Derrick's ongoing journey

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Destination 189

Well, I took some photos of myself this morning. You'll have to fogive the hotel towel. LOL No workout shorts to wear or boxers that looked any good.

I'm still 197. The shots are a little fuzzy because of the lighting so you can't see as much detail as the beach shots from 3 months ago when I was also 197.
 
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Nice pics Derrick! You kinda look like one of those egyptian people with the way your towel is wrapped! Hah! Love it! You are looking good! What your thoughts on bulking up?
 
Destination 189

Thanks Bansheebabe. Good to see you posting here. ;)

I'd prefer more mass on my chest and less on my gut but I have always desired to have a lean and cut look more than anything. Several times I have considered ditching my attempt to get to 189 since I have been stuck between 193 and 198 for 3 months now. I have thought about trying a bulking phase, getting to 205 and then at that time trying once more for 189. I can't make up my mind though. I can't believe all the darn swimming, biking, running, weight lifting and martial arts hasn't helped me get to at least 189 yet.
 
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WOW :eek2:!!! You are looking amazing Derrick!!...I could see how all that working out is paying off!!!...Keep up the good work!!..and whichever way you decide to go...bulk up or slim down....either way..AMAZING WORK (and very HOT :blush5: by the way ;) )!!!!....;) ...very Inpsiring!! :D!
 
Destination 189

Thanks Alta! :blush5: Notice how I was making a big deal out of jogging 7 miles in two days? Heck, you are doing that all the time, in one day sometimes. :gnorsi: I wish I could get to that point.

It's early and I can't sleep as usual. I can no longer sleep more than 5 or 6 hours. My wife and I got to sleep by 11 last night and that was our night out. LOL Dinner and a movie turned in to just dinner. I had been traveling all week and she's pregnant so we just didn't last very long. So here it is not even 5am and I'm wide awake. Just under 6 hours. I used to be able to sleep 10 hours no problem in my college days. Mental exercise makes me sleepy tired but physical exercise just makes me sore.

This morning I might try to jog the whole 5 miles with Fleet Feet. I might take Alta's advice and instead of increasing my run by only a half mile I may just make the jump from 3 miles to 5 miles. That seems impossible but so did losing 58 lbs at one time in my life. I'll post how it goes.
 
Destination 189

Thought I'd list four of the five songs on my MP3 player that I love to jog to.

If Today was your Last Day by Nickelback
Little Wonders by Rob Thomas
Never Surrender by Corey Hart
Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve

If that last song doesn't speed up your stride then you might want to have your legs checked out by a doctor. My legs and brain love that song but my lungs and heart hate it! LOL

I am thinking about adding So What by Pink. I love her music and she's probably one of the few girls with a lot of tattoos who I think is hot partly because of the tattoos.
 
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Destination 189

So about this morning...

I DID IT! :party:

I did 4.8+ hilly miles in 47:08, burning 857 calories with an avg heart rate of 176 and a max heart rate of 196. :svengo: Yowsers!

I only walked one hill but I did knock off 2 tenths of the run because I needed a walking break. It was a small out and back, maybe not even 2 tenths of a mile, perhaps only one tenth. Two women were just ahead of me so I decided to let them do the out and back as I skipped it and walked the next big hill. Once they caught up to me I would be rested and try to jog with them again. Well they decided to walk the hill also so they never even caught up to me. Had I just gone with them I might have been able to finish the whole run with them. I had no idea they were going to walk the hill also.

I am very happy about this accomplishment. I felt like a real runner today. :coolgleamA:
 
Very impressive!

Triathlon, kickboxing, swimming... wow way to go!!!

Thanks for stopping by my diary & for the support!

I used to swim competitively in high school (500,200, and relays) but I haven't really gotten back into swimming in a long time. Any tips on getting back into swimming... I think the hardest part is just getting into the pool on a reg basis.
 
