I'm Back and in for the long haul.

Yeah its been forever sense i updated this blog.  How am I doing?  Well i have been better.  I turned 40 this year which was hard to swallow. Had a really rocky time in my marriage for 6 months or so and a recent rash of colds/flus that have been going through my house hold.  Someone essentially was sick in my house for months in a row (so tons of stress).  I ended up in the Dr's office 3 or 4 times trying to figure out what was going on with me.  At one point i almost passed out while driving down the freeway.  Anyway i have had blood tests, abdominal CT scan, Ultrasound, EKG, and a heart rhythm recording device.  Thus far they have found nothing really wrong with me which i guess is good, at least nothing that's not fixable with good nutrition, exercise, rest, and less stress ( elevated BP, cholesterol, and a bit of fat on my liver). They put me on Doxycycline (antibiotic) for what they thought was a sinus infection.  The antibiotic messed me up worse and made me think i had diabetes or something worse (the side effects for me were horrid).  My resting heart rate is good (in the 60s) but if i do even what i would consider moderate exercise it shoots up to 140s bpm and higher.  I talked to my Dr about it and he gave me the go ahead to continue exercising.  I still don't feel 100% but i seem to feel more normal than not which is good.  My son caught influenza A the Tuesday before Christmas and my wife caught it from him.  So we spent the majority of the entire holiday week cooped up in the house.  We made the best of things and I think the boys still had a great holiday (they are 6 and 9 now).  So we are hoping to have a much healthier 2015.  

Right now I am sitting at 235 lbs on my 6ft frame, not good at all.  I feel like my motivation is still the same and that this blog still captures my goals and whats important to me.  I still for the most part just want to be healthy and to be here for my kids and wife.  I still want to be able to do the active things I love like hiking, skiing, sports, travel etc etc..  Might as well have fun while your living right.  So i figured i would pick back up blogging as it helped me stay motivated in the past and was kind of a place i could vent my frustrations or success and not feel that judged.  

Given i am concerned with my heart rate I decided to get myself a new heart rate monitor/fitness tracker.  I picked up a Mio Fuse at my local REI.  

I was talking to one of my good friends about fitness (he is a triathlete and has always been uber fit).  He is very into heart rate training and says its really the only way to tell what kind of cardiovascular health you are in.  He says to always workout for time and HR and that over time your heart rate should be lower doing the same workout and with that you know you have increased cardiovascular health and fitness.  Anyway, i have looked back at previous times i have lost weight and truthfully i think a lot of the time i was over training/under eating.   Not that it was hurting me or stopping progress but I assume it slowed me down.  So even though i feel like my workouts are weak right now (not breathing hard or sweating profusely) my heart rate says i am working pretty hard.  So with that said I think i will focus on heart rate training and i think with time it will give me the weight loss and ability to do the things i want in life.  Here is my first 45 min workout 

Well this has turned into a super long post but I guess that happens when almost 2 years goes by.  I am planning on updating my goals etc and talking about them more.  Here's to me getting back to learning to live and finding a different lifestyle that leaves me healthier, lighter, and around for a long time to come.  

Still Kicking

Well Dave called me out on wanting a new post, yes I’m still alive and battling the bulge.  I am still reading posts when people post.  I am 9 weeks into a new round of p90x (yeah still kicking that dead horse).  It just seems to have the right amount of weights and cardio for me to get back going and its simple to follow having it laid out for you.  Diet has been better overall but I haven’t been super strict with it like I should be if I want to see really good results.  I am down about 15 lbs, feeling stronger again and my pants and shirts are fitting a little better again.  Definitely with a little success comes more motivation.  I am still working out with the same guy I have worked out with in the past, he is down 40lbs and getting close to where he wants to be.  That also helps motivate me.  Most of the other peoples blogs I follow have gotten quite too (so if you read this get to posting, I want to know how you’re doing).  We are finally starting to get some spring weather here in the PNW and I am loving it.  Makes a guy want to get out and move in the sunshine.  Hope this finds everyone happy and doing well!  

