Bound to the couch

Fans,
    I attempted just last Friday, my first attempt at Ju Jitsu.  It is not structured like a real martial art, at least not this class.  This class is what is called "non-gui" which means there is no ranking, no belts.  Basically, this class is taught by a guy who knows a lot of ju jitsu and does fight in tournaments, but isn't able to legitimately teach.  I went to the class and found out that I am actually pretty good at this.  I was good at Tae kwon Do, enough to reach an elite level, but because my teacher moved, because I moved, I was unable to continue.  So Friday, I attempted this class, which I enjoyed, but soon after getting home, my knee was in so much pain that I could not sleep.  I iced it, I heated it and it still hurt.  Immense pain.  After ibuprofen and tylenol, I am still in considerable amounts of pain, but things are getting better.  My knee is stable, so there is a positive, but apparently the moving, the holds, etc., caused a strain.

     Because of all of this, I am bound to the couch for the foreseeable future.  Which really sucks because it is a very nice day and I could use a good run.  The good news, the diet system with everything I ordered is coming in, so let's hope that my knee will be better.  My plan is to start after the Superbowl, the Monday after (if the program is here) and then I will be on my way.  I hope that my knee gets better and it should be...as for now, I am couch bound and watching movies.

It just takes WAY to long

Fans,
    Well there are some new developments in my fitness life and my life overall.  First, I will say that I am not a patient person.  I have gotten a LOT better at being patient, but when I want something done, when I want to do something, I want to do it NOW.  That being said, I have been waiting and saving my money to purchase my new diet plan.  I am FINALLY getting to that point where I can purchase it!!!  I have a couple of more weeks of saving and then I will have the money for it.  I am uber excited and want to start...NOW.  I am still running, still working out and trying to eat right, but for some reason, when my mind knows that I am going to start a new "diet" program, my mind tells me "its okay to eat whatever you want... you will lose it once you get the new diet", which I, more often than not do whatever I want...but then I pay for it when I go run or workout.  I have now gotten to the point that I can tell how I am going to run or how well the run will go by what I have had to eat or drink the previous day.  Its not that I wasn't aware that they were connected, but I always just ran and hated every step.  At least now, I know what to expect.
     
     A second big thing going on right now is my cross training.  I recently purchased (just arrived today) the UFC trainer for xbox, which puts you through a workout and progression through the Kinect and you can train "like a UFC fighter".  Now, it has gotten good and bad reviews, but I have decided it would be just another workout.  Since I was trained in Tae Kwon Do, I felt that this would be another great opportunity, THEN I found out that the small workout/rec center here in my small town offers...JU JITSU!!!  Ju Jitsu is a martial art that is similar to wrestling, but also incorporates holds, etc.  I am so excited to see what they do, who it works with and what other adults will be there because it will be a great learning experience and another martial art I can claim to know in case I ever get into a UFC match (accidentally of course...lol)
   
     Lastly, my friends and I have finally finished our second show for our radio podcast, you can listen at www.recycledradioshow.com and read all about us and listen to our second show (the first has disappeared).  We are currently working with iTunes and will have that there as well.  So, with the new diet, with the new workouts and the new opportunity to learn another martial art, I am going to be busy.  Once I get the new diet plan, I will list everything on here and allow everything to come out.  Also, I will talk about it on our podcast, www.recycledradioshow.com and you can follow me on my diet, my exercise and my life.  Also, sign up and become a reader of this blog, so that I can tell who is following!!!

For now ciao!!!

Exhausted

          Well fans, it has been a few days since my last blog and I have to tell you, I am exhausted.  I have been running on and off for about 12 days (taking a few days off in between to heal or get needed rest) but I have also been doing Tae Bo 24/7 PT.  I have to say that next to Insanity, Tae Bo is simple.  It isn't a bad workout, but it isn't near the workout that Insanity is or my running.  I should start my new diet program at the beginning of February, which will suck for the Superbowl, but I think that it will be entirely worth the time and money.  I did even  more research and watch some guy on YouTube track his progress and I am even more excited because that guy lost 53 lbs in 60 days.  I am way more active than he is/was and I think that it will benefit me a lot.  I am only buying the 60 day program, but according to a majority of the reviews from people who use the diet, they lose a considerable amount of weight and keep it off because they are eating mostly organic and fresh food and using good portion sizes.  Portion sizes I can do on my own, but I am excited to having a program to keep track of everything.  Of course, I will go all in on it because, what else to do I have to do?

