So I forgot to weigh and measure myself on both the first and the second of the month. But I finally remembered on the third, and well, the results were less than desirable. I gained a pound of weight and a half inch on my belly. Not a huge deal in the long run to be honest, but it represents a possible trend that I can't allow to happen.
I've recently decided that long distance walking is what I want to do when I grow up. For those that are wandering, that's usually thought of in the 20+ mile range of distance. So the way I see it, the smaller I am and the better shape I'm in the better I'll be able to work toward that goal. Gaining weight isn't a bad thing in and of it's self, it's very likely that most of that pound was due to lean muscle gain. But the thing that really hit me was the belly gain. A half inch isn't that big of a deal, but it is when it's a consistent gain over several months or the next year. And I can't let that happen.
Long distance walking has struck a cord deep within my soul. With everything in me it's what I want to do. It's what I WILL be doing this year as I go from a 5k walk this weekend to a 10k walk in May to a half marathon in December. 2016 is just my primer for LDW, 2017 is when I'm gonna really hit it. But if I don't lock down my lifestyle now then I won't accomplish my goals moving forward. And I really really want these distances!
So that's why, as of this week, I'm taking what I've learned over the past 7 months and tweaking my dietstyle and workout regimen for the next three weeks as an experiment to see if I can buckle down and get my ass into gear. It's not going to be fun, but I need to stop bullshitting myself and quit pretending and start doing!
I. Am. Lazy. I know this about myself. But I'm not going to get what I want by being that way and I'm tired of riding the fence. I'm ready to head into the next phase of this journey I started way back on September 1st, so Phase 2 is officially starting...next week. ;)
Be well my friends and remember; Keep doing what you can now until you can do what you couldn't before. I love you all and I'll talk to you soonly.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
The March Tale Of the Tape
First thing this morning before heading out the door was to weigh and measure myself; and I'm happy to say that I saw losses in both areas. For the month of February I lost another three pounds of body weight and another half inch off of my waist. Today marks six months of me actively trying to lose weight through a better diet and better physical activity. So for the six months I've lost a total of 15 pounds and 5 inches off of my waist. I am EXTREMELY happy with that!
Not only have I lost weight and inches but I've also gained distance. On October 17th of last year I walked my first full mile, post-wheelchair. This past weekend I doubled that distance with a trail hike with my girls. And I'll be honest, trail miles are a lot longer than track miles. lol
I feel great! I'm loving the direction my life is going right now with my mobility, my becoming a Community Captain for Active Southern West Virginia and an Ambassador for the Move It Monday organization. I'm also getting my daughter more active with archery, strength training and self defense as well as challenging others to walk 31 miles with me this month in the "31 Miles In March" walking challenge.
This has definitely been a learning experience both in nutrition and exercise and it continues to be. As I see what works best for me and what doesn't I'm better able to tailor my diet and activity to what best suites ME instead of trying a cookie cutter approach and constantly failing. This way I learn and grow as I need to, not as someone else tells me I need to, and That has made this experience 100 times more enjoyable for me.
Well me friends, that's it for now, as I've mentioned I'd still like to update this blog more regularly than once a month and so that will be something else I will strive for in the next six months of this journey.
Until then I wish you peace, happiness, success, hope and light. Namaste.
Not only have I lost weight and inches but I've also gained distance. On October 17th of last year I walked my first full mile, post-wheelchair. This past weekend I doubled that distance with a trail hike with my girls. And I'll be honest, trail miles are a lot longer than track miles. lol
I feel great! I'm loving the direction my life is going right now with my mobility, my becoming a Community Captain for Active Southern West Virginia and an Ambassador for the Move It Monday organization. I'm also getting my daughter more active with archery, strength training and self defense as well as challenging others to walk 31 miles with me this month in the "31 Miles In March" walking challenge.
This has definitely been a learning experience both in nutrition and exercise and it continues to be. As I see what works best for me and what doesn't I'm better able to tailor my diet and activity to what best suites ME instead of trying a cookie cutter approach and constantly failing. This way I learn and grow as I need to, not as someone else tells me I need to, and That has made this experience 100 times more enjoyable for me.
Well me friends, that's it for now, as I've mentioned I'd still like to update this blog more regularly than once a month and so that will be something else I will strive for in the next six months of this journey.
Until then I wish you peace, happiness, success, hope and light. Namaste.
Monday, February 1, 2016
February Weigh In & Measure
It's the first of the month and for me that means Weigh & Measure Day. I'd reminded my wife last night, as she ensures an accurate waist measure, that today was the day and to not forget in the morning. She said she wouldn't and to not worry. This morning I was the one that had forgotten all about it but she was awesome enough to set the scale out for me so I wouldn't eat or drink anything before I weighed myself. So thanks to her I was able to get accurate numbers first thing this morning.
So here they are. I lost nothing from my waist, but I lost another 3 pounds of weight. So for the 3rd month in a row my waistline has stayed the same while some pounds have come off. I'm not exactly sure what that means, I guess that I'm losing fat in other parts of my body but just not my waist? I'm not really sure. What I do know is that three months of seeing no change in the waistline means I've hit a plateau of some sort. I also know that I need to up my cardio game and take in less liquid calories. And that's exactly what I'm going to be changing this month and moving forward with; More cardio and less liquid calories.
I guess a lot of people might get a little discouraged or frustrated at this point, but I'm not. I've been right here the entire time so I know what I've done and not done. I'm 100% responsible for my physical outcome up to this point. And while I may not have seen a loss in one area, I have seen a loss in another. But more important than that, to me at least, is how I feel physically, spiritually and emotionally. And that's "Good!"
I feel good. I feel stronger, I feel more alive, I feel good about myself for being active and losing weight, I feel good about connecting with other like minded people who also want to be active, I feel good that I'm physically able to become a Community Captain for Active Southern West Virginia and help lead and encourage other people to become more active in their own lives and I feel good that my daughter is also becoming more active, taking up regular exercise and strength training and moving forward into something that she can very realistically make her own, because of my example.
Sure, I lost absolutely 0 from my waist this past 3 months, but that doesn't mean that I wont from this point forward. And it's in no way a representation of everything I've gained these past months. And at the end of the day, I'm more satisfied with what I've already gained than with what I haven't lost yet. :)
Alright, that's it for today. But before I go I want to remind you of something Arthur Ashe said, "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." Pretty powerful stuff from just 3 short sentences, huh. But Oh-So true.
