mid week 6

I wake up Wednesday morning and start my day with a peanut butter and banana sandwich for breakfast. I hit the gym for some cardio. The normal 20/20/20 minute split and I’m out. Lunchtime I decide to make a grilled cheese and some veggie soup. It is a friend of mines birthday today so, I’m not going to make it back to the gym in the evening. I am heading over to his house for dinner and some festivities. Dinner was an incredible bacon wrapped beef tenderloin and baked chicken and twice baked potatoes. The good side, I did eat salad and corn with it.

All right look, I created this blog to give everyone my real life experience. Wednesday night things got a little crazy. It was my homies birthday so; I ate too much, smoked too much, and drank way too much. The funny thing is, I now realize I smoked too much and ate too much because I drank too much. I shouldn’t be doing any of these things. The fact of the matter is, I’m a little let down in myself. I mean, I can try to justify it to myself as just one night but, that’s not the path I want to be taking. I can only reflect and think to myself what a dumbass move I just made. I absolutely need to stay away from the alcohol right now because it leads to bad decisions. Bloody Mary’s excluded.LOL.

 So, I find this situation motivating. You can get knocked down but, it’s how you get up that matters. This 6 week period I have learned a lot about myself. I’ve come along ways but, have a long ways to go. I still feel good about my progress even though tonight was a bad night. I have to think about the big picture so; this is only a bump in the road.

Thursday morning I wake up and feel like someone bashed me in the head with a sledgehammer. I haven’t been drinking much in the last 3 months so; I guess I have become a light weight. I eat some cereal but, don’t feel good about my chances to hit the gym today. It’s ok though, I haven’t taken a full day off of the gym in a few weeks. I see it as a good thing.

 For lunch I had a small sirloin steak with carrots, broccoli and zucchini. I also ate some chips and salsa around snack time and for dinner had baked fish and rice. I have 3 more days this week to make up for the last 2 days of slacking. I intend on making the most of it.

BEGINNING OF WEEK 6

It’s Monday morning and I can definitely tell I did a bunch of swimming yesterday. My shoulders and traps are sore. Breakfast is some peanut butter toast and chocolate milk. I head to the gym around the usual time. I decide to forgo my weight training today. However, I hit the cardio hard. I do the usual 20/20/20 split and hit the showers.

 Lunchtime I eat a left over sloppy joe. I pretty much just hung out until the evening. Then, I decide to go back to the gym. I do 20 minutes on the treadmill and head over to the arc trainer for 20 more minutes. Then I hit the pool for 10 laps and then its home for Dinner.  Baked chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans is on tonight’s menu. I did not use any butter at all. I realize that condiments can add a quick 200-300 calories a day to normal intake so; I’m trying to stay away from that. There was chocolate cake in the house. I ate 4 bites and throw the rest away. My dedication is strong right now.

Tuesday morning I’m feeling good and eat a peanut butter and banana sandwich for breakfast. Then, I head to the gym; it’s my first day this week of weight training. I’m working my chest and triceps today. I start with 20 minutes on the treadmill and then it’s over to the weights. 12 sets of 12 reps for my chest and 15 sets of 12 reps for my triceps. I finish my workout with 20 minutes on the elliptical and then its home for lunch. I eat left over chicken and mashed potatoes. I only do 40 minutes of cardio in my morning session so; I’m going to have to do 60 minutes in the night session.

 Dinner ended up being the last of the sloppy joes. I head to healthsport and all the treadmills are being used so, I do my cardio backwards and start with the arc trainer and end with the treadmill with the elliptical sandwiched in between. I snack on chips and salsa when I get home from the gym.

 One thing I have come to grips with is that if I want to make a full recovery from my congestive heart failure I need to stop smoking. I’m on day 2 without smoking. Those that know me know I hate this! But, until I can start making baked goods or use a vaporizer every time I have to remain strong and hold off right now.

 Another concern I have is what I call “early celebration”. That means, rewarding yourself with horrible foods because you feel you are doing well on your diet. At this point, it’s only a concern and not a problem. I have been eating well and feeling good so, I’m not stopping now. NO WAY!!!

endof week 5

I wake up Friday to a great day outside. I hit up one of my all time favorite items for breakfast. A peanut butter and banana sandwich. My grandpa used to make me those when I was a little boy. Reason enough to eat one right there! It’s the normal cardio routine today. 20/20/20 split. It’s kind of odd but, when I move on to my last cardio machine for the day, the arc trainer, the first ten minutes are always tough. But then, I get into the groove and usually tear it up good to finish strong.

 I go home and have an apple, a banana and some yogurt for lunch. Then I head to a beach up north with friends to look for agates. An almost see through stone. It was pretty cool really. Felt a lot like looking for Petoskey stones. I probably walked close to a half mile in the sand.  A little reminder of home sweet home. For dinner I had broccoli and spaghetti. I’m not going back to the gym tonight. Some recover time is needed.

 I indulged in some scrambled eggs with cheese for breakfast on Saturday morning. Then Threw down a glass of 2% chocolate milk. At least it was a small glass.lol. It’s off to the gym I go. I’m finishing up my weight training for the week today. I bang out the treadmill for 20 minutes and it’s over to the weights. I’m working back and shoulders today. This routine takes around 60 minutes so it’s pretty extensive. I finished my cardio on the elliptical. Another hard 20 minutes and it’s the shower.

