In the last post my friend a la facebook, Ben, commented that he can't get more than 500 feet without stopping, which genuinely humbles him to the point where he doesn't get very far with exercise. I know. It sucks. Whenever I first started running back in high school, I couldn't run much more than Ben. But I kept at it, day in and day out. Its one of those moments that is burned in your brain and you'll never forget all the tiny details: It was about 4 or 5 in the afternoon, just a few mere hours before the first day of school. I got to the water tower, about a mile and a half from my house, and I wasn't tired. I kept going. I finished running all the way around my house, over 4 miles, and didn't lose my breath. I had come so far from where I'd began, that running farther became easier.  All it takes is that first step out of your house.
I was watching Rosanne today (yeah, I watch it, what of it?) and Dan's high school friend Ziggy showed up and made Dan and Rosie assess their stagnant lives and contrast them of their younger days. I'm about to quote a line of dialogue from Rosanne for motivation, but stick with me, its good:

You don't get dust on the fenders 'til you turn off the engine.

See, pretty good, eh?

As far as my diet is concerned during my sojourn to regular-sized clothing, I've been really hesitant to do much in the way of a diet-diet. That is, I don't want to go overboard with it and get burnt out altogether just because I'm counting the calories in rice cakes. It also really irritates me when people assume a diet will solve everything. Diets are just as much snake oil as diet pills or electronic massage belts that promise to melt the fat away. You want to eat like a self-deprecating rabbit? Go on a diet. You want to change how you look? Exercise, and then possibly complement it with some sort of diet. 

Back in college before I met my wife, I followed a pretty strict diet (at least through the work week):

Sunday through Friday:

Breakfast

-Mini-Wheats with skim milk or

-Oatmeal

Lunch

-Turkey or 

-TurkeyBLT sandwich (microwaved) or

-PB&J

Dinner

-1 cup of brown rice with plum sauce

-1 can of tuna

Saturday:

-All bets are off. 

I want to carry out something similar, but I read this a while back and would like to impose something similar. Basically the game plan is come up with a few options for each meal and snacks, and then lay out the week or next day ahead of time so I don't just tell myself "I've been doing good" or "I can't take it anymore" and eat half a chocolate cake and a full rack of ribs. So for now I'm just trying to eat good, and tomorrow or something this week I'll come up with meal options that I can lay out for weeks at advance so there's no cheating. Basically, as long as I don't eat this, I think I'll be okay.

Ran my 5k route this morning in 42 minutes. It was raining and in the mid 40's, so I dressed appropriately.

I also thought about mugging an old lady and robbing a bank, but thought against it. I ran nonstop for a good 0.9 miles or 1.5K before I started walking, and was pretty much stop and go run-walk for about half a mile before I finished up at full tilt. Considering I'm 260+ lbs. and my shoes were wet and bogged down I think I did ok. Would still like to do better.

Motivation like that is what I'm looking for to keep going with this and not flake out like I've done so many times for two years now. I'll address Ben's questions about diet and getting started on running/exercising later tonight, gotta go to class.

Went for a run today. I took this route today, and according to www.mapmyrun.com it was approx. 2.74 miles, or 4.4 km.

It was okay, I had to stop on the way back, but it was because of my Achilles heel when I'm running. I try to plan my runs out so that I have ample time to let my food digest, and I can do my business before a run. But somehow it almost always seems that a mile into a run I have to poop. Bad. Its like all that movement shakes all the poop in me loose and sends it rattling down like a bunch of loose change in a coin purse down into my sphincter. So I had to stop and walk a bit to quit the epic pains it brought on and it really brought my morale down. Anyhow, I think next run I'm gonna have a go at this run, since it is a calculated 3.19 miles (5.1k). If it works out I think I'll run this for the next few weeks.

Eventually I'd like to get a run going that's 4.32 miles (6.9k), since I calculated my old run I did back in the day and that's what I got.

I think I'm going to take a day off tomorrow so my joints can rest up and heal, since that's what got me a few months ago when I started up running again. That, as well as I don't know if I can squeeze in running with my schedule on Mondays and Wednesdays. Switching gears now, I've come across and been inspired by Ben Davis's blog, which brings me to a topic that I think alot of people can relate to. The first time I lost 100+ lbs., I was alot like Ben; a student with alot of free time, loose capital I could sink into my venture, and took myself and my life to be priority #1. But now I'm married. And a father. And go to school. And work part time. I've got alot on my plate that can't be moved and doesn't leave me with the best schedule to plan yet another life-changing task.
Don't get me wrong, I'm inspired by Ben and his ethic and not trying to discredit him, I'm just saying the card's are more heavily stacked against me this time around. But that'll make the reward that much more sweeter.  

Let me do a little background info on my situation. Back in 2004 I was a junior in high school and was approximately 280 lbs. and grossly obese. I decided I wanted to do something radical with my life. My goal was to make it to the Olympics, and the easiest event to compete in looked like the Winter Olympic event of skeleton. 

Suffice to say in 2 months over summer before my senior year I had lost over 90 lbs. I lost another 20 lbs. or so (total weight loss of 110 lbs, bringing my weight to 170) when I joined cross country, indoor, and outdoor track. I went off to college and stayed in shape at the same weight, trying to get in shape for the Olympics.

Then two and a half years ago I found the love of my life, got married, and had a beautiful daughter. When my wife, Dana, got pregnant I put on alot of sympathy weight. Alot. In a little less than a year I had gained most if not all of my weight. My hands are back to being fat little pickles; my wedding ring looks like its cutting the circulation off to my finger. So if your wondering, that's where to blog title originates.

No more Olympics, but I didn't (and don't) care. All I care about is my family. I've tried to get back in shape, but there's so many excuses: not enough time, being exhausted, my knees hurt all the time now, living in a crappy neighborhood... Bottom line is I need to get my shit together. So whilst shopping at midnight on Black Friday last weed I read an article in Runner's World about writing a blog to keep yourself motivated. I'm giving it a go so we'll see how it goes.

So first run:

Ran for about 1-1.25 miles today. Almost saw a carjacking. I'm going to try and keep the same running distance I kept when I first started running, back in the country. Here's my old route.

 

And here's what I'm gonna try tommorow.

Feels good to run again. Crisp air in your lungs makes every breath feel like your breathing for the first time. Hope it lasts.

It's my first entry so I guess a little introduction is due. My name is Ryan and I am starting this blog as documentation and motivation for myself as I try to reclaim the self-confidence I had three years ago. I am trying to lose 100+ lbs. and get back to the point where I can run a 10k every day.

I'll document my progress and post whats going on in my life. Because I am just that important.

I