Have a meaningful Today everyone and I will talk to you soonly. Namaste.
So here they are. I lost nothing from my waist, but I lost another 3 pounds of weight. So for the 3rd month in a row my waistline has stayed the same while some pounds have come off. I'm not exactly sure what that means, I guess that I'm losing fat in other parts of my body but just not my waist? I'm not really sure. What I do know is that three months of seeing no change in the waistline means I've hit a plateau of some sort. I also know that I need to up my cardio game and take in less liquid calories. And that's exactly what I'm going to be changing this month and moving forward with; More cardio and less liquid calories.
I guess a lot of people might get a little discouraged or frustrated at this point, but I'm not. I've been right here the entire time so I know what I've done and not done. I'm 100% responsible for my physical outcome up to this point. And while I may not have seen a loss in one area, I have seen a loss in another. But more important than that, to me at least, is how I feel physically, spiritually and emotionally. And that's "Good!"
I feel good. I feel stronger, I feel more alive, I feel good about myself for being active and losing weight, I feel good about connecting with other like minded people who also want to be active, I feel good that I'm physically able to become a Community Captain for Active Southern West Virginia and help lead and encourage other people to become more active in their own lives and I feel good that my daughter is also becoming more active, taking up regular exercise and strength training and moving forward into something that she can very realistically make her own, because of my example.
Sure, I lost absolutely 0 from my waist this past 3 months, but that doesn't mean that I wont from this point forward. And it's in no way a representation of everything I've gained these past months. And at the end of the day, I'm more satisfied with what I've already gained than with what I haven't lost yet. :)
Alright, that's it for today. But before I go I want to remind you of something Arthur Ashe said, "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." Pretty powerful stuff from just 3 short sentences, huh. But Oh-So true.
Have a meaningful Today everyone and I will talk to you soonly. Namaste.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Two Weeks In
So here we are, two weeks into the new year already. How are you doing? Did you make and resolutions for 2016? I didn't make any resolutions myself, not that there's anything wrong with those who did, but I did set a goal for this year. To walk a collective 100 miles. Well, there's a bit more to it than that.
You see, last year I found a walking challenge set up by the Chief of the West Virginia State Park System called "The Chief's challenge( I know, original) and decided that that would be a perfect motivator to get myself and my family outdoors more this year. Specifically, out into our state parks. So, my wife and I both signed up and awaited the new year. Ah, but there's still more yet.
In waiting for the new year to dawn so we could start racking up miles, I found a second walking challenge. The U.S. National Park Service is turning 100 this year, 2016, and so they issued a (very) similar challenge to the Chief's. Their challenge, at least it is for National Parks in West Virginia, was to walk 100 miles on their trails within three specific parks. Now, this isn't very difficult to do as these parks have miles and miles of trail. But, a second 100 mile challenged? Yup!
You see, I told my wife that when I was able to walk again that I would never take it for granted, EVER! So what good is working my ass off and going through everything I did to reach the goal of being a "walker" again if I'm not going to use it? Answer: No good. That's where 200 miles of trail walks spit evenly between West Virginia's state parks and national parks comes in. It's a fun, exciting, ehhhh plausible goal for me and my family to shoot for during the entire year.
"But Levi," some may ask "can you walk that far? What if you don't complete one or either of the challenges? Won't you feel as though you've failed?" HA! Hell no I won't feel like I failed. I'll feel like I got outside more than I have in years. I'll feel like I've walked more miles in our state's wild places than I have in years. And I'll feel like I walked further than I have in years. How in the world can I feel like a failure when I'll have accomplished so much?
So there you have it folks, my goal is to walk 100 miles this year...twice. If nothing else, it'll be exciting.
Have a great day and remember; Keep doing what you can, until you can do what you couldn't before.
You see, last year I found a walking challenge set up by the Chief of the West Virginia State Park System called "The Chief's challenge( I know, original) and decided that that would be a perfect motivator to get myself and my family outdoors more this year. Specifically, out into our state parks. So, my wife and I both signed up and awaited the new year. Ah, but there's still more yet.
In waiting for the new year to dawn so we could start racking up miles, I found a second walking challenge. The U.S. National Park Service is turning 100 this year, 2016, and so they issued a (very) similar challenge to the Chief's. Their challenge, at least it is for National Parks in West Virginia, was to walk 100 miles on their trails within three specific parks. Now, this isn't very difficult to do as these parks have miles and miles of trail. But, a second 100 mile challenged? Yup!
You see, I told my wife that when I was able to walk again that I would never take it for granted, EVER! So what good is working my ass off and going through everything I did to reach the goal of being a "walker" again if I'm not going to use it? Answer: No good. That's where 200 miles of trail walks spit evenly between West Virginia's state parks and national parks comes in. It's a fun, exciting, ehhhh plausible goal for me and my family to shoot for during the entire year.
"But Levi," some may ask "can you walk that far? What if you don't complete one or either of the challenges? Won't you feel as though you've failed?" HA! Hell no I won't feel like I failed. I'll feel like I got outside more than I have in years. I'll feel like I've walked more miles in our state's wild places than I have in years. And I'll feel like I walked further than I have in years. How in the world can I feel like a failure when I'll have accomplished so much?
So there you have it folks, my goal is to walk 100 miles this year...twice. If nothing else, it'll be exciting.
Have a great day and remember; Keep doing what you can, until you can do what you couldn't before.
Sunday, January 3, 2016
New Year, New First Of the Month, New Weigh and Measure
Wow, what a crazy last few weeks. Between Christmas, New Years, the amazing success of #walkwithlevi and another first of the month weigh in, it has been exhausting. But it's been a good exhausting.
So let me just jump right to the weigh and measure first. I forgot to do it on the first until I was halfway through breakfast. We stopped eating and did it anyway but decided to do it again the next day. So the results I'm going with are from the 2nd of January; I lost 6 pounds of weight but my waistline didn't change. No increase, no decrease. Looking at me it doesn't seem to be from lean muscle mass and the wifey says she can see a decrease in body fat so I figure that's where the 6 pounds came from, just not from the belly. Is that normal? I have no idea. lol I'm still new to this weight loss thing. But hey, I'll take it.
