So It Begins...

This past weekend I made the fateful decision to change my health and fitness for good. Of course, this isn’t the first time I’ve tried this and to be honest it’s been discouraging to fail as much as I do. This time is a little different. This blog is serving as my journal and my accountability. I’m not writing this for you, though I hope that others get motivated to get serious about their health through watching me struggle with it. I’m writing this for me. I’ve struggled with my weight since I was a teenager and even bore the nickname “Grimace” (named for the portly McDonalds character) while serving on my first tour in the Navy. At one point following my discharge from the military, I weighed close to 240 pounds. Now I’m just a bit chunky, but serious about being healthy.

My eating habits are changing. Today, I’m starting with the South Beach Diet phase 1. This part of the eating habits emphasizes protein and vegetables while eliminating carbs (especially those pesky sugars). This is meant to shock my blood sugar back to normal. After that I’ll move into Phase two, which allows for the occasional fruit and healthy complex carb, but nothing like I’ve been eating. This morning I weighed in at 200 pounds (actually 199 but I’m giving a pound for fluids lost while working out this morning). My goal is to get down to 165 pounds. This should lighten the load on my knees as I prepare for both a half-marathon in the fall and the Flying Pig Marathon for next year. I’ve done a lot of talking over the past couple years for running a marathon and it’s time I backed it up. I hope these changes help me reach this goal.

The biggest challenge of all is giving up all sugars and sweets, permanently. I’m following MMA Fighter/Trainer/Nutritionist Mike Dolce’s rule: If it didn’t exist 200 years ago, don’t eat it. The problem I have is that I’m hooked on sugars, and my tastes for sweets constantly bring me to a screeching halt. The only remedy I have is to just quit putting my body through that.

My workouts are scheduled like this:
Monday - Weights (upper body) and 20 minutes of cardio afterwards.
Tuesday – Running – It starts at 2 miles in Sharon Woods and builds from there.
Wednesday – Weights (lower body) and 20 minutes of cardio afterwards.
Thursday – Running (speed intervals)
Friday – Weights (upper body) and 20 minutes of cardio afterwards
Saturday – Running 5k in Sharon Woods.
Sunday – OFF.

I’m open to suggestions. The schedule will change in difficulty as I get in better condition. I know some people would suggest no cardio after lifting weights, but I’m doing it to get heart rate a little. Cardio on these days is not high impact. It’s just a little extra. The regimen is meant to be flexible. Once Phase 1 is over, I’ll work with certain foods as well. So please if you know something, leave me information including sources. Thanks for joining me on my quest for fitness.