Screwed

Well the last week and a half or so we have had a nasty cold going though the house.  Guess who caught it? yes, me....  Its cost me several workouts and a 1.5 days off work.  Its amazing how the kids go back to school then the colds and flus start.  Luckily I got my yearly flu shot already (however sometimes I wonder if that's what makes me sick).  So I didn't weigh myself today as I know it wouldn't be a good thing.  Going to try and get in a stationary bike ride tonight just to keep stuff moving.  Time to buck back up and get after it.

Small Victories

WI: 238.4

Well I worked pretty hard the majority of this week to get that number up top.  My weekend wasn't great diet wise due to being out camping and meal sharing some.  During the week though my diet has been very good and I have been hitting my workouts like clockwork.  I was a little nervous about my number before stepping on the scale this morning, wondering if I had done enough.  Needless to say I was pretty happy with what I saw.  Its nothing crazy but I get to mark that little goal off my list which feels pretty darn good (even though it was late) its the small victories that keep me going and motivated.  I can tell my body is still in the early stages of workout fatigue.  I am pretty much sore all the time and I have had many moments where I was close to puking after pushing it to hard.  I have this memory of being able to go balls to the walls but in my current condition my body says are you freaking crazy.  I keep telling myself it will get easier as it always does and I will be less sore.

I cant believe next week I turn 38.  Time flies really fast as does ones youth, so if your reading this and your young enjoy it and use it to your best potential.  Don't squander it being overweight and unhealthy cause it just gets harder.  I know I am not a crypt keeper but I am super thankful that I am still able bodied and willing to exercise and be physical.  My wife is getting me a set of golf clubs for my bday.  I have always wanted to golf (tried a few times) and was horrible at it.  Luckily my brother in law is a golf pro and said he would give me lessons and build me some custom clubs.  So hopefully with his professional help and practice I will be able to hit that stupid little white ball.  Too many years of softball has made my swing (slice) horrible.  

Life is good, seize the day!

Pissed Off at Myself

WI: 240.5

Well the number pretty much speaks for itself and shows the effort I put in this last week.  I am feeling a little like the cat on the right in the pic.  I missed my first short term goal which should have been my easiest.  I thought about re-assigning dates to my goals but at this point what good does that do? I will mark that bitch off by next Wednesday come hell or high water.  Late is better than just saying F it.  I know for me to start the wheels rolling its all coming down to getting my diet on track.  Its definitely been better at times but I am still letting to much crap sneak in.  I am moving in the right direction but not fast enough in my opinion, so time to kick it up a notch.  We did have a really great long weekend up north in Seattle with some good friends.  However with that comes social drinking and eating which has always been my achilles heel.  So too much garbage food and not enough moving caused this weeks missed goal.  This coming weekend we are going to go camping with my parents.  We have already meal planned and the food we are having is pretty solid.  If I can get some good hikes in etc I should be doing pretty good.  I did however get in my 4 workouts last week... but as we all know you cant out train a bad diet.

Another thing that has been in the for front of my mind is pictures...  The main bad point is I don't want to be in them.  Yet I love pictures, looking at them, and taking them.  They are so powerful in remembering wonderful times in your life.  The last time I struggled to get below 200 I actually didn't mind seeing pictures of myself.  Recently a few pics of me have popped up and I hardly recognized myself and I am really ashamed at what I see.  I look very unhealthy, un-kept, and bloated (not the first impression I want to give).  Truthfully when I look in the mirror I don't see that person, yes I still see a fat guy but not that big of a guy.  I am starting to keep a file with these types of pictures to help remind myself what I truly look like.  It will be nice to be ok with being in pictures again.

This week is going to be a good one!

Weeks Fly By

WI: 240.5

The weight is going in the right direction but thus far I know I have allot more I can commit to this journey.  I only hit 3 out of the 4 workouts last week that I wanted to.  My eating has definitely been better and more mindful but still lots of room to improve there too.   Celebrated a wonderful 13 years being married to my wife this last weekend.  Cant believe how fast it has gone by.

