Monday Morning Weigh in

Last Monday: 221 lbs
Today: 219.5 lbs
Weekly Gain/loss: - 1.5 lbs
Overall since I started blog 10/10/11: -7 lbs
Overall since 1/1/11: -30.5 lbs

Ran 21 miles this past week.

Ran 2 miles this morning, plan on running a few more tonight then try to fit in P90X around Halloween.

Super Sunday

Had a great weekend with family and friends but it was time to take a few hours and workout:

Noon: 3 mile run on treadmill
12:45-1:45 - Chest, Biceps, triceps, and shoulders.  All dumbbell work, high reps low weight and made sure I got a nice burn on all workouts.
4:15-5:20 (Steelers game) - Ran 7.2 miles on treadmill.
Thought about doing P90X around 9:00....but I will do that tomorrow after my 3-4 mile run.

Here comes the plateau!?!?!

These next two weeks are going to be critical for me to get to 210lbs any time soon.  I always get stuck at 220lbs, so I have decided to ramp up my workouts.  Last night I did chest, biceps, and shoulders for a solid hour then ran 4 miles on the treadmill watching the Pens play.

Tough weekend ahead, food at the reunion then drinks with friends afterwards...

Here is the plan:
Friday: p90x plyometrics
Saturday: wake up EARLY run 8-10 miles (probably just 8 but you never know)
Sunday: Run during the Steelers game (approx 4 miles)

The P in P90X must stand for PHAILURE

My goodness P90X is hard to do when you are fat or not used to it.

Plyometrics - I can get about 40 minutes through it.
Interval X Plus - I get about half way through it.
Cardio X - I can make it the whole way.
Ab Ripper X - I am embarrassed to admit I do this workout.  It is actually fun to try to keep up with the main P90X guy.  You do about 350 types of crunches....

I never thought I would say it but I miss the gym...pushing weights around seems so much more fun than this.  The strange thing about doing P90X is I always feel like I should be doing more, like going for a 2-3 mile run after it....

On the agenda this month:  Buy some dumbbells so I can start doing P90X: Chest & Back, Shoulders & Arms and Backs & Biceps.

I finally got my diet under control which is huge for me.  I no longer crave 1lb of M&Ms like I used to....or Pizza.  I have also decided to start making my own protein bars.  Here is the first one I am going to try:

Homemade Protein Bars-chocolate

Ingredients 1 1/3 cup oats 4 scoops of chocolate protein powder 1 cup dry nonfat dry milk 1/3 cup each: sunflour seeds, dried cranberry, coconut flakes 5 tbs peanut butter 3/4 cup water 1 tsp vanilla

Directions

Oil square baking pan, mix all dry ingredients, mix water and vanilla until smooth. Spoon into pan and refrigerate for two hours. Cut and individually wrap. Makes 9 bars.

Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 9
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 229.6 

• Total Fat: 9.4 g
• Cholesterol: 1.7 mg
• Sodium: 141.2 mg
• Total Carbs: 24.7 g
• Dietary Fiber: 2.8 g
• Protein: 13.4 g
   

Monday Morning Weigh in:

Last Monday: 223.5
Today: 221
Weekly Gain/loss: -2.5lbs
Overall since I started blog 10/10/11: -5.5lbs
Overall since 1/1/11: -29lbs

Ran 22.7 miles

It was a good week, now the hard part comes.....my plateau weight of 220....

Waistline reduction

I remember back to when I wore a pant size 28-34 back in high school, I was deathly looking back then.  I remember at college when I wore a size 34-34.....I remember just a few months ago when I was wearing a size 38-34 or so I thought....So that brings me to a few weeks ago. 

Which one would I be???

I lost about 30lbs so I figured it was time to buy some new jeans.  So I went into my closet and pulled out a pair of jeans that were 36-34 and tried them on just to see how they fit.  I mean come on, how could I not be at least one size smaller?!  Unfortunately, I could not even button them.  So I pulled out another pair and yep...I could not button them either.  I was perplexed, why I have no idea it was pretty obvious what was going on.

So I went to the store to try on a pair of 36-34 and guess what....I could not button them.

Just then I realized I somehow stretched all of my pants waistlines out to about a size 40/42-34 .  The more I thought about it the more I realized how embarrassing I must have looked. 

I would like to thank all of my friends for not saying anything...not like I would have believed you anyway.  Then there was Steve Budny who has been calling me "chubs" for years.  Well Steve, congrats....you were right.

