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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Is it time for a Refocus?

On occasion, even when you have the best intentions, life throws you a curveball. Though you have a goal and a purpose in mind, and specific steps on how to get there it doesn't always work out. To quote a famous skinny Brit "You can't always get what you want".
Well, I don't believe it. You can get what you want, you just have to go about it in a different way.

I have always considered myself a stable and even keeled individual. This past 6 months has been chaotic. Lifestyle changes and career choices, the stuff we all have to deal with have fogged my goal. Get Healthy. Well, it's time to refocus!

What I have been doing has worked to some extent. It's made me aware that I have to treat my body better, exercise and take time for me so that I can focus on the things that are important to me, family, career and enjoyment. I've lost weight, I've kept a lot of it off, but I can see old habits creeping back in to the routine. So as of today I'm trying something else. I'm going to try a new supplement and a new way of changing my metabolism. I don't know a lot about it, but the reviews are good. I'll get some before and after pics up here and if all goes well, I'll let you know about it. Wish me luck!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Fat Man Walking: First Sun Run Dun- I Wun Says Hun-Fun but Sore Bun...

Fat Man Walking: First Sun Run Dun- I Wun Says Hun-Fun but Sore Bun...: "Okay, sorry about the alliteration, but I got your attention. My first foray into organized running or walking. It was a fun, just me and 50..."

First Sun Run Dun- I Wun Says Hun-Fun but Sore Bun

Okay, sorry about the alliteration, but I got your attention. My first foray into organized running or walking. It was a fun, just me and 50,000 of my closest friends.
We had a work group that were going to meet under the S in SunRun. Good Luck. Our meet time was 8:30, I was ther before 8 (thankyou skytrain). There were already close to 10,000 people in place and warming up. One quick phone call and I know we were no more than a couple of hundred feet from each other. That was as close as we got. I never saw any of them. Oh well, I had lots to concentrate on. My original goal when setting out was to finish in about 1:45. This is a quick walk, maybe the odd jog in there as well. When the gun went off I was in the middle front of the pack. It still took nearly 10 minutes to get to the start line. It's a crazy feeling, and you do get swept up in it. I did a nice slow jog for the firtst 1/2 k, enough to get my legs moving and to figure out the pace and how to stay out of people's way. A combination walk, jog for the next 7k. Probably about half and half. An amazing feeling with all the supporters cheering on people they don't even know. You are never more than 5 metres from anyone, usually more like a foot. Surprisingly, I felt quite good. This is about 3 k longer than any of the warmups I had done. When I got to the south end of the Cambie St. bridge, I could see the 9 k sign. I brought it up to a quick (for me) jog and actually sprinted the last 150 yards. I finished in 1:27:37, so a little ahead of the pace I projected. This put me in about 25,000th place. That sounds terrible until I realize I beat 25,000 more people. I know it's not about the race, but when you start, it is.
Great organization and great volunteers, it made the day quite memorable. I'm feeling all of my 53 years today, the muscles are quite sore, but I kind of expected it. Should only last a day or so and then I can start to run a little bit more. Maybe next year I can take another 15 minutes off that time? Hope you all join me, it really is a good feeling.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Fat Man Walking: Life is Slowly Evolving

Fat Man Walking: Life is Slowly Evolving: "Been a while since I checked in. The weight loss continues, albeit slowly. The passion to get healthy is now a craving or an urge. Still ther..."

Life is Slowly Evolving

Been a while since I checked in. The wight loss continues, albeit slowly. The passion to get healthy is now a craving or an urge. Still there but without the intensity.
I've found that the little journeys that life throws your way makes life more complex and interesting. After doing a major overhaul of my life last year, this year has become even more of a frog in a blender. The more sure I am that everything is becoming more calm and manageable, the more chaos rules. Just when I thought I had finally decided  what to be when I grew up, fate dealt another hand. I can't actually tell you what's going on, but it's something that I've wanted to do for quite sometime. It came out of the blue and will use all the skills I've accumulated over the past 30 years (the first 23 don't count cuz I wasn't paying attention)
I'm looking forward to the Sun Run on the 17th. My intent is to walk the majority and when I get within a mile of the finish line to jog in in  a blaze of glory and then collapse in a heap gasping for breath. It may not be pretty, but it should be accurate. I hope to have photos for you (not the gasping in a heap part). See ya soon

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Fat Man Walking: 20 LBS, 100k and the Vancouver Sun Run

Fat Man Walking: 20 LBS, 100k and the Vancouver Sun Run: "Starting Weight 294.3Current Weight 274.2Total Lost 20.1Weight to Go 77bsDistance Walked 100.5 It's been just over two month..."

20 LBS, 100k and the Vancouver Sun Run

Starting Weight 294.3
Current Weight 274.2
Total Lost 20.1
Weight to Go 77bs
Distance Walked 100.5

 It's been just over two months since I started this. In that time I have lost 20 lbs and walked over 100k. More importantly, I have changed my attitude and habits.
A typical day starts with a protien shake, a banana or two pieces of multigrain toast and a walk with Elvis. A mid morning snack might be almonds or grapes, or a small piece of chicken or a dill pickle. Versatility meet leftovers! Lunch is usually 2 wraps, ancient grain with chicken or ham, veggies and a hot spicy Thai sauce. Mid afternoon is more leftovers or a salad or occasionally a protien bar. Dinner is pretty much whatever I want, typically meat or chicken, fish and rice. I don't obsess over dinner, I'm usually quite aware of what I've had for the day and I don't go overboard. If I get the munchies, I still love Vector cereal and blueberries. I still don't drink as many of the protien shake as I should, but I don't like them with water and even though I'm now using skim milk, I try to limit the intake. I drink 3 or 4 litres of water during the day. I still have a glass of wine at night, though I haven't had a beer in weeks.
I've lost one full pant size and one shirt size.
I've also committed to the Vancouver Sun Run on April 17th. I won't run it, but I will fast walk and slow jog. My goal is to finish in under 1 hr 45, and not in pain.
Hope you all will join me. Also, does anyone have any training tips for me? Please let me know as time is limited so I want to be as productive as I can given my schedule. See you soon