A little ticked June 17, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Circuit Training, Exercise, Health, Injury, Journal, Weight Loss.Tags: Circuit Training, frustration
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It’s been almost 5 days since the problems with my back started and they are still here. Not that it’s crippling me to stay in bed or anything, it just twinges and causes cringes. I slept in this morning to give it a rest and then was going to try some circuit training tonight. Nope. Got through two circuits and I could tell I wasn’t ready yet. I could have pushed through it but that wouldn’t help me heal any faster. I want to be able to do my sprints soon and this will not help. So I’m expecting this week to be a set back week for my weight. I’ve been 2lbs over my last week’s weight and I’m learning to accept it.
So where do I find motivation to not give up, to keep going? 2 instances popped up over the last 24 hours. Last night my wife was at the park with the kids and they ran into one of our friends. He asked her if I had lost some weight, that he could tell something was going on. Then his wife chirped in, “Like a lot”. The funny thing I find about this is that they didn’t want to ask me even though they could tell. Like I would be offended or something. Well, they are from North Dakota so….. The other instance was on my way back from lunch and going up the stairs with someone I used to work with in the company. She said she’s noticed but keeps forgetting to ask.
Once again, on the right path with the right mindset and the right motivation. It’s hard to be motivated but to be unable to do anything right now but to watch what I’m eating. Just need to push through and accept the push I get from others.
What exactly am I burning? June 3, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Circuit Training, Exercise, Exercise Bike, Health, Journal, Treadmill, Weight Loss.Tags: Circuit Training, Exercise Bike, Life, running
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It bugs me a little that when I’m on a treadmill or exercise bike, that I’m not burning exactly what they say. It really hit me when I started using my brother’s exercise bike. I could burn 700 calories in 40 minutes but it never asked me for my weight like our treadmill does. Yesterday morning I did some research and found this great little article that helped ease my mind. It’s short and quick and gives me the right mindset for what I’m burning while doing exercises on the machines.
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/heart/9909/07/cardiomachine.accuracy/index.html
Another short post because there is just not enough time in the day. TV is completely out of the window nowa days unless it was like last night when my wife and I were in the hot tub, watching a half hour of a Biography program. Life is so different now with activities and exercises and my mind has accepted it. No, it has embraced it. It really is a new life.
Motivation June 2, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Circuit Training, Exercise, Exercise Bike, Health, Journal, Treadmill, Weight Loss.Tags: Circuit Training, running, running outside
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I’ve been kinda funny about how I’ve been communicating my weight loss with others. I haven’t shared it with many people outside my small family circle, just hoping that they would notice and bring the compliment that way. But I have enjoyed talking with others around me that are going through the process as I am. At work it seems like a lot of people are jumping into weight loss for various reasons. For most it’s about health conditions such as cholesteral, bad back, or even to get their body right since they’ve had problems that have lead to surgery and are being proactive about what is happening to their bodies. Those are the individuals who are serious about the process. Then there are the ones who are “well, I guess I should”. That lasts for about 2-3 weeks and then they are back to their old patterns. I just love the dialogue with both sets of people and getting to understand the mindset of each. I see how important it is to share ideas of how to do this and that and what to do when a roadblock comes up.
Sunday was my lazy day and I spent a lot of it looking up other weight loss blogs. I came across two that I really like, Log my loss and The Blog of my Life. Both are guys who are on the same journey with experiences and attitudes close to mine. They are doing it the right way through diet and exercise, not trying to cheat the process, and are further ahead than I am. I hope to learn a lot from them.
So what does it mean for my workout yesterday? A lot. I woke up determined to run a country block yesterday morning (4 miles). I had my breakfast first but knowing I needed the time, I started 15 minutes after eating with a walk. The further I got into it the more frustrated I got. I would pick out a goal to run to but I just ran out of steam before I got to it. About halfway through I noticed the electrical poles that were along the road so I started to run to the first one, walk to the second, run to the third and so on. This really picked up my pace, got me in a good cardio rhythm, and helped me finish the 4 miles in 50 minutes. Can’t wait to try again on Wednesday (going to take a break today and go on the exercise bike to give my muscles something else to do) and see if I can better my time.
