I Snapped (It’s A Good Thing…)
Posted: May 10th, 2010 | Author: admin | Filed under: Appalatain Trail Preparation, Getting Into Shape | Tags: Getting Into Shape, preparing for the AT, working out | No Comments »(NOTE: This is a repost and has been posted on the original post date. The whole blog was lost in an upgrade, but I still had this in a text file on my computer. If you want to know more about this, see the post titled “CRAP!”)
I’m feeling particularly good this morning. Yesterday was kind of a gut check day, and today I’m following through with what I really want. Let me explain.
Last week, we had a bit of a health scare here in the house. I don’t want to go into details, but let’s just say it wasn’t good. It was bad enough that I didn’t go to NJ to see my mother for mother’s day, and I missed the Eagle Scout ceremony for my cousin’s kid. One good thing was that when I spoke to my mother on Sunday morning, everyone was there, so I spoke to my brother about our hike this year.
Last year, after I made the decision not to do the thru hike, I was determined to get out for a bunch of short hikes. I didn’t get out much at all. I don’t want to keep repeating this pattern. Next year is really my last good chance to go on this hike, and I’m determined not to miss out on this chance.
So Mike and I decided that we will meet up on 22 June and he will hike with me for 5 days. I’m going to add some days onto one end of that or the other (not sure which yet) and probably go for a total of 10 days. I don’t have any other hikes planned yet, but I will get out a few more times this season.
Also, I’ve put on so much weight in the past few years it isn’t funny. I stepped on the scale at the gym this morning and I weight 285 lbs. I joined the gym yesterday because I do not want to keep going on like I’ve been. Two years ago when Mike and I went for 7 days, I was around the 250 lbs. mark.
So this post is my official, public declaration. I want to be in better shape so I can enjoy hiking and other activities more than I can now. I want to have more energy and feel better. I want to lose weight. Those are my priorities, and I’m going to ensure I get there. No more excuses! No more crap! I’m just going to do it, and it starts right now.
Today I walked the 1.5 miles to the gym, worked out on the elliptical machine for 25 minutes, then walked home. It felt great! I know it’s going to get more difficult before it feels this good again, so I am declaring that I will go to the gym 6 days this week (taking off on Sunday) and then 6 days again next week. I’ll do three days on an aerobic machine like the elliptical, and three days with the weights each week. This means absolutely no excuses, no reasons why I can’t go, nothing. It’s only two weeks – I can do this.
I’ll probably walk on the nice days, especially because it really helps warm me up on the way there, and is a great cool down after, but if the weather gets nasty, I’m not going to give myself that as a possible excuse.
So, that’s it. I’m only going to weigh myself at the gym once a week, on Mondays. I’ll keep a running tab on that, and I’m going to post here daily about my progress. The next two weeks will make all the difference. Once I’ve gotten over that hurdle I’ll take it a day and/or a week at a time. This is all about making a permanent change.
I’m also making changes to my diet. I have about 6 weeks before my planned hike with my brother. I know a conservative goal would be 2 lbs/week, so I won’t be unhappy if I lose only 12 lbs before we go. However, I also know that when you begin dieting and exercising, weight loss is typically much faster, and while loosing too much too quickly can be unhealthy, my stretch goal is the 35 lbs it will take me to be back down to 250 by the 22nd of June.
I’d love to hear what you think. Please leave a comment in the space below.