Today I worked out alone since my workout buddy bowls on Wednesdays and I couldn’t workout yesterday since I had pre-marital counseling. Man, my hands are jacked up from lifting and rowing. Blisters everywhere. I need to buy some workout gloves.
Wednesday 03.31.10
Back and biceps tonight.
5000 meter row machine.
I don’t know what it is, but I’ve been really tired lately, and I want to sleep earlier and earlier.
Only 3 weeks left before the big MS 150, and I’m pretty excited. It’s going to be a great challenge and a great experience. I remember riding last years MS 150 and while I was pedaling through the hills, this lady stood on the side of the road with a sign that read, “thanks for saving my life”. That moved me to just push myself just a little harder. That same day further down, I remember seeing a kid holding a sign in front of his house that read, “thanks for saving my brother”. I’m not going to lie, I teared up. At that moment I knew that this ride was much more than just a ride to Austin. It was ride to save lives and help find the cure of MS. If you haven’t donated, donate now. I know you know someone who’s doing the MS 150. Every dollar counts!
Monday 03.29.10
Chest and Triceps workout.
Didn’t get to do any cardio.
This is amazing. Great music with live art, just amazing.
Since I’ve started my diet I’ve given up many unhealthy habits. Some permanent, and some temporarily. I’ve lost a total of 21 lbs and my stamina for cycling is way more than it ever was.
Here is a list of what I’ve changed in my life to be where I am now.
1. I stopped drinking diet drinks. Diet coke is my addiction. I’d drink around 2 cans a day or more. I’m now down to zero. I can’t lie, I had a can of diet coke during my bachelor party. But that’s one can since February. But I’ve also cut out substitute sugar in general. So no splenda, no aspartame, sweet n low, etc. Zero fake sugar.
2. I also cut down coffee dramatically. I used to have about 2 cups a day, but I’m down to one cup a week. I’ve never been addicted to caffeine, except for just the taste. If I need some caffeine, my first choice is unsweetened tea. I’m really starting to love tea. The reason for giving up coffee is that the caffeine impact on your body is drastic it slows down your metabolism. Tea on the other hand releases caffeine over a longer period of time so the impact is not as great.
3. Sweets. I love sweets in general. Ice cream would be my weakness. But I cut out the cookies, the cakes, ice cream and all. In the past month or two I may have had a few treats, but it’s nearly down to zilch.
4. Fast food. No more of that. Closest thing I get to fast food is a sandwich from subway.
5. Skipping meals. I never ever skip a meal. I eat 3 full meals a day, with snacks in between. So I’m usually snacking every 3 hours. But healthy snacking.
6. Excess eating. I’m pretty aware of portion control now thanks to my fit foods. I’m very aware of what I eat and how much of it. This helps a ton.
7. Alcohol. Since January 1st, I’ve drank about 3-4 times. When dieting alcohol is your enemy. It’s loaded with calories making you feel hungry. I definitely miss my ales, stouts, whiskey and scotch. Damn you diet.
These are just some of the things I’ve given up so far this year and it’s helping drastically. I workout 3 times a week in the gym and bike on the weekend, and it’s slowly paying off. Since I’ve started working out in February, I’ve lost 21 lbs and still counting. 14 lbs shy of my pre-wedding goal. On my way to better me!
Thursday 03.26.10
Back and bicep workouts.
30 Minutes on the bike station.
Tomorrows and 62 mile ride in the hill country. Supposed to be tougher than the ms 150 ride.
This past week I was in Breckenridge for my bachelor party. I’ve never seen snow in my life so it was definitely an eye opener. I loved the weather, the snow, the mountains, I loved every bit of Breckenridge.
Since it was my first time seeing snow, it was also my first time snow boarding. First day was a drag. I fell so much that my ass, arms, legs, head and every part of body was aching. My body was screaming with pain, telling me to quit. After my first day, I finally had it down. I was going heel side down the mountain pretty easily. But the leg pains were unbearable. Come the third day, I was screaming down the mountain with ease. That’s when I really started to enjoy snow boarding. Now that I’m back home, I miss the weather, the snow, the mountains and every bit of Breckenridge. (Pictures to come along with some videos of my ass falling all over the place.)
