On the Fringe of Lunacy

I am playing another indoor soccer game in the a.m. I am not right in the head. I have to go extreme with physical activity this weekend because my dietary indiscretions have been astronomical. I will go into detail about my food choices tomorrow. I am not proud. I am weak. If you placed a bizmark in front of me right now, I would chew off your arm before you could set it down. I plan to repent by busting my ass on the field. More about this later..........

Hungry

The Payment For Stupidity

I hurt. I hurt badly. My joints ache. My body feels like I have been wrestling a silver back gorilla. When I walk, it feels like my groin is being stabbed with a knife. What the hell was I thinking. Still taking ibuprofen 'round the clock. I did go to the gym and run an easy paced 3 miles to loosen up a bit. Ouch. I wrote a check that my ass couldn't cash. I am beat. I am headed to bed. Even my GI system feels a bit beat upon. I ate Mexican for dinner tonight. Not sure if that is the cause or not. My body is rebelling.

Cheers,

Hungry

I am no David Beckham

My nephew and his buddies (ages 18-20) have an indoor adult soccer team. They have invited me to play with them in the past. However, I have always turned them down. I played soccer when I was about 7 or 8 years old. I was no star then. So, tonight, I decided to take them up on the offer. I showed up with great ambitions. I have been running every day and doing strength and circuit work. I do sprints on the treadmill. I can keep up with these little bastards. Well, I was mistaken. There were 7 people there so only 1 sub for the whole game. I was sucking wind within the first 3 minutes of the game. Sweating like a whore in church, I kept my spirit high. No amount of spirit could overcome my lack of agility on the field. I made a big ass out of myself to say the least. Every time I was open and the ball was kicked to me, I fumbled it away to the opponents. One time the ball was flying towards me in the air and instincts told me to bat the ball down with my HAND. I looked around and the refs were cracking up. The opponents were smirking. My teammates looked at me like "you dumb shit." Now my right knee is killing me. I think I pulled my groin (bilateral) as well. I felt like I did ok with the CV of running during the game but my joints aren't prepared for the ass kicking they endured. I feel like Matthew Broderick in the movie War Games. He yearned to play the all powerful Global Thermonuclear War but after he started playing it, he realized he was way in over his head. Then at the end of the movie when all has turned out well, Joshua (the computer) says "How about a nice game of Chess?" Tomorrow, I shall return to my routine of bike, swim, run, circuit, etc. This will be a relief. This will be something I can handle.

Still, I feel kind of pissed off that my body won't handle what it used to handle. I don't want to lose agility and flexibility. I want to stop the aging process. No worries, I am not going to dye my hair and get botox. I am really not a superficial guy. I just don't want to lose function. It is sort of depressing, isn't it. Getting older. Ever seen the movie Rocky Balboa. He is an "older" guy who used to kick ass and now is trying to come back and do it again. The problem is he looks older even though he tried to pack on the muscle and get cut. Bummer. I guess he is probably in better shape than I am. I wish I could go back. John Mayer sings a tune called "Stop This Train." This song is meaningful to me. It expresses my sentiment about getting older and wanting to slow down the train. This "getting older" thing resonates even more in today's online society. We now have Facebook where we can see what our friends from high school are doing with their lives. People have families and jobs and responsibilities. I want to go back to the days of carefree bliss. I want to compete in swim meets again. I want to play backyard football games with my buddies. I want to swim at the pool all day during the summer and come home with a suntan and ferocious appetite. I want to roll around in the grass and get chiggers on my ass cheeks. I want to go back.

But instead, I will go ice down my knee and take some ibuprofen for my aching body. And tomorrow I will eat some more fiber to keep the bowels in order and the cholesterol down. Damn, do you see what I mean? Oh well,

Cheers

Hungry

The Questions Run Too Deep

Yesterday I ran 2.5 miles outside.
Today I ran 4 miles outside.
Today I didn't eat any fast food or restaurants at all!! (What do ya think about that, Dan?)

During today's run I went a bit too far out. I was worried that I'd run too far to get back home in time to get to work on time. But, I made it. There were other people out running on the trail I was on. It was dark. I worried about getting mugged or attacked and that made me run a bit faster. Amazing what catecholamines will do for a person. The weather was beautiful!! 40's F. I long for spring.

