Sunday, February 28, 2010

Another day down

Today was another basketball Sunday. We played a good game but came up short in the end. I wish I could say I accounted for something other than fouls during this game. My weight has really slowed my game play down. The weight is also keeping me from rebounding like my old school NBA hero, Dennis Rodman. I am not at all happy that I am this heavy. I am finally trying to do something about it.

I have tried to hit the gym every other day. I will have to look and see how well I did with that goal later tonight. I hope to get my workout numbers up to 4 to 5 days a week. I will not reach my target goal weight if I do not hit the gym enough.

Looking forward to meeting my goal.

SHEP

Friday, February 26, 2010

still working toward my goal

I DID NOT WANT TO GO TO THE GYM TODAY. I was watching tv and not caring about going to the gym at all. I started thinking about my goal and wanting to teach my children to not be lazy. SO I got my lazy butt up and went to the gym.

I put in 30 minutes on the bike, did some dumbell curls, pull downs, bench press, and jumped rope.

This post is going to be short because my arms are shaking as I type this post on my phone.

I have increased my water intake over the past couple of days. I hope I see some results come weigh in day....

SHEP

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

A little motivated today

I have to admit, my water intake has really been terrible here lately. I have been drinking diet sodas. Not the best thing to be doing, but by far not the worst. The 6-8 coke a day habit I had in 2009 was really bad. It is almost March and I still have not had a real Coke in 2010.

I have been doing OK with my eating habits. I am staying away from large portions and I have not been eating after 7:30 or so. When I decide I want to eat something sweet, I make sure I get a small serving and only have one. Getting greedy is what got me to this big body I have now.

I made it to the gym tonight. I started out with doing some weight stuff. Not too much, but just enough to get the blood flowing. I got on some kind of elliptical machine for 30 minutes. Hit the treadmill for 15 minutes. Finished up with 15 minutes on the stationary bike. If my math is correct, that was an hours worth of cardio. My addition seems correct and my shirt tells me I put forth a lot of effort because it was SOAKED.

Right now I am struggling to get to the gym every other day. I really want to see some progress. I know I will not see any weight loss if I don't make it to the gym enough during the week. I have to get motivated. Any advice on how to get motivated to hit the gym more often?

Still trying to get to 2 10 in 20 10.

SHEP

Monday, February 22, 2010

another monday.....

I sorta worked out on Sunday. I play, or attempt to, church league basketball. The team I play on was missing 4 players, so I played alot more minutes than normal. Which is fine with me because I love basketball. Back when I was under 220 I was actually a pretty good player. By time the game was over, I was smoked. One good thing about my size, I can hold my own in the low post and anyone driving in on me may want to pull up because I am not moving. You will meet the floor. Ask Paul.

Monday produced another long day. I did start taking a multivitamin recently and have noticed I am less tired during the day. I started off my workout by doing leg presses. I hope to increase my vertical. I did some other weight stuff that I have no idea what its called. Ran on the treadmill some. Then, I hit the dumbells before hitting the stationary bike.

I feel like I am making progress in my journey to improved health and a lower weight. My family has been so supportive. I cannot thank everyone enough for their support.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Who knew one man could sweat so much

I made it to the gym today. I changed up my routine today. I did some lat pull downs and some leg presses. I normally do not mess with any of the weight machines. After reading an article in Men's Health about weight training before a cardio workout burning more calories and making the cardio workout more beneficial. I am not sure why, but after I did several sets of the leg presses I hit the treadmill. Normally my legs will start hurting after being on the treadmill for a few minutes. Today, I ran for a full mile with very little pain.

I was very glad to be able to finish a mile. I even did it in a halfway decent time compared to the last time I ran a mile. Last time, if my memory serves me correctly, I ran a mile in 17 minutes. Today my mile time was 10:30. Not too shabby I guess.

Getting the workouts done isn't the hard part, actually making it to the gym is the hardest part. Life, especially here in my world, is very busy. Today's workout went very well. I need to be dropping as much weight as possible. Hopefully I will be seeing some more results soon.

