The Fat Guy weekly check…Week of Firsts!

Well SFFG fans its your old pal the Fat Guy checking in once again.  So the first thing on the agenda this week is I lost 3 lbs and am down to 261 lbs (59 total loss) in 164 days.  I am over halfway to my goal!  But believe it or not that is not the biggest achievement for me this week.  No no no there were others that meant more to me.

Before i get into those accomplishments I would like to brag about my Father’s Day gift from Amanda and the kiddos, my Fitbit One.  I love this thing already and am so excited to have it.  I have wanted one of these for a while but always put getting it on the back burner.

So onto the accomplishments this week.

#1 – I was able to reach into my “I cant wear these anymore clothes” and pull out a pair of shorts and have them fit perfectly.  They were 44’s and were a little loose so I think I might be closer to a 42 by now which would be about a 4in loss.

#2 – As you may have seen I have been doing the C25K program to get into running my races vs just walking them.  Well I am on Week three and part of this week is that you run for 3 min straight.  I never in a million years would have thought I would be able to run for 3 minutes straight without stopping.  And I have done it multiple times and not quit once.  Now its not easy mind you but I do it.

#3 – In conjunction with number 2, I ran my fastest mile – 11:41.20 mile.  That is flying for me.  Now I don’t maintain that pace for any means but I did it for a mile at least.

#4 – This is probably my biggest accomplishment I went to Target and saw some of their running attire and bought myself a pair of running shorts.  What makes this an accomplishment is that I went out on a limb and bought XL shorts rather than XXL.  And they fit perfectly. I cant tell you how long it has been since I wore a size XL anything.  I was very happy.

 

Amanda and I have lots of races coming up and I look forward to each and every one of them.  As always I want to thank each and every one of you that sends me words of encouragement and check in on me.  I could never have done this without the support of my family and friends, and even complete strangers.  Thank you thank you thank you!

Until next time!

 

Onward and Downward!

 

The Fat Guy in review and weekly update

Good morning SFFG Fan’s. Well today marks 157 days on my journey to lose weight and be in better shape. I started this journey at 320 lbs and was doing little to no exercise. I am happy to report that as of this morning I am at 264lbs for a total weight loss of 56 lbs in 157 days.  I have lost about 17.5% of my weight since I started and dropped my BMI from 43.4 to 35.8.  Now with BMI I think that is a bunch of crap because on all the calculators that I have seen it says I should be about 188lbs to be a normal weight.  I am pretty sure that is way to skinny for me.  Well I still have a ways to go and will cross that bridge when I get there.

I still have not had a sip of soda and that is really the most impressive for me…

 

Yesterday Amanda and I began our Cool Summer Mornings 5K Series put together by Sommer Sports. It was a great run (except for the hills). This was also the first race that I ran/walked.

(photo courtesy of Sommer Sports)

I finished the race in a total time of 39:45 min (PR) and an average pace of 12:48 min/mile (PR).  It was definitely harder than just walking but it made it that much more rewarding.  Amanda was waiting for me at the finish line and got some shots of me running across my first finish line.

(Running down the Finishing Chute)

(Almost done!)

After the race I started to think about the running portion of my journey and looking back as to how far I have come since my first 5K back in January.  Here is a history of my official runs:

January 25th 2014 – Season’s 52 5.2K – Finishing time 48:13

March 15, 2014 – Winter Park Road Race (10K + 2 Miles) – Finishing time 1:36:45

April 19th, 2014 – Pig Run of Lake Nona 5K – Finishing time 41:24

June 7th, 2014 – Cool Summer Mornings 5K Series (#1) – Finishing time 39:45

So from Jan until now I have improved my time by 8:28, I don’t think thats bad.  An improvement is an improvement right?

My next race will be Race #2 in the series next month.  I have also signed up for a 15K and Half-Marathon in October….by far my greatest distances.

Thank you again for all the support you guys have provided me it is appreciated more than words can express.  Until next time

Onward and Downward!

Weekly Update!

