Not so Fast

Yesterday was my fast day. I have written about it before. I have no clue if it is helping but, I know according to the pounds on the scales it isn’t hurting. I am doing a lot of other stuff along with my one day of fasting like exercising and eating healthy (to an extreme). I got home from work yesterday and turned on The Doctors. They answered a question about fasting a day after eating all sorts of bad food and if that was good for you. They answered that of course it is not good for you. That when you eat the bad food it breaks down into your bloodstream as Trans fats, the bad cholesterol, yada, yada, yada. Don’t forget I have a very selective attention span and I am no doctor. Then when you fast your mitochondria, your “cellular power plants” do not get the memo to run at full speed and slow down. This leaves all of those bad Trans fats and bad cholesterol stuck in your blood until they start building up making dams in the vessels. I know this just doesn’t happen in one day and it’s not even that simple but easy enough for this dumb guy to understand. For me my fasting isn’t due to the bad eating. It’s due because I read it once. I know when you stop feeding your body a lot of its processes slow done. I want my metabolism to keep going. In order to keep my metabolism up at its highest I need to feed my muscles. Muscles burn a lot more calories than fat. So, to keep my muscles happy, I need to feed them protein.

If anyone is still here reading this, are you asleep? Long story short. After watching The Doctors and exercising, I had a protein shake. I think next week instead of doing a total fast, I will have a few protein shakes just to feed my muscles. Will it do anything different? I have no clue but, I am just a daily experiment.

Week 9 – 142.0 Pounds

I was totally shocked at the weigh in this morning. I guess I shouldn’t be too shocked. I can see the finish line of this competition and I know I can win. I told my wife I am all in. I said I was going to make drastic changes just to get that win. One change I made was I started Insanity along with my regular runs of 3-5 miles a day. I am one week into it and I guess it has paid off. I am at 142 pounds. That is 4.4 pounds down from last week. I cut out cheating for this last stretch. Up until this post, I would cheat by eating any of those great snacks my kids have – some jelly beans, chocolates, marshmallows, etc. I could list more. I wouldn’t eat much but, I wouldn’t stop myself from stealing a bite or five. I still think the scales might be a bit touchy.

Changes last week:
1. Insanity
2. No Cheating

Official – 142.0 lbs
Home (naked) – 139.0 lbs

I have a few more changes for next week. Hopefully, the number still goes down. I hope I don’t resort to cutting off limbs. I wonder what a pinky weighs.

I got a late jump taking these pictures. I took them after dinner tonight instead of right after work.

Dead Sexy

Done with my first Pure Cardio of Insanity.  I am trying out my new idea of the sexy 80′s head band.  I think I may have a new look. I figured everyone could have a Saturday laugh while I am trying to catch my breath.

A Little Bit Sore

Shaun T is kicking my butt and I think it’s bruised. I have said before I am weird but, I kind of like that muscle soreness that comes a day or two after a new workout. It’s that type of ache like you have a Charlie horse in places…well for me just about everywhere. I have finished day three of Insanity. I have yet to do a whole work out without stopping at some point. This is a crude brief overview how the work out goes. You start with a “warm-up” – I need to do a warm up for Shaun T’s warm-up. Without stopping you do the same warm-up 2 more times both increasing intensity. A 30 second water break is offered after about three minutes or so. That is barely enough to catch my breath let alone get a drink. I think we stretch after that. I am not a stretcher but, I am trying. The older I get the less stretchy I am so, usually, I don’t do it. Then he changes and does a bunch of different stuff (do you like my description…stuff). Always moving your feet, squatting, jumping, touching the ground, types of pushups. This is all new to me so he will yell out a certain move and I have to stare at him while he does it a few times. This is not dancing (I can’t dance either) but, some of these moves need more coordination than I have. So, I am tired, sweating and totally lost at what he is trying to make me do. I guess when you see the people on the TV quitting and walking off it is re-assuring that this is pretty tough and to stop if you need to. Maybe it’s by design but, by the end of the workout, it is going so fast that I forget that I am tired. That has been the work outs so far. Hopefully, I will catch on to the language and I will find some coordination.

I have a feeling I am going to ruin my carpet from all of my sweat. I know pretty gross, huh? I am not sure if it will help or not but, I think I am going to go the sexy route and buy some head and wrist sweat bands.

