Cowboy's Diary

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holly1986 said:
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Aw thank you!! lol made me smile there! Youve came so far and i feel like looking ahead is so scary because ive got so long to go!! lol but like you said fearing failure stops you from trying and i wont let that happen im determined for health reasons (Hypoglycemia) and i want to be the same as my sisters (both thin lol)

Im 24 years old, i weigh 266lbs and want to be 186lbs (then i will re-evaluate at that point) im 5,8 aswell eeekk sounds scary just saying it! i have 80lbs to loose and i know its not going to be easy but thanks to people like you, it will be made a whole lot easier.

Haha thank you i need a lot of work with the whole singing thing but its definitely something i know i can get better at ive done it before i just got out of vocal shape ! lol

Thank you again, and congrats on your progress!
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Your welcome and thank you!! It is funny this last weight loss journey I started at 255 and finished at 175- that is 80 pounds as well-lol. Take one pound at a time and as a victory. That is how I looked at it- each pound was one less I had to lose. I have only been at my goal weight for about a month now. Know what helped me -- running. I never thought I could run - I was always the fat kid in school. Running was so foreign to me. I started very slowly - running from driveway to driveway and then increasing the distance. I am going to be running a 1/2 marathon on my 50th birthday-lol. Running also helped to shape and tone my body this time. I have never been this toned as with this past weight loss. Running also helped me with my cravings - instead of giving in - I went for a run. Running has now become a passion of mine- I absolutely LOVE it. I never thought I would but I do.

Find something that will help you lose weight and that you love to do. It could be running, elliptical, yoga, boot camp, whatever but find something that will help you lose the weight and that is fun to do.
 
ashy said:
Congratulations for having met your weight loss goals. No matter how long ago that was! If you are maintaining it that is awesome. And good luck on your run. That is something I aspire to as well. I want to do a triathlon before my next baby! I better get to it I guess!
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Thanks, Ashy. I just hit my goal about a month ago. It is a struggle to maintain- harder than losing the weight to tell you the truth. I eat right and exercise but I don't want any change in my weight- see the problem-lol?

Triathlon was something I thought about but I don't swim very well so I did the running thing instead. Good luck!! I know you will do it! Thanks for stopping by.
 
Good Thursday Morning,

Hill training went well yesterday. It was pretty tough but I am not dead-lol. The hill that we ran was in our river valley- it is about 400-500 m and it is pretty daunting. We ran about 2K to warm up then started at the bottom and ran to the top three times without stopping. It makes the legs burn and also the lungs-lol. The idea with hill training it to take the same time from the bottom to the top and as it is from the top to the bottom and to make the first trip up the hill be the same as the last trip up the hill. It took me about 3 minutes to go up and 3 to go down ( the idea is to slow your descent to match your ascent) and the last trip up the hill was about 3 minutes as well. So I guess I am doing it right-lol. Doesn't sound like such a long time to run uphill but try it sometime-haha. We add a hill a week up to 9 hills- I think my legs are going to be sore.

Eating was okay- I know I had hill training so managed to get about 2000 calories down my throat. My wife told me this morning that my stomach and abs are really tightening up - which is good news. She thought I had also lost more weight but I think it is the tightening that she is seeing.

5K run today so that should stretch out the quads, I don't feel too bad today -legs aren't sore but I think after 5 hills they will be. The idea of hills is to build the muscles which should make you faster on race day. I guess it works- we will see.

That is it for today. Have a great Thursday!
 
That is awesome. Sounds like your wife is pleased with her healthy new eye candy. Have you become a trophy husband? :-o
 
ashy said:
That is awesome. Sounds like your wife is pleased with her healthy new eye candy. Have you become a trophy husband? :-o
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LOL- just the trophy that sits in a box in the closet for 20 years!! Thanks for stopping by Ashy!!
 
Hey Cowboy - you are doing terrific as ever. I love that you are able to maintain the consistency. You are doing so well!!!
 
Good Monday Morning,

Had my longest run yet on Sunday - 13K. I have never run this far so was unsure as to if I could do it or not. I did-lol. I could have run farther so I guess that is good. The start and finish of where we run is the same place we run our hills- in fact the end is a big hill. Really challenges the resolve when you have just run the longest run you have ever done and to finish it you have to run up this big freaking hill-lol. I did it though. So I am now like 8K back of the distance I need to run for my 1/2 marathon and I now know I can do it. I could have run at least another 2-3K without any problems. Feels good and I still have about 9 weeks to train.

