ChefChiTown's Rebirth: I'm Back, BABY!!! (In More Ways Than One)...

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I've gone through many attempts at losing weight and getting healthy over the years, each of which has been different in its own right, but if there's anything I have learned from my experiences it is this...

Getting healthy is tiring. Your body gets tired. Your mind gets tired. Your motivation gets tired. Everything gets tired.

Now, to be fair, I've done extremely well for the past 30-plus days of my streak and I honestly have zero legitimate complaints about how it's gone so far, but that doesn't mean I haven't had my moments of weakness where I've struggled with wanting to eat every shitty thing this planet has to offer me. I've had a few days now when all I've wanted to do is say 'fuck it' and eat like shit. Yesterday was one of those days. Sure, I had a big plate of nachos for dinner (not the healthiest of meals) but I still managed to stay within my calories. When I went to the store to get stuff for dinner I also bought beer. However, I didn't drink it. As the night went on I didn't really want to. I did at first, but my mood changed. And, I believe mood changes are often a direct result of being tired.

If you think about it, when you decrease the amount of calories you consume you are decreasing the amount of energy you are consuming as well. In layman's terms, calories are units of energy. So, when you're a big guy like me and your body requires the usage of a lot of calories to perform your physical activities for the day you are essentially burning through the food you have consumed as well as fat stored in your body. Now, that's a GOOD thing overall...but it's also very exhausting.

I'm getting exhausted. My body is tired and my mind is all over the place. My motivation is still solid though - even though I've had my momentary struggles. I'm just tired.
 
ChefChiTown said:
I'm getting exhausted. My body is tired and my mind is all over the place. My motivation is still solid though - even though I've had my momentary struggles. I'm just tired.
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I know exactly what you mean, I always find myself going to bed an hour or two early when I'm trying to lose weight. Can't imagine how much harder it is with a wife and kids.
 
The Streak - Day 43

The streak is still going. I've cut five minutes off of my running time which means I'm...

1) Getting faster
2) Getting stronger
3) Increasing my stamina and decreasing my recovery time
4) Learning to control my body better when I'm running

I've been watching a lot of YouTube running channels and learning a lot from professional runners/instructors, things like the proper running form, tips on how to keep correct posture while running, exercises and drills to improve running form, etc. It seems dumb but I've quickly learned that posture plays a HUGE part in how well you can run. I mean, I know that good posture is important but it honestly does make a difference throughout your whole body when you're running. Even my feet feel better now that I'm beginning to run with better (and more controlled) posture.

Now, have I been perfect during my streak? No. I've had 'off' days where I consume food/drink that I don't need/shouldn't have. I feel like doing good though. To me, as long as I'm making progress, that's all that matters.

For now, I'm off to work on my writing.

PS - Today, for the first time in my life, I bit into 'not so fresh' lunch meat. DISGUSTING. It was chicken that didn't quite taste like chicken. It tasted like old age and sadness.
 
Hi Chef. Cate is right, you are doing great. One thing I did work on when I started running was finding a technique that worked for me. I found a midstrike felt better on my feet and knees etc. Also I found that a higher cadence worked for me. Cadence is just how many times your feet hit the ground in a minute. If you increase your cadence your stride gets shorter which allows the foot to land midfoot. Rather than a longer stride that makes you heel strike. You got to find what works best for you. I do a lot of reading on running and most books shy away from heel striking as it places a lot of force on your knees, shins etc. Plus it makes you a slower runner as the heel strike causes a braking affect so it almost stops you before the next stride. I know the midfoot strike has made me a faster injury free runner. Just something to think about.

You are right about posture though. If you have proper posture it opens your lungs up so you can breathe better.

Sounds like you are well on your road to becoming a running fanatic-lol. Welcome to the club!!
 
It's kind of a weird day (which will hopefully change soon) and I've found myself going through my old posts. Today is Day 44 of The Streak and, overall, I think I've done very well. Could I have done better so far? Yeah, I could've done a little better if I'm being honest. There's always room for improvement, you know? However, I'm not perfect and I'm very happy with myself and the progress I've made. Anyway, I happened to think back to prior attempts at losing weight and I remembered one stint where I got on the treadmill for 30 days in a row (along with other things). I wanted to look back on posts I made during that time and see if I mentioned the progress I made during the few times I went out running. I thought I had posted how long it took me to complete my runs and I was curious to see the comparison between then and now.

Below is the post I made during that time where I talked about my running times...

