Down and Out

So I have bad news, then some good news, then some awesome news. Whats first. I believe in tearing the bandage off fast so bad news. I'm single for the first time in 14 months, thats over a year. WOW. Over a year. So after a little time to myself I realized it was a blessing in disguise.

That blessing was not being comfortable. I was happy in my relationship, but with that I also became complacent or comfortable with myself. Which normally is a good thing. It meant I had a partner who loved me for who I was. However because I was so comfortable I let little things slip here and there. The best way to mend a broken heart is to fix the stuff around it first. Thats what I did.

So onto the good news. Taking a look in the mirror and realizing hey, I need to get back on it. Whip myself back to what I used to be. So far I am down to 190. WOWZA. Go ME!! Still got a ways to go but I'm glad to take the journey.

Food for Thought

So I just got back from my vacation, had a blast, enjoyed a few good walks on the beach. Some of that beach time was not good, as my phone went for a swim. (feel free to donate to the matt needs a new phone fund lol). Besides the point though, California had such variety of food. From fresh sushi, to some great Mexican food which got me thinking;

How much do you think about food. Well considering my yo yo weight loss I think about it constantly. But what I am really asking about is food planning and preparation. That is important. I am pretty easy because I can eat one thing every monday, every tuesday etc. While some people get bored and need to change it up every week.

What I have found easiest and most effective is I make a menu for 3 weeks. Each week has ingredients that can mix and match a bit, and I have a shopping list designated for each week as well. That way I don't go to the grocery store and do the "MMM that looks good" shop. I can stick to my list and better yet not forget anything. Then I just have to rotate weeks and on occasion change it up or throw in a Healthy takeout.

The other trick I like to do is set aside a few hours to prepare some grab and go dishes. Tupperware is my best friend on this day.. so is the freezer. The easiest on is soup or my favourite chili. Just prepare, let stew while your preparing a few other dishes then plate up and freeze. Second, I will usually precook a few chicken breasts cut them up and put them in a dish for easy protein salad topper or wrap ingredient.

So with all this I still like a pizzazz dish. One that just pops from the others. One of my fellow bloggers has some amazing ideas lots that work with the South Beach Diet... if thats what you are going for. Besides healthy dishes though.... they are delicious. Check her out http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com/

Well thats my food for thought.

New Year's Resolution

So, apparently more people are reading this than I thought because I already got a couple complaints about not writing over the holidays. Glad to hear, very glad to hear.

Topic of the month, New Years Resolutions. Honestly I hate these. Why do I have to wait for a specific day to set a goal for myself. If you want something, really want something just do it. January 1st is just like any other day. If you do have to choose a specific day why not just Monday. This gives you enough time to think about your goal, plan your route and expected outcome, and you don't have an excuse to procrastinate. The other great thing is you don't have the weight of an entire year on your back, and if you screw up one day. Who cares just jump back on and the next week resolution is ready to go.

Next Monday, I will be in California, so I am not going to make any unrealistic New Week Resolutions. Yes I am going to cheat on my eating habits but i am going to be out walking on the beach, swimming in the ocean, and enjoying a good time. My New Weeks Resolutions work good for me. I can look back and remember everything I did this week, and adjust for the next weeks resolutions. If a weeks to short and changing that much just isn't good for your routine. Then do a months resolution. Whatever works best, just don't wait, start now.

For all my friends in Canada. I want to wish you a good week of snow, and everyone a Happy New Years.

When I get back Red Deer friends, I want to book some workout times with yeah!!!

Stats

Weight: 202.5 lbs.

Height: 5' 8"

BMI: 30.08 (just .08 from no longer being "obese")

Plan: Balanced, reasonable meals, and moderate exercise when able. 

This season is tough to lose weight so my goal is maintenance for the next week. 

Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ho Ho Ho, or just Holidays everybody!

Mind Over Matter

So stress is the last thing anyone wants. Somehow lately thats all I get, so finding a way to get rid of it has been my goal lately.

So when I am feeling like my head is ready to blow up, first thing I think is just take it day by day. Stress leads to stress. The more pressure you put on it, at least in my mind, the worse it is and the more I think about it.

Secondly working out. I guess that should be first. Sometimes, its the last thing you want to do when you are ready to split. The best thing about it, though, is that it always makes me feel better. Not only for the fact that exercise releases those AMAZING stress relieving endorphens, but also its a distraction. When I am on a treadmill, the last thing on my mind is that  bill I have to pay.