I know I have beat this horse to death, but I must reiterate how much the running does for my mental health. The old Supertramp song said-"there are times when all the world's asleep, the questions run too deep for such a simple man." This is my psyche. This is how my brain functions. I need to clear it out and vigorous balls to the walls exercise does it. It is like a brain enema that flushes out all of the bullshit thoughts.

Joints feeling great. I am encouraged by my progress. More later....

Cheers,

Hungry

Weakness

Last night I ate at the Texas Roadhouse. Half rack of pork ribs, fries, baked beans, and two duke size miller lites. Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad. I worked out really hard yesterday but probably not enough to burn off those calories. I slip up on the food more often than I should. Oh, by the way, I also had some of their sweet bread with cinnamon butter. I have no excuses. Damn.

On a lighter note, today I ate a 90 calorie granola bar and water for breakfast. Then, I had soup, salad and a roast beef and cheddar sandwich with iced tea.

Exercise:
2 miles on treadmill
circuit workout

Ever feel like you are up against a giant wall that you cannot even fathom getting past. Every night I tell myself-I will eat better tomorrow (for all 3 meals). Then every day I return to my old ways. If only my intensity for better eating was half of the level it is for exercise, I would be ripped and fit. I am struggling.

How can I stop craving french fries? Hot, salty fries. Crisp, tasty. Do I need to do aversion therapy where someone whips me every time I eat fries. Is there an antabuse drug for french fries and burgers?

You know what else I love. Bread pudding with hot cream and cinnamon/sugar. Served with an iced cold Milk. This is comfort, my friends. This says: I will hold you and rock you gently to the sweet sounds of Marvin Gaye. It says: I am your friend. You will feel full and content to sleep like a grizzly bear in a warm winter's den. It says: go ahead, have seconds. More is better. COMFORT-defined explicitly.

Now, a healthy bedtime snack would be a fat free yogurt. While I do like yogurt, it doesn't send my brain the same soothing message. It says: I will contribute to healthy digestion by providing live active cultures to nurture the belly. Hmmm, not the same feeling as with the bread pudding.

Anyone find it strange that I personify these foods? Oh well, here in lies my problems.

Hungry (and weak)

Upping The ANTE

Today, I upped the ante.



Cardio: Treadmill intervals for 40 minutes (3.4 miles)

Circuit Training: 30 min. including core work

Cardio II: Swimming--25 yd sprints, 50 yard sprints



Now, I know that I kicked out more calories than I took in today. (What do ya think about that Mr. Trainer?)



Breakfast:

omelet with Roma tomatoes and turkey breast and cheese

Lunch:

subway 6" spicy Italian with loads of veggies (cucumber, lettuce, extra tomato, jalapenos) and spicy mustard, Iced tea



I wonder if my trainer burned off this many calories today.



Let me tell you something: I am on my way to ultimate fitness. I have the motivation and determination of a bull in Spain awaiting the run of his life. Subway had Jared as their hero (no pun intended). I haven't yet found a national sponsor, but I bet they are scouting the hell out of me right now. Or maybe I am full of endorphin buzz right now and my ego is slightly over-inflated. Regardless, the changes I have made have astounded me.



My trainer is a mean ass bastard. But, I know he genuinely cares about my well-being or he wouldn't devote so much energy to my cause. I needed a military style drill Sargent to bust my fat, cheeto-eating ass off the couch and do something. I am indebted to him for this.

Cheers,

Hungry

Food Choices

It is time for me to branch out. I need new food options that are relatively inexpensive and easy to prepare. Oh yeah, and low fat of course. Here is a list of things that I have made at home:

1. Whole wheat spaghetti with meat sauce
2. baked chicken (shake and bake), rice-a-roni
3. Runzas
4. meatloaf with potatoes
5. Mac and cheese
6. Chili
7. steak or burgers on grill
8. fried chicken
9. frozen pizzas

Here is a list of foods that I would like to learn how to prepare:

1. Fish of any kind
2. other low fat chicken recipes
3. stir fry
4. Thai food
5. other vegetables/casseroles
6. other seafood
7. misc.

Your help would be greatly appreciated. I need new choices for home cooked meals.

