Not Quite Dead Yet November 4, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Exercise, Exercise Bike, Health, Injury, Journal, Treadmill, Weight Loss.2 comments
It’s been a while. Life seems a little bit better and I’m taking the right steps in my weight loss. I’m back to a consistent basis on the treadmill, although not to where I was before. I changed up my sprints more for time than for speed as the speed was leading to a quicker end to our treadmill. Yesterday I was able to have a rotation of 2 min @ 7mph, 1 min @ 5.5mph, and then 1 min of 3mph. Not too bad. It’s paying off too in a couple of ways. First I had a health assessment and all my blood levels are great. The only thing that was on the bad was my weight. Second was playing basketball last night. I used to play in high school but that was 20 years ago. It’s a group of techs at work that get together every Tuesday during the winter and I was very nervous. I’ve got no offense but I can set picks, play defense and make a good pass once in a while. Another thing, I can run. I run the court better now than I did 20 years ago. Now my ankles were letting me know this morning I’m not the young man I once was. But I was so charged last night when I got home to know I could run with the young boys and I plan on adding this to my routine, as well as the following morning’s walk to loosen up the ankles after barely getting to the bathroom this morning.
It’s good to have new stuff to do. The exercise bike is gone now, taken back by my brother and his wife. So I’m learning new stuff to keep active. Life is so busy right now so it’s been really important for me to establish my morning exercise pattern.
As far as this blog, I’m not so sure. Maybe I’ll get back to a once a week update just to keep myself honest. This is my blog, for me, and while I know I don’t want it to get repetitive for me, I still understand how important it is to keep an accountability journal of what’s going on. That’s the plan for now.
Time to go for another walk to loosen up the ankles.
I’m really back now. October 2, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Exercise, Exercise Bike, Health, Journal, Treadmill, Weigh Day, Weight Loss.3 comments
A switch was turned on today, this morning. Maybe yesterday. I knew it was turned on already before I got on the scale this morning and that driven part of me that has been gone for the last few months is back. I had a 4 pound gain this week. Embarrassing. I don’t know why. But I’m through with it. I’ve snacked too much at work and ate too late at home. ENOUGH!! It’s time to get things reigned in and take control. This won’t be a trigger for more depression. This is a new starting point. I have the same goal in mind and I will not stop until I get there. Hopefully my computer won’t stop either.
This morning’s exercise was good. Started on the treadmill at first but was frustrated right away with the noise that I got off and finished the workout on the bike. Tomorrow begins the treadmill teardown. I’m replacing a bearing, possibly the platform board, and adding rubber grommets at each junction to give it a tighter feel.
Eating was good today. Getting back to my regular eating habits and ignoring the snacks. I mentioned earlier this week that I’m getting the anger back. Maybe it’s not anger. Maybe it’s just a focus that I’m not used to. It usually comes out with a look of determination that could be interpreted as a ticked-off look. I just know what needs to get done and I am going to do it. I’ve made my choices. It’s time not to go back on them. It’s time to follow through.
Room for improvement October 1, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Exercise, Exercise Bike, Health, Journal, Treadmill, Weight Loss.1 comment so far
I am still not much in a writing mode. I took apart a stereo tonight to work on and the treadmill is just begging me to take it apart and see if I can make it stronger. My wife thinks it’s junk and I need to prove her wrong as I have no interest in paying for a health club membership or buying a new one until we get 10 years out of this one. 2 more years to go.
This morning I was up early again and got a more intense workout on the exercise bike. My eating wasn’t the best but it’s getting more in line with where I was before.
A follow-up to yesterday’s post regarding The Biggest Loser. I read a blog yesterday that mentioned they were sick of the show and how Jillian and Bob treat the contestants. I gotta say that I disagree with the comments. We’re seeing just a fraction of what actually is going on and if the contestants are being mistreated, they wouldn’t develop the relationships that they do with Bob and Jillian. I listened to a show of Jillian’s today and I have a lot of respect for her. She can kick my butt anytime.
Running again September 30, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Exercise, Exercise Bike, Health, Journal, Treadmill, Weight Loss.3 comments
I felt good this morning on the treadmill. Started out first pretty slow and got up to a good incline. Then I wanted to see about doing some smaller sprints. So I would run 7mph for 2 minutes then 3mph for a minute. Did that for 20 minutes and felt pretty good. Very sweaty but good. I’ll probably pick up the intensity on the exercise bike tomorrow morning.
