Friday, July 14, 2006

Sunny and Hot

Motivation:


"Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses." ~George Washington Carver

Diary:
B: 3 eggs and bacon
S: one bite of protien bar
L: homemade chili, vitamins, xs energy
S: a couple beers
D: ham & cheese sandwich, whole grain pasta mixed with peas & salad dressing
g: 1.8 miles on elliptical (still went 25 minutes, just not as far), walk 1 mile, sauna

Notes:

It is hot and dry here, and doesn't seem to be stopping. The hot weather is certainly causing my workout to be different. I am sweating a lot more, and I am moving a bit slower in the hot weather. Just got to keep moving.

I need to stop eating so much at the end of the day. Yesterday wasn't the worst, but it still could have been better. Today, we will work on that.

For some reason, work is still stressful, and doesn't show signs of stopping. This is probably not going to get easier for a few weeks, the way it is going right now.

My job interview process has been interesting. I feel fat, and am fat, but feeling fat right before any job interview is at best annoying, and at worst can affect the way I approach the interviewer. I hope I am making a good impression. I reallize that I was not as proactive and didn't have EVERYTHING positive in his hands by the time I left. I did follow up and send examples of previous work as well as today I sent a recommendation letter from a previous employer (president of the company wrote me a very positive letter.)

Now I just need to relax about that experience, because there is nothing I can do. They will check my criminal background, etc, and let me know either yes or no.



meanwhile, some more hints from Men's Health to get our mind off of work. I have to keep reminding myself that work IS NOT the most important thing in my life. I do my work, and if they like it they like it. I need to remember my focus is F25K:

BEST STRATEGIES FOR EATING OUT

Triangles of Death
Just one basket of tortilla chips typically contains 1,067 calories, of which 46 percent are from fat (55 grams). Order steamed tortillas and dip those in the salsa instead.

Soup as an Appetizer
Vegetable and noodle soups causes food to go through your digestive system faster, and dissolve the fat. Add a potato to the soup, and you'll consume about 20 percent fewer calories over the course of the meal. Tomato soup has the same effect. You'll eat less and feel full longer.

Stop for the Egg McMuffin
Believe it or not, you can eat two Egg McMuffin sandwiches from McDonald's and get fewer calories and less fat than if you'd had a bagel with 4 tablespoons of cream cheese. The McMuffins yield 580 calories, 24 g fat, and 34 g protein. The bagel delivers 643 calories, 28 g fat, and 20 g protein.

Watch the Cookie Crumble
Harder cookies like gingersnaps and vanilla wafers have about half the fat of their soft cousins. Rest your dessert on a napkin. If it leaves a grease stain, leave it alone.

Mineral-Water Chaser
Follow each alcoholic drink with a glass of mineral water. You'll always have something in your hands to sip, but you'll be getting half the liquor and calories you otherwise would. No-calorie, carbonated mineral water and lime looks just like a 170-calorie gin and tonic.


more later,

Chazz

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes..

Motivation:


"Men succeed when they realize that their failures are the preparation for their victories." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Diary:

Tuesday:
B: none
S: beef jerkey and nuts/seeds,
L: none
S: none
D: met my brother, who was in town on a sales call, for the All Star Game, had a few drinks and greasy fried appetizers at sports bar. (This really wasn't a great day, but it was fun.)
g: 2.25 miles on elliptical, walk, sauna - felt good to get back to my mp3 music. I felt very good.

Wed:
B: none
S: none
L: none
s: chicken salad sandwich, diet soda
d: bologna sandwich, diet soda, handful of popcorn
g: 2.25 miles on elliptical, walk 1 mile, sauna - felt good again.

I need to prepare and eat my breakfast. Let's go here, buddy.

Notes:

Now that I am back in the gym, my neck and legs are starting to be sore and they are telling me "hey, you haven't worked us like this for a while. We like it, but we are going to make you suffer just a little". My whole body is suffering right now, internally and externally. I think that if I stay true to the eating and workouts, then this will start to be better, but this is a stress for me currently.

I find that the days that I get my workout and my "motivational music time", I feel a lot better about myself. I knew this before, but the reminder has been a nice blessing.


Thanks to everyone for the kind emails and support. One email I will share with this group, as it came in very timely:


"Self-knowledge and self-improvement are very difficult for most people. It usually needs great courage and long struggle."--Abraham Maslow

The honesty required is sometimes frightening and painful. Anyone who remains faithful has great courage and deserves deep respect. But we do not have to wait long to begin receiving the rewards. New freedoms, good feelings, and friendships quickly develop, and we are promised to continue growing and to receive more benefits throughout our lives. What rewards have come from our courage and struggle?


