Temptation is lurking

In my ongoing effort to lose weight and get fit, one of the hardest obstacles has been giving up fast food. Over the last couple months I've been very good about removing it from my routine. I have hit the drive thru a couple times, but usually I'll try to get something small - the Whopper Jr (no Mayo) is a good one for me - and the Eat This Not That people seem to approve.

I made it all the way through Lent with only one McDonalds Filet O Fish, and ZERO Burger King Big Fish sandwiches - that was a big accomplishment.

I'm going to be travelling twice in the next few weeks and it's going to a challenge to eat healthy during those trips. I'm making some plans in advance to stay on track. But right now, I want to pitch my program and just go pig out. I have to do something to satisfy the urge without throwing away the work I've been doing. (The fact that the scale hasn't moved in a few days only adds to my frustration.)

I've been dreaming about a nice big Bacon Cheeseburger, I love them. (Just typing it is making me drool.) Then last night my wife talks about going to Applebee's this weekend. We have some coupons and so on but it will still cost probably close to forty dollars to take the family, and I really don't like the place that much. I went online and checked Applebees "Under 550 calories" menu they have been advertising, but nothing looked that exciting to me. If I go there, I'll cave. I know it. I can't do it.

This morning I said "We can't go there, but we can go to Culvers." Culvers is less expensive and having a small burger and a few fries should squash some of my cravings. Hopefully one fast food visit won't open up the floodgates and destroy my goals. I can't let it.

Sunday I start the Couch to 5k program again. I tried the program last summer, but it was derailed for many reasons. This is the cornerstone of my "100 (plus 4) Day Challenge" and I refuse to be denied. I'm in a much better place this time, and I've got specific goals set.

Temptations will continue, and hopefully I'm learning how to cope with them. Just like Dori says "just keep swimming, just keep swimming"

YES !!!!!

This morning I hit the -15 pound mark. That is 1/3 of my goal. Looking back, the 230 lb goal by my birthday (end of month) was probably over-reaching. But the overall goal of 210-215 by July 3rd (date of the 5k) is totally do-able. The fact that in mid June we go on vacation for a week will be a challenge, but I'm up to it.

I charted out a daily exercise plan with a mix of running (Couch to 5K program) & cardio, plus making sure I get at least two days of lifting in each week. The schedule calls for one early morning run a week, that should be an interesting change of pace. I also want to mix in some biking, plus golf - no riding carts, as well.

Easter weekend will be challenging. I love jelly beans (plus almost all other candy) but reaching the fifteen pound mark really inspires me to keep working hard.

Balancing physical with mental and spiritual is one of next objectives. I pulled out some old Dale Carnegie tapes (yes, cassettes) and have been listening to them in the car. I forgot how good they are. I also have the Purpose Driven Life that I want to start reading. The book format is based on one segment a day plus a daily activity. Not sure I can work in the activity, but at least reading it will get me thinking. Easter season & spring is a time of renewal, I'm ready for some new beginnings in my life.

Day 10.....not quite 10% done

I'm doing pretty good on the Challenge. Some nights I'm on the treadmill at 9 pm, but I'm getting my time in. Took the new running shoes out for a test drive Monday evening - they feel different, but very comfortable.

Back to Zumba tonight - had to find a different class since Viterbo is on Easter break - but it's the instructor that I'm comfortable with, so thats a good thing.

I'll launch back into the Couch to 5k in the next several days. Trying to figure out a schedule to balance running, Zumba, lifting, and everything else in life. Read something yesterday about running on empty stomach helping with buring fat - is there a 5 am wake-up looming in my future ?

Busting through barriers....

It was a little barrier, but this morning I broke through a one on the scale.

I could not get below 247. Some days I'd go up a pound, then drop back down. It was getting really frustrating. I'm actually behind where I should be on the fancy chart I made for myself - thats depressing in itself.

This morning's weigh in - 246.5 Woohoo !!!

We're supposed to celebrate the little things right ?

My 100 (plus 4) Day Challenge !!!

I see things online for 100 Day Challenges, 99 Day Challenges and more, I decided to mold one to fit me. The 100 (plus 4) Day Challenge started yesterday. Why March 22nd ? because that is when the Gundersen Lutheran Minutes In Motion program started and this year I doing it.

Last year I signed up, but really never got going. I found an excuse the first few days, then another, then figured "why bother." However, since I signed up I kept getting e-mails about the program - that was some awesome guilt. Part of that guilt is probably why I tried the Couch to 5K program last summer only to be derailed by shin splints.

Why 100 (plus 4) Days ? Because that leads up to the Chileda Classic 5k run on July 3rd in La Crosse. I'm doing the run. And I will finish it. I don't care if it's raining, I don't care if I have to crawl across the finish line - I'm doing it.

Yesterday was day 1, and I have a bad chest cold. Don't remember having a chest cold like this for a long time, where sometimes it even hurts to breathe. So last night, I went downstairs and hit the treadmill - mostly fast walking, but I did include several 60-90 seconds of running. That should get me loosened up for revisiting the Couch to 5k program in a couple weeks.

Minutes in Motion calls for 30 minutes of activity a day. I want to hit it every day, and not count hour long Zumba classes for two days. At the middle and end of the six week program I'm supposed to submit my minutes for a chance to win prizes. Prizes are nice, but I'm doing this for me - and my wife and kids.

Biking will be included, golf (as long as I walk), Zumba, weight-lifting, and as mentioned before - running.

I've been working hard on eating better for several weeks and it's made a difference, now adding in lots of exercise should really kick things into gear.

I'm going to try to set my follow up Dr appointment at the mid-point of my program. I really don't want to go on medication for cholesterol

This won't always be fun. It won't be easy. But I need to do this. For me.

Not going to post every day, sometimes slapping something on Twitter or Facebook is easier than coming here, but I'll keep you posted. (whoever you are)

It hates me.....the scale that is

I've made progress up to a 12 pound loss - now I'm stuck. Somedays I'll go up a little, then slide back to the 12 pound mark, but I can't seem to break through. It's getting frustrating.

I'm not perfect on my eating plan (trying hard not to call it a diet) but I try VERY hard. The next thing will be to up the workout side. There is a local program called "Minutes In Motion" that begins next week - it asks participants for 30 mins of activity a day. I think it will be challenging, but I'm on a mission.

The mission(s): run a 5k, wear the nicer clothes sitting in a box in the basement, and get my cholesterol under control.

I will be launching my own "100 Day (plus 4) Challenge" next Monday as well to match up with the "Minutes in Motion" program. Stay tuned for details.

Spring Break

Made through the first half of the semester - finished one class, and wrapped up an incomplete from fall semester. Coming up soon: Business Law, and a First Aid class. Should be an interesting combo.


For many college students spring break is a time to relax, maybe travel somewhere warm, but not for me. Two projects for this week - get taxes and FAFSA done (plus some praying to the Pell Grant gods) and get organized for the indoor rummage sale on Saturday.


Borrowing all the money for school is hard on me mentally, it's such a long road to graduation and I'm really worried about how much debt will be piled up. Maybe I can find a position where they help with tuition and encourage continuing education.


I'm by no means a rummage sale expert, I want to price stuff low enough to sell, but high enough that I can actually make some money for my effort. Everytime I turn around lately I see something in the house and wonder -"would somebody buy that"


Weight-wise things are moving, slowly, but I think I'm still on track. Since there is no school this week, that means no zumba, so I'm going to try to get some weight training mixed back into my routine. Gunderson has a "Minutes in Motion" promotion starting soon which I plan on using as an additional accountability program. Maybe it's time to see what kind of workout the WiiFit can really provide.