Where to start? Ok, let's just start at the beginning... June 2011...
There I sat in the front of a Lululemon, waiting for some friends who could actually fit in these cool, lulelemon clothes. "This sucks." I thought, "They have no clothes for someone like me!"
Yeah... nothing for someone about 25 pounds too heavy and someone who hadn't worked out in ... like forever.
Oh, I had shed a few pounds already in the prior months - my extra winter weight - but I still didn't feel great about myself. Little moments of personal-body disappointment had been nagging at me all spring. My sister-in-law had been running marathons. I wished I could just get off the couch.
A couple nights before the lululemon moment, I had watched a P90X commercial in the late night... wishing for the ripped-ness of the spokesperson, Tony Horton who's 52. As I turned off the TV and the light out, I thought, "... probably some of the P90X infomercial is exaggerated, but even if I could get close... be the best "me" I can be (as Tim Ferris says)... Wouldn't that would be awesome?"
Being 40 and thinking that "It's all downhill from here." just plain sucks.
A couple days later was Father's Day. I studied the calendar... 90 days from here was about September 11th. Wouldn't it be awesome if I could end the summer looking better and feeling great?
I thought of my wife Valerie and our young girls who were all excellent runners.
Wouldn't it be cool if I could actually run the 800M or 1500M with them without dying on the track? Do I really want my hockey-playing son to remember his Dad as always on the sidelines?
So it began.
It wasn't a big announcement. Confetti didn't drop out of the sky. Just a mind shift.
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I have a picture burned in my mind - It's of a tree a couple blocks from our house.
That's about where I felt like my lungs were going to explode out of my mouth the first morning... and second... and third....
MapMyRUN says that's about 200 meters.
I pushed on... "One foot, then next foot."
Soon during runs it was "Ok, I can make it to that car up ahead."
I would cajol myself in between huffs, "I'll run as far as I can... then walk to the end of the block and start again."
I didn't realize at first this was interval training but it seemed to work. Thankfully, an IPhone app called Runtrainer was suggested to me by my sister-in-law, Christa. (Couch-to-5K is also a popular one...) This app allows you to listen to your favourite music and every once in a while, automatically audibly cues you to walk or run. I had the male voice turned on (I named him "Coach Sven"). Thanks Sven.
You can also download plans if you don't have an IPhone... Here's a good help - 0 to 5K plan.)
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Throughout my journey in exercising again, I have been studying Tim Ferris' The Four Hour Body : an uncommon guide to rapid fat-loss, incredible sex, and becoming superhuman which has given me a somewhat simple nutrition program to follow. I can't say I have followed it to a "T" but I am trying to stick to his slow-carb diet and have enjoyed the chapters that help me understand the mechanics of weight loss and exercise.
Here's the main chapter on what to eat. I found the other info is just a bonus... Seriously, I also liked Tim's encouragement to measure. I have grown a passion for analyzing Google Advertising return-on-investment so tracking success was an exciting pleasure and encouragement! (Oh, and I liked his non-negotiable cheat day.)
Another tool I have relied on is MyFitnessPal, to count true caloric intake. This has helped immensely to understand portion sizes and what I am really ingesting. You can use the online daily log for free and I really like the IPhone app where you can barcode-scan the food you are eating to add it to the daily list.
When I started this adventure, I was 206 lbs. My 90 Day goal was pulled out of the air at 185 lbs. I just figured I could stand to lose 20 lbs and it was somewhat achievable. Along the way I have come to ascribe to Tim's "body recomposition" mantra and know that I want to lose fat and gain muscle. The number I weigh isn't the most important thing.
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Fast forward to October 16th, 2011.
Wow! I can't believe it! I actually ran a 5K without dying!
Running is a ton of fun now. I am down almost 15lbs and feeling great.
I am just now working on planning regular running of doing say 10 - 15 K a week and completing some strength training a couple times a week as well. I would love to do a 10K next spring. Maybe a marathon by 2013!
(Shout out to Angie and Trevor of Marathon Training Academy. Their podcasts are awesome inspiration and good for all levels of runners - from 5K'ers to Ultra-Marathoners. Their MTA facebook community is also a regular source of encouragement for me as you read from so many people changing their lives with running. On FB, I have also enjoyed Love to Run, Slow is the New Fast and many others (I am trying to fill my mind with positive running thoughts!)
If you are considering getting in shape I have to say if I can do it - YOU CAN TOO!
Now I have a further goal... I really would love to be in better shape at 50 than I was at 40. Watch your back Tony Horton!
Rodney
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Update April 2012
Wow! Ran my first 10K at the Forest City Road Races
For Nostalgia... Back from the brink... circa March 2011
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Update January 1, 2013
My early Christmas present/New Year gift to myself was registering for the Forest City Road Races Half Marathon. Not a "yay me". 'Thought I would share this to encourage you all if a healthier year is what you desire!
I started running (seriously started from a base of zero or a place of "no way, I hate running") in June of 2011. My progress is not winning records for speed of progression but in our world of watching people in Biggest Loser seasons go from large to fit in a couple months, I think we all expect it to be quick and easy. Not so when life still needs to happen.
I have found a ton of inspiration along the way. It includes a number of apps and books (some mentioned above...).
Also include...
Facebook pages (Awesome way to fill your day with motivation)
http://www.facebook.com/RunnersWorld
http://www.facebook.com/sportsmotivation2
http://www.facebook.com/OzPinoyMotivation
http://www.facebook.com/eatcleandiet
http://www.facebook.com/chalene
http://www.facebook.com/benefitsofgiving
http://www.facebook.com/RunTheEdge
http://www.facebook.com/THEHIPHOPPREACHER
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Running-Faith/226925054006979
And my IPhone running app RunKeeper. This is excellent and I recently downloaded their Half Marathon training which gives you run plans and notices. A REALLY great app.
Here's to an amazing (and healthy) 2013!
Rodney