In the evening I was excited to get back into my circuit training and I bumped up the intensity to a new level. My set was:
10 squats with curls
10 crunches on the ball
10 overhead presses
5 push ups
10 lunges
10 sit down
10 butterfly presses
60 flying steps (really got my cardio going)
and did 10 repititions of each set. This left me out of breath but it felt really good to push myself harder, farther then I thought I could. It just was a good day for working out and I can’t wait to hit it again.
So tired. May 30, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Circuit Training, Exercise, Exercise Bike, Health, Journal, Treadmill, Weight Loss.Tags: 10K, Cabin, Circuit Training, running, running outside
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Just got back from my parent’s cabin. I was able to get my circuit training in last night next to a camp fire and under a blue sky. At first I stood there not knowing what to do but then I found stuff around me to work with and change it up a bit from what I usually do. It was fun.
This morning I was able to get a run in. Almost 3.5 miles in 45 minutes which kinda shocked me. I didn’t know until a few hours later when I drove it and watched the trip meter measure the distance. Maybe I am making progress towards that 10K run in August.
Otherwise today was just busy. I find myself being more active without thinking about it. I want to go do stuff and not sit around. I did about 4 biking trips today giving my kids and my neices rides on the roads around the cabin in the bike trailer. Then it was cooking lunch on the campfire, running here and there and enjoying the day. I would have loved to have stayed another night but if one of us wants to go back, we usually do. It will be nice to sleep hard on my own bed.
Doing a weigh in tomorrow and will be posting.
New workout May 27, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Circuit Training, Exercise, Exercise Bike, Health, Journal, Treadmill, Weight Loss.Tags: Biggest Loser, Circuit Training, Exercise Bike, goal, running
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Tonight, to mix things up, I tried the Biggest Loser yoga workout for weight loss on recommendation from my sister. I never thought I could sweat by not moving around much. I think I’m going to buy a copy. It worked out muscles that I don’t get to usually, it helps train my balance, and I need to be more flexible physically. I don’t know if it’s as good a workout as my other circuit training but it should be good to do once a week.
This morning was a pretty good workout. I got 6 HIIT in before my wife came down so I went on the bike and burned over 600 calories total. I know my body is stronger but I feel week. It seems to take so much energy to get through these workouts. Maybe it’s because I am pushing myself just a little bit harder but it feels like I should just break through this and not struggle so much. But that’s ok. Bring it on.
New Goal May 25, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Circuit Training, Exercise, Health, Journal, Treadmill, Weight Loss.Tags: Circuit Training, goal
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I think I know what kinda happened last week to my weight loss and attitude. I got comfortable with my next goal for the end of July. I was within 5 lbs of it and I started to cruise. Today I found another goal to shoot for. In 6 weeks my brother and his wife will be visiting from NY and I’m going to try to lose 10lbs. It might be a bit much but I think it’s reachable and it would put me in excellent shape to get to my 50 pound mark for the family reunion by the end of the month of July. This should help me get more focused on my food intake and cut out the little cheats I’ve been doing lately.
Tonight I went back to one of my first circuit training, bringing back the steps. It was a good workout and I focused on the technique of how I did my weight lifting, slowing it down and making the muscles work more. I tried to add a new exercise, pull-ups, but I just don’t have the muscle and probably too much weight. I figured out another weight lift that would help encourage more strength in that area. I feel good but I know my body is still out of shape.
How much longer?
This week is not going to be so good. May 22, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Circuit Training, Exercise, Exercise Bike, Health, Journal, Treadmill, Weigh Day, Weight Loss.Tags: Circuit Training, frustration
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Just have a feeling that I will be lucky to maintain or lose 1lb. And that’s ok. I enjoyed some good food this week, not too much but a little more than I should. My morning exercises have been consistent but my evenings have been getting interrupted. Tonight for example I got interrupted mid-way through my circuit training when my dad stopped by to till up a garden for us. No spot for it this year as we have yet to lay down seed for the grass and even put down top soil. But we stopped to talk for a while and by the time he left, it was almost 9. I have to be able to let that happen, to let life happen and just keep going. There will always be interruptions. I just need to take advantage of the times when they present themselves………………even if it’s 5 in the morning……….