              I will say that Tae Bo does workout the muscles, my shoulders, my tricepts, my lats, my delts are very sore the next day after a workout and it does work and for someone who does not workout at all, it may be a great workout, definitely get someone in shape, but for me (not saying that I am in great shape) but I am not "out of shape", so it is a way to try to get defined and if I used it with my diet and everything, then it would be great.  Now if I can just get my small dog to let me sleep more than two hours at a time, instead of taking him outside, I may just feel less exhausted...but for now, I am excited to get my program.

Thanks for reading...stay tuned

Possibly in time for Vegas????

         Well fans, it has been a few days since I wrote my last blog and I will say, if you are really reading my blog, you haven't missed much.  I ran for several days in a row and am starting to look forward to them, not because of the run itself, but because of the radio podcast I listen to while I am running and the feeling I get after I run.  That runners high is by far one of the best feelings I have ever felt and after taking a day off (Saturday) from any type of exercise and enjoying a few adult beverages, I can honestly say, you can keep the drinking.  I enjoy my occasional beer or drink (I had Crown Black last night...very smooth, very nice) but it makes my body feel toxic and I don't really enjoy that or the feeling the next day.

           I woke up this morning not intending to workout, but after seeing how nice of a day it is, I decided to go ahead and do my Tae Bo.  The Tae bo is not as difficult as one would think.  Now that being said, I do work up a sweat and can feel my shoulders, lats and arms getting in shape, but really, it is not as difficult as, say Insanity, which I am thinking of getting back into.  I also ordered the Xbox Kinect game UFC trainer, which I may do on occasion as well, because it appears to be fun.  I am starting to really get into the workouts and the feeling of it, I just wish the weight would come off.  I am going to order weightnot next week and start that by the end of the month.  Everything I have researched, everyone that I have talked to about it state that it is an excellent way to lose the weight as long as you follow it.  That is probably true of ANY diet, but I am excited to try it in combination with my workouts...hopefully by the summer I will be RIPPED (doubtful, but I can hope...I have never been ripped, but I plan on being in good shape...maybe just in time for Vegas in July!!!!)

Holy Shoulder Pain

    The following day after my first attempt at Tae Bo 24/7 Boot Camp, I am INCREDIBLY SORE!!!  I understand that boxing, kicking and cardio...along with my 2.5 mile run can make for an incredibly tired person, which I was, however I did not expect what occurred today.  After my afternoon run (my job is great, I get to workout over my lunch).  The bands are creating a pain in my left shoulder that really intensifies every time I throw a punch with the damn bands on.  This is something I will just have to deal with as I go through the workouts, the problem is, that is one major part of the workout!!!  I will just do my best with it, but if anyone was curious as to if the bands work and the workout is good...it is, but the joint pain can be an issue.  I am sure I just overdid it with my shoulder and I will just push through the pain...unless I am not able to hold up my shoulder the next day...then Mr. Billy Blanks...I am taking a break

Stepping up my training

     Starting today, I began incorporating my running with attempting my new Tae Bo 24/7 Boot camp.  Let me first say that I ran Day 4 and Day 5, 2.5 miles each day.  The running is getting "easier", but it is never easy.  My foot is healing, or the pain is becoming more bearable, or who knows.  I weighed today, my first legitimate weigh in since before the holidays.  I dropped 3.5 lbs since last Thursday.  I am now at 269, which is still way too much more than I want, but hopefully this will keep me motivated.
 
