I got lots of pain to dish out

June 23rd marked my one year on the diet.  Going by the scale at the gym I went from 600(ish)  to 292.    Yes I know that is amazing.  I feel a ton better.  I realise I’d probably be dead or at least stroked out if I hadn’t done something.    I know that is a sobering thought for most people, how do you think it makes me feel?

The diet is still going strong.  I have not cheated once in over a year, not drank anything but water.  I did celebrate my year with a low carb bar or two while watching Transformers 2 at the theater.  Of course I paid for it a few hours later.    We have another side of beef and a whole pig coming in two weeks, I am very excited.  I have started making my own pork rinds using fat back.  They actually come out damn good.

It’s been raining here for over 3 weeks.  I think we have had 3 days where I have had a chance to ride.  One I had to work, one I rode, the other I don’t recall.

I learned something on my ride on Monday.  I figured out why I love riding.  When I ride all I think about is riding.  I worry about the hill I am going up, am I going too fast, too slow, am I in the right gear, am I spinning enough, when is the next hill, am I saving enough energy for the next hill, is some maniac going to run me down.  While all this is going through my mind, it is the only thing going my mind.  I don’t worry about work, bills, friends, nothing but the ride.  If I ever write a book it will be called “it’s about the bike.”

The tri is less then 4 weeks away.  I am no way ready.  I am hoping to break 2 hours, I used to think 1:30 but I drove the route again and there are some really bad hills.  I’ll complete it but won’t be breaking any speed records.

Jason

First off I have to say congratulations to Bill and Kat, their wedding was a wonderful event.  I honestly have never seen a happier bride then Kat.  She had this huge smile on her face that you just couldn’t fake.  I hope she keeps that smile throughout their marriage and their both happy.  Also congrats to Ethan, you know why.

I have been on the diet now for over 11 months.  I have lost over 300 pounds.  I feel absolutely incredible compared to this time last year.  I am down to 298.6, which is an amazing feat for being less then a year.  I am hoping to be below 285 before the year comes but it’ll be a lot of work.

Training for the triathlon is going ok.  I met with a swim coach to improve my stroke.  I know I can do 1/3 a mile swim in 15 minutes, now I just need to be able to use less energy.   The running is coming along.  I just keep plotting along at my slow ass paced hoping miracoulously I am faster one day.  Lets hope.

Biking is awesome.  I am going to the local bike shop every other Thursday and Sunday to ride with the owner and a guy from work.  It’s great, I love riding.  I went mountain bike riding Sunday with Scott Taylor in CT and got owned.  Hills on a mountain bike are much different then on a road bike,

Diet is still going strong.  I am eating lots of meat, chicken and pork, a little fish and veggies and it’s going great.  My cravings and my gout are both under control.   I can’t decide if I should have a cheat after the triathlon or for my birthday.  I might just wait until my birthday.  Go to Maine and get my favorite foods for a day.  Who knows. I’m still going strong I might just keep that going.

My buddy Chuck, Atkins dude, has found a good balance between being on atkins and living his life.  He’ll go off the diet for occasions then hop right back on induction.  I am very glad that works for him and he is sticking with it.  I’ll so crush him in the tri but he’ll make it fun.

I am not sure I am going to Wisconsin this summer, things at work are not in an ideal position so I need to be smart.  We shall see though.  I have 5 weeks off between now and the second week of October.  I am taking the week after the tri off to recover and plan my future.  The rest, who has a clue.

Jason

My first real road bike.

I was finally able to get the Klein on the ride.  Man is that thing fast.  I love riding it.  I have to take it to the shop Thursday to get the derailleur adjusted but its a very nice ride, alot different then the mountain bike.  I’m hoping to get in the saddle as often as I can this year.

Diet is still going great.  I am almost below 300, a huge milestone.  I can’t wait.  I am still hitting the gym or doing cardio 2 times a day, 3 times on most work days.  I hope with the extra riding it will go down even faster.

The calf is healing.  I am back to running.  I did 2.5 miles on the track yesterday.  Thursday when I run again I am hoping to do the 5k.  We will see how I feel.  My lges are killing from leg day yesterday so we shall see.  Sometime in early June I will start brick training.  Later this month I will start riding the triathlon bike route.  I need to get as much training in as I can.  I am shooting to do the tri in under 1:30, a lofty goal but it’s what I am hoping for.

