Flirting with the 180's. Half Update. Recent Pictures.

Half Training.

I will give you continuous update as to how the training is going since that is the focus that I have right now for my running. The runs, that sounds bad...my running has been going pretty smooth this week and have been pretty enjoyable. I try so hard to be friendly to everyone that I see or come across and about half of the time I get some type of response. I wave at everyone and about half of the time get the wave or nod back. I encourage others that I see running/walking to 'keep it up' or 'looking good' and that has gotten positive response. I don't think they are quite use to that. I asked one guy if he wanted to run with me. He denied, but said that he had already done several trips around the lake already.

I will be running here after a little while, but first comes some basketball at the park. I will be going there alone in hopes to find some people playing. We'll see how that turns out!

Flirting with the 180's.

I have been flirting here for a little while with the 180's, but have yet to see it show up on the scale. It'll happen soon - I feel it. I'm ready for it too. The 190's have been good to me, but the 180's are shaping up to be pretty solid. I'm excited for them.

It has been a while since I have uploaded a recent picture of me - so here you go. I took the before picture with my friend Clarence at a college graduation. It was taken last year.

The Now picture was taken today. I finally broke down and got a couple new shirts and a pair of shorts that actually fit. (These are not them, but I wasn't sure what size I would need for shorts - 34's fit pretty comfortable -- WOW!) I will try to get another post up what I look like in my older, larger clothes.

Enjoy the pictures and I hope you have an awesome rest of the day!

BEFORE:

NOW:

What is one fitness/weight loss goal that you would like to meet or hit in the near future?

Friday Shout Outs. Half Marathon Training. 5k Race Set-up.

Dial-Up = Tough Time reading Blogs

I have still yet to receive internet at the church. I do have it in the form of tethering from my Blackberry, but it is slow like dial up. I do have internet at home, but by the time I get home - it seems like my *to do list grew each block I traveled. Whether it is mowing (which has been a lot lately - I mow about 5-6 acres each week) or something simple as spending time with my wife, I have become very busy. It will calm down though after next week. This upcoming week I will be M.I.A. again. I do have a guest post set to post, but would love to have some more!

Any takers?!

Today, I wanted to do a few shout-outs. There have been so many people come and go already this year on the weight loss/fitness blogosphere that I wanted to give a few kudos' to some of those that have stayed and worked through the struggles and successes. I might also tell some of what they have accomplished. If you already follow or know of these people - go tell them that you appreciate and support them. If you don't follow or know them - go introduce yourself and give them some encouragement.

Four Solid Bloggers.

Half of Jess - This girl has gone from not being able to run one mile -- to running a Half Marathon is just under 5 months!!! Can you believe that? She's also done that bare foot, almost.

KatDoesDiets - This girl is knows how to get things done! She's taken a different route with her blog right now and would definitely take the love that you have to give.

Tara @ 263 and counting- She's recently been wearing her sock monkey gingerbread house pajamas all over the place. Why you may ask? Because she can! She couldn't even button the shirt earlier this year...go check and support her!

Kyle @ Getting Better and Better – So, Kyle took a vacation to go home to see family. His vacation consisted of TWO races! This guy is determined and his blog is always fun to read! Look forward to a guest post by him midway through next week on Fit With a Purpose!!!

Obviously, these are not all of the people that have stuck around or have played an important part in my success, but if I put everyone up in one post – I wouldn’t have a post for the next shout out post

Half Marathon.

It is official. I have started training for a Half-Marathon! I can’t seem to find one near me that is roughly 12-13 weeks away though. There is one in Columbia, MO, but it is not until the 2nd of October – that is the one I am shooting for. I hope that I find one sooner than that though. That is several weeks after the 12 week program is over. I am serious about this too – so serious that I have in fact, created a Facebook group called, “Half Marathon Training”. You are welcome to join it and track your own running, create a running team to track each others, and/or just interact with other runners. Click here for the page to join!

I am currently on day 5 of Hal Higdon’s 12 week plan. So far, it’s been pretty easy. I am doing the intermediate level and the longest run for week 1 is only 5 miles. I’m getting pretty excited about this program in that I’ve seen other people do it and work for them.

Currently, I do believe that MizFit is following the program too. Any other people doing this and how is it working for you?!


Side note:
Have you checked my miles tracker lately? I’ve traveled over 400+ miles so far this year! I am very proud of that. I am behind my goal pace by like 40 miles (darn you broken ankle), but I am very happy that I have less than 600 miles to go to meet that 1010 in 2010 goal I had originally set.

5k Hosting Information?

This may not relate to you or maybe it does, I don’t know. I am thinking of hosting a 5k sometime, but need LOTS of information on how to go about it. I would love to have any help on it that you could give – opinions, suggestions, wants, needs, things you would like if you were running, things you dislike at other 5k events, statements, and/or whatever you have to give would be awesome!

Why have you or why haven’t you chosen to follow your dreams?!

BMHW Challenge - Day 2

Oh My Goodness!! That was a TOUGH workout...for me anyways. I think I had to push myself even harder than yesterday.This is the order that I completed the workout for Tuesday.