Well SFFG fans its that time of week again….Time for the weekly update.  On the weight front I am down to 266 pounds (1.5 lb. loss from last week) for a grand total weight loss of 54 pounds.  But for me that is not the biggest thing that has happened.  i started the C25K ( Couch to 5K) program so that I could transition from just walking to run/walking.  I probably could have picked a better time than the summer to do this but oh well it was time.  I went out yesterday for Week 1 Day 1, on this day you do  a 5 min warm up followed by 60 seconds of running and 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes then a 5 min cool down for a grand total of 30 min.  

C25K Week 1 Day 1

Today i went out with Amanda since the kiddos were having a sleepover at Mimi and PawPaw’s house and I completed day 2 of the program.  Same format 60 sec of running and 90 sec of walking.  I went a little further because I at least wanted to get in a 5K distance.  Here are the results:

Almost broke 40:00 for a 5K.

On top of the progress from above a couple of other nice little PR’s were accomplished today:

 

Over all it was a good day and I am excited about the progress.  Hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend and THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to all those currently serving or have served in our Nation’s Armed Forces and their families for their service and sacrifices for our Country.  

 

Onward and Downward!!!!!

Taking it to the next level

Well today was a big day for the Fat Guy!  Today I began the next phase of my fitness program and did my run / walk day.  I wont lie it was not easy but I did feel good afterwards like I accomplished something.  I went 2.32 miles in 31:21 and averaged a 13:31 min/mile.  Now that is not my fastest pace, that PR is still my 13:18 min/mile with the Pig Run of Lake Nona.  So an update as of today with tomorrow being the official weigh in I am down to 266 lbs which is a grand total loss of 54 lbs thus far.  I have about 40 lbs to go and then I will around the range that I want to stop at but I am still not sure on where that magic number is.  

I do want to thank everyone for their continued support and encouragement.  It has been a great motivator as well as pictures like this that I find randomly;

The picture on the left is from my brother in laws wedding back in 2006 and the picture on the right is from today after I saw the picture and then went looking for the same shirt.  Pardon the hippie attire.

Well until tomorrow with the official check in and other updates!  Have a great weekend!

 

Onward and Downward!

Rebound FAT GUY!

So today as everyone knows is weigh-in day.  Last week’s was not so good and I gained 1.5 lbs, this week on the other hand I am back in the game and weighed in at 267.5.  Thats a loss of 4.5 lbs so I am caught back up on my average of 2 lbs a week.  I am down 52.5 pounds overall and cruising right along.  I really buckled down this week and watched what I ate and got in a really nice training walk this morning even though it was humid as all get out.

Speaking of training walks today was the first time I used my brand new Garmin Forerunner 10 and I love it.  

It was a very nice walk today and as I was adding my activity I noticed something on my runkeeper page.  Since I began this journey in Jan I have walked 112 miles and burned 19,963 calories.  That is just crazy to me.  I also know I have caught the race/bling bug.  Amanda participated in a 5K yesterday and brought home a flyer for a 4 race series of 5K’s that seems awesome, we are thinking about signing up for the Track Shack Series which is 8 runs, and then we are doing the Lake Nona 13.1 in October.  Of course I will do the Pig Run again and who knows what else.  Man this running thing gets addicting and I think we are to the point where we will have to get out a calendar and make sure we can fit all of them in.

On a side note I am considering joining Total Fitness Boxing that is opening soon here in Clermont. If you are in the Clermont area they are having a pre-registration deal where the sign up fee is waved and you get a free pair of gloves and wraps (pretty cool deal).  I think it is time to add another dimension to my routine.  This would add the core and strength training that I need to get into.  

Well that is all for now have a great weekend everyone and especially all the Mommies out there HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

 

Onward and Downward

First set-back

Well SFFG fans, I apologize for the lack of posts lately it has been a busy couple of weeks around here.  The kiddos turned 6 and work has been very busy.  So it finally happened I have had my first set back in the journey that I am on.  Before I get to that I had an amazing week before last and lost 4 lbs and got to 270 lbs for a grand total of 50 lbs lost.  Last week well…..not so good.  I had my first weight gain of my journey of 1.5 lbs.  It was disappointing but not catastrophic, if anything it was re-energizing.  Things had been going very smoothly and consistently that I think I needed a reminder that it is not always easy and you have to stay focused.  

I did finally get my Garmin Forerunner 10 like Amanda has and am excited about its first test run.  Amanda loves hers and several of my friends that have them love theirs as well.  