Back to the grind and my routine workout schedule.
Tuesday 03.24.10
Chest and triceps.
5000 meter row machine.
15 minutes of bike machine.
Some ab workouts.
By the way I gained weight during the bachelor party. SOB. But it’s ok. I’m heading back down to where i was before I left.
This coming weekend is a tough ass ride. 62 miles in the hill country. Not looking forward to it, but once I’m through, I’ll know I’m one step closer to completing the MS 150 with a bit of ease.
MS150, ms150, ms150, is all I hear. Which is good. Keeps reminding me that I need to get ready for the ride. I’ve been training a lot this year. Almost every week I ride over 30-50 miles, and 3 days a week I’m in the gym, lifting weights, and riding again on the bike machine.
So this past Saturday, I rode the Hershey trail from beltway 8 to fry rd, and I must say, it was a peace of cake. I felt so fresh afterward that it didn’t even feel like I rode. I must be improving my stamina, and my leg strength. Need to start doing some more hill training now.
I weighed myself this morning and I’m at a total lost of 16.5 lbs! wOOt!
Monday 03.15.08
Worked out alone today. My workout partner sold me out for a pair of tickets to a Rockets game. But I still hit the gym up and pushed through. Focused on shoulders and legs than 30 minute cardio on the bike machine.
Today during my lunch break, I went for my usual hair cut from Cindy. Guess what she says? You look thinner. I cracked a huge smile and I said thanks! I’ve been working out and dieting. I asked her how she could tell, and she replied back saying that my stomach went in.
I was fist pumping in the air but in my mind of course. But that was my first compliment from someone saying that I actually lost weight. I guess it’s starting to show!
On another positive note, I weighed myself today and I’m down another 1 lb. So in total I’ve lost 14.5 lbs. I’m so stoked. I’m not even eating my fit anymore. I’ve weaned off and started to eat as healthy as I can and try to keep up with eating 3 full meals including snacks.
I can also tell my stamina for lifting and cardio has increased but my strength is still weak. I’m kinda sad to see this but I guess I’ll take weight loss over strength. Once I hit my target goal, I’ll do some strength training.
Thursday 03.11.10
Since I didn’t get to workout the past 2 days, I decided to focus my workout today on all upper body. Chest, triceps, biceps, and back. Took some muscle milk after. Feeling good.
On a sidenote*
Please pray for C, her vision is getting a bit fuzzy. I think she’s got a mild flare up and it’s effecting her vision a bit.
I came accross this article while stumbling and thought it was interesting. You can find the original article here.
Something to think about….
Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities.
The questions raised:
*In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
*Do we stop to appreciate it?
*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.
How many other things are we missing?
Monday is finally coming to an end. Had to stay at home half the day taking care of home stuff since the builder was coming by to take care of some warranty.
I’ll keep todays post short.
Monday 03.08.10
Focused on legs and shoulders today. Then 30 minutes on the bike machine. Today the bike machine was tough as hell. Tackled the random hills and my legs were burning.
Only six more weeks till ms 150. April 17th weekend. It’s been almost a whole year since I’ve last biked it, and it’s right around the corner. I can’t wait till it’s over. I know it’s going to be grueling and the most challenging thing I will ever do but these training rides every weekend is starting to take a toll. I keep having to wake up at 5:30am to drive an hour out to train against the hills.
This past Saturdays training ride was in Columbus, Tx. About an 1.25 hour drive out towards Austin. Only rode 50 miles but the hills were killer. Not only that, but my quads were in pain from the start from the lunges I did on Wednesday. Damn those lunges. I hate them so much. Damn you lunges (shakes fist in the air). Even though the ride was tough, I’m glad to say that I finished it with somewhat of an ease.
Another week starts. That means another workout session starts all over again. Tomorrow will be legs and shoulders.
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