30 Min Cardio = 2.37 miles ------- 1 Mile Starter = 10:33
Rope Climbing - Level 3
Mountain Climbers - Level 2
Chair Squats - Level 3
Jumping Jacks - Level 3
Triceps Dips - Level 3
Leg Lift Abs - Level 1
Wall Sits - Level 3


I really hope that this challenged you all b/c I know that it did for me. As we speak - my wife is making a recipe out of the Biggest Loser cookbook and it smells delicious. I wish that I had some awesome words to add to this post but I just can't think of anything; I just feel so exhausted tired from the workout that I should probably give my brain a rest for a minute or two.

For those of you that are doing these workouts with me, do not get overwhelmed with the workouts but keep with it. You can do this! Thanks so much for doing this with me.

If you Are Participating - Comment Below letting us know how You Did.

---

Tuesday

Formula for max heart rate: (208 – (.7 * age))
Formula for target heart rate: 50% - 70% of Max heart rate (MHR *.5 or .7)

- Stretch -

30 Minutes Cardio: This can take place any time throughout the day and should consist of an intensity level that can promote and create weight loss. I do my cardio immediately before my workout – the workout becomes much harder. I have added a couple more exercises on today’s workout. I want to make sure that everyone is challenged. Do your best to complete the entire workout. If you have no trouble completing the workout, consider upping the level that you are working at.


Exercise 1 – Rope Climbing Crunches (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLyAcERFQHQ)

• Level 1 = 3 sets of 10 reps (reach, reach, 1; reach, reach, 2; reach, reach, 3)
• Level 2 = 3 sets of 12 reps (reach, reach, 1; reach, reach, 2; reach, reach, 3)
• Level 3 = 3 sets of 16 reps (reach, reach, 1; reach, reach, 2; reach, reach, 3)

Exercise 2 – Chair Squats (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5DAGZRhKTQ)

• Level 1 = 2 sets of 12 (one rep equals one squat)
• Level 2 = 3 sets of 12 (one rep equals one squat)
• Level 3 = 3 sets of 15 (one rep equals one squat)

Exercise 3 – Mountain Climbers exercise (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI8u58hPam4)

• Level 1 = 3 sets of 20 seconds (one set is 20 sec. nonstop)
• Level 2 = 3 sets of 30 seconds (one set is 30 sec. nonstop)
• Level 3 = 3 sets of 40 seconds (one set is 40 sec. nonstop)

Exercises 4 – Leg lift Abs Exercise (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VTU1jVkCMg)

• Level 1 = 3 sets of 8. (1 rep equals one lift and extension)
• Level 2 = 3 sets of 12. (1 rep equals one lift and extension)
• Level 3 = 3 sets of 16. (1 rep equals one lift and extension)

Exercise 5 – Jumping Jacks (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmYwZH_BNd0)

• Level 1 = 4 sets of 10 (1 rep equals from start to finish)
• Level 2 = 4 sets of 15. (1 rep equals from start to finish)
• Level 3 = 4 sets of 20. (1 rep equals from start to finish)

Exercise 6 – Triceps Dips (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyYntHCL5lY)

• Level 1 = 3 sets of 8 (1 rep equals one dip)
• Level 2 = 3 sets of 12 (1 rep equals one dip)
• Level 3 = 3 sets of 14 (1 rep equals one dip)

Exercise 7 – Wall Sits (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDjKeOCgisw)

• Level 1 = hold sit for 20 seconds. 2 sets (one set equals 20 sec. hold)
• Level 2 = hold sit for 30 seconds. 3 sets (one set equals 30 sec. hold)
• Level 3 = hold sit for 40 seconds. 3 sets (one set equals 40 sec. hold)
- Stretch -

---

If You would like to join in with the remaining 5 workouts -- Comment Below with your Email!

How Much is Mental?

My wife and I were talking tonight about weight loss and working out in general. I know that I sound like a broken record saying, "You can control two things - what you put into your body and how much activity you do", but I do believe it to be true.

I use to want both of us to live a healthier (and still do) lifestyle but failed to take on any kind of leadership or set any type of example. I would get upset when things did not get done in that area of life but now have come to realize that it has to be done for that person. The way that I do things is not for everyone to do the same way. Working out and eating right is for that person to do on their own, in their own time. I've gone away from talking about me and my wife and have moved into the general audience.

How much of this lifestyle change is mental?

I think that I have been blessed with the ability to focus but what about the person that struggles with it. Is it their body that prevents them, financial reasons, or simply a mental level that one has to get too before reaching that point of conviction to live a healthier lifestyle?

I have decided to take on those three aspects for the next two weeks to find an answer; this will not be the only answer. This is how I will do it.

1. I will push my workouts harder these weeks.

2. With the exception of my treadmill, I will not use any local gyms, membership, or outside equipment that requires money. I will use things around my apartment and will add full body resistance workouts.

3. I will post my thoughts about my cardio and resistance workouts.

This may not be scientific but it will be interesting to see what comes as a result if anything.


Calories: 2235 cal.

Workout: 3.14 miles