Good Day so far!

Worked out at the gym on the "Stepper" for 22 minutes - Heart Rate up to 174!

Intake going well as well - second solid day.

The Scarlett Letter

Okay, so the "A" in the famous book of the above title was for "Adultress" and a mark of shame.

But as the low-carb diet craze has subsided, speaking the name of Atkins has once again been done in whispers. The new scarlett letter.

The problem with the low carb craze of a few years ago was that most people trying it never read the book (Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution) and were making it up as they went along, doing something not at all resembling Atkins. I was amazed at people who claimed that low carb didn't work for them, and when I asked them what they ate, they were eating all sorts of starches, etc. It wasn't low carb at all.

And there were also those who did it with what I call chemistry route: using all of the 'low carb products' that were made to taste carby but were lower in carbs. They never lose their sweet tooth or craving for starches. And God knows what the chemicals are doing to them.

My experience? Atkins really works and I feel great when doing it....

The key is...actually doing it!

More thoughts later....

So far this week

Yesterday (Monday) - boys start homeschooling and with a rushed morning schedule I didn't run. In evening I coached baseball and was a slug afterwards.

Today (Tuesday) - got off my butt and ran again.
Ran 2, 2:10, 2:20, 2:30, 2:40, 2:00, and 3:30 with 2 minutes off in between.
Actually felt really good!

So far since restarting I have only run once without Meg in the jog-stroller. I like the distraction of talking to her!

Back on the beam for the input...more to follow.

Last little league baseball game tonight for me and the boys.

I can't wait for the pool at the gym to reopen (next week).

Last week's record

Last week wasn't a good one, and then it was busy as well so I didn't get t this blog either.

Monday Evening - did the Cardio/Abs P90 video
Tuesday Morning - Run 2, 2:10, 2:20, 2:30, 2:40, 2:50, and 3:00 with 2 minutes off between
Wednesday - Raining in AM and was a slug all day
Thursday - still raining! Started Sculpt P90 video and did 2/3 until Meg rolled off the couch and needed daddy
Friday Morning - Run same as Tuesday Morning
Saturday - raining, and I was a slug!

two total runs all week - Run 16 1/2 minutes, walk at least 14 minutes
Plus two video workouts.
Don't ask about input.......

A rainy, dreary Monday

It started raining Sunday morning and rained all day today as well. Too wet, and up too late to go for a run in the AM.


The pool is also closed for two weeks for maintenence. And I wouldn't have had the chance to get there today anyway.


So this evening I did the 'cardio-abs' workout for Power 90. I bet this program works if I actually use it for 90 days (I have done it on and off for a few days for about a year).

But it is a workout for today.


Bought new running shoes at the New Balance store. NB767 stability trainers.


My NB717 that I bought 4 years ago (when I was still running pretty regularly) were getting pretty worn out. But I will keep them for foul weather running.

Finishing off the first full week

Thursday -
Run 2 on, 2 off 7 times

Friday -
Run 2 on, 2 off 6 times, plus 3 at the end for 15 minutes on and at least 15 off.

Saturday -
Run 2 on, 2 off 5 times, plus 2.5 on, 2 off then 3 on for 15.5 on and at least 15 off


The week's results for output
Ran Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday (4 with Megin jog stroller, once solo)
Swam Wednesday.
Good week of output

Input?
3 good days. Need to work on this.

More success for the last two days

Ran again on Tuesday and felt GREAT!

2 minutes on, 2 minutes off 7 times.

Today I woke up later than expected, so I went to the gym and same 1/2 a mile.
This evening I am sore (good sore) in different places.

And I have stayed on track in the intake as well. 3 days in a row - a good start.

Oh yeah, here is a number - 9
pounds lost
(yes I know...mostly water weight in one week but I will take it).

Little hurdles, little victories

Went running again this morning. It was nice and cool! I put Meg in her jacket and wrapped her legs in a blanket!

My legs, however, were really stiff and sore this morning. They always are on Mondays (probably from all the standing I do, in dress shoes, on Sundays). And they were not only stiff, but a slight knee pain in the right knee at the start.

When I started, I told myself it would be okay to only do 2 on, 2 off 6 times. It would be less than Saturday, but I could justify it because of the sore legs.

But I got over the hurdle. The knee stopped hurting pretty soon after the start, and despite the sore legs, I did 2 on, 2 off SEVEN times, like Saturday, including running past my house and back instead of turning into the driveway and calling it a shorter day!

It was a small hurdle, and a small victory....but I will take it.

The rest of the day was pretty good as well. My day off this week was today (wedding rehearsal Friday so I will work that full day). My sister in law Emma is here so we went to Greenfield Village which means I walked, pushing the stroller, on and off for another 3.5 hours!

As for INPUT - a good start. Plenty of water, only allowable foods even at Greenfield Village. Could use more veggies, especially at lunch, but being at GFV made that hard (ate at the outdoor lunchstand).

Running program

When I was in seminary in 1992 my brother Dave had a subscription to Runner's World Magazine.

They had a program for those wanting to start running. Dave didn't need it (he was already a runner, running cross country at his high school).

It consisted of staring with 30 minutes of walking for a week.
Then each 4 to 5 days it changed, with a day off between changes.

1 minute run on, 4 off 6 times
1:30 on, 3:30 off 6 times
2 on, 3 off 6 times
Until after a few weeks you are running 30 full minutes.

It is a chance to incrementally increase your stamina without become discouraged.

I have used this program 3 times.

Once in seminary (ran for 2 years, lost 50 lbs, met wife, got first position, etc.).
Stopped running after severe strain of ankle.

Second time staring in Spring 2002 here in Detroit (did no real running in Charleroi, PA - too hilly). Lost 70 lbs, ran until I broke ankle in October 2004.

Third time - begun this week.

Of course, it wasn't just the ankle injuries that stopped me. It was stress, eating, insecurities, etc.

More to be explored as we go on.

Good week of output

Since getting back in the groove, the output portion has been going pretty well.

Ran Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Wednesday
1:15 on, 3 off 6x (8 on, 18 off)

Thursday
1:35 on, 2:30 off 7x (11:05 on, 21 off)

Friday
1:35 on, 2:30 off 8x (12:40 on, 20 off)

Saturday
2:00 on, 2 or 3 off 7x (14 run, 16 walk)

Next week - start working on the input.

By the numbers

215
269
124
98
52
48
17
47

41
24/7

All of the above, from 47 up, are due to change.
The bottom two are not up to me - the rest are.

Kyrie Eleison