And still learning

Ok I am going to try to Blog more and keep it shorter.. Even I can't tolerate reading my blog it is so long.

Summary of this season. I injured my knee in Jan, stopped running and started PT to deal with the issue. PT helped with the pain and pain management as well as made me understand I have a weak core and need help.

I also found I was running in the wrong shoes. I was in a stability shoe, most likely carry over from weighing as much as I do and being fitted again into slightly less shoe but still stability. I was wearing the outside of my shoe off. Turns out I supinate. Only about 10% of people do, my feet naturally roll out. So I managed to select another store and get fitted again. I am now wearing a Mizuno Wave Rider 14 neutral shoe and bought two pairs. Love them.

What else... oh ya my real weak left side core was because my hip was out of place. So 2 months after starting PT the pain was gone, range of motion was back core was improving. But every time I tried to run I had pain in my patella tendon. I had a couple of meltdowns and stress about it. The support of my Wife Tina and my Friend Stef was great and helpful. Tina kept encouraging me that I had to be patient. Stef kept encouraging me telling me that my other workouts would help and I would still be able to run well when I was back to running. Brought me over a magazine with a story about a triathlete that was injured, swam 5-6 days a week and spun on their bike. When she got back to running she broke some of her personal records.

Regardless I didn't think this would happen. Anyways after Chiro appointment I was running lightly with Stef and the Learn to run group we are doing.. ok she is I am just helping. Free clinic with over 20 people that joined us for the learn to run and her sister is doing a 10K clinic. Amazing women really. K back on track. Monday night clinic run after chiro appointment went really well.. so that Wed I went out and ran hills without a single sign of pain or tracking. 5.3 km and I didn't go easy. I ran 4km that weekend non stop as well. Following week I went out and ran 4km then 5km WOW no pain.. tight muscles from not running for 3 months.

So this past weekend I went out to do my first 5km run race since November.. and wouldn't you know it I ran my first Sub 30 min 5k race after not running for 3 months. So it is possible to not only keep up your cardio while injured but it is possible to keep improving. My previous best was 33:06 for 5km and I ran 29:16 on the weekend that is over 12.5% improvement. I do feel I could have pushed a bit harder on my previous best but maybe no better then 32 mins... So still would have been a 9% improvement..

And in this time Tina has made me very proud she picked up more volume tried more classes at the gym and is trying new things all the time. Made more improvements in weight loss and even did a 2.5 hour gym workout with 5 classes that raised money for Charity... Very proud of my wife for her accomplishments.

Things I keep Learning

I did say I wouldn't update often. I should reconsider. I keep wasting time typing the same thing to many people and friends about how I managed to loose weight and what I am doing... I really should just Blog it and link people here... But that would be a smart and constructive and simple way to do things... I never do things the simple way. April Marked 1 year that I stepped on a scale seen.. GET THIS THE WHOLE TRUTH HERE.. a PEAK of 279 lbs and only 5' 6" TALL. Today I am 212 lbs and some how still only 5'6" Tall. Triathlon season is soon upon me. I am doing my first Sprint this June. I bought a triathlon bike used off some cute girl in Toronto. I can't remember the bike but I remember the cute girl... I still own the bike. I have managed to put about 300km on it so far. I also spent 2 months in Physio for my knee that I damaged while running in the snow. I am slowly building back up and I have changed my shoes. Seems I am a supinator and I did get new Asics GT-2160 shoes and they fit me for them. Professional well known chain shoe and running store did a poor job of fitting. So recently I got fit again and I am now in a nice new Mizuno Neutral Shoe. I also found a pair of New Balance that were great but they were a half size off. So when I go for a second set I am going to try those. I started helping my friend Stef with a learn to run clinic again this spring. I believe we have 28 people in the clinic. Mostly Women... hmmmm Good odds hey... Don't tell my loving wife. Her sister is doing a 10 K clinic for people at the same time. I have to tell you the first time we all went out with our groups. I was more inspired then, then I ever was. We had almost Full Attendence and the weather was COLD, RAINY and WINDY. Yet they all came out and ran. I would have never had that drive a year ago. It was amazing site to start out with the girls at the back of the pack and talk to them about my changes over the last year and how I managed to make a lifestyle change. But the whole time I was talking to them. I looked forward at over 40 people running in my not so healthy town and I was in AWE. My friend Stef and her sister are doing so much for people and making such a HUGE impact on people it is amazing. I don't think either of them realize the impact. These people are going to change and they are going to inspire other people and the growth will be 10 fold for them and their families. And I get to a be a part of it too. In this time I also had a phone call from my sister in law that wants to learn to run and I got out with her a few times to show her and help her with the program. She is afraid to run in a group and I think it was cool to see her get out and get some time to herself. She has my 1 year old newphew whos birthday was yesterday and my other nephew that is 5.5 years old. So Typical house wife, works full time and new family on the go. We don't always see eye to eye she is very opinionated. But I am glad to know that she knew she could depend on me to help her. I guess I am a pillar for many people at times and sometimes it frustrates me that I am there for everyone and feel very few people are there for me. But I think I just realized this is my place here, this is my gift and this is something I can do and have to do. My wife has kicked up her workouts at the gym, she is changing her eating and finally listening to me on some things and she is starting to see more weight loss and improvements. She has done so much in the last 5months I am amazed. She stepped outside her box joined some classes and is walking when she can. I am very impressed at her personal growth in the last 5-6 months. She deemed last year as her year of change. This year she is calling it her year of new challanges. June 19th is my first Sprint Triathlon. I can say I am excited to do this with my friend, Mentor, workout buddy, and can't wait to see her blast past me and watch her kick some AZZ at this event again. For me.. My goal is to just finish. But lets be honest, as new as I am at this every triathlete or runner has 4 goals. 1. To finish the race 2. A time that they tell everyone they want to get under (they already know they can hit this time) 3. A secret time they are pushing for that is a little better then the time they tell everyone 4. The real Secret time they hope if they push real hard for they can hit and achieve a personal best. For me.. My only goal is to just finish. But don't kid yourself. I have a time figured out for number 2... This is too new forme to figure out number 3 and it is my first sprint so I know it will totally be my personal best anyways. Next year however I will have to have all 4 goals figured out.....HAHA.

