Day 29

Got my winter running gear!! No excuses!

Took advantage of the warm weather this morning and did a 1.5 mile walk/run. I got a balaclava at Kohls as well as some running shorts with built in compression shorts. The balaclava made such a difference in my breathing. My aim was a mile, but I felt so good at the end that I did another lap around the block.

Got the rest of my accessories today thanks to some gift cards from Dick's Sporting Goods.

Nike Dry Fit Socks
Compression Pants
Another pair of running shorts (to cover myself up down there with the compression pants)
Running Gloves

I am excited for my next run, probably tomorrow night at my Dad's for Christmas. Gonna do some running after our supper. :)

Week 4- Weigh In Results!

Merry Christmas to all following The 180 Project! Met my goal for the week. New weight is 227.5 pounds, I lost 2.5 pounds this week. And let me just say, it was a bad week! Pizza, Japanese food, Christmas cookies! I've manage to not eat right before bedtime, and keep away from sugary drinks, but I am really happy with the results. Training starts now! Gearing up to run in the cold. I just need to do it. :)

Day 27 - Merry Christmas

I just want to thank all that have been supporting me thus far. So far we have two pledges, and I expect that number will rise after Christmas. I haven't weighed in yet this week and I think I will do that tomorrow morning as a morning weigh in will yield a better result. I don't think I had a very good week again. Pizza at a Christmas party the other day, birthday yesterday, etc. The holidays are a very hard time to stick to a diet, but I think I had enough of a start on things to resist too much temptation! :)

If you're just joining us on Facebook, please visit the main site at the-180-project.blogspot.com as it as links and videos not found on the Facebook Fan page.

Running training will start right after Christmas. I have a key to the Fitness Center at work, and I'm ready to run either in the cold or on a treadmill. My mom gave me a heartrate monitor/pedometer watch for my birthday. However, the watch was obviously a return and not the right brand in the box, so...she's returning it for another. My daughter, Grace...she got me a pair of awesome running pants (thanks to her Mom). he he

Here are a few websites for tips on running in cold weather:

Runner's World
More Runner's World
About.com
Advice from a Doctor

On my shopping list for cold weather running:
Running Gloves
Running Tights
Balaclava

Week 3 - Weigh In Results

Well...to top off what I thought was a bad week. Lots of red meat, some snacks here and there, virtually no exercise. I lost 3.5 pounds!! Just comes to show you what you can do with just lowering portions and sticking to fruits, veggies, whole grains, and light on the meat! :) Current weight is 230, with 50 pounds left to go. I've lost 10 pounds since starting The 180 Project.

Please consider sponsoring me with a dollar per pound pledge or dollar amount per mile on my Half Mile on June 27, 2010. :)

Day 19

Feeling like crap today. Well, mostly tonight. Headache, tired. All I want to do is pig out and watch movies. Tonight was a night I wish I could have gone running or watched a movie on a treadmill or something.

Anyhow...found out today that the gym at work is still operational and I can get a key tomorrow for it. That way, I have access to the equipment at work for me to use the treadmill there either in the morning or after work or something.

Haven't gotten many pledges from the last post. I have two pledges so far. Hoping to gain more as time goes on! But praise God for those two!! :)

123 Days until the Meriden Daffodil Festival 5k (April 18...Birthday Present for my wife)
193 Days until the Fairfield Half.

Couple of good websites:

www.active.com
www.runningintheusa.com

Lose Weight / Raise Money

Here is something I thought of to continually motivate myself to lose weight.

The first motivator for me was to run a half marathon by June. (5k in April)

The second idea I had came while watching an awesome documentary I saw last night. If you're interesting in running a marathon, check out the movie, Spirit of the Marathon. One of the women running in this movie was running to raise money for an adoption placement agency. It got me thinking, I can do that.

The 180 Project has just taken a turn folks. I will be looking for sponsors not just to support me in my weight loss journey and my quest to run a half-marathon, but to sponsor me either in a dollar amount for each pound I lose by the end of June, and/or a dollar amount for every mile completed in the half marathon I will run in June (13.1 Miles). I've decided I will be running the Fairfield Half on June 27, 2010.

What will I be raising money for? This fall, the Destiny Choir from the Kampala Children's Centre in Kampala, Uganda came to our church to perform. The children, ages 8-18 earned a special place in Jenn and I's heart. I have since been looking into going there to volunteer.

The 180 Project is now, not just about me, but about losing so others may gain. Will you consider sponsoring me to lose weight? Let me know!

Day 17 - Week 2 Weigh In

Been a wicked busy week!!

I did weigh myself on Thursday, and I've been having trouble posting the video. I weighed in at 233.5 on Thursday night! :) That's down from 236 the previous week. So, I met my goal for the week of losing two pounds or more, and I've lost 6.5 pounds total in two weeks. That has been with minimal exercise with just portioning out low-fat/low-cal foods. :) Well on my weigh! (har har)

Day 13 - Snow Day!

Snow Days are a perfect day to get in some extra workouts. This morning, instead of a run, I shoveled! Yes, I know...using a whole host of different muscle groups, but it gets the heart-rate up and it gave me a sweat.