This week my dad, one of the best men I know finally gets to retire ( at 65yo ).  They are having a big retirement party for him tomorrow and I am smoking/BBQ'n about 30 pounds of pulled pork.  I am super happy for my dad as he deserves it so very much.  Then on Friday we are traveling up to Seattle to see some friends for the long holiday weekend.

The plan for the week is 4 workouts and I need to hit my first mini weight loss goal of sub 240 in the next 3 days.  At only a half a pound I think its doable.  Will be nice to get that first goal crossed off.  I know food is going to be kind of tuff this coming weekend. So the goal there is to minimize bad choices as much as possible and use portion control to keep bad as small as possible.

My wife and her friend have committed to each other to train for a 5k.  They are starting a couch to 5k program this coming month in early September.  Of course I told them I am in for husband support and that I will do the 5k with them, her friends husband also said he would do it too.  So looks like I am going to be strapping back on the running shoes and pounding the pavement.  Nothing like running to spur some weight loss.

Until next time....  

Slow Go

WI: 242

Well I didn't get any ground breaking weight loss done this last week.  I did get 3 workouts in and several days of good eating done.

Couple Friends doing back flips

Last weekend I had a father son camp trip with my oldest son down at Lake Billy Chinnook.  We had a really nice time and spent a ton of time on the water.  As always this time reminded me why I want to be in better shape because I was by far the fattest dad there out of 5 families.  This always makes me reflect on my ultimate goal of being able to take my shirt off in public and feel alright about it.

This coming weekend we are celebrating my wife and I's 13 year marriage anniversary.  My folks are taking the boys for the night and we are going to stay the evening over in Portland.  I am sure there will be a drink or two and some yummy food but I am going to try to minimalize the damage.

I updated my goals on the right side bar.  It is somewhat aggressive at 1.5 lbs a week but I believe doable.  My short term goal of sub 240 is starting to loom so I need to have a good last couple weeks of August.  This week ( wed to wed ) I am going to hit 4 workouts at least and 6 good days of eating.    

Another Year Down - Jumping Back In.

Its hard to even know where to start in terms of blogging again.  I guess I should start with coming clean about where I am fitness wise as that is what this blog has always been about.  I am sitting here typing at 243 which is right at my heaviest.  This seems to be where my body is happiest weight wise when you take exercise out of the equation and eat/drink whatever I want.  I guess I should be happy that my body doesn't seem to want to go any higher than that.  The other bad part about weighing 243 in this body is high bp and cholesterol come with it.  So being this weight is not good for me mentally or physically and lets face it i'm not getting any younger which doesn't help either.  Most importantly I am not looking to blog a pity party because besides being plump my life is really good.  I have a wonderful wife, 2 awesome boys, a good secure job/income, wonderful friends and family, nice home and toys, and am relatively healthy at this point (nothing stopping me physically).

Its hard for me to want to jump back in because I have been down this path 3 times before.  You can see 2 of my trips from the 240s to the 190s in the archives on the side bar.  I have made mention of this before as it seems to be the evil circle I am stuck in.  I know that with my genetics and history I have to pretty much workout most days and continually watch what I eat.  Its just the way it has to be for me to succeed and remain healthy and at a healthy weight.  One thing that has always bugged me is I have never met my ultimate goal since starting this blog back in 2007.  My blogger name of Ripx180 was created for the strict purpose of me wanting to get into the 180s weight wise.  My past two attempts made the low 190s but never did I become Ripx180.  Another part of me doesn't want to bore readers with another failed attempt, thinking you are all thinking "do I have to read this again.....".  But I know this is more about what I need and that this blog is a place for me to vent/unload whats going on in my struggle with fat.  Hopefully along the way I will motivate or inspire those reading, and possibly make some online friends.  

With that being said I am going to commit to blogging at least once a week.  I would love to get back to having a strong community of online health conscious bloggers helping one another stay motivated and focused.  Give me a comment or a heads up if you want another reader on your blog.

Also wanted to send a shout out to David at http://there-is-no-finish-line.blogspot.com/ for kicking fats ass and for helping keep me motivated through his success, drive, and consistency in doing what I want to do.  Keep leading the way David!