My competition is coming to the end. I have about 3 weeks left. I am second place….grrrr. I am most likely going to do stupid things to help my numbers drop on the scale. This is the first stupid thing. I am still running 3-8 miles daily and now this Insanity thing daily. I guess I am insane.

Riddle These Nuts

I did what you are not supposed to do.  I went grocery shopping when I was hungry.  I picked up a bag of soy nuts.  They tasted pretty good to me.  The nutrition looks very awesome.  I know almonds are supposed to be a healthy snack (in moderation).  I am asking for some help from all of the smarter people out here.

Why don’t soy nuts get any love when almonds take all the glory?

Don’t get me wrong, I like almonds and all nuts but, I have rarely heard anything pro or con about soy nuts.  Help me out.

Dry Roasted Salted Soy Nuts Nutrition Facts Serving Size 3 tbsp (28.3 g) Amount Per Serving Calories 140 Calories from Fat 63 Total Fat 7.0g Saturated Fat 1.0g Trans Fat 0.0g Cholesterol 0mg Sodium 90mg Total Carbohydrates 10.0g Dietary Fiber 5.0g Protein 10.0g Vitamin A 2% • Vitamin C 2% Calcium 4% • Iron 6% * Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Dry Roasted Salted Almonds Nutrition Facts Serving Size 1 oz (22 whole kernels) (28.3 g) Amount Per Serving Calories 169 Calories from Fat 135 Polyunsaturated Fat 3.6g Monounsaturated Fat 9.5g Cholesterol 0mg Sodium 96mg Total Carbohydrates 5.5g Dietary Fiber 3.3g Sugars 1.4g Protein 6.3g Vitamin A 0% • Vitamin C 0% Calcium 8% • Iron 7% * Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Fast Wednesday

Today, I OD on water and green tea.  Throughout this competition, I have picked Wednesdays to fast.  Not sure why but, I read in an article that a fast every now and then will help re-train the body how to use its stored fuel.  I thought it would be harder than it is but, really it doesn’t bother me as long as I stay busy.  As a bonus it’s nice to see the scale on Thursday morning.  It doesn’t stay at that number once I start eating again.

My normal workouts have been alternating long runs (50-60 minutes) with some sort of total body, upper body, or core circuit and follow that with a 20 minute run.  Last night I decided I will start the Shaun T Insanity Workout.  My wife has started them and gave me the quick steps to begin it.  I am not sure how the Insanity Workout works but, it starts with a Fit Test.  This gives you a baseline.  Then you take the test again every 2 weeks and hope to see your numbers improve.  Here are my numbers:

1. Switch Kick – 113 – I think this was a bad count (should be lower).  I was not kicking high enough.
2. Power Jack  - 52
3. Power Knees – 61
4. Power Jump – 33
5. Globe Jumps -10
6. Suicide Jumps – 15
7. Pushup Jacks – 23
8. Low Plank Obliques -32

I was really sweating after this 30 minute Fit Test.  I have a feeling I may die after I do the real workouts.  I still plan on running at lunch for 30 to 60 minutes and then doing this when the kids go to bed at night.   My ultimate goal of this is to try to get some definition/toning in my body.  I am weird I will try anything once or a lot more.

Beaches

I know this is way out there and totally different but, hey I am different anyway. My wife and I have decided we are going to take our three kids to the beach this summer for vacation. The kids’ ages range from 4 to 9 years old. When I have gone all I need was my cooler, a pair of shorts, and the beach. Now I have to think of other stuff for the kids (in case they don’t want to lay and drink with dad on the beach). Now here is one of those honest confessions of myself, I have more friends here than in real life. I live in Indiana and don’t want to travel to the west coast. We are trying to keep the drive around 12-13 hours. For my out of the country friends I will forgive you for not having any clue…hehe. Anyone have any suggestions?