I get the best workouts when I am pissed off. I take out all of my frustrations out on those weights. Every lift, or push, is proof that I am where I need to be. Every hit to the punching bag is, knockout to that jerk who cut me off, or that guy who said one thing and did the other. I like to think of myself as an overall happy person, and I think this is why. I take my frustrations out when I chose to. I chose to turn my frustrations into something positive. A harder, more productive workout.


Your body only does what your brain tells it to. So really, the only thing to consider isn't the burning in your legs, or the hard breathes you are taking. Its, how much do I want this. Tell your body to go out and kick some ass and I will do the same. In the end whether my goal was weight loss, looks, health or just to get out off the house. For some reason after a good workout I just feel happy. I guess really, happiness, is the best goal to shoot for.

Gotta Push it

So, so far the week hasn't went precisely to plan. Did back and biceps Sunday, Cardio on Monday, and Cardio and Legs on Tuesday. It may not be exactly what I wanted or as hard of a push as I wanted but a smart man said;

"Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you'll land among the stars"

Basically its better to have high goals and fall short, then to not have aspirations at all. If you don't push the limits you never know what your limits are.

Even though I haven't stuck to plan I can tell that what I have been doing is still working. Have more energy, and guess what my Gluteus OH SO Maximus is soar from those squats and Leg presses. Biceps are still soar when flexing which is awesome. The main way I can tell if I have pushed myself hard enough on an arm work out is, if I have a hard time putting deodorant on.

Still in my opinion the most important thing for weight loss is a healthy ratio. Almost everything in moderation. Especially when considering nutrition. Nutrition is more important in weight loss then exercise. I would say 80% Nutrition 20% Exercise.  There is a maximum you can work out before your body gives up, but you can shove your face with calories all day long. Speaking of which I have some Chicken Non-parmesan cooking away in the oven. Basically Breaded some chicken breasts with bread crumbs and spices and let baking in with some tomato sauce. Mmm Mmm. I can't wait for it.

So No pain, No gain. Let's Go!

Stats for Sunday Dec. 12th, 2010

Weight: 206 lbs.

Height: 5" 8'

BMI: 31.3 (obese)

Plan:

                  Sunday:       Gym at 10am - Cardio, Back and Biceps

                  Monday:      Gym at 8am - Cardio, Legs and Abdominals

                  Tuesday:      Gym at 8am - Cardio, Chest and Triceps

                  Wednesday: Gym at 6am - Cardio

                  Thursday:    Gym at 4pm - Cardio, Back and Biceps

                  Friday:         Gym at 8am - Cardio, Legs and Abdominals

                  Saturday:     Gym at 6am - Cardio, Chest and Triceps, Cardio

Pretty Good Considering I only did three days last week. These were my stats from Saturday, Dec 4th, 2010

Weight: 211 lbs.

Height: 5" 8'

BMI: 32.1 (obese)

My 2010 Update

So yeah, i never got any better at writing a blog, and I probably won't. But at least I am trying.

So I am back up to 210lbs. I am pretty dissapointed in myself. Not in the fact that I got up to 210, but that I wasn't working out or eatting healthy. Stress this year hasn't helped.

So my 2010. It has been a tough one. A lot of changes happened in my life. First and foremost I realized that I am up for more than what I usually plan.

February 14th, 2010 I started dating Michael. Yes Michael, not michelle or some other pronunciation. He and I are coming up to our 1 year anniversary and there has been a lot of ups, with some pretty low downs. But its understandable as this is my first relationship of this "caliber". Unfortunately, not everyone is as accepting as I thought and, I lost a lot of friends with the change. But in the meantime I realized that my family was way more accepting than planned. No punches were thrown, or evil glares. tadaa.

Secondly, I am still trying to get my reno's done on the house. I need to sell the place this year. Fingers crossed, and maybe some divine intervention and that will happen.

Now back to fitness, or lack there of. I let the stress of the year get to me. Instead of me pushing back, and working out to release some of the stress relieving hormones, I slipped, stayed off the wagon and couldn't get back on.

I started working out at Body Basics in downtown Red Deer. Nice gym, very open. MY BODY KILLED after a 3 day stint in full blown, Matt can handle anything type workouts. Left my chest, arms, legs achy for 4 days. I am going back to the gym tomorrow and then a staff meeting at night.

So I am planning to post regularly now. Thanks for the quick update. I will post my stats tomorrow too. And keep all of you guys on my back. if you can at all. Text, email, FB, yell at me to keep going.

Thanks Guys.