Last night I dusted off the ole dumb bells and used them a little bit before bed. Gotta figure some stuff to do at home seeing that a gym membership is a little ways off. We can't afford it right now.

Kudos to Danny last night on The Biggest Loser. I have to admit thought, the top two women for the at home piece just look emaciated. It's almost like, how thin is too thin? You know?

Jenn met with a trainer the other day for the gym she signed up with. They were talking about the goal I set for my ideal weight and he seemed to think that was too much weight. Why then is 175 right in the middle of a healthy weight? How do they come up with that figure? Does anyone know? If I start adding muscle and losing fat, won't that mess with my goal as muscle weighs more then fat? If so, doesn't the absolutely healthy person who is toned and muscular not fall within the "healthy weight" ideal set by the god of ideal weightdom?

Just wonderin!

Day 11

CHOCOLATE!!!

Cravings always come in the evening. Special Dark is what you need for a nice healthy low-cal treat! :) The key to how I eat is limiting portions. I stay conscience about about the caloric intake of every food I'm eating, but I try not to abstain if there is a good desert to be had. I just have one cookie now instead three!! Smaller bowl of Ice Cream..etc.

Day 11 and I only thing I've drank so far is water (maybe a little OJ, some black coffee, and communion wine...not all at the same time). Fun times!

I was a slacker this morning. I got up early, but...instead, just really enjoy quiet time while the family was still asleep. I made up for not running by being very active at my job today. Lots of moving around, climbing latters to hang lights, up and down stairs. I barely sat. :)

Off to work on my paper, praying I can get a second wind to work on it tonight, because I'm exhausted!

Day 10

Got baptized today. I used the analogy of weight loss to our life in Christ. I said that the best diets are the one where the weight comes off gradually as we have a better chance of keeping it off. I think that God has been working on me gradually over the many years, and I thank Him for that. And I believe that has made all the difference in my staying close to Him.

Last night I chatted with my friend Jake from college. He was sorta our "trainer" in our friend group at Nyack, always encouraging us to exercise and showing us how to lift and train. He's gone on to work in Thailand as a teacher, and is studying for his PHD. He has run several Ironman triathlons and multiple marathons. He knows his stuff. He had some great advice and encouragement as we chatted last night. He pointed me to the Furman Training Programs. Probably just the programs I'm looking for.

And also this article on training for a triathlon.

Day 9 - Second Run

Got up for 7am to run. Kids and wife still sleeping I thought it was a good time. Made sure I spent some extra time stretching this time. Got my wife's cell phone as a stopwatch (I don't own a cell). Start around the block with a steady jog and made it a little farther this time without having to walk. Did intervals of fasting walking and jogging. Did an eleven minute mile in total. Cooled down with a walk to the end of my street and back.

Found out on Thursday that one of my fellow seminary students had Matthew McNutt as a roommate in college. If you don't know him, he was on a season of The Biggest Loser where they brought in people from 50 states, sent 36 of them home to lose weight on their own without the fancy ranch. He ended losing 176lbs!! He is a Youth Pastor in Maine. Check out his blog here!

Pizza Day

I had pizza for lunch and dinner...gulp! Not really.

My work had a veggie pizza option with broccoli, onions, and peppers and what not, little cheese, with a wheat crust. It was good. :) Had one small slice.

Jenn, not knowing what I had for lunch, made a wheat crust pizza with a portion of the pan made with fat free mozzarella cheese. Had three small squares. Probably more then I should have but it was wicked yummy.

Off to bed...need to run in the morning.

Week 1 - Weigh In

Down from 240lbs to 236lbs in a little over a week. That was mostly from lowering portions and cutting out all sweets and focusing on low-cal/low-fat foods. I've only really have ran once this week. The Weigh-In was actually last night. They say it's better to weigh yourself in the morning, so...I did...and it said 234lbs. So, I lost 4-6lbs.

Funny how the farther I get away from sweets I crave them less and less. I got a package of candy this morning as a reward from my principal, she was praising staff for good work. Thankfully, they were Almond Joy's, which the snack size bars are about 80 Calories. I gave all the snack bars away, but one...which I will have for myself after lunch! :)

Anyhow...time to start focusing on burning some more calories in antipation of Week 2 weigh-in. My pace is 2 lbs per week. So, I'm off to a good start.

Day 7

Was feeling the effects most of the day yesterday from my run. I felt good most of the day, and come evening I felt really sore, and my throat and sinus hurt. I also slept horribly last night. The rain and the wind was pounding and our window was leaking. My wife made be some Yogurt with Granola and a Lite Multi-Grain English Muffin with some Peanut Butter. I've been running around all morning installing stuff at work. I have class tonight, so I'm not really looking forward to the drive up there as I'm really tired. I don't want to have to do coffee, but today I might give in.

Is it common for your throat and sinus to hurt when you first start running, especially when you run in the cold?

Day 6 - The First Run!

Man alive...I'm tired!

Got up for 6am. Not really knowing how to dress for the 34 degree run. I decided for sweats and a long john top with one of my Glory to God tees from Musicon.