Week 8 – 146.4 Pounds

I am not sure how I got off of my week numbers.  I am sure no one else noticed.  I am 2/3 done with my competition. So, far I have lost a total of 23.2 pounds.  It has been really hard making me behave and not cheat.  I guess my will power is pretty strong.  This is not a diet this is a competition.  But from this competition, I have learned what it takes to live a healthy way.  After I am done with the competition, I will continue to eat healthy.  Not to the extreme that will cause my wife to kill me like the past couple of months.  I will allow myself to go out and eat.  I would love some chicken wings and pizza.  Here are my weigh in numbers for this morning:

Official – 146.4 lbs
Home (sans clothes) – 143.5 lbs

I really need to mark a spot on my floor so I know exactly where to stand for the pictures.  Amateur photographer.  I am going to try to get to 30 pounds before this competition is over.

P.S. I need to figure out how to weigh in at the office like I weigh in at home.  Anyone have any suggestions?  HAHA.

 

Addicted!

It doesn’t take long to get addicted to this blogosphere stuff.  I thought getting a workout in was challenging during the day with work, family, kids, baseball, cub scouts, football, gymnastics, homework, etc.  Now I am addicted to blogs.  I love seeing what everyone is doing.  I like the little tips on how people are able to meet their goals with a busy life like mine.  I like to show people I am hitting my goals along with everyone’s help here.  This is how bad it has gotten.  I sit at work with my personal email open.  When someone I follow posts something, I get notified.  I immediately go and read it.  If I can relate to the topic I give my 2 cents worth of a worthless comment.  I know it is weird but it is kind of like knowing and caring for a ton of people I don’t really know.  While I am there I have to check out my stats, of course I want everyone to stop by, enlighten me, encourage me, and even bash me (I’m a big boy I can handle it).  I want to post something on my blog but, sometimes I run out of time.  I am walking a thin line on blogging during work time and that is a no no.  So, I really need an intervention to stop me before I get fired.  I guess then I would have all sort of time to do this but, I doubt my wife would like that.  So, I am going to try to ease off watching my personal emails come in.  I am going to try to get caught up at night when my family sleeps.  Wish me luck!  Thanks for being with me.  I love you all!  And a good night.  That was my rock star ending.  Did I mention that I am weird?

Nominations

So, I just figured out I did not do my Very Inspiring Blogger Award nomination any justice.  I am supposed to follow some simple steps to justify my blog for this honor.  Beth and Elysia at  Weight4Us  nominated my blog for the Inspiring Blogger Award.   Beth and her daughter, Elysia are blogging of their lifestyle changing journey.  As I said before life happens and they write about it.  I appreciate being nominated by them because they are an inspiration to me.

Now onward to 7 unknown, rarely blogged about, fun facts about me.

1. I am not very photogenic.
2. As much as I try, I have no sense of creativity.
3. I love reading.
4. I am a huge sports fan.  My favorite team is the Indianapolis Colts.  A thing that really drives me nuts is when someone doesn’t support their local team.  To me rooting for another city/state’s team is like rooting against the US in the Olympics.
5. I like and eat anything and everything.  People do not understand how I can eat some of the things I eat,  just as I cannot understand how some people cannot like something.
6. When the weather sirens start sounding, I rush outside to watch.
7. I would rather do hard labor work than sit inside and watch TV (except when Deadliest Catch is on)

Here are 7 blogs that have inspired me and keep me on the right track of trying to be healthy

1. Round To Ravishing The beautiful mother and wife, JoAnn writes of her journey of life and health with help from Les Mills Pump.
2. Your Truth Diet Takes me on a funny but everyday life happens story of Shamekia Jenkins.
3. Two Moms  a slightly different average family but one that parallels my family and life’s adventures.
4. Weight Loss & Corrine Corrine gives me my morning laughs and many times hunger pains from the food she shows.  Corrine is a very positive person with her goal in with in sniffing distance.
5. A Healthy Lifestyle Journal Diana is a fun loving cook that is trying like we all are to balance the real world and healthy living.
6. Trying Not to be Fat No Polish jokes please.  This is a witty and sometimes out of the box thinking young girl that can make a short walk to work an adventure.
7. Live Passionately Tonight Allison has nothing but positive things to say day in and day out.  She says she likes wine but, is she even old enough to drink it?

I wish I could write in all of the blogs I follow.  It amazes me how similar all of our lives are.  We all have hurdles, bad days, struggles, as well as good days, accomplishments, and treats.  It so neat to see I am not the only one that goes through this.