end of week 8

 Friday morning I start my day with yogurt and a banana all mixed up and topped with granola. I decide to use today as my off day at the gym. My legs are fatigued and I need a day of rest anyways. Lunchtime comes and I eat a tuna fish sandwich. It wasn’t quite enough so, I threw down a spinach burrito a couple of hours later. Friday night jenni made some stuffed pasta shells that were excellent, not the best for me but it is the weekend.

 Saturday morning I wake up ready to go. I start off with a peanut butter and banana sandwich for breakfast. Then it’s off to the gym for some cardio and weight training. I’m working my back and shoulders today but first, it’s 20 minutes on the treadmill. Then I’m over to the weights. I get another outstanding workout in this morning, capped off by 40 more minutes of cardio. Lunchtime was an organic burrito that I topped off with some mild salsa.

 Saturday evening I decide to head back to healthsport for some more cardio. I’m just swimming tonight. I get in 20 laps and then its home for dinner. Jenni cooked up a shepards pie. It had potatoes, meat and veggies in it. This was also very tasty. I take a couple of puffs tonight to help me relax. And boy, did it ever relax me, I needed it.

 Sunday morning I start the day off with some cereal in 2% milk. Pretty sugary stuff but, it’s all that was in the house for breakfast food. I head to the gym for an hour cardio session. The rowing machine has been kicking my ass all week so, I’m going to keep using it. I start off with 20 minutes on the treadmill and then another 20 minutes on the arc trainer and then I head over to see my new friend, the rowing machine. It tells me that I row 4000 meters in 20 minutes. I think this is a good pace, at least that’s how I feel using it.

Sunday for lunch I ate a grass fed beef cheeseburger and then we decided to take the dogs for a nice little hike up in the mountains. I would say we did about a mile round trip with changing elevations, I’m pretty happy with that. I did take a couple of puffs to help me enjoy my little walk with nature. I get home and eat a salad with carrots, mushrooms, and tuna. I did top it off with ranch dressing. I had time to head back to healthsport in the evening. I just plan on doing some more swimming tonight. I actually was able to swim 25 laps tonight, I’m real happy with that. For dinner I had 3 pieces of chicken bbq pizza. Again, not the greatest for me but, they were thin crust.

 My plan to limit my smoking has been working out well. I have stuck to just enjoying mind elevation on the weekends. My drinking has also been doing really well. I have only had 2 beers all week. I’m still pounding the water as much as I can. I believe I’m drinking well over a gallon a day. The workouts are going great. I still have room to improve on my diet and will improve on my diet. My heart is feeling really good. I haven’t had any weird feelings or anything in a long time now, I’d say close to a month or so.

 The day 60 weigh in is 3 workout days away…..I’m looking forward to it!

mid week 8

Wednesday morning I start out with some organic yogurt and granola for breakfast. Then it’s off to the gym for some cardio and weight training. I’m working my biceps and traps today. But first, it’s the treadmill for 20 minutes. Then over to the weights, I get a great workout in this morning. I finished up my morning at the gym with 40 more minutes of cardio action.

 I head home for lunch and eat a grass fed beef cheeseburger and some steamed vegetables. I’ve been learning a lot about foods lately and am going to try to do my best to eat everything natural and organic. I have to thank my friend jenn Ryan for sending me a book with a lot of great information about food in it. The book is called eat to live, thanks jenn.

In the evening I head back to the gym to do some laps in the pool. I did 20 laps and feel really good after I’m done. For dinner I ate baked fish with rice and carrots. Then it’s time to hit the sac for some much deserved rest.

 Thursday is just a cardio day for me but I start off with some scrambled eggs for breakfast and then it’s off to the gym. I do the normal 20/20/20 minute split on the cardio machines and then I head home for lunch. My girlfriend made a santé fe chicken salad for us and it was delicious. I’m feeling good so I head back to the gym in the evening.

 I do 40 minutes on the cardio machines tonight and then hit the pool for 10 laps. It’s been a great 2 days of workouts and I plan on keeping up this pace for the rest of the week. I haven’t taken a day off yet this week so, I might do it in the next 3 days. We will see how it goes. Everything is still going really well, my will power is still really strong. With 7 days until my next weigh in I need to push hard and finish strong.

start of week 8

 It’s Monday morning and I decide to eat a peanut butter and banana sandwich for breakfast and then head to the gym. I’m working my chest and triceps today but, I need to start with 20 minutes on the treadmill. I get a good sweat rolling and then head over to the weights. After my weight routine I return to the cardio machines. I’m scrapping the elliptical machine this week and am going to use the rowing machine for 20 minutes instead. I like it, it actually says I burned more calories rowing than the normal 20 minutes on the elliptical, I’m happy with this. I finish off my morning cardio with the arc trainer for 20 minutes and then its home for lunch.

 For lunch today I had a salad, baked potato and a chicken breast with cheese. I head back to healthsport in the evening for some more cardio. I spend 20 minutes on the treadmill and then hit the arc trainer for 20 more minutes. I decide to get some swimming in to. I do 10 laps and then head home for dinner. I eat a turkey sandwich and snack on some chips and salsa and then its bedtime.

 Tuesday morning it’s another peanut butter and banana sandwich for breakfast. I head to the gym for a cardio session. I do the 20/20/20 minute split on the machines in the morning and then head home. For lunch I eat a tuna fish sandwich and also have some organic all natural mac and cheese. I don’t feel like heading back to the gym in the evening but, I do it anyways. A 40 minute cardio session on the treadmill and arc trainer is the plan. I don’t swim tonight and then I head home for dinner. I ate a turkey sandwich and low sodium all natural vegetable soup for dinner.

