I’m training for my first ever 5K road race. Yesterday, I began Week 3 Day 1 following the Couch-to-5K program.
Here’s what I did -
5 minute warm-up walk
90 seconds running
90 seconds walking
3 minutes running
3 minutes walking
90 seconds running
90 seconds walking
3 minutes running
3 minutes running
It felt good to get back to my routine after a week off for the holidays. Today, I’m going to do some strength training for my arms and back - but I really feel like doing some running, too. I might do the strength training in the morning, and then do my running when I take my daughter to gymnastics this evening.
As part of my Health Optimization Plan (H.O.P.) - my official weigh in days are Mondays.
Here is a summary of my progress to date:
Starting Weight (September 29, 2008): 252.2 pounds
Weight Last Weigh In (December 22, 2008): 227.6 pounds
Current Weight (January 5, 2008): 226.6 pounds
Total Weight Lost: 25.6 pounds
Goal Weight (September 29, 2009): 162.2 pounds
My ultimate goal is to lose 90 pounds. I have 64.4 pounds to go.
Current Weight Loss Chart (Click to read about my Fitday chart.)
Current Weight Loss Pace (December 22, 2008): .2612 pounds per day
I am losing .2612 pounds per day. At that pace, I should reach my goal weight of 162.2 Pounds in 246 more days - September 8, 2009. My goal date is September 29, 2009. I am still ahead of schedule - but being away from home for a full week really hampered my ability to exercise. Thankfully, I’m headed bach to the gym, and my regular schedule, today!
I should have waited until Wednesday, and this post would have had the much snappier title - 100 Days Without Caffeine - but I couldn’t wait!
I have been without caffeine for 97 days - and counting!
I stopped drinking soda on September 29 - see The 929 Project and my Health Optimization Plan for more information about what I am and what I am not eating- and I haven’t had one since. The only thing I’ve had, besides water, was a thimble full of grape juice for communion. Other that that, it’s been H2O all the way. And I feel great!
I don’t like talking about the past, especially now that I’m focusing so much on my future, but I will say that there was a time, not long ago, when I could drink a liter or two of Diet Mountain Dew - a day. Ugh. Now, I’m soda-free and caffeine free.
It took, maybe three or four days, to get rid of the craving for soda. Caffeine withdrawal headaches are painful! But now that I’ve gotten rid of the soda, I’m saving money at the grocery store, I feel much better, and I’m drinking lots of beneficial water.
Oh, and when I wake up, my brain doesn’t feel “cloudy” either. In the past, I didn’t “wake up” until after a couple of cans of the Dew. Now, I wash my face, brush my teeth, and drink a big, cold glass of water - and I’m wide awake. Amazing.
Weigh in in the morning!!!
I’m finally home after a week away with family. We had a wonderful Christmas, and I didn’t cheat, unless you count a couple of bread-n-butter pickles!
I was traveling yesterday, so I missed my regularly scheduled weigh in. I did step on the scale when we got home, and I’m pretty sure that I’m past the 25 pounds mark, but I’ll know, officially, next Monday.
It’s been nearly two weeks since I was able to go to the gym. I’ll be going tonight, and I can’t wait. I had planned to go yesterday, but we didn’t get home soon enough! I have some new shoes, and I can’t wait to see how they feel when I hit the treadmill.
I hope you had a Merry Christmas. I’m chilling out with my wife and the kids, and I’m watching them play their new Nintendo Wii. (Seriously, the Wii is addictive. It is, however, a little disheartening to lose to my four year old son in a boxing match!)
As far as diet news goes, I’ve done very, very well. I haven’t cheated, even once, and I feel great. Honestly, I haven’t missed the cakes and cookies. In fact, it feels good not to have to deal with the sugar highs and sugar lows.
As far as exercise news, I’ve been away from the gym since last weeks kidney stone incident. I’ll be back on schedule when we get back home, but for the next few days, I’ll do some walking around my in-laws’ neighborhood and play some soccer with my kids.
I brought my scale with me, so I can do my official weigh in on Monday. With all of the stress associated with Christmas, and traveling, I’m proud that I’ve managed to “stay strong”. It feels good to feel (and to be) in control.
