I have fallen way behind in logging my workouts to the Presidents Fitness Challenge website. Tonight I was going to catch up instead of doing our taxes-yeah it was that bad. Well, sometimes the site lets you make late entries for only two weeks back. No big deal, but I had missed logging many previous workouts. So I tested the website-entering a day in February I hadn't entered even my "walking around" steps. Hallelujah (sort of) it let me log entries. Good news for my progress to my first Presidents Fitness Award but bad news as I then tried to catch all the way up.
So that took longer than expected, but I am closing in on the bronze award. I have just over 6600 points remaining, which seems like a lot, but just daily and household activities add up to nearly 1000 points a week. If I can actually string together some workouts, Bronze is a done deal.
Well, now for the other essential part of a fitness/wellness plan: REST! Time for bed!
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Do what you can, every day, and it will make a difference
Today on Facebook there is a post going around that starts off "To the fatty running on the Westview track this afternoon:". It then goes into a set of statements about how slow and shuffling the pace is, how often the runner has to take breaks, and how self-conscious they seem to be due to not being a fit, natural runner.
Then the hook-the auther is impressed (well, he uses language I won't repeat here, but yeah, impressed). The rest of the piece talks about how motivating the runner is-getting out and trying, not giving in to obesity, bad habits, poor diet and sometimes even genetics. He ends by saying "I have nothing but respect for you. You've got this."
I recently had the same experience when swimming laps at a YMCA indoor pool. About halfway through my workout the water aerobics class needed the area outside the lane ropes where I had been swimming due to a local high school swim team using the lanes. I had to admit watching the water aerobics class enter the water was interesting-many were seriously, maybe morbidly, obese and a few left canes, a walker and in one case a motorized transport chair by the pool. But I had to remember two things: I had started my swim acknowledging how far I had fallen back as I was only swimming half a mile compared to longer/harder swims "back in the day." Second, I had to remind myself that these dozen or so people were the ones making an effort. They hadn't admitted defeat. They were the only other people working out in the pool-no one else was swimming laps or water jogging. They were the "champions" telling themselves and their fat they were taking control as of right then.
So to the water aerobics class, Hinesville GA YMCA: I have nothing but respect for you. You've got this.
Then the hook-the auther is impressed (well, he uses language I won't repeat here, but yeah, impressed). The rest of the piece talks about how motivating the runner is-getting out and trying, not giving in to obesity, bad habits, poor diet and sometimes even genetics. He ends by saying "I have nothing but respect for you. You've got this."
I recently had the same experience when swimming laps at a YMCA indoor pool. About halfway through my workout the water aerobics class needed the area outside the lane ropes where I had been swimming due to a local high school swim team using the lanes. I had to admit watching the water aerobics class enter the water was interesting-many were seriously, maybe morbidly, obese and a few left canes, a walker and in one case a motorized transport chair by the pool. But I had to remember two things: I had started my swim acknowledging how far I had fallen back as I was only swimming half a mile compared to longer/harder swims "back in the day." Second, I had to remind myself that these dozen or so people were the ones making an effort. They hadn't admitted defeat. They were the only other people working out in the pool-no one else was swimming laps or water jogging. They were the "champions" telling themselves and their fat they were taking control as of right then.
So to the water aerobics class, Hinesville GA YMCA: I have nothing but respect for you. You've got this.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Two Restaurant Meals Proved It!
I travel frequently for work. One problem I discovered was by the third or fourth day of each trip I was feeling bloated, sluggish and generally bad. The last trip I purposefully ate less and since it was a bit longer trip made a grocery run early on. While I didn't eat a tremendously clean diet and still enjoyed eating a variety of foods prepared a variety of ways (it was in Georgia, so you can probably put two and two together....) I generally felt much better. I also began swimming again, which is discussed in this post.
