Challenge Accepted.

First off, being a lefty while writing on a marker board is a pain in the butt. But here it is.

This one will be set up a bit differently, I am going to write down what I work out that particular day. If for some reason the day is blank, that means I didn't do anything that day, which isn't good if that happens more than one day in between two work outs.

I think I am also going to have a weigh-in every two weeks, Just to track, since that is kinda my goal now. As I have said before, I really don't like tracking weight as progress, because if I start building muscle, I am going to get heavy. BUT, my gut holds more weight than it should, and I've been 235lbs at my height/build before, so I think this'll work Ok.

Today was my dad's birthday today, he turned 50, so, if you could go to his facebook page (Paul Hoffman) from mine and wish him a good one I would appreciate it. You have till the 24th, but he checks his Facebook more often than he'll admit, and I'm sure he'd appreciate you posting/messaging him wishing him a good one. He is really the best father I could ever hope for. Back to me!

While at the birthday celebration I talked to Eric, Carol's son. Now, folks, he's crazy in shape, so I take his advice to heart. He tells me no bread/pasta as they are extra carbs, and the shake I make, which includes banana, should be a post-workout instead of a pre, because of the way the body will work with that good carb intake from the banana... Now, this is a big change for me. I like sandwiches, pasta, tortilla's and the like. That stuff is delicious. I tell him I am eating Whole wheat bread and whole wheat pasta, he shakes his head at me and says that doesn't make it any better, if I want to lose my gut, I should cut it out. And I should eat rice if I am so craving it. He says to buy a rice cooker, and make rice, with chicken and broccoli often (or other veggies, but broccoli is what I got in my freezer). It saddens me to say, but I will probably be giving my whole loaf of bread away and finish off my first loaf with my lean turkey and spinach sandwiches, and give up bread and most of pasta for a while. I watched this clip on how to eat healthy (portion sizes mostly), and the amount of pasta I have been eating compared to what I should be is incredibly high, so I need to cut back as it is. But once a week a small thing of pasta with veggies won't hurt. As for my smoothy? It isn't a great deal of stress, just drinking it before rather than after is fine.

Though I technically start today (Monday), Amanda and I went and worked out today (Sunday) after my dads birthday celebration, it was kinda intense.
Her and I are new-ish friends and we're still getting to know each other, but my goodness she's in shape. Well, "there's room for approval" as she puts it, but her start of a workout is running a 10-min mile. I'll be honest, I was trying to be the impressive one and keep up... That did not work folks. I was huffin and puffin, but I ran far more than I usually do. she definitely pushed me by just being there. Then we did a series of leg work outs on a few machines that I don't normally use, I was able to give a little advice on how to get a good workout on it if she isn't feeling the ache, and I think she appreciated it, either way, we did our leg work outs and it was good. Then we proceeded to abs and I made her do push-ups. It was a lot of fun and through out sweaty-ness we hugged and plan on working out upper body tomorrow (Monday), though I think we might need to separate it out a bit, chest/arms/ back are a lot to work out in a day, but we'll see. It was a lot of fun and I am really looking forward to doing it again.

Sounds like she had a good time to eh?

I am going to definitely try to balance it out and run with Jake in the morning as well. If Amanda and I continue to have success in going to the gym (which is truly half the battle, just getting there) then I will probably stop doing at home workouts by myself.

As for Jason and I, it is still kinda up in the air, if he has the strength to do it on his own, I'll probably let him go do that and handle his challenges on his own, but the past few times we've picked a time, neither of us could, I don't think our schedules mesh up right. What I am thinking about doing is going with him a few times to see what his outside workouts are about. If it is something I can adopt to my crazy schedule, then I will, but currently it really sounds like Amanda and Jake are pulling through for me, so I am going to pull through for them.
I have no ill feelings towards Jason at all, again I just don't think our schedules mesh well together. Opposite working schedules to begin with, ya know? Hopefully, it can be a once a week thing; maybe we'll find time to do a few solid work outs a month, a good way to keep tabs on each other.

Now, I know that after reading this, some of you are thinking, "you are doing too much" or "just get rid of one of them" and I'm telling you I am not going to.

If I am working hard, then I am happy. And I refuse to turn away someone who is trying to better there life. It is too important to be healthy just to turn someone away who may need me for that motivation. I have worked too hard and failed too many times to just let someone go if they are asking for help. Plus, if you think this is bad, just wait till I start hiking with Linux... My pup needs his exercise too.

That's about it for me for now. Starting the challenge, starting a new work out partner, and getting rid of one of my favorite foods for a while, pasta.

What have you been up to? Let me know!

~Just a thought.

It is not good enough to be good if you have the ability to be better - Albert Lee Cox.

The Master of my Fate.

