Weight Consequences

I am watching a show on HBO called The Weight of the Nation.  Very eye opening.  I am not going to try to summarize it, but it is worth watching the series.  It explains it doesn’t take much to have other health problems if we are overweight.  Episode 2 has tips to solve this problem.  I am not sure if I should get off my couch and exercise or watch the next episode.

I posted this from my phone and then I read it a little later on my computer.  I am not quite sure it will read the way I wanted it to.  All along I have said I try to exercise and eat healthy for the sole purpose of looking good naked.  After watching the first episode it opened my eyes.  It isn’t all about looking good but, it is making my body healthy for the long haul.  This show is giving me more motivation than the resulting numbers on a scale or tape will show.

 

Dazed and Confused

I originally said that I was going to update every two weeks with progress pictures and measurements.  I don’t think this is going to happen.  I have just finished week number two of my Kettlebell Bootcamp with mixed emotions.  Sometimes I am so lost trying to figure out what we are doing other times I am doing something that doesn’t seem to be doing anything.  I am in a class that probably accepted a dozen or so too many people.  Too many people have made it crowded and hard to hear the instructions.   Another thing that has made it tough for me is that it is a mixture of rookies (me) and experienced kettlebellers.  I am guessing this also makes the experienced ones a little upset when we have to do the “basic” training exercises when they want the “advanced” exercises.  The experienced ones also are supposed to help the rookies out.  I have been lucky enough to be paired up with a couple of good ones but they didn’t sign up to help me.  Sometimes we go to stations and I have no clue what to do or where to do them or for how long.  I am not giving up but, I hate this slow start.  I guess I was hoping I would wake up a little more sore.  I have been sore but not too bad.  My legs were sore but, I never really worked them that much besides running and running isn’t hitting the same muscles used in squats and lunges.

Another confusing part of the past two weeks is my weight.  Prior to KB camp I was running in the morning for about an hour (6-8 miles a day) and then I was weight training during my lunch break (30-45 minutes).   Change is good.  I know that.  I was told this kettlebell would easily take the place of both of those workouts.  In my mind I swapped the weights and runs now.  I do KB Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings and during my lunch I am running on the treadmill (only 30-45 minutes).  I am still trying to run every day.  My diet hasn’t changed much.  I am a simple person.  I eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch every day. My dinner changes some but, is still reasonable.  RAMBLE RAMBLE…I have gained 7 pounds in the last 2 weeks.

I really doubt I am adding 7 pounds of muscle.  Here are some things that have changed:

1. I am only running 3-4 miles not 6-8.
2. I have added Creatine Monohydrate.  This might make me retain water.
3. My protein powder is a Whey Isolate, Casein, and Hydrolyzed Whey mixture.

Here is a question:  When you have going through Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS), do you retain more water, and junk while your body is trying to rebuild the muscle?

Sorry about this long written post.  I doubt anyone will even get through all of my ramblings.  Maybe next week will be better.

Race to Wine

Saturday evening I had the opportunity to run with my wife.  YIPPEE!  We had a busy cold day of the kids’ soccer and football games and then off to a local winery to run 5 miles.  Busy, busy.  The winery was packed with runners, walkers and fans.  Over 2000 people finished either the 5 mile run or the 5K run/walk.   I am really bad at picture taking.  I am at a very picturesque winery and I take three pictures.  Here we are before the race.

Before the Race and Wine

I told my wife that we would run together but, I guess I lied.  It is almost just as hard to slow my normal pace down as it is to speed up.  I am in no means a speedy runner but, it’s just something about races that gets my adrenaline going.  There were some decent size hills that caught my wife off guard.  They don’t seem to bug me as much and I felt really good running.  I was one of those guys that sped up and slowed down.  I know some of you know what I mean.  I would start running at my own pace and then start feeling guilty about leaving my wife.  So, I would go to the side and try to slow down while looking backwards to find her.  I repeated this a few times.  I ended up passing the same people maybe 4 times.  At about the 3 mile mark I told her I would meet her at the finish line.  It felt fun passing people but, it was also consuming tons of energy weaving in and out of people because at that time we were also meeting up with the 5K walkers.  I went from high 8 minute pace to a 7 minute pace.  I finished the run in 42 minutes and my wife finished at about 46 minutes.  In the end we were treated with a glass of wine.  We are not wine drinkers but the wine tasted good enough that we bought two bottles.

Hopefully, my wife will still run with me again because we have a planned run at the end of November.  It’s supposed to be flatter and I will try my best to steady my adrenaline.

 

Kettlebell Kickin

Yesterday I started my kettlebell bootcamp and it kicked my butt. I used to think I was coordinated but, I struggled to do the kettlebell exercises correctly. I wanted to squat when I was supposed to hinge. I was lifting with my arms and not popping with my knees and hips. I will get better.  I was able to go home and study some You Tube videos on proper form. I just hate feeling like I have no clue what is going on. It’s a packed class too so, the instructor doesn’t have much time to work with me. However, I was lucky enough to be paired up with someone who knew what she was doing and was willing to help this old guy. I did work up a sweat and today my legs are sore. It’s the good sore that comes from muscles being used that don’t get used in the way that they we used (wow, that was confusing).

My bootcamp is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  I didn’t plan this very well but, I also have a 5 mile race this Saturday.  I have a feeling my legs are going to be Jell-O by then.  During lunch yesterday, I was able to run 4 miles but, my delayed onset muscle soreness didn’t start up until now.  My plan is to run 6 miles at lunch today.  It will either help or hurt.  On the other hand I am excited about my run.  I get to have a run date with me wife.  The kids will be home with a babysitter.   The run is at a winery so at the end, we get to have wine….bonus.

I did take measurements prior to my bootcamp and I will post them on my Bootcamp page.  I will update the page with progress measurements and pictures about every two weeks.  I spared you a beginning picture for no other reason than I was too lazy.  People that read this have seen the pictures of me even after Captain Morgan.  Should I wear those same shorts in the progress pictures?