The Great Debate. Challenge #3 is open!

The Great Debate.

This week I have attempted at doing morning workouts instead of sleeping in and waiting to do my workout in the evening. I have made a list of pros and cons for both sides. If you want to enter the debate for Team Morning or Team Evening - please chip in.

Team Morn

Pros:

• cool weather
• workout is already done for the day
• metabolism is in full gear
• only one shower is needed for the day
• feel accomplished already

Cons:

• you have to wake up early to do it
• I feel that I can't eat enough throughout the day
• feel as if I still need to work out after a day of eating
• not as many people to wave too

Team Eve

Pros:

• Feel as if you dominated the calories taken in
• more people to wave too as they drive by while running
• more sweat due to heat
• you can relax for the rest of the day after workout is complete
• more time for a longer workout
• you don't have to wake up early for it

Cons:

• you justify a cookie b/c you still have to workout
• not as much time with the family
• you're tired from the day already
• you feel plump b/c you've eaten a day's worth already
• hotter weather

So there you have it. My internal debate between morning and evening workouts. I can't figure it out. I will continue to do morning workouts for now - only because I like the feeling of having already accomplished something by 10:00am.

Challenge # 3 is open for contestants.

While we are on the subject of accomplishing things - I want to let you know the weight loss challenge (Seth Tyler's Weight Loss Challenge) is now open for new participants! This will be the 3rd challenge already! I can not believe at how fast it really goes.

I'm not bragging or anything, but the challenge produces results!

During the first two challenges (challenge #2 will end on Monday) - the two groups have lost a combined total of 203.0 lbs!!

That is 203 lbs in only 11 weeks. That is crazy awesome to me! There have been a total of 23 challengers -- that's roughly 7.8 lbs loss per challenger!

I have opened up the group page for newcomers! If you want to be a part of an environment that promotes healthy weight loss, interacts with struggles and successes, and is all around encouraging -- join the group and sign up for the next six week challenge! We have one participant that has lost 24 pounds in 11 weeks (go check out her progression of pics on the site) and another that has lost over 25 pounds (go check him out too) over the first two challenges!

I am very happy that I could be a part of their life changing decisions. I really don't want to come across like I am boasting b/c that is far away from the truth.

Simply put, I just really like to help people with this fat epidemic. Go here to join the group and take part in the third installment of Seth Tyler's Weight Loss Challenge!

What is one thing that you are struggling with right now?

Modified Half Plan. Night Run Thoughts. Believing in Yourself.

Today was another packed day. I went to bed knowing that I needed to get up early in order to get everything done. I didn't get up early at all. I was up before 9:00am though. I've been struggling with getting up early. My plan is to get up at 7:00am tomorrow and do my workout for week 1 day 3 of the modified Half training plan I created. You can view it here! It's a cross between Hal Higdon's and P90x. Looks promising to me!

After working today - my wife and I went to an auction where we find some pretty good deals. We did find some, but finding those deals took quite a long time. I was losing sunlight and losing sunlight fast. It was 8:30pm when we left the auction and started home. We live about 20 minutes from the place and the sun was no longer visible. This made me think of a few things that I hadn't thought of before.

(3.04 miles in 28'10" --- Day 2 of Half Training)

1. I need some type of reflective gear to run in at night.
2. Don't wait until dark to run. (duh!)
3. It's going to be different running in the cool of the day rather than the blistering heat.

I am getting back into posting daily after my many weeks away from home and my mind is getting back into that routine. I really wanted to have something solid to post today. As great minds do, I thought to myself - "I need to think of something profound to speak about as a grand entrance back to full time blogging."

Well, here is that profound thought: If you believe that you can not get fit - you will never get fit.

Okay, not too profound I know, but it is true.

I challenge you to believe in yourself.

Negativity only sets you up for failure. If you set yourself up for failure - don't be surprised when you experience failure.

Believe in yourself that you will be successful in this. There are a few ways that you can ensure this to happen; to make success happen.

1. Know why you are doing this - getting healthy.
2. Lay out plans on how you will achieve a healthy level.
3. Execute said plans one day at a time.
4. Evaluate periodically your plans and adjust where necessary.
5. Push harder than the day before.
6. Enjoy the experience - knowing that it can be bumpy sometimes.
7. Never stop believing in yourself.

There have been a lot of people so far this year that have stopped believing in themselves. I hope that you will not stop. The moment that we stop believing in ourselves and start believing that we can not do it, that we are not worth it, or that it's better to be unhealthy - we will fail.

Let today be the day you pick yourself back up and push harder than you have before.

A letter to the 180's. 5k Results. and Commitment.

