Week 13

Alright, well I missed posting last week and Im late on posting this week...so lets catch up. Last week I took a break. I was told to take one every 4 weeks or so to rest my body. This week I started late with the workout so I decided to just do light cardio to work myself slowly back into my rythym before I really kick it up a notch next week. Here's the bad news, during my week off and over the holidays...I ended up gaining 4 lbs. Im up to 250lbs. BUT, Im not going to let that discourage me, Im going to take it as a lesson and move on and work just that much harder in the gym. But, not to make it seem like Im turning my gain into a POSITIVE aspect, but I was informed that it isnt SUCH a bad thing to gain a couple pounds every now and then, it lets your metabolism think its safe, until you hit the gym hard and it gets confused and it gives your loss that extra little 'mmphfff'. So next week I go back to my hour long intervals and I begin working with weights. Im very excited.

Week 12

Alright, so last week was sort of a recovery week for me. The week before I didnt go to the gym at all because I was sick. I still had a lingering cough last week (and still do) so I just did light cardio all week, just to keep myself moving. But this week is where things get ramped up. Here's what things are looking like for me. Mon, Wed, and Fri I do an hour of cardio. For now, Ive chosen swimming. I went tonight and made up my own little routine. I swam the length of the pool and back, tread water for 5 mins, pull myself out, 15 flutter kicks over the edge of the pool, 15 situps, 15 pushups, then I repeat for an hour. Now, on Tue and Thur I have been given an intense interval workout, it goes as follows:

5mph for 3 mins

8mph for 1 min

3mph for 2 mins

11mph for 1 min

3mph for 3 min

11mph for 1 min

3mph for 3 min

11mph for 1 min

3mph for 3 min

11mph for 1 min

3mph for 5 min

3mph for 20 min (incline of 3 or higher)

8mph for 1 min (take off incline)

3mph for 1 min

8mph for 1min

3 mph for 1 min

8mph for 1 min

3 mph for 1 min

8mph for 1 min

3mph for 1 min

8 mph for 1 min

3mph for 5 min

So that's gonna be pretty intense but my weight loss has slowed so I have to get a little more intense with things to kick things back into gear. So lets see how it goes.

Week 11

Alright, so last week, I was out all week with bronchitis. It was pretty bad...at least bad enough to keep me out of the gym all week. But on the bright side, somehow, I weighed-in today and I am now at 248lbs. A loss of 4lbs from my last weight-in. So that's definitely good news. I was going to step it up a notch this week since Ive noticed my losses starting to slow, but I decided against it. I am going to continue the interval training I have been doing and start my new, more intense routine next week, once my body is back to 100%. Although I DO feel better, I know Im not fully back to myself yet, and I dont want to overdo it. So not much change this week, but I'll post my new routine later, once I have it perfect.

Week 10

Alright, so there's not much to really say after the update I made yesterday...or was it the day before? Anyways! I got back into the gym today and it was a little tough. I still have a lingering cough that's making me feel really crappy. So needless to say, running was kinda tough. But Im going to make it a point this week to push harder in the gym since I missed out on a lot last week. I know I had to have gained a couple of pounds since the last time I was at the gym. With Thanksgiving and little activity do to being sick. My next weigh-in is a week from today so lets hope for some positive results!!