Eating was good over the weekend although I did have a sweet georgia brown from Purdys- like a chocolate turtle on steroids-lol. It was good but didn't make me feel too good so no more of that stuff. I just can't seem to eat junk anymore- which is good I guess. I keep trying but it makes me sick so that is it -- NO MORE JUNK!!

There have been a lot of people that I post in their diary and post in mine that seem to have problems with going back to old ways lately. I just want everyone that is feeling bad or guilty to put it behind them. This is a new day. Make it a healthy one. Get back on track with your diet and exercise and power through it. You can all do this!! I know you can. If you can't, let me know and I will try to help you get back your diet mojo!!

That is it for today. Have a great Monday!!
 
Good Tuesday Morning,

Yesterday was rest day after my long 13K run. Took it easy- weather has been kind of rainy and wet - it is going to be a wet run tonight. Clinic night tonight- 4K tempo run and a guest speaker that is talking about Biomechanics and injury prevention/treatment. Should be interesting.

Eating was good yesterday - Ate about 1800 calories. Pretty clean except for a small piece of zucchini chocolate cake.

Weight is still the same- 175. I do fluctuate about 3 pounds up or down but stay pretty well within that range. Pretty boring eh-lol? I am still snacking on mini cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, asian pears, and bananas( not all at once but that is my snacking menu) . To tell you the truth this is what I eat everyday since I started losing weight and still eat today-lol. I told you I could eat the same thing for weeks at a time. My only change usually is suppertime. That is usually different as it depends on what my wife or I cook. My wife thinks it is weird and sometimes I do too but I like what I like-lol.

That is it for today. I hope everyone has a great Tuesday!!
 
Well done on the 13k run. Were you able to run the hill at the end at the same speed as the 'flat' sections? Just curious how that works.

If you are going to have cake - at least you had a serving of veggies - right? I've not had zuchinni cake - but I have had zuchinni bread (not sure if it is the same thing - but without chocolate) and was surprised at how tasty it was.
 
Jennifer72 said:
Well done on the 13k run. Were you able to run the hill at the end at the same speed as the 'flat' sections? Just curious how that works.

If you are going to have cake - at least you had a serving of veggies - right? I've not had zuchinni cake - but I have had zuchinni bread (not sure if it is the same thing - but without chocolate) and was surprised at how tasty it was.
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Thanks, Jennifer. When you hill train the idea is to keep the cadence ( the amount of strides you do the same but make the stride shorter) the same. You don't attack the hills and lumber up it like you are attacking it. The idea is to almost dance up the hill- be light on your feet and kind of glide up them. Easier said than done-lol. Hill training is different than hill running in a race or run. In hill training you start light on your feet all the way up the hill until you reach the top- you have to time how long this took you. Then you run down at the same pace- so your time going up is the same as your time going down. You use the time going down to recover. In hill running in a run or race- you still stay light on your feet but they say to do 33-33-33's. That means you run the first third of the hill at the same pace as the pace you entered the hill at- the next 1/3 you slow your pace right down and then the last 1/3 you build yourself back up to your race pace so that you are running at the same pace as you would if you weren't running on a hill. Then going down the hill you push the pedal to the medal. The 33-33-33 is not what everyone does - some do 20-70-10. The guy that gave us the talk on hill climbing won the leg on the death race that goes up 11,000 feet- so he seems to know what he is talking about-lol.. He said he uses the 20-70-10. He said everyone will pass you on the way up as on 70% of the hill he said you are almost at walking pace but you will pass everyone on the way down as their quads will be burning when they get to the top-lol.

Hills are hard but they say it is one of the most important parts of training. I never did them before. No one seems to like them- big suprise eh? but they all do them-lol. Tonight is 4 hills and they are going to hurt by the end but a good kind of hurt. Thanks for stopping by!!
 
Takes a lot of guts to do what you've done! I'm excited to see how you do on your half marathon. After reading your progress so far I'm sure you'll do great. How do you feel about yourself now that you're at your goal? Are you happier, more confident? Or is it not quite settled in yet? I'm just wondering.

Anyways, what's next after the half marathon? Body building? :p I kid(mostly).

It's always nice to read a diary like this, congratulations on your accomplishments so far. Good luck with your half marathon.
 
Thanks Snezy. I am happier and more confident but there is still self esteem issues I am working on. Comes from being fat my whole life but I am working through them slowly. I am too old for bodybuilding but do some weight training as well as running. It helps with the toning and firming. Thanks for stopping by!
 
Good Thursday Morning,

Hills was a killer last night. The hill that we run is 1/2K long and we ran 4 hills. Legs were burning but I was done first-lol. I am finding my competitive nature ( of which I never thought I had) coming out. I was running faster that people 1/2 my age. It was a good workout and I guess this old dog still has some gas left in his tank. Who knew I would be faster than all these youngsters-lol?