I stepped on the scale on Friday - which was the first time in a long time - not really knowing what it would say. I have and had been trying pretty hard to get to the 180's for quite some time now...and well, I finally hit it.

189.6

I weighed myself three times. I yelled for asked my wife politely to get the camera so that I could capture that number on the scale for the first time since my sophomore year in high school. I enjoyed that moment, even though I am sure it might have just been a little water weight loss -- I have now seen that number - there is no stopping me from getting under it.

In light of my new found number, I have taken a bit of Half of Jess' idea in writing it a letter.

Dear 180's,

Ha! I found you. You couldn't hide from me forever - did you really think so? I'm glad that we found each other again because the 190's were becoming a bit old. Every time I looked for you - I always found the 190's staring back at me. It was kind of like on Super Mario Wii when you beat the boss and are hoping for princess to come safely into your arms - only to receive the witch. But I've found you. I will enjoy this next ten pound loss with you, but want you to know upfront that I am committed to the 170's. Let's not make this a long term thing 180 - Let's just enjoy it while it lasts.

-Seth

That number on the scale gave me some momentum for the trip I was about to go on. I was traveling back to the town we just moved from in June in order to run my 4th 5k of the year. Yes, that means that I ran two official 5k's in one week. Here's the recap of the Mo2Co 5k from Last Sunday. Saturday's 5k was much easier than last Sunday's b/c there were no hills in the route.

There were 175 people registered for this run (that seems very small to you big city people right?) and we crammed everyone into four busses and they shipped us out to the starting point. We ran along the Katy Trail, which is about 3 yards wide the entire race. There were a lot of people crammed on this trail, but after the first mile - it became much more comfortable. I purposely picked up my pace the first mile so that I could stick myself between the leading pack and tiring pack behind me. It seemed to work alright. My legs seemed tired though, (maybe the cycling I've been doing).

(immediately after Old Glory Days 5k - can't see my number #243...i think)

I finished the race with the time of 26'59". I am not sure where amongst the 175 registered that I fell - they will be sending out an email with that soon. I'm happy with my time, compared to last Sunday's time of 31 minutes and something (crazy hills!), but felt that I could have done better. I've decided to restart the Higdon Half Training so that I could be more meticulous with it. I am going to modify it, as I've told you before, and include more strength training.

I am committed.

One thing my wife and I have been talking about lately is just being committed to the things that we are involved in. Life gets chaotic sometimes and you feel torn between fifty different things - giving less than 100% in each place. The truth is that life happens that way sometimes.

We'd love to have a family, but that hasn't happened yet.

We'd love to have more money, but that is a work in progress.

We'd love to see more growth at the church, still working with it.

We'd love to be fit and healthy, gettting closer!!!!

We'd love to have permanant housing, nothing has come up yet.

There's a lot of things that are going on that seem that they are at a stand still -- but we've committed ourselves. That commitment will take hard work. That commitment will take discipline, self control, and a watchful eye.

It's the same with fitness. There's so much that we see to be done, so much to track, and so much hard work -- but to be successful...you do it.

What are you committed to? How are you going to achieve it?

Mo to Co 5k Results. Competitive Nature. Olde Glory Days 5k Sat.

MO 2 CO 5k.

I ran in my third official 5k on Sunday. It was the Mo 2 Co 5k, which was supporting a local youth group to travel from Missouri to Colorado to go to NYR (Nationwide Youth Round-up) later this month. A good friend of mine set the 5k up and was running (organizing) and decided to run it the last minute. It was his first 5k to run. He’s decided to train for the Half with me too now.

(If you want to train and interact with other Half trainers – go here to join my Half Marathon Training facebook group.)

Back to the race.

I finished in 31 minutes.

That is my slowest time yet.

I won’t lie – that was really frustrating and upsetting when I finished with that time.

Competitive Nature

That's why it was so hard to take in the results.

I am very competitive when it comes to anything. It’s hard not to be and it’s something that I have to watch and look out for. I’ve always striven to be the best and I think it’s just a factor of my work ethic.

I simply want to be the best at everything.

Let me tell you a little bit more about the race which might give reason why to me getting my slowest time.

Before I tell about it – I want you to know that I accept this time and don’t think that I could have done better at my fitness level right now – so these are not excuses. I just want to tell you about the race.

(Matt, if you are reading – I’m grateful for the 5k and how it has helped me reach my goal of three 5k’s this year…it was a fun time! It was great to see you as well.)

The Obstacle and my Plan to overcome.