My trainer is hell bent that I keep my eating out under control and I would agree that he has a point. I just have a limited repertoire of menus.

One of my favorite foods to eat is Samurai Sam's yaki soba. I could eat this every day. I know it is full of carbs but I need quite a few carbs to keep up my energy for my workouts, right?

I have been trying to follow the following rules with regard to my food choices:

• total fat less than 10 grams per serving
• sodium less than 500 mg per serving
• no trans fats
• high fiber

Just need a few ideas to get me started.

Cheers,

Hungry

Try and Try Again

I am not doing so well with the whole diet thing this week. Last night I ate at a mexican joint and had cream cheese and chicken enchiladas, beef burrito, and beef flauta. Also rice, beans, chips, salsa, and a cold Pacifico.

For lunch today, I ate at Wendys:

Baconator-880 calories
Large French Fries-550 calories
Chili-190 calories
Having my trainer bust my balls about this for months to come-Priceless!

Not feeling the best today, I took a nap after eating this meal. Woke up feeling like hell. I tried the treadmill but felt like I had a pound of grease in my gut. What the hell am I doing? My health is improving from exercising but I would agree that my diet is poisoning my true success. I have got to change. Please don't give up on me yet, people. I still have some fight in me.

As a matter of fact, I am playing another game of indoor soccer in the morning (no, I am not kidding). I think there might be some budding talent with me in that sport. I'll let you know how the game went tomorrow.

"Do or do not. There is no try."
-Yoda, Jedi Master

Hungry

New Shoes

I went to a local Running store today to get some new shoes. The lady who helped me was amazing. I told her about my newbie-ness to running and my desire for some supportive shoes for my weight. She watched me walk without shoes. She looked at the inserts of my current shoes and picked out an awesome pair of Brooks. I broke them in tonight at the gym with 4 miles on the treadmill. Felt like I was running on a cloud. Amazing how tired my old shoes were after 2 years of wear. She told me that most running shoes have about a 300 mile lifetime before they need replaced. She also said she might be able to help my wife with her ongoing plantar fasciitis problem. I cannot say, enough, how incredibly impressed I was with the customer service.

The road which I travel upon is wrought with peaks and valleys. I fully intend to take care of my body and mind so that I might be prepared for any obstacles placed before me. Buying good running shoes is the foundation for it all. What the hell was that? Sorry, I got a little Shakespearean for a bit.

I am sore and tired and ready for slumber.

Cheers to all,

Hungry

Endurance

This morning's 5 a.m. workout sucked balls. My effort was poor. My wife and I both went today. She performed much better than I did. I worked out with my trainer and he continues to point out that I am still out of shape. We did the exercise bike first. I pussed out and did a half ass attempt. Then to the stair stepper which I f*#king hated. Out of breath, legs burning. I felt like I was drudging through mud. Then onto weights where, once again, I gave it about 25% effort. My trainer may say I did less. I did break a sweat but I just felt like I couldn't find a groove. He is right when he says that I should mix it up with different cardios. It challenges the body and makes it stronger.

Feeling dissatisfied with the a.m. workout, I went back to the gym at 6 p.m. this evening to hit the treadmill. Running is my first love and it seems to clear my head the best. I get into a rhythm. As I have said before, the meditative quality of running soothes my soul. This workout went much better than this morning. Three mile run with some sprints interspersed. I felt great when I was done.

Tonight I went to the grocery store to get some fiber filled cereal and bananas. While I was there I picked up the March 2009 issue of Runner's World. It has some awesome tips for injury prevention. I really dig that magazine. It is full of stories about the passion and addiction of running. Other people's achievements are fascinating to me. In this issue, they talk about this dude that is 85 years old and has run 100 marathons. Holy shit, that is awesome.

Breakfast: omelet with Roma tomatoes and cheese, whole grain toast
Lunch: Tuna fish sandwich, baked chips, ice water
Supper: Chicken fajitas

Cheers,

Hungry

Noticeable Changes???

