This time around I am prepared to get into shape.  My mind is prepared of course (it knows about the hard work ahead) but that is not what I am talking about. I am prepared. I always know where my running shoes and workout clothes are.  I always make sure the alarm is set.  Most importantly I have prepared food!  I made 4 large bactches of healthy food, divided them into 2 cup servings and froze them in freezer bags.  I brought some into the office so I could be "prepared" to eat there as well.  I am making sure that there is fresh fruit around. Pears and apples are very filling and really take the edge off.   I eat before I get the edge though.  No edge, no binge!  It can't be that simple!  How have I missed this!

I also am taking a hint from Adam and not eating after my cardio.  I do my second interval workout around 8:30pm and then no food until morning.  Seems to be doing the trick.

I know that there are going to be times when the motivation wanes.  I would like to prepare for that as well.  Let me know what kinds of tricks you have developed to help you through those "lazy" days.

until tomorrow,

Think clean, shred big, fix the toilet seat.

Day 5

My doctor did a body analysis on day two.  I got the results today.

BMI - 35.18

Body Fat - 28.5%

Lean Body Mass - 71.5%

She will check again in 6 weeks.  I plan to WOW her!

Dr. Saetre and Jen at Still Pointe Natural Health Center are great and tru allies in my quest!   

www.stillpointe.net

Cardio this morning, 5:30 am

 I took time to get out of my car and walk a couple of times.  I had to drive to Fargo today.  I was un-motivated to do my interval cardio tonight.  I put Ninja Warrior (if you haven't watched it you are missing out. Check out G4 tv). on the tv and BOOM i nailed my best session yet! 

So today Jesus, I am grateful for Ninjas.

Shred large, think thin, eat a pear.

Day 4

Got to sleep in a little this morning.  Felt good.  Got up at 6:30 and did my strength training and the cardio and iso in the car.  I will do my interval cardio again tonight before I hit the rack.  The two-a-days seem to be doing the trick and I don't get bored on the treadmill.  Speaking of getting bored....

I want to know what tops the list of your favorite "workout movies" and why.  What movie makes you want to "shred."  (I haven't gotten used to using that word yet, it makes me think of cabbage.)   What is your favorite "motivationalistic" movie.

For me, it doesn't get much better then Rocky 4.  While I will agree that is not the cinematic masterpiece of 1 and 2.  Watching Rocky workout in Siberia while Ivan Drago roids up on the International Space Station is one of the best montages of all time. 

Think big, Shred hard, load the diswasher!

Day 3

I felt hungry today a couple of times but I made healthy choices.  Stuck to the program.  Long day at the office so short post tonight.  I definately feel the cardio improving!

As it turns out this all might not be my fault.  I may actually have a 70lb gnome or troll living in my gut.  I am awaiting my test results from the Gondor Institute.

Day 2

First I'd like to say thanks for all the comments.  I completely under estimated the power of this approach.  Thanks Adam again for showing the way. 

I had thought about calling tonight's post "fat guy makes muscles" but after some thought, I have decided to stop the self targeted humor.  I have a great body.  I am truly blessed.  This body enables me to provide for my family, to embrace my loved ones and (at an earlier stage) taken me to the tops of mountains.  I have traveled in THIS body to other parts of the world.  Seen beautiful things.  I know that some aren't as lucky.  Some due to injury or disease, others due to the genetics they where born with.  It is not my body's fault that I am embarrased to take my kids swimming, or that I can't ride a bike for 100 miles anymore.  I have let this body down and it is time to start treating it with the respect it deserves. 

These are the arms that wil get me to the top of that bar. 

So, for this body I woke up at 5:30 and worked out. I took a walk and ate cleanly at the office.  I did my interval cardio, took this picture and wrote this post.  Please keep the comments coming! 

Eric

eat clean

think big

shred till you chafe! :)

Day 1

I am a 37 year old, former endurance athlete that, in having built a career out of wining and dining, has ballooned up to 265lbs (at my max).  I know I should say something like "I woke up one morning and wondered how I had gotten here."  Well, I should have thought that the day I hit 36" in the waist.  At 42" you start wonder what the end game is.  Do I just keep going?  If I want to be a winner here I have 2 options.  I can kick it up a notch and try to surpass Manuel Uribe as the worlds heaviest man or I can see just how much "gut" I have left in this gut and see how fit I can be. 

I started out this past spring.  I managed to drop 12 lbs in about 4 weeks.  Nothing to fantastic.  I went on weight watchers, signed up with fatsecret.com (which I highly recommend, AND IT'S FREE!) took some walks and BOOM! I lost interest.  I hovered between 250 and 255 for the past couple of months.  Some good days, some bad days. 

2 weeks ago, for God only knows what reason, I started doing some isometric arm exercises (that my grandpa Skip showed me when I was 7) in my car.  3 sets of 12 reps arm curls against the steering wheel.  The next day I did it again.  It felt pretty good.  I felt better and as the VP of Sales for a national building products company, trust me, I have "car time".    I did it every morning all week.  I wasn't in my car on the weekend and, to my surprise, I actually looked forward to doing it Monday morning.  I added triceps to the mix and threw a 10 minute walk in each day.  WOW, I felt way better.  I felt better so I ate better.  Subway instead of Arbys.  A grilled chicken salad instead of a plate of wings.   Not much portion control, just better food.  By Thursday I felt some tone in my arms and I had dropped 5 lbs. 

Drunk off my success I started looking for some fitness equipment.  Mainly a pull-up bar.  I have this crazy notion that if I can do 10 pull-ups, I'm doing alright.  Walmart was sold out so I went on craigslist.com.  I bought a Soloflex for $25 and a Total Gym for $50. I figured that I can pull-up on the Soloflex and Total Gym just looked like a fun way for me and the family to tone up.  Couple that with the Wii Fit (which happily announced to my family that I am obese) and our old treadmill and I am ready to roll!  My goal is 10 pull-ups by Dec 31, 2008.  As of right now I can do exactly 0. 

Having been completely inspired by Adam Waters of http://12weekphysique.blogspot.com/.  I will be documenting my journey here with daily before and after pics. 

Well, on with it then….

Day 0, 249lbs and no pull-ups.

Eric

ps.  I am doing my pics with my gut tightened up so i can honestly measure my progress. It is hard to suck in your sides though. :)