Rude awakening.

     So here is something I learned today. I really bit off more than I can chew at the moment. I tried to do a practice run with my buddy Brad at the gym. And I pretty much sucked wind the whole time and we / I didn't run that far. I have to admit this was more than a little disheartening. I'm not worried about the run on the Fourth. Its just a little bit more than a 5K, and I already did one of those. But I'm dreading the 10K I'm doing in October. I have got to kick a training program into gear here. While I have been doing fairly well with dieting I just gotta do better. Taking a suggestion from a friend and I'm going to start planning my menus for the week in advance. Keeping them healthy but still have some fun with them. Also I think I gotta cut the beer for a bit. This will be hard, I appreciate a good beer. But I really got to get going on this, October is not all that far away. I have a promise to keep here and I cant let people down. I think I went into this thinking that it was so much easier than it will be. I guess this is a good wake up call. Just feeling very daunted by what I have to do.

Motivation

OK so here is a question for you guys. What motivates you to go to the gym? I'm having a hard time finding the " workout high". I mean OK I feel pretty damn good after a workout, but no where near what others describe it as. I have had people describe working out as a lot of fun. I do not feel this way. Working out to me is very hard work. I'm literally working my ass off. The way I look at is its very hard work with an incredible payoff. Like when you finish a big job you can stand back and look at your efforts with pride. I have already lost close to 70 pounds in the last 2-3 years, and it was anything but fun. Wondering if maybe I'm not pushing myself hard enough now. If any on can share what inspires them, let me know.

Bucket List Lesson

     I was chatting with a friend yesterday and while talking I had an amazing revelation. We were talking about bucket lists, and what kind of things we put on them. One of the items on mine for instance is to hike a volcano and have a beer with a friend at the top. Doesn't need to be an active volcano at all, just a volcano.My friend looks at me for a second and smirks a little. " You know I don't get the point of a bucket list." He said. "Well its a list of the things you wanna do before you die." I explained. " I know what it is, I mean I don't see why you need one. Instead of just sitting there making a list why not just go do it?" He responded. " OK look you wanna hike a volcano right? " I answered with an affirmative. "Well there are Volcano's no more then like 3 hours away. Lets go to one." You need to stop thinking about this list of things to do and just do them, otherwise you waste your time."  After that we went to a beer festival and had a great time. But I thought about our conversation for a long time. I plan and make lists about so many different things that I'm missing out on them. This can be applied to school, dating so many things I just plan on. And I think that goes along with the getting fit thing as well. I'm wasting time worrying about it I just need to go and do it. So I'm hoping to cross the volcano hike off my list by the beginning of September. Make a 3 day trip out of it and just go with the flow. So thanks for the kick bud I needed it. Time to ditch the list.

I wonder if theres a Batman Unitard in my size?

     So my quest to be more fit has been challenged and pushed. There are now set regulations set up with my bet with my buddy. He still just has to not smoke, so far so good. He is doing well. Me? I have the harder part of the bargain. In addition to doing the 10K in October, I now have a set schedule and workout at the gym. I must go from Monday through Thursday, no exceptions.I am to do Cardio and Strength Training each day. I have Friday and Sunday off, while I just have to do cardio on Saturday. So far so good, I'm sore but in a good way. I keep this up and I can do it.  Any deviation of this is regarded as a violation of our agreement. And I will never hear the end of it. I have been warned that there have been spies and informants put in place to inform Rob if I don't go. Creeper!
      Its not so bad, I gotta admit it gave the kick in the ass I needed. Which is awesome. And its cool that I have friends who care enough about my health and well being that they risk being such huge pains in my ass. But its awesome. I have had so many people offer to help me out. I even had these two guys who come into work that we call the gym guidos offer help. I was in the coffee shop today and they spotted me and demanded to know if I went to the gym yet. Man he does have spies everywhere. My goal for now is to not expire at the 10K. I'm getting better with the eating aspect of my diet. I really need to bump up my water intake though. I also need to be more knowledgeable of how to work out. What exercises work which muscles and how to do them safely. Also got to get better at stretching, thinking some yoga can help that. I'm told soon we move onto supplements and how they help.Well that's all now folks Thanks for reading about my pitfalls with the fitness goals. I think I got the short end of the stick on this one but I'm gonna run with it.