Still going. May 16, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Circuit Training, Exercise, Exercise Bike, Health, Journal, Treadmill, Weigh Day, Weight Loss.Tags: Circuit Training, goal, running
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Another weigh day, another 3 pounds! I’m kinda excited about that one. It’s been a good work out week and it’s good to see results like that. I’m starting to really feel it on my sides that I am disappearing and well within my reach of my goal for weight loss for the family reunion in the summer. I wanted to get down to with 5 – 10 lbs of my 50lb mark and if this keeps up or I can maintain a 2lb a week average I should be there just fine. I still see a lot of fat to lose but it is coming off.
Today was a busy day. Most of the family is sick and I got a cleaning bug. Washed a lot of floors and did some dusting and cleaned my shower. I told my wife I’m done for the weekend and plan on really relaxing and resting tomorrow. I did get a really good treadmill workout this morning and then a exercise bike work out this late afternoon. I’m done for the day and going to watch a movie. I deserve it.
Something new May 15, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Circuit Training, Exercise, Health, Journal, Treadmill, Weight Loss.Tags: Circuit Training, Exercise Bike
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This week I’ve been trying to do new stuff to work out to be more efficient in my workouts and finding new ways to push my body.
The first thing I did was start using my brother’s exercise bike. At first it was just seeing how hard I could push it but as I went on I found out how much it was pushing me. I’ve had two workouts on it where I’ve burned 600 cal in 36 minutes and it made me sweat like never before. The great thing about it is the heart rate monitor where I can see if I’m in the burn zone or not. I grunt a lot on it and there is a lot more in how to push myself on it. Finally the treadmill gets a break. I’ve been thinking about how we use that thing and it’s nice to have another exercise to do and keeping the pounding away from the treadmill.
On the treadmill I’ve upped my HIIT. Now I’m at the max of 10MPH and doing 10 reps. Pretty soon I’ll go up to the next step which may shorten my rest time between reps.
And then on my circuit training I’ve eliminated the steps, doing shorter reps but more circuits. The first 2 times I did 10 sets of 5 reps and tonight I did 15 sets of 5 reps. Here’s what that includes:
Curls
Weighted Lunges
Press
Traditional push-ups (I’m finally doing them off the floor)
Squats
Sits
Butterfly
Plank (30 seconds each)
The weight ones are with 10lb weights. Still no interest in increasing the weights, just looking to continue to tone the muscles.
Sometimes it’s scary to think I might run out of new exercises but then again I’m a long way from that. I’ve got several books with exercises that I haven’t tried yet and there are so many varients of the exercises I already do that I have not done yet. Let’s just keep it going.
What in the world? May 9, 2009
Posted by Ehren in Circuit Training, Exercise, Health, Journal, Treadmill, Weigh Day, Weight Loss.Tags: Circuit Training, goal, running
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The night before a weigh in is kinda stressful. It’s hard to sleep and I wake up early and often. I want to go weigh myself but I don’t want to. It’s exciting and scary at the same time. This morning I woke up at 5 and 6 but didn’t look until 7. As soon as I saw the number, I called out to my wife to make sure I was seeing what I was seeing. 4lbs! That’s a number I was not expecting. It still doesn’t make any sense to me. Last night was the first circuit training that I got in in a week, it didn’t seem that my eating was all that great, and I didn’t feel that much thinner. But I’m taking it. It may be the last time I lose 4lbs in a week. It just seems that as I look around, those last 40lbs (of the 100lbs that I want to lose long term) will take forever. I know, I’ll be healthier and living a better life. But I have this image in my head of what I should look like and I’ll take as long as it has to to get there.
I was talking to my youngest brother today and he is fit but a bit muscular than I want to be. It was a reminder of how far I have to go but also how far I’ve come. I’m excited to use their exercise bike to build in a new exercise into my routine. It’s a great bike with a chest heart monitor. The 2 times I’ve used it I’ve felt really worn out getting my heart rate in the zone I need to. I’d really like one for father’s day but they are so expensive, I just have to continue to learn how much I can push my body and how much I have to. Like today, this morning’s exercise was running at 5mph for 3 minutes and this time instead of resting for 2 minutes I rested for 1 minute. At minute 36 I was pretty much spent but also had averaged burning 100 calories every 6 minutes. It scares me that as I lose weight I’m going to have to work harder to keep losing but so far the challenge has kept me going.
From now on I’m going to exclude journaling about my food as to what exactly I’m eating. It’s been 2 months on the diet. If I start straying or find something really good and really cool, I’ll let you know.