WOWZERS its been a while

Wow, I said I would keep this blog up as best as possible. I guess I failed at that didn't I. But you know it was really good to have started it. I came back and looked at all this the other day and throuht WOW. Look where I was and look what I have done and it picked up my spirits.

Well 2010 is now behind me. Looking back I was angry with myself through the winter last year and really angry with my weight and who I had become for many years. 2010 was the year I took some figging control of myself physically. I peaked weight at 279 lbs a while back. I brought it down to the 255 range for a bit mostly due to stress when I was in between jobs. Once I started work I easily got right back up to my normal 265-268 lb range where I was comfortable with.

Lately I have been stuck on a large Plateau for weight loss. I can't seem to loose anymore and by all measurments and all means I am still morbidly OBESE if you follow BMI scale. Frankly I don't I think it is a Farce and it needs to go or be revised. I am still overweight and I am still working out like 6 days a week. It is winter here and I don't work out as long or as hard some days. And Playstation gets the better part of me here and there too. So does fast food the odd time. But it quickly reminds me that it no longer agrees with my system.

Long story short I am now 215-217lbs and I seem to be stuck there and upset with myself and not being able to get to my goal of under 200 lbs. Funny because my old Goal was to be 220 lbs and I would be AMAZED with myself. Funny I was not so amazed as of late. And I have tried every trick I know food wise, working out wise etc in the last 4 weeks but STILL step on the scale every week to see the same thing. And it has been upsetting after seeing so much progress every week.

Well I went back and read my blog. Funny I started out running/walking 2km was FAR to me, Swimming 600 meters was HUGE to me and biking 50km in one day was AMAZING.

Thanks to my friend... She knows who she is and a lot of my own personal dedication and fear of failure.

I now feel a decent run is 10km and 5km runs are my go to tool to get a "Quick" workout in. In fact I am planning on doing my first Half Marathon this year. Slowly, but I will finish it. I now go to swimming and hammer out.. YES I SAID HAMMER OUT. 2800-3000 Meter swims for a decent workout. And at mid summer 80-98km bike rides were more the NORM for a decent day.

I completed 2 Try a Tris last year and seen a HUGE improvement from my first one in June to my second one in August. I ran two 5km Races. I even endured a Knee Injury for about 3-4 weeks in there that came back from 20 years ago and football. Which I barely got in two weeks of training before my second Try a Tri.

I am now working towards doing a couple of Sprint Triathlons, Half Marathon and some running races locally. I have a lot to do in order to improve my running. I am not fast but I am getting the job done.

I was able to pay back a bit of homage by helping my friend run a learn to run clinic.. a Couch to 5k plan sort of. It helped it was ME AND SEVERAL WOMEN... hehehe. But in all honesty I gained way more from doing this then anything else this year. I gained a bit of respect for helping a friend. I had several women talk to me that were impressed with what I accomplished so far. I Helped a Girl run her first 5k race while I was doing my first at the very same time. She was pushing hard and felt bad but I kept pace with her and stayed with her to finish the race instead of pulling ahead a little. From that I gained another person to run with. And did get to see a few people finish the race from the clinic. It by far made me feel better then any of the other accomplishments. But I sort of kept that to myself.

This year I also hope to help my friend and her sister with their new Running Group they are starting. I will do the 10K class with them as it will help me improve and get faster and build base miles for my Half marathon. I can't believe I am saying that. HALF MARATHON.

I have bought a used Cervelo Tri Bike I should have soon, So now I have a Tri specific bike, Wet suit next.

Scuba diving was my main hobby for 15 years. It has taken a back burner so my goal is to find some balance this year and get out and do some diving as well. So trying to race the beginning of the season and the end of the season with some Scuba diving in between.

I am finally going to get to the Presque Isle area of Michigan for a bunch of 200' deep shipwrecks I have tried to dive and weather and other things have cancelled the trips. Money last year held me back. This year I am going to dive on some EPIC amazing shipwrecks.

BALANCE,WORKING OUT, TIME MANAGEMENT,FRIENDSHIPS, HOBBIES AND RELATIONSHIPS IN GENERAL ARE TOUGH AND TAKE SOME STRAIN THROUGH ALL OF THIS.

But I am investing in myself and my future. Sitting still being Fat and doing nothing might have felt good, gave me more time with friends, family hobbies right now. But it would have just robbed it from me later in life. I hope these current choices take away some time now but leave me with much more time later in life with all of these people in my life. I lost my father in his mid 50's because he was more focused current time and made a lot of poor choices with his health in the past. I have learned a lot from him and although he created many rough years for me in my life while around. I respect the man more today then I did while he was alive and I continue to learn from him every day and miss him more every week that goes by.

I am Getting healthy and challanging myself so I can be here a long time and make an impact on others.