Hannaford was having a sale on lobster this week so I got two of them.  They were damn good.  They also have chicken leg quarters for 49 cents a pound.  I’ve bought 32 pounds so far and will probably buy more before the week is over.  I know a good deal when I see it.

Jason

Well I’ve been dieting and exercising for 10 months.  Things are going well.  I ran 1/2 mile on Thursday and my calf is just a little sore.  I am going to try and do a mile tomorrow.    The triathlon is 3 months away.  I will be ready.

Went to a bike shop Thursday night and got tires, a new seatpost and new shoes for the Klein.  I am going to pick it up and go riding with the owner of the bike shop Thursday if the weather allows it.  I went for a short bike ride today on my trek.  Four hills and I didn’t have to get off once.  I think tomorrow I will try riding to the gym.  Theirs a lot of hills doing that though, so we will see.

Diet’s as sound as ever.  Even made my rib roast today.  Came out pretty good.  I’m down below 310 and hope to be below 300 in early May.  Once I get their I am never going back, injury, depression, it doesn’t matter.

I bought a bedroom set a few weeks ago.  I even painted my bedroom.  I am trying to do the whole grown up thing and be more responsible.  Let me tell you, it can be quite a bit of work.  Growing up can definetely suck.

I wish I had more to say but I don’t.

Jason

Back in Massachusetts, it’s cold and wet.  I miss Florida.  I partially tore my right calf my first day back so no running or lifting my legs.  Still working out, just hate that I can’t run.  Really does suck.  Things are the same in Mass.   Well I did buy a bedroom set and painted my bedroom.  All part of growing up I guess.  I know it’s been a while since I posted but not much happens in my life.

Jason

w many of you out there can say you’ve run 5K (3.1 miles)?  I know their are plenty of people who say they can do it but how many that do?  I’ve done it, twice now.  Thursday was the first day, in 38:35, today I did it in 37:50.   I am really proud of myself for that.  I have never in my life run more then a mile until now.  Even as a kid we had to run the mile in school, and that was as far as I went. I’ve been able to swim the half mile forever, so now the only thing left is to bike the 12.4 miles.  I am hoping to do that today.  We will see how work goes.

Work has been crazy lately.  I’ve been oncall for what seems like an eternity.  I am off from work as of Wednesday though.  Making my way back north.  Going to stop off at The Taber’s in Philly for a few days.  If the weather is nice I plan to take Hannah and my camera to the zoo.  If not, we will find something else.

Florida has been great.  The weather is fantastic.  I’ve been hanging out with a guy who works at the gym.  We lift together and it helps to push me.  He’s smaller then me but a lot frigging stronger.  I’ll miss having that when I go back home.  My roommate lifts with me but he doesn’t push me, I need that.  I need someone stronger to make me push harder.

Life’s been hectic with work.  Weights still going down.  I am hoping to make it below 320 by Thursday.  I am about 4 lbs off but it might be doable.  We shall see.  I’ve discovered I can have very very small amounts of cheese.  Which I will save for the occasional salad and hot wings.  God do I love those hot wings.  Their so much work for so little meat but their damn yummy.

My roommate bought us a PS3 yesterday.  It is time to start a Bluray collection.  I had him pick me up Twilight of course.  He got a few others like Transformers, Black Hawk Down and Iron Man.  I cant wait to go home and check it out.  I do miss having the 60 inch tv to sit in front of and enjoy.

Not sure if I will post again before I leave, I’m going to try and take 9 month pictures (Today is 9 months on the diet) and post them soon.

Jason

I guess I haven’t updated for almost two weeks.  A lot going on…not.

Weight is still in the 330’s.  Been in it for over a week.  I must have eaten something that had more carbs then I realised or maybe my body is just holding onto the fat.  Either way it will go down.  Diet hasn’t really changed any.  I had today off from work so I went to lunch with my dad.  Ruby Tuesday’s, love the salad bar and hot wings.

Gym is still going quite well.  I haven’t been doing three times a day but I have been twice a day at least.  Running has been going great.  I am now up to 2.02 miles in 25 minutes.  I have two more weeks of couch to 5k then I am going to add in three minutes a week until I get to 5k.  I should be at 5k before I go home.

