Over the hill

Where I live is at the end of about a one mile gradual hill so the last quarter (and likewise the first quarter) is uphill and downhill repectively. So the outward leg is fine. Nice rolling downhill for 5-6 minutes. Conversely the return leg is one hard uphill slog and defines my short (30-35 minute) runs as I pound out the yards to home, warm down and hot shower.

I ran this Friday last but did not make it over weekend due to cutting down some trees all day Saturday. But tonight Monday I hit the road again and will do this run to keep the momentum going. It may be late before I do eventually get out but I will do it.

My tip 1 worked well last week and I brought the fruit and pack lunch. Bag is next to my desk right now.

Tune in later this week for updates.

The Gym

Forgot to mention. I have set up a gym in my converted attic.

Nope - no weights.

Nope - no machines.

Just a simple mat which I rolled out this morning and some of my health magazines nearby to get some routines. I now have a defined location after my run to go and do some crunches, press ups and other magazines.

As another major renovation I might even put some music up there and make it more enjoyable but that is for another day. Or a portable fridge with cold water or... shut up Kieran get up there first - and report to blogville.

Hmmm.... Sort of Start

I ran Tuesday night - very slowly as planned. It rained during my run. A nice warm summer shower. It was quite comforting. I love running in the rain because I feel that I am making that special effort.

About 7 years ago I was in a serious 4 times a week running rut during the winter and I ran in all sorts of conditions. Part of the motivation other than the fact I had a routine going was when I had visitors and I got changed to run into the rain for 30-40 minutes they couldn't believe I was going out in what at times was torrential rain and fairly cold conditions.

However it enforces the rule that you can run in any weather (other than really severe cold) and the only real excuse is injury. Equipment is not an issue for sure as my running equipment is pretty basic. Other than shoes the rest is a few (2-3) running shorts and t-shirts and basic sweat socks. I did splurge 5-6 years ago on a pretty good running jacket that keeps out the rain above but at about $140 it was a great investment whilst also reducing the number of excuses for not running.

Now ... I just need to run again tonight as my plan was Mon-Wed-Fri and if I don't go tonight it will crash again.

Oh diet - we won't mention that (2 beers and pasta last night....)

Goal: Run 3 times – lose 2 lbs by Monday 28th August.

Return of The Goal Setter

I am back after a long silence. Typical of me but I dieted for the past 8 weeks and lost 16 lbs. Purely through diet. I haven't tied up the shoes recently due to moving house and a thousand other things.

All these are of course are feeble excuses as it only takes 40 minutes from tieing up shoes to getting out of shower to do a 25-30 minute run.

My new neighbourhood is great for running and I have run ONCE in 8 weeks so the Olympics must beckon soo. Today is YAM Yet Another Monday and when I get home this evening I am going to get out and run verrrrrry slowly for 30 minutes around a couple of blocks.

The weight I lost through diet (e.g. careful eating) is starting to rap its knuckles on my door again so I need to run to keep those pounds off.

So this weeks goals

1. Run on Monday slowly
2. Run on Wednesday slowly
3. Run on Friday slowly
4. Post to this blog every morning afterwards.

The Abs Diet - Whey

I bought the Abs Diet over the weekend. I am on a mail distribution that gets weekly updates on the topic so caved in and bought it. I even read it (well sort of skimmed the pages). As a result I have made a resolution - no more purchase of health magazines or books like this. There isn't any more room on my bookshelves. To be fair the Abs Diet book is OK and has some good premises but it can all be brought back to 3-4 basic premises for fitness and health. The problem is I am not doing enough – hence this blog and endless changing of plans and goals.

• Exercise regularly with some element of weight training
• Muscle burns fat => develop some form of muscle to improve / speed up you metabolism and fat burning.
• Some foods are better than others and for best benefits eat more of these than others.
• Eat sensibly - drink water

Basically David Zinczenko has written a best seller based on some of these principles. I applaud him - hey I bought the book!! I think I'll go on the lecture circuit and make millions with my "Lost 20 pounds in 10 weeks" fitness plan. And here is how you do the first 4 weeks comrades to save you the $250 sign up fee.

• Week 1 - 4
  Walk 3 times a week for 30 minutes - hold it - not a simple stroll. Walk hard make sure that you at least perspire (sweat men!!).
• Do the following exercises 3 times a week press ups, crunches 3x 15 repetitions
• Do some light weight workout - grab some large tins of beans and these will do - curls, squats
• Eat regularly and don't go near any of the demon fast food outlets. If you think it is fatty and bad for you it probably is. Try and eat sensibly 5 days a week at least - work days are easiest.
• Drink lots of water - if you are drinking none now - up the ante - buy a big bottle - keep one in the car. You should be flowing in and out to the bathroom with the amount you drink.
• Don’t weigh yourself till at least 4 weeks into the exercise program.
• If you are up to it do a little jog during your walk - nobody will pay attention if it isn't a flowing Gazelle like stride - its for you.
  