So it has been a while since I last wrote on this blog. It hasn't been anything outside of your normal laziness to be honest. That, and not too much exciting things have come my way recently.

On a very sad note, Tilted Kilt is cancelling my Karaoke nights for football. That makes me ridiculously sad. But I have most of my Karaoke friends on my Facebook now to keep in touch and grab beers with. I'm sure KJ Mike will get settled at a new location, thus dragging us all there for some type of reunion. Our waitress Amber (The coolest cat in the shin-dig aside from myself) said that it would be nice to be able to just sit back and hang out with all of us and not NEED to work. The lot completely agreed, and I joked that I'd still ask her for my drink out of habit. But it would be fun to see her relax a bit and just chill with us as friends rather than our hostess.

Speaking of beer! I don't drink that much anymore, beer that is. I usually get water or lemonade at the Tilted Kilt. I mean I'm not opposed to it, but I am glad it isn't a necessity to drink while karaoke-ing it up.

I do have some exciting news, for me at least, maybe not so much for you. I have developed a new challenge for myself that is going to start next Monday. Unlike the last one where I just started, I am giving myself a little heads up.

Here's how it is going to work:
After a nice haircut and shave prior to Monday, I am choosing not to shave or get another haircut until I am down to the weight I want to be at.

The reason why this is significant:
I have always liked the "clean cut" look, Meaning no facial hair at all. I think it is a bit old school now a days, but makes you look more professional and overall better looking.

The reason I have NEVER done that is because I do have a fat face. It is true, and my face is slightly more round than the squared jaw. I'm betting on if I lose more weight, eat better, I can actually get to that look. My big plan is to go as Captain America for Halloween, so my goal is October (less than 90days). But I need to get to the weight. And I will follow through with this plan. If I haven't reached my goal by October, than the beard and hair stays. Period.

My goal? I dunno quite yet. I'm thinking in the 235lbs range. I have made up the calendar, but I need to change a few things around on it before I post the picture of it.
It won't work the same way as the last one, instead, I am going to write in the workouts I did that day, and any healthy meals I ate.
If it is blank that means I totally effed up that day and to PLEASE yell at me. I will also separate the meal/workout via colors as well. That will be in the next post, the whole thing to follow my calendar and progress.

A couple people I want to recognize to help me through this process...

For WORKING OUT We have:
Jake: We have set up two days where we run together.
Jason "Boom" Legaard: He is gonna be my new motivational person and workout partner. We haven't gotten anything set up yet, but his ideas are crazy and intriguing, I hope to work out with him soon.
 And this wonderful female who was just added today!
Amanda: Brand-new work out buddy. Just finished finalizing the routines she wants to do, and she's expecting a lot of working out, and I'm gonna have to make sure I'm there every step of the way!

For NUTRITION We have:
Carol: She is a wonderful lady to have gotten to know, my dad's special lady, and she is as healthy as can be. She has certainly helped me keep my healthy lifestyle on track, and my fathers in a better light. We promised each other we will slowly influence my entire family to eat better. Muhahahaha. Look out family!
Ashley: One of my best friends in the entire world. I know that if I asked her to help bother me to stay healthy she will. And so the text will be sent tomorrow that I need to be reminded that healthy is the only way to go for me. I have 100% faith in her.
Kelli: Though we only talk on and off, I do not want to feel her wrath when I screw up. Her and I struggle together in the working out/healthy scene, and I know I can count on her to yell at me when I screw up.
Alicia/Elvis: I scrunch them up together because they are a couple. But they have helped me stay healthy, and have taken my health conversations seriously. I have a feeling they will definitely make sure my food stays where it needs to be. They stay healthy by playing in a few softball leagues, which is pretty cool in my mind. Maybe I'll join that some day.

Other people to recognize in both categories are Kristi, Amanda, and Sarah. I've spoken about all three of these ladies before. They are my editors when writing, my annoying texts telling me I should be going to the gym, or yelling at me when a fast food joint just sounds so good. I know that these three ladies over Facebook, phone, and in person will continue to bother me to help me to reach my goal. They are awesome.

So there's my team. My support system. I only have myself to blame if I fail, but I know that these people are the people who I will disappoint if I slip. It's a rather large team, but it takes a village, right?

Thank you all for your support and kind words. And, dear reader, even if you haven't been recognized, please understand the more people who support me, who are on board and remind and bother me about working out and eating right, the better off I'll be. I will not be annoyed. I will enjoy hearing from you. Heck, I will enjoy hearing from you even IF it isn't about my health and nutrition, don't be a stranger. :)

Edit: So I took out their last names, a little late I suppose, but for their security.  They should know who they are :)

Other than that... It is about time to sign off.

~Just a thought.

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul. 
Invictus - William Ernest Henley.