Let's Try This Again

I haven't been exactly great about getting exercise or watching what I eat over the past few weeks. I think I have a passable excuse though.

Actually, despite sitting still in the ICU at the hospital for so long and not giving a damn about what I ate, I think I must have actually lost some weight. It must have been partly the stress. I know I lost some weight because I actually fit into a suit for the funeral. It could have fit better, but at least I made it without wearing the same jeans or khakis that I've been wearing the last few months. So I've got a start at least—even if it didn't come from the healthiest of circumstances.

Starting next week, I'm hoping to get back to exercising at least three times a week. This time, I have the weather on my side too. With spring and warm temperatures finally here, I can get outside for some walking or—if my legs and lungs agree—maybe even some running. There's all that outdoor yardwork to get done too which, as Ed has already established and I agree with, definitely counts as exercise.

Here's to a new start. Anyone else ready to get this into gear?

Breaking it Down

A look at the numbers, or dissecting my week as it pertains to the amount of quality effort I may or may not have applied towards the ultimate goal of a healthier me.

7 The number of days in the afore mentioned week.
2 Actual number of days I spent trying to get the treadmill to operate correctly. (Remember the belt is slipping.)
1.4 Number of miles logged on treadmill attempting to adjust the belt. (The belt is still slipping.)
1 The actual number of days I can realistically say that I did anything resembling exercise.

That's right. Once again I have let distractions and sheer sloth prevent me from any meaningful effort. Oh, I could cite excuse after excuse (nagging intestinal bug--I know, you don't need to hear that) but in the end it comes down to the fact that I have let another week pass doing little or nothing with the opportunities provided to make myself healthier. But I did take a step, I was able to count a day and I suppose I should take solace in that. I'm sore this morning, in a good kind of way.

Tomorrow begins another week. I'll let you know how it goes.

I think It Counts

I disagree with my wife. This is not unusual. But she told me it doesn't count, that I would have done it anyway. Again I say, I disagree. My legs, my back, my shoulders, my arms, my neck and just about every muscle fiber in my body disagrees. I am one entire, quivering mass of soreness. Head to toe, I ache. I'm counting it!

No, I did not make it to the gym this week. I haven't fixed the treadmill or ridden my bike. I haven't formally begun an exercise program. However, I am counting the extraordinary amount of work I have put in this week clearing the yard of fallen limbs, branches, leaves and other debris in the aftermath of our recent ice storm.

The task was daunting. It's far from complete. My wife would argue that is due wholly to the fact that I am easily distracted. On this point I may have to agree with her. Somehow during the clearing away process I decided a flower bed (or two) was in order. What can I say, those limbs aren't going anywhere, but seeds needed pantin'!

So I've yet to officially begin for another week but I've been outside and I've been moving, working muscle groups and breathing hard. Isn't this what exercise is really all about anyway? I'm now off to find the Motrin (another essential ingredient in any exercise program--at least when you're as old as I am.) Tomorrow begins another week. I'll let you know how it goes.

Excuses, excuses!!

Do you actually have a plan? My wife's words to me after hearing of my involvement here at Project X.



Well, of course I do!



Kind of.



Sort, of. It's a rather loosely organized thought process at this point.



OK, OK. No I do not have a plan! Stop badgering me, woman!



My past weeks contribution to Project X can best be summed up as one of excuses. Ready?



1) The battery is dead in my heart rate monitor. (Everyone knows you don't start an exercise program without the ability to properly monitor your heart rate during exercise. Yeah, I could use the old school method of two fingers and a wristwatch but honestly, I'm not sure that I can count that fast!)



2) Proper shoes. (Oh, I've got them. Two pair, in fact. Problem is both pairs are covered in salt as I neglected to put my boots on when salting the drive this winter--twice. They remain a crusty mass at the back door.)



3) Treadmill. (Got that, too. Problem is, the belt is slipping a bit--I did try it out--and I haven't taken the 45-50 seconds it's going to take from my extremely busy schedule to tighten the bolt conveniently located at the back of the treadmill in plain sight, easily accessible.)



4) There was a big hairy rodent that stopped by our house over the weekend and left all manner of sugar laden treats and whatnot. It would have been very bad manners to have refused.



