busy life

My obstacle here lately has been the “busy life”. This leads me to the question, is a busy life enough to keep us from working out, eating healthy, and taking care of ourselves or is it just another excuse we tell ourselves to give us freedom to skip the gym, eat another doughnut, and be lazy?

I’ve been busy, sure, but we all are. And with me taking in a new position at a new company, haveing a two year old and a new born, life is sure to get even busier. My goal remains the healthy battle. There will be more obstacles now, but I’m the beast and this is what I have trained my mind and body for, to fight temptation. I’ll see ya at the gym, even if it’s before the sun comes up so I can get back home in time to spend quality time with my family before heading off to my new job. I make this promise to myself, I got this. Will it be easy? Hell no! But it will be a good test of my will and focus. Besides, I’ve got the first stage of my Spartan Trifecta in around 4 months!!!

I see the obstacles, and I will destroy them!!!!

Holiday Burn

Oh, what a feeling when I go to stretch the day after what I thought was a mundane workout, only to realize my muscles feel like they are going to tear apart!! LOVE IT!!! Goes to show that sometimes our body’s are working harder than we realized.

Working on dropping a few pounds going into the new year, partly because I’m seeing the Spartan Race looming, and I couldn’t be more pumped!! I’ve been able to keep things under control through the holidays so far, even after taking a much needed two and a half week break from the gym.

Tearing down these obstacles of lack if sleep, thanks to my sweet newborn, holiday temptations, and cold weather trying to freeze me back into the house before I even get to the gym.

Killing it folks, and I’m feeling amazing for it!! Get off that couch, today not a month from now, and make a goal. One day becomes two, then three, and before you know it the results are busting out. A goal does not get achieved in a day, but one step towards that goal is a start. Remember, we’re all works in progress, and we’ll get there eventually if we keep putting our shoulder down and crashing through those obstacles.

20th Post, and 7 Seconds Late

This past weekend will prove to be my last competitive event until the first of the year. My second son is due to be born next week, so I’ll be taking at last a couple of weeks off from the gym for that, to be home and support my wife. I’m looking forward to having a chunk of time off, since I have not taken more than a couple of days consecutive off since early August. I try to keep it to a 10 to 12 week, 5 to 6 days a week, and then take a week off. This will be the longest break I’ve had off since starting this lifestyle almost two years ago. Of course, I say I will be taking it off, but its easy to strap on a pair of shoes and get a quick run in or even hit the heavy bag for an hour.

That being said, I came as close to my goal of a 5K under 30 minutes as I could have imagined this weekend. 30:07 is what I came in at. I missed it by an incredible 7 seconds and would have gotten it, but was not familiar enough with the course and the finish line. I had my GPS watch on, but by the end I was sprinting the last quarter-mile so I wasn’t watching that. I’ll get there and I’m excited to see what my times are for the first of the year.

Gonna hit it hard Wednesday through Saturday this week, a couple days next week, and then shut the machine down for a couple of weeks. Its time to heal and maybe lose a couple of pounds since I wont be focused on fueling this beastly machine. 🙂

Life’s good folks! I’m excited to see what some time off will do for my healing, I’m excited to crush it for this week leading into the rest, and I’m excited to meet my second little boy next week!!!! 🙂

Sometimes the biggest obstacle in the day is not allowing yourself to jump out of your desk chair with excitement, causing your co-workers to scream!!

the power of a new shirt

Its amazing what a new shirt/shoes/gear can do to a workout. I recently purchased a new under armour shirt and got to wear it for the first time today. (I have a small obsession with this company) I had an excellent workout, felt extremely pumped, and was able to really push myself.

Its one of those shirts that you just like how you look in it. I felt good, so I worked harder, and I saw my muscles taking to the effort. I used to think that it was jut crap that people wrote for popular articles, that a new outfit or shoes can improve your workout/likelihood to get in the gym. I will say unequivocally, that it’s not crap and that taking care of yourself, like buying a new shirt, is a good way to jumpstart a workout.

