Tuesday, March 9, 2010

update.

been a while since the last post. Things are picking up a little. I finally had my loss.... but then had a bit of a rough week last week (out to dinner twice, dinner at friends house, and skipped two days of working out) so i went back up.

however, i evened out today around 227. So i'm still feeling good about things. Keeping my routine pretty consistent as well:

Monday: Lift Bicepts/Back
Tuesday: cardio of some sort
Wednesday: Lift Legs
Thursday: more cardio
Friday: Lift Chest/Shoulders/Tris
weekend: any exercise i can fit in, bike, run, swim, or whatever we can fit in.

The next challenge now is going to be learning how to better balance my time between work, exercise and getting quality time with my wifey. I'm taking on some new duties at work that will be adding 8 hours of OT/week at least on top of my current work load so it makes things a lot harder. Its hard to get to bed when you have such long days, but thats gonna be the key I think.

on a fun note, the weather has been giving me glimpses of spring and summer and i'm getting really excited for the biking season. there's lots of races in the NW this year and i'm hoping i'll be able participate in a few. I'm really looking forward to planning out some fun trips with anna to bike and camp too. i wish summer in the NW would last longer!

oh and also, i wish i still had 3 months off a year instead of 2 weeks

off to community group for now!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

frust.

3 weeks is a long time to not have a loss.

especially when you've been working out 6-7 days a week.

i'll be honest, its hard not to get discouraged when you've been trying so hard in the gym, getting in daily cardio, on what you're eating, and just everything... and to have 3 weeks in a row with no loss.

and yes, i fully understand the whole "muscle is heavier than fat" concept... but 3 weeks? COME ON!

okay rant over. On the positive side, i've definitely been feeling a gain in performance. Though the scale doesn't seem to be dropping, i can clearly feel my endurance increasing when i'm biking, my jeans seem to fitting more loosely and i just feel overall healthier, which is the most important thing anyway.

on a lighter note, i've been meaning to post about a funny story from a few weeks back. i went up to galbraith with a few guys from work and had a great ride. Pretty rainy and wet, but still a ton of fun. about 9 or 10 miles into our ride, we started up a run called cedar something, which is a line full of a ton a fun ladders and skinnies. After clearing a skinny i've never done before on the first try, we came up to a set of bridges and i was thinking about how the last 2 times i'd been up there i'd had some sort of mechanical failure on that trail. I take 2 pedals into a bridge and "SNAP!" my deraileur hanger busted off and destroyed my der. pully at the same time.

lets just say i was a bit ticked. second time in a week that i had broken that darn hanger. I realized later it was due to my chain being too short from a two other runs in which i snapped the chain and had to repair it on the trail...

anyway, i was makin' a scene, all ticked off i'd be hiking back to the truck when not 30 seconds later, a guy comes riding up on a nomad as well. i hollered at him "any chance you have a derailuer hanger?"

"actually, i might"

i couldn't believe it. he pulled off his pack, and after digging around for a few - he pulls out a spare hanger. I couldn't believe it! the odds of finding another guy up on that hill with the same bike, let alone a guy that had that spare part!

i gave him a hug:)

his wife took a picture of us to remember the occasion:



definitely not a great picture, but a great moment either way:)

Friday, February 5, 2010

swimming is hard.

Wow, so i swam laps tonight. who coulda guessed. I decided to join LA fitness instead of staying at the Boeing Rec center. only 5$ more and they have a pool, racquetball courts, and some guys from the community group are going so more people to workout with. I'm encouraged so far...

It was definitely hard to get myself to walk out into a pool area, put some goggles on and pretend to swim laps. I could barely breath after like 2 lengths of the pool. Its really fun though, almost relaxing in a way and I can tell its going to be a great addition to the workout plan.

anyway, i'm up far too late for a work night. darn modern warfare... haven't played in a week and it got the best of me tonight:)

happy friday everyone!

Monday, February 1, 2010

week #5

Weighed in this morning: 233.2

Total loss this week: 3.8 lbs.

I'll take it!

Last week was a big motivator i think. Went to the gym mon/wed/fri, biked/hiked or Jogged tuesday/thursday, then did a long mountain bike ride at Mt. Galbraith in Bellingham.

It felt really good to have a good week. I was definitely worn out, as on top of work and all the workouts we got in some really good time with new and old friends. Poker night on friday with the thomposon's and loveless's, then galbraith ride on Saturday, and dinner with two new friends from the community group we started.

so, another week begins today. I hate mondays. Why is it that they just seem so freakin' hard? Something about coming off a weekend where you don't HAVE to do anything, then going into sitting at a desk for 9 hours is just hard for my brain to handle. Its been a good change to start looking forward to exercise after work. I actually find my self getting excited to workout. I know that sounds freakish, but its true... So I hit the gym after work. Took things at a little slower pace as i was pretty tired, but still managed the guts to do a 2.5 mile run when i got home with grom. Its been cool to actually feel some physical improvement too. I'm still not seeing it so much in the mirror yet, but that will come with time (hopefully).

anyways, I'm out for now. Here's to another good week of good food, good portions, and kick ass workouts.

Monday, January 25, 2010

getting myself back

So I've been meaning to do this for the last 3 weeks, but just now as I should be going to bed am I writing this very quickly.

