Quadathlon: Day 61

Evolution one – week nine

Friday, May 1, 2009

Hello Folks,

This afternoon I was able to fit my workout in after I left work. It definitely helps to get off work at 12:30 on Friday; I get so much more of my errands done. I ran around paying bills and buying dog food; stuff like that. When I came home I did my Continuous Training and Cardio workout.

As a way to continue to motivate myself on this weight loss journey; I am going to do a Quadathlon. It will give me a reason to not only cross-train, but also to train hard in the process. Originally, I had wanted to do a triathlon before I turn 40. I have always wanted to compete in a triathlon for as long as I can remember. I have competed in bike races and running races but not something with three exercises in one.

I love running and biking, but I am not a big fan of swimming. I am a pretty good swimmer, but my technique is weak. When I was little I had several drowning incidents. One time I was taking a class with other kids. I learned the front stroke, so I was doing pretty well. Then the teacher told us to doggy paddle across the pool. I started to doggy paddle with all the other kids but got tired quickly.

Because I sucked at it, half way across the pool I started to drown. The teacher told me to do the front stroke, but I was so panicked I didn’t understand her. She ended up jumping in and coaching me to swim the way I knew how. It was so embarrassing, I didn’t want to go back to the pool for a very long time.

Ever since that incident, I prefer to play in the water rather than swim laps or something. Anyway, I am not looking forward to the swimming part of the Quadathlon. The truth is, I was looking for a triathlon that has kayaking, biking and running- rather than swimming, biking and running. All I could find was this Quadathlon, which includes biking, running, swimming and kayaking.

When I found the Quadathlon on the internet I thought that it would be pretty cool to do. I was psyched that it included kayaking and I figure I will get over the swimming thing. What I like about this particular event is the distances for each event seem manageable to me.

It is called the Hendry Hudson Quadathlon. It will be held in Hudson, NY. It is an event to celebrate Henry Hudson’s historic voyage up the Hudson River. I will run high above the Hudson across the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, swim in Catskill Creek, cycle from Catskill to Athens along the bank of the Hudson and then paddle past the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse to finish in Hudson City. Sounds pretty cool huh?

It is a relatively short event, and who knows, if I really enjoy it I may do one or more of these every year for fun. The distances are pretty short too: run: 3.5 miles, Swim: ¼ mile, Bike: 7.1 miles, Kayak: 1.1 mile. It will be held on August 2nd. I am going to drive down with an old friend of mine, who is also interested in competing. Stay tuned for my video record of this historic event!

Exercise: Continuous Training, Interval (bike 30 mins.)

Menu: Veggies and Protein

Until next time…

Think, Believe, Act, Achieve

Dakota

Today’s Mantra: Better to kayak than swim; to run than walk; to bike than crawl

Exactly Two Months: Day 60

April 30, 2009: Day 60: Top pictures

March 3, 2009: Day 2: Bottom Pictures

Evolution one – week nine

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Hello Folks,

Today was a major recovery day for me. Last night I was hurting. A combination of no sleep for several nights in a row and getting my period took its toll on my body. Last night I even had one of those vivid dreams I get when I go into a deep sleep!

I took the day off from work to recover. Fortunately for me, today is a free day, so I didn’t exercise and I ate what I wanted. Frankly, I didn’t have too much of an appetite this afternoon, but I stuck to my 5 meals a day, just for good measure.

I have softball practice today, but the way I am feeling, I don’t think I could do much but catch the ball. I don’t feel too excited about running after the ball.

On days like this I usually take a hot bath. I try to use Epsom salt; about 2 cups in my bath does the trick. Apparently, Epsom Salt removes toxins from the body without making you feel tired after you bathe.

It is made up of Magnesium sulfate, which is absorbed through your skin during your bath. When you absorb Magnesium sulfate it is a natural way to draw toxins from your body, calm your nervous system, reduce swelling and relax your muscles. Sounds like a wonder drug to me.
I love to take baths when I have cramps because almost instantly the heat makes them go away. I used to take baths without Epsom Salt, until someone recommended trying it in my bath. I tried it and noticed a big difference in how I felt when I got out of the bath.

I take long baths, so I expect to be tired or drained a little bit, but whenever I used Epsom, I didn’t feel tired at all and my skin was soft instead of dry. Anyway, it worked for me; I felt much better afterwards!

Today is day 60; it has been exactly two month’s since I started this body transformation. In honor of today I am going to post my current front/ back pictures, along with my day 2 front/back pictures. Check out the difference! Something happened to my first day back picture; I accidentally deleted it, so I post my Day 2 pictures instead. I looked the same as I did on day one, so I don’t think it is a big deal. It is a bummer that I lost the first day 1 back picture though.


Exercise: none
Menu: whatever I want

Until next time…

Think, Believe, Act, Achieve

Dakota

Today’s Mantra: Better to bath and break and be happy than to suffer

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