I also think that Amanda has convinced me to take on my most daunting challenge yet.  The Lake Nona 13.1 Inaugural Half Marathon is in October and I think Amanda and I are going to do it.  This is nothing for Amanda as she will be running her 5th Princess 1/2 next year but for me this will be my biggest challenge to date and I’ll be honest I am a little nervous.  So here we go.  

 

Well tomorrow is weigh in day and we will see how I rebounded from my set back. More to come tomorrow!

 

Onward and Downward!

Weekly Update w/ Pig Run recap

Happy Easter SFFG Fans!  So today was weigh in day and I dropped 1 pound and am now at 274 pounds with an overall weight loss of 46 pounds!  It might have only been a pound but it was a loss and that is all that matters.  This is not a sprint but a marathon…am I right?  Speaking of running metaphors yesterday was the Pig Run of Lake Nona 5k and the kiddos and I participated in the festivities.

 

 

Now I DONUT want you to worry I had fully trained for this race except for the donut eating part.  Yes I said DONUT eating part.  This was the 4th year of the Pig Run and it has grown leaps and bounds since it started.  I believe the first year they had 400 runners and this year there was about 1500 I believe.  As part of this race at the 1.7 mile marker you enter the….

THE PIG PEN!!!!

In said pig pen you eat the number of donuts that you signed up for when you registered for the race.  The options were 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12.  Yes a dozen donuts also affectionately referred to as the Hog Division.

(Photo courtesy of the Pig Run Facebook page)

 I went with the Turkey Bacon division and ate 1 donut in the spirit of the event.  Just entering the Pig Pen your eyes start to GLAZE over looking at all 3600 donuts consumed during the race.  Eating one and continuing the run was bad enough I can’t imagine eating more that that.  But it was a blast.

     Amanda did not participate in the race and enthusiastically took on the roll of cheering section with the kiddos.  Just before mile 1 I came around the corner and saw this..

My honey and Lil’ Oinkers waiting for me and cheering me on!  Such a great motivator.

Support is such a big thing in anything you do especially when what your doing is not easy.  Between Amanda and my family and friends like you guys reading this I have more support than I ever thought.  I even had some support on the course with my buddy Chris who was participating in the race as well.  He ate three donuts..more power to ya buddy.

This was before the race began

The course was great and circled around one of the neighborhoods in Lake Nona

(Photo courtesy of the Pig Run Facebook page)

I felt great during the run and even PR’d this race (the organizers said I obviously didn’t eat enough donuts).  I beat my previous best time by 3.32 minutes.  I was averaging about a 13.18 minute mile along the course.  One of Amanda’s friends, Chelsie, was running with some friends of hers and I caught up with them after the Pig Pen.  As I went past them all I heard was “Where did you come from?” and then they took off running leaving me in their wake.  Apparently getting passed by the SFFG is not a desirable thing because I was catching up to them again and I heard “Southern Fried Fat Guy! RUN!!!!”  and just like that poof they were gone.  I didn’t see them again until the finish line.

Remember that support I was talking about?  Well just before the final turn onto the home stretch of the race I was served up a double dose of support.  One coming from Amanda and the kids being right there cheering me on and Jillian yelling at me to go faster! And the second from my buddy Chris who had already finished and came back to see me finish and walked in with me.

I crossed the finish line in 41.24 which is such an improvement in just over 100 days.  Chris even mentioned as we were finishing that walking at my pace was almost harder than running.  I get into my zone and I just cruise.  I mean come on folks its all physics mass, force, momentum, something like that.  Once you get a body this big moving in one direction the forces of nature take over. 🙂

One of the best things about this race was the finisher medal, I mean its a pig eating a donut how AWESOME is that?

     

                                                                       (Photo courtesy of the Pig Run Facebook page)

The kiddos even got finisher medals with their Lil’Oinker race.  Its just like mine but the pig is orange.  Overall it was a great event and I am a Pig Runner for life!  Come on Southern Fried Fat Guy and Pig Run how is that not a match made in DONUT heaven.

Until next time SFFG fans!  Onward and Downward!

April 16th – Picture time and more!

So I know it is the 17th but I forgot to take my 16th of the month picture until today.  So here are the last four months of my journey.