Lately, I have encountered people who have said-"wow, you look like you've lost a lot of weight." I really haven't. I weighed in at work today and the scale shows 215 lbs. That is about 7 pounds of blubber. Not a lot for a six week span. But, like I have always said, I don't give a shit about the number. It is a number and that is all. I do feel better and more energized. Whenever my trainer hears someone remark about my weight loss, he quickly argues-"he is fat as ever, what the hell are you people talking about?" He tells me that the first six weeks are geared towards breaking me down and the last six weeks are to build me back up. This isn't just a 12 week stint for me. I am changing for good. To all of the doubters and haters out there: the proof is in the fat free pudding. Watch and see. Today was a rest day. Tomorrow, back to the gym for some hard ass work.

AREN'T WE ALL READY FOR A COOL CHANGE??

Peace,

Hungry

TIRED

3 miles. Five a.m. Followed by 12 hours work. Joints hurt. Ready for slumber. Talk more later.

Craving rocky road ice cream by the bucket!

Hungry

I'm wide awake...I'm wide awake....I'm not sleeping.

Woke up this morning at 0430 after a restless night sleep. Went to the gym at 0500. This morning's routine:

15 minute run treadmill
10 minute rowing machine
Incline bench
Squats
Dead lifts
Abd work with medicine ball

Amazingly, I don't feel tired. I am wide awake. Had some breakfast: 2 eggs, 1 piece of whole grain toast, and some fiber one cereal with skim milk.

I do understand the importance of sleep and its restorative function for physical and emotional health. However, I didn't want to pass up the opportunity to start my day with a metabolism boost and a clearing of my head. This food addiction is a very powerful thing. I need the endorphin release to help with my psychological stress. When my stress goes up, I run to the things that give me comfort--fast food. I have insight, now, of this obvious connection between my cortisol levels and poor food choices. I am a type AAA and a chronic worrier. I have many traits associated with those likely to succumb to the pitfalls of addiction. I really should avoid alcohol as well. I don't want to tempt fate by placing myself in any precarious situations.

The peace of mind that I seek comes from a place that I still have not completely tapped into. I am a work in progress and therefore, I will be patient while I traverse the rocky terrain of life. I will remain "wide awake" to all of the possibilities which come my way. I will take the good and the BAD.................

I'm wide awake....I'm wide awake.....I'm not sleeping.

Cheers,


Hungry

Haulin' Ass

Tonight I went to the gym and hit the treadmill. I am encouraged by the fact that my endurance and stamina have increased, profoundly, since the beginning of this transformation. During my intervals, my slow speed is 5.5 or 6 and sprints up to 8. I love the feeling of sweat flying off me and hitting the treadmill like rain from a thunderstorm.

The snow and cold weather have prevented me from running outside. This has probably been good for me to rest my knees and other joints which have recently been abused by my trainer's regimen. I don't mind the cold. I just don't want to bust my ankle on the ice.

I was flipping through the channels today and saw, yet, another wonderful workout program to order off the t.v. It is called Flirty-Girl or something like that. Have you seen this? It is an exercise routine based on exotic dancing (including pole dancing!!!!). Unbelievable. I can get into shape and hone my skills at pole dancing. We all know how poorly the economy is doing and what better way to supplement my income than a little striptease on the side.

Ya know what? More power to the people who buy these programs. If it helps them to lose weight and feel better, I will not judge.

Cheers,


Hungry

Happy Heart

A gentle reminder of why I am changing my life......

Today, I returned to the program. I have two sick kids (Viral resp crap) at home and my wife is working. That pretty much locks me into the house. I hit the treadmill for some interval running and followed that up with some circuit training with weights. I get a little cabin fever being at home all day but the endorphins help.

My commitment to this thing sort of waned a bit a couple of days ago. No worries, I am not giving up that easy. I am climbing back on the horse. I never thought this would be an easy transformation. I have work to do. I have responsibilities to myself. I have responsibilities to my family. I will not let either of us down. I will probably fall again. I will trip over the sabotaging jelly donuts. I will stumble over the embers of fast food desire. My resolve is strong. My support is ever-present. My belly is fat. I will survive.

Happy Valentines Day to all of you!

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE...................