The Hills: This race had hills that were crazy long and large. As soon as you completed one hill – there was another one waiting. I have not trained on hills yet and it was quite the eye-opening experience for me. My plan to overcome these obstacles is to train on larger and longer hills. A member at our church lives in a country setting subdivision type of place (?) and is a two mile loop around a lake. It has huge hills. That is my plan.

The Mud and Gravel: After about 200 yards into the race, it turned into a muddy gravel run. I run on paved roads typically and don’t get the opportunity to run on the gravel. The only reason it was muddy was because it poured right before the race. My plan to overcome the mud and gravel is to use my cross trainers and run on a gravel road every so often. We have plenty of them around.

The Silence: As I said, it poured before the race and I was unsure if it was going to rain agtain during the race – so I left the iPod with my wife. Silence. Only the voices in my head were able to keep me going. I have no idea how many times I said “Discipline Pushes Limits”. I overcame the silence during the race by encouraging those that I either passed or ran next too. My plan to overcome this is to make sure I bring the crappy mp3 player along with the iPod.

All in all – I do feel that I did well even with the unfamiliar obstacles. It was a smaller 5k with only about 35 people running/walking. I finished 6th among all people with the time of 31’24”. I think that, by its self, tells about how difficult the race was. I forgot to take the picture with the purple race shirt that I received. That does complete my goal of three 5k’s and go here to see my results for each race that I ran.

Olde Glory Days 5k.

On Saturday, July 3rd, I have another 5k. I am hoping to fair better at this race. I’ve ran a similar course to this upcoming one and would like to be sub 30 again. I don’t really have a time goal except for sub 30. I think that if I am running under a 10’ pace…I’m doing okay for myself. Of course, I want to be doing better than that, but I also know how busy and lax I have been with my running b/c of that busyness.

I would love to place in my age bracket again.

Yeah - I’ll go for it.

What are you striving for right now? Be specific - what is your next goal?

The Plan. Pushing Limits. 5k race. Pictures!

I've been away the last week, actually two out of the last three I've been away from home working at a camp. It's been a lot of fun, but I'm glad to be at home. It's been fun to hang with my wife and get some much needed sleep (I slept until 11am today). I have included a before picture that I took some time late last year and also a picture that I took this past week at camp. I enjoy seeing the differences.

(before.)

I was hoping to come home and find that I had reached the 180s, but it has yet to happen. I knew a time would come that this would happen - that I'd reach a point where I'd need to change my routine in order continue with a healthy weight loss.

I've hit that point.

I have a really normal routine that works well. I eat at the same time each day (usually) and run about the same time as well. I'm going to change a few things up though. This is my plan to approach the dreaded plateau.

I don't believe in plateaus - only action.

I have used the mindset and lifestyle of moderation the entire time and have lost a total of 65 lbs. This seems to be the amount that I have held too. I remember in high school weighing 190 lbs and thinking that it was a healthy weight for me to be at. At the time - maybe that was right, but now that I am older and don't lift weights like I did then -- 190 is not ideal for me. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful that I've been able to hit this weight, but it's not my stopping point. My plan is to reach 170 lbs for me to be a lean, comfortable, solid machine.

As I said, I use moderation to be successful and I will not stop using that, but I will use a narrower gate on what is eaten and more moderation on what may be preventing the last 20 from falling. I won't lie, I allow sugar into my diet (and by 'diet' I mean my daily intake) in a few different forms. I put agave nectar in my coffee, I drink one 12 oz Sprite a day, and usually one other form throughout the day. It's worked and I don't feel deprived. I want to find that balance with smaller portions of the sugar - and so I will.

(now.)

Since our recent move, I've had a hard time with the running. I continue to run and enjoy the running, but find that since going full time at the church - I have had less time to run and more work. Go figure that I'd stop working two jobs and work only one that I'd have more work.

I am using the Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Training for Intermediate level. Why I chose the Intermediate level is because of all the running that I've done this year. It's average run is 3 miles and that's what I do for my easy runs...so that's why I chose that level. Tomorrow is suppose to be a 6 mile run, but I have a 5k to run so the 6m will not get done. I will attempt to work that in somehow throughout the next week.

Hal's program calls for strength training days - I plan to use the p90x during those days. To be honest, I miss doing the p90x on a daily basis so much that I just might modify Hal's program to fit more of that in it. I feel that when I was doing both the running, and the p90x regularly - I felt and did my best.

I have said all of that just to lay out a plan before you to keep me accountable. That's what this site is for right - to encourage and keep accountable.

My Plan for the Last Twenty.

