Challenge for next year

So I have a challenge for myself .  They have this annual event called "ReAlliety Challenge". Its 3.5 miles of obstacle course, that includes climbing, crawling, jumping, etc.  Here check it out for yourself.

http://www.reallietychallenge.com/


Well I have been pretty good at getting my 2 miles in.  I walk most mornings 1 mile (5-6 days/week), and again after supper.  I got Kelly walking with me in the evening.  She doesn't want to go the full mile but she is close.  I don't think it will be long before I coax her along.

Finding time to go to the gym has been hard still.  I need to make more of an effort, but I hit the office in the morning and BAM!! its 5pm.  I think I will start some weight training at the house after my morning walks.  A good dumb bell routine will add another 20 min of workout time in the morning.  At least 3 days of the week do the following...

      Back & Bicep
      Chest & Triceps
      Legs & Shoulder

Nothing to extreme, 3 sets / 10 reps,

Thought about a personal trainer for a month or so to get me into a routine  / habit.

Going to pull out the bike and start riding it on the weekends.  A friend of mines father started riding his bike to work (15 miles) and lost 40 pounds.  I don't think I am ready to ride the bike to the office just yet.  But with some training and planning it would be neat to do it a couple of times.

Next year I want to do this! I may not be the fastest, but I will participate, I will complete it.  I will probably make an ERS team from the office and sponsor anyone who wants to join me!!



Alcohol consumption has been cut in half. Portion control by measuring is a big contributing factor. Looking to remove my daily after work / before supper cocktail Monday - Thursday  Keep it to a couple of glasses of wine and a Scotch (or two).  Friday and Saturday is still party on!

Between the reduced alcohol and the increased physical activity I figure I have at least 500 calories a day that I have removed.

The garden is in transition. Rain is killing me at this point.  I have things I got to get planted and the rain is just every day lately. Hopefully I will have some pictures soon.  I will be working on the chicken coop and pen this month.  My start a blog ( More Public) called "Farmer Browns Back Yard". Lots of pictures of what is growing and going on in the back yard.  Maybe do some healthy cooking from the garden.


Ok so to close this blog here are my recent numbers.

Weight 232      Blood Sugar 138          BP 136/87        Pulse 54    

1 year later.... and nothing

Well it is one year latter and nothing.  My weight is now 237 and my doctor is treating me as pre-diabetic. I did not follows last years plan.  In fact, when I got back I went back into my bad habits.  I worked out here and there but didn't follow any plan.

Last visit,  the doctor basically said I had type II Diabetes but I could control my numbers with the right diet and medication.  Also said that I could loose about 30 pounds and exercise more and that would really help.

Here are my numbers:

Wt  237,  BP  140/95 pls 60,   A1C 7.74 ( needs to be under 7 or about 6), Liver enzymes were in the normal range ( Last few times they were above normal probably from drinking to much).

The doctor has just put me Januvia for high blood sugar.  I take medications for high blood pressure, and cholesterol.

I asked for a Testosterone test.  It came back low.  I know if I am going to have good exercise results I will need some testosterone.  So had Doc prescribe me a testosterone topical cream that a local compound pharmacist makes.    

I did not follow through with this Blog so that I could help myself keep on track! That will change.

SO...........I AM COMMITTED!  I MUST CHANGE !  I MUST LOOSE WEIGHT AND MAKE BETTER FOOD AND DRINK CHOICES!..........AND I WILL!!!!!

PLAN:  Exercise more, eat low carb / high protein, drink less alcohol.


Tomorrow will be the first day of the rest of my life! and the rest of my life will thank me for it!

Tomorrow starts my 3 week Jump Start:  This will be a period where I get into good habits.  Eating and drinking will change. My body will be getting conditioned for more intense workouts.  I have a trip to Panama City, Panama next week.  I will try to keep it all in moderation and exercise doing something while gone.I will weigh in before I leave and then again after.  I will log my exercise if I can remember how to get on this blog from my phone.

March 8th I will be 5-10 pounds lighter and ready to loose another 10 pounds.  I should have a good report on my garden, and the foods I will be growing. I will be publishing my plan for the next 4 weeks to explain the foods I will be eating and when. I will and explain my exercise and adventure plan.


My goal is.......
Get my blood sugar levels in a normal range.
Lower my blood pressure
Loose 30 pounds
.................. by December 2015!!!!

I will not just hit the gym and eat diet food.  I will grow healthy vegetables, cook and eat healthy meals, and have a more active life by exercising and going on adventures.

1st day of the year.....and the rest of my life

Just got home from holiday travels in Florida on the 30th. As you can see from my previous post, I was wanting to come home at least weighing as much or less than I did when I left.  Here was the challenge I posted....