ChefChiTown said:
Day 27 of 30

Weight - 237.8 lbs

No change in weight today. But, on the bright side, I did something today I DEFINITELY couldn't do before. There is a road - a huge straightaway - right next to our apartment that stretches down a good mile toward the main road. I don't know the exact distance between home and the end of the road (well, where the intersection is anyway), but it is definitely around a mile. Maaaaaybe a little less - 3/4 of a mile at the least. Anyway, I could NEVER run to the end of the road without stopping a few times. But, today...for the first time...I ran all the way to the intersection without stopping. I was smiling soooo hard when I realized how close I was getting. I had to have looked like a huge idiot. But, oh well. I couldn't help myself.

And, on the way back, I only stopped twice. I would usually stop three or four times. So, I feel REALLY good right now. This month of hard work is definitely paying off.

***EDIT***

I forgot to mention (not that I'm bragging :rolleyes: )...

I timed myself when I went running. I'm not 100% positive, but I swear that the fastest time I had before (getting to the intersection and back) was a little over 18 minutes. Well, my unofficial time tonight (I forgot to hit "stop" on my stopwatch app - on my phone - when I got back and I didn't realize it for a good 20 or 30 seconds) was 17 minutes 13 seconds. Just another reason I'm pumped.
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My best time running from before was 17 minutes 13 seconds. My BEST time. Do you know what my time was when I ran last night? 17 minutes 57 seconds. Do you know what that means? It means I'm "this close" to matching my BEST time. When I started The Streak it took me about 23 minutes to finish my run. I've already cut five minutes off that time. Now I can finish in just under 18 minutes. And, now that I know I'm "this close" to matching my BEST time it just serves as more motivation.

Knowing that makes me VERY happy with myself.

Below is a post I made after completing a 30-day challenge I put myself through. I took notice of the daily goals I set for myself which are very similar to my goals right now. I also took notice of the results.

ChefChiTown said:
30-DAY CHALLENGE STATS

Start Date: 9/24/14
Starting Weight: 255.8 lbs

End Date: 10/23/14
Ending Weight: 235.6 lbs

TOTAL WEIGHT LOST: 20.2 lbs

Daily Goals

NO Pop
NO Alcohol
Low Carb/No Unnecessary Carbohydrates (eating carbohydrates was allowed; I just avoided over-doing it)
50 Sit-ups and 50 Push-ups
30 Minutes on the Treadmill
30 Minutes of Reading (for mental relaxation)

Days of Success (ALL Goals Accomplished): 30*
Days of Failure (At Least One Goal NOT Accomplished): 0

* There were days I went for a run outside rather than walk on the treadmill
* There was a day or two I physically couldn't complete 50 sit-ups and 50-push ups, but I did as many as I could on those days and do not consider that a failure

Physical Changes

- I lost a little over 20 lbs
- I have lost a significant amount of fat in my face
- My stomach and waist have gotten smaller, rendering me to the point of having to buy new clothes (my current ones are too baggy)
- My legs are way more toned than they were one month ago
- My legs are tired from running/walking every day but their physical stamina has increased
- Many of my aches and pains have gone away
- I don't get out of breath as easily
- My heart doesn't have to work so hard anymore to keep up with my physical activity; it no longer feels as if it is going to beat out of my chest
- My lung capacity has increased

Mental Changes

- I am more confident in being able to eat healthy without falling back into old, bad habits
- I am more aware of the damage my old eating habits bestowed upon me and now know how to prevent myself from going back to the way I used to be
- I am proud of myself for what I have accomplished which is driving me to want to do more
- I am not totally happy with my body, but I am much happier than I was a month ago
- My stress level has decreased and I don't find myself getting aggravated as much as I used to
- I am genuinely excited at the prospect of needing to buy myself new clothes which is something I haven't done in years
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Now, I remember how HARD it was to do a strict low-carb diet for 30 days in a row so I will not be repeating that. However, the other stuff? I think I want to do that again. No pop. No alcohol. 50 sit-ups, 50-push ups. 30 minutes on the treadmill (or go for a run). 30 minutes of reading. Every day. Instead of eating a strict low-carb diet I will just continue to count my calories. I rebound too hard when I get off a low-carb diet and I don't want to regain any of the weight I've lost thus far. So, I will do all of the above for the entire month of December. Every day. No excuses.

I remember how it felt when I typed all that stuff. I felt SO GOOD. Now, I'm not belittling the progress I've made thus far but the thought of reliving the glory I felt back then will help push me through the rest of this holiday season...which is definitely the hardest time of the year to stay healthy. So, I will continue with The Streak. I'm just going to push myself a liiiiittle bit harder during the month of December.