Update

What a week its been so far. I went and ran on Monday and Tuesday, but then I got sick. Unfortunately that means that I havent exercised since Tuesday night. I am trying to stay positive about it and although I havent been working out, Ive been trying to stay active still, and I am still eating healthy. And even though I am not exercising, I am giving my body a little rest. But I am taking meds and trying to get better so that I am ready to hit the gym Monday evening.
I am also proud to say that I didnt go crazy on Thanksgiving. I know that this time of year with Thanksgiving and Christmas, a lot of people have trouble staying on track with their fitness and nutrition plans. I made a promise to myself that I wouldnt let the holidays get the best of me. I had one plate and a small piece of pumpkin pie and that was it. So once I get past Christmas I should be home free.
Some good news. I have been in contact with a recruiter who I came across on a Coast Guard recruiting forum. He told me that once the weight is down, I look like a very good candidate for active duty recruitment. He also gave me the name of a recruiter who works at my local office, who he is very good friends with. My plan is to have the weight off by June or July at the latest, hopefully start the recruiting process right away, and hopefully be one of the first in line for fiscal year 2012, which starts in October. Its little bits of good news like that, that keep me motivated. I have about 44lbs til my max weight, then I have to be 5lbs under before I can be sent to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station)...so just about 50lbs to go.
Now that I know that I CAN lose the weight...50lbs doesnt seem like all that much. I am going to continue to work hard and stay motivated and get into that recruiting office as soon as possible. Still not able to get on my computer, so Im not sure how long it will be before I can post pictures. Regular entry coming up on Monday!

Week 9

Alright everyone, some good news and bad news. Bad news first. No pictures this week. My computer is currently out of commission and Im using my Mom's laptop, so once my computer is fixed, I'll post the pictures for this week. Good news? I weighed in and Im down to 252lbs, which means Ive lost a total of 22lbs!!!! I am very happy about that. No big changes really. Still doing the interval training, added a little more protein to my diet (egg whites, light peanut butter, etc.), and trying to push myself physically whenever I can. I keep myself motivated and I think that's what's been helping me lose the weight. Everyone who wants to lose weight has SOME sort of motivation as to why they're doing it, so just use that motivation and keep it in mind at all time. Whenever I feel myself about to have a weak moment, I think about the Coast Guard and boot camp and what my boot camp graduation will be like and how proud my friends and family will be, and it grounds me and gets my mind back on track. Speaking of track, I was running a little late tonight and decided against the gym, but I went to the local middle school track and decided to time my mile and a half, just to see how much work I had to do before boot camp. I did A LOT better than I thought. I thought I was gonna be WELL over 20 mins, but I ended up doing it in 17:09. I have quite a bit of work to get down below 12:51 but I'll set small goals for myself until I get there. Its all about the small goals. The bigger and more out of reach the goal, the less likely you'll reach it. For example, if I say "Ok, next time I run the track, I want to cut my time down to 15:00." 2 mins doesnt seem like a lot, but it is when you're running. Instead, I'll just try and cut my time by like 10-15 secs a week. That way, if I set a small goal, not only is it a little more doable, but once you see that you completed the goal, it encourages you to keep going. I think losing weight it more of a mental challenge than it is exercise and nutrition. As long as you stay active, eat right, and stay focused. You should be fine.

Anyways, once I feel comfortable with the intervals Im doing now, I'll step it up a notch. Other than that, for now, no big changes. I'll post those pictures from this week when I can.

Week 8

Alright, so this was a pretty productive week. I started the new exercise routine I outlined in a previous update. I was worried because it didnt sound like much at first, but its a hell of a workout. I decided to cheat a little and take a peek at my weight a week early. Im now down to 157lbs...a total loss of 17lbs. Im very happy and very proud of that result. The thing is, I know Ive lose more over the time Ive been working at this, put there have been a few times where I put a couple pounds on here and there. That's why one of my goals for this week is to focus more and work harder on the weekends. When I go out with friends or travel on the weekends, its hard to eat regularly and eat as healthy as I do during the week. So I want to work on that for sure. And another thing Im gonna start doing is cutting down on smoking until I quit completely. I feel once I quit I'll be a lot more effective in my exercises.

I try and surround myself with as much motivation as possible. I research the Coast Guard a lot, I watch videos of boot camp, whenever I go to Cape May to visit my girlfriend I try and soak up as much as possible. And also, a lot of people of been telling me Ive looked like I lost weight and that definitely keeps me going. Im really excited at how Ive stuck to this and at the progress Im making. I know its moving slowly but I dont want to rush it, and it will be worth the wait once Im in the United States Coast Guard and I can begin doing the things that interest and excite me.