When I first began this journey exactly one year ago this week I knew I needed to change my eating habits and my lifestyle. I was a stagnant, overweight, pack a day smoker who I am not sure would of ran even if my life DID actually depend on it. For months after my work accident I gave it my all, and had great results. 80 pounds gone and ran several races, including a half marathon. My diet was as close to flawless as any time of my life. Soda and cigarettes are no longer in my life. For one of the first times in my life I was actually proud of something I did for myself. I was proud enough to start this blog, and my plan was to use it to document my journey. Maybe even motivate someone to start a similar journey for themselves. More importantly this blog, the dailymile website, and all the facebook posts were suppose to be my fail safe. Public humiliation can be one hell of a motivator......usually.
Unfortunately (but fortunately) my fairytale came to an end in November when I started my new job. I tried hard in the beginning but with my travel being 80%+ it was hard to find times were the energy and time to workout were both there. One missed workout became two which became three. The excuses are plentiful and I could rattle them off faster than you could keep up. 3 months later and here I sit trying to rack my brain how to get this back on track, more than likely 20+ pounds heavier than I was in October last year. I am suppose to be ramping my run mileage back up for a trail and a road half marathon in less than 10 weeks. The road half was planned to be almost an hour faster than my last. Never mind my want to do the IM 70.3 at Steelhead in August 2013.
The only two positive things still going for me is the fact that I still have not drank a soda, and while I came very close one night after quite a few drinks, I still have not smoked. My first plan in trying to get this back on track was simple. By April I was suppose to be in Wisconsin and working regionally. Still a lot of travel during the day but I would be home most nights and weekends. All I needed to do was somewhat maintain my run until then. Well seems my motivation at work has been noticed and I have been asked to stay on a nationwide team, so that plan has gone out the window.
So while I am trying to formulate a long term plan the best thing I thought I could do was get the diet back under control starting today. My diet has not been terrible most of the time. 7 out of 10 times I make the right decisions on what to eat. My problem has been my portion control, and when I eat. Grabbing fast food at the airport between flights and late night snacking has to stop. I need to start eating more than three times a day and need to add the protein bars back in as a snack. Carbs need to go back to the off limits list.
It is the workouts that I am having the hardest time with. Even though I loved running on a treadmill when I first started running, I hate it with a passion now. Mentally can't get over the hurdle of two miles. Baggage weight restrictions stop me from packing cold weather running gear, thus stopping the outside running. Not being in the same city for more than two weeks at a time makes it hard to join a gym.
Not sure what I am going to do about the workout hurdle, nor do I have any ideas of who I know that has lived this type of lifestyle and still progressed with their workouts. They would have the ideas and experience to help me. I have not talked to anyone on my team since I left. Kind of walking this path alone. My wife thinks nagging and pointing out the weight every time I am home is going to motivate me no matter how many times I explain that it is counter productive. In my head this post was suppose to read quite the opposite. Should be at the 100 pounds lost point of the diet. Was hoping to have my average mile somewhere around the 9 minute mark and have the start of a six pack. I am embarrassed to have to write this post, but I want to keep this real to show all that this isn't easy.
-Mike
No comments:
Post a Comment