Ouch.

Well today I weighed in at 266.4 I think. I weighed this morning and didn't write it down. I remember it was 266 for sure. Anyways, I think I am actually around 267 or about the same as last week.

The lifting is going well, just doing some basic lifts on the machines. I think I'll be ready to start the "real" program  when school gets out. While doing some of these lifts/exercises I used an Ab wheel on Wednesday. My abs are still sore, that thing is awesome. It is odd how much I like working out now. I have a nice routine of 20-30 mins on the treadmill then about 30 mins of lifting. I rotate what muscle groups I work on each day, and I try to switch what I do so that it hasn't gotten boring yet. I also took a new set of photos yesterday. I could see a little difference  nothing major yet, but it is kinda a driving thing to keep me motivated. If I can see the results, then its encouraging to keep working hard.

School is almost out, which is bitter sweet. I get to do a lot of nothing, seeing family and friends, and I will have plenty of time to go shooting. On the other hand, I get bored easily, so hopefully working out will help fill that boredom.

Two weeks later....

I am now 268.4. I have weighed in that range pretty much all week so I feel confident that it is an accurate measurement. I was going to the gym every day, and pushing myself pretty hard while I was there. Then one day, my legs just couldn't go. I was barely making it 25 minutes with minimal jogging involved. So I took a few days off when I went to Chattanooga last weekend to visit my friend Jay, he is a minor league umpire. After returning back from that trip, it was the week to plan Field Day, so I was at school a little longer than normal and it was tiring to try and plan a whole day for the whole school. That's a lot of kids to entertain at the same time. I was able to goto the gym a few days, but not as much as I wanted.

I have started lifting a little on the machines at the gym. I love the feeling of slightly sore muscles.The program I am going to follow is pretty intense so I want to try and get myself ready to start it. I plan on starting when we finish school for the year, that way I can easily make it my morning routine.

Summer is so close, it's gonna be awesome.

Easter and other stuff

Today is my favorite "holiday". I used quotes there because it is much more than just a holiday. Easter is the most meaningful day to me as a Christian. Without the resurrection, the virgin birth is just a odd mishap, Jesus was just some really nice guy walking around doing crazy things. To me the resurrection verifies everything else. It is the finally bullet point, which brings the whole story together. It makes me realize what one man had gone through for me, who is undeserving of anyones sacrifice, much less the sacrifice of a perfect being. This is truly a day to be thankful for! 

Now for the less important part of today, the weigh in. 270.4. I gained a little, no big deal. I am looking for a good weight lifting program to start on next week. I think I have found one, but it is a little advanced for me, but I have seen it work for a friend of mine. I think I will just adapt a little to simplify it for me for a week or two and build up to the actual program. In case anyone was wondering, it is Maximum Strength by Eric Cressey. It is basically a program to build strength for real world use, not body building. Also, I took pictures of myself now, and will take one every two weeks or so while lifting to see if there is any "improvements". 

So I have been going to the gym everyday. I love it. I started jogging a little more as well during my time. I can jog about half the time (around 15 mins) I'm on the treadmill now, which is way better than I thought I could do. After a week or two of lifting I will see about upping the time on the treadmill. 

Now I need to start working on my diet more, again. With the lifting and improved cardio, a better diet will definitely help my efforts. Looks like more grilled chicken for me. 

Happy Easter everyone!

The gym, learned a few things...

Well, went to the gym yesterday and today. I learned a few things.

1. I like the treadmill. I get to watch tv, it has a fan built into it, and most importantly it keeps me at a good pace. I know that I would average about the same time walking around the 'hood, but that didn't mean I stayed at a consistent good pace.

2. I have very little upper body strength. Seriously, it is pretty sad.

3. It is intimidating going to the gym to do weights. Cardio on the treadmill is fine, but lifting is a little nerve wracking. I think even more so since I am a guy. I feel so out of my comfort zone lifting weights. Despite my amazing body and incredibly manliness, I have never had a serious routine for lifting. I just don't know what I am doing. Which brings me to my next point....

4. I need to get a weight lifting partner or hire a trainer for a few months, just until I get into a routine of what to do and how to do it properly.

Otherwise, things are going great. I honestly just feel better. I sleep better, I have more energy. Granted those two things are subject to what time I actually goto sleep. I have a good church that I really enjoy, my truck for the moment is running well, the dog seems to be feeling good (still has cancer, but is still very energetic), tomorrow is my nephews b-day, I am almost done building my gun (an AR-15 for those that are interested). Lots of good things going on for me right now. It feels nice.

I think the scale may be broken....

First, sorry for no post last week. Went home to visit mom and dad and goto the Braves game, and start putting my gun parts together. Anyways.......

This weeks weight, 270.0. Yeah, I was surprised too. I usually check my weight 2 or 3 mornings during the week, and thought  it might get down to that today. I am just still surprised at how easy it is going for me, and dreading the times when it stops being so easy. The gym opened this week, so now I have no excuse to not walk/work out. After all, I walk by the gym on my normal route anyways. Now I just need to get a weight lifting routine so I can get jacked (this is sarcasm). 

I can tell that this is becoming a serious habit, when this week I tried to talk myself into a day off or two, and I just couldn't. I had to get out there and go. That's a good feeling. 

It's baseball season!!

For those of you that know me, you know I love baseball, especially the Braves. Well, that alone makes this week awesome.

I weighed 275.6 this morning, probably more accurate than last week. I was told by a few people that I was noticeably slimmer. I wore a shirt yesterday that I haven't worn in a while, and it fit much better than it had before.

Not a whole lot going on right now honestly, at least not that I can think of. Sorry for the short post, if anything comes to mind later, I'll talk about it then.

275

Yup, 275. Now maybe today was just a good day to weigh in, who knows. Anyways, I am just glad to see that I am still making progress. Every week I wait for it to level out and to not lose anything. I have been thinking about what has helped me the most. Other than everyones encouragement (thank you all for that), I think it has been cutting out calories that I drink. I pretty much only drink 1% milk in the mornings, a diet Dr. Pepper somewhere during the day, and water from there. I used to drink a lot of fruit juices thinking they were good for me. Well, after I had looked at the labels and seeing the amount of sugar and calories in them, I decided to stop drinking them. I attribute the success to that and regular exercise, because the diet has only moderately improved. I just eat a little lighter for lunch/dinner. So as a word of advice to anyone else, watch what you drink and exercise and you will lose weight.

As far as personal/work things. Well, I have decided to be positive. I try to wake up every day and pray for positivity. With testing coming up everyone in the building is a little stressed, even the kids, and even me. To all of my fellow teachers (especially at Gaines!), you do amazing work and lets not forget we are there to impact kids in a positive way, not just for them to pass a test.