The Next Year

So as I lay in bed tonight after doing probably the last registered run of the year (CIBC Run For The Cure), it reminded me of how important it was to set goals. In case you haven't heard yet, the last month I have fallen off the wagon. By falling off the wagon I mean not much running, very few trips to the Gym, and an absolute lack of care for my caloric intake.

The run today put my mind back on track. I don't know if this is even possible or not but my goal for next year is to run in a registered event every weekend from April 9th to October 4th. That is 25 runs or other event in one 6 month term. This is something that even now I do not know if it is possible. More than just physically and mentally but logistically. Do they even have that many events every year. Well over the next month I will be checking to see what options i have for running and other types of events next year. So if anyone has any suggestions PLEASE let me know. I will need all the help i can get.

So I already know a couple of the events I will be partaking in. I will be doing the Climb for Wilderness in Calgary one weekend. basically you start at 8 o'clock in the morning with a 1k run. Thank you climb up 802 stairs to the top of the Calgary tower. This year I managed to climb up it 15 times without doing a 1k run. That equates to a staggering 13200 stairs climbed. So my goal for 2010 would be atleast 2 or 3 more plus the run to kick off. I am hoping to recruit as many people as I can to come with me to this event. Friends, Family, maybe even a couple enemies to endure the same pain I am. BAHAHA the evil in me comes out.

Another event is the HSBC Calgary Marathon. I did the 10k this year and this was also the first time I entered an event with someone else. I ran with My aunt Kelly and Uncle steve. At this point both of them were in better shape than me. Kelly was running faster and more efficient, and my uncle although he hasn't ran in at least 20 years was running circles around both of us. Lucky for me we all agreed to stick together. So I wasn't left eating their dust. Next year I am hoping to get them both back. I will also be signing up for the full or half marathon instead and will hopefully be able to keep up with speedy gonzales *aka Steve*.

A couple of the other events I plan to attend next year are; The Edmonton 21, Woodys RV World Marathon, and the one I am MOST excited about, THE DEATH RACE. The DEATH RACE (yes I am going to Capitalize DEATH RACE every time) is absolutely the most intimidating. Basically it trumps everything and anything I could possibly fatham out of a run. I didn't know that people could do more than a marathon. The DEATH RACE consists of 5 lags and totals a rediculous 125 kilometers of pavement, trail, mud, blood, sweat and tears. I better start hydrating now because I can only assume the tears will be flowing.

AGAIN. If anyone has any hints, tips, stories of past runs or knows of any great places in my area that a race is being held let me know. Also if you are a good scheduler and researcher, maybe you could help my find and organize races.

And the biggest thing I need to learn about... how do you get a sponsor. I would like to get a business to sponsor me through these races but have no idea.

Wanna thank everyone who has inspired me this last year and a half. Couldn't do it with out you.

fitnessandme@hotmail.com

A First Attempt At Blogging

So really this is just me having a bit of insomnia. Which unfortunately I have found I have had all three days since being back from the beautiful U.S. of A. Disorganization in this first, of hopefully many blogs is undeniably going to occur. Especially since no topic is in mind.

I guess first of all. If anyone out there should have any blogging tips it would be greatly appreciated. Secondly, if blogging is officially the uncoolest thing to do... I would like to be notified IMMEDIATELY.

This might seem like fun however.

I guess I will enlighten you all with a little information about my trip to the States. There were 3 main reasons for going. 1. To obviously celebrate my 21st in Vegas. 2. Have a reunion with a couple of the coolest people I met in the beginning of my fitness journey. 3. Last but not least to celebrate my 1 Year Anniversary of the day I started to lose weight.

My 21st Birthday was a weekend filled with copious amounts of alcohol and fun in the desert night. Nothing but bright lights and smiling people to keep the mood up. This was also when I met up with Jenna and Malinda. These two kept me happy during my first few weeks of deadly torture that I now call exercise. (not to mention I now love it... possibly addicted)

I did a lot of hiking in the States most of that being in Utah. Met a lot of great friends that I hope to keep forever. Each person from all different walks of life and from all over the world. Its was amazing who you could meet in such a short period of time. During my last week in the states my 1 year anniversary fell. August 14th 2008 was the first day that I started on a treadmill and started my journey towards a fitter healthier life. To start the next year off with a bang I ran 18 miles through Snow Canyon National Park.

I cannot wait to see what the next year brings. Again this was a late night and a first post for me so the randomness and the abrupt finish are both due to that fact that my eyelids are growing heavier and heavier my the keystroke.

Goodnight blog world i will attempt a better blog another day. Hopefully with a strong topic.