Also to report is that I walked a mile on the first of the year with Dozens of people all around the world to bring in the new year well, to celebrate my walking again and to commemorate my first video for my journey to leave the wheelchair behind. I can't tell you what an amazing day that was or how wonderful I felt knowing that I was walking with so any people by my side. Hell, my dust allergies are starting to act up again just remembering it. But I do want to say, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, you all freaking rock!
And in case you were interested, the wife and I have signed up for TWO 100 mile walking challenges, I'm doing a 4000 push up challenge, I have a goal set to walk a 5k on or before the last day of spring, I'll be starting a 52 week photography challenge aaaaand I'll be getting my driver's license back this year too. :) So yeah, it's going to be an epic new year.
I hope you all have a great night/day and remember, YOU can accomplish great things. I believe in you, now go get started.
So let me just jump right to the weigh and measure first. I forgot to do it on the first until I was halfway through breakfast. We stopped eating and did it anyway but decided to do it again the next day. So the results I'm going with are from the 2nd of January; I lost 6 pounds of weight but my waistline didn't change. No increase, no decrease. Looking at me it doesn't seem to be from lean muscle mass and the wifey says she can see a decrease in body fat so I figure that's where the 6 pounds came from, just not from the belly. Is that normal? I have no idea. lol I'm still new to this weight loss thing. But hey, I'll take it.
Also to report is that I walked a mile on the first of the year with Dozens of people all around the world to bring in the new year well, to celebrate my walking again and to commemorate my first video for my journey to leave the wheelchair behind. I can't tell you what an amazing day that was or how wonderful I felt knowing that I was walking with so any people by my side. Hell, my dust allergies are starting to act up again just remembering it. But I do want to say, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, you all freaking rock!
And in case you were interested, the wife and I have signed up for TWO 100 mile walking challenges, I'm doing a 4000 push up challenge, I have a goal set to walk a 5k on or before the last day of spring, I'll be starting a 52 week photography challenge aaaaand I'll be getting my driver's license back this year too. :) So yeah, it's going to be an epic new year.
I hope you all have a great night/day and remember, YOU can accomplish great things. I believe in you, now go get started.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Feeling Good
I haven't written anything since the first of the month so I figured I'd do that today. Today is a rest day for me, which means no exercise and no cardio. For the month of December I started a 30 day yoga challenge so I'll do today's session along with a ten minute walk, but other than that it's just rest and recover.
I'm still on track with what, when and how I eat and it's constantly exciting because we're trying so many new things. From spices to specific foods to whole dishes, our weeks always have something new in them culinarily speaking.
As for my walking, yesterday I did my second 6000 foot walk. It was great! I did it about 8 minutes faster than last week and I was way less tired than the last time as well. I think next week or the week after I may bump it up to 6500 feet. I'm still planning on completing a 5k walk on or before the last day of Spring 2016 and it feels like I'm well on track for that.
Overall things are going well, I'm feeling so much better than I have in years and we're getting out more and exploring places we've not been to. We've signed up for a 100 mile state park challenge where we walk a cumulative 100 miles in West Virginia's state parks. We're already making plans for new parks, more camping and hiking trips and just more general outdoors stuff. 100 miles is a lofty goal but we want to see how many miles we can clock in the parks over the course of a year.
Ok, I think that's enough torture with my mundanery(is that even a real word?). I will release you of this turmoil and wish you a happy, meaningful and accomplished Today.
Keep doing what you can until you can do what you couldn't before.
I'm still on track with what, when and how I eat and it's constantly exciting because we're trying so many new things. From spices to specific foods to whole dishes, our weeks always have something new in them culinarily speaking.
As for my walking, yesterday I did my second 6000 foot walk. It was great! I did it about 8 minutes faster than last week and I was way less tired than the last time as well. I think next week or the week after I may bump it up to 6500 feet. I'm still planning on completing a 5k walk on or before the last day of Spring 2016 and it feels like I'm well on track for that.
Overall things are going well, I'm feeling so much better than I have in years and we're getting out more and exploring places we've not been to. We've signed up for a 100 mile state park challenge where we walk a cumulative 100 miles in West Virginia's state parks. We're already making plans for new parks, more camping and hiking trips and just more general outdoors stuff. 100 miles is a lofty goal but we want to see how many miles we can clock in the parks over the course of a year.
Ok, I think that's enough torture with my mundanery(is that even a real word?). I will release you of this turmoil and wish you a happy, meaningful and accomplished Today.
Keep doing what you can until you can do what you couldn't before.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
The Numbers Don't Lie
As I am with every weigh-in and measure, I was apprehensive about this one. I didn't physically feel different, and to me I didn't look any different either. I also know what I did, or rather didn't do, this past month diet and exercise related. However, any feelings of doubt or reservation seems to have been in vain because the numbers tell a different story.
I measured my waist 3 times to make sure the numbers were correct, because as I mentioned above I didn't feel as though I'd made any progress. But the "tale of the tape" had a different story. I lost another 2 1/4 inches from my belly and I dropped an additional 2 pounds of overall weight. Again, I don't believe this weight loss is muscle due to things still getting tighter on me, (that I CAN see and feel) more defined and even bigger in some cases. So I can only assume that the weight loss is in fat. I mean, obviously I dropped fat as the belly is smaller, but the weight shows a drop as well.
So over all I'm extremely happy with today's numbers and honestly a little surprised. But hey, I'll take them and gladly not complain about them. lol
Ok, that's it for this weigh and measure. I hope you have a meaningful Today and I want you to remember something throughout your day and week; You CAN do what you set your mind to do. But you need to start before you can finish.
I measured my waist 3 times to make sure the numbers were correct, because as I mentioned above I didn't feel as though I'd made any progress. But the "tale of the tape" had a different story. I lost another 2 1/4 inches from my belly and I dropped an additional 2 pounds of overall weight. Again, I don't believe this weight loss is muscle due to things still getting tighter on me, (that I CAN see and feel) more defined and even bigger in some cases. So I can only assume that the weight loss is in fat. I mean, obviously I dropped fat as the belly is smaller, but the weight shows a drop as well.