      Now back to what you are interested in, if you are in fact interested in anything of this.  I purchased Billy Blanks Tae Bo 24/7 boot camp.  It is Tae bo from the late 90s and early aughts, but incorporates bands that are connected to the gloves and straps that go around the shoes.  Let me first say that any exercise program will help get people in shape, anyone.  This, at first glance seems to be a little bit of a gimmick to sell an "updated" version and help Billy make more money.  The box comes with a DVD set and two sets of gloves and two sets of bands (I am guessing because they break quite a bit).
     
     Starting the exercise program out, the first disc is an introduction disc.  Billy starts off right away with the different punches that he wants to incorporate.  You learn each punch, with both hands and then goes into the kicks.  After learning each punch and kick, Billy goes into some cardio workout with each punch and kick, giving you many different combos and actually gets the heart rate up and got me to breathing heavy.  By the end of the basic disc, I was sweating good and breathing pretty heavily.  One thing that Billy does at the end of the workout is asks you to disconnect the bands from the gloves and the straps and then do the punches and kicks without the bands connected.  After doing this, there was a difference, the bands to help, but really even without the bands, it would be a decent workout.
   
   Now for the negative aspects of this.  I did and have done martial arts throughout my life, and the main one that I was successful in, did the best was Tae Kwon Do.  I had to put in 4 years of Tae Kwon Do and I was still not an expert by any means, but I knew how to do my punches, my stance, my kicks.  Billy attempts to teach you all of the ways to kick, punch and stand in 2 minutes.  It is not as serious as tae kwon do, but form is everything.  If someone's form is bad, it is possible to get hurt and Billy takes no time to teach form.  He jumps right into the workout and there are no other references to form in the DVD or materials that come with it.  The only other negative aspect of it that I can see from the first disc is that Billy goes extremely too fast.  He puts these combos in and then expects you to do them and have them down right away.  It will take time to get them down and I am sure once I start the more aggressive training disc, it will be even quicker.

   I can say that I felt my muscles in my shoulders and my legs really straining and I am sure I will be very sore tomorrow.  That all being said, I am also running and walking my dogs for a total 4 miles or more.  I am excited to do the next disc, but these discs do lack better instruction, better examples and Billy Blanks seems to not be as articulate as he was, stumbling over himself in the instruction and not keeping it consistent.  If these discs were combined with Insanity and Shaun T's instruction, they would be better, but for the time being, I will do the month long program and document my progress.  The tag line something about feeling the difference in one day and seeing results in 7.  I am sure there will be something to that, but I am adding the extra running to it as well, so this should be interesting.

Days 2 & 3

     Over the last two days I have basically kept up my running.  Day 2 was a GORGEOUS Day!!!!  I cannot believe that it was almost 70 degrees in the beginning of JANUARY...no wind (which is weird)...I ran 2.5 miles, then on day 3, even though it was chillier, it was still 50, in January.  I do believe that global climate change does exist, but those temperatures are just ridiculous, but I won't complain too much because of how nice the days were when I was running.
   
      I am not sure how many days I will string together before I take a break, but I may take Tuesday off from running because Monday will be the first day I attempt the Tae Bo and based on the bands and everything, I will probably hurt myself somehow and will need the break.  I have kept off caffeine and am doing pretty good.  I will weigh on Monday as well and see where I am at with that.  Now, for football...the playoffs!!!