This has not been an easy journey. I am so busy with life. Being a dad, a husband, and a student teacher has made it very difficult to make it to the gym on a consistent basis. I want to make it to 210 lbs in 2010 so bad I cannot stand it.

I am looking forward to playing basketball tomorrow afternoon.

Trying to get back healthy.

SHEP

Thursday, February 18, 2010

too long of a lay off

Today I finally made it back to the gym. I am sure most of you thought I have fallen off the wagon and was sitting back eating ice cream and drinking coke. Nope, I have been eating pretty well and have managed to go all year with out a real coke. So far, so good. I have been tempted many times, but I have fought it off.

The time off wasnt just spent laying around either. I have been mucho busy at school. The 30 minutes of cardio today was great. I need to make it a point to get in the gym at least every other day until I can make myself go daily. I did manage to convince myself it would be ok to go after school instead of before.

Still hanging on.....

SHEP

Monday, February 15, 2010

Swimming is supposed to be easy

This has been a long weekend thanks to an inservice and a day off from school. My wife and I decided today that we should do something fun as a family. We went to the Clemson Central Rec. Center today for a swim. If you have the ability to visit this Rec. Center I recommend it.

I haven't made the time to hit the gym this weekend. This crazy busy life syndrome has been kicking my butt. I have kept to my guns about eating healthy and staying away from the real Coke. I am still eating MUCH smaller portions than before and I am able to stay away from the sweets.

While we were swimming I decided to swim a lap. On the way down I did well. On the way back I was very very winded. I made it almost half way before I had to flip over swim on my back. We played in the shallow end for a while. After a few more minutes I swam to the end of the pool and back. By time we finished up at the pool, I had completed 5 laps. On the way home my wife and I were talking and she informed me down and back was really ONE lap.

SO I only did two and a half laps. 35 laps (down and back or 70 total) would equal one mile. I was able to "sprint" half a lap in 19 seconds. IF I were able to keep up that pace I would be able to swim a mile in 20 minutes. NO WAY would I be able to keep up that pace though.

I am already sore. My shoulders and arms are aching. If I am to get a teaching job after graduation I hope to be able to move my family closer to civilization and join a gym with a pool. That was one of the hardest work outs I have had in a while. I can deal with sore muscles, but the beating I take when I run about kills me.

Still moving toward my goal of 210 in 2010.

SHEP

Friday, February 12, 2010

Busy Life Syndrome

I am seriously suffering from busy life syndrome.

I have so much stuff I need to accomplish on a daily basis to ensure I am meeting my expectations as a student teacher. I have responsibilities as an adult that are being neglected. I am not exactly a good husband either. I am sure my children would lie for me and say I was being a good father right now too. I am struggling to keep things pieced together. I am trying my hardest to get myself in shape and become healthy. This journey I have set out on has been much more difficult than I anticipated.

Thursday I got up and hit the gym again. I put in 45 minutes of cardio. I went home got myself cleaned up and up the mountain to school I did my best to teach the students everything I could amongst the excitement in the air about the upcoming Valentines holiday. My back started hurting and I was so tired. I just wanted to go home and sleep for the next 2 days.

I am struggling to keep up all this hard work. It has not been easy. The only thing I can do is to keep up the hard work and not give up.

Quitting is such an easy way out of something hard. You get nothing out of it at all. I am not going to give up, I am going to show everyone that I am not the same loser I have been for so many years. At the end of this year, with God helping me along the way, I am going to be at my target weight. I am not the same person I was 2, 3, 4, or 5 years ago.

I am looking forward to getting back to the gym. The snow that we have gotten better not get in my way. I hope the roads will be OK for me to drive on in the morning.

Struggling through.....

SHEP

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

One Month Down

Tuesday morning I hit the gym at 4:15 and put in 50 minutes of cardio. I warmed up with 15 minutes on the bike, ran a mile on the treadmill and did another 20 minutes on the bike. I was drenched in sweat when I was done. After my work out I beat feet to my house to have a protein shake my wonderful wife made for me. Afterwards I went to teach my 3rd graders. What a long day it was going to be. We had Math and Science night so I didn't leave the school until 7:30 that night.