So over all I'm extremely happy with today's numbers and honestly a little surprised. But hey, I'll take them and gladly not complain about them. lol
Ok, that's it for this weigh and measure. I hope you have a meaningful Today and I want you to remember something throughout your day and week; You CAN do what you set your mind to do. But you need to start before you can finish.
Sunday, November 22, 2015
It's Not "Cheating", It's Eating!
I really dislike the use of the word "cheat" in reference to eating something. You're not deceiving by trickery, you're not depriving by trickery, you're not misleading anyone, you're not eluding anything, you're not acting dishonestly, you're not deliberately violating any game's rules and you're not being sexually unfaithful. That food, that meal, that day, that weekend, that snack, that drink are not cheats. They are only exactly what they are, a snack, a drink, a meal etc. You are doing nothing wrong. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You have no reason to hide that behavior. You have no need to berate yourself or beat yourself up over eating anything. You have not failed. What you did was simply consume something. Your dietstyle is a long term endeavor, things will even themselves out in the long run with all of the other healthy things you're already doing in your life or will be doing in the future. Remember, moderation.
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Still Going Strong
So I'm 67 days into this dietstyle change and I'm still feeling good; physically and emotionally. How much, if any, weight and waist I'll have lost by next weigh in seems to always be in the back of my mind. But I don't think it's a worry or concern so much as it feels like it's just a constant reminder of why I'm eating the way I am and why I'm putting myself through things that make me sore the next day. It's like climbing a mountain and looking up every so often, not to punish yourself or to cause yourself any pain but to remind yourself where you're going and why.
I've also been very fortunate in that I have a great support team here at home. My wife and daughter have really put up with a lot and dealt well with the shift in their diets. I told my wife that she and my daughter didn't have to eat the same way I was going to be, but seeing that it was going to be healthier for them they've decided to adapt to it...mostly. Which is fine because I don't expect them to be on this journey for the same thing as I, weight loss. This was a personal endeavor and one I wasn't going to force on either of them. But it is nice to see that, for the most part, they're walking the walk right beside me.
An additional bonus to the new dietstyle was that my wife has lost a total of 13 pounds simply from changing what she eats. And probably from her new job, but mostly from changing what she eats, I'm sure of it. ;) It's not easy to make an overhaul of what you eat, food can be VERY habit forming, but she did it without one word of complaint. I'm both grateful for her and proud of her for sticking to it and losing the weight she has so far.
Alright folks, that's it for this week's installment. I will talk to you all again next week.
Have a good Today and remember, being happy with who you are happens at any weight.
I've also been very fortunate in that I have a great support team here at home. My wife and daughter have really put up with a lot and dealt well with the shift in their diets. I told my wife that she and my daughter didn't have to eat the same way I was going to be, but seeing that it was going to be healthier for them they've decided to adapt to it...mostly. Which is fine because I don't expect them to be on this journey for the same thing as I, weight loss. This was a personal endeavor and one I wasn't going to force on either of them. But it is nice to see that, for the most part, they're walking the walk right beside me.
An additional bonus to the new dietstyle was that my wife has lost a total of 13 pounds simply from changing what she eats. And probably from her new job, but mostly from changing what she eats, I'm sure of it. ;) It's not easy to make an overhaul of what you eat, food can be VERY habit forming, but she did it without one word of complaint. I'm both grateful for her and proud of her for sticking to it and losing the weight she has so far.
Alright folks, that's it for this week's installment. I will talk to you all again next week.
Have a good Today and remember, being happy with who you are happens at any weight.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
60 Days Later
So the first thing I did after my morning ablutions was weigh and measure myself. My habit is to have a glass of water by my bedside for when I'm thirsty at night or in the morning, that way when I get up first thing in the morning I can start working on rehydrating myself for the coming day. I couldn't do that today because I didn't want that to affect my numbers, and I had a powerful thirst today. HAHA
Let's get to the numbers. I gained 2 pounds of weight. But I lost another full inch off my waist. So what I'm thinking is that I've lost more fat in the past 30 days but gained more muscle, 2 pounds worth. This is why I weigh AND measure myself. If I were going off of the scale alone I may be a little discouraged. But with that other number added into the equation, my waist size, it offers a better picture of my journey. That's why I feel a scale should never be the solitary means of determining your "success" in weight loss.
There you have it, success and progress at the 60 day mark. I'm encouraged and excited for the next weigh in. I'm cutting back even more on the vodka(I know, it sounds like I drink all day long. But I really don't) and increasing my cardio a bit more each day, so my 90 day weigh in and measure should show even more progress.
Have a great Today everyone and remember, just keep doing what you know is healthy and you'll see results along the way and in the end.
Let's get to the numbers. I gained 2 pounds of weight. But I lost another full inch off my waist. So what I'm thinking is that I've lost more fat in the past 30 days but gained more muscle, 2 pounds worth. This is why I weigh AND measure myself. If I were going off of the scale alone I may be a little discouraged. But with that other number added into the equation, my waist size, it offers a better picture of my journey. That's why I feel a scale should never be the solitary means of determining your "success" in weight loss.
There you have it, success and progress at the 60 day mark. I'm encouraged and excited for the next weigh in. I'm cutting back even more on the vodka(I know, it sounds like I drink all day long. But I really don't) and increasing my cardio a bit more each day, so my 90 day weigh in and measure should show even more progress.
Have a great Today everyone and remember, just keep doing what you know is healthy and you'll see results along the way and in the end.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Slow and Steady
I still can't see a difference with the amount of belly fat I have, although other people have said they can. I can't feel anything different like a lifting of weight off of my shoulders, or more accurately my knees. But I don't need to right now. Because I know that what I'm doing is better for me and better for my family, they've adopted many of my eating choices now, and that this is a long haul journey. I gave myself a year's time to lose some weight. I really didn't have a number locked in my head so much as I just wanted to be not like I was when I started this journey. HAHA And that's good because I was, and still am honestly, carrying around a LOT of extra baggage. Which would put me in an early grave had I not decided to do something about it. I'm just now getting my ability to walk back, I need all the time I can get to explore this planet with my family.
