A little rambling on why I need to get back in shape

Today is one of those days where there might be 7 blogposts from me….lol.

So I have been thinking about my weigh in this morning, about starting a “Transformation Challenge” or whatever you want to call it tomorrow when I start 90 days of Power 90 and how many times I have been down this road.

I have “tried” (many times tried means started, but no where near finished what I started) many times different fitness programs. Body For Life, Leanness Lifestyle, Power 90 once before (few months ago stopped when I fell and messed my back up in the back yard). You name the diet or the method I have likely tried it. These programs didn’t “fail”. 9/10 I failed the program.

I am not one of these people that does Body for Life, or now Weight Watchers or whatever, and then thinks that every other thing out there is garbage, inferior or whatever. I think there are likely 100′s of programs that work. You just need to find whats right for you. I am hoping that weight watchers is the right program for me nutrition wise and I will give it ample time to give it a fair assessment. I am looking for something I can do as a lifestyle.

My recent health racket with the blood pressure, finding out about the cholesterol and being hooked up for 7 hours to a heart machine really rings home something I have known for a long time, but never really accepted, or took action on. I need to take responsibility for my health, right now, before it gets any worse. Walking around with a 48 inch waist, (still no matter how many times I say/type or write that blows me a way a little) is asking for diabetes/stroke/heart disease.

I am 15 days into taking control of my health, taking responsibility for what goes into my mouth, and owning my actions. Tomorrow I take another step that is important in the process, and start a structured, regular exercise program. I am looking to really transform my health over the next year. To slowly undo the unhealthy practices of the last 10 years. It’s not going to be easy or quick but I will get there. What it comes down to is I am not comfortable living the way I have been anymore. So much time sitting down and not moving. Not taking part in the sports such as golf/soccer/basketball/hockey etc that I always loved because I was too banged up or too unfit to do it. I don’t want to have to stop 3 times hiking my favorite trails with my family in the provincial parks in the summer. It’s time to stop talking the talk and walking the walk. It’s time.

Tony Horton on fitness

Cool video I found

Perspective

Wow, just wow.

Football, better decisions, time for change

So, this weekend I am really suffering from a hangover. Yeah I know, not going to get much sympathy from anyone, nor do I deserve it. I don’t drink very often anymore, most months I drink 1 or 2 times a month, mostly at poker. I am not much of a “have one beer/drink” kinda guy. I drink once or twice a month, but its usually a case a beer and/or some rye. Every time I do, I get hungover, whether its 4/5 beer or a whole bunch.

This past Friday I went overboard. It was a perfect storm of some pain medication (which I rarely take, one months subscription has lasted me 16 months) not much sleep of late, a very shitty day at work and a desire to blow off some steam. Without going into details, I overdid it as I am want to do, and I won’t be drinking again for a while. I am not going to say I am quitting drinking, cause I am not, and I will not. But I have to make smarter decisions, in matters that affect my health.

Meh…I had more to say but I just don’t feel like it all the sudden I guess. I am going to go watch some football. I hope that my Power 90 gets here soon I am looking forward to starting.

A couple inspirational, motivation videos

So after a couple days of migraines, I woke up this morning feeling better. I still have a headache but the jackhammer pain is gone. I was looking around this am for a little motivation and found a new one to me (the first one) but then went back to two video’s I watch often. Enjoy

Tuesday morning

Things are going pretty well. I am getting into a groove and have been done my workout by 8:30 am every day for the last week and a half, with being done my workout by 6:30 am the last two days. I like getting my workout in first thing in the morning, as it leaves no chance for life to get in the way, or for excuses later in the day.

I have been fighting the same fitness battles for years and years. I grew up playing every sport going, and have been in and out of the gym for 25 years. My goals currently are vastly different than what they once were. I grew up wanting to be Arnold Schwarzenegger but now simply want to be lean, strong and pain free. My back still has its days. I am pretty sore the last few days, but I must keep moving. Inactivity hurts me more than anything else. I have not had any spasms for a while, knock on wood, so that’s good.

I have a fantastic group of friends, some of who I have literally known all my life, some of which I have met, or strengthened my friendships with battling it out across a poker table once a month over the last 5 years. Alot of my friends face the same battles, we all face as adults. Work, relationships, responsibilities, yada yada yada. Some would like to be in better shape, but their “why” isn’t strong enough to get them to move. I am not talking down at them when I say this, lord knows I have no right to given my track record. I am starting to reach some resistance from my friends when I talk about trying to get in shape, or cut back on my drinking or whatever. That’s fine, I will let it slide off, or will use it as further motivation to reach my goals. I am not quitting drinking completely. I have no desire to do that. My a couple a drinks a few times a month helps keep me sane. I am simply trying to instill some discipline in my life, something I sorely lack at times. Balance is not my best quality. Always been an all or nothing guy. I hope to have results so good that my friends are inspired to make their own changes, on their own terms. Saying no to drinks for a little bit won’t kill me and will help me along in my journey.

I wasn’t going to post these here on this blog but what the hell. I have never been shy and live my life pretty much like an open book. I have a link to this blog on my facebook, so everyone can see it anyway. On the private fitness site I joined, I am posting daily pictures as part of accountability. I don’t think I will post daily pics here but I will post the Pictures below to show my progress thus far.

Not mindblowing but its coming. The first pic was taken 8 days ago, and the one on the right yesterday. Every few weeks I will post an update, that is unless I throw caution to the wind and start posting the pictures daily. We’ll see.

I am down under 220 pretty regularly now the past week. I was 229 when I came home from Florida a month from tommorrow, and I have lost a whopping 5 inches from my waist since then. I am working out steady, and really working hard on getting 10,000 steps a day minimum, with some days hitting 14000 or more. I am starting to believe I won’t let myself down this time and will follow this through. It’s been a long long road, but I am going to get to my goal. My ultimate goal is to get back down to the 175-180 range and maintain that. I came down from 209 to 159 10 years ago, and maintained no higher than 180 for 5 years, I can, and will do it again. 175 is obviously a long range goal, but I will get there. One day at a time.

Time to go on the offensive

Well, I am still alive, still fighting back problems. I am doing what I can to combat the back stuff, physio and work agreed to me working a reduced return to work schedule, I am going to physio twice a week, and I am walking to work each way (4.5km) on the days it doesn’t rain. However its time to go on the offensive.

I have not been “attacking” my war to get back to health. There are a lot of adversaries in this war. Lethargy, indifference, busy lives, legit physical pain/injuries, to name a few. But its time to get moving and stop feeling sorry for myself. No more playing the victim, time to take control. Even on the days I am too sore or whatever to do any exercise I have to eat, so eat right! It’s simple but not easy.

My physiotherapist stresses I need to move and stationary is the enemy. I have been doing alot of walking as I said and that’s a start, but that’s just one facet. I need to get back in the gym, and I need to really work at this. I admit after this last setback with the back the last few weeks I wanted to say F it. But I want to get healthy and have a long life, to be around for the kids, and my wife. No more sitting around getting more and more out of shape, time to take the offensive.

Now this is Inspiring

I have read the story many times but it never ceases to inspire.

Motivational videos

Was just looking around youtube tonight for some motivational videos. I was watching the old standby’s the Rocky training scenes and speeches…Love rocky/sly. and came across a couple great ones….

take a look

Will Smith…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNB6n0FfqAU&hl=en">

Rocky 6 …i have posted this a couple times on a couple blogs…but one of the best scenes from all 6 movies

Now that is a bike ride!

Check this out. This man has ridden tens of thousands of miles on his bike to raise money for different causes.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blackhistory2008/columns/story?id=3222671