Project: 365 - 2 month update

Tomorrow marks 2 months since my birthday, and the date I started my Project 365 picture a day. I know I said I wasn't going to (or try not to) post any face pictures until my 37th birthday, but I was curious to see if I've changed at all in that time.  Some people at work tell me I look slimmer, but I guess I don't really see it as easily.  So here goes.  The top picture is day one, November 19, 2011 and the bottom picture is today, January 18, 2012.  I guess you can see more of my ears in the second picture, so that's a good thing, right? Hopefully that extra chin will start disappearing! :)

Quinoa

Tonight's dinner:  Quinoa Pilaf and sauteed broccolini (baby broccoli).  Good stuff.

Intervals

With all the working out I've been doing, my body was getting a bit tight so I thought I would get to the chiropractor for a bit of alignment, or shall I say re-alignment.  That felt great!


I've been working pretty hard, so I decided to take Friday and Saturday off.  That felt good, my body must have needed it, as I slept until noon on Saturday!  That was wonderful as well.


But with that, I was a bit concerned coming into today's workout.  You see, in the past once I miss one day, then another, it turns into a week, then a month, and well you get the picture.  So, although I had a filling replaced at the dentist after work today, I made no excuse, and I got to the gym.


Tonight I did my chest, triceps and abs.  Then, I got on the treadmill to start intervals.


If you recall a few weeks back, I could barely do intervals of jogging a lap and walking 3 laps, then jogging a lap, etc.  Tonight, I did 1 mile intervals!  So, I jogged a mile, walked a mile, jogged a mile, and walked another mile.


That felt really good to complete that!  Each time I do something I didn't think I could do, or wanted to quit midway through, but finish it, it feels really good.  I have a history of not finishing what I start.


Happy jogging!

Breathing

I jogged another mile tonight, on the treadmill this time. Felt a bit different, but I finished it, probably easier than last time.  I slowed down the pace on the treadmill to a 12 minute mile, because yesterday was my off day.  I do need to get my breathing under control though when I'm jogging. Otherwise I'm never going to make 6.2 miles.  Probably high because when I got done my heart rate was 161.  Seems a bit high.  As I get into shape I'm hoping this gets better.  Pressing on until then!


Cheers.


It's cold today.  14 degrees with -4 windchill.  I guess winter is here, at least for a few days.  Hard to believe it was 55 just 2 days ago and I was walking outside at lunch with not coat!  I guess we were spoiled so far this winter.

Delish!

After my workout tonight (legs, abs, 20 minutes bike, 20 minutes elliptical) I needed something quick to eat when I got home so I could watch The Biggest Loser.  Hmm, what to have?  I had already made some corn salsa which is delish, and I decided to pair that with vegan refried bean tacos (corn tortillas filled with the beans, tomato, green onion, and salsa) I grilled each side of the taco in the frying pan to heat it.  It was great...and very messy!  Something I will definitely have again when I'm in a hurry, or when I'm craving Mexican food!

5,280 feet, plus a few smiles

Although I didn't sleep all that well last night, I woke up and said today was going to be a great day.  In fact, even posted on Facebook this morning: "... It's going to be a great week! Rock it out!"


I'm not entirely sure why I've been so positive lately and so lively. Maybe it's my diet, or the exercise, or the fact it's January there's no snow and it was another record high today of 49 degrees.  Maybe it's a combination of all of them.  Either way, woot woot!


My first smile came this morning, when one of my employees asked me if I was "slimming down."  Score.


My second smile came this afternoon, when my boss said my head looked smaller.  Not only was that a smile, but I nearly busted out laughing. I'm not sure if that was a compliment or what, but he said good job, keep it up. It's starting to show.


Filled with confidence and some strange level of energy, I headed to the gym and decided to try to jog a full mile.  5,280 feet.  Now, I did intervals on Saturday (1 lap jog, 1 lap walk, 1 lap jog, etc) for a total jog of 2 miles, but I haven't jogged a full non-stop mile since 2009!


After lifting weights (today I did my back and abs) I did my 5 minute warm-up, followed by stretching out my legs to help avoid/reduce my shin splint issue.  Off I went.  Lap by lap, I counted down (11 laps to one mile on this track)  I got to lap 6 and wanted to quit.  But I remembered a sign I saw posted online somewhere yesterday that said "you won't finish if you don't try." So I kept going.  Then again at lap 8 I wanted to quit.  What, I'm so close.  Keep going Brad, why am I going to stop now.  Lap 10, ok I'm almost there!  Finally, lap 11... everyone else on the track must have heard me huffing and puffing as I finished it!  11 minutes and 14 seconds.


Yay!  Big Smile!  It's a building block for sure.  Only need to add 5.2 more miles and I'll complete my 10k!  In due time!

Measurements - Month One

It's been a month of mixed results of training, but given the fact I started this in December and with all the good Christmas and New Year's food and candy around, I'm pretty very excited by these results:

• Weight: 271.5  (lost 9.5 pounds)
• Chest: 49.5" (lost 1.5")
• Right Arm: 15" (lost .5")
• Left Arm: 15" (lost .5")
• Waist: 49.5" (lost 2")
• Hips: 46.5" (lost .5")
• Right Thigh: 28.5" (lost .5")
• Left Thigh: 27.5" (lost 1")

Yay, I'm on my way.  Oh, here's the 1 month pics.  Not too much change visibly, but I feel great!