Fall Running

I love fall running.

Today reminded me of that. This morning was cool (about 65 when I left the house) without a trace of that oppressive summer humidity. It was a great run!!! There was a breeze!! Awesome!

I love the crispness of the air. I love the leaves scattered on the running trail. I love the cooler temps to move my big body through... although this week I have had several 230's weigh ins... like 239 today... 237.5, 238, etc... can't remember the last time I was in the 230's weight-wise.

But I love fall running.

Today was a great 7-mile run leading up to the Akron 1/2 marathon (Sept 25). It's amazing to me what I have been able to train my body to do. Today's 7 mile run really didn't push me too much. Monday, I ran 10 miles... first time ever in double digits.

By the way... if you would like to receive text message updates about my race in Akron... You can sign up HERE. I have no idea how quickly they will come... but if you want to follow along, feel free to sign up.

So as I head into the last couple of weeks of intense training, I'm loving the early onset of fall!!!

Running and diet update

It's been a while since I've updated everyone on my progress... and since today was a good day, I'll share.

The past couple of weeks have been a struggle. Just when I was starting to hit some respectable distances (5+ miles), I picked up my first (of many I'm sure) injury. I developed a pretty minor one... but irritating one... for my first. I've got some Achilles tendon "irritation."

My Achilles doesn't "hurt." It just feels irritating and irritated. It is more of an issue in the mornings and after running. There has been a little bit of swelling... which I've been fighting with time off (10 days), lower mileage (back down to like 2 and 3 miles), ice (almost every night) and Advil (3 times a day). And today, I pulled a great 3 mile run and didn't feel any Achilles irritation until I was past the 2 mile mark. (Which is better than when I started back... first time, felt it immediately... second, felt it about 1 1/2 miles in... so better).

But today, despite my nagging little issue, I put down a good run. I ran 3.13 miles at a 9m 55s pace. That was good because I was watching the time and trying to get 3 miles in under 30 minutes. So I was pleased. And the weather was awesome today... about 40 degrees (which is awesome for February in Chicago) and sunny... so I felt great.

On the diet front, I've broken through the 246 mark. This morning I weighed in at 243.0. And have been weighing in around the 242-245 marks. My new low weight barrier is 242.0. So... we're making progress.

Still shooting for 200.0 pounds by October 17. Can't wait to get done with this Achilles injury so I can hit the trail with reckless abandon.

Jim

Fat guy running club update... and diet update...

It's been a little while since I've updated my faithful readers on my diet and running plans. So I thought today would be a good day.

Especially since I knocked out my longest run yet today... 4 1/2 miles! (It was a really good run... I felt strong. I ran a path that I had never ran before and it was fun.)

I am currently on track to run my 10k around spring break time. But I have also decided that I'm going to at least run the Columbus, OH Half-Marathon in Columbus, Ohio with my sister on Sunday, October 17, 2010. But who knows... by then I might be ready to run the full marathon... we'll see.

I'm also toying with the idea of running the E.T. Full Moon Midnight Marathon (Area 51 1/2 Marathon (at midnight around Area 51) in August... Yes, there really is a marathon like that. We'll see. I should be ready... but who knows...

On the diet front, I seemed to have run into (pun totally intended) a little wall at the 246 mark. This morning I weighed in at 247.5, the lightest since before the holidays. But I seem to be hovering (annoyingly) around this area. But I am confident that I can push through and break into new ground (245!!!) soon! I have been eating pretty good... but I might need to cut another 200 calories a day to push through. (Just not tonight... it's pizza night in the Clark house!!!)

So... that's where I'm at... running 10-12 miles a week and hanging around the 248 weigh in point! How are you doing with your New Year's resolution to lose weight?

Jim

Diet update... week whatever...

I love this photo...

And after last night's Progressive Dinner, that's exactly what I felt like this morning. So I did... And since it was warm, I ran outside! Which is awesome!!

But this week I crossed into new diet territory. When I was dieting seriously a couple of years ago, the lowest weight that I got to was 246.5. This week I crossed beyond that weight. Tuesday morning I weighed in at 246.0. So I'm dieting into new territory. Now this morning's weight wasn't that good. But yesterday morning I weighed in at 247. That's 31 pounds since the beginning of August.

Feels great!!! Just thought I'd share!!!