OK, I know. Excuses are like a-holes. Everybody's got one (or 4). This week, I'll do better. I hope. My hat is off to you guys who have stayed the course or even started. It's a new week, I'll let you know how it goes.

Best Intentions

I started the past week with the right amount of gung-ho. I swam with Clare on Sunday, worked out on Monday, and again Tuesday afternoon while Clare was in swimming lessons. I even got some exercise outside in an activity that I call "raking the leaves that I never did before the first snow fell last November."

I took Wednesday off from going to the gym and planned to go again Thursday morning. But on Wednesday night, I had to bring my mother to the hospital and that's thrown off my schedule and my gung-ho. The background of that story is in a post on Clare's Dad. As of this morning, my Mom is still in intensive care, more tests have been performed than most people get in their lives, but there are still no real answers to what caused her heart strain and whether it will continue to happen. Because it's a holiday weekend, I don't really expect any answers until Monday at this point.

How's everyone else doing?

There's No Better Day

I could have done nothing, just smiled and thought to myself, "good luck, boys!" and left it at that. But I didn't. I could have just written a short little comment that conveyed my admiration and openly expressed my feelings of goodwill. But I didn't. Darren devised this project because of a desire he felt to get himself back into shape. He politely offered those of us who frequent his writings to join along. I could have politely refused. But I didn't. Instead here is the reply I tendered to Darren's generous offer to "join him in his quest to better himself"



...Alright, tubby. Count me in. I'll be more than happy to harass you while I eat cookies and buttered popcorn. Fortunately, I've never really had a problem with weight (except for that 30 lbs. I gained when I quit smoking. It's gone now.) My problem is weight distribution. I'm sure exercise wouldn't kill me--I suppose I'm just afraid to find out for sure.
Either way, I'll at least weigh in tomorrow and we'll have a starting point. Could be just the motivation I need....



Open mouth, insert foot. Much to my chagrin my mother raised me in such a manner that you do what you say you are going to do. So having eaten hearty of the crow I have just prepared myself here I go. I weighed in as promised. Quite frankly, I was so tired from having walked the flight of stairs to the bathroom scale that was as far as my exercise regime progressed, but I've got a starting point. I also did a quick search and formulated a BMI (body mass index) to give me another marker as to where I am currently. I am happy to report a calculated BMI of 24.8, that's the upper end of normal for my height and weight. Like I said, my real problem is not necessarily one of weight but weight distribution.



I suppose I could waste a whole lot more time by taking various measurements and checking some preliminary lab tests and scheduling and appointment with my physician (as recommended before initialing any exercise program) but that would just be prolonging the inevitable. I've got to start. Besides, my wife is a doctor (she tells me all the time to get off my ass and do something) and I'm pretty sure my baseline labs have not changed significantly since my last annual visit to my physician (two years ago.)



It's Sunday afternoon and the temperatures have risen enough around here that a sweatshirt or light jacket is all one really needs to enjoy the fresh air outside. The sun has even poked it's weary head through the clouds a few times today. What better day to mark as the day before I start to exercise. I'll let you know how it goes.

Starting off on the right (or was it left?) foot

I work for the YMCA. The only problem is that that branch I work at, we don't exactly have a facility yet (but if you have $2 million lying around, we can get started) so I have to go to another Y to exercise. Later. After the kids go to bed. And I eat. And watch TV.

So, I have a lot of obstacles. But TONIGHT I did it. I went to the Y, looked that treadmill right in the eye and didn't blink. I did, however, huff and puff and sweat about a gallon of sweat. But I was proud of myself for taking it slow. Being a former competitive runner, I always want to start off where I used to be. Then I regret it. So today, 20 minutes of cardio followed by a quick circuit of upper body, ab work and lower body and I was out of there in less than an hour.

I feel relaxed now. Like I got a good buzz earlier and now I'm just enjoying the ride. I forgot how great exercising can make you feel.

Day 1 = success.