:party: :party: :party: Hellllllll yeaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! :hurray:

...Now that's what I'm talking about!!!...Take the bull by it's reigns and DOING IT!!!...:D! You have all the runner in you that you want!!!!!...

...I can see it already!!!...YOU DOING A 7 mile run and not even sweating it!!!......I am sooooo proud of yoU!!!! GREAT GREAT JOB!!! :iagree:............you are definitely a TRUE runner in my eyes ;)!!!

.....AMAZING....it really is...we just have to push ourselves there..and if we fail....do it again...and again...and again!!!!....because FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION!!!! :cheers2:............AGAIN!!! WAY TO GO!!!...I know how amazing those feelings are when you just make a whole new stride...longer and better than EVER before....JUST KEEP GOING!!!...You'll see how addicting it is...to see what exactly you are made of!!!....ALL OR NOTHING!!! ;)!!!
 
Splish, first you have to have a desire to do so. If you don't really want to then it isn't going to work. Next, you have to expect it to be frustrating for the first month. I assume your warm up alone was around 500 yards back when you competed. Now just doing 500 yards total is going to be hard. Your mind and muscles will remember but you will be fatigued in only a few laps. Just do 25's and 50's at first. Do drills also. Use fins and buoys too. Give yourself 30 to 60 seconds rest in between each 50. Each week you can try to make the workout a little harder. Within a month you should be over 1000 yards in just 30 minutes or so.

Alta, the 5 miles was very hard for me but I did enjoy it. It is kind of weird when you start to enjoy pain. LOL
 
Today I have reached a crossroads in my life and career. I'll post the short version because the long version could be longer than my whole journal thus far. LOL

I have been self employed for the past 16 months as a land manager. However, my only customer has been my father. Before that I worked as a Purchasing Manager for just over 5 years for my father's engineering company. Before that I struggled through college, paid for by...my father. I have basically been under my father's control my whole life. Ever since I went off to college he has been rather domineering and manipulating. It seems no matter what I do he is not satisifed. Because of these reasons and many other reasons, our relationship has suffered greatly. Several times over the past 16 months I thought our relationship was permanently in jeopardy.

This morning we most likely had our last argument regarding this business venture. I was supposed to go on a trip with him to Minnesota but we got in another argument. He told me to just go home if I didn't want to go so I stood there for a minute and thought about it. Finally I told him "I guess this isn't for me then" and I walked out the door. I have been looking for a way out for months. My wife and I are about to lose our house because of the lack of money I am making. I figure I could be a personal trainer and make more money, be happier and finally be away from my dad's control.

My wife and I have both felt for months now that God has led me towards being a personal trainer. It is something I strongly considered in college but looking back I now realize I wasn't developed enough physically or as a person to be successful at such a career.

Today I feel like my path has led me to become a personal trainer. The past 16 months have at least allowed me to have enough time to get in good shape and become the person I have always wanted to be. I am regularly doing swimming, biking, running, yoga, pliates, tai chi, and now I am also doing muay thai and boxing. Exercise is a huge part of my life now. I am exremely passionate about it. I also have a strong desire to help people begin and succeed on their own fitness journey. Over the past several months I have been told several times I would make a good personal trainer. To me, all of these are signs from God this is my calling.

In addition, I should be able to do photography and videography on weekends to make a little extra money if needed. Most of all, I will finally be home every week to spend more time with my family. I am tired of being gone 2 to 4 nights per week. Also, perhaps my relationship with my dad will be saved now that we will not be working together. I don't think we were ever going to see eye to eye so this is probably the best medicine for our relationship.

I am definitely nervous and there is a real sense of urgency now to get certified and find a place to work at. However, I have faith this is where God wants me and He will see me through this.