Jim

Diet update... and a couple of goals...

Several things have happened lately in my diet world.

First... I jumped in on a 12 week diet contest with Simply Youth Ministry. Doug Fields, Josh Griffin and Matt McGill challenged each other and opened it up to others. So, since I am already dieting, I thought I'd jump in too. There are prizes and sweetness for winning and my thought is that I'm already doing it. So why not be rewarded (possibly) for doing what I'm already doing. (This photo is my official weigh in photo.)

Second, Jackie gave me a challenge on Wednesday. She bought me a sweet Spyder coat and matching ski pants back in August for Christmas (which I am eagerly waiting for!!!). I was joking with her the other day about buying me an Underarmor Coat too. She said... "If you can lose 50 more pounds and get to 199, I'll buy you any coat you want..." I said... "You're on!!!" My goal is to get to 199 anyway. And I'm planning to be there before October 17, 2010 (when I run the Columbus, Ohio 1/2 marathon).

So... there's a couple of diet updates...
And by the way... I weighed in this morning at 247.5!!!!! That's 30.5 pounds since the first of August and 4 pounds down from yesterday. It's also only 1 pound from my lightest weight since college 10 years ago. My lightest college weight was 240 and I'll be there soon!

Jim

Diet update... week 13

The last three days have been great diet days with new low weigh-ins each day. Today I'm officially 13 weeks into my diet and weighed in this morning at 252.0.

That's 26 pounds since August 8th!!!

Overall my runs have been getting faster and better as well. With the Turkey Trot only a couple of weeks away, I need them to keep getting better.

But on the whole, the diet is going well. And I'm only 6 pounds away from my all-time-low-weight of 246.0 pounds!!! Maybe I'll get close next week. Oh wait... my wife is making stroganoff (sp?) for dinner... maybe I won't...

Jim

Diet update... week 12

It's officially week 12 of my current diet. And I'm doing pretty well. This morning I turned in a weight that was only a 1/2 pound from my lowest.

At this point, I'm weighing in at 254.5 pounds... down from 278.0 pounds 12 weeks ago. (If you're not good with math like me... and I had to grab a calculator... that's 23.5 half pounds in 12 weeks.) That's pretty good... about 2 pounds a week.

Overall... I always wish that it would go faster. But I also recognize that if I lose too much too fast, it will just come back. So we'll take what we can get.

Jim

Diet Update... week 8

I haven't blogged about my diet lately. For those who are wondering, I'm still working on it.

The month of September has been tough... both on the blogging and on the diet. It started off with 10 days in Caldwell at both of my grandparents' funerals. That was hard on the diet because Mom likes to cook and it's good. So the temptation was always to eat more.

But I'm back on track. And have been pretty good on track the rest of the month. In fact, this morning (after my 2.5 mile run) I weighed in at 260.0. That's a grand total of 18 pounds lost in 8 weeks.

So... so far... so good...
Now let's get rid of another 18 pounds...

Jim

diet update... week 2

Well...
I'm officially two weeks into this current diet. And at this point, I'm happy to say that this morning, I am:



-268.0 pounds


That's officially down 10 pounds from when I started 2 weeks ago (first post HERE). That's not great... but it's still not bad. The food has been pretty good and so far I'm sticking with it.

Although it would be great to post next week another 10 pounds off...

Jim

Diet... Week 1

Week 1 of the diet is complete. Although I don't really feel like this was a good first week for the diet.

But first... the number. At the end of week 1, I've lost 7.5 pounds! Sweet!! But more than that, I feel pretty good about how I feel.

I don't think though that this was a first good week. With me having school this week and being in Lincoln for a couple of days, I was cruising along and then school hit. Which involved two fast food meals and 1 chinese lunch (not buffet... just lunch). So I felt that the first week number could have been better if that hadn't happened.

But I feel good.
I like the eating portions on this diet. Some of the diets that I've been on it's felt like the lunch portion was a leaf of lettuce... and that's no good. But this one I actually feel like I'm eating something...

So that's good.

Watch next week for next week's updated number and total!

Jim

Starting the diet... again...

This summer has been crazy...

If you don't think so, just read some of the posts from the past couple of months. And with all the traveling that I did in the spring, it wasn't much better. Usually summer is the big time for me to hit the diet trail. My goal usually is to lose more than I put on over the winter. But that just hasn't happened with all my traveling (CIY... camp... Cedar Point... vacation... etc... etc...).