 

Sometimes when you look at yourself in the mirror all the time it is hard to tell that your making progress.  But I look at these photos and I cant believe what has happened.  I still have a long way to go but I am still encouraged and energized to keep going.  As I was scrolling through Facebook tonight I say a picture posted on someone’s wall and it made perfect sense.

 

I couldn’t agree more.  I feel when your on a journey like this to change your habits, lifestyle, what ever you want to change you can be your own worst enemy.  You can sabotage yourself or a hundred other things.  But results will happen and it will be worth it.  Stay the course keep focused and you can succeed.  

This weekend I have another race I am going to participate it.  It’s called the Pig Run of Lake Nona.  It was a race that made me crack up and I knew I had to do it.

 

I mean come on how could I not do a race with a pig as a mascot? It should be a good time. The kids are going to do the Lil Oinkers kid run after the 5K.  I will post pictures and such from the race after it is over.  

Till next time…..Onward and Downward!

 

 

I Lost Jill! And its a good thing!

So many of you might have seen a picture of Jillian and myself I posted on Facebook today.  Well here is a little more information if you didn’t see it or thought I had been drinking to much.  My daughter got on the scale today and weighed 43.5 pounds.  Yeah she’s a beast!  We this morning when I got on the scale I had lost 43.5 pounds.  That being said that is where the picture came from.

 

Jill approves of my weight loss…  Holding her I can not realize how I carried that much extra weight around with me just 90 days ago.  Its little moments like this when the hard work really pays off.  Now when I reach Aaron I will really be impressed.  That boy is a HOSS!  Have a great day folks!  

 

Onward and Downward!

 

 

I’mmmmmm Baaaccckkkk…. Not getting rid of me that easy!

Hello Fat Guy fans!  I know it has been a while since I have posted but that can be attributed to a crazy work schedule and going on vacation for a week.  But I am back and still on track.  So don’t worry I have not lost my motivation.  So on my last post I was at 280 pounds.  Then my biggest fear came—-VACATION!  Well only fear in a food related sense.  The family and I went to Tennessee for a week and had an amazing time!  And I am sorry I am not going to a place like that and not enjoy the local food.  I mean BBQ, Catfish, Dixie Stampede and of course the Pancake Pantry and Donut Friar!  So I went into the week with the plan on enjoying myself and worry about the consequences when I got back.  And the food was AMAZING!  Amanda wanted to go to this place called the Pancake Pantry since we got the visitor information in the mail.  It did not disappoint and we actually ate there three times.  Around the corner from there is a place called the Donut Friar,  I mean come on their logo is a fat guy with donuts, how can that not be a place for me?  Well this was my first donut since I started my journey and OH MY GOODNESS was it amazing!  They also have this cinnamon bread that is probably one of the best things around.  We bought one loaf for the week we were there and of course it didn’t last so we bought one for back at home.  In case you were curious it’s gone.  

 

 

 

How good does that look? So on the last day we had to stop one more time before leaving.  It was a sad day….

 

So needless to say we ate and ate and ate…But we did find some time to get some exercise in while we were there in the form of hiking.  Everyone had a great time and man do you burn some calories walking up those mountains.

Amanda had a great time as well 🙂

 

So the trip was over and we got back into town and the moment of truth was upon me.  How much had I gained?  NONE!!! I was ecstatic to have not gained or lost anything while I was away.  The one rule I didn’t break while up there was no soda.  I still have not had one in 93 days.  

Well it is Sunday and we all know what that means….Weigh in day!  Well I am happy to report that this morning I weighed 276.5 pounds.  I am currently down 43.5 pounds in 94 days.  I just need to get back into my walking routine and get ready for my next race coming up in a couple of weeks.  The Pig Run of Lake Nona!!!!!

I mean how awesome is that?

I have finally broken into the 270’s and moving on.  My next big reward for myself is when I break into the 250’s.  When that happens I am going to go back and do my second dive at Epcot’s Living Seas!  I have a comp dive waiting for me for helping them out with something and I am going to cash in when I reach the 250’s.  I promise not to go this long without posting but it has been a crazy last couple of weeks.  Thanks for hanging int here with me on this journey!  

 

Onward and Downward!