Update.

Sorry the updates have been few and far between recently.  Life has been busy and so has work.  Guess I shouldn't really complain about that.

Weekly weigh in went well down to a shade over 187 now, only about 10 lbs to go till my goal weight.

Went for a great run a few days ago.  Covered 5 miles in less than 44 minutes.  Hopefully I can hold this pace or better during the marathon relay.  My goal for my 6.7 mile leg is to finish in under an hour.

I haven't been on the bike much in the last few weeks except for a few short rides on the trainer in the mornings before work when my legs were too tired to run.

Noah is doing great, pretty sure without a doubt he said DA to me the other day.  He is now pulling to stand with minimal or no assistance.  He can do the sign language for "MILK," and he shakes his head back and forth like he is showing "NO" even though I think he is just doing it to get that dizzy feeling.  Because he hasn't really used it to say NO, except once when I was trying to feed him cereal.  Gonna try to discourage him from using NO too much, but it is hilarious to watch him sit and shake his head till he falls over.

Life is good...weight in this week may not be, I have not been a good weight watchers disciple this week.

More soon friends, thanks for reading!

It's been a whole year.

It just dawned on me during my weigh in on Sunday that I have been doing Weight Watchers for men for a full year now.

I began that journey on January 9th, 2011 here with a different blog.  I started weight watchers at a hefty 235lbs and close to a 40" waist, I was headed down a path of obesity and self destruction.  Ok, maybe destruction is a strong word but theoretically that was possible if I continued down that path.  Those first few months were really difficult for me.  Adjusting to a life of less food, more exercise, and less scotch and beer was awful.

On my 1 year weigh in anniversary January 8th, 2012 I weighed in at an exciting 195.8lbs.  In my head my goal was to lose 50lbs in one year. That would have put me at a healthy weight loss of just under a pound a week.  I am at 39.2lbs lost for the year, and couldn't be more excited.  The weight loss is very noticeable now.  I had a friend who hasn't seen me over 3 months say, "where did you go?"  I laughed and took that as a huge compliment!

This was me before I started weight watchers:

I now fit in almost 34" waist jeans, I was able to put on jeans the other day that I haven't worn in years.

I am now no longer ashamed of my gut hanging over my belt and will tuck in shirts again.  (Now I look less sloppy).


This is me now:

(I really need to get some more full body pictures of myself, but its tough because I am always the guy behind the lens).

I definitely look drastically different in the face, and although the picture of me with Noah is from when he is 5 days old, I have only lost about 6 or 7 lbs since then.

I am regaining my confidence, and with the added weight loss my workouts supercharge my days.

I am faster.

I am leaner.

I am happier.

I am healthier.

I am stronger.

I am better now than I was before, and I will be even better this year.

I will be able to keep up with Noah when he starts walking and running.

I sleep better.

My joints don't hurt when I run anymore.

My feet don't hurt after work anymore.

My clothes fit like they are supposed to.

My wedding ring doesn't fit because my fingers got skinnier...(WTH, I had fat fingers?!!)

I bought a bike, I ride alot.

I run, ALOT.

As my next challenge to myself I also joined the Shirt Off Swimsuit Challenge , you can join their facebook page.  It is run by a rather inspirational person as well.  Brad L.  I met Brad when I first started running again at a Fleet Feet Couch to 5K program.  Brad is a marathoner (and longer distances), cyclist, and all around pretty fit guy these days.  Challenge yourself to be ready for the beach this summer and join his facebook group.  I don't know if I will ever be posting pictures of myself with my shirt off...but I will be ready for the beach this summer, will you?

Also, as a side note if you need some humorous and charming gems to read you should check out my little sisters blog as well...Click here, here, or here.  It will take you to her page.

renewed focus.

I haven't had much time to focus on the "fit" part of fitdad recently.  I have been too busy with the "dad" part.  It's not that I haven't been working out, I just haven't been blogging about it.  I have not lost a pound in over 8 weeks, but after a little personal reflection this week I think I may have found the reason.   I am a secretive snacker, secretive as in I secretly don't log the little snacks here and there that I eat into weight watchers.  I have a feeling I am exceeding my points totals daily which is not causing me to gain weight, but is causing me to maintain my weight.  So starting TODAY, I have a renewed focus, and a renewed drive to be more diligent in my tracking.

I have started a new routine for my workouts in the last 2 weeks as well.  I am now alternating running days with biking days, either outdoors or on the trainer in the basement.  During my run days I am going to increase my mileage from 3-4 miles to 4-5 miles, and will add in biking 1 to 2 days a week for anywhere from 30-60 minutes.

One of the biggest challenges that I find during the week is getting time to workout between my work schedule and Noah's schedule.  I also need to make sure that I am being a good husband and spending time with my wife.  Throw in some yard work and some chores around the house and you have the perfect storm for no workouts.  The best possible advice I can give to anyone who is trying to keep fitness in their lives is to put it on a schedule.  Make fitness a part of your planner.  If I have a day off on a Wednesday, I make sure to tell Christine a few days before hand that I want to work out that day.  I figure out a time of day that works best for what we have planned to do and I stick to my time.  If that means I have to get up at 6am for a workout so be it.  That also means that sometimes I have to sacrifice time in the later afternoon or evening to workout as well.  No one ever said this kind of thing is easy, but by sticking to a schedule I am more likely to keep a scheduled workout and less likely to try to wing it, and then settle for missed workouts. 

I currently don't have any race or event coming up that I have to be ready for, but I am considering the City Of Pittsburgh Half marathon with Christine, and a few sprint triathlons in the spring/summer.  I would also like to see if I can compete in a Spartan Race, a Tough Mudder, The Run for Your Lives, and another Warrior Dash this coming season. 

What do you do to make sure that you get your workouts in?  Does anyone out there have any suggestions as to how to make fitness and managing your life duties easier?

I would be excited to hear from you!

(as an aside, if anyone is interested in doing a Spartan Race next year please let me know, I have a coupon code that will save you $10 off registration.)


Ron