Wednesday morning I slept straight through my alarm, so I did not get to go to the gym.
I did not have an opportuinty to add a new picture because my wife forgot the camera in her classroom, so I will get it up ASAP.

After a month of eating habit changes and exercise 2 to 4 times a week my weight has changed.

Jan 10, 2010 weight = 262
Feb 10, 2010 weight = 252

I am happy with the weight loss. And I am even happier with the eating habits I have changed. The exercise hurts and causes me some residual pain, but it is worth it. I will eventually get my weight down and the pain will eventually go away.

I am looking forward to this continued journey.

Short term goals:
I want to run in a 5K in March and April.
I want to get my 5K time for March down around 34 minutes.
And for the 5K in April I would like to see my time down around 32 or 31 minutes.


I appreciate all the kind words from everyone and all the support. Tell somebody you know about my crazy journey. Maybe one day I will have enough followers to make it on TV.

Happily moving forward!

SHEP

Monday, February 8, 2010

back to work

Today was my 29th birthday. Another year older. Whoooooo. Nothing big to report on. My oldest child was sick so we did not go out to eat like we usually do to celebrate. I whipped through the drive thru at the not so local Chick-fil-a and grabbed us all some dinner. I can hear the collective gasps now. It is OK, I did not order the deep fried chicken droplets from heaven, I got the grilled chicken sandwich instead. At least I am going with a healthy alternative. Normally I would have had 2 of the original sandwiches and a huge bucket of Coke plus a milkshake.

I am still maintaining some type of order with my eating habits. I feel more proud of myself and the way I have been eating. In the past I would eat way more than I should have ever thought about. I think it is because I grew up in the "clean your plate" era.

Tomorrow morning it is back to the gym time. I am looking forward to working up a good sweat. I have two more morning work outs before the new picture and the big reveal.

I just hope all of you can contain yourselves between now and then.

SHEP

Sunday, February 7, 2010

A good day

Today was a good day. At Foothills Community Church we learned about some of the awesome things God wants for our marriages, and some great music from Dave Odom. Had a nice lunch with my family. Then I had a basketball game. I have no idea how many minutes I played, but I know I worked up a very nice sweat.

I am not sure if I am going to make it to the gym in the morning. I have plenty of school work I need to work on. If I am not able to make it to the gym in the morning, I will try and make time to go tomorrow afternoon or evening.

This journey has not been easy by any means. I have learned a lot about myself. I have learned a lot about what I need to be doing to make myself more healthy.

This journey isn't about becoming skinny. This journey is about becoming a healthy example for my children and students. I have to do this for my children so they know what they need to be doing to be healthy. My students also need to have a healthy model as well.

Moving along slow and steady.

SHEP

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Time for a small break

Friday morning I just needed to sleep. I have been going non-stop here lately. I needed a break badly. Sunday I am playing basketball again. And I will try to work out sometime Sunday. I have to make a trip to the University tomorrow to print some papers and get some work done. After my 2 days off from the gym I am looking forward to getting back to work.

Attention Nike or Under Armor: I love your products. Send me some free stuff and I will give you all the publicity my blog can create for you. I would love to be able to wear a pair of brand new socks every single day. Really, can you go wrong with new socks????

SHEP

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Racking up the Miles

Today was a LONG day. It normally is long when you wake up before the college kids are going to bed. I hit the gym and put in 45 minutes on the stationary bike. 15 miles today. That puts me at 35 miles for the week. I have been sweating like crazy.

I have been doing so good on my eating that I have even impressed myself. Until today. I have been so stressed about being observed tomorrow while I teach writing. Luckily I saw that I wanted to eat some of the dessert a coworker made for my wife's birthday, so instead of denying my desire to eat some and then going back and eating way too much later, I ate a small portion. I ate it and it was done. It was very good and well worth it, but I actually had the will power to stop at the small portion. Before, I would have gotten a giant bowl, filled it all the way up, and then refilled it again. I have come a long way from those days. I am not where I want to be, but I am slowly moving in that direction.

I am going to bed now, before I crash completely.