 I’ve been doing great on my attempt to limit my smoking. I only have smoked once on Friday night and once on Saturday. So, in the last 10 days I have only smoked twice. My girlfriend monitors my sleep patterns and she said I am sleeping a lot more soundly and a lot more quietly. As much as I hate to admit it, cutting back on my smoking has helped me out a lot. So, I’m going to continue to only smoke limited amounts on the weekend and not at all during the week.

 I have also learned that when I don’t feel like heading to the gym or I want to quit early that’s when it’s most important to dig deep and put out maximum effort. This effort alone has made a big difference in my weight loss and overall outlook on things. Right now, everything is going great. I’ve been to the gym an average of 12 times per week. Honestly, my legs can’t take much more than that right now. My overall health improvement is very evident and I can definitely see a difference. My girlfriend says that at my next weigh in with pictures that I will definitely see the difference. We’ll see, weigh in is 9 days away.

end of week 7

 Friday morning I treat myself to a banana and peanut butter sandwich for breakfast and then it’s off to the gym. I’m just doing cardio today so, it’s the usual 20/20/20 minute split and then I’m in the shower. For lunch I ate a turkey sandwich and a salad. I decide to head back to the gym in the evening. I do 40 minutes more of cardio exercise. 20 minutes on the treadmill at 3.5 mph and 9.0% grade and then 20 more minutes on the arc trainer and then its home for dinner. Dinner ended up being some organic Mac and cheese and also some vegetarian chicken like patties. Not the greatest tasting but, pretty good for me so, what the hell, why not?

 Saturday morning starts off with yogurt and granola with a cut up banana. I’m finishing my weight training today working my back and shoulders. But first I hit the treadmill for a 20 minute session. Then it’s over to the weights. I feel my strength coming back and this excites the hell out of me. I finish my morning routine with 20 minutes on the elliptical. Saturday for lunch I pretty much ate like a top fuel dragster eats gas. I’m ok with it though, it’s my one meal I indulge myself for the week. Again, I’m only human.

 Feeling great Saturday night so, it’s back to the gym. I do the usual 20/20/20 minutes split on the cardio machines. I finish off my cardio training with 10 laps in the pool. My swimming ability has greatly increased over these few weeks and I couldn’t be happier with that. I head home for dinner, looks like it’s going to be steak tacos that jenni is cooking up. Very tasty, I ate 3 of them.

 Sunday morning it’s another peanut butter and banana sandwich for breakfast. So, I hit the gym for some more cardio training. It’s the normal 20/20/20 minute split on the cardio machines today. Then, I head home for lunch and eat a turkey sandwich and some organic chicken noodle soup. A few hours later I eat a chipotle potato burrito and then decide to head back to healthsport for some more cardio action.

 It’s a 40 minute cardio session in the evening. I use the treadmill for 20 minutes and then it’s over to the arc trainer to finish up for tonight. I always try to finish out my cardio by going as fast as I can for the last minute. It feels good to finish strong. I’m happy with the way this week has gone. I was able to make it to the gym 12 times this week. A pace I try to keep up every week.

 I have 11 days left until my next weigh in. again, I’m not sure if I will be able to match my first month of weight loss which was 28 pounds but, I feel it will be a successful weigh in. stay tuned as I try to save my own life…….

mid week 7

 I wake up Wednesday morning sore, tired and with a pounding headache. I decide to make today my off day at the gym. I lay in bed late today. When I finally decided to roll out of bed it was around lunch time. My girlfriend, jenni, had just gotten home from grocery shopping and she bought a goat cheese and spinach pizza. So we throw it in the oven for lunch. I didn’t really like it but, I still ate 3 pieces.

 I decided to do some research on congestive heart failure and high blood pressure and possible natural remedies. I discover an article that lays down some scary facts about congestive heart failure. Like, 50% of people die within 5 years. If you have hypertension in your life you are at a twice as much risk to have congestive heart failure, I mean, who the hell doesn’t have hypertension in their lives? Finally the kicker fact I read, your outlook for survival is not any better than having cancer. Nice huh?

 I’m the type of guy that sees this as a challenge not a bunch of depressing facts. Those that know me know that I have an alpha male personality and will not be taken out by anything! So, I continue my research of natural remedies. I want to get away from taking pills as soon as I can. I find some good information and some good vitamins options to help my blood flow and help lower blood my blood pressure.

 I eat a grilled cheese and some chicken noodle soup for lunch and then eat some spaghetti with zucchini for dinner. It was grass fed beef in the spaghetti so, I feel good about that.

 I wake up Thursday morning hell bent on getting healthy and living a long fruitful life. I eat a peanut butter and banana sandwich for breakfast and head to the gym. I‘m working my biceps and traps today. I start with 20 minutes on the treadmill and then it’s over to the weights. I finish my morning workout session with 20 minutes on the elliptical. For lunch I ate a spinach burrito. It wasn’t too bad after I drenched it with salsa and sour cream. Lol.

 It’s back to the gym in the evening, I do the normal 20/20/20 minute split on the cardio machines and head home for dinner. Jenni cooked up a chicken stir fry and I snacked on chips and salsa and sunflower seeds before I go to bed. I capped the night off with a couple bloody mary’s, nutrition in a glass.lol. 3 more days left of this week and I plan on making the most of them.