Stretched, glass of water, and a spoonful of PB to start. I decided to get through twice around my block, in intervals of walking and jogging. I started off jogging to get my heart rate up, and I soon learned...I HAVE ALOT OF WORK TO DO!! Couple of minutes in I was walking. My block is a large block with slight inclines and drops, nice run, however...I walked most of it. I got back home really winded. I realize I have so much to do. I have to take advantage of these mildly cold mornings outside before winter really sets in. Plus, I don't have a gym yet.

Watched the biggest loser last night, and the four finalist ran/jogged a Marathon. If they can do a Marathon, and I'm giving myself over 180 days to train for a half, I think I can do it. 13.1 Miles...here I come. Just need to work on jogging my block now. :)

Thanks to the website www.mapmyrun.com I found out my block is exactly .5 miles. I did it twice and so that's a mile. My goal then will be to run my block 27 times before the half in preparation. :)

Day 5

Crazy morning. No time to really post. Got up late again. However, I did set my alarm. Missed breakfast at home, and was running late for work this morning. However, instead of stopping at DnD for the quick breakfast that I have in the past. I stopped at the local grocery store near my work, grabbed a yogurt, apple, wheat bagel, and some low-fat cream cheese. Cost me less then my usual egg sandwich and coffee. Gotta go...busy morning!

Day 4

First day back to work after starting The 180 Project.

Planning is everything. I had "planned" to get up early today to do some running. However, I didn't set an alarm, and I didn't have a specific plan on what I was going to do in terms of running. I've noticed some good workout plans for those training for 5k's and Half Marathons at www.coolrunning.com. However, this morning...I didn't know what I was doing coupled with not setting an alarm, I slept in.

I did mix some Granola with Vanilla Yogurt, and Peanut Butter on Flax and Grain Toast for breakfast. Good Stuff. Going to be a busy couple of weeks. Last two weeks of classes, the school's play is next week, and electricians having been working at the school putting in the projectors for the interactive whiteboards.

I think I will have my first "Weight-In" on Friday. I've been checking on my weight every morning, but I think that can be discouraging if I let it. I want to go with the weight once a week approach and video the "event" for this blog.

Yummy Lunch

Was struggling with what to eat for lunch as we haven't gone shopping this week.

Whipped up some Whole Wheat Pasta Shells, stirred in some Sweet Peas with some Olive Oil. Drained and Washed them off with cold water. Stirred in some White Tuna and Light Mayo. Yummy Tuna Salad for lunch! All stuff I had in the house! :) Yeah!

Day 3

Up with the cranky daughter. Jenn's at church playing for worship.

Haven't eaten yet. Need to plan out some meals for the week so we can go shopping today. Thankfully I get free lunches at my job and they have lots of healthy options.

We're looking into a membership at the Meriden YMCA. We'd pay more money for both Jenn and I to sign up. But, the YMCA has so many more programs and options, plus cheap childcare if Jenn and I wanted to go together, on top of it...they have a pool, and showers if I wanted to hit that up before work.

Was on the website www.coolrunning.com They have some great tips on how to start running. Since my goal is a Half Marathon (with maybe a 5k sprinkled in this spring)...I think my exercise plan is going to reflect that. Lots of Cardio, and core and leg strength training.

I've also begun thinking about each food I eat, and what the caloric intake is. It's really opened my eyes to simple things I would eat during the day and just how bad they are for you. Like this little Chicken Kiev things I would pick up at Aldi...500 calories for this little stinkin thing. Crazy!

Websites that have been helpful thus far:

www.sparkpeople.com - Meal Plans, Exercise plans...good stuff.
www.thecaloriecounter.com - Nutrition labels for everything!!

Day 2

Haven't exercised since Thursday. Looking over Gym prospects and how that's going to factor into our budget and my time. One option is to join a gym on my way to work, which has showers. Hit that gym up for 6am...be done by 7am...shower and head to work. I will need both at home workouts and gym work outs.

Already had one friend excited about what I'm doing and she wants to doing her own "180." I didn't have much advice for her because I'm still working it all out.

Food wise, I'm focusing on smaller portions. We have shopped since last weekend, and I need to figure out what my meal plan for the week is going to be.

I also was looking a buying a book called "The Runner's Diet" has anyone read this book?

Getting others on the bandwagon

I figured if I'm going to go on a diet, I might as well announce it and set myself a goal to keep myself accountable. In the past, I've been reluctant to tell anyone I was going on a diet because if I failed, then no one would know. Well, the secret is out. I currently weigh 240lbs. I see my ideal weight as 180lbs. I want to lose this by the beginning of the summer of 2010. With your help and support I believe I can. This will be a challenge as I attempt to balance life, school, work, and a possible Africa visit. Yet, this is what staying healthy should be, a totally integration into your normal life busy or not. In addition to my losing the weight, I want to put my money where my mouth is and run a half marathon at the end of June of 2010.

Please pray, respond, offer suggestions, and post your thoughts on healthy living, exercise, and dieting here. Thanks for joining me!