Hungry

Create A Mental Image

Try to create a mental image of my workout yesterday. I met my trainer at the gym at 0500 before we went to work for 12 hours. With my IPOD in hand, I entered the facility to hit the treadmill for a nice run for 30-45 minutes. My trainer had other ideas in mind. He looked at the IPOD and said: "you won't be needing that thing." So we go to this area of the gym which I have never seen before now. I assume it is where they do "aerobics." It is a very large room which has wooden floors with mirrors covering the entire front wall. The lights are bright. The temp was about 90 degrees in the room. Out come the jump ropes. After a minute of uncoordinated jump roping, we drop down for some pushup/pull ups with 15 lbs. of weight. At this point, I am slightly winded and beginning to sweat. My trainer (we'll say his name is Dan) expels a series of farts that have the whole f*#king place reeking. Back to the jump rope. At this point, I am moderately winded. Then we stack up these damn steps and do jump ups (or whatever the hell they were called.) Then squat thrusts. Then more jump ups. At this point I am severely winded and cannot complete a full sentence.

Meanwhile, women begin to walk by the room preparing for their aerobic class. As they enter the ass-fume infused room, they don't say a word. Most likely because they are holding their breath.

We then moved to core exercises with the Swiss ball. Speaking of balls, my trainer continued to be relentless about busting mine. We did this "plank" pose thing and he started bitching that my ass was up in the air too high (should look like a push up pose). I retorted, "bullshit, it is your ass that is not straight with the rest of your body." Of course, I could not hold the plank as long as HE-MAN could. "He begins to yell, "Come on, you f***ing pussy!! Try a little harder!!" People continue to walk by wondering what sort of crazy ass military workout we have going on in here. Here I am at 0500 in the a.m. enclosed in sulfurous, blazing hot room that resembles the workout rooms for Dancing with the Stars. I don't feel like a star. Finally, some people come into the room to set up for their class. As we pick up our steps and my pride, I can't help but wonder what these people are thinking about our little session.

Not over yet. Out to the weights, nautilus style. Then abs with medicine balls. By now my body and mind say enough.

Then last night, got home from work late, went to bed and crashed. Sorry about not posting yesterday. I was really friggin' tired. I think I was being worked over for my dietary indiscretions.

I worked 12 hours today, again. No exercise today secondary to knee pain and exhaustion from all of the jumping yesterday.

Goodnight,


Hungry

Confession

Last night I had McDonalds for supper. Big Mac, Fries, Regular coke and a dollar chicken sandwich. I failed myself. Today for breakfast I had a bowl of oatmeal and a piece of whole wheat toast. Then, again, I fell from grace. Went to Taco Bell-two soft tacos, bean burrito, and a chicken soft taco. This is the hardest transformation I have ever known. I struggle with the decisions about food every damn day. Weakness. Guilt. Have I smashed down the project that I worked so hard to build. Tonight, I did eat at home. Whole wheat spaghetti with meat sauce, asparagus (I like the way it makes my urine smell), and corn. I did get on the treadmill today and ran 2 miles. It is good that I love the exercise or I would never lose a pound.

I remember reading about a guy who once thought he would sue the fast food chains as being liable for his coronary artery disease. He required bypass surgery and felt that the marketing and sales of this food hastened his disease. Although I do believe that the food is addictive and made incredibly convenient, I don't agree that they are responsible. I have talked of this before. Don't blame others for your shortfalls. I made a decision to eat shitty food, therefore I own the end result.

I have gone through many drive-thru joints in my life. I get super pissed if they screw up my order. I have been known to call the manager, email the company, or write letters to the franchise owners. Why is it so difficult to make the order correct. I have made comments such as: I am going to discontinue coming to your restaurant. AS if that hurts their feelings. That'll show 'em. Most of the time I get attitude from employees if I ask for a couple extra packets of ketchup. I makes me seethe inside. For what?

It is time that I get a f*#king clue. They don't care if my order is incorrect. They don't care if I rant to their manager. They could give a rat's ass if I have a left main occlusion and drop dead at 45 years old. These are all signs I have ignored for years. MAYBE I should stand by my threats to not eat at these places. Maybe I should not use the lame-ass excuse that my life is too busy to cook and sometimes it is just easier to "drive thru."

My trainer told me that next time I am feeling weak, I should go to the grocery store and get a healthy meal. He says to "always stay on the outside aisles at the store." "If you move to the middle, they'll getchya."

Tomorrow will be better. I hope...

