Lordy! Lordy! The Fat Guy has lost 40!

That’s right folks your reading it correctly I have officially lost 40 lbs in the last 73 days of my journey.  This morning when I stepped on the scale I weighed 280 lbs.  So by accident Amanda and I started a tradition back on January 16th, I finally was able to fit into a shirt that I had not been able to in a long time.  On February 16th I just happen to be wearing the same shirt and took another picture.  So by popular demand and my own curiosity it is March 16th and here is the side by side by side picture.

 

I have been overwhelmed with the support from your guys and I can’t tell you how much it means to me and motivates me to keep going and working hard.  Thank you Thank you Thank you!

 

So there was another big moment for me this weekend and that was the Winter Park Road Race that Amanda, Michelle and I took part in.  This was a Track Shack race that took place in Winter Park.  It was a 2 MIle run and a 10K (6.2 miles), and they also had a challenge where you could do both races…..so of course we did them both because it was there.  So the grand total for the weekend was 8.2 miles which is by far the farthest I have ever walked.  It was also the first race that I was going to get a medal for and in this case I got 2 🙂

So the 2 miler was first and I started walking and got into my zone and was averaging about 13:34 pace which is clipping along pretty good I think.  I finished it in about 30:11 which wasn’t bad.  And as soon as I crossed the finish line from the 2 miler it was right into the 10K.  So I kept on truckin’!

When I rounded the first turn Amanda and Michelle went past me which threw me off completely because I had no idea where they came from.  I eventually caught up to them and passed them as they got tied up in a bunch of people.  Of course I could not quietly go by them… so I yelled “Fat Guy coming through!”  Then I started asking people to take a picture of me passing Amanda as it would probably never happen again.  So of course Amanda snapped this picture.

 

Amanda says I look like a mall walker when I am out on the course LOL.  During the 10k I was averaging about a 14:00 min mile give or take.  Of course shortly after this picture was taken they blew past me like I was standing still.  So I kept on truckin!  A little further down the road Amanda decided to walk with me the for the better part of the race.

 

This was about Mile 3 of the 10K which was actually mile 5 overall for me.  I was still going strong at this point.  We both love doing the races in Winter Park.  The course was amazing and the houses are just out of this world.  Then about mile 4 I was still doing great which was mile 6 at this point and I was fast approaching my longest walk to date.

 

I was still feeling good and going strong at this point…. Then I hit THE HILL.  So between miles 4 and 5 (6 and 7) we ran into a hill.  Now this hill was probably only about 50 yards long but it was steep and felt like I was climbing a mountain.  By the time I reached the top my legs went on strike.  Oh and I would like to point out that during this whole time Amanda WASN’T EVEN SWEATING! I mean seriously I looked like I went swimming in the lake and she looked like she was still on mile 1.  But I digress…..

So we were almost to the end of the race and I gave Amanda the nod and she took off and finished the race.  I kept on truckin’ and finished in about 1:36 min.  And I got my BLING!!!

 

 

In the end it was an amazing day and an amazing race.  

 

My next race with be the Lake Nona Pig Run in April.  Still looking for people to join me as this will be my first race sans Amanda on the course.  It should be fun.  

Well the journey continues and I could not be happier with the results.  Thank you again for all your support and kind words.  Onward and Downward!

37 and not just my age (well almost)

So again I am a week late on posting but it was another crazy week around the Nethero household.  This week was the ICRC conference which is a crazy week for Amanda.  Also this year I was a speaker at the conference, which was pretty cool.  This was also another test of will power because they have a hospitality room with a…..wait for it……CANDY BAR!!!! Yes I said it a candy bar.  And there are only some of my favorites in there.  But I was good and stuck to the more healthy options.  

Here is my progress so far.  I am down 37 pounds since my journey began.  I now weigh 283 pounds and feel great.  I have consistently been losing about 1-3 pounds a week.  As long as I keep that up I will be happy.  I am starting to see some difference when I look in the mirror.  Slowly but surely is going to win the race.  

One question I get asked a lot is what am I doing?  When I tell them all I am doing is walking and counting calories they seem to have a hard time believing that is all I am doing.  Now I was never strong in math in school but it really is a simply math issue.  Calories in and Calories out.  Keep those in check and you will succeed.  That and having a great support system around you.  I have had such great support from my family, friends, coworkers, and the community here on this blog.  One thing that I never thought would happen from this blog was that my journey would be considered “inspirational” to others.  Apparently that has happened on a few occasions.  But seeing other peoples success only pushes me to work harder.  

My biggest physical challenge is coming up next weekend.  I am going to be doing another race with Track Shack.  This one is the Winter Park 10k which is by far the farthest distance I will have walked other than around my house.  But there is a twist to this one.  They have a challenge where you add 2 miles to it.  So were going for it!  I am a little nervous but cant wait to get back out there and get my first BLING as well. They also give you a free beer! I am really getting into this race thing and hope within the next year to take part in a 1/2 marathon!  I never thought I would say that. 

I got another interesting question the other day as well.  And the question was why am I trying to lose weight?  Well that is probably the most simple answer out there.  And the reason I am doing this is…….

 

these guys right here!

These guy are my reason for doing this.  I want to be healthier for them, I want to be a good example for them, I want to be around for them.  I don’t need any other reason then them.  The healthier I am the longer I am around for them.

Weigh in is tomorrow and I will try to get an update out as soon as possible.  I am also firing up the smoker tomorrow.  

 

Onward and Downward!