Still don’t know when I am going home.  Sometime in late March.  I don’t want to leave before I can run 5k or be able to do a 12.4 mile bike ride.  I haven’t ridden as much lately with the running, swimming and racquetball.  I started playing racquetball with the guy who works at the gym here.  His name is Rhett, he is 22 and in great shape.  I beat him the first two games, then he beat me 8 straight.  I came back and beat him last game though so there is hope.

I bought myself a new camera.  This one is a Nikon D80 DSLR.  This thing is awesome.  So far I have been to the Naval Air Museum and the Zoo.  You can visit my flickr page and check out all my pics.  Some are quite bad but I am just learning.  I hope to get good enough that lots of people like my work, not just me.

Jason

Today was a monumental day for me today.  I ran for 20 minutes straight.   I did Day 3, Week 5 of couch to 5k and it called for running 20 minutes straight.  I actually did it.  I am so happy.  I even averaged 4.45 MPH which is faster then any of my other runs.  I know this doesn’t mean a lot to people in shape but it means a hell of a lot to me.

The scale came Wednesday Night.  When it came I hopped on and came in at 359.  The next morning I was 355.  Today I started the day out at 349.  My goal now is to be 320 or below before I head home.  If I keep exercising hard it will be doable.  And if it kills me, I will keep exercising hard.  The weather is warming up here so I should be able to bike outside more often.  I went to the gym 3 times a day Monday thruough Thursday.  Worked out twice today.  Want to try and keep the 3 times a day on weekdays for at least two more weeks.  The extra cardio can only help.

Diet’s been clean as a whistle.  Not even close to anything off plan.  I continue to do great and will continue to do so.  My dad and I are getting a lot of the same staple foods at Sams and Walmart.  Glad I like repetition because I eat a lot of the same thing.  Yummy beef.

Jason

I am starving right now.  I didn’t really eat lunch, had a good amount of roasted pork loin and broccoli for dinner and just had a bit of leftover roast with hot sauce on it and I am still starving.    I wonder if I am somehow out of ketosis?  Eh who knows.

I woke up at 3:30am Thursday morning because my right knee was killing me.  Turns out I had gout in that knee, so I popped some pills, and went back to bed.  Thursday I still managed to lift and do 40 minutes on the elliptical but the pool was still closed so no swimming.  The knee hurt too much to bike and it was an off day for running.

Friday I woke up and my knee was worse.  It was hard to walk, and if I kept it bent or straight to long it was hard to undo.  I didn’t work out at all.  Instead I went to Ruby Tuesday’s for lunch with my dad and Texas Road House for dinner.  I had possibly the best prime rib of my life at Texas Roadhouse.  Was absolutely delicious.

Saturday I woke up and my knee was better, not 100% but better.  I did an hour on the elliptical, lifted and did 3 miles on my bike in my new bike shorts.  I didn’t want to push the knee on the bike.  I felt good with what I did and didn’t feel like I was lazy.

Today my knee was better but not 100%.  I finally did day 3 of week 4 of couch to 5k.  I only did 1.53 miles rather then the 1.57 I got out Wednesday but with the weaker now and pounding headache I am glad I pushed through.  This week will be the tough week.  Jogging 8 minutes at once is something I haven’t done in forever.  I also lifted today, did 40 minutes on the elliptical and 2/3 of a mile in the pool.  My knee may not be 100% but my body was willing and able.

I went back to my old lifting routine.  I realised a few things about my new routine.  It was working as it was designed but I need to get stronger first.  I am no where’s near being strong enough to do a pull up so first I must get stronger.  When I get back to mass I have been talking with some guys about doing a P90x challenge.  It all depends on if I can do a pull up and am under 300.  I will try hard for both.

My dad and I made a great trip to Sam’s today.  We got beef roast, rib-eyes, sirloin steaks (cheap and easy on the foreman for me) and another corned beef and cabbage.  My dad liked the one I made last week.   I will admit there isn’t a lot of variety in my diet.  I don’t eat much fish or a wide range of vegetables but what I do eat is damn good.    Someone asked me tonight when I was going off the diet.  My plan is to never go off it permanently.  I will go off for occasions, my birthday, Thanksgiving, maybe a party or something but low carbing is the only way I will ever not be morbidly obese.  I have accepted that and don’t really mind.

Jason