Hungry (and guilty)

Not My Best Run

This morning I ran 3 miles outside before work. I had a hard time warming up the joints and couldn't get into a rhythm. This frustrated me and therefore my negative thoughts continued to fuel my workout. Thus, it lacked the smooth, fluid quality that allows me to get into meditative mode. I only got about 4 1/2 hours sleep last night. That probably contributed as well. Now it is the end of the day and I am beat ass tired. Time for restful night so I can hit it again tomorrow.

I feel thinner, recently. I am having a real hard time not eating out, though. I have cut out sugary pops, greasy food, and fatty selections. I am still drawn to the occasional indiscretion much to the dismay of my trainer. I am feeling pretty weak right now. It would be only a step away to return to my old ways and I don't want that.

Today, my enthusiasm is fading and I fear that I am slipping off of the wagon. My joints are sore and I feel grumpy and pissed. Sorry to sound like such curmudgeon. I am rarely this nihilistic. Hopefully, tomorrow will bring a better frame of mind.

On a more positive note, my wife got her cast off!! Foot is somewhat better. She is doing stretches for plantar fasciitis and hopes for a full recovery. She is strong. She will succeed.

Hungry.....

Back In The Saddle, Again

After a nice restful Sunday, I have returned to the program. Today, I did 30 min. of fast sprints/moderate pace jogs on the treadmill. After my workout, I could have wringed(?) out my shirt and had about 3 cups of sweat....mmmm, just what you wanted to think about. Came home and did a killer circuit workout. Arms are shaky, can hardly walk. Feel amazing. We are having meatloaf and potatoes for supper and then my wife and I and the kids are headed to the pool for some swimming.



It is really nice to have incorporated activity into my daily lifestyle. Hard to believe that just a few short weeks ago, I was a sloth. Sedentary and moping around the house. Sitting down with a bag of cheetos and ho-ho's. Drinking tons of caffeinated soda to keep my lazy ass awake. Getting acid reflux from all of the caffeine. On Friday of last week, I played a basketball game with my step-son. Kept up the whole time. Had he asked me to play a month ago, I would have said no. Life is short and I intend to play really f*cking hard from here on out. Less television, more reading. More time with my family, less time bitching about how much of a fat ass that I am.

Tonight's choice for sprint time was Soundgarden's Outshined and Murphy's Shipping Up To Boston.

INTENSITY IS ESSENTIAL

Cheers,

Hungry

Rest

Today is Sunday. Once again, my designated day of rest. I must admit, I sort of have to force myself to take a day off because I miss the burn. But I want to stay in this for the long haul, so I will take care of my body and let it heal. Tomorrow is Monday and back to the trenches.

I miss bizmarks.....I miss apple fritters......

I could probably eat these things if I worked out like Michael Phelps (minus the devil's lettuce.)

Talk to ya later..

Hungry

Early Morning Run

Up at 0445, on the street at 0500. Ran 3 miles-actually ran the entire distance. Felt great. My joints held up and my cardiovascular system held up as well. Once again, I found the zone. The meditative quality of the zone cleanses my soul. After the run, I went to work for 12 hours. I felt pretty energized all day.

I have been thinking. If three miles gives me this clarity, what would increasing the mileage do for me? Say 10 miles, or maybe 26.2. I recently watched this documentary on the Sahara Desert Runners. These crazy bastards ran across the entire Sahara in about 111 days. They averaged about 60 miles a day. They exhausted many pairs of shoes before their blistered and bloodied feet reached their goal. Endurance athletes of this caliber inspire me to do great things. I could do this. Eventually, that is, after conditioning and preparation. Self-fulfillment is found, sometimes, in reaching outside of what one thinks he/she can accomplish. Maybe I'll do an Ironman someday. Think I'm crazy? So be it. I am on fire and the train is gaining speed. Hold on tight and watch. You might be surprised......

Hungry

Positive Reinforcement

One of the traditions at my house is that Fridays are always donut day (go figure, a tradition built around food). The kids, and myself included, always look forward to this day. Before school I drive to Lamars Donuts, a local donut shop, to buy everyone 2 donuts of their choice. I must admit that I used to frequent the joint on other days on my way to work. Needless to say, these are not on my program at this point. So I drove there today and got the kids their donuts. And yes, I did refrain from buying any for myself. While I was there, the lady behind the counter tells me-"You have lost a lot of weight, haven't you?" She further stated-"I notice it around your face." If this wasn't the positive reinforcement that I needed right at that moment, I don't what else could have saved me. I am surrounded by beautiful pastries filled with rich custards, jellies, and creams. Fried selections smothered in a sugary glaze. My trainer equates it to an alcoholic going to a bar. It is true. As I have stated before, food is my drug of choice. I think it was a "sign" that I am on the right path.