Since high school i've gained over 50 pounds. First it was classes and homework, then it turned into busy work schedules and sitting in front of a computer for 9-11 hours a day. Somehow I let my health just slip. Yet in my minds eye, i was still the 171 pound wrestler - only the scale and mirror didn't quite tell the same story.

When we moved over here in September of 2007, we had a good run at it. I lost 35 pounds and was starting to get back in shape. Then again, between a nasty foot injury and another brutal class I took on, I managed to gain it all back.

well i tell you what world, I'm getting myself back.

I know I'll never be that 171 pound wrestler again, but I'm setting a goal and I'm going to get it. So here it is:

190 pounds.

Sometimes it helps I think to just get it out there. If more people know it sucks even worse to not follow through.

3 weeks ago Anna and I started weight watchers again. Along with that, i've set myself up a workout schedule for the week. I plan on posting it here eventually. Its not a crazy get ripped in 20 seconds kind of thing. I'm focusing on what i can do right now, and looking to improve on that.

so here's my status so far:

week 1, Jan 4: 243 pounds (ouch.)
week 2, Jan 11: 239
week 3, Jan 18: 236.6
week 4, Jan 25, today: 237 pounds.

damn it.

yah so i gained .5 pound this week, but that also included portland trip with my lack of self control getting the better of me. But here's whats different this time:

1 week is not a big deal.

I came home from work, hit the gym and lifted for the first time in over a year, then came home and took the pup for a run. if you lose a round, get back up and keep going because the rounds will be endless.

that's enough for tonight, and i'm sure it's a bit of mindless drivel, but I had to get my goals stated and in the open. I hope to keep my progress updated as a means of accountability for myself. and for the 2 people that read this, i could use the prayers and accountability to continue to get my health back.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Life and love and why

I don't know why that title just came to me, but it's a fantastic song by switchfoot... those not familiar with it should take a listen:




However, the title came to me i guess as i'm sitting here at my computer having a vaguely reflective moment. Life is good. Love - the reason life is good. Why? because Christ made it possible.

In a few weeks i'll be 26 years old... no it's not 30, or over the hill 40, but in the past few weeks, 26 has had the affect of a 30 or a 40 year b-day. Nursing a broken heal, trying to figure out how long it'll take me to get rid of the spare tire i've managed to pack around my waist since high school, and all together feeling somewhat frustrated with where 5 years of college has landed me, when i stop and reallllly look at where i am i realize - I have life, i have love and the why will always be a act of grace and love from above. I don't love my job, but i thank the Lord i have it. I hate that i have a busted up foot that could potentially plague me for the rest of my life, but i'm thankful that i can still be active somehow and that really, there are still plenty of options out there for me to be able to get back in shape.

I need to come to grips with the fact i'll never be a pro-anything and the idea that THAT is perfectly okay. I might be past my physical prime, but that i now is when i should be focusing on all the years that lie ahead and how i can learn to love my wife better, be a better husband, learn skills that will make me a good father someday and get off my butt and get involved in the community around me.

I've spent most of my life striving to be SOMETHING - Wrestler, biker, Judo player, Engineer, the smart guy, the funny guy, insert "that guy" stereo type here______. I need to learn to take God's word for what it says, he's created me in his likeness and for good. I still don't know what it is, but i know that he's been more than gracious and willing to reach down and pick me up and keep me going. He's given me a wife to encourage me, love me, and keep my eyes set on the things that are truly important, and not everyone has that in life. I have a comfy home, and a plan to move forward.

life and love and why.... man, who really knows. But i'm thankful i have HIM, and thankful for his grace. I just know i need to be more thankful in knowing i have been given a good life, true love and that the why will always be outside of my realm of comprehension.

and ya know what... i think i like it that way.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

some comforting, true words.

The last week has been rather horrible, with a rediculous mixup with a class i've been taking. Needless to say i haven't got much sleep and been struggling to keep the anxiety welling up inside me calmed.

We went to a Good Friday service at Mars Hill last week and one of the songs really struck me. I've been listening to it on repeat for a big part of the day and thought i'd share the words. Sometimes just reading and listening to what Christ did for us helps calm the soul and keep perspective. My chest is still stirring with anxiety, but my heart can be calmed by Him.

One Righteous Man - By "Red Letter", Based on Isaiah 53

All we like sheep have gone our own way
And distanced ourselves from our only help
One righteous man, God’s perfect plan
To pay for our guilt, tear down what we’ve built
Seeing His face, nothing would catch you at all
The world that He loved, despised him, this man of sorrows

First He’s betrayed, then taken away
His friends turn their backs and hang by their necks
Silent He goes, as one one who knows
Despite any plea, the verdict will be:
‘Guilty as charged! Now, beat him till no one can tell...
Who He once was, then hang up His body with nails!’

Behold, my servant shall act wisely;
he shall be high and lifted up,
and shall be exalted.
As many were astonished at you—
his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,
and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—
so shall he sprinkle many nations...

he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely up there, our sorrow He bears
See how He shakes, life slowly escapes
The King is crushed, collapsing His lungs
Showering the...nations in blood
Yet this is the way His Father has chosen to pay
One righteous Man has many more righteous men made

Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.