5 Month Journey to 40 pound weight loss

5 months ago I started a journey to get healthier. Since that time I have lost 40 pounds (with a goal of 90 by Christmas, 2012).  I signed up for a Warrior Dash (which is next weekend), and planning for all sorts of other fun and exciting activities (5K, Tough Mudder, Spartan Race, and maybe half marathon next year) I have learned alot about my self over this time.  Here are a few thoughts:

1.  No matter what, you can do it. I really hated getting up at 4:45 am to go workout the first few weeks, but it was the best time for me to do it.  Otherwise I had too much going on (really just excuses why I wasn't working out).  The first time I tried to do a (insert any exercise here, but I will use pushup) I could barely do 3 and that was off of my knees.  I started off doing exercise for 15 seconds with 30 second breaks and literally felt as if I was going to die after about 3-4 exercises.  Now I can do 45-60 second exercises with 10-15 second breaks for 35-40 minutes. Yes, it is difficult but, I'm starting to 'like' it.

2.  Food is your best friend and worst enemy    I have learned that smaller portions and increasing protein has made a huge difference in my diet.  I started just before Christmas and this was tough, but you know what, if you don't start sometime, you never will.  Smaller portions were difficult at first.  I have now grown accustomed to this and really have no difficulty with it.   I also needed to eat more frequently, which is tough to get through your brain.  Starve yourself and the body will shutdown, and try and hold onto everything.  Eat light and more frequent, keeps the metabolism going.   I was stuck at a weight for about 3 weeks.  Realized that my eating was problem.  Portion sizes were getting bigger and didn't know it.  I use a calorie counter and found out my calorie consumption had increased.   When you write it down, you are accountable  for it.   Find an app for you phone, they work great.  Also don't tell your brain you cannot have something.  Everything must be in moderation, even a bite or two or ice cream is okay.  If you tell yourself  "I can't have this", I truly believe you will get it and overdo it.

3.  There will be ups and downs along the way.  Find a coach/friends/family/etc to support you along the way.   You need support system. I would feel like I let the people down that I'm working out with, if I'm not there.  I have gotten to point where I workout 1-2 times a day, 4-5 days per week because I now have 2 workout groups, morning and lunch.  Now that I do it 2x a day, I feel great.  My strength, endurance and flexibility are all greatly improved.  I can even run a mile without stopping.  I could barely walk a mile before.  My support team has been helpful to point I probably owe them a lot of the credit.

4.  Set realistic goals along the way.  These are important to help keep you focused on the big picture.  My goal is to lose 90 pounds in 12 months.  A very realistic goal of 1-2 pounds per week.   Anything quicker than this, and it probably wont work.  Along the way there are goals too.   Be able to run a mile without stopping, (done), Start signing up for challenges (Warrior Dash), be able to do real pushups (done).   These have all been accomplished.  My ongoing goals are to be able to do a pull up, do 30 consecutive Burpees without stopping, run an entire 5K without stopping, and by Christmas, lose 90 pounds, do 300 Burpees in a day, and run a 30 min 5K.    

I haven't felt this good in years. I realized just the other day, my 11 year old son has never seen me at my current weight.  Has there been pain along the way?   No doubt about it.  Around Christmas, I could barely get up from the couch, I was so sore.   There have been rug burns on the arms, knee pain, shin splints, post exercise muscle soreness for days, and just pure suffering through some of the workouts.   There have been days where I just don't feel it, but push through and get something accomplished, knowing there was a reason for being there and seeing the big picture.  It's really easy to talk yourself out of doing a workout, and that turns into a few days, a week and a month.   Most of it is mental.  Tell yourself, "Keep going, push through. Get up, keep moving forward"  


Warrior Dash photos and discussion will be next!!!!

I will post a starting picture and current picture soon!
Aaron