Breakfast: Omelet, whole grain (9 grain) toast, juice
Lunch: Turkey on wheat, salad, water
Snack: Light Yogurt

Exercise: Holy shit, I did this circuit that my trainer gave me which consists of upper/lower body and core exercises and it kicked my ass to the cleaners. Heart rate when I finished was about 140 and sweatin' like a whore in church. When I was finished, I felt awesome. Arms and legs a bit shaky. This afternoon, I will do cardio on the treadmill (intervals). More on that later..

Cheers,

Hungry

Cover Of The Rolling Stone??

I received a couple of calls today from Rolling Stone and Men's Health. They were curious to just who this "hungry" guy is and what is the fascination with his story. Actually they really didn't call. Would be nice if they would do a story about me, though! My wife and kids are tired of taking these updated pictures of blubber. This time, I thought I'd hold some weights to depict more of the Fight Club physique....hahahaha. As you can see, the damned tire around my waistline is resistent to change. The double chin is still quite noticeable. But in the advice of one of the comments I recently received-"stop looking in the mirror, change doesn't happen over night." Whoever wrote that, you are spot on. I refuse to look at my (still) fat ass and base my sense of accomplishment on what I see. I have made some huge f*cking changes in my life. Better diet, better sleep, and activity. Today, for instance, I had about 2 hours before I had to go pick up the kids from school. Normally, I would take this time to take a nap. Today, I went out in the 50 degree F weather and ran/walked 5 miles. I feel much better and more energized than if I would have slept. Now I am more centered and prepared for the chaos that awaits me from picking up five kids from school. I feel great. These are the things from which I measure my success. Anyways, thanks for all of your comments and support. I have found this blog to be really inspiring. I feel that I am accountable to myself and the readers to keep up with my commitment to this program.

Cheers,

Hungry

Double Your Pleasure

This afternoon, I worked out for the second time today. This morning-30 minutes of cardio, this afternoon-20 minutes of interval sprints followed by circuit training with weights. I feel tired and sore but overall pretty good. All together, I did about one hour of work today. I am a bit disappointed because when I look in the mirror, I still see the neck fat and the belly fat. My trainer says it is because I continue to eat an occasional fast food or delivery pizza. He is probably right. I am somewhat powerless over salty, greasy food. I crave it more than ever. My intake is probably still greater than my output. Thus, I am gonna kick up the cardio a bit harder and try to limit eating out.

I have been ending some of my workouts with yoga stretches.


Hungry

LIVESTRONG

Today, I did the treadmill at the gym. Nothing extravagant. Just 30 minutes at a fast jog, slow run. Lately, when I exercise, I have been wearing a LIVESTRONG yellow bracelet. Six years ago, my mother was diagnosed with Stage IV endometrial adenocarcinoma. After surgery and several rounds of chemotherapy, she is doing really well. Of course, this cancer is insidious and has come back, off and on. She has faced each recurrence with the utmost bravery and commitment. Currently, every third week, I drive her to receive her carboplatin and avastin. I look forward to those trips. The infusion center she goes to is about an hour away. It gives us a chance to talk and reminisce. Most of all, it inspires me to see how brave and strong the woman is. She is a rock. In January 2008, her soulmate of 50 years passed away. It has been incredibly hard on my whole family. Despite the sadness and grief, my mother is still strong. She is the matriarch of this whole clan. I cannot begin to describe how proud I am of her tenacity and strength. Thus, the reason for the LIVESTRONG bracelet. I read Lance's book long ago. I have always admired his perseverance and endurance. I have always been in awe of his foundation and its commitment to cancer treatment and goals in site of a cure. So I will wear the yellow bracelet with pride and determination. It is the theme of my life in every aspect right now: L I V E S T R O N G. This post is dedicated to my Mom. She continues to amaze me!!


