Busy, busy, busy

I have not abandoned this project, but have been very busy recently. Here are some updates:

1. Ran in my first 5K race on August 27th. I came in 73rd out of 82 entrants. I learned that I'm a jogger, not a runner YET. The difference in running at 5:30 AM versus 8:00 AM in south Alabama is huge temperature wise. I learned that I could dig deep even though my body was crying "no more". I was highly motivated to finish strong with all the previous finishers watching(and cheering my name which was very cool) and to ABSOLUTELY NOT BE LAST. Yes I'm competing more against myself but I do have my pride.

2. Currently I am down to 260 lbs. from 292 in June. I have been jogging, changing my eating habits(see below), working out at the gym, and taking Advocare nutritional supplements for energy and to be sure I get the core nutrition my body needs to maximize its efficiency. For more on the supplements you can go to http://www.never2late4u.com/ to order or for my contact information. I would be happy to help you design a plan to help you achieve physical success according to YOUR goals. I do sell the products but would assist you with your plan for no charge whether you purchase anything or not. If you are interested I can also help you with a plan to achieve financial independence working part-time at your own pace.

3. I have started my own business (mentioned in #2). Of course I want it to grow faster but with the small amount of time I have available I guess I'm doing OK.

4. Eating habits change: I work 11-14 hours a day on an 18 wheeler making deliveries to homes and businesses. I drive anywhere from 200-400 miles while making 10-20 deliveries most days. I am allowed a 30 minute lunch break but rarely take the time off as I am more concerned with getting the deliveries made. Occasionally I do take it if I see it will not prevent me from getting all my deliveries made. Anyway my food needs to be fast and portable to eat within the parameters of my job and my pride in doing everything possible to never bring deliveries back. Sooooo I said all that to illustrate why my current plan IS my current plan.

I eat every 1-2 hours. This keeps "meals" small and quick, my metabolism burning(stomach sees food and calls for action-over and over), and enables my energy level to be maintained as I get in/out of the tractor and trailer in the Gulf Coast weather(smothering humidity right now).

When I go home at night my wife has dinner cooked and I eat whatever she prepares BUT my stomach has gotten used to small portions so I eat less.

Now what do I eat during the day? I believe every person is different and every NATURAL food has value. I have more or less created my own system from 3 low carb plans (Atkins, The Maker's Diet, and the Caveman Diet). For the most part I stay away from high processed carbs (containing white flour, white sugar, and/or a lot of ingredients I can't pronounce). I do eat some occasionally especially bread for a sandwich but here are some of my typical "meal snacks":

Peanut butter on celery, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli (all raw). Also ranch dressing on same but watch the ingredients-some have LOTS of sugar. I also dip in the tuna mixture listed below.

Any raw fruit in its natural state or canned fruit packed in water or its own juice. NOTE: most dehydrated fruit has lots of added sugar to the point I can't enjoy the flavor of the fruit itself. I usually eat 4-5 servings a day. I stay away from drinking much juice because you are getting calories that don't fill you up.

string cheese(1 or 2 per day), tuna fish packed in olive oil(better flavor to me than water packed) with a spoon of mayo and dill cubes, nuts(smoked almonds are my favorite), Mini-Slim Jims(high sodium so be careful if you need to watch your intake), boiled eggs.

I also use Advocare Meal Replacement Shakes for a quick breakfast and their snack bars, breakfast bars, fruit & fiber bars, etc. for quick, filling,  nutritional meal snacks.

Drinks:

I cut out coffee(a little with lots of cream/sugar was my recipe in a 32 ounce CUP haha), a 2 liter bottle of Gatorade mixed at home per day, and ALL diet sodas-my wife and son are diabetics so I drank these to make shopping easier for my honey. I cut the first two out due to the calories and the diets because they seem to make me want to eat more.

NOW I drink lots of water, Advocare Spark-a sugar free mental focus energy drink, and limited milk and juice.

That's it for now, I will try to be a little more diligent about posting. It would help if I knew whether someone was actually reading this.

Is anyone out there?

Well I've been very unproductive here now for a while...I don't guess it matters since no one reads it. I've made it up to 3.75 miles this morning on my pre-work jog. I'm planning to go to Fort Worth August 19th-21st for training in my new business endeavor. I've struggled with some issues at home recently but not sure I want to get into that here. Its hard to be focussed and motivated when stress and turmoil are the temporary norm. I have a lot more I'd like to say but I'ved had a long day so it will have to wait.

Go figure! I just don't understand some people.

 

Today's quote: 
“Some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard at it.” -unknown


First the good stuff:

I have discovered then when I DON'T run in the morning, my day does not go as well. I'm actually MORE tired by the end of my long day-I don't know the science or whatever that makes it true, I just have observed that it is. I know when I don't run I feel guilty, lazy, and get mad at myself for caving in. Maybe the anti-version of those feelings all being positive is the recipe for a better day.

