Goal Reached--Well kinda

So I've reached a goal of sorts....
I'm going to lay it out...I was big, heavy and unhealthy! No other way to put it. I had wanted to be under a certain weight by this birthday. I was a little apprehensive about admitting my weight on this here interwebz because, well, it'll be out there for everyone to see. However, if everyone can see it and my progress then I can be accountable and continue to stride toward my over all goal of awesome!

So here it is kids...I wanted to be under 200 lbs by my B-day(which is next week). Well, unless by some miracle or level of divine intervention that is NOT going to happen. HOWEVER I choose to focus on the positive. Since Dec 1/09 I have lost a total of 38 lbs and a whopping total of 15 inches! I'd say hooray for small victories but those victories are huge. I have come further in the past 8 mos then I could have ever imagined. I still have 8 lbs to go but as long as they are off by December 1 this year I'll feel pretty good. I did plateau a bit, as anyone does in their journey but I am sticking with it.

I hope that if you are reading this that you realize that anyone can get healthy. I am a testament to this. I am about as 'broken' as a person can be and I managed to do it. All you need is a positive attitude and some friends to help you along the way. This is NOT lip service. I am known for my brutal honesty and right now I speak the truth.

Now I think it's time for me to be setting some new goals--I'll keep you posted on my path to Awesome.

Goal… To Achieve

Since a nasty ankle injury removed me from the pool back in early  winter of 2002, I’ve not been quite as active on the workout front though the appetite seemed to think different. I was a 185 lbs frame that was swimming 400 Individual Medley just under 4 minutes and 30 seconds, training between 6 and 12k per day in the pool, and likely consuming at least 8,000 calories in the same period. Literally it didn’t matter what I ate, I just burned it away in time for the next slice. As such, my exodus from the pool was met with a weight increase, topping out at a pudgy 220 at my heaviest. Since then my “fitness” goals have been more associated with losing weight than trying to achieve. This time around I’m adding a new page from an old book to help me stay on the fitness band wagon: Achievement.

Setting the Goal of Achievement

It’s simple really instead of saying, “Okay, I’m going to work out until I’m X’lbs”, I’ll be focusing on milestone achievements. So here were my goals prior to last week’s initial test:

Push-Ups: 83 consecutively.

Sit-Ups: 57 in 60 seconds

2.4km Run: 9 minutes

After the initial test it became clear that the sit-ups needed to be adjusted. The push-ups almost seems manageable after the initial test results (45), though adding another 37 is going to hurt a bunch! The run is what’s going to break me – I've not gone under 9 minutes since age 16, and then I only went an 8:40 at what I would have considered one of my peak times for fitness level. But that’s beside the point, here are my goals going forward:

Push-ups: 83 consecutively

Sit-Ups: 65 in 60 seconds

2.4km Run: 9 minutes – or at least 3 minutes ahead of Chappell at the end.

Training to Achieve

So in replace of the calorie counting journal (though I’m keeping a nutrition journal as of this week – something I suggest to all), I’ll be setting weekly goals thanks in part to a training program I’ve started called P90x (the “X” is for Xtremely Cute Basket of Puppies – or more appropriately the X is for this) which will likely destroy me thanks in part to the muscle confusion and sheer core intensity of the program.

So week 1’s goal was to finish week 1 – which I did. Because the program makes you record your workouts (how many reps, weight, etc.) I will be aiming for a modest 25% increase in chin-up and push-up reps, while maintaining my rep count in weighted exercises but increasing the weight by at least 5lbs.

Accountability

One of the things that has always bit me in the end was not having someone there to keep me accountable. When swimming, I had a coach who could tell when I was putting in the effort, logging the weight room time and things like that, but when working out on your own you don’t really have that driving force there. So I’ve set-up a Google Calendar with another friend who will be doing the P90x program with me. We log our workouts each day we’re supposed to, and when one doesn’t the other gets on their case – oh, and this staff challenge and blog thing doesn’t hurt either.

Stay tuned for next week’s update on my P90x-a-thon and I might even take you on a little tour of the “gym”.

 

Mather out.

For Your Consideration--Where I want to be when this is all over

Over the last number of days I've been looking at this whole endeavor and trying to figure out why I am doing this, where I want to be and where I see it leading me in the future-I guess one could call it 'setting goals'. I hate the idea of setting goals because I have two facets of my personality that tend to work against each other. One part of me is an over-achieving perfectionist while the other is a a lazy procrastinator. I always set overly loft, ambitious goals that no one would ever be able to reach and thus my procrastinator side says 'aw, no worries to do it tomorrow' so when the set backs happen my perfectionist side yells "EPIC FAIL". Having said that I realize that setting targets and benchmarks does make it easier for one to work toward the end result so here is what I've come up with:

1. I would like to work toward a 1 minute lap. Based on my result that would be a little over 50 second reduction. I realize that will not allow me to make AIC but seeing as I'm coming from a place of absolute sedentary behavior and ill health for the past 15 or so years I think it's realistic.

2. Participate in training or physical activity AT LEAST 4 days a week for a minimum of 1 hour

3. Ensure proper meal planning and avoid 'junk' through out the week.

4. I will keep a progress journal and post at least once per week on the blog.

My intention for this period it to not sweat the small stuff. Treat every gain as a victory no matter how small and every set back as a minor blip on the radar and no matter the outcome be pleased with all I accomplish.

My Goals

My goal was originally to meet the minimum standard for application for the AIC. However, as I have met that already in two categories and could easily in the third, I decided to revise for the sake of a challenge. Currently, my goal is to meet the minimum MALE standards for the AIC course. If I land somewhere between the male minimum and superior stage, I will be very happy. If I can come close to Lt Mather on the run, even better. In fact, I might even go so far as to say I will be within two minutes of him, whatever his time is. :)

As a side note, I decided to bypass the female "superior" standard as it seems ridiculous. How one push up takes you from minimum standard to superior I will never understand...

My intention, as defined by CV Hollis, is only this: I will get fitter, I will do it and it will be done.

Chappell...out.

615 Staff go Head-to-Head in Initial Test

Wednesday, January 27th marked “Game On” for the Head-to-Head participants of the 615 Fitness Challenge. This year’s focus is on “Leading by Example” as such, 615 staff members lined up to complete in the Cadet Fitness Test – a test comprised of three basic exercises to ensure your physical activity level:

• Sit-ups – Timed under 60 seconds
• Push-ups – Consecutive without breaking form or rhythm (women can perform with bent knee support)
• 2.4km Run – Just aim to compete it (within a certain amount of time)

Capts Neil Wolthers (615 Commanding Officer), Sara Chappell (Administrative Officer), Doug Matheson (Training Officer) along with Lt Liam Mather (Standards Officer) and Civilian Volunteer Jenn Hollis lined up to “compete to complete” their initial test and gage their fitness level. All in an effort to meet AIC’s (Athletic Instructors Course) fitness standards. Read below for results:

	Sit-Ups	Push-Ups	2.4km Run
Capt. Wolthers	44*	29*	15:20
Capt. Chappell	41*	23	13:33*
Capt Matheson	47*	20	13:38
Lt Mather	57*	45*	12:04*
Jenn Hollis	44*	2	24:18
*Indicates at least minimum standard on the AIC test

AIC Minimum and Superior Standards as of 2010

	Men	Women
Sit-ups
Minimum	42	36
Superior	50	39
Push-ups
Minimum	29	25
Superior	31	26
2.4km Run
Minimum	Less than 12:15	Less than 14:45
Superior	Less than 11:15	Less than 13:45

So with those standards out of the way, it’s time for our competitors to set their goals.

Stay tuned…