Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Evening Workout

I got stuck at work a bit late today, and I didn't get to the gym until after 6:45. The good news was that it was not as crowded as it usually is. The bad news is I didn't get home until almost 8:00. I did walk a mile and a half on the treadmill, that is almost 1/2 my walking goal for the Autism Walk in October (3 3/4 miles) So my endurance is starting to build up.

I am really torn about what to do for afternoon/ evening workouts. When I work the opening shift (9am to 5pm - hopefully) I don't get to the gym until 6:00 at the earliest, so I never make it home before 7:00. With Bailey's new bedtime of 9:00pm, I feel that it is really cutting into my "Family Time." Not to mention that if Dee and Bailey wait for me to eat dinner that is too late for a 5 year old to eat (especially going to be bed @ 9.) Dee and Bailey have been very supportive of me going to the gym, but I can't help feeling a bit guilty. I may try out some other options like just doing strength training (weights) and walking the neighborhood after Bailey goes to bed (if it cools off any time soon, right now it is still in the mid to upper 90s during the day , and upper 80s by 9 or 10 pm.) So once fall arrives that may be a better solution. I will have to think about it and try and come up with a solution that works for everybody.

I promise !!

I promise that I will not use the phrase "made it to the gym" for at least a month !! I was looking over some of my older Blog posts and I was embarrassed to find that 75% of them stared with some version of "I made it back to the gym today." I guess you can tell I do a lot of my posting LATE at night. I had better start going to bed sooner, or at least get a good Thesaurus. Going forward I vow to be more creative, or at least non repetitive with my posting.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Monday at the gym

I made it back to the gym Monday after work. I got a pretty good work out and still made it home before 11:00 PM . I walked a mile and got a good upper body workout. I am going back tomorrow after work too, but @ 6:00 I am afraid it will be packed again. I will have do do an improvised routine with the equipment that is free.

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Weight training

Made to the gym again tonight after work. I decided to give my knees a bit of a break tonight (they are getting pretty sore with all of the walking.) I did a 1/2 mile on the elliptical machine and then did some more intense upper body weight training. Up to now I have only done light weight training, but tonight I upped the weight so I was using the mussels more heavily. It felt really good, but I am sure I will be sore tomorrow :-)

I am hoping that my knees will in better shape tomorrow so I can walk around the neighborhood when it cools off in the evening.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Walking, Walking Walking

I made it back the Harrisburg Peak Fitness tonight after work. I was going to go for a mixed workout with cardio and strength training, but I changed my mind midstream. I ended up doing all cardio on the treadmill. I walked 1.75 miles on the hill setting, averaging 2.5mph. I am slowly but steadily making my way up the almost 4 miles I will be walking during the Autism Walk in October. I would like to hit the gym again tomorrow, but I am not 100% sure since we have Bailey's open house at school and we are taking Dee out to dinner for her Birthday. If not I want to at least walk around the development.

Take Care !!

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Tried a new Location

I made it to the gym today. I tried out a different Peak Fitness location in Concord NC (I usually go to the one in Harrisburg.) I was not super impressed with it. The layout was very confusing, and the equipment was all jammed together. There was no room to move around. I went around 5:30pm and it was really crowded. I saw that most of the treadmill they had were the same kind I used to use at Golds Gym in Georgia. I like the set up and program options it has. Unfortunately the ones they had in Concord were old and not well taken care of. The running belt was off center so I had to walk all of the way to the side and I kept bumping into the handrail. The belt or belt motor was wearing out, because every time I put any real pressure on the belt I would "bottom out" and the belt would stop. That made for some awkward walking. I suffered through about 20 minutes on the darn thing before I gave up (I did manage to walk 3/4 of a mile.) By then all of the other treadmills were full and the universal equipment was occupied too. I decided to cut my losses and meet Dee and Bailey at the Birthday Party they were at. I hope to get a much better workout tomorrow back at my "home" gym in Harrisburg.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Best Workout so far

I had another late night gym trip on the way home from work. I had the best workout tonight !! I walked a mile and a half in 37 minutes. I even tried out the elliptical machines, and did a 1/4 mile in 5 minutes. The elliptical are very deceptive, it seems easy at first but you really feel it later, especially my butt, LOL. I got in a good leg work out too, with leg curls, lifts and presses. I also did 20 back extensions and 50 count them 5-0 crunches !! I was amazed I was able to do that many, but I bet I will pay for them tomorrow. Friday nights are great at the gym, it was empty, I guess every one was out partying.