SHEP

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

A nice little ride

I don't know how many of you know this or not, but 4:30 comes two times a day. Now I know you think this is some nasty rumor, but trust me I saw it both times today. I got up this AM at 4:15 and low and behold 4:30 came around not too far behind.

I darted out to the Honda and had to clear the ice from the windshield before I could beat feet down 123 to get to the gym that shall remain name less until they start paying me to advertise. Some how even getting up so early I still did not get to the gym until 5:15.

I went ahead and skipped the elliptical machine to save myself from the negative feelings I would be having about myself. One day I am going to take the time to figure out which elliptical machine in there will actually allow me to make the strides a little longer.

I rode the stationary bike for 45 minutes this morning. Rode may not be the best word to describe the pounding my rather large frame gave this stationary bike. So far this week I have put in 19 miles on the stationary bike. Like I said before, I have no idea what respectable times are concerning the whole bike thing. 11 miles in 40 minutes for running would be great. Only problem is, I am not from Kenya. I am not a 6 foot 4 inch guy with legs as skinny as rails. And I surely do not have that nice rich tan, nor do I weigh 105 lbs. with rocks in my shoes.

I felt great knowing I put in the hard work this morning. I was laying in bed thinking, man I do not want to get up. It is cold out there and when I start pedalling that bike my knee is going to hurt. I can skip today, it will be alright. Then I said to myself, you have to get up. You have said tomorrow way too many times in the past and you see where it has gotten your fat behind. It got you fatter, now get up and get a move on.

It is so rewarding to know that I am making positive changes in my lifestyle. In my childhood and upbringing it was hard to focus on the positive. This has been one of the many things I have had to work toward as an adult.

I am excited about this journey to a healthy lifestyle. It is an emotional roller coaster for sure, but well worth the ride.

Working hard to be the healthy example for my young and impressionable children.

SHEP

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

1st Work out at the gym

I woke up this AM at 4:30. Grabbed my stuff and headed out the door. Probably should have slowed down a little bit and really thought about what I should be taking with me. I left my lunch, my deodorant and my under shirt. Thank goodness the mega SuperslowWalmart is open at all hours of the day.

I spent 15 minutes on the elliptical machine. My right knee did not like this motion. I did not really like the machine. The stride was too short for me. I am going to check out the other machines and see if they are capable of longer strides. I worked up a pretty nice sweat. I was really wanting to quit about 5 minutes in because I was not happy with the way the machine felt. I stuck it out until I felt like I had accomplished something.

After I struggled through the elliptical machine I headed to the stationary bike. Not too shabby. I spent 30 minutes peddling around the tropical themed room. I covered a little over 8 miles on the bike in those 30 minutes. I have no idea if that is a respectable distance in that amount of time. I felt accomplished and full of energy.

My eating changes have been much easier to deal with the more and more I get into this process. I don't crave the sweets and junk food like I was at the beginning.

So far so good.

SHEP

Monday, February 1, 2010

Joined the gym

I went and signed up to become a member of the local gym. I say THE local gym because it is the only one available. If I had the money to open my own fitness place here in the Oconee County area I would do it.

The equipment looks to be pretty nice stuff. The space is cramped. The layout of the gym its self was pretty bad. The locker room, well the two restrooms with showers in them were clean. That was really the only requirement I had.

My main goal and purpose was to get a membership so I could have access to low impact equipment to help me get my weight down so my bones, muscles, and joints aren't screaming at me after I run. I love to run, but I hate the pain of a run for three and four days afterwards.

I feel like the gym membership is going to help me at least get down to a reasonable enough weight where I can get out and start running on the roads and tracks around here.

There are some draw backs to this whole getting up early and going to the gym thing. You see, I have a great wife who fixes my protein shake for breakfast and prepares my lunch for me. If I am leaving the house before she is awake, how in the world will these things get taken care of? I think I can take care of my own lunch, but no way am I running the blender in the AM before any one is awake and moving. On the other hand, if I did wake the kids up with the blender, they may actually be up and ready to go on time for a change.

Counting down the days until the new picture goes up.

SHEP

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