When we run hills we run down at the same pace as we run up- so if it takes you 3 minutes to run up it should take you 3 minutes to run down. There is no stopping either- as soon as you hit the top or bottom you turn right around and run the other way. Believe me it is a lung burner.

Eating was about 2000 calories - I am still having problems getting enough food down my thoat. I am working on it though. Weight is still 175 as of this morning so I guess maybe 2000 calories is all I need - who knows? I am still monitoring it though. I noticed today that I am seeing some abs show up where there was none before- also my arms and shoulders are getting bigger. Weird because since boot camp ended I haven't had a chance to really weight train - just run-lol. Chest is tightening up as well- still not where I want it to be but it is getting better.

I bought a couple of compression shirts a while ago and I think they are helping with the toning. I know they are helping with all the jiggling around my upper body does when I am running- GROSSE!!. Anyway I would highly recommend getting them for anyone else that has the same problem.

That is it for today. Have a great Thursday!
 
Hi Cowboy! I couldn't be happier to see how well you are doing. I am so proud of you. Not only did you reach your goal weight but you have also continued to run your ass off! Don't ever stop. God made you a runner. You just didn't figure it out until recently. ;)

I am really sorry I have not been able to post in a long time. I have not forgotten my friends and supporters here. I have been working so hard trying to fix my neck and back. They are really in bad shape and the few times I have tried to exercise I really paid for it. To make matters worse, I just finished the busiest 3 weeks of the year at the farms, spent mostly on the tractor, which really beats the crap out of my spine. I've spent some nights unable to sleep or move my neck.

I've been seeing a chiropractor but I go back to my orthopedic doctor next week. I may have to try cortisone shots if therapy doesn't work. Between my spine issues, work, wife and kids I have literally had no time to post here unless I sacrifice my much needed sleep, like I'm doing now. :D Speaking of which, I better go to sleep now.

Just wanted to let you know I haven't forgotten about you. Keep up the good work. You are making us all proud!

Derrick
 
Derrick said:
Hi Cowboy! I couldn't be happier to see how well you are doing. I am so proud of you. Not only did you reach your goal weight but you have also continued to run your ass off! Don't ever stop. God made you a runner. You just didn't figure it out until recently. ;)

I am really sorry I have not been able to post in a long time. I have not forgotten my friends and supporters here. I have been working so hard trying to fix my neck and back. They are really in bad shape and the few times I have tried to exercise I really paid for it. To make matters worse, I just finished the busiest 3 weeks of the year at the farms, spent mostly on the tractor, which really beats the crap out of my spine. I've spent some nights unable to sleep or move my neck.

I've been seeing a chiropractor but I go back to my orthopedic doctor next week. I may have to try cortisone shots if therapy doesn't work. Between my spine issues, work, wife and kids I have literally had no time to post here unless I sacrifice my much needed sleep, like I'm doing now. :D Speaking of which, I better go to sleep now.

Just wanted to let you know I haven't forgotten about you. Keep up the good work. You are making us all proud!

Derrick
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Thanks Derrick- that means a lot coming from you. The feeling is mutual by the way- I am really proud of you for dealing with things that I can't imagine and then trying to get healthy too. I don't know if I could do it. You do it with such grace and caring- it is amazing to me.No need to be sorry. The most important thing is that get healthy again. You need to take care of yourself first I understand that. Just let me know how you are doing every once in a while-ok? Look after yourself and your family. Take Care!!
 
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Good Friday Morning,

Well I went and did something really stupid yesterday. My son and I were on our own for supper last night - the other members of the family had other things to do so my youngest and I went out for supper. We tried 5 Guys and Fries. What a mistake that was-lol. I had a hamburger and some of my sons fries. Talk about a grease party in my stomach- OMG. Okay, I am going to write this down so that it is in print- I am never going back there and I am never going to have another grease party like THAT again.

I have been eating so healthy for so long that I wanted to try to introduce some 'normal' foods in my diet- BIG MISTAKE going from one extreme to the other. The funny thing is that I was down a couple of pounds this morning so hopefully it won't shoot up 10 pounds tomorrow-lol.

Did my 5K tempo run yesterday. Had to run inside the gym at the track as it was pouring outside. After running hills day before yesterday I noticed a pain on the top of my left foot. May have strained something - I don't know. It didn't affect my running yesterday but it hurts when I bend my foot a certain way. I will keep my eye on it - rest day today and maybe tomorrow as I have a LSD run of 12 K on Sunday.

