Climbing back intot he saddle....

It is time to get back to posting on this blog once again. I can't remember how many posts I started over the last few months and for whatever reason, I could not make myself press the publish button. Not really sure why, doesn't really matter.... as I am sure that this time I will press the button.

Don't fret, I have not been sabotaging my efforts. While I did hit a plateau there for a little while, progress is being made once again.

This is a list of things I've learned or accomplished since the last post. I may expand on these in future blogs;

• Walked in a 5k; 1:58 time, blister from hell, injuries suck
• While I can play guitar, I can't carry a tune in a bucket. Need professional help.
• Walking on a treadmill, BORING!!
• putting on boxing gloves, hitting a bag, NOT BORING!!
• Nutrition is King. respect the King!
• Hard to be positive 24/7. Accept the ups and downs and still make progress
• External stresses (Work hours, Nutrition, injury, boredom) can really screw up motivation
• 7 words (and 1 contraction, does that make 8?) that I will never say again about an ache or pain. "It will go away on it's own." Sometimes a trip to a Dr. is required. 3 months of increasing heel pain relieved in 1 hour with some insoles. Forearm soreness relieved with a massage.

That is all the wisdom I can muster up this morning. Now to push that button...........

Ok, I'll admit it, I'm the guy noone wants sitting next to them on a plane.....for now

One of the motivating factors of joining FT was my annoyances of air travel and the 18" wide seats. I came to the realization that the airlines weren't going to widen those seats anytime soon, I should address the issue by shrinking me.

I'm a technical guy. So I look at measurable metrics to compare to my life and experiences in my pre workout life and now. I am very happy to see large strides in fitting more comfortably into airline seats. I've got some more work to do until I dodge all the dirty looks. But hey its progress.

Traveling also offers new and exciting challenges with menu choices. In Toronto, on every menu white potatoes was a staple, those things were everywhere. I dodged and weaved when I could, doubling up on veggies and leaving them behind for the bin when they did sneak on the plate. Other then those sneaky potatoes, the other choices were easy to keep on track.

I am happy to see progress. Happy to prove to myself that I can travel and still make progress.

Ahhhh.... the start of another week.

After a few weeks of workouts that keep on giving. It's nice to have an easy workout. NOT!!!

I did not have alot of faith in a personal trainer before I started my journey. I was like "man, why do I need to have someone there with me to count to 10 three times." or "Form?? who cares about form, If I just pick up heavy weights over and over, who needs form."

Alas folks, I was ignorant. I have been educated, and now look to the trainers as motivators and cheerleaders. They are truly there with me on my journey. I couldn't be as successful without them constantly pushing me to perform to the best of my ability.

I had an assessment last week, the results look good. Look forward to some pics in the next few weeks.

Tim

Week of Workouts that keep on giving!!!!

It's a good thing I have positive thoughts and attitude on my side this week. As I have been stepping up the cardio on my own and I have been pushing myself. I believe the trainers have ESP or some kind of sixth sense about that too because they have been pushing too.

And I love it. I really love it now that I am out of the gym, and finished with the workouts this week. :) All this week, I have been on the receiving end of what I call "Workouts that keep on giving". This is the name I give the workout that are challenging when you are doing it, but equally challenging when you perform everyday activities because of the muscle groups you worked, they keep talking to you for days after. This is not the usual muscle soreness I'm talking about. This is a different feeling. You may just have to request one to understand.

Here is what does it for me. Order up a heaping helping of "good mornings" with a side of triceps and biceps's, mix in a side order of Russian twists, and for dessert don't forget calf raises. That should give you a glimpse of what I dealt with this week, and what I will have to live with for the weekend.

It's one of those things where you know you worked the muscles during the workout. You feel good about that. But then you are reminded the next day when you wake up. I think Russian twists and good mornings remind you when you get out of bed. biceps and triceps's say "Hi there", when you perform everyday activities like washing your hair, brushing teeth, and pick up laundry baskets. And don't forget the calves, they bark at you every time you flex your ankles or move in certain motions. I must say that the bicep and triceps workouts do make rocking out on the guitar a challenge. Ever see a grown man cry? Pitiful sight really, but I digress...

The pay off is when all those groups finally calm down, you feel like superman. The after effect makes me feel like I can lift a bus, although i haven't found any buses laying around to test that theory yet.

Lots of work, but big payoffs every week make it worth it.

Tim

Vacation Over.. Time to get back to bloggin....

A few weeks of vacation & having fun can really take your mind away from the usual grind. While I have been taking a break from work & having fun, I have still been working out on my regular schedule. I know, crazy right. But hey when you've got a good thing going, why stop.

But it has be a realization that over the last few weeks I have accomplished some really cool things. Now why I didn't think they were blog worthy at the time, I'm not sure. Maybe because these milestones have come slowly and it take a little reflection to put things in perspective.

One thing is that I was introduced to the elliptical machine "Monster" as I call it. This monster kicked my butt the first week. I could barely make it 15 mins. This was about 2 weeks ago. This past week, I was pushing 25 - 30 mins at about 4 - 5 Mph. It's still a challenge, but I'm getting closer to kicking that machine's butt.

Matt and I had a workout of nothing but boxing. That's 35 mins of high heart rate and keeping it there. Fun, challenging, and exhausting.

Matt also introduced me to a "100 rep workout". This is where we perform 100 reps of certain lifts. I can stop at any number I choose, but I get to move immediately to another exercise.
That day it was 100 bench press, 100 rows, 100 kettle bell, and 8 mins of interval on the elliptical. It was a shoulder, back day. A real workout that keeps on giving.

Very happy with my progress. Assessment is getting close again. Looking forward to the results.

Rock On,

Tim

Ahhhh, another week begins.....

Its been a good start to the week. It's the first day back after a few days of vacation time. But I only took vacation from work, I still made the workouts. I know crazy right, but hey I'm on a roll!!

Not alot to add,

Later.

Oh Yeah!! Time to see the differences!!!

Now it's time to get all scientific and crunch some facts, figures and get some results.

I received my 2nd Assessment report earlier this week. Wanted to place the results out here for the world to see. Do I have any modesty?? Not much, but I'm so jazzed at the results that I just have to share.


So a little back story, 30th b-day hits, slightly addictive personality grows tired of being fat and wants to grow old healthily. Middle/End of March 2008, I sign up with FT to beat the lbs. 3 times a week workouts & approx. 2000 cal diet daily.

1st assessment relevant data: 3/17/2008

3 minute step test - heart rate 192 beats per minute.

19 modified push ups

2nd assessment relevant data: 5/07/2008

3 minute step test - heart rate 148 beats per minute.

33 modified push ups
16 lbs. lost

Not too shabby for a few weeks of effort. loosing weight, heart getting healthier and getting stronger. They say pictures say a thousand words. (Who are They anyway??) So take a gander at these babies.

Before (3/17/2008) - I don't look very happy do I? :)

2nd Assessment (5/07/2008) - I'm smiling on the Inside!!

This could be like one of those find waldo books. I give you a few hints. The back picture shows where some of those lbs. left me. The side photo - clear where the other lbs used to be. face, belly, and forearms. Facing Front - hard for me to see big differences.

Progress Baby!!!! So with these results in the short time and eagerly awaiting my next assessment, I have decided that I will stick with these life changes for a while. As I write this, I am only a few more weeks from my next assessment. Can't wait to see what those pics will look like. Hey how about I post them here too. Man, I am just full of good ideas.

Hi Mom & Dad!!!

-Tim