I will say that I was a little disappointed in myself at the end of my workout. I got on the treadmill to run a mile, after lifting for 45 minutes, and after about a quarter-mile I just stopped. I decided that I was too tired and didn’t really “want” to run anymore. This is an obstacle that I will need to continue to work out, but I won’t let it take away from the intensity of my workout before I got on the treadmill. My problem with running on the treadmill lately is that it causes my ankles to be extremely sore for the rest of that day and the next. I don’t know if I’m trying to run too hard on it or if its something that most people face on treadmills or if it has to do with my shoes or something. I hope that I will be able to get an outdoor run in on Thursday or Friday, which isn’t as hard on my ankles and knees. I do have another 5K scheduled for the 19th, so I don’t want to risk a sore ankle for that. My hope is that I will get an under 30 minute 5k. I know that’s not lightening quick, but considering where I have come from, its pretty darn impressive for me!! 🙂 Remember, this is a work in process and I’m still pushing it!

It’s a good day to be the beast; great workout, good eating so far today, and nice fall weather outside!!

Dont let one aspect of a workout, whether good or bad, dictate how you feel about the entire workout. If you were in there, lifting those weights or running those miles,and you can feel yourself improving, you win. Consider the obstacle of the day ran down and live to run another mile!! 🙂

The Doughnut Obstacle

Today at the gym I hit it hard with pure cardio on the elliptical machine; to the tune of burning 835 calories in an hour!! Yeah, I’m a beast!! 😉 I’ll admit that it got extremely boring by the end but I kept reminding myself that I was going to get a good calorie return on my sweat investment. I thought that the elliptical might be my best idea today to avoid pushing too hard on a Monday and being too sore to lift tomorrow; I still have a tender shoulder from pushing too hard last week. My plan tomorrow is to lift heavy and to lift hard!!

Then I got to work and my obstacle was staring me in my face. One of my co-workers had bought doughnuts for the office and I was asked by 5 different people if I wanted one. I was very appreciative and thankful for the offer. However, after having made a good choice in working hard and having eaten a good protein rich and healthy breakfast, I refused to give up any of my 835 calories on a doughnut. I’m not saying this is best for you, because I may go home tonight and indulge in something else. But I felt like I had won by staying away from the box and eating my healthy lunch.

Its ok, and important, to indulge but make sure you pick your battles. That one doughnut this morning could have led to a “I’ve already ruined the day so might as well have this…” Even though they were locally made and probably delicious, it wouldn’t have been worth it to me. Not today. 🙂

As I sit here, I realize this isn’t the most exciting post. But to the person struggling with temptation, this might be what they need to make some progress. I avoided that temptation this morning, and feel great for it. Its my win and my obstacle!!!

I’m a beast, I AM an OBSTACLE BEAST!!!

Piece to the Puzzle

Before I started my road to beasthood, I was at a family gathering with my wife and her family. I was outside on a beautiful fall day, playing with the kids when my nephew asked me to play a version of frisby with him. As I ran around, getting progressively more winded, I realized that he was probably noticing my labored breathing and I felt like he was “taking it easy” on my by not throwing it as far as he could. It broke my heart to think that when my own son got to that age, would I be able to even run around?

I will never let that happen again!!! I will never have to tell a child that I need a break after only playing for a short time!! I will never be the guy that is so far out of shape a simple activity leaves me winded and worried for the future!!

That was a lot of pounds, a lot of fat, and a lot of sweat ago.

Find your obstacle, and destroy it!!

Birthday Weekend Reboot

What an obstacle it was yesterday to get into the gym and tear it up!! I spent the weekend over indulging in birthday foods, drinks, and even had time for a good UK football tailgate!! GOOO CATS!!! 🙂

That being said, I woke up yesterday morning feeling like I had a small person stuffed into my belly and he was attempting to escape! Also, the scale was NOT my friend yesterday morning. I, did however, push through and get myself a good workout. Which left me sore and hurting today.

So today, I knew I needed the cardio, mostly from the weekend but also because my shoulder is a little sore so lifting wasnt an ideal option. However, after having ran a mile after lifting yesterday, my ankle was also sore. I tell ya, turning 32 has been rough on my body so far!! 🙂

I saw my obstacle today as the elliptical machine. My problem with that machine is that I struggle with the stereotype that the elliptical machine is for older people and college girls prepping for spring break. I sucked it up and climbed on, set the time to 45 minutes, and got a pretty descent workout. Not like I would have if I ran for that amount of time, but my body felt much better and less beat up afterward. I still have some work to do to make up for this past weekend, but everyday I just get closer to full beast mode!! 🙂

At some point in a workout regimen, you need to throw all that “should” crap out the window and do whats best for you and your routine. I felt like I “should” have been running, but to quote my therapist, it’s never good to “should” on yourself. I still ended up with a good workout and my body feels much better for it. Tomorrow its back to the weights!!