Tired: Day 59

Evolution one – week nine

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Hello Folks,

I didn't get a lot of sleep last night, so my immune system is down. I still worked out, despite only having two hours of sleep. I don't recommend doing it on a regular basis. I felt fine during exercise, but afterwards I crashed!

Tomorrow is my free day, so I will have plenty of time to get rest....yaaay.

So, I am going to post my pictures and sign out.

Exercise: Continuous Training, Interval (bike - 20 mins.)

Menu: Liquid

Until next time…

Think, Believe, Act, Achieve

Dakota

Today’s Mantra: There is nothing, no tragedy too great, no malady so incurable, that we cannot find something to counteract it if we do not forget to go within ~ Paramananda

Without Failure How Will We Truly Succeed: Day 58

Evolution one – week nine

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Hello Folks,

I dragged myself out of bed pretty early this morning to walk my dog before my workout. Last time I ran with my dog, he wasn’t too happy when we arrived home. I decided to walk him first from now on, and then do my workout afterwards.

I did my Pyramid Training followed by Interval Training on the bike. I focused on a picture I posted of my ideal body while working out. One of the strategies I am using to lose weight is visualization.

I have been thinking about what it takes to succeed at a goal. There seems to be a general consensus that some of the most successful people in the world have experienced some kind of failure. Not only have they experienced failure, but massive failure; the kind of failure that could devastate some folks to no return. Somehow, through the process of losing everything or failing massively, certain individuals rise from the ashes.

What makes some rise like the Phoenix and others fall into a state of complete despair? I can only guess, but certainly it is worth studying those who succeed. Who are they? What did they do? How were they raised? What were their beliefs? The list of questions is endless.

Is it through mistakes that we really grow to become who we are? Let’s look at a child. When a child learns how to ride a bike, at first they are a little wobbly. They adjust and try again until they can peddle. Sometimes someone shows them how to ride, gives them tips. Eventually, after lots of practice they can ride really well. Let’s say that one day the kid rides on glass and gets a flat. One kid may chuck the bike and give up, never riding again. Another kid might bring the bike home and have the tire fixed and ride again.

My bike example is pretty basic, but the idea is that through trial and error we learn things. I suspect that the bigger risks we take the greater chance for failure and success. I suspect success and risk go hand and hand. The question then becomes, how much risk are we willing to take. How far out on the limb are we willing to go; and if at first we don’t succeed, will we try, try again?

Who better to teach someone how to succeed, than someone who has learned what NOT to do? Sometimes the best way to learn what not to do is to take those risks that may lead to failure.

Fear of failure is a powerful enemy. It keeps us from living up to our full potential. It keeps us at that the job we don’t like. It keeps us in a relationship that is no longer good for either person. It makes any kind of big decision difficult to make.

I think the first rule to follow in order to succeed in a weight loss goal is to strategize how you are going to deal with any failures that might come your way. I think by expecting success and planning for failure you can ultimately succeed. Take each failure as an opportunity to learn what to do; to use it to point the way can be very powerful.

Visualize success, Strategize for failure.

Exercise: Pyramid Training, Interval (bike – 30 min.)

Menu: Veggies and Protein

Until next time…

Think, Believe, Act, Achieve

Dakota

Today’s Mantra: Failure stripped away everything inessential. It taught me things about myself I could have learned no other way. ~J.K. Rowling

My first Vlog: Day 57

My First Vlog: Day 57

Evolution one – week nine

Monday, April 27, 2009

Hello Folks,

Today was another very busy day. I didn’t get a lot of sleep again last night, and I am feeling it! This morning I recorded my first video log. I am thinking it might be nice to use my vlogs to share with you my progress and strategies for weight loss as I continue to meet my goals.

Let me know what you think!

If you look to the right of this screen on the sidebar you will see two video collections. The top one is my first Vlog!

Exercise: Interval Training (35 mins. Spin), Pyramid Weight Training

Menu:Veggies and Protein

Until next time…

Think, Believe, Act, Achieve

Dakota

Today’s Mantra: When one eye is fixed upon your destination, there is only one eye left with which to find the Way

Evolution one – week eight

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Hello Folks,

Today was an action packed day, filled with running and kayaking and weight lifting. The kayaking actually took the longest. I went to the farmer’s market and back. It was such a beautiful day I had to get out!

This is going to be another brief blog posting, because I am sooo busy today!

I found a Quadathlon I am going to participate in to fulfill my goal for before I turn 40. More on that later!

Exercise: Pyramid weight lifting, Interval (Run – 30 mins.), Kayaking 2 hours

Menu: Veggies and Protein


Until next time…

Think, Believe, Act, Achieve

Dakota

Today’s Mantra: Better busy than bored.

Evolution one – week eight

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Hello Folks,

I had a very action packed day today. I love the weekends! I had softball practice, which is kind of like the bad news bears for me, because I am so bad. I make up for my lack of skills with lots of enthusiasm.

I had to squeeze in my workout this afternoon, which worked out fine. I timed it where I ate at least an hour before exercising, instead of right before. It is quite a challenge to try to eat 5 meals a day and make it so that I have at least an hour before and after exercise where I don’t eat. Sometimes I feel a little nauseous when I eat too close to exercising, anyway. Overall, I had a very good day.

I have a few thoughts I want to share about the four principles I am applying to my body transformation experiment.

Here are my thoughts...

The first principle I am using in my experiment is Think. The mind is a powerful tool; especially the mind of someone determined to achieve something, for good or bad.