I'll be honest, I'll be a little disappointed if I've not lost some pounds and some inches. But I'll be disappointed in myself. I've been here for the entire thing so far, made every decision, ate what I did, drank what I did, skipped what I did. I know, and I know who's fault it will be if I've not lost anything. But, I also know that this is a long term endeavor. 60 days should not determine the success or failure of doing something for the rest of my life. I'll look at what I did, and didn't, do this past month and I'll make adjustments. Tweaks. Hacks. Changes. Whatever you'd like to call them, but that's what I'll do. Because if I do too much, I'll end up quitting. So I have to ease into it, but once I'm good to go there won't be any stopping me. It's a learning experience, just like life itself. Life takes time to learn, so too will this.
So stop by again this Sunday for the weigh in and measure. Let's see what, if anything, I've lost.
I hope you all have a Today of progress with something in you lives and remember, even the smallest measurement adds up to great distances.
I'll be honest, I'll be a little disappointed if I've not lost some pounds and some inches. But I'll be disappointed in myself. I've been here for the entire thing so far, made every decision, ate what I did, drank what I did, skipped what I did. I know, and I know who's fault it will be if I've not lost anything. But, I also know that this is a long term endeavor. 60 days should not determine the success or failure of doing something for the rest of my life. I'll look at what I did, and didn't, do this past month and I'll make adjustments. Tweaks. Hacks. Changes. Whatever you'd like to call them, but that's what I'll do. Because if I do too much, I'll end up quitting. So I have to ease into it, but once I'm good to go there won't be any stopping me. It's a learning experience, just like life itself. Life takes time to learn, so too will this.
So stop by again this Sunday for the weigh in and measure. Let's see what, if anything, I've lost.
I hope you all have a Today of progress with something in you lives and remember, even the smallest measurement adds up to great distances.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Food Cravings? Not So Much.
I've been very fortunate with my dietstyle change as I've not really craved any food that I've either stopped eating or just don't eat very much of. Sure, there are the tastes of certain foods I miss like ham & pork bacon. But there aren't any I just absolutely have to have. I think part of that is because we're trying so many new dishes that I don't really have time to dwell on food I don't have any more. Plus I also think that once I had made the decision in my head to do this, my thought process about food changed as well. Very similar to how I stopped smoking cigarettes, conscious decisions. So ya, I've been fortunate.
Also, quitting soda has not been nearly as difficult as I had thought it would be. I think I've had actual soda maybe 3 times since September 1st. That number includes all of the times we've eaten out at restaurants, which is like 2 - 3 times a month. Now I just drink A LOT of water. Or rather I try too. It's not so much that I dislike water as it is that hydrating is such a chore most of the time. And before anyone says anything, yes I'm conscious of and careful about drinking too much, I know it can cause hyponatremia in extreme situations. Just one more thing to keep in mind while being mindful of my body.
Alright folks, that's it for my weekly blog post. I'll see you all sometime next week when I have something new in mind to write about. Until then I hope you have a meaningful Today.
Also, quitting soda has not been nearly as difficult as I had thought it would be. I think I've had actual soda maybe 3 times since September 1st. That number includes all of the times we've eaten out at restaurants, which is like 2 - 3 times a month. Now I just drink A LOT of water. Or rather I try too. It's not so much that I dislike water as it is that hydrating is such a chore most of the time. And before anyone says anything, yes I'm conscious of and careful about drinking too much, I know it can cause hyponatremia in extreme situations. Just one more thing to keep in mind while being mindful of my body.
Alright folks, that's it for my weekly blog post. I'll see you all sometime next week when I have something new in mind to write about. Until then I hope you have a meaningful Today.
Monday, October 19, 2015
I Walked a Half Mile...Twice!
So this past Saturday was the big day, the day I was supposed to finally walk a half mile and reach the goal I'd set for myself on the first of the year.
Damn it was chilly out! It was like 48 degrees that day with about a 3 - 5 mph constant wind. But damn was it beautiful! Bright, crisp, sunny with great, high clouds for as far as you could see. Beautiful! And along with my girls, I was accompanied by my brother and sister-in-law Ed and Teri, and our good friend Heather. At 1:00pm on the dot the six of us set out to walk a half mile. Everyone was in good spirits despite the temp. and we were joking and talking the entire way.
Before I even realized what had happened the half mile point was within easy walking distance and so I reached it with much support and celebration from my friends and family. But I put a twist on it...MWAHAHAHAHA! I had decided that depending on how easy the half mile was, I was going to push on and do a mile. If the half mile was difficult, I'd call it a day and still have accomplished what I set out to do that day. Well, as I said the half mile point was right ahead of me before I even knew what had happened and I decided to push on through. So as I was recording my my half mile accomplishment I said that we had to get back to our cars and to do that we were going to turn around and go back, walking a full mile by the time we were done. And that's exactly what we did.
It took me 10 months to go from barely being able to walk like 26 feet to being able to walk a mile. I went from being wheelchair dependent to now only using it as a platform to do certain exercises on...and using it when I have long times spent in grocery stores. I got up out of my wheelchair and I overcame years of destruction to my joints, years of weakening of my muscles and years of feeling defeated. And I did it all because I wanted to badly enough, because I wanted to walk again. A decision, and the willpower to follow through with it, was all it was.
So just think, with a decision and the willpower to follow through with it, what amazing thing can YOU do today, tomorrow, 10 months from now? ANYTHING YOU SET YOUR MIND TO! Trust me, I know. And I'm not even done with that part of my journey yet. I've decided to start working towards distance walking and I've set another goal for myself with just that in mind. I will complete a 5k walk before the last day of Spring, 2016. 3.1 miles. Sounds like fun, eh? HAHAHA! If nothing else it'll be entertaining to watch.
Have a great Today and remember, where you are now never has to be where you stay
Damn it was chilly out! It was like 48 degrees that day with about a 3 - 5 mph constant wind. But damn was it beautiful! Bright, crisp, sunny with great, high clouds for as far as you could see. Beautiful! And along with my girls, I was accompanied by my brother and sister-in-law Ed and Teri, and our good friend Heather. At 1:00pm on the dot the six of us set out to walk a half mile. Everyone was in good spirits despite the temp. and we were joking and talking the entire way.