So today, we are starting the diet again... (I'm 32 years old and I think I've started about that many diets). My wife says that I will like this one... but I'm thinking that if I liked it, she wouldn't have to call it a diet.

But we'll see what happens.

I don't have a current weight to start off because I haven't been on the scale yet today. But I will later and I'll edit in the weight (_278.0_).

Here we go again.

Jim

Back on the diet...

Well...
It's been almost 8 months since I was seriously on a diet. For those of you who are regular readers, you'll be reminded that last year I lost close to 50 pounds. I've put a few back on over the school year. My lowest weigh in was 247.5 back in September... THIS was the last post on the subject.
This morning I weighed in at 260.0. So, not too bad for a winter of schoolwork and horrible eating. But we're back on officially this morning. I have salad to look forward to at lunch today... which makes me almost want to just skip lunch... but I won't.

I'm heading for 200 pounds. Hopefully I will be able to get down to about 220 before school starts back up in late August. School is really hard on my diet. And then we can finish off the last 20 pounds in the fall.

We'll see.

Then I walk into the office this morning. Now, let me provide a little context for you. Today is Thursday. This morning I went to my weekly Bible Study at Panera Bread... where I have been used to having a bagel (or at least what they call a bagel...) with cream cheese and usually a breakfast sandwich. This morning I had neither. Just a coffee since I had eaten breakfast before I went in. I get to the office about 8:30 am and what do I find... a plate of brownies sitting in front of the door... ugh!

But so far so good... but it's only been 2 hours... but I've stayed out of them. We'll see if we can make it. Maybe I'll grab them on the way out and hide them somewhere where I don't have to see them...

Jim

6 inches and 52 pounds!!!

This morning Jackie and I went out and did our little "day-off-walk-in-the-morning-thing" that we usually do on my days off.

I love it.

When we got back, we did our little work out and then before breakfast, I grabbed the measuring tape to check out my diet progress.

At this point...
I've lost 52 pounds...
And 6 inches!!!!

That's awesome...

Just 11 more inches to go!!! (ugh!)

Jim

diet update!!!!

This morning was a great morning...

Jackie and I got up and went for an early morning walk... then I got back... grabbed a shower...

Before I hit the shower, I weighed in...

250.0!!!!!!

That's an all new low!!!! That's 50 pounds since the beginning of 2007!!!

Jim

Diet Update... 257!!

Jackie and I went out on a date tonight. It was a great time. We went shopping... we had dinner... finished it off with a bit of ice cream.

But in the midst of our shopping, we stopped at Old Navy... one of my favorite places to buy clothes... and they were having a great deal on jeans. $20!

So I grabbed a couple of pair... 38w by 32L.

Before I started the diet... I was wearing 44w by 32L!!!!

Jim

Diet Update!

As mentioned below... in the Vacation Randomness... I gave a brief diet update.

But I thought I would take a second an give a little better diet update and set out the next diet goal.

This morning, I was excited to get on the scale and see 260.5. The Saturday before I left, I weighed in at 261.5. So, over the course of the week, I lost a pound... chalk that up to morning walks... golf... or whatever. Regardless, I ate terrible all week... but still managed to maintain.

So, needless to say... I was pumped.

Now, it is 43 days before I go to the "Gathering" at Saddleback Church in Orange County... Jackie and I are planning to spend a little vacation time in San Francisco before we come home. And my plan to be weighing at at 240.0 before leaving. That's down 20 pounds.

It's my goal... and I'm hoping to make it!!!

Jim

Diet update!!!

This morning...

259.5!!!!!!!!!!

That's a grand total of 40.5 pounds since January 2007. (Now I'm going to a pizza buffet bar called Cici's for lunch and then to the Apple Store!!!)

Jim

Diet update...

Several people this morning made mention of the weight that I've lost. I'm not sure if they are reading my blog and so they knew to ask... or if it is just becoming fairly noticeable...

Either way... It's nice!!!

Officially this morning, my weight loss since January 2007 is 36 pounds. My hope is to be up to 45 pounds... or down to 255 before vacation on July 28th.

We'll see what happens.

But it feels good.

Jim