did.

At the car I realized my keys were in my tri bag in transition. I ran to transition and back (so I got a little run warm-up also), and lent a couple of strangers my extra goggles and helmet. I figured I could use the good Karma.
________________________________________


Swim: As a Clydesdale I was starting in the second to last wave. The course was a counterclockwise with 2 turns.

By 200 meters in I knew I was going to be fine. I felt good the whole swim, but the last 100 meters. The last 100 meters I battled another swimmer for the same piece of lake. We were climbing all over each other. This lasted till about 20 meters till the exit when I was finally able to pull ahead.

The transition area was up a hill and across a street. I’m not sure but I think it may have been in a different time zone (it was that far away).

Swim Time: 15m:22s

T1: T-1 was OK. Not super fast, but better than last week.

T1 Time: 1m:45s

Bike: I did good on the bike. I stayed around FT the whole time, and all I did was pass people. The course was hilly which suits me. All in all a good bike ride.

Bike Time: 47m:07s

T2: T-2 was not good. I came in from the bike and went down the wrong lane, and had to go all the way around to get to my spot.

T2 Time: 2m:40s

Run: The run felt like a forced death march through the Indian Springs camp grounds. It was hot. At every water station I took 2 cups, one to hydrate and one to dump on my head.

This was a hilly course. During one of the uphill’s I tried an experiment. I walked 100 yards. It appears I can walk faster than I can run. Yet, I still run instead of walk. (I really need to work on my run)
Run Time: 37m:27s
________________________________________


Post Race: After the race I hung out with some friends of mine. One of them finished 1st in his age group.

After the awards ceremony the girl that I lent the helmet too found me and returned the helmet (the goggles were laying on my car when I got there).

Rate your overall experience with this race: I would give this race a 4. I would do this race again.

Callaway Gardens Print Triathlon

Callaway Gardens – Sprint Triathlon
Date of Race: June 20, 2010
Total Race Time = 1h 5m 00s
Overall Place = 445/1098
Age Group = Male 35-39
Age Group Place = 27/71
________________________________________

Pre-race: I’ve gotten into a ritual the day before a race. I pack my tri bag, I go eat pasta (chicken penne pesto), I fill the truck up (if needed), I clean/lube the bike, I set the clock, I take a Motrin PM, and I drink a beer.

In the morning I shower (even though I’m about to jump into a lake), load the car up and head out. On the way out I will stop by Dunkin Donuts for a coffee and a bagel (I will also drink a mix 1 on the drive to the tri).

Warm-up: I am not much into warm-ups. I usually just mill about smartly.
________________________________________


Swim: As a Clydesdale I was starting in the second to last wave. The course was laid out in a c shape along the shore line. We were informed that closer to the shore you can stand, and closer to the buoys you can’t.

Watching the other groups I noticed they seemed to be swimming in slow motion. When my wave took off I found out why they looked like they were swimming in slow motion. It was because everyone was swimming that way. This was by far the worst swim I have ever done. My ass and legs would not stay near the surface of the water no matter how hard I kicked or the position of my head. The whole swim felt like I was in that commercial were the swimmers are swimming in caramel.

Another problem I had was the buoys were on my right, and I don’t sight well on my right. This caused me to swim an extra 50 yards. By the end of the swim I was toast. I decided not to swim till I hit the ground with my arms, and walk out chest deep, but I must have been in the only area that was deep in the whole lake. I stood up and went right under. This caught me off guard, and I flailed a bit before getting back under control. By the time I exited the water, my HR was 170 (my max HR is 174).

This was the worst swim ever.

Swim Time: 10m:43s

T1: I walked to my transition area, trying to get my HR under control. I took my time because I was worn out. The actual change went quick; the time reflects all the walking.

T1 Time: 3m:56s

Bike: I did good on the bike. I stayed around FT the whole time, and all I did was pass people. My average speed was 20.9 mph. (Not to bad when you think that when I joined the group my average pace was 15 mph.)

Bike Time: 25m:51s

T2: Had a better T-2 than T-1, but still not great.

T2 Time: 2m:16s

Run: The run was a short 2 mile run, and I still suck at running. Everyone I passed on the bike passed me, but I had a good time. I smiled the whole time, and shouted encouragement to whomever I thought needed some. (In hindsight this might not have been a good idea. The people I encouraged would usually get a surge of energy, and pass me. If I kept my mouth shut I could have placed higher. But what is the real difference between 440 and 445? (Don’t say 5))

Run Time: 22m:17s

________________________________________


Post Race: After the race I hung out with some friends of mine cheering their family.

Rate your overall experience with this race: I would give this race a 2.5. It needed more support in the lake (kayaks). It only had one boat, and it couldn’t get to a heart attack victim. Also, the bananas were warm and disgusting.

I probably won’t do this race again

Catching Up

It has been a while since my last post, so I will do a catch up:

Wednesday Weigh In 4-21-10:
237.6lbs
34.4% Fat

Wednesday Weigh In 4-28-10:
236.6lbs
37.8% Fat

Wednesday Weigh In 5-5-10:
235.0lbs
33.6% Fat

I am doing well, if you call tired and achy well. And, I am always tired and achy. There is a certain masochistic aspect to the triathlon lifestyle. A big guy like me should not be running the distances I’ve been running for the last couple of weeks (I started running more after my poor showing during the run portion of my first triathlon). My joints are achy from all the impact. My muscles are sore and fatigued due to the fact that I’ve also amped up my swimming and riding. This leaves me in a zombie like state all the time.

I’ve been thinking of investing in the company that makes Motrin (they are already getting a lot of my money). I asked my fellow triathletes, when do you stop feeling so tired? Some said the off season, but I know that is not true. I was tired then because I was building up for the season. One said before each workout, but I think he was just fucking with me. Many told me they would let me know if it ever happens to them. I also got the answer, “when you’re dead”, but how do they really know that. Haven’t they heard the term “dead tired”.

I got one piece of advice from a friend who thought my question was a little whiny. HTFU. So that is what I will do at the group ride tonight. I will HTFU.