No trips to the gym over the weekend, they close @ 5pm and I wont get off work before then. I am going to try and do some walking around the neighborhood.

Friday, August 17, 2007

PM Gym trip

I made it back to the gym tonight. I got there about 10:30 PM and stayed for close to an hour. I was able to walk 1.4 Miles on the readmill in 35 minutes on the "Hill" program. I can tell my cardiovascular system is finally starting to get back into shape. I also did some arm and back work. There is a nice guy at the gym who like to talk while you are working out, I tried to keep to the other side of the gym. When I am at the gym I want to work out and listen to my iPod, not to chat :-(

Oh BTW I weighed myself again this morning and I was 400 pounds even. It is a nice start, just 200 or so more to go :-)

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Different type of work out

I was going to head to the gym today, since I had the day off today. However I got a pretty good workout today at home. Since I had the day off, I decided to take a couple of hours to put together my Daughter Bailey's swing set my Parents got her for her Birthday. Well it ended up being way more than two hours, it was more like 5 or 6 hours, and I am not 100% done with it. On the positive side lifting all of those metal poles and lugging that stuff around the yard when it is 98 degrees out was a pretty good work out. It was much harder than I imagined, with lots of bending, and stooping, and even crawling around on the ground. By the time I called it quits I was soaking wet with sweat. I should be able to finish the swing set on Saturday. I am going to the gym on my way home from work tomorrow night, so I will be able to get a proper workout in, so stay tuned.

Monday, August 13, 2007

Hit the scale this morning

I got on the scale this morning for the first time in a few months. The results were about what I expected ... 408 lbs. I am going to try and weigh myself once or twice a week to see how my progress is going. I hope to make up some fort of chart or graph to track my progress.

Crowded @ the gym today !!

I stopped by the gym on the way home from work today, and man was it crowded. All of the treadmills and elipticals were full, and I had to fight to get on the Natulaus machines. I did manage to get a good leg work out though. Once I squeezed onto a treadmill I was able to walk 1 1/4 miles in 30 minutes.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Back to the Gym

Well I made it back to the gym today. I had to get there before 5:00pm today since they are not open 24 hours on the weekends :-( I had today off, so it was easy to make time. I finally figured out how to work the program controls on the treadmill, so I was able to to get more out of my workout. I did 30 minutes of the "Hill" program, that varies the incline of the treadmill so it seems like you are walking up and down hills. I was able to do 0.9 miles, with an average speed of 2.4 mph and inclines from 2.0 to 7.0. I did more upper body machines today, and pushed myself a bit more to "feel the burn" so to speak with out going over board. We will have to see tomorrow how sore I am. I may try and walk the neighborhood again tonight when it cools down (it is in the upper 90s again today.)

Walking around the Neighborhood

I did a bit of late night walking around the subdivision tonight. I had to wait until it cooled off some, it was in the upper 90s today (It was still 85 degrees at 11pm when I went walking.) I only managed to walk o.4 miles tonight. I did not realize how hilly our neighborhood is, going up those hills nearly killed me :-) I am sure it will get easier as I get more walks under my belt.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

My first trip back to the Gym

Well I finally made it back to the gym for the first time in over two years. I signed up for Peak Fitness here in Charlotte (thank you again Mom and Dad !!!!) I was amazed how much I fell back into the groove. I forgot how much I liked going to the gym. I forsee a lot of late night trips to the gym since I am such a night owl and they are open 24 Hours Monday through Friday.

I managed to do an entire mile on the treadmill, which came as quite a shock to me. I have not done any sort of serious walking in some time. I even squeezed in a decent upper body work out. I tried working my legs, but my knees are still sore from when I fell on them last month. I am planning on going back to the gym Sunday afternoon and build on today's sucess, and hopefully walk around the neighborhood Saturday night after work.

Wish me Luck, I will keep you posted.

Why a Blog ??

I started "Bill's not so big blog" to create an online journal of what is going on in my life. Particularly me getting in shape. I am really out of shape (I really do look like Eric Cartman right now.) I weigh 400 or so pounds right now, and my diet is terrible. I want to make a big change my life and I figured that a Blog would be a great way to keep any one interested up to date. Having other people read my Blog will keep me honest and hold me accountable. I am a natural night owl, so Posting to my Blog at 2:00 will give me an outlet that would not normally have to share my accomplishments or vent about my setbacks.

I look forward to posting a lot of good updates with my weight loss progress, stay tuned and hopefully "Bill will not be so big" for much longer.