More good news:

I am ordering my first Advocare order today. All other products were given to me by my friend who approached me about it after seeing my facebook posts about changing my life. I tell him he's like a drug pusher-gave me the free "product" now I am hooked :)
I was not interested at first but he asked for my mailing address and I gave it, then asked why? He says-I'm sending you a book-well he didn't send a book but he is helping me turn the pages to a new life. Just as I don't want this to be just another political blog(due to my tea party activities), I don't intend to turn my blog into just another product sales page, but I will mention news pertinent to revamping my life. If interested in Advocare then click on the link to the right that says "Get yours here".



Here's an observation I've made at my job when discussing my latest morning jog or other physical activity. Some people are supportive even while feeling like they should be more active themselves. They say things like: "that's great Don-keep it up man, I need to be doing that myself".


Others actually seem to resent what I'm doing and make comments like:
"You won't catch ME out there running before work-I get enough exercise here"-like I don't work as hard.
Or "Man are you crazy?! Why would you be out there jogging when you:
could get more sleep, work as hard as we do, yada yada."

Maybe they don't resent me but it sure seems like it at least a little. I can only guess its because I force them to examine themselves and due to their physical condition they don't like it. Hopefully I can inspire them if they are ever ready to make their own changes.

A man's got to know his limitations.

Title quote by Detective Harry Callahan(Clint Eastwood) in Magnum Force.

Yesterday afternoon I decide to go for a jog. Now during the week I keep my morning limit to about 3.25 miles. I'm winded after but not so much as I can't handle it and my workday.

Yesterday I decide to stretch my limit as I'm on the weekend. Now I did work today but it was only driving to Atlanta and back-not in/out the tractor and trailer making deliveries like a normal day. So anyway I'm thinking I can handle a pretty good bump up and decide on a route.

Now my regular run I've mapped out online to get an accurate estimate for my 5K training. Yesterday I pick a route and think its about 5 miles.

1. I was wrong....it was 6.
2. I normally run in the cool morning, not the heat of late afternoon.
3. I like taking a bottle of water to sip on but didn't yesterday.
4. all this equals a very tough eye-opening experience

I STRUGGLED to make it back. I make no pretense, I was stumble/walking, there was no jog left in me. At one point I'm on an overpass leaned on rail with both hands looking down at RR tracks. 2 cars go by and slow down some. I look over my shoulder and it seemed they were giving me  a weird look.....I wondered if they thought I was going to jump....the problem was if I wanted to jump I don't think I had the strength left to pick my leg over the guard rail.....then the ambulance went by slowing down as I stumbled. I was thinking yep, they are looking in the mirror to see if I may be the next customer. Ha! Not today.

So I may be ready to take on a 5k but definitely not a 10k yet. Funny thing is I feel pretty good today. I was afraid I'd be all stove up and stiff. I believe my Advocare supplements may be helping not only with my weight and energy but my physical recovery. I can't wait for my large order next week so I can start approaching friends about it. I BELIEVE IN ADVOCARE.

Not enough hours in the day

Today's Quote:
"A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others." Ayn Rand

No real news today. I took the day off from any fitness activity to allow my body to rest-I also worked 13 hours today so that wasn't a hard decision.

I am very excited about the possibilities of my future. The business I'm getting into, my fitness level, my creativity, etc. all are helping me to want more hours in my day.

I have a couple of ideas for inventions I want to pursue but have no extra time right now.

I would love for any readers to offer comments or suggestions about how I can improve my blog. I will keep doing this as it is therapeutic for me but I also want to inspire others who maybe have been in the "life has passed me by" mindset.

"Stay frosty!" (I love that)

Go, go, go

Today's quote: Procastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.-Unknown

Hit the road this morning and ran 3.25 miles before work. About the 2 mile mark I was wondering if I had bit off more than I could chew. I had to be at work by 7 which required leaving by 6:40. I couldn't take a shortcut-there wasn't one. So I bore down and focused on maintaining a good pace whether in my jogging 4 minutes or walking 1 minute(new strategy a friend recommended).

With the same friend's encouragement I became a distributor of Advocare products today(click link on top of right column). I started taking them myself Sunday and am already sold. The energy drink Spark is the best I've ever had in this way: I actually feel it work. I've tried rockstar, redbull, etc. But I've never been able to feel the energy, sharp focus, and readiness that this gives me IN 15 MINUTES.

I will be running in my first 5K race EVER on August 13th!

Well its been a full day til next time: "Act as if what you do makes a difference-it does".

To Run or Not to Run

Today's Quote:

"Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward."
Victor Kiam

I woke up this morning at 5:45 to the sound of rain. As I lay there slowly coming to life, I thought, "well its raining and you think you are a runner. So are you going to get out of bed and run in the rain, or roll over and try to snooze some more?" I got up and ran.

Not only ran but loved jogging in the rain. I'm going to be soaking wet after my 3 miles anyway, but with rain it is so much cooler. My wife thinks I'm nuts but she will think that anyway(with some justification-just not as much as she thinks-ha).

Saw some friends and acquaintenances today and one told me that I looked like I felt good and was is a good mood. I said "you're right I do feel good, I'm in a great mood, and I love it". Since turning over the "It's NEVER too late" leaf, my mental state has vastly improved. I still have problems to deal with but it really seems to be easier.

Call it a positive attitude, a product of physical activity, or psychological mumbo jumbo; I am handling life better and enjoying it more.