Before I even realized what had happened the half mile point was within easy walking distance and so I reached it with much support and celebration from my friends and family. But I put a twist on it...MWAHAHAHAHA! I had decided that depending on how easy the half mile was, I was going to push on and do a mile. If the half mile was difficult, I'd call it a day and still have accomplished what I set out to do that day. Well, as I said the half mile point was right ahead of me before I even knew what had happened and I decided to push on through. So as I was recording my my half mile accomplishment I said that we had to get back to our cars and to do that we were going to turn around and go back, walking a full mile by the time we were done. And that's exactly what we did.
It took me 10 months to go from barely being able to walk like 26 feet to being able to walk a mile. I went from being wheelchair dependent to now only using it as a platform to do certain exercises on...and using it when I have long times spent in grocery stores. I got up out of my wheelchair and I overcame years of destruction to my joints, years of weakening of my muscles and years of feeling defeated. And I did it all because I wanted to badly enough, because I wanted to walk again. A decision, and the willpower to follow through with it, was all it was.
So just think, with a decision and the willpower to follow through with it, what amazing thing can YOU do today, tomorrow, 10 months from now? ANYTHING YOU SET YOUR MIND TO! Trust me, I know. And I'm not even done with that part of my journey yet. I've decided to start working towards distance walking and I've set another goal for myself with just that in mind. I will complete a 5k walk before the last day of Spring, 2016. 3.1 miles. Sounds like fun, eh? HAHAHA! If nothing else it'll be entertaining to watch.
Have a great Today and remember, where you are now never has to be where you stay
Thursday, October 1, 2015
My First Numbers Day
Today is the first of the month and that means weigh and measure. But before I give you the numbers there's a few things I'd like to tell you.
First is that there are only two numbers I'll be checking over the course of the next 11 months; My waist measurment and my body weight. Oh, and they're listed in order of importance...waist and then weight. I started this dietstyle journey because I have a big belly, it's just a big pile of fat waiting to kill me. I don't want that to be the case, so here we are today. Now I know a lot of factors affect weight loss/gain. I also know not to live by the scale alone. But I also know that it can have it's place as an accompaniment tool and that's why I'm including it.
The next thing is that I had not measured myself or weighed myself for the full 30 days. So that means that the numbers I saw this morning I saw for the very first time today. And I'll be honest, I was surprised at what I got. I've drank way too much Vodka and did way too little cardio during the past month and I wasn't expecting to get good results. Consequently, the too much vodka and too little cardio has been adjusted for the coming months. As a matter of fact, I had to wait until after my morning walk and cardio workout before I could sit down and write this up.
The last thing, and this is the important one here, it that I feel so much better than I did when I started this on September 1st. I'm seeing changes, in how I feel AND how I look, that weren't there before I started eating healthier and for me that's the most exciting part of this journey so far. I just feel...Good! HAHAHA
Ok, Ok, Ok, enough with the babbling, here it is...I lost 3 pounds of weight and 1 1/4 inches off my waist.
Yes, I'm a little disappointed. I was expecting a few more pounds to have come off. But everything I did this past month I did knowing full well the effect it would have on my body. I've seen an increase in muscle definition just about all over. Nothing huge, mind you, but noticeable. AND I have an even better model to work from in how I should be doing things moving forward. So after a month's time, I'm a better me than I was before. And at the end of the day, that's all I can hope for. So that's it for September.
Have a great Today everyone and remember, every mile journeyed is made up by inches walked.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Control the Head and the Body Will Follow
I once heard a martial arts instructor say if you control the head the body will follow. This was in reference to defending one's self against an attacker of course. But how funny is it that we can easily apply this to our everyday lives.
"Control the head" Probably the most crucial element to accomplishing anything, big or small, is having your mind set on achieving your goal. Not just a casual, "ya that would be cool to do someday...maybe...sorta", but a definitive resolution that you are going to do this thing no matter what. Once you have that resolution you have control of the head.
"The body will follow" A lot of the times kicking and screaming but yes, the body will follow. Your body is an amazing, living mechanism. It's capable of so much more that you believe possible and yet most of the time it's held back from doing great things by your mind. Let it go, let it do what it does so amazingly well, let it see you to your goals. Nourish it, work it, respect it and it will take you on the grandest of adventures.
So ya, I guess it's true. Control the head, and the body will follow
"Control the head" Probably the most crucial element to accomplishing anything, big or small, is having your mind set on achieving your goal. Not just a casual, "ya that would be cool to do someday...maybe...sorta", but a definitive resolution that you are going to do this thing no matter what. Once you have that resolution you have control of the head.
"The body will follow" A lot of the times kicking and screaming but yes, the body will follow. Your body is an amazing, living mechanism. It's capable of so much more that you believe possible and yet most of the time it's held back from doing great things by your mind. Let it go, let it do what it does so amazingly well, let it see you to your goals. Nourish it, work it, respect it and it will take you on the grandest of adventures.
So ya, I guess it's true. Control the head, and the body will follow
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
A Quick, and Late, Post-Weekend Update
I know it's a little late but I did promise a post on how the weekend went, so here it is. It went SO MUCH better than Labor Day weekend. Granted it was payday weekend, but I was able to control my meals and environment so much more than last time. Instead of feeling guilty, overwhelmed, like I'd failed at life, I felt happy, proud and in control. Those feelings went on to affect and infect everyone's attitudes for the whole weekend and we all had a lot more fun.
Like I said last time, I learned where and how to improve for the next time and I did. But there are still areas and ways to make this lifestyle change better for myself and everyone involved. It's a process. An ongoing, morphing, adapting, growing, changing, ever improving process that I look forward to experiencing more and more every day.
So that's it, nothing especially special. Just me trying to learn from my mistakes and be a better version of myself.
I hope your Today is fruitful and remember, The only person you should be competing with, or comparing yourself to, is yesterday's you.
Like I said last time, I learned where and how to improve for the next time and I did. But there are still areas and ways to make this lifestyle change better for myself and everyone involved. It's a process. An ongoing, morphing, adapting, growing, changing, ever improving process that I look forward to experiencing more and more every day.
So that's it, nothing especially special. Just me trying to learn from my mistakes and be a better version of myself.
I hope your Today is fruitful and remember, The only person you should be competing with, or comparing yourself to, is yesterday's you.