Lunchtime I was feeling like grilled cheese and tomato soup. I hadn’t had that combo at the same time in over 20 years. It was refreshingly different. Feeling good Saturday evening so, I head back to the gym. I do 40 minutes of cardio, 20 minutes on the elliptical and then 20 minutes on the arc trainer. I hit the shower and head home for dinner. I eat a tasty little steak with broccoli and carrots. That’s the first steak I have eaten in a long time. I’m straight carnivore so, you know I loved that.

 Damn, I wake up Sunday morning with a sore ankle. It was a little swollen to. So, I decide to forgo my usual morning gym session because of my ankle. I start my day off with peanut butter toast. I’m pretty much tossing out the diet today. I mean, come on, it is superbowl Sunday!lol. For lunch I made myself a cheeseburger and ate some potato salad as well. Dinner was sloppy Joes and ribs. It was positively delicious.

I start thinking to myself how much I really ate today and damn, it was a lot. So, with the whole fourth quarter remaining in the superbowl I decide to head to my gym, healthsport, and do some swimming. I figured it would be the best thing I could do for my sore ankle as far as being low impact. I swim 20 laps tonight. I’m super stoked about it, I mean damn, that’s a 1000 meters.

I definitely got my fill of red meat this weekend. Something I don’t plan on doing again this month. I just happened to read this article today on yahoo that said that California fish are way over the mercury limits for anyone to be eating. So, I still look for healthy alternatives to eat all the time. I sure as hell don’t want to become a vegetarian.lol.

I’m happy with what I accomplished this week. My cardio is doing great. My will power is doing great. Everything is going great. Now, to turn great into fabulous and then, turn fabulous into spectacular…..

mid week 5

 Wednesday morning I wake up feeling good and refreshed. I actually slept really well and really long. I eat a turkey sub for breakfast and head to the gym. I’m working my biceps and traps today. I started off with the usual 20 minutes on the treadmill. Then it’s over to the weights. I was able to increase the amount of weights on everything I did so, that makes me really happy.

Lunchtime I eat a grilled chicken sandwich with bacon. I decide to head back to the gym in the evening. Another 40 minutes of cardio and I hit the hot tub. I got home and ate some grilled chicken with veggies and pasta for dinner.

 Thursday morning I roll out of bed and my biceps feel good. I feel much better today than the previous 2 weeks after working my arms. I throw down some peanut butter toast and 2% chocolate milk and it’s off to the gym for some more cardio. I start with 20 minutes on the treadmill. Then I decide to hit the pool for some laps to finish off my morning cardio. I ended up doing 14 laps in the pool. I’m happy with that.

 Lunchtime was a bean and rice burrito and then it’s back to the gym in the evening. I do a 40 minute cardio session.  20 minutes on the treadmill and another 20 minutes on the arc trainer. Then it’s off to the pool for some more laps. When I get home I ate another burrito and snack on some yogurt.

 This week is rolling on like last week. I have 3 more days this week to burn some more calories. A challenge I look forward to. My heart is doing great. My beats per minute are holding steady around 125 when under stress from doing cardio. I have been sleeping really well lately. This is a direct connection to my cardio training. I love it. I can’t wait for softball season. I will actually be able to move and run this year.

beginning of week 5

It’s the beginning of another month. Monday morning I roll out of bed feeling a little worn down. I eat some yogurt for breakfast and head off to the gym. Start with my 20 minutes on the treadmill. Then it’s over to the weights. I am working chest and triceps today. 12 sets of 12 reps for each body part is how I roll. I was able to increase the weight on everything so, I’m happy with that. What I’m not happy with is the fact that I went home after my weight training and did not finish my cardio routine for the day. I grab a turkey sub on the way home and that is my lunch. I decide not to go back to the gym in the evening. I’m going to let my body recover tonight. Dinner ended up being baked chicken and noodles and spaghetti sauce. I decide to hit the bed.

 Tuesday morning I wake up feeling good. I eat a turkey sub for breakfast and head to the gym. I’m just doing cardio today. The normal 20/20/20 split and I’m out the door. I just ate an apple for lunch and 3 pieces of cheese pizza for dinner.

Tuesday evening I head back to the gym. I do 20 minutes on the treadmill and 20 minutes on the arc trainer. Then I’m off to the pool and hot tub. I swam around 400 meters tonight. It feels pretty good. I’m nice and exhausted when I step out of the pool. Then it’s, shower and home.

I saw a psychologist on TV. one time say that it only takes a month to start a good habit. If that’s the case then, I’m well on my way to my goals. I planned on turning up the heat on my weight training this week. But, after getting some advice from a good friend and studying a little more about my heart condition I have decided to just keep it the way it is for a while.

I think subconsciously I down play my heart condition more than I should. Congestive heart failure is a pretty serious situation so I have to keep that in mind. I’ve been doing real well on keeping my alcohol intake to a minimum and I have cut back on smoking. There is always room for improvement and I’m working my way there. So far, another good start to the week.