Wacky Wednesday Post (on Friday)

NOTE: I began writing this post on Wednesday and didn't finish it until today (Friday). So get off me about it, alright? :) Now on to your regularly-schedule programming...

Don't be alarmed - there will be a minimal amount of wackiness in this post. I just wanted to use my alliterative (?) genius in my post title. And I'm pretty sure I achieved my goal. However, I promise you that no whack will emerge because I am deciding that before I really get into my post.

Now some of you may be thinking (if you're still reading), "So what if there's a little wacky in this post? It's hump day!" Ah, but you're missing the point. The point isn't that this is a wack-less post. The place of emphasis is that I determined that fact ahead of time.

I see some of you still haven't gotten it. It'll come around soon. Promise.

I've found that a giant part of weight loss is having a plan. It's about anticipating a curve in the road, and effectively preparing your vehicle for what may lie ahead. It's about deciding things ahead of time. (Ding! Light bulb!)

Staying with the analogy, sometimes despite all planning you get a flat tire on your journey. Here's where determination and keeping your eye on the final goal is crucial. At this time you have to make a decision - fix your flat tire and keep on moving forward only slightly hindering your momentum and progress OR slash another tire...or two...or three on your own by feeling defeated, sad or angry about your one flat tire. I am very much guilty of doing the latter...it's part of my cycle actually.

So I suppose it all comes down to mindset. When that first tire gives way - be it in the form of sleeping in vs. a morning run, a burger vs a turkey sandwich, or a donut for breakfast vs a granola bar - it's very important not to give in to the setback and create further setbacks (as I've been doing this week). The key is taking a step back and reminding yourself why you're on this road in the first place and remind you of how gorgeous your final destination is going to look once you get there.

So why not fix that one, flat tire and get back up to speed? Maybe I should take some of my own advice sometimes...

Half Marathon Training - Week 5

Apologies for not keeping y'all updated on my training, but to be honest, there isn't a ton to update you on.

I've been approaching this round of training as, "I need to lose the weight to be able to build up my endurance, but I need to run for long periods of time in order to lose the weight." Kind of a fun, cruel Catch 22. But I just finished up a solid week of running & nutrition, and it showed on the scale. Now the ever-present struggle to have a second, consecutive good week and keep decreasing that horrid number on the scale. Not one of my natural strengths. But I'll address weight loss more later!

As far as running goes, I'm probably taking it way too slow as I step back and take a look at it. I've been trying some interval training in efforts of zapping fat and getting my heart rate up; I've been trying to knock out longer chunks of mileage at a slower pace just to say that I got my miles in; and some days I just jack up the incline on the treadmill and walk up hill on days that my energy is low. And some days it feels like I'll never be able to run long distances at a consistent rate...but I'm used to fighting my defeatist self.

Last night was the first time ever that I thought about giving away a race registration to a runner more prepared than myself. But after taking a minute to contemplate it, I felt I should continue since this registration was given to me - and I was able to give a fellow runner a registration as well. Wouldn't feel right to back out at this point, even if I foresee this race being a rough one...

Weight Loss: I had a good week last week, as you can see by my numbers right under my picture. However, this week hasn't started off the greatest, and I only foresee temptation rearing its ugly head more and more as this week goes on. Some days it just comes down to me knowing what to do yet neglecting to do so - but I've been there and talked about that already.

In other news, an acquaintance of mine (who also just became a trainer at my gym of choice) offered to help train me this summer for what I understand as free. He used the words "I'm not in it for the money" and "I can see you're very committed since I see you here everyday" and even offered to take the sessions to the nearby college campus (which I attended and where he currently coaches soccer). I think I'm going to take him up on his offer hopefully starting the week after the half marathon. Hope the offer still stands in a month!

All in all, this whole journey is just one, big cliche about taking it one day at a time and keeping my eye on the prize. Some days and weeks it comes easily with great reward while other weeks it seems almost impossible to attain and discourages the heck out of me. Hopefully I can turn this week into Door #1 by week's end.