Friday, September 18, 2015
The War Of the Weekends
I have another weekend under my belt(last weekend) and another payday weekend looming ahead of me. But, I'm not really worried. As I said last time, I was able to identify weaknesses from the Labor Day weekend debacle and work on them for future weekends. Which is exactly what I did. Last weekend went 100 times better than the one before it and that's why I'm not concerned about this one. I knew this was going to be a learning process, just like with making an exercise routine to fit me was, and so I knew to expect a lot of tweaking.
So far on the food and drink side of my journey things are going pretty well. I'm getting three meals a day, watching my macronutrients, regulating my portion intake, managing my snacks, trying new foods and new recipes. Hell, I've eaten more fruit in the past 2 weeks than I have in the past two years. No exaggeration. And you know what, I dig it. I really do. My morning fruit and protein shake is one of my favorite meals of the day and the time I enjoy the most.
On the exercise side of my journey, I'm still struggling a bit. I think my biggest issue is not having access to "conventional" cardio equipment. Since I can't just go outside and walk or run to burn calories I've been trying to tailor make something that will get my heartrate up for an extended amount of time. There's not a lot of lower body options I have open to me right now so I have to stick with core and upper body, but I don't want to exhaust them and not be able to do my resistance tube or body weight exercises. I've figured out a decent option now, tabata style shadow boxing, that seems to work and it's better than nothing. I just really don't like it. I'm finally getting a set of dumbbells this weekend, so next week I can start adding complexes into my weekly routine for cardio and strength training. So between that and the shadow boxing I should be on the right track for the future. At least until I can get some rowing or pool time in, I LOVE rowing!
Well that's it for now. I'll post a quick update next week on how the weekend went but to be quite honest I don't foresee any issues.
Have a great Today everyone and remember; Do what you can now, until you can do what you couldn't before!
So far on the food and drink side of my journey things are going pretty well. I'm getting three meals a day, watching my macronutrients, regulating my portion intake, managing my snacks, trying new foods and new recipes. Hell, I've eaten more fruit in the past 2 weeks than I have in the past two years. No exaggeration. And you know what, I dig it. I really do. My morning fruit and protein shake is one of my favorite meals of the day and the time I enjoy the most.
On the exercise side of my journey, I'm still struggling a bit. I think my biggest issue is not having access to "conventional" cardio equipment. Since I can't just go outside and walk or run to burn calories I've been trying to tailor make something that will get my heartrate up for an extended amount of time. There's not a lot of lower body options I have open to me right now so I have to stick with core and upper body, but I don't want to exhaust them and not be able to do my resistance tube or body weight exercises. I've figured out a decent option now, tabata style shadow boxing, that seems to work and it's better than nothing. I just really don't like it. I'm finally getting a set of dumbbells this weekend, so next week I can start adding complexes into my weekly routine for cardio and strength training. So between that and the shadow boxing I should be on the right track for the future. At least until I can get some rowing or pool time in, I LOVE rowing!
Well that's it for now. I'll post a quick update next week on how the weekend went but to be quite honest I don't foresee any issues.
Have a great Today everyone and remember; Do what you can now, until you can do what you couldn't before!
Friday, September 11, 2015
Where the Heck Is My Cane?
In the past week or so I've forgotten my cane in my bathroom a total of three times.
Ok, I bet I can guess what some of you are thinking right now; TMI? I'm a dumbass for forgetting it there? Who the hell cares? HAHAHAHAHA. All valid responses and I don't blame you for those or any others that you may have. But, take a moment and think about what that actually means for a guy that's only really been walking again for about 7 or 8 months. The fact that I finished my biz, walked back into my living room, sat down, got comfy and never once thought, "shit, I need my cane" is HUGE!
It shows that, even though I still have issues and pain when I walk, my mind has already shifted to more of a walker mentality because of my physicality. It means that the hours and miles of working out and walking, the pain and sweat, the tears of frustration, the pushing myself forward and onward are paying off not only physically, but also psychologically. I'm changing my body AND my mind by simply doing..and that's an awesome thing to see happening in myself.
I've said for a while now that acknowledging personal progresses in areas not specific to your direct goals is just as important as acknowledging goal specific successes and this is a great example. When I started, all I wanted was to do was to be able to walk again. I wanted to have the physical ability of walking returned to me. But in working toward that goal I'm also making it so my mind does not find any physical need for the cane and so forgets all about it. And that's pretty exciting to me.
Even if/when you don't think you're making much progress in your personal endeavors in one way, chances are you're making progress in other aspects of your life. You just have to be willing to see them for what they are and be accepting of them when you find them. Personal improvement is always good, no matter how insignificant or left field it may seem at the time.
Well there you have it, that's this week's bathroom story. Not sure I'll have to many more of those but hey, you never know.
I hope you all have a great Today, I wish for you much success in your lives and I offer you my thanks and gratitude for your continued support and encouragement.
Levi "LeMo" Moore
Ok, I bet I can guess what some of you are thinking right now; TMI? I'm a dumbass for forgetting it there? Who the hell cares? HAHAHAHAHA. All valid responses and I don't blame you for those or any others that you may have. But, take a moment and think about what that actually means for a guy that's only really been walking again for about 7 or 8 months. The fact that I finished my biz, walked back into my living room, sat down, got comfy and never once thought, "shit, I need my cane" is HUGE!
It shows that, even though I still have issues and pain when I walk, my mind has already shifted to more of a walker mentality because of my physicality. It means that the hours and miles of working out and walking, the pain and sweat, the tears of frustration, the pushing myself forward and onward are paying off not only physically, but also psychologically. I'm changing my body AND my mind by simply doing..and that's an awesome thing to see happening in myself.
I've said for a while now that acknowledging personal progresses in areas not specific to your direct goals is just as important as acknowledging goal specific successes and this is a great example. When I started, all I wanted was to do was to be able to walk again. I wanted to have the physical ability of walking returned to me. But in working toward that goal I'm also making it so my mind does not find any physical need for the cane and so forgets all about it. And that's pretty exciting to me.
Even if/when you don't think you're making much progress in your personal endeavors in one way, chances are you're making progress in other aspects of your life. You just have to be willing to see them for what they are and be accepting of them when you find them. Personal improvement is always good, no matter how insignificant or left field it may seem at the time.
Well there you have it, that's this week's bathroom story. Not sure I'll have to many more of those but hey, you never know.
I hope you all have a great Today, I wish for you much success in your lives and I offer you my thanks and gratitude for your continued support and encouragement.
