At this time tomorrow I will be on vacation for two weeks.  I am very excited.  I am planning on relaxing a lot and a weekend in Philly.  I am going down for my birthday and for Hannah’s birthday.  She will be three.  I got her an awesome present, definitely better then Uncle Mike’s.   Birthday or no birthday I have a great time when I go down.  Mostly I hang our with Mark, Kristen and the kids doing nothing but its really fun and really relaxing.  Who knew I could like children that much (although I did have fun with Richie’s family in Wisconsin so maybe I don’t hate kids).

When I am in Philly I will be going off the diet.  I have been excellent on the diet the whole time and I deserve a cheat weekend.  I am going to have pizza, chinese, mexican, a philly cheesesteak  and some good desserts.  I know that when I get back from Philly I will be back on the diet so I am not worried about going off.

Their are pics on my facebook page at 15 months, the one of my back is for all of you Red Sox fans.

I had a great vacation in Wisconsin.  I went to Noah’s Ark, went Kayaking and spent a lot of quality time with the Moore’s.  It was the best vacation I have had in years.  I didn’t do a whole lot overall but I relaxed and had fun.   I also bought two Green Bay Packer’s Tee’s.  I wanted a souvenir tee and those seemed like a good idea.

I decided after the triathlon that I wanted to do the same event next year and knock 15 minutes off of my time.  I hired a trainer at my gym, Mitch.  Mitch changed around my lifting routine, less muscle building more endurance building, a lot more core work (which was definitely needed).  We have had 5 sessions so far and I feel like I am getting better.  Today we had some extra time so I did sprints afterwards.  That sucked.  It was actually the first time I really have been able to do sprints since April and not worry about my calf.  I’ve also started a new triathlon training routine.  It has me running, biking and swimming by time rather then distance.  I am doing the training for an Olympic Tri so hopefully it will help me to improve my times on my sprint.

I’ve seen a bunch of movies this summer, some good some not as good.  Transformers 2 was awesome, especially in Imax.  Their is a fight scene between Optimus and like 8 decepticons and its so damn cool, especially in Imax.  Star Trek was good as was Fast and Furious, District 9 was interesting, but not something I’d buy on dvd, I liked GI Joe, my friends didn’t.    Summer movie season is over so now I sit and wait til New Moon comes out in November.

Going to Philly next weekend, this time I am flying though.  I am very excited to see The Taber’s.   Then I am flying to Florida for the winter on November 14th.  Thanks to Bonine I can fly without getting sick, which makes traveling a lot more fun.  I might even go to Vegas next year.

The ball joints went on my Lincoln.   Luckily it was when I was leaving my driveway.  It cost me more then I’d like to fix it but I have my car back.  I’ll have my dad’s truck to use in Florida so the Lincoln will get 4 or 5 months off.  I am so happy I am avoiding winter again.  Snow sucks.  Especially for people who like to run and bike outdoors.  I can deal with the cold for a bit, but it ruins exercising outside after a bit.

I’ll try to update more often but no guarantees.

Jason

My friends Mark and Paul completed in the triathlon.  Paul beat both of us and Mark beat me.  Mark and I were the same on the swim, he beat me by 38 seconds on the bike and 5 minutes on the run.  Paul was behind us in the swim, beat me by 3 seconds on the bike and kicked our ass on the run.  Good job boys.

Mark came up from Philly, John Sullivan came down from Maine and Ned Parker came over from Boston for the weekend.  We had a fantastic time eating dead cow and playing cards.  I hadn’t seen Ned in 10 years and John in 4 or 5.  It was definitely good to hang out with them.  I hope to see everyone again this time in less then 6 months rather then 5 or 10 years.

I have been on the diet now for over 13 months.  I am down to 284.  I am feeling great.  I am not feeling too deprived.  The weight is still dropping and the energy is still up.  I’ll continue going the way I am until my birthday weekend, have a 3 day weekend of cheats then think about moving onto the next stage of the diet.

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

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

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

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

Jason

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