I am down to 231. I only weigh myself every couple of days. To make sure I am not gaining on my days off I am following a strict no empty calorie rule. I only drink water and the very occasional diet soda (Diet Dr. Pepper). I am eating lots of protein and veggies. I am typically eating grilled chicken and salad for lunch and dinner and some eggs for breakfast. I will have some deli sliced chicken breast as a snack with a slice of Gouda cheese. I will get me an individual size veggie tray for a snack too.

I am pretty excited to see results so quickly. I just have to keep up the work and realize it isn't something I can do on and off but I have to be intentionally active for the rest of my life.

After a long bout with severe de-motivation I am back to working out and eating in a more responsible manner. I was in a funk for a while and just could not seem to shake out of it. I am motivated and ready to make some changes to my lifestyle and habits so I can get fit and healthy. I have switched to strictly water and have gone low carb. I have been going fairly strong for about 2 weeks and have dropped a decent amount of weight. I started out at 258 and I am down to 241. I am working out at the gym 3 to 4 days per week. I do atleast 30 minutes of cardio 3 days per week and lift weights atleast 4 days per week. I hope to get a little more motivated and increase the amount I work out so I can drop even more weight and get fit. This is the first time I have ever lifted weights. I have heard from several reliable sources that weightlifting is a good tool to help increase metabolism and burn fat. I really want to be able to have the self confidence to walk around with no shirt on in the near future.

a small step forward

I cranked out a mile on the treadmill in just over 9 minutes. I haven't had a mile time that low in a long time. I am going to slowly build from there. Been stupid busy and haven't been making time to keep my blog current. Thank your lucky stars this publication is free. LOL

Counting Calories

I started counting calories some time last week. I dropped 2 pounds by staying under my calorie allotment. This weekend, however I did not do a good job with keeping up with my calories. Or try to stay under my allotted 2161 calories. I am going to do a better job of keeping up with my calories.

Weekend Update

Friday I registered myself at www.livestrong.com so I could take advantage of the interactive calorie counter. According to the website, I am allowed 2,161 calories per day. So far so good. I have been under my calories for three days straight. I know it is not a huge win in the battle of the bulge, but it is a good step in the right direction.

The 5K did not go as planned. I was not able to run the entire race like I wanted to. My wife was not able to attend the race with us, so I had to manage the kiddos alone. The three of them started off very strong. Trevor was the first one to stop and turn around. He was close enough to the school that I let him go on his own. Riley made it just beyond the half way mark before she hitched a ride back. Ryann would run a little, then run a little. There was some type of law enforcement vehicle that followed the racers, but I couldn't just run off and leave my young kids to run alone. The weather was awful as well. I will just have to become more motivated and get out there and run on my own.

Small adjustments will lead to major changes in my health and fitness level.

Brutal Honesty from a Fat Guy

At track practice today I walked a little over a mile before practice began. That is probably the only good thing I did for my body today.

I feel like the biggest jerk ever. I ate like a homeless guy at a buffet today. I had fast food (large fries and sweet tea) for lunch. I grilled some steaks for dinner and had a baked potato. I had to stop and buy the steaks and potatoes. So while I was at the store I bought some chips and salsa. On the way home I had chips and salsa. When I got home my wife informed me I forgot something. So I had to go back to the store and get the butter for the potatoes. I bought some fried pies (the ones that come 4 to a pack). I ate the whole pack on the way home. But I did wash all of it down with a Coke Zero.

Why can I not get this over eating habit kicked? In our society people will over look the bad habit of over eating as if it isn't as bad as abusing alcohol or drugs. I need to realize I need God to help me with this or I will never get fit and healthy.

Struggling through,
SHEP

Walhalla Elementary Family Fun Run

On Saturday March 26th at the butt crack of dawn I am going to run in my 5th or 6th 5k race. I have not went on any kind of run since probably November or December. I hope all of the basketball I have been playing will help me with this run. I am still playing basketball any where from 1 to 3 times per week. I don't have any delusions that I am going to set any world speed record for a 30 year old fat guy either.

In other news......
I was working as a companion aide for a student with special needs up until last week. I am no longer needed in that position, so I am unemployed. I am not dealing with this very well. I am struggling internally with what it is that I want to do for a living. I see a lot of different jobs that I feel I would be successful at and would probably enjoy, but I want to be doing what God wants me to do. I know I could get my teaching certificate and be a great teacher, or I could use my organizational skills in an office somewhere and be an outstanding administrative assistant, or I could be some kind of salesman and do great; but the thing I want to do most, is to please God with what I am doing as far as my job/career goes. This is not the easiest thing for me to deal with either because I have so much going on right now and I really enjoy all that I do. I work part-time at a therapeutic boys school. I am the volunteer sports league director at my church. I also coach the throwers on the track team at my local high school. I am getting ready to start subbing in the school district as well.

What is it that I am supposed to be doing????? All I know is that when I do get to the answer, I want the answer and God's will to match up.

I am seriously about to get seriously serious into losing weight and getting healthy.

SHEP