Levi "LeMo" Moore
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
The First Seven Days
So wow, a full week has passed already and boy has it been interesting. More like an emotional and nutritional rollercoaster. I've learned a few things about my health and nutrition; like, it's not as easy as "eat less, move/workout more". It's slightly more complicated than that and just a bit frustrating not being able to walk for long periods of time for cardio. I've learned a few things about myself; like, I'm not as strong willed as I thought I was and that I believe I actually do have an addiction to alcohol that I have to overcome.
The first few days were great. Getting up on time, eating a lot better than I ever had, trying new foods, on point with the new workout regiment. But then Friday night came, and everything went to shit. Long story short, there was too much eating at restaurants, too many missed meals, too many explosive emotional episodes, too much alcohol and not nearly enough cardio. I am ashamed of myself. I am disappointed in myself. And I feel like a failure...yay. But, I have learned more about where my weaknesses lie and I am now better informed as to how to deal with them.
On a happier, more productive note. I reached the 1/4 mile mark in my daily walking. WOOHOO! I'm actually doing 1500 feet 4 times a week now. Plus I've added in an additional 250 I walk after I get done with my 2 exercise blocks. So technically that's 2000 feet walked. Of course the fact that I'm almost 100% wheelchair free when I'm at home adds still more feet walked to that daily total. ;) So who knows how far I'm going these days.
Speaking on going far, as you'll recall I made a goal for myself that I would walk one half mile on or before the last day of this year. Well, that day has been tentatively set for the middle of October, given weather and body cooperates. My legs really feel like they're up for the challenge and are ready to go. I don't know if I can do it, but that day I'll be giving it my damnedest!
There's my less than stellar update on the past 7 days of my lifestyle change with a little bit of hope thrown in there for taste. I hope you all have a great Today, I wish you success in your endeavors today and I thank you for your ongoing support. And remember, every journey of a thousand miles...well, you know the rest. Workout2Walkout
The first few days were great. Getting up on time, eating a lot better than I ever had, trying new foods, on point with the new workout regiment. But then Friday night came, and everything went to shit. Long story short, there was too much eating at restaurants, too many missed meals, too many explosive emotional episodes, too much alcohol and not nearly enough cardio. I am ashamed of myself. I am disappointed in myself. And I feel like a failure...yay. But, I have learned more about where my weaknesses lie and I am now better informed as to how to deal with them.
On a happier, more productive note. I reached the 1/4 mile mark in my daily walking. WOOHOO! I'm actually doing 1500 feet 4 times a week now. Plus I've added in an additional 250 I walk after I get done with my 2 exercise blocks. So technically that's 2000 feet walked. Of course the fact that I'm almost 100% wheelchair free when I'm at home adds still more feet walked to that daily total. ;) So who knows how far I'm going these days.
Speaking on going far, as you'll recall I made a goal for myself that I would walk one half mile on or before the last day of this year. Well, that day has been tentatively set for the middle of October, given weather and body cooperates. My legs really feel like they're up for the challenge and are ready to go. I don't know if I can do it, but that day I'll be giving it my damnedest!
There's my less than stellar update on the past 7 days of my lifestyle change with a little bit of hope thrown in there for taste. I hope you all have a great Today, I wish you success in your endeavors today and I thank you for your ongoing support. And remember, every journey of a thousand miles...well, you know the rest. Workout2Walkout
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
The First Day To a Better Me
Today is the day, the first day, the start, of a lifestyle change for me. What started out as my wanting to lose a little belly fat has turned into a full blown overhaul of what I consume, how I consume it, how often I consume it and when I consume it. And because I like punishing myself, I've made changes to my workout regiment to maximise fat loss as much as I can as well. And it all starts today. YAY!!!
I really only have two major goals for this upcoming 12 month period; lose fat, and live healthier. After a bit of thought, and wanting to keep it simple, I figured out the best things for me to do to accomplish my two goals. Eat smarter. Create and maintain a realistic caloric deficit. Move my body more. Simple right? It needs to be if I'm going to have any hope of being successful. Because let me be honest here, I'm EXTREMELY motivationally challenged when it comes to sticking to just about any goal. So the less complicated it is, no matter how difficult, the better chance I have for success...and in this I want to succeed.
I'm not going to bore you with the details on every single thing I'm changing or implementing. But I will let you in on this one, I'm cutting soda completely out of my diet. Which is kind of a big deal for me because I really like soda, and it mixes well with vodka. But it's not conducive to a healthier me or to weight loss, so it's got to go. In fact, my wife and I went a step further and decided to cut it out of the household completely. I thought that was pretty cool.
Ok, enough talking about it, Ima just go do it. I hope to see you all soonly with future updates on the goodz, the badz and the uglyz of this rollercoaster ride I'm on. Weeeee...
I would love to hear from you, the readers. If you have any suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments. If you have any concerns, leave those in the comments as well. Hell, if you have any questions, even, leave those down there too and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.
Thank you everyone and I hope you have a great Today.
I really only have two major goals for this upcoming 12 month period; lose fat, and live healthier. After a bit of thought, and wanting to keep it simple, I figured out the best things for me to do to accomplish my two goals. Eat smarter. Create and maintain a realistic caloric deficit. Move my body more. Simple right? It needs to be if I'm going to have any hope of being successful. Because let me be honest here, I'm EXTREMELY motivationally challenged when it comes to sticking to just about any goal. So the less complicated it is, no matter how difficult, the better chance I have for success...and in this I want to succeed.
I'm not going to bore you with the details on every single thing I'm changing or implementing. But I will let you in on this one, I'm cutting soda completely out of my diet. Which is kind of a big deal for me because I really like soda, and it mixes well with vodka. But it's not conducive to a healthier me or to weight loss, so it's got to go. In fact, my wife and I went a step further and decided to cut it out of the household completely. I thought that was pretty cool.
Ok, enough talking about it, Ima just go do it. I hope to see you all soonly with future updates on the goodz, the badz and the uglyz of this rollercoaster ride I'm on. Weeeee...
I would love to hear from you, the readers. If you have any suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments. If you have any concerns, leave those in the comments as well. Hell, if you have any questions, even, leave those down there too and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.
Thank you everyone and I hope you have a great Today.
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