Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Week 11: Running Outside Calls for Stop at Hospital

I weigh a little over two pounds. I’m now below my birth weight! This competition is mine!



Okay, so the battery needs replaced in the scale. This will need to happen before next week since Monday is the beginning of the end – the final weigh-in week!

To say that the last month has been unproductive is a major understatement. I’ve started eating more, drinking more pop and exercising once a week (if that). I haven’t (seriously) weighed myself in a few weeks and, well, I’ve lost steam. Did you notice there haven’t been as many shirtless photos lately? My winter body and it’s layer of chub has decided to stick around for another month or so and it’s just embarrassing at this point. Like March, I went into this competition with the ferocity of a lion and whimpered out like a lamb… or maybe a fat 30-year-old lion.

When the weather started getting nice last week, I decided to take my fat lion ass out to the streets. “See you later, treadmill!” I said as I headed out the door. Yes, I really said it.

I was a little shy about running along the street at first because I knew there would be a bunch of people looking at me as they drove by. (I know this because I do this when I drive.) But the nervousness washed away into the gutter as I tried to run uphill. Yes, run up a hill. It wasn’t long before I was walking uphill.

And I discovered something while I was out and about: Running on concrete hurts like hell! Every time my feet hit the pavement, it felt as though by bones were slowly starting to break apart. My brain felt as though it was bouncing and sloshing in my skull. It was torture.

I ran (but mostly walked) from Asbury Heights to St. Clair Hospital. I thought about going into the hospital for treatment, but I just sat on a bench near the entrance for about five minutes. I am weak.

But I did some more running on the way back, so I wasn’t totally beat. One of my coworkers (who runs in her sleep) ran passed me less than a quarter mile away from work. After she passed, I did my best to keep up with her until we were back on the Asbury campus. She had no idea I was behind her until we entered the campus. I startled her and she said she thought I was a dog. I know I’m hairy, but I don’t think I have as much hair as a dog. Maybe it was because she heard me panting.

“Let’s keep going,” she said as we ran up the slight grade of the road leading to the main building. To make a long story slightly shorter, I ran up the slight hill to the main building, but I walked the rest of the way once I reached the level. I was pure deadness.

There’s one more week. Should I give it my best shot? I’m not sure, but I am sure of one thing: Trying to get fit (and lose your tubby tummy) is tough. I really didn’t have a lot to lose and it was STILL hard for me. I can’t imagine how difficult it is for someone completely out of shape. Damn.

Next post:  My final Choose 2 Lose weight and the future of my fat.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Weeks 8, 9 and 10: Can I Start Over Again?

I (still) weigh 164 pounds. At least I’m consistent.


This is a lot harder than I imagined. It’s even harder to control my eating habits while living with a pregnant wife. We always seem to have cake and cookies and pop and ice cream on hand. And Easter chocolates and sugary treats didn’t help either. I exercise three times a week (if I’m lucky) and I’ve been sitting around a lot more thanks to a free month of Netflix.

But since I still weigh 164 pounds, I’ve only crashed and not yet burned. I can still come out ahead, but I don’t think I’ll be the winner in this competition. Someone already lost over 20 pounds, and he’s carrying his team (The Slim Jims) to victory. I’m about to snap into a Slim Jim. Eat me.

So how did I lose momentum? Life happened. I became preoccupied by a multitude of things: switching cable providers, buying a new hot water tank, getting sick and tearing up the carpet in my basement. These things took priority over sit-ups and treadmills, but I’m okay with that. I live an adult life and I gots to do what I gots to do!

On the bright side, I’ve already made some lasting changes. I no longer eat such large portions and I don’t eat an entire bag of potato chips for lunch during the week. I used to say that I would only run if chased by a lion, but I find myself running… for fun! This may change whenever I start running outside, but thanks to the practice I’ve already had, I’m confident that I can outrun any lion that may come my way.