Updates and Ramblings

Having some issues keeping myself motivated here lately. I have been hitting it hard this week with 2 a day workouts: stationary bike in the morning and treadmill after work.  In my mind it was laid out as the comeback should be easier than the journey the first time.  It should take less time because that was a level of fitness my body knew quite well just 4 short months ago. Well my impatient butt is already feeling behind the power curve. I get frustrated when I am struggling at the 1.25 mile mark while on a treadmill that more than likely wasn’t built to support my weight in the first place. Trying to motivate and make things better in my mind, I head to my daily mile profile and before I could scroll down to my first workouts I started reading the stuff towards the end." A" pace entries for the bike, 5k’s near the 30 minute mark, and 7+ mile runs that were completed and felt great.   WHAT HAVE I DONE TO MYSELF IN 4 MONTHS???

 I know it takes work on a daily basis to get back to where I was and I know the progress last summer was month after month of dedication to the workouts and a strict diet, but damn I need to see some progress. Then I think about the time I was able to spend on this last summer.  No job or travel; I was able to work out all morning, every morning. I had a full functioning gym with pool and cardio classes, and an AMAZING trainer. Plus my bike with places to safely ride solo or with a group. None of this is available for now and more than likely will not be available most of the summer. Did I miss my chance to really do this 70.3 thing correctly? Hell, can I even get myself back into shape in time for a Sept half marathon, little alone a full marathon that was supposed to be the backup plan if I couldn’t get the 70.3 training done correctly? 

I am part of a group on Facebook called The RunJunkEes Society.  They are a great group of people with all different levels of experience when it comes to running.  They are a very active group who help and support each other. At times trying to keep up with the posts can be overwhelming. The creator of the group made up some shirts and of course, as with most exercise apparel, the 2XL size was a special order that was taken care of for me (Something most sites don’t even offer). The only bad part was once again I was self-appointed as part of what I will call the “fat crew”. Really kind of struck a chord, just like the cheap treadmills at the hotel that skips because they just can’t handle my weight or they need the belt waxed to help handle my weight.  Enough of my pity party, time to move on…..

Diet wise I am eating as well as I can out of a hotel room.  I have been carrying my protein bars for snacks at work, eggs and oatmeal for breakfast, wheat wrap for lunch, and usually a salad for dinner. I have struggled but am trying to keep my water intake at the 2 liter mark and have cut out the alcohol once again (miss you Angry Orchard). Some days are better than others.  Artificially sweetened tea or green tea if not water and I finally got to the 12 month mark without soda. I am really thinking about jumping off the deep end with this diet in the near future.  I am talking about stopping all eating out, even while traveling for work.  This would mean a ton of premixed salads and chicken or fish out of a can. I know starving myself will not help but am really struggling with keeping the diet clean enough with the amount of travel I do.

I am an all or nothing type of person.  Professionally and privately I can’t do things half way.  When I find something that catches my interest I become consumed with it. When I fail, it rocks me to the core. This roller coaster journey is killing me emotionally, but I just can’t quit………

-Mike