I did it once. I WILL do it again. Only, this time? The weight isn't going to come back when I'm done. Because, I'll never be done. I'm not working this hard for a temporary fix. I'm doing this to turn myself into the man I've always wanted to be. The man I deserve.
 
cowboy48 said:
Hi Chef. Cate is right, you are doing great. One thing I did work on when I started running was finding a technique that worked for me. I found a midstrike felt better on my feet and knees etc. Also I found that a higher cadence worked for me. Cadence is just how many times your feet hit the ground in a minute. If you increase your cadence your stride gets shorter which allows the foot to land midfoot. Rather than a longer stride that makes you heel strike. You got to find what works best for you. I do a lot of reading on running and most books shy away from heel striking as it places a lot of force on your knees, shins etc. Plus it makes you a slower runner as the heel strike causes a braking affect so it almost stops you before the next stride. I know the midfoot strike has made me a faster injury free runner. Just something to think about.

You are right about posture though. If you have proper posture it opens your lungs up so you can breathe better.

Sounds like you are well on your road to becoming a running fanatic-lol. Welcome to the club!!
Click to expand...

When I first started watching videos on running I couldn't help but laugh. Some of the techniques to improve posture and overall running form just seemed so juvenile and weird, like they were going to be a huge waste of my time. However, when I actually paid attention to WHY those techniques are used I couldn't help but gain interest in trying them out. And, the first time I tried them out I felt an IMMEDIATE difference. All of the little techniques added up to better posture which lead to better breathing which lead to an easier stride which lead to better cadence which lead to a better time, etc.

I found this video to be very helpful


It's a good example of how dumb some of the stuffs SEEMS but how beneficial it actually IS. Especially the whole way he demonstrates how to align your body by using the "tri-pod" method with his hand to align his head. It just looks and seems so stupid...but it actually makes a biiiiig difference.

And, yup...I'm slowly (but surely!!!) becoming a running fanatic. I never thought I'd say that. Ever.
 
O fuck, now I have to watch that video. And I´m going to want to give running another try. Hmpf. I´m so not a runner. But I have this idea in my head that any healthy adult should be able to run a 5k when needed.
 
LaMaria said:
O fuck, now I have to watch that video. And I´m going to want to give running another try. Hmpf. I´m so not a runner. But I have this idea in my head that any healthy adult should be able to run a 5k when needed.
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I've watched a lot of the videos on that YouTube channel (The Run Experience) and I've learned a lot. To be fair, some of the videos contain information that is repeated in other videos on that channel, but the information is still very useful and has helped me a lot. I think my favorite part of the videos on that channel is how Nate (the instructor) explains things in a very easy-to-understand fashion. He doesn't get too fancy or technical with his explanations and seems to have a good understanding that not everybody watching is a well-versed, professional-level runner. There doesn't seem to be a bit of arrogance or stuffiness, not even in the slightest, coming from that guy and I LOVE that. As a beginner, I appreciate the information he shares.

And, although some of his explanations and techniques may seem to be a little goofy, they certainly work and improve your running.
 
In the past few days our son has absolutely amazed me. It would require a novel to explain the significance of his recent accomplishments, which I will not force you to suffer through, so let me just say this...he is the most amazing boy I have ever met in my life and I consider myself lucky to be part of his life.

My wife has done an amazing job with him and she should rest her head every single night knowing that she has been the main reason he is the young man that he is today - an intelligent, joyful, loving, caring and inspiring young man. That kid makes me want to be a better man and, without my incredible wife, that wouldn't be true.

You've done an absolutely unbelievable job with our son, Jen. When he grows up and becomes a great man I am going to look at you and say, "You did a good job, my love. He's a great man." And, it all started with you.
 
Day 40-whatever-who-cares-this-isn't-about-me-right-now of The Streak...

Ok, so my wife is a RIDICULOUS artist who can draw and create amazing things, alright? Now, here's the HILARIOUS part...

She is so God damned humble she honestly thinks her INSANELY AMAZING art is, AND I QUOTE, "Eh, ok."

Eh, ok? EH, OK? Dude, she just finished a drawing of my mom's boss (family friend, Christmas present) that looks EXACTLY LIKE HIM - it literally looks BETTER than the picture from which she drew inspiration (which is an ACTUAL FUCKING PICTURE, mind you!!!) - and, do you know what she did when I praised her for how incredible it was? She did this...

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She drew a picture that looks EXACTLY LIKE A REAL PERSON (that I personally know and can verify this shit) and she literally shrugged her fucking shoulders like, "Eh, it's alright, I guess."

