The Gym

Today, I ran/walked on the treadmill for fifteen minutes, and I biked on the stationary bike for fifteen minutes. All in all, that's thirty minutes of cardiovascular work which is supposedly the best way to burn fat and clear sludge from the arteries.

Usually, I have no idea if I am doing the right thing or the wrong thing at the gym. There are usually so many people there who are completely comfortable doing whatever it is they are doing. Meanwhile, I stick to the treadmill hoping for a miracle.

I wish Jillian Michaels would come hang out with me for a week and show me what to do. Maybe then I would feel like I am accomplishing something rather than feeling like I am giving myself a needless heart attach.

Now For Some Numbers

Height:                                                         5'8"
Weight:                                                         198 pounds
BMI:                                                              30.1, Obese
Healthy BMI:                                                 18.5-24.9
Healthy Weight:                                              120-160 pounds
Goal Weight:                                                   140 pounds
Total Weight Loss:                                          58 pounds
Physician Recommended Weight Loss Rate:   2-3 pounds/week
Approximate Time to Bikini:                           6 months

Weekly updates seem like they would be too discouraging, so I will post new numbers every two or three weeks.

Expect great things.

First Things

Almost one year ago, I decided to make a significant change in my life. I noticed that I was overweight, unhealthy, and unhappy. In order to reverse these three negative things in my life, I decided to invest in a gym membership and overhaul my eating habits. I enlisted the help of a close friend, and for slightly fewer than six weeks, I diligently worked the elliptical machine and worked on the muscle-building machines at my gym. I also attempted to eat more "good stuff" and less "bad stuff." I was excited and motivated, and I thought that I would be a completely different person in six months.

However, things rarely go in the direction that we plan. I soon became discouraged because, after losing five pounds in two weeks, I lost no more weight for a month. I developed a viral infection that took a few weeks to heal and made cardiovascular exercise painful. I became unhappy in my job. I realize now that all of these things are only bad excuses for not continuing in my exercise, but at the time I became distressed and gave up.

Fast forward to now. I have a new job which makes me much happier, but I now sit at a desk for eight hours rather than walking around. I haven't had a difficult cold in a long time. Everything seems to be better, but I still have not made it back to the gym consistently in many months. My faithful friend who helped me stay motivated has since moved across the country (a good thing for her if a bad thing for me), and I am finding it difficult to convince any other friends to take her place.

As I've grown, I have learned of a flaw in my character: without support from those around me, I lose all motivation to accomplish anything difficult. This is a trait that I hope to change. I do believe that with enough determination, I can change this flaw. 

They largest (pun possibly intended) area of my life where I can begin to make this change is my physical health. I have asked friends and acquaintances on numerous occasions to join me part-time in the gym without success, and I realize now that I can only rely on myself to accomplish my weight-loss and health goals. I am officially in this on my own.

I don't want you to think that this is all a major downer, though. I know that I have been largely negative so far, but I assure you that this blog will not be dedicated to self-depracation. This will be a mostly hopeful blog on my accomplishments, difficulties, and growth (while hopefully shrinking). I will discuss my almost daily workout regimen and how it affects my daily life. 

By reading along, you are helping me stick with it.