That was a very nice message.


Well, I have been stressed out with work. I don't really want to go into it, but I feel I am being squeezed to do impossible things in very small amount of time. The load is growing and the demand for quality also is growing. This is creating for a stressful environment, and since most of my awake day is spent at this place, I am starting to get a poor attitude and self-image. I have to somehow find a way to get this in perspective.


more later,

Chazz

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Back against the wall?


Motivation:


"The individual activity of one man with backbone will do more than a thousand men with a mere wishbone." ~William Boetcker

Diary:

Ok, here we go. Truth or Consequence. I am by nature a huge slob. I am a weak, pityful existence who is near the bottom of the food chain. I wasted the month of June in the toilet and ate all the wrong things for the last week. I haven't worked out for years... (Actually, that last part is not true. The athletic club has just done an upgrade of their system that allows me to look at my previous usage. Here is my previous usage:

  • June 22, 2006 11:01 am Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • June 21, 2006 11:36 am Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • June 16, 2006 12:30 pm Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • June 14, 2006 11:43 am Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • June 13, 2006 12:16 pm Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • June 12, 2006 12:10 pm Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • June 9, 2006 5:01 pm Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • June 7, 2006 12:17 pm Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • June 5, 2006 11:37 am Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • May 31, 2006 12:04 pm Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • May 30, 2006 12:37 pm Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • May 25, 2006 11:47 am Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • May 24, 2006 11:45 am Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • May 23, 2006 11:48 am Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • May 18, 2006 2:23 pm Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • May 16, 2006 12:03 pm Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • May 15, 2006 12:02 pm Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • May 13, 2006 11:31 am Northwest Athletic Club - 98th Street
  • May 12, 2006 12:16 pm Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • May 11, 2006 11:55 am Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • May 9, 2006 12:08 pm Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • May 8, 2006 11:30 am Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • May 5, 2006 12:27 pm Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • May 4, 2006 12:07 pm Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • May 3, 2006 12:05 pm Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park
  • May 2, 2006 12:12 pm Northwest Athletic Club - St. Louis Park

Not bad in May, when I went to the club regularly. Time to get back into that routine.)

The 4th of July was my last hoorah as a summer slob. I ate hot dogs and sausage, and potato salad, and noodles, and salt water taffy, and pie. I at way too much and felt horrible later in the evening. I slept very poorly and this morning my back hurts.

HOWEVER, the summer boot camp now begins. October is only 3 months away, and there is much work to be done.
Today is the first Protien Day in the Lean For Life plan. From Days 1 through 3, I will be eating 6 to 12 100 calorie protein snacks that are low carb, low fat. (Such as - 4oz lowfat cheese, 1 hard boiled egg, 2 egg whites, 2.5 oz tuna, 3.5 oz fresh fish, 3 oz chicken, 1/2 protien bars, etc)

This plan seems like overkill, but it really is only this bad for the first three days, and it sets my mind towards the goal. It will flush the junk out of my system, hopefully.

I will also be going back to the gym for a low-impact workout to get back into my routine.


Notes:

The 3-week weigh in happened on Friday, and some of you should now avert your eyes. Current weight = 421.6 - which is 14 pounds heavier than I ended the month of May! June certainly sent me in the wrong direction.

So here is the current mini-challenge - by the end of July, I will return to my former glory, and then some. I will be under the 407 mark in three weeks and 1 day. (July 27th weigh in.)

There it is. The challenge is back. I am ready and in motion. Here we go.

Protien Day #1
On Protein Days, all meals and snacks are comprised only of lean Proteins.
Drink at least 80 ounces of water or other calorie-free liquids. Be sure to have at least six (6) or more protein meals approximately 170 calories
Daily carbohydrate intake should be limited within the range of 50-100 grams, spaced throughout the day,
Do not attempt to consume fewer than 50g of carbohydrate per day.

How did I do on Day 1 of the restart?? Not too good - here is the tally for day one.

B: 1/2 protien bar
S: protien bar
L: can of chicken
- (hey, pretty good so far for the day, eating protien - feeling ok, but I have a headache and the stress is starting to get to me.) -
S: beer at happy-hour
D: beer and side salad (continuation of happy hour)
S: midnight stop at McDonalds for hamburgers and fries.
G: 2.02 miles on elliptical, walk 1 mile, spent beautiful evening at outside baseball game

The first few days are going to be tough. I have to stay away from the beer, and should have brought snacks with me to the game to stop me from going to McDonalds. Thursday will be better....

more later,

Chazz

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