- Cut out the 12 oz Sprite per day. (40 grams of sugar)
- Increase raw green veggies
- Modify Hal's running schedule to include more Strength Training
- Cut cheese (<--Ha. funny huh? - but really, I need to lower the amount of cheese I eat.) These are simple, doable, attainable goals that I will utilize in order to get rid of the last twenty. My mind is set. This is where positive reinforcement takes place. In our old house, I posted notes to myself in front of our treadmill (before outdoor running became my love) that said this.

"Discipline Pushes Limits" "I am the Machine"
"Set Your Mind"

This is where I am.

What is your motto? What do you tell yourself to keep yourself going?

GUEST POST: [Kyle Gershman, GB&B] "Freedom...Worth Fighting For?"

Freedom...Worth Fighting For?

Many thanks for Seth for allowing me to guest post in his absence. Seth has been a great source of inspiration for me in my journey to getting healthy. He is a near unstoppable source of energy and has succeeded in areas that I'm still struggling, e.g. dreaded strength training, so I continue to follow and learn by his example.

While my history of getting fit has included the usual great successes followed by huge setbacks, my latest run at getting fit started last November around 236 pounds. 70 pounds later, I maintain my current 165 pound weight through mostly running and focus on making more good food choices than bad...I still strive to improve on strength training and overall body composition. I graduated C25K in late March and have recently rocked my longest run yet of 7 miles.

And if any of you have followed my blog Getting Better and Better, have received comments from me, I mention Freedom quite a bit. It was the subject one of one of my early blog posts. It was the base of my index card submission to Jack Sh*t, Getting Fit's W.I.D.T.H. series

Before going on, let's take a look at the more relevant definitions from dictionary.com

free·dom  [free-duhm]
–noun

1.the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint.

I want the freedom to be able to do any physical activity I choose to do. I need a physically fit body to carry out that freedom, though. Sure, I've done many physical activities while being less fit than I am not, but they never truly felt free. There were always strings attached. I couldn't go as far, as fast, or for as long as I wanted to. I was always restrained by my lack of physical fitness. I have friends who are very fit and very adventurous. It really irked me to have to awkwardly turn down or suggest alternative adventures that I felt I was more capable of enjoying.

At the urging of one of our fit friends, last October before I started my latest bid for physical fitness, my wife and I went to Yosemite National Park and hiked the Glacier Point Trail. Here is my video review. It was a very hard experience for me. I was probably around 240 pounds at that time and already an experienced hiker, but it was a struggle. Did I complete the hike? Sure, but I was practically immobile that evening and for the next two days. I gave away my freedom of doing anything else for the next few days just to get that one hike in. There were other activities at Yosemite we wanted to do, but we lost our freedom to do so. If you watch the video, you'll hear me breathing heavily at certain points. Again, I could "do" the hike, but I had a really tough time enjoying it as much as I could have. I wasn't really free to take in all the experiences of the hike as I was more concerned about my health and capabilities throughout the hike.

2.exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.

While I'm fortunate to be under a group healthcare plan, I don't know that I feel any freedoms (just yet) to go out and seek my own healthcare coverage. My BMI, waist to hip ratio, etc. all would have put me in a high risk class and may have made coverage prohibitively expensive. There were definitely times I'd like to have left the comforts of company employment and provided group coverage, but I never felt free to do so. I don't want to be restricted by regulations or other parties to determine what kind of coverage I deserve and at what price.

I don't want an airline to tell me I can't fly.

I don't want an amusement park to keep me from riding the rides.

3.the power to determine action without restraint.

This is the freedom of choice...the POWER to determine my actions instead of actions being selected for me.

My wife and I decided to try rock climbing. This would not have been a consideration before. While we had some reasonable choice in taking on certain activities like hiking, cycling, walking, etc. because we had some control over distance, time, terrain, etc., there are some actions that I don't think I had the power to choose.

I'm sure there are some hefty rock climbers out there...I'm sure that the ropes, harnesses, gear, etc. are likely designed to work with people who are much larger than I was; however I never even considered it. I assumed (and I still think rightly so) that climbing rocks on ropes where you are dependent on others for your safety simply was limited to a more fit participant.

Getting down to a healthy weight gave me POWER...it gave me the freedom of choice.

Perhaps there are other freedoms you would like. Would you like to be free of fear? The fear of what the doctor might say next? Sure...me too. I've lived much of my life in fear instead of living it. Getting healthy removes many of those fears. Sure, bad things can still happen, but when you KNOW you aren't healthy, you KNOW that there are higher risks and it raises the fears of something bad happening.

Like our forefathers and their question for freedom, it is something we all deserve...it is something worth fighting for.

What does freedom look and feel like to you? What are you prepared to do?

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?!