So here I am now with a new pair of size 38-34 pants that actually fit correctly.  I have a small goal to get back to 34-34...I know it is going to take a while but I cannot imagine a more satisfying accomplishment than that!

Monday Morning Weigh in:

Last Monday: 226.5
Today: 223.5
Weekly Gain/loss: -3lbs
Overall since I started blog: -3lbs
Overall since 1/1/11: 26.5lbs

Weddings are great....running is not!

Had a great time at kyle Henderson's wedding....I made it my official cheat day for obvious reasons.

I am trying to develop a good training plan that includes actually seeing my kids for more then 2 hours a night.....It is going to be tough.  I am planning an AM workout and a PM workout just in case something comes up.....

Monday
AM:  Run 3 miles
PM:  Volleyball

Tuesday
AM:  Morning Off
PM:  6-8 Mile run

Wednesday
AM:  3 mile run
PM:  P90X

Thursday
AM:  3 Mile Run
PM:  Afternoon Off

Friday
AM:  Morning Off
PM:  Run 5 miles

Saturday
AM:  Morning Off
PM:  P90X

Sunday:
AM:  8-10 mile run

I started P90X this week.....it is tough...I am not.  Tonight I did part of the Plyometrics workout:

Plyometrics, also known as jump training, has been proven to dramatically improve athletic performance. If your sport involves a ring, rink, field, court, or track, then this training will give you the edge.

My hamstrings are killing me but I feel great!

No excuses and other things

The Pens are on, I had to work late, the SRS is invite only, I have yet to eat dinner....



A pic of the moon from my morning run

 Those are all excuses I used just last week instead of working out.  I refuse to use any excuses from here on out.  I went to the Pens game Tuesday night so Tuesday morning I got up at 5:00am and ran 3.1 miles.  My time was not great but I got out and did it and felt great afterwards.  Tonight the Pens are on and it is crappy out so I am cleaning off my treadmill and running a few miles then doing some P90X.  This weekend should also be interesting since I have a wedding and a funeral to be at.

Since I refuse to join a gym (I always waste my money on them) I need to go out any buy some dumbbells so I can do workouts at home. 

I am now into day 4 of eating healthy and all I can say is….it sucks.  Trying to eat small meals 5 times a day is tough….I cannot wait until this week is over so my body is not craving 6 slices of large pizza anymore.

I eat at 8:00am, 10am, 12:00, 3:00, and 6:00.

Normal workday:

8:00 Oatmeal, Greek Yogurt
10:00: ½ peanut butter sandwich or protein bar
Noon: Salad or grilled chicken
3:00: ½ peanut butter sandwich or protein bar
6:00: Something with a lot of protein, normally a meal with chicken and a vegetable

Weekends are a totally different story…….that is for a later post.

Day one - the rest of my life

A friend of mine started a blog to keep himself motivated to get into great shape.  I thought it was a great idea so I am going to take a shot at it too.

Long story short I used to be 250lbs and heading for a collision course with who knows what...death?  I knew it was time for a change.  On January 1st of 2011 I decided I was going to start running to drop some pounds.  I have never really ran a lot before so I had no idea how this was going to turn out.  As of October 10, 2011 I have taken part in 3 - 5k, 3 - Half Marathons, 2 - 10k, and a 8 miler.  I would say I have done really well this summer.

At this point I am at 226.5 which is disappointing because I was down to 218.  So this is where the blog will come into play....can I use this to stay motivated and drop more weight and get into great shape?  Who knows but I am going to try my best.

Here is a picture of me at my friends wedding.....I have to admit this really, really bothered me.....

Wow, how fat can I be?

Funny story:  I would always talk about how fat I am and my wife to her credit would say you are not fat.  So after I lost 30lbs I was trying shirts on and as always talking about how fat I am and what does my wife tell me? "Chris you are not fat anymore so start wear clothes that fit you properly."  Love her.....

Workout/eating habits from here on out:
I plan on running a lot until December 31st, after that I am going to do more of a weight training/running combo to try and add some muscle to this ugly frame of mine.

I plan on making lunches for myself everyday at work so I can keep an eye on my calorie intake and my pocketbook.  This is normally the hardest this to do because I cannot stand sitting in the lunch room and having to listen to pointless complaints about everyone else.....just be happy people!



Goals for the remaining 2 1/2 months of the year:

• Run at least 20 miles a week
• Eat healthy, no excuses
• Drop another 10-15 lobs
• Get to 210 lbs.

Starting January 1st, 2012 I am going to reshape my goals.

I get to start out with a fun night of Volleyball...not a great workout but better than nothing!