Its a Start

Well last week was definitely not perfect but I think it was a step in the right direction. I got 3 workouts in and several days of descent eating. Had some bad meals too and drank to much booze over the weekend. I am hoping I got threw the first workouts soreness where you feel like your body has been through a war. This week my goal is to hit at least 4 workouts and have at least that many days of good eating. I guess that wont get the wonderful fast results but at this point I am trying to build some momentum. I will try to report in again in the next few days to say how things are going.

Ripx180 Reloaded

Well I am hoping this is a start to a better me. Had a good day yesterday both diet and exercise wise. I got on the scale yesterday morning and it made me so sad and mad at myself. I have really let myself slide once again. So pretty much starting at square one just a few years older. Vicious cycle folks if you ask me. Anyway my wife and I are doing some ole school P90 videos to get broke back in. At this point I physically cannot do p90x and not feel like I am going to die. I am hoping to do P90 for 1 or 2 months and then move back up to the harder P90X. Not happy with how I feel or what I see in the mirror. I hope this time around its the real deal and not just another false start that results in a DQ and extra pounds. Wish me luck...

3 Years Ago

It all started with a few words from a 11 year old. We were playing volleyball at the annual 4th party and I jumped up to make a block against my brother in law. I sprung up and position wise I was right where I needed to be but the ball glanced off my finger tips just out of my reach. When I came back down I was feeling a little dejected and this 11 year old looks at me and says "3 years ago". Pretty much 3 years ago I would have made that block. I know we were all just kind of trash talking but I started thinking about it and he is right. 3 years ago i would have stuffed that. 3 years ago I was 20 pounds lighter, and 3 years ago I was on the south side of 35. Truth be told I don't think it has anything to do with my age, it has everything to do with me letting my weight and fitness slide. This morning as I type this my left ankle feels like its one fused bone and my right knee feels really weak and sore. Those are the nagging pains, the entire rest of my body feels like its been through a war too. So I guess its a combination of a sore aging body and a 11 years old words that has driven me to post this. I don't know if this is the wake up call I need or just another bump in the road. I want to get back to feeling better mentally and physically about myself. The one thing I have stayed true to is my pushing change resolution. The goatee has not come back even though I have wanted it to and I think my wife likes it too. I told her that I promised myself I wouldn't grow it back unless I was sub 200 and she is supportive. Its not much but to me its a little victory. The soreness and lack of performance in our annual volleyball game hopefully lit a spark.... only time will tell.

Pushing Change.

Well I have been rocking the 90s goatee for the last 15 years cutting it off on occasion to only grow it back shortly after. Well yesterday I decided it was time for a change and chopped it off making myself a little promise. For many of those 15 years I have been hiding my fat chin behind it using it's look to elongate my face. My promise to myself was I will not grow it back until I am back in Onederland and I plan to stick to that. If you cant give yourself your own word and stick to it than how good is your word? Its time to get back in and start pushing back.

I Got a Whole Lot of Nothing....

Well the last few weeks have been pretty much a wash. Haven't been hitting my workouts and my diet has been good off and on. Thought I had found the eye of the tiger but woke up one day with the eye of the sloth.

Well this last wed I had my annual physical. Doc says "looks like you have put on some weight". I agree and he asks why? Pretty much tell him that my diet has gotten lax and that I haven't been working out like I was. Anyway he goes into the usual I am not a nutritionist run down of what I should be eating and that I need to get more exercise. I agree and he tells me my blood pressure is up and that he would like to see it down where it was last year. Which turns back to diet and exercise talk. I am also supposed to go get a blood draw for test too and i am afraid of what that might say too. With that all being said I know what needs to be done but I am having a hard time putting it into motion. I think allot of people are struggling with this exact same thing. I mentally feel like I am missing out on something if I cant eat what other people are eating or drink beers with my buddies. So much in my family and friends circles revolves around food and drink. But alas I have said all this before. I need to find the thought process or mindset that says it doesn't matter and that my health and wellness is more important than living in the now.

Tonight I plan on getting some exercise in and I still need to keep posting more here. Sorry for such a long time between posts.