Hungry

Cold, tired

Woke up at 5 a.m. today to run. I didn't realize how frigid it was going to be outside. It was a shitty run. Muscles tight, joints hurt. It was like I couldn't warm up the body to exercise. I am disappointed with today's run. I may have to swim for a few days to rest the joints. I worked all day today and I am tired as hell.

Goodnight,

Hungry

Rocky

Tonight I went to the gym and did 20 minutes on the recumbent bike (sprints), free weights, and then 25 min on treadmill (60-120's). Then had some iced cold water and went home. I got on YouTube and watched a few of the Rocky movie training scenes. It made me realize what an incredible pussy I am. Sly Stallone was a bad muther-f**ker back in the day. Carrying a friggin' log up a hill buried in 4 feet of snow. Lifting a big ass bag of rocks tied to a rope on a pulley, doing incline sit-ups hanging from a loft in a Russian barn house. Damn, that is the ultimate workout. Waking up in the morning and drinking raw eggs. That dude was tough as nails. OK, so it's just a movie, I know. But, it still inspires me. I am all about pushing my body and mind to the limits of sanity. Incredible feeling. Have I lost my mind? Why do I have this wild hair to up the ante on my exercise regimen? I have read several articles that encourage using your environment to train and break up your routine. This is of great interest to me. "They" stress the importance of varying exercises to challenge your body. You won't see me running down the street with a 300 lbs. log on my back. You won't see me sitting on my roof doing sit ups (I work in a trauma ICU). But I am going to start incorporating strength training while out on my runs. There are a number of ways to get the heart rate up and break a sweat. I intend to find many of them. Wow, my wife is reading this thinking that I have completely lost touch with reality. She thinks that I am on the edge. She might be right. I may be crazy. But it just may be a lunatic she is looking for. Sorry, I couldn't resist. Christie Brinkley eat your heart out.

Cheers,

Hungry (........gonna fly now!)

What Was I Thinking?

Today was rest day. No running, no circuit. I do think that one day of the week is necessary to allow my body to heal from the hell I put it through on the other days. I do miss it, though. I have cheated, occasionally, on my diet. My trainer has been chewing my ass lately because he says I need to stay away from fast food, even if I make better choices. I hate to admit, but he is right. The temptation is great. I have to learn, however, to make good choices in the face of many options. Right now I am weak because I have cut back from my usual fast food intake. My trainer is a relatively smart bastard, I hate to admit.

Time for my rant, now. So, the other day I am running my ass off at the gym in front of about 15 t.v.'s. The ONE tv in front of me is showing an infomercial regarding a weight loss program. I am sure some of you have seen this crazy ass scheme. It is called "Think and Lose." A man named Don Mannarino created this amazing program which utilizes hypnosis to assist people with weight loss. Let me tell you how they tout this thing: "No more strenuous exercise", "Only takes a few relaxing minutes a day." "Easy and automatic, no will power." They say that Don is the former clinical hypnotherapist under contract to the American Heart Association. Sounds pretty reputable, huh? What's more, I can try it for 30 days risk free!! Why in the hell am I busting my ass with exercise and healthy food choices when I really don't even need to work for it. I can tap into my subconscious mind and make it so I don't crave that McRib. I can eat whatever I want, and will never overeat because of these magical tapes. I think I am going to abandon this whole health kick thing and buy those tapes. Or maybe not.........

What I do believe is that the mind is a very powerful thing. I believe that we have no idea how much we don't know about the brain. I believe in the subconscious. I believe that change has to include the mind as well as the body. But I cannot endorse any "program" where the only LOSING I will experience is in my wallet and not my body fat. What a bunch of bullshit. How could anyone endorse a program that requires "no will power" and "no strenuous exercise." What kind of message does that show our youth? Achieving a goal through hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and will power has an incredible effect on the human psyche. It says "we can prevail. It might be painful, we may not succeed the first time, but we can achieve our goals." Let's promise each other this: we may or may not succeed at making healthy changes in our lives. Maybe, I will fail and go back to my old habits. I don't know. But let's never put our faith in any program where the primary goal is the financial gain of the makers of these products. No offense to Mr. Mannarino. I am sure that his intentions are purely altruistic.

Cheers,

Hungry (and grumpy)