A Slow Start

It's been a week since I devised Project X. Despite all my talk, I don't feel like I accomplished much so far this first week. I did get to the YMCA three times, but one of those times was to go swimming with Clare. We were in the pool for almost an hour, so I guess that counts as exercise. The other times I used an elliptical trainer, a rowing machine, and weight-lifting equipment—I don't think I'm up to using freeweights yet.

I think the reason I feel like I didn't do much is that I didn't change my diet enough yet. I had breakfast most days, but I also fell victim to a box of Girl Scout Thin Mints, a bag of popcorn from Target, and I had dinner out a few nights—including one night at McDonald's with Clare. (On the plus side, we go to McDonald's so rarely now that their burgers and fries actually make me feel sick.)

I also finally got a starting weight for myself. By my guess, I have about seventeen pounds to lose. I say that's a guess because my goal isn't really a weight, but fitting into some clothes that haven't fit for about a year. I've got four weeks until our spring break vacation, so I'll see what I can do before that.

Here's to a better week next week. Wish me luck.

Credentials and Advice

When it comes to my credentials to give fitness and health advice, I can easily sum it up. Zero. Nil. Nuttin'. In short, I have no experience whatsoever in telling other people how to care for their bodies. All I've got is that I've owned a body for about thirty-nine and three-quarters years myself. But that shouldn't be good enough for you. You've got to do what's right for your own body.

Also, and this is important, if you're making any significant changes to your diet or exercise routine (especially if your current exercise routine is nonexistent) see a doctor first. That's not just talk or legally covering our ass either—I got a full check-up just a few months ago and got a clean bill of health.

According to WebMD, "every guy between the ages of 20 and 39 needs a physical every three years. Between 40 and 49, it’s two years. And after 50, it’s every year. In addition to that, every man should get his blood pressure checked annually; other tests are necessary as you get older. At most, that’s one visit a year, and surely you can find the time for that. Of course, any sudden change in your health or worrying symptom—like chest pain, for instance—needs to be checked out immediately."

There you have it, guys. If you're concerned enough about getting fit to start exercising and eating right, you can get yourself to a doctor for a check-up. Do it.

Welcome to the Real World

I’m a guy who blogs at Clare’s Dad. A few days ago, while I was trying to fit into some summer clothes for a vacation next month, I realized that it’s finally time that I put some real effort into exercising and eating better. This wasn’t any deep epiphany. It was because my shorts didn’t fit and I don’t want to spend the money for a whole new set of clothes when I’m only a size or two away from where I should be. I have a closet full of suits and dress pants that are off by just about as much.

I’ve tried to do this before. After about a week though, I end up going to the gym only occasionally and eating just as poorly as I ever did. Then I figured if blogged about what I planned to do I might feel more accountable. I might also get some other dads to join the effort or at least encourage or harass me into keeping my promise to myself. I called my plan to get in shape Project X for exercise. The post that inspired the project—and this blog—is here.

Even though I don’t have that much weight to lose, this won’t be easy for me. I don’t have the patience or determination to spend much time on treadmills or other equipment. I don’t really know what I’m doing when it comes to weight training either. And when it comes to eating right I have next to zero will power—I can easily put away nearly a pound of pasta by myself or a whole sleeve of Girl Scout cookies. This will definitely take some changes in old habits for me. And you know what they say about old habits.

In the past, I’ve subscribed to magazines like Men’s Health for encouragement and inspiration. The articles and suggestions are great—even if every one of them is some variation of “eat less, move more”—but I don’t think that they’re always based in the real world of a dad who may have limited time to exercise, who sometimes eats on the run, who may have to eat other meals around family members’ schedules and tastes, and who’s always tempted by something like Halloween candy, holiday cookies, or birthday cake. I know there are some real guy success stories in those magazines, but following some other guy’s routine from a magazine has never worked for me.

That brings me here. I’m not exactly sure what I’ll do or how it’ll work out, but I am publicly declaring my effort to exercise more and eat healthier. Yeah, I know, that’s still “eat less, move more,” but I’m going to find a way to make it work in my world—in the real world of a dad. I also know I’m not the only dad who needs to get in shape. Care to join the effort? Leave a comment or send an email and maybe even be a contributor to Project X yourself. The one thing I do know is that if I try to do this on my own it probably won’t last.