The amount of desire someone has towards a goal will inevitably dictate the outcome. I have said this before, but I am going to say it again....it doesn’t mean the outcome won’t have a few twists along the way. I also think that if you are choosing a desired outcome there will be obstacles and challenges to test your strength.

It is a important that your heart is in line with your head...meaning that what you think you want consciously is connected to your hearts desire, ulimately. First, though, comes thought, which is, in part, connected to desire. The first thought becomes the idea. The idea is very important. Some say that if the idea comes to you three times then it means you are meant to follow it.

As someone who is always coming up with new ideas, sometimes I wonder which ones are fleeting and which ones are solid. What I find for myself is that there is this deep intuitive side dying to get out of this very mentally heady side. The deep intuitive side is actually the clearer side of the two, but also the most illogical.

Meaning, when you come up with an idea or when you plan to do something and everyone believes that it is not possible, that is the exact thing you must go after. Alright, maybe not all the time, but you get the point. That is why I study people who succeed despite support from others. It is helpful to see others are doing it and then try to experiment with some of their techniques.

One of my heroes is Rosa Parks, because of her incredible strength. I am sure many people thought she was crazy for sitting at the front of the bus, and yet, against all better judgment, she could no longer do what was against her heart. She believed, truly, that she deserved better, that she was equal to all people and that she was no longer going to allow others to dictate her position in society.

Helen Keller said it best when she said, either you make life a great adventure or nothing at all. I choose making life a great adventure.

Here are my pictures...



Here are my stats...

Day 1 Day 28 Day 56 Total dif.


Height:5 feet 4 in.
Weight:145.4 lbs. 133.5 lbs. 131.5 lbs. 13.9 lbs
Left thigh:22 in. 19 in. 19 in. 3 in.
Rt. thigh: 22 ½ in. 20 in. 19 ½ in. 3 in.
Waist:33 ¾ in. 29 ½ in. 28 in. 5 in.
Chest: 37 ½ in. 33 ½ in. 33 in. 4 ½ in.
Rt. bicep:12 ¼ in. 11 in. 10 ½ in. 1 ¾ in.
Left bicep:12 in. 11 in. 10 ½ in. 1 ½ in.

BF percentage: 20.5 percent

Exercise: Continuous Training

Menu: Veggies and Protein

Until next time…

Think, Believe, Act, Achieve

Dakota

Today’s Mantra: First you must Think

Sleep Deprivation Takes Its Toll: Day 54

Evolution one – week eight


Friday, April 24, 2009


Hello Folks,


I had another long day. I ended up working out in the afternoon, which was, actually, not too bad. I am really tired though. It is almost time for me to get some sleep, so I am going to keep this pretty short. I combined my continuous training with Interval training on a bike.

I was hoping to talk t a little bit about a detox diet I did a few years ago, but I will save it for tomorrow. I am too tired to think right now. So I am just going to post my pictures and see you tomorrow!


Exercise: Continuous Training (chest, shoulders, abs, back, quads, hams, biceps), Interval (bike – 20 mins.)


Menu: Veggies and Protein


Until next time…


Think, Believe, Act, Achieve


Dakota


Today’s Mantra: Get sleep now.

Evolution one – week eight

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Hello Folks,

Another Free day. Even on a free day I try to pay attention to how MUCH food I eat, but not WHAT I eat. Food is the more challenging discipline for me than exercise; so I know I have to be on top of things in that area. Also, I tend to feel better throughout the day when I don’t stuff myself. They say it takes your body 10 minutes to recognize that it is full; a good reason to eat slower!

I want to talk a little bit about Tai Chi Chuan. I did Tai Chi for seven years as a discipline. The form of Tai Chi I practiced was called Taoist Tai Chi . I learned a series of 108 slow movements that made up a form. Each movement had a symbolic meaning as well as a physical purpose. At first, I found it challenging, because I am an active person and I generally like faster paced activities. I also felt like I wasn’t getting any exercise from it.

However, since I first started practicing Tai Chi, I learned many things about how much it exercises the body; which means I can’t ignore the benefits. When I first started Tai Chi, I remember witnessing other people doing it and breathing hard. I remember, also, thinking to myself "why is he or she breathing so hard when I don’t feel anything at all?"

After a year of intense training, with lots of correction, I started to breath heavier while doing the set. After three years of training, I had my first realization about the discipline. My breathing was lining up with my movements. I was breathing through my belly instead of my chest. The more I practiced Tai Chi the stronger my body became.

I had knee surgery as a result of an old childhood injury, and recovered quickly. I think my fast recovery was because of Tai Chi. The Tai Chi movements (108 moves) are so slow, your muscles, ligaments and tendons become stronger without injury. It is like you are gently guiding your body to function more efficiently.

Supposedly, the movements help posture, balance, breathing and movement of blood and oxygen to all of your body’s organs. The idea is that you keep your body’s internal fluids moving and it acts as a lubricant for all of your joints and organs, which keep them from building up toxins and becoming hard and useless.

The movements keep your internal body young and supple. When I think about Tai Chi it reminds me of weight training. There are many fitness experts who recommend breathing through an exercise, and suggest slower movements to fully benefit from any given exercise; much like Tai Chi.

I wonder what Tai Chi blended with weight training would look like? I will have to experiment with that and report back. I will call it Tai Chi Weight Training (ha), stay tuned! Next time I am going to talk about toxins and weight and health.

Exercise: softball practice

Menu: anything I want

Until next time...

Think, Believe, Act, Achieve

Dakota

Today’s Mantra: Breath. Breath. Breath.