Hope all is well in the Chicago running-verse. Talk at you later!

IT HAS ARRIVED!

I almost became giddy yesterday when a coworker dropped a UPS package off at my desk that I've been anticipating since my dealer friend sent it on its way.

I'm enthralled with anything that collects and spits out numerical data - especially if it has to deal with weight loss! For a while, I entertained the possibility of buying a FitBit - I have friends who currently use it and cannot say enough about how it motivates them to be more active and how it's helped them drop weight. However, I couldn't find a used one or one that wasn't being sold for full price, so I looked elsewhere.

I then heard about something called the Nike+ FuelBand. I'd seen commercials on TV for it and checked out the website and thought that looked pretty cool too. And you know what? Turns out a friend was looking to sell his - bingo!

Well as I said, that package came yesterday. I then got it charged last night and strapped it on first thing this morning before hitting the gym. To be honest, I still don't ACTUALLY know what NikeFuel is at this point... I just know it's different than calories. I guess it's some sort of 'measurement of activity?' Either way, the mobile and desktop applications let you set a daily goal for yourself and you can monitor your progress right on the band (see picture). Today my goal is 3,000 units of NikeFuel. As I type this I'm at  2,412.

Turns out that having a primarily desk-oriented job doesn't bode well for movement and activity. So therefore I'm either going to have to get out and take a walk during my lunch break on days that aren't too busy or a nighttime walk with my wife - or both! I'll definitely be keeping you posted.

What kinds of weight loss tools/toys like this do YOU utilize?

Back from a Business Trip

Don't worry, I haven't left you. Sure, it may be customary of online/YouTube weight loss participants to suddenly go all Ghost Protocol when they've had a bad week, but I'm a seasoned veteran - I've had many of those weeks and therefore no longer fear the backlash.
Last week I found myself in Richmond, Virginia on a business trip Tuesday thru Thursday. Now thankfully, the metropolis of Richmond isn't known for any, particular, mouth-watering, belt-busting foods. Rather, it's known more for its history, which isn't really up my alley, but was directly up my coworker's alley. Therefore, we needed to 'see the sights.'

Visiting the Virginia State Capitol

Thankfully, that entailed lots of walking around the city. Even more walking was added as a result of his shoddy navigation skills (and the pathetic, illustrated map of downtown Richmond). Like I've mentioned, I do have a Nike+ FuelBand on the way (tomorrow?) and I really wish I would have had it for the trip. LOTS of walking.

But unfortunately, the company's $50/day per diem just "HAD" to be used! We didn't have breakfast any of the 3 days due to early call times for the conference we were videotaping. One day I grabbed a bagel w/ cream cheese & a piece of coffee cake from the in-hotel Starbucks around 10:00am though. Lunch was usually a $15 burger or sandwich of some kind with the hearty dinner to round off the day - chicken sandwich one night and ribs the next. I definitely could have been more careful...
The scale 'only' showed me a three pound gain this morning, and I think I have the downtown walking to thank for that. This week my goal is to get to the gym before 5:30am so I can knock out a good hour and a half of training miles. Hopefully I also have a normal work schedule this week so I don't have to move that workout time around much. I like a routine and structure. Start shaking that up and all goes wrong.

Watching the over 2,000 runners take off!



Men's winner flies by me on his way to the finish line!

Also was able to watch the First Midwest Bank Southwest Half Marathon in Palos Height, IL on Sunday. It's a race I've run twice ('09 & '11), but this year I was there to watch my sister run it for a second time. Before the race she said she hadn't trained as she'd wanted to, and her fiancee agreed. However, she managed to knock it out in 2:27:21 and I'm real proud of her! I'm sure we'll be running another one together some day - I just need to get faster so I can keep up! (Her half marathon PR is around 2:12 while mine is at 2:20:20)