Bored Eating

               So yesterday, January 5, 2012 was my first day of running in about 2 weeks.  The reason that I have not been running was due to plantar fasciitis issues in my left foot.  I decided to pull my big boy pants on and run.  I ran for about 2.5 miles.  One reason for my decision to start running was due to my unscheduled weigh in yesterday morning.  Once I stepped on that scale, I found myself NEEDING to start working out, I found myself NEEDING to start getting my exercise in.  I was up about 8 lbs, to the heaviest I have been since last year, 272 lbs.     
     Now I realize that one day does not make a diet, or a does not make me lose any weight, however one day at a time does help and it all starts out with just one day.  The run yesterday was good.  It was difficult because I am out of shape again, but I finished the entire run, even though there were a couple of places I wanted to stop.  Now that I have started, I will keep doing it, or at least try to do it everyday.  My biggest problem now is the dieting.  As much as I want to purchase weightnot, I just don't know if I will have the money to invest in it.  We will see later this month, but at the current moment, I have to try to do it myself.  I currently use an app on my phone, myfitnesspal, which really helps to keep track of what I eat.  It has almost everything that is in a grocery store, listed on the app and all I have to do it just plug in what I normally eat.  The difficulty is when I am at home at night, just sitting there, after I do my homework, after I walk my dogs, after I do everything I need to do, sitting there reading or watching tv...and I get bored.  Unfortunately, I am a bored eater...I get bored, to do something...I eat.  It is something I really have to fight against.  I will keep trying, but it hasn't been a real good couple of days.
      Starting Monday, I will start my Tae bo and update how that goes, but for right now, this is the best I can do.  I will continue running, I will do the tae bo and update my weight.  My weigh day is Monday, so I will not have any unscheduled weigh-ins until that point.

New Year's Resolutions

Hello Fans!!!
   So the new year is upon us and as is normally the case, we make resolutions to start out our new year.  Why is it the new year that we put ourselves to task to become better people?  Is it the concept of "New Year"?  Is it the same reason that we start our new diets on Monday (because we want that one last day to gorge ourselves on the food we want to eat and the things we want to drink before our deprivation?).  I believe that the road to hell is paved with good intentions and usually, those resolutions go the way of the good intention after about a month, especially if it comes to losing weight, eating better and etc, etc, etc.

    My new year's resolutions, unfortunately, are going to be along the same type of those described above. The reason that I am doing, yet another list of resolutions is that I believe that I can stick to them.  Whether or not you do resolutions, they are not stupid, no matter how many of them go away after a certain amount of time.  I feel that listing them in my blog would help me to stay on track.  Obviously, if you are reading this (the two or three of you) and you know me, I have been working out quite a bit over the last year, lost quite a bit of weight and have the determination to do a prolonged workout regimen as long as I stay away from injury (something I am dealing with right now.)
   
   So, after a lot of thought, my 2012 lists of resolutions are as follows:
    1. Become caffeine free, which I am happy to say that as of 1/4/2012, I am caffeine free...so one resolution down
    2. STAY caffeine free.  This seems to be the kink in my armor.  No matter where I go, what I do, caffeine is everywhere.  Now, having one or two sodas is not being addicted, but having three to four days or one or two sodas (all diet) IS an addiction.  I will do my best to watch that.
     3. Over the span of the year, lose 60 lbs.  This is something I feel that I can fully achieve, especially living where I live (there is little to do).  That all being said, my goals are broken down.  I would like to be at 40 lbs down by September (my birthday) and I feel that I can totally do that.
      4. Be out of credit card debt by December 2012.  I figured if the world is going to end, at the very least I can die with my debt being paid off (except my student loans...but no government, no loans....lol)
      5.  I would like to start on another degree (again, nothing much to do here).  I have to find an online class or one that is out of a community college or college near me.  I was thinking something in the sciences, since that is one area I don't have a lot of knowledge.
      6. Just overall become a better brother, son, and friend.  This is something that I can always work on and need to work on.  I don't have a set date to become "better" but it is just something that needs to be worked on at ALL times.

      Those above are my resolutions.  Obviously, I am not going to achieve all of them in the next month, and I think that is the biggest problem with resolutions.  If things doing start changing right away, then people get frustrated and give up.  On a positive note, my Tae Bo PT 24/7 came in the mail and OH MY GOD!!!  I think with all of the bands and crap, I am going to end up hurting myself more than I already do working out.  This should be an interesting...exercise.  I will probably start on Sunday or Monday, depending on how my foot heals, as it is not healing right now.  This plantar fasciitis is not healing, so I may just have to workout, stretch, ice and then deal with the pain.  I am going to start on the weightnot diet as soon as it gets here, which is supposed to be by the end of the month.  I am excited and scared.  It is a drastic diet, with vitamins, and very few calories, but if I can stick to it, then I can lose the weight and feel better.  We will see.  Stay tuned.