Since I was in Georgia, I had to go to one of my favorite all-time restaurants: Krystals! Yes, I know they are horrible. Yes, I now drink Coke Zero while eating them. But since I only get to eat them maybe 5 times a year (including at the Krystals in the Atlanta Airport) they are a go-to cheat meal. I have to admit that one indulgence had a quick impact on how I felt. I didn't get sick per se, but I could tell my energy level was off, my stomach felt uneasy and I didn't have the energy/hunger/gut-strength feeling I can maintain in balance when eating better meals over a few days. The stomach uneasiness lasted over two days, which is about how long full digestion and elimination happen when generally well from what I know.
The second meal was lunch yesterday. I am on the road yet again and also visited a long-time favorite restaurant I don't get to often. Dixie Grill on Oahu, Hawaii is a great place, and trust me, their food is much higher quality than Krystals! This isn't an indictment on them, unless I can blame them for how good it was. First, they give you popcorn to munch on and I LOVE POPCORN! So I had to eat it all (yep, had to....). I also got the Cuban Sandwich, which came with probably enough fries for two or three people. The sandwich was great, the fries were awesome, and the tray of 6 BBQ sauces was put to good use on both of them. I was a good boy and cleaned my plate. Which is the second "reminder" and proof I've made the right call reducing restaurant eat-outs on these trips. It was way too much food and nearly 18 hours later I am still full. I'm not bloated and uncomfortable, but if I ate a base food court lunch (more simple starches, some fried) and a restaurant meal tonight I'd be setting myself up for a bad week.
Lessons here are 1) Take friends to Dixie Grill but get a to-go box when the food arrives. It's too good not to go back, but I know I'll eat all the food they put in front of me if I don't box it up immediately.
2) Keep making sandwiches, buying fruit and salad supplies and eat many smaller meals throughout the day instead of these monster simple carb/fried meals.
UPDATE: Wow, I posted on almost exactly this topic back near Thanksgiving in this post. The good news is portion control over the holidays and these last few trips have netted some good results-while I still need to build my strength back up, I've dropped a good bit of the weight I gained in 2013. My wife has done a great job too by cleaning up her diet and walking/playing soccer.
Since I was in Georgia, I had to go to one of my favorite all-time restaurants: Krystals! Yes, I know they are horrible. Yes, I now drink Coke Zero while eating them. But since I only get to eat them maybe 5 times a year (including at the Krystals in the Atlanta Airport) they are a go-to cheat meal. I have to admit that one indulgence had a quick impact on how I felt. I didn't get sick per se, but I could tell my energy level was off, my stomach felt uneasy and I didn't have the energy/hunger/gut-strength feeling I can maintain in balance when eating better meals over a few days. The stomach uneasiness lasted over two days, which is about how long full digestion and elimination happen when generally well from what I know.
The second meal was lunch yesterday. I am on the road yet again and also visited a long-time favorite restaurant I don't get to often. Dixie Grill on Oahu, Hawaii is a great place, and trust me, their food is much higher quality than Krystals! This isn't an indictment on them, unless I can blame them for how good it was. First, they give you popcorn to munch on and I LOVE POPCORN! So I had to eat it all (yep, had to....). I also got the Cuban Sandwich, which came with probably enough fries for two or three people. The sandwich was great, the fries were awesome, and the tray of 6 BBQ sauces was put to good use on both of them. I was a good boy and cleaned my plate. Which is the second "reminder" and proof I've made the right call reducing restaurant eat-outs on these trips. It was way too much food and nearly 18 hours later I am still full. I'm not bloated and uncomfortable, but if I ate a base food court lunch (more simple starches, some fried) and a restaurant meal tonight I'd be setting myself up for a bad week.
Lessons here are 1) Take friends to Dixie Grill but get a to-go box when the food arrives. It's too good not to go back, but I know I'll eat all the food they put in front of me if I don't box it up immediately.
2) Keep making sandwiches, buying fruit and salad supplies and eat many smaller meals throughout the day instead of these monster simple carb/fried meals.
UPDATE: Wow, I posted on almost exactly this topic back near Thanksgiving in this post. The good news is portion control over the holidays and these last few trips have netted some good results-while I still need to build my strength back up, I've dropped a good bit of the weight I gained in 2013. My wife has done a great job too by cleaning up her diet and walking/playing soccer.
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