Yeah. My wife can draw art that people can only DREAM of creating and she shrugs her God damned shoulders like it's no big deal. So, either she's the most humble human being on the face of the earth or she's the most gigantic bitch this world has ever known. And, since I know her better than she knows herself I can verify that she's incredibly humble. She is world-famous-artist quality talented but she is so fucking humble she doesn't even realize how amazingly talented her skills actually make her.

My wife, everybody. She can draw a fucking super, realistic person with her bare hands but she'll shrug that shit off like it's no big deal. Meanwhile, I beat level 1-1 in Super Mario Brothers in under two-minutes and I'm like "I AM A GOD!!! BOW TO ME AND WORSHIP MY GREATNESS, YOU MEANINGLESS BITCHES!!! MMMMWWWWUUUAHAHAHA!!! I AM YOUR SAVIOR!!!"
 
Just seeing some of your wife's drawings that she has posted - I agree with you. She is very, very talented. I wish I had a little piece of her talent but I don't. In fact I can't even beat level 1-1 of Super Mario Brothers so I wish I had a piece of your talent too-LOL. Great job on the 40 day streak!
 
Chef, your wife is an awesome artist & she should know that. This humble stuff is all well & good, but really!
JEN- YOU ARE AN AWESOME ARTIST!!!​
:D xoxo Cate
 
Day 50 of The Streak

Still going strong. It's been tough the past few days and, if I'm being honest, I haven't eaten as well as I should've, but I'm still going strong. There was a method behind my madness though. I had a bit of a relaxed weekend where I didn't really stress over how much or how little I was eating. Not only did I need a break from the physical effort required to eat healthy, I needed a mental vacation as well. So, this past weekend was a little relaxed and I didn't allow myself to stress over the food I was putting into my body. After next week I have to work four weekends in a row (which suuuuucks) so I wanted to use this past weekend as my stress reliever and sort of reset myself. I woke up this morning and felt fresh, ready to attack the next few weeks. Mission accomplished.

Other than that, things are going well. I have either run or gotten on the treadmill for 50 consecutive days now and I'm actually enjoying it. The first week or so it was pretty rough but I have gotten used to it and it's now become a routine part of my day.

I have noticed a bit of a negative though over the past two weeks. My body isn't really getting smaller at the moment. I know that part of it is my fault though. I haven't been as strict with my calories recently and I know that all adds up to make a difference. I haven't eaten HORRIBLY but I certainly could've done better the past week or so. However, I'm wondering if my body has gotten comfortable with my workouts and doesn't have to push as hard to get through them, which would obviously lead to a decline in calories burned and slow down the process of changing my body.

There is an interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger I've watched quite a few times where he talks about "shocking" his muscles and I think that's what I need to do. He talks about his method when it comes to body building (people often forget what an accomplished body builder he is) and one of the techniques he used was the "shocking" technique where he would constantly change up his workouts so his muscles could never get comfortable with his routine.


I think that's part of what is happening to me right now - my body has gotten comfortable with the intensity of my workout and I'm not seeing results like I did during the first few weeks (when my body wasn't comfortable and had to push itself to get through my workouts). So, maybe I'll start ramping up the intensity a bit, maybe go at different intervals to mix things up. I'll see how that works.
 
Mixing it up sounds like a good shout - I tend to just stick to the treadmill and I think it would help to try some other machines.. I just lack the confidence to try new things! Hope you have more success!
 
Is it just me or does the forum seem pretty quiet lately? Hmm.

Anyway, I increased the intensity of my workout a little bit over the past few days and I can already feel a difference. I was walking on a 5.0 incline at the speed of 3.5 MPH (which is a decent pace for me - short legs and all) but I increased that to an incline of 5.5 and a speed of 3.7 - 4.0 (I've been alternating between the two during my workout). In just the past few days I've noticed my legs feeling more tired after my workout and my hips have tightened some. I attribute that to having to push myself a little harder. So, that's good.

Also, it snowed last night (a lot) so the kids don't have school. I just had to go brush off the van and move it underneath the parking awning because the plow is coming to clear the parking lot and there was easily a foot of snow piled on top of the car. The poor dog sank in the snow when I took her outside; it's taller than she is. But, on the bright side, it keeps her from wanting to play around like an idiot. She just does her business and we can go back inside.

Other than that, things have been good. We're going to finish up Christmas shopping this weekend (ordering things online, NOT going out in this shit) and then relax at home, out of the snow. Tonight, I have to go into work and cater our hospital's Christmas party. I don't mind working it that much but I've done it the past three years - it'd be nice to actually GO to our Christmas party instead of having to work it for once.
 
Do you miss me? :D
 
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