Don't Underestimate the Heart of a Champion

4thANDgoal

New member
I've lurked on this site for awhile, even started a journal before (didn't last very long). I'm not going to ramble on and on about how motivated I am and how I won't fail and blah blah blah. I know the reasons why I NEED and WANT to get into shape. It is simply a matter of just doing it (not trying to sound like a Nike campaign).

A little bit of background info on me. Growing up I always lived a very active lifestyle and never had to worry about my weight or what I was eating. For as long as I can remember I was an avid basketball player (played through high school and continued playing in both rec and adult leagues throughout college year round). Constantly playing basketball made me want to always be in top shape so that led to me lifting weights, improving my cardio and running. I used to be able to knock out a 5-6 mile run with a 6:20 pace no problem.

I graduated college in 2007 in top notch shape weighing 165 lbs and 6'0''. I was lean but muscular with what I'd call a runner's body. Since I joined the real world I have done an absolutely terrible job in terms of balance my career versus my health. My downfall is the fact that I moved to a new city and stopped playing basketball. When I stopped playing basketball it led to me not having a reason to stay in shape. And everything just spiraled out of control.

I remember in January 2008 I signed up for a 25K race that May. I didn't run at all in the next 5 months and probably gained about 25 lbs. I remember I had to switch races and do the 10K, which I ran the entire race at a 7:50 pace. I remember how disgusted I was with myself. Fast forward 5 years later and there is no way I could run a mile in under 10 minutes.........heck there is no way I could run a mile at any pace without having to stop. I so vividly remember how upset I was with myself in May 2008 when I had gone from 165 to 180ish. And yet I still didn't get back on track and I let it balloon even more. My highest was 265 lbs in February 2012. At that time I joined a gym and got down to 230 lbs in a matter of a few months. I was doing great. Then I stopped working out and the old eating habits creeped back in. I'm back up to 255 lbs now.

I am exhausted of letting my weight hold me back. I miss being in shape. I miss playing basketball. I miss being a runner. Everything in my life is great........great job, great wife, a baby son.........and yet the thorn in my side for the past 5 years has been my weight.

So this is my rambling background and I am hear to find motivation, to be held accountable and to share my journey with other people who have gone through OR are going through the same thing.
 
Glad to have you here. You know what you want so figure out a plan and get to it.

Plenty of positive support here. Don't try too much too soon and you will be more able to stick to it.

We have a few runners here. I did just enough to get the bug before an injury (not running related) side lined me for a while. I'll be getting back to it as I heal up. I look forward to having another runner here.

Good luck!
 
Thanks for the welcome Quercus.

I just kind of have this calming feeling that I know I need to get this weight off and get back into shape and doing the things I love most. I know it's going to be a long journey and there is no easy way to do this and it obviously isn't going to happen overnight. I just want to keep myself accountable and no more delaying this......."I'll start once the holidays are over".........or "I'll start once things at work calm down" etc.

I officially weighed in yesterday morning at 254.8 lbs. So I basically have 90 lbs to lose to reach my goal of 165 lbs, what I weighed when I graduate college in 07. Long ways to go but at least I am not at my all time highest. I don't really have a first "goal" in mind......my goal is to just focus on eating healthy and exercising and get into a solid routine. I know if I can stay on track for the first couple of months that I will be able to lose enough LBS to see a difference and be motivated to continue on this journey.

Yesterday's food (9/30/13):Slimfast
Turkey sandwich on wheat w/regular mustard
Grapes
Carrots
FF yogurt
Power bar
2 homemade beef fajitas, a little cheese but no sauce or sour cream

I've been sick with a pretty bad cold so I can't do any exercise without coughing up a lung right now. Hopefully by the end of the week I'll be feeling better and able to get in some good exercise this weekend.
 
Good day yesterday too...

Yesterday's food (10/1/13):
Slimfast
Turkey sandwich on wheat w/regular mustard
Grapes
Carrots
FF yogurt
Power bar
Turkey burger with FF cheese, ketchup & onion
Baked lays
 
Hope you get to feeling better and back to exercising soon. Your meal plan looks very healthy, you're off to a good start on that front :)
 
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