So busy. So goodnight.
I need anger September 29, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Exercise, Exercise Bike, Health, Journal, Weight Loss.2 comments
Got up early this morning and got on the bike for 40 minutes. It wasn’t intense. I didn’t sweat as much as I had before but I did sweat. Slowly getting back into this. The plan is to exercise through Friday and then work around the house during the weekend. I did some work tonight with getting the sump pump ready to be winterized. It’s getting cold fast here. Turned on the furnace tonight. Hopefully it will kill more mosquitoes so I can enjoy being outside instead of being slowly bled to death.
I went to bed angry last night. Not at anybody. Not really at any situation. I’m just angry. I need to be angry to start fighting. To get that determination back. I’m not done yet and I never will be until I reach my goals.
Speaking of angry….I watched the Biggest Loser tonight. I do not like Tracey. She’s crazy. There are some people who quietly let emotions wear them down, life wears them down and they eat to ease the pain. Then there are people who sabotage their life and sometimes the lives of people around them. Tracey feels like that. She is one sad lady.
Gotta go. Getting angry. Time for bed.
One last good day of workouts September 10, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Exercise, Exercise Bike, Health, Journal, Weight Loss.2 comments
Tomorrow I go in for a minor surgery that will lay me up for a week before I can do any kind of exercising so I made it count today. This morning I got my exercise going 40 minutes on the bike. I still don’t know why I sweat so much on that thing when my heart rate doesn’t get up that high. After making my lunch for the day and before taking a shower, my shirt is so wet it feels cold to take it off.
Tonight I got my sprints in outside as part as a 4 mile run. My body felt pretty tired, gotta remember to sleep more, and with how warm it was I kept the intensity under check. It was a good workout and glad to get one last run in.
Don’t know what I will do in the morning. I feel like I need to rest. I’ve been enjoying a good football game to start the season and up later than usual. Sorry for not posting much. Too many things on my mind.
I AM an athlete…..almost! September 3, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Exercise, Exercise Bike, Health, Journal, Weight Loss.2 comments
Another good day. I woke up early again and got my sprints in. The cars didn’t slow down so much this morning but gave me space. I do have one of those head band lights that I could wear to help me see better in the morning and for others see me. And since I can get them for cheap at my job, I was thinking of getting another one to wear backwards and turn on the red LED’s that come with it. That way I can be correctly lit. I may have been lit when I first thought of this.
I might ride the exercise bike just to get rid of some water and help me get to my goal tomorrow. I’m really close.
Today was the day I donated blood. This time they asked me to be a 2RSB or something like that where I give 2 units and I get some saline and other stuff back in 1 unit. I got some good news. My blood pressure was 105/64. I looked it up better and I’m almost an athlete! When I first saw that chart, it took me a while to take it in and to realize how far I’ve come. While I have a ways to go, I am in a healthy shape. Going in the right direction. Now to really start to think about playing basketball with the guys this winter.
There has been some discussion with some people about a feeling going around right now. Everyone is feeling lethargic and has an appetite. At least that’s how it is up here in northern Minnesota. I’ve developed a theory. It’s an animal instinct to slow down the metabolism and store up fat to build a layer for the winter. It seems that a lot of us are fighting it up here. But I’m glad I snapped out of it this week. I got my desire to work out more this week, to get up early and get the most of my workouts. I actually enjoyed them this week. I will not accumulate more fat, I’m getting rid of it. If I’m cold, I’ll wear a sweater……or my black leather jacket that fits so good now.
Great day September 2, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Exercise, Exercise Bike, Health, Journal, Weight Loss.Tags: running outside
2 comments
These days seem so far and few between that when they do come, you just want to scream like a little girl. OK, that might be a little extreme but I can’t help but smile at just how a day went.
Exercise was extremely awesome. I burned 780 calories on the exercise bike this morning in 42 minutes. To focus on getting done, sometimes I had to quietly sing out the words to the music I was listening to. Apparently too loud though as my wife was asking me later who I was talking to down here. Throughout the day I felt sore from the exercise last night, especially my hammies, knees and then biceps which have not been sore for a long time. Then tonight 30 minutes after I ate I went for a 6 mile run. I know, a little crazy but it’s so nice out and I just felt like I could do it. Once again my groove really got going into mile 3. I need to start keeping track of how fast I’m doing it because I’m sure the last half is faster than my first half. Anywho, I had my best time of one hour and 7 minutes. AND THEN I couldn’t do my cool-down because the mosquitoes found me!! AND THEN I’m banished to my cave in the basement because I stink and don’t want to take a shower. I’m ok with that. It’s just me writing and listening to pandora.com. This is the life. Now if I just had a faster computer…..