Funny thing about the grease party - even with the hamburger and fries I still didn't hit my maintenance limit-lol. Oh well, I am going to keep on, keeping on.

That is it for today. Have a great Friday and a great weekend!
 
Life is too short to beat yourself up over every burger and french fry. :)

One meal will not cause you to backslide or gain your weight back. I think the scale going DOWN afterwards is a huge indicator that your body needs more calories. Sometimes it's nice to go out with someone and enjoy food. Not to break it down and analyze it, but to truly enjoy it.

I see that you are in maintenance mode but still eating 1000 calories below maintenance. Have you tried to sit down and add food / portions to your current diet plan to increase the calories. There are so many food options that could bring your daily intake up. Healthy options.

I love to start my day with a 525 calorie breakfast!

Sausage Egg and Cheese Sandwich
Bagel Thin - 100 Cals
2 Eggs - 180 Cals
Cheddar Cheese - 90 Cals
Turkey Sausage - 60 Cals
Butter - 45 Cals
Coffee - 50 Cals
Total: 525 Calories

It gives me so much energy for the day, not to mention tons of protein! It's okay to enjoy food and eat things that taste good.

I know I've been vocal on this issue in your blog and you haven't really responded to those posts, but I see a lot of myself in your way of thinking. When I lost weight in the past, I never cheated. I felt a HUGE amount of guilt EVERYTIME I ate anything not on my diet plan. I ate too little because I was scared of gaining the weight back. And in the end, I gained back every single pound... 2 TIMES. I just couldn't maintain that lifestyle. I don't want that to happen to you. I want you to succeed for life and in order to do that you have to embrace food, not run away from it.
 
dwwise83 said:
Life is too short to beat yourself up over every burger and french fry. :)

One meal will not cause you to backslide or gain your weight back. I think the scale going DOWN afterwards is a huge indicator that your body needs more calories. Sometimes it's nice to go out with someone and enjoy food. Not to break it down and analyze it, but to truly enjoy it.

I see that you are in maintenance mode but still eating 1000 calories below maintenance. Have you tried to sit down and add food / portions to your current diet plan to increase the calories. There are so many food options that could bring your daily intake up. Healthy options.

I love to start my day with a 525 calorie breakfast!

Sausage Egg and Cheese Sandwich
Bagel Thin - 100 Cals
2 Eggs - 180 Cals
Cheddar Cheese - 90 Cals
Turkey Sausage - 60 Cals
Butter - 45 Cals
Coffee - 50 Cals
Total: 525 Calories

It gives me so much energy for the day, not to mention tons of protein! It's okay to enjoy food and eat things that taste good.

I know I've been vocal on this issue in your blog and you haven't really responded to those posts, but I see a lot of myself in your way of thinking. When I lost weight in the past, I never cheated. I felt a HUGE amount of guilt EVERYTIME I ate anything not on my diet plan. I ate too little because I was scared of gaining the weight back. And in the end, I gained back every single pound... 2 TIMES. I just couldn't maintain that lifestyle. I don't want that to happen to you. I want you to succeed for life and in order to do that you have to embrace food, not run away from it.
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Hi DW,

That is what I have for breakfast probably 4 times a week except I use ham instead of sausage-lol. I know one burger won't make me gain weight. It wasn't that I didn't want to eat it because I was scared it would make me gain weight- it was how the grease made me feel. And no I didn't enjoy the burger at all. I have made better ones myself on the barbecue.

I have been slowly adding calories but with healthy food it is the actual amount of food I have to eat to increase my calories that I can't get down. I get full pretty fast and I don't like the bloated- undo my pants feeling-lol.

I always enjoy my food - I don't actually need to eat the crap I used to eat and I don't feel like I am missing anything either. I have actually learned to enjoy cottage cheese as a snack ( I used to HATE cottage cheese) or pretzels or whatever. I know how I got to be fat the last 40 times I gained my weight back and this time it is NOT going to happen. If I want a piece of cake I will have one- but just one. I am not going to let food control me- I am going to eat to live not live to eat as the saying goes. I now understand that I need to control what I put in my mouth and one slipup is not going to hurt me. What has happened in the past is that I let too many slip ups slip by-lol and before I knew it I was 300 pounds. Thanks for stopping by!!
 
Hi CB - please do keep an eye on your foot and not put any undo strain on it. Better safe than sorry.

Just reading about the burger....I can only imagine how you felt - when you are eating well, one grease party (even a minor one) can really cause some upset. I agree - it is not about eating the burger - but about how it makes you feel when you are not used to it.

Hope your foot is back to norm soon.
 
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