MY CHALLENGE
Simple, come home and weigh no more than when I left. If possible weigh less!  I weighed in at 232 the day before I left. We will arrive back home on December 30th.

Moderation and walking will be my keys. Food & drink: Keep carbs low, lots of vegetables.
Walking: If not everyday every other day walk 1.5 to 2 miles.


So how did I do?..... Not so good, not so bad!

I weighed my self the morning of the 31st and I was 233.5. A whole pond and a half.  Not bad when I usually come home 5 to 7 pounds heavier.

Moderation....HAha throw that out the door!  I drank way to much, ate more than I should, and stayed up to late most every night

I did walk. Not like my plan was written, but I did get 1.5 to 2 miles a couple of times at some of the stops.



Now here we are, January 1st, 2014.  HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

After today new eating goals and fitness goals will go into place. Weight loss will occur and this time next year I will have lost 30 pounds or more. 

Today after the traditional cabbage and black eyed peas it will be the last time I consciously put any food carbs past my lips.  Alcohol in moderation and with restraint will be needed. 

I have been looking at a Paleo style of eating.  I like this, as it is close to the Adkins diet that I was on many years back.  Meat and vegetable, stay away from the starches and carbohydrates I've copied and pasted some Paleo info here:

It is based on the presumed ancient diet of wild plants and animals that various hominid species habitually consumed during the Paleolithic era.

Centered on commonly available modern foods, the contemporary "Paleolithic diet" consists mainly of fish, grass-fed pasture raised meats, eggs, vegetables, fruit, fungi, roots, and nuts, and excludes grains, legumes, dairy products, potatoes, refined salt, refined sugar, and processed oils.^[3][4]

Generally calories in calories out.  So I will need to decrease the amount of food I consume and increase the physical activities.

In this blog I will write about food and recipes  workouts, other fun physical activities, rants, and raves. I will post here my stats showing current weight,  blood pressure, and my heath as well. There will be pictures of me and my progress, food and some of the fun things I do.

This is me in Roatan Bay, Honduras

while on a cruse in 2012

I weighed 205 there

I will also talk about the setbacks and the bad days.  We know all they are going to happen. 

I am ready to start this year and document  My Adventure to Better Health, Fitness, and Weight Loss.

Season of Indulgence Challenge

Well the hardest part of the holiday season is to eat right and get exersize. The period between Thanksgiving and Christmas and into New Year's day is typically the season of over indulgence. Sweets and carbs abound, drinks and good cheer all around, platters of foods that are overflowing. It would almost seem disrespectful not to partake.

My problem is I started this journey December 1, right in the middle of the "season of indulgence". December 12 we left to go to Florida for the holiday. Sounds good laying on the beach for a couple weeks and doing nothing. However or trip has a lot of driving involved. When we land in Florida we have and agenda that will take us to see my Son, Kelly's God child and her baby, Kelly's Mom, my Mom and a family reunion. The reunion is a one day thing but all the rest we roam like gypsy staying several days then driving several hours to the next stop. Each stop involves eating, drinking, and socializing.

MY CHALLENGE
Simple, come home and weigh no more than when I left. If possible weigh less!  I weighed in at 232 the day before I left. We will arrive back home on December 30th.

Moderation and walking will be my keys. Food & drink: Keep carbs low, lots of vegetables.
Walking: If not everyday every other day walk 1.5 to 2 miles.

Hello

Hello my name is Neil. I have decided to start this blog to journal my trip to a new lifestyle.

I am overweight and not in in good shape fitness wise. My eating, drinking, and siting around lifestyle has caused me to have high blood pressure and stress.

SO I am on a journey to a better life through eating better, getting more exercise and loosing the fat. I was going to start this at the first of the year but, December 1, 2013 I said to myself why not now. So this is when I started.

A LITTLE ABOUT ME
I am, at this writing, days before my 46th birthday. I love to cook and eat food. I enjoy great scotches and good wine. I love to fish, sail, paddle board, and anything that is out doors. I keep a vegetable garden most seasons.

My work is the blame for most of my woes. I am a self proclaimed workaholic.  My wife and I own an environmental services company.  I used to work in the field when we started. Now since the company has grown to a 3 mil, 22 employee company I find myself behind the desk 8-12 hours a day.

In 2007 I was down to 170 after being 200 pounds a couple of years before. I followed an Atkins style of low carb lifestyle. Then the hurricanes Katrina and Rita came and so did the bad eating and drinking


MY STATS
I am 5 foot 5 inches
Weight: 232
BP 150/98 (doc just upped meds)