Wednesday Weigh In....

Well I am down 2.5 pounds in my first official week of working out and eating better. Doesn't seem like much but its something.

Did the spartacus workout on Monday night and my legs are freaking killing me. I wasn't able to make it through 3 rotations of the spartacus circuit either, I only did 2. It still clocked in at over 30mins and 400+ calories burned. I ran last night and this morning I am definitely walking a little funny.

Diet has been spot on this week thus far. Been a little hungry and that leads to weight loss in my experience.

This weekend is going to be really tuff. We have our annual Mt Bachelor trip with friends. I already know I will be eating some stuff off my diet so portions are going to be key. That's my plan and I am sticking to it. I am also planning to log some workouts while down there (most likely running).

Until Later....

Bad and Good

Well this weekend wasn't quite as productive as I would have liked it to have been weight loss wise. As for most people weekends pose increased social activities and more chance of bad food/tuff choices. Friday I had a guys night out with a couple buddies and Saturday was out for a b-day dinner with friends. So both nights I had some beer and some food that isn't on my diet. On the flip side (good) I did run 5 times this last week including both Friday and Sunday and I felt my diet was in the forefront of my head. When I did eat not the best I did take note of it and did avoid some damage making good choices that I wouldn't have a few weekends ago. This last weekend wasn't perfect at all but it was a step in the right direction. I just need to keep making the bad less and less. Weight loss wise I am not really up or down. That is tuff to swallow but hey I already know its hard for me to lose weight. Just got to keep on keeping on.....

In the spirit of fitness and tools I picked up a couple apps to try out on my iphone. I got the Nike+GPS which is supposed to use the GPS to track your runs etc. The other one I got is Mens Health Workouts. It has a series of workouts and moves all illustrated etc. I have a friend who is always shredded and in great shape and he swears by the Spartacus workout Men's Health put out. Looks like pretty intense circuit training along the lines of some of the workouts in P90x. I am gonna give it a go tonight. Cool thing is both of these apps were only 1.99 each so definitely wont break the bank.

Another thing my buddy who is ripped talked about is he is totally into heart rate training and the science behind it. I think I am going to start paying a little more attention to that too. Allot of the time when running especially I am over my zone (80%). Anyway the last few paragraphs are just food for thought and stuff I have been mulling over in my head.

It's Monday folks, lets make this a good week.

Phuk Being Phat!!!!

After being gone so long I really don't know where to start. My weight has re-spiked back up to about 10 pounds short of my heaviest and I feel its time to say "Enter title of Blog Post"... With the addition of the 35 pounds or so I have also brought back many things about myself I don't like. When I really slow down to look in the mirror and say "who am I?" I don't really know and don't like what I see. The guy looking back at me isn't who I want to be, how I want to look, or who I want my children and wife to see. I see a overweight, lazy guy who used to care about his health, appearance, and how he portrayed himself. In all truth you could go back to my first ever post (http://ripx180.blogspot.com/2007/06/introduction.html) and re-read, it all applies plus some, and now I am 4 years older. I have reached the low 190s 3 times to never make my goal of being Ripx180lbs. Usually about 1.5 years later I am knocking on fatties door and find myself in this very same spot I am now except older each time. How does one break the cycle, I ask myself that all the time. Anyway I could go on and on about the fat predicament i find myself in now but that's never been the focus of my blog so I will switch gears.

Over the last week or so I have felt a mental change for the better in my motivation to do something about it again. I think there are several things attributed to flipping the switch back on. The fact I don't feel comfy in my own skin, my clothes are tight, I get winded easy, I want to be a good roll model for my boys, a good friend of mine that I have worked out with in the past is getting his head back in the game, and the FAT coalition is starting to gather a head of steam (sorry for the largest run on sentence ever). So what's my plan you say?? In one word "basics". In the past I have tried to focus on loosing weight and gaining muscle at the same time. I don't think that works well for me, I spin my wheels too much. This time I am going to focus on diet and weight loss until I hit a desired weight goal. With that said I think I will be doing mostly cardio with a few weight workouts a week (to try and preserve the muscle mass I have). I really enjoyed P90x when I was doing it but I am in no shape to be doing that right now. I have a bike and a treadmill that I think I will be seeing allot of in the future. I ran (ok jogged and walked) the last two nights and i am pretty sore from that alone. Tonight I will be doing some video to get a sweat on and burn some calories while giving my running muscles a short break.