If anyone has any advice regarding this career, please post in this thread:
http://weight-loss.fitness.com/advanced-weight-loss/33707-any-advice-becoming-personal-trainer.html

Thanks for your support,

Derrick
 
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Hi Derrick,

Just wanted to say that it was a brave (and difficult, i am sure) decision you made regarding your life. Branching out and being on your own may be daunting, but it is thrilling and exciting at the same time. Every day will be different and full of new challenges. And congratulations on your decision to be a personal trainer. Your own experience and achievement will help you guide many. I have noticed you encouraging, motivating fellow forum members and I think that is the most wonderful thing, ever. I myself have been encouraged by your words, although i read them in someone else's diary/post.

Good luck wth the journey ahead. I am sure you will do wonderfully. And you have your supportive parter with you--very nice picture of you and your wife in your avatar (she is beautiful). Take care.

Juni
 
Thank you Juni. Those are very kind words. I feel a little better already. :) Thank you also for complimenting my wife. She was a good find. Good thing I was smart enough to keep her all these years because she has only become more beautiful and sweet with age. :D
 
Derrick said:
Thank you Juni. Those are very kind words. I feel a little better already. :) Thank you also for complimenting my wife. She was a good find. Good thing I was smart enough to keep her all these years because she has only become more beautiful and sweet with age. :D
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Awwww.that's the best comment ever!! :beating:!!...I have been with my bf in Dec. living together for 5 years!...and it makes me happy to know that other people feel the same...about getting better and sweeter and more amazing and gorgeous!!!

...Derrick...YOU WILL BE THE MOST AMAZING TRAINER EVER!!...I have a lot of faith..that you will be able to get people the results on them, even faster than you did on yourself..just because you know and understand the emotions behind it as well...

...Get your mind right and your body right..& you have all the experience you need..:iagree:!! Pursue it!!...AMAZING!!!

...I worked with my father years ago, and I vowed not to ever do it again, because it was killing our relationship as well...now we have a great relationship!...I think this will save your relationship..and he might just be Proud of you...for venturing out on your own...kinda like speading your wings...just this time....you're an Eagle that is Wise and not afraid to Fly solo above unchartered land...whatever your decision...will be the right one for you!...Photography!! :iagree:!

...GOD does do things for a reason and leads us to where we need to be!!!...You and your wife are a blessing to each other..and I truly appreciate the beauty in your partnership and together you will make it through everything and you will indeed save your lovely home!! I have FAITH!!!!!...*****Blessings to you*********
 
Derrick said:
Thank you Juni. Those are very kind words. I feel a little better already. :) Thank you also for complimenting my wife. She was a good find. Good thing I was smart enough to keep her all these years because she has only become more beautiful and sweet with age. :D
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thats absolutely adorable!!!!! :hurray:


best of luck with your buisness endeavors... what could be better than teaching others how to be healthy and take care of themselves..... and you actually know what you are talking about... because you have been in their shoes before ( to a certain extent)


i think it sounds pretty fitting.

Trust God and see where he leads you.... remember... he never test pushes you further than you can handle.....


take care!!!!! glad to see things are starting to become clear for you.... and you are finding a way to work things out for YOU... and then work on your relationship with dad in time... ive had to do that as well.... and it hurt my dads feelings... but we are better for it now.
 
Well you girls are so kind and supportive I can't thank you enough. Thank you for giving me the affirmation I need. I am looking forward to learning a lot and becoming a great personal trainer.

For now though, I'm off to the gym. :D
 
This has been a challenging week for me emotionally. Just as I finished the above post this morning my wife came over to me and told me she was bleeding and cramping. Unfortunately she had a miscarriage. :cry: The doctor's visit this morning confirmed it. She was not very far along but it is still upsetting for both of us. She is doing ok right now but still a little upset. I'll be ok but definitely sad for the time being. I've been focused on taking care of my wife all day as much as I can to make sure she is going to be ok.
 
Thank you guys, your thoughts and prayers mean a lot to me. We will be ok but I guess we will really be nervous the next time she gets pregnant. Please pray that her next pregnancy is healthy and is not too far off into the future. We really want our daughter to have a sibling that is not too far apart from her in age. She is almost 3 1/2 years old already.

Once again, thank you! :)
 
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