The Goal

Today was Weigh In Day and it was about what I expected. 219!

I haven't done anything in the realm of working out over the past week. I did have an intense session in the backyard with a block of cement, but it was not what you could call an aerobic workout.

I'm going to try and run tonight. I might even make it two miles but I doubt it. Halloween is just about over so I have a month to lose some weight before Thanksgiving. Let's see how that goes!

I know, I'll set a goal! I will weigh 205 pounds by Thanksgiving. There it is...on paper...well, on cyberspace...for all to read.

Monday Weigh In

I haven't run since last Thursday...something I plan to rectify tonight. However, I have had a pretty active weekend working around the house. The trees are dropping leaves by the bushel and I have been trying to stay on top of it. I'm using a power vac that sucks up the leaves, but I'm still getting quite a workout.

I was hoping for some improvement on Monday when I weighed myself but that was not to be. I'm a fat 219. Maybe I should stop eating Candy Corn.

New Day, New Attitude!

It always amazes me how a run and your attitude about the run can differ from day to day. I ran last night after I got home. I had to drag myself out there to do it, and I didn't really have any great expectations for getting through it. As soon as I started, I knew I was going to do two laps around the park. (That's two miles.)

It had rained earlier so once again everything was very crisp and clean smelling. I breezed through the first time around. I am not referring to speed there. My first mile was 12:52. But it was enjoyable and my breathing felt really good.

About a quarter mile into the second lap, my body, specifically, my legs, started rebelling. I wanted to stop and walk but I wouldn't let myself. My final time was 26:05 so I slowed down a bit more on the second lap.

For now, I'm going to concentrate on distance and worry about speed later.

My main point here is that while I was hating running the night before, I very much enjoyed and embraced the experience last night. I guess you can't have a good workout without a bad one to compare it to.

Thoughts on Running

There is a guy who I see running around the park all the time. Let's call him Mark . . . cuz that's his name. I first noticed him a couple of years ago. I would be working in the yard and Mark would run past. Half an hour later, I would see him pass by again. Another 45 minutes or so and there he is again. He runs every day and his short runs last two hours. Running for him is a major part of his life.

I know it can be stress relieving. You can get out there and clear your mind. But it's hard to clear your mind when all you can think about is how much pain you are in.

Now, I am a wimp! I do not suffer pain gladly. So I was thinking about all this as I ran the park last night. It had been raining earlier so everything was very crisp and clean smelling. I was trying to enjoy the run. My breathing was fairly even and unlabored. But my legs were screaming at me. I made it around to the mile mark and stumbled to the house.

The important thing is that I did it, for the first time in a week. And I did it in 12:16.

Worn Out Run

I had a horrible run last night and only made a mile. I was trying to speed up my time for the first mile by running short quick bursts. It wore me out. I ran the first loop and stopped. I did the mile in 11:38. That's a little discouraging because I have had faster miles. I was trying for a faster time and didn't make it.

Once You Go Two, You Have to Contin-U

I hit the split time button on my watch as I crossed the one mile mark and was really surprised to see that it read 12:50. I knew I was pacing myself in anticipation of running two miles tonight, but I didn't think I was lumbering along at that lethargic pace. It doesn't matter though because I made two miles.

The problem now is that I can't go back. It's going to be very difficult for me to justify running a shorter route because I now know I can do two.

The worst part of running for me is the pain in my legs. It's not excruciating. It's just pain that I have to tolerate. I was surprised and pleased to notice tonight that my breathing was pretty good and there was no pain in the chestal region of my heart...which is always good.

And once again, I would like to comment about the absence of pain in my feet. I have had to deal with tender feet in the past and that problem seems to have gone away as mysteriously and inexplicably as it came.

Oh, I almost forgot. My total time for the run was an unimpressive 26:05. However, I am impressed that I was out there for 26 minutes...let alone running the whole time.

Rode Hard and Put Away Wet

I had an encounter with a lot of Gin on Saturday evening. It did not seem to leave my system until yesterday (Monday). I have just been feeling drained the last couple of days. I spent most of the evening in bed last night. Consequently, I feel much better today.

I did force myself to run last night. I really didn't want to but was pretty pleased with myself when I made the whole mile. It was an anemic 11:43 for my time but still, I made it and that is a victory to me.

I'm trying to psych myself up to run two miles tonight. I am hoping that if I concentrate on positive affirmations and write it down here, that will give my brain the incentive to make it happen.

Real Monday Weigh In

220!

What more can I say?!

Monday Weigh-In

Since my week has been all messed up, Weigh-In Day, which is usually Monday, was moved to today. This is because...well, it's just because.

As expected, it was not good news. 219! Still, it is not as bad as I expected. I thought I had put on about five pounds after my San Francisco weekend.

On the positive side, I ran last night and took a minute off my time from the previous night. (11:33) I also ran this morning at the Club and did a little lifting.

I have always thought that running on the treadmill was easier than running the same distance on the street. That was not the case today. I could only keep at 6 mph for three minutes before I slowed to five and even then, I didn't make the whole mile before I had to slow to walk for a bit. Still, it took me about eleven and a half minutes to go one mile...same as last night.

I think I'll run tonight as well.

Return of the Phatman

I have an appointment to see my General Practitioner three times a year. I get my blood drawn and tested beforehand so we can see how all the different cocktails of drugs I am taking are working to regulate my heart condition, which is bad...cuz I'm fat.

Yesterday was one such appointment. The scale at the Doctor's Office put me 227. That is fully clothed so I know it's a little off. However, I have also known that the scale at the Club runs a little light. But that is my reference scale. I haven't been to the Club since last Thursday so I don't know where I am in relation to the Doctor's scale.

I tried to get up this morning and get my ass down to the Club for a workout and a weigh-in. But, no such luck!

I haven't worked out since Thursday because I went on a long weekend trip to San Francisco. While I didn't workout, I did walk . . . a LOT! And they have hills in San Fran. I'm thinking of moving there just so I can walk and get in shape.

I did run last night and my time for my mile was a dreadful 12:46. The Phatman is BACK!