Come to the seminar !!

Where are my Toes?

Wow. An age since I blogged. Must make a promise to add more content and publish this to a wider circle as I would like people to share my difficulties in reaching goals. My tummy is moving out slowly. I did a clothes re-org the other day and moved clothes into 'Don't fit any more' and 'Do fit'. Scary.....

I have done barely any exercise since my high minded posts early in the year.

Why - need to step - think - evaluate and put YAP in place Yet Another Plan.

Pull out drawing board - dust off sneakers - think man :-)

When You Run It Becomes Clear

I was jogging along last night as one does (except in my case slowly) when it hit me.  No not the car or bus but one of those thoughts.  It had been one of those normal unexceptional days in work and I had been wondering about priorities and goal setting (which I do more than actually setting goals) when I realised some simple facts.  One was that you don’t have to have lots of goals; just a few will do.  Hit them hard and try and make them work.  If you only have two or three achievable goals then that is cool. 

Mine are as try and run regularly and slowly.  Eat reasonably.  Have a good family life and become a better employee.

Now to be honest these aren’t goals as they aren’t measurable but at least they are targets.  As ran along in the cool evening and my mind became clearer and my shirt sweatier I became even more philosophical.  My second follow on thought was that nothing else other than the goals should matter,  or if it does matter it should be really secondary (as in way back in the back of the stand).

What is this guy meandering about?

An example may help (it always does for me…)

Lets say you are in a bar and you have had a couple of beers and a few slices of Pizza, if your goal is fitness and health you should bail out after that and go home and go for a short walk rather than having more beer and pizza.  Nobody really cares which choice you make as I am sure that you realise that other people have their own goals and plans in life.

Deep maybe but I may expand in my next leather couch session.

When Your Run It Comes Clear

I was jogging along last night as one does (except in my case slowly) when it hit me.  No not the car or bus but one of those thoughts.  It had been one of those normal unexceptional days in work and I had been wondering about priorities and goal setting (which I do more than actually setting goals) when I realised some simple facts.  One was that you don’t have to have lots of goals; just a few will do.  Hit them hard and try and make them work.  If you only have two or three achievable goals then that is cool. 

Mine are as try and run regularly and slowly.  Eat reasonably.  Have a good family life and become a better employee.

Now to be honest these aren’t goals as they aren’t measurable but at least they are targets.  As ran along in the cool evening and my mind became clearer and my shirt sweatier I became even more philosophical.  My second follow on thought was that nothing else other than the goals should matter,  or if it does matter it should be really secondary (as in way back in the back of the stand).

What is this guy meandering about?

An example may help (it always does for me…)

Lets say you are in a bar and you have had a couple of beers and a few slices of Pizza, if your goal is fitness and health you should bail out after that and go home and go for a short walk rather than having more beer and pizza.  Nobody really cares which choice you make as I am sure that you realise that other people have their own goals and plans in life.

Deep maybe but I may expand in my next leather couch session.

Goals

These are my health goals as of this date. On the weekend I relax as in work I can control my water intake and diet much easier.

• Run 4 times a week
• Go to the Gym once a week
• Drink 3 Litres of water a day
• Eat sensibly at least 4 times a week

Many Months Later

Like my fitness plan this BLOG sat on its backside for nearly 4 months before I revisited it. Need to get more active on it. As it is a diary of a failed fitness campaign.

Anyway, last week I started again (115th time). What predicated this was the well known disease, Pants-wont-fit e.g. when I tried on some of my pants they wouldn't fit. Jeans are pretty forgiving but Chinos just say now way.

Let me clarify here, I am not a chubby overweight looking guy. By no means!! But I have what a lot of males of my age have and that is that little circle of fat around the waist. I can suck it in and make it look better with the best of you but it tends to give me back pain - grin -.

So last week I kicked the process in and did the following, ran Mon,Tue,Thur and went to the gym Wed. This is a red letter day for me as I worked out 4 days in one week. Each of the runs were in the 30 minute time frame but the difference is that I did it.

Down side is that I then took a 4 day break till last night again. I however broke through a mental block and ran when my mind was telling me to go home and work out with the remote control.

35 minutes later I had run, felt better, had a clearer head and overall was feeling 100% happier with the whole fitness situation. This was unusual as usually my mind wins and I give in and do nothing.

As always the secret is whether I can keep it up. Need to set some goals. See next entry.