Anyway, I plan on posting here more again and look forward to reading some comments if you have a moment.

Off Track On A Good Weekend

In a epic struggle to get at least something right I am going to post to my fatsphere. Last weeks food and my sloth like ways continued to dominate my life. At this point I am not sure what is going to flip the switch and get me headed into the right direction. We did see allot of cool sights this week while we had people in from out of town. Did some salmon fishing and caught a 12 pound silver salmon, rode the OHSU tram, and toured around Hood River OR wine country. My wives grandparents are getting back on the train today to head back to WI so things schedule wise should get back to a little more "normal". I guess at this point I am hoping to flip my schedule on its head and get back to a healthy regimented lifestyle. 2011 is coming really fast and I would like to end 2010 on a good note. Tonight I am planning on either running or doing P90x chest and back, doing either would be a step in the right direction. Happy Monday bloggers.

Epic Fail and 200 Posts

Well I really didn't hit many of the goals I set out to hit last week. I did work out 2 times (run) but my diet was pretty bad for the most part. Saturday was my official b-day and I am now 36. Its amazing how time flies and how you get older really quick. For you younger readers enjoy your youth cause it doesn't last long, don't take if for granted. Get in the best shape possible now don't wait for tomorrow when your old. I guess I sound like I turned 80 or something but 20s are way different then 30s and now I am closer to 40 than I am 20 (that sucks). Anyway, I know several "young" 50 year olds so gotta keep that in my sights. Stay in shape = stay young....

This week is going to be really tough to manage on a health front. My in-laws are in town for the next month or so and grandparents are coming into town today and staying with us for a week. They are also staying in my workout room so I am going to have to get creative for exercise. Might have to go outside or to a friends to workout.

On a side note my blog just turned 200 posts. That's allot of rambling for someone who doesn't write well ;). Just seemed like some kind of landmark so thought I would mention it. Thanks to those of you who have commented and struggled through reading my half ass attempt at blogging, I do appreciate it.

Its Monday peeps, lets make this as good of a week as possible.

Because I Said So....

Well I said I was going to post 3 times this week so here is blog number two.. I didn't weight myself this morning but I did get a run in last night. Only 2 miles cause we had some unexpected guests show up. I wont lie the run was brutal and I have definitely lost allot of my stamina and ability to jog. Diet yesterday was sub par but I did think about what I was putting in my pie hole, so that's a good thing I suppose. Tonight we have a dinner for my nieces b-day which means bad food most likely. I still want to try and get in a workout after we get back from dinner though. I am still punching and kicking and trying to get back to good.

Commit to being Commited

Well I finally weighed myself and I hung my head in disappointment (222). Truthfully it was about what I expected but once again I find myself so far away from where I want to be. I put together another weekend of bad eating and drinking. Sitting here on a Monday wondering wtf I was thinking is beginning to become to common place. I really dont understand why I am so careless or reckless with my body and health. The sad thing is my kids catch the collateral damage in the food choices I make. I wish I had a reset switch of sorts.. Anyway I know having a pity party or beating myself up for past choices has very little positive effect if any.

This week I am going to eat better, get in at least 4 workouts, and post 3 blogs. My wife wants to do a 5k and I told her I would run with her so I am publicly committing to that right here and right now. She has a fair amount of weight to loose and allot of training too if she is going to do a 5k (never has before). I found her a 9 week couch to 5k program that she is going to follow. The best way for me to support her is to lead by example. Tonight I am going to run 2 miles without stopping (wish me luck). We are setting out sights on a turkey trot.

Time for this guy to get off the ground, wake up, and open my eyes (yeah that's me in the pic a little over a week ago, beached whale in Rockaway OR).....