Update: Project Me

The other day, I stood on the scale and gazed with wonder at the number that appeared on the LCD readout: 196.  It has been a long time since that number has represented my weight.  So far, after a week of exercise and trying to eat a little better, it has resulted in a 2 pound weight loss.  Not a record for sure, but a good starting point.  Losing 1-2 pounds per week is the long term way to lose weight.  Now to keep this trend going for another 15 weeks.  I can surely have this project done in 3 months, right?

Newest Project: Me

My whole life, I’ve been overweight.  For a time, I thought I was destined to be fat and ugly. After all, I grew up (and still have) parents who embrace the large lifestyle, although sometimes they either didnt know it or wouldn’t acknowledge it. Growing up fat wasn’t fun, as more and more people are now finding out.  Still being fat is just as bad. However, I think the worst scenario is to have been fat, then in shape, and then back to fat (or at least out of shape).  This is what happened to me.  When I was 24, I started riding my bike. Within a month, I lost about 20 pounds.  Another year later, I had lost another 20. I’ve been at that level since.  Just over a year ago, I was having my best year on a bike so far. I had achieved platinum status at the El Tour de Tucson ride. I was starting to reach 190 pounds; a level I have never achieved. And I was pretty fast on the bike. But it all came tumbling down when my second daughter was born.  Granted I could have kept going as I had before, escaping some of the stresses of fatherhood to go for a healthy bike ride, but then I would be pushing even more stress onto their mother, and that was just not good for anyone.

So, a year after my worst year yet, I have finally found ways to get exercise back into my life. The most important ingredient is getting a gym membership.  I’ve been going for a little bit now, and it still seems weird how people (and myself) spend endless hours on these machines that get you no where fast instead of doing something active and fun. I mean, spinning has to be the most pointless exercise I can think of…but riding a bike is just a million times more fun.

And so begins project Me.  I guess I may be a little selfish in putting myself before my family, but if my health fails, I won’t be here long enough, or in a capacity where I will be able to do anything fun with them.  I want to be a fun active dad. For a while, that was me…when I was riding my bike. But since then, it’s been harder to keep up with children so full of life.  That’s where the exercise comes in.

In order to help achieve my goals (which are: lose 30 pounds, get back to platinum time in El Tour) , I have taken a look at podfitness.com.  It basically builds workouts for you to download and follow along with on your ipod. A great idea. I just need someone else to tell me what to do, and I’ll do it. Great.  When it comes to exercise, I don’t have a whole lot of time (or expertise) to devote to designing my own workout routine, and having the voice there counting my reps, and telling me which exercises to do is the best way to get me to the gym.  Actually, I look forward to my workouts now…awesome.  I guess I am just seeing myself without fat on my belly and trying my best to get there. If I keep going, I think it will be easier than I would have guessed…