Eating was great too. At first my schedule at work just had a meeting from 9:30 to 10 and that was it. I ate my early lunch before the meeting and good thing I did. That meeting lasted until 10:40 which in turn created another meeting at 11 which went until 1. I had to spend those 20 minutes catching up with helping others that I work with and just had a couple of almonds and carrots. So this afternoon was spent catching up with food and work. I feel like I was eating so much but I was just catching up with my calories for the day. I knew I wanted to get a good run in because tomorrow I’m donating blood at work and probably will just take it easy on the exercise bike tomorrow night.
This day has really flew by. Hopefully tomorrow will too and then weigh day and a trip to Omaha!
Meh August 31, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Exercise, Exercise Bike, Health, Journal, Weight Loss.3 comments
I don’t know what to think. My body is off today. I did have a strong workout on the exercise bike and I did really good with my eating today. Just have had a stomach thing tonight that has held me up from going on a 4 mile run.
Cereal with milk 150
Banana 172
Pork Sandwich 500
Sandwich 210
Cereal 110
Vegatable 60
Carrots 150
Multi-Gran crackers 180
Almonds 100
Cashews 80
Salad 100
Yogart with Granola 350
Total 2162
Here’s where I have a problem. Couple that with the 700 calories that I burned this morning on the exercise bike and I’ve got 1462 calories for the day. My sister sent me a great email today. She’s the “health nut” (I’m hoping to be one too) of the family and has really helped me start it, talk about it, and given me ideas during my journey. She told me that I’m not getting enough calories. That I should be eating around 2400 and 2600 based on how much I’m exercising. I think she might be on to something on the days I do work out that much. It’s just hard to think about everything. How am I supposed to know how much I’m supposed to eat when I don’t know how hard I might work out that evening? I can’t wait to go down to Omaha and see her this weekend to talk it out with her and her husband.
Busy day – Hard day August 30, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Exercise, Exercise Bike, Health, Journal, Treadmill, Weight Loss.2 comments
We had my son’s birthday party with his friends today. 16 kids around 6 years of age. Chaos. My wife did a great job of planning, getting my parent’s place ready (we have no grass at the new house), and then hosting the party while I stayed with the little ones as they took a nap and then I brought them over. I did set up tables and chairs, took them down when all was done and helped with some small stuff but it seems that she just got lost in all of it. She did a great job. Kade had the ‘bestest’ time.
One thing bad she did was make some peanut butter and chocolate rice crispies bars, one of my favorites. I had 4 inch and a half by inch and a half pieces today. Very unhappy with myself. I figured as I lay to go to sleep in bed last night that I had already taken my day off from exercise on Friday so tonight I got in another workout but the bad food showed with how intense my workout was. I started out on the exercise bike but struggled for 25 minutes, I switched over to the treadmill and started to run but then I thought I better take a break from that and switched it over to 3.8mph with a 10% incline. Did that for 10 minutes, switched back to the bike for 10 minutes and then went back to on the treadmill. I stayed there for 35 more minutes and figured I burned 1100 calories tonight. Good workout but it doesn’t make up for my eating for today.
Breakfast
Bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios and a granola bar
Lunch
2 turkey sandwiches, 1 rice crispy bar
Afternoon Snacks
3 handfuls of cashews, 1 handful of almonds, about 15 multi-grain club crackers, 1 carrot, 1 rice crispy bar
Dinner
3/4 of turkey sandwich, 2 more stinking delicious rice crispy bar, 1 carrot
I’m not frustrated. I didn’t binge. But I’ve gotta figure out where this is coming from. And I can’t bank on making it up by exercising harder. I could tell tonight that I’m not fueling up right. So as seen above I’m going to start documenting what I’m eating daily. This should help for September as there will be almost 2 weeks where I won’t be able to exercise and help me keep on track by being accountable for my calorie intake as well as being more aware of what’s affecting my appetite.
On the other hand I might be preparing for hibernation for the winter………
