Day 297 - Fill In The Blanks

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Fill In The Blanks...

This week my eating plan contains _________ .

This week I will take a box of toothpicks and _________ .

This week my exercise will consist of _________ .

This week when I stumble from plan I will immediately _________ .

This week I will take that odd-sock from the laundry and _________ .

This week I will challenge myself to try _________ .

This week I imagine myself punching the snot out of _________ .

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 296 - Defining Super Sunday

Super is working hard enough to get a good sweat going.

Super is waking up in the morning and wanting to be sure time is made to exercise.

Super is planning weekly menu options that are both healthy & tasty.

Super is looking forward to the food that comes with the big-game and knowing I won't over-indulge.


Super is Super Bowl Sunday, A Steelers victory will be Super-Duper!

 Enjoy your Day and the Game!!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 295 - Fit For Me & Familiy

Yesterday was a day of rest where my exercise is concerned. And much needed too. The soreness from the weeks workouts and snow removal needed the day to ease some.

Today is a new day and exercise was on the schedule. And that we did first thing today. Yes, I said we... My wife, two of my sons & I headed off to the YMCA first thing to get busy. My wife joined the Y last year so that she could swim. She was a swimmer in high-school & college so swimming is her exercise of choice.

Recently we expanded her membership to a family membership so that I can go with her and use some of the equipment there I do not have in my basement and never will. That and she suggested we do so as she'd be more apt to go and swim if I went to the Y too. So how could I say No to that?

Here are a few pictures of the boys & I getting busy. Nope, no pictures of my wife in the pool. But up top there I do have one of her pitching in to remove the snow the snow plows pushed back in our driveway over night...

Cameron getting to know the fun that is SQUATS

Andrew working through a set of LAT PULLDOWNS

I've had core on the mind allot lately and so making use of this INCLINE SITUP bench was a must.

Don't be too impressed, it is inclined just one notch above horizontal to the floor.

Cameron found the CROSS CABLE FLYS a challenge

We finished with some BACK-TO-BACK MEDICINE BALL TWISTS w/ a 12 pound ball.

Since there were three of us we rotated someone in/out on each 12 count.

In the end we each had participated in three sets of 24.

 

We had a BLAST.

 

What are you going to do this weekend to have a BLAST of your own!

 

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 294 - Tips For Free

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Everyone needs a tip or two here and there for improving their get-fit game. If it weren't for the many fine tips from my fellow bloggers there is no way I would have had the success I have had thus far. For that I thank you, and allow me to reciprocate with these offerings...

Veggies, many of you don't like them, yet you know you need more. You are just looking at the wrong veg. Turn away from those over ripe ugly choices in the store. Instead go for the baby veg. Just look at those baby carrots there; aren't they cute! How could you now just fall in love with them and want to gobble them up?

You do not have to give up the foods you love. That would be just wrong to deprive yourself completely of the foods that make you smile if not feel food-drunk. However, yes there is a but in the best interest of your butt; those foods you love must be modified into less horrifying looking versions of gluttony. For me Pizza is one of my food loves. And when I indulge, I tame down the damage it can do me by making them into cat shapes. No way these kitties are going to harm you...

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Blog and Blog often. But if you think punctuation is not important, think again...

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Now you know diet alone is not sufficient over the long haul. Exercise is a MUST. But if you won't take my word for it, maybe the words of a professional cartoonist will resonate stronger with you...

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Yes, all of that advice is free. I know, my generosity is priceless.

Put it to good use as you embark on your day today.

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 293 - They Said What?

Good Morning. Your snow storm (a.k.a. Snowmagator) update for today; our schools are closed again. Urgency is lacking in getting the roads back to normal. A bit surprising it is taking so long for me it is no big deal really, I can work from home easy enough.

Yesterday it took two of my teenage boys & I 1.5 hours to remove all the snow from our driveway & sidewalks. They say we had 20 inches of snow fall, I believe them.

There you see a picture before we got started. My daughters car had drifts around it that I took a tape measure to which were 35 inches deep. Bummer too as I really wanted go out and shoot some hoops!

Today seems like a great day to give some Shout-Outs to some bloggers and their posts which grabbed me good recently. Check them out, I think you'll be glad you did and follow on with these fine bloggers if you are not doing so already...

MARY from A Merry Life gave us this cool & very unique insight into what has been motivating her over he long journey. Literally long!

Do you have your own, "The Stack" story?

Myself, nothing as cool as Mary, but I have a bunch of T's I've received as gifts over the past decade that are 1x which I am determined to fit into this year.

DEB from Deb Shrinks got my attention quickly with the title of this post, Vaseline, frozen eyelashes, oh, and ONEDERLAND BABY!!! Actually when I saw it all I read was 'Vaseline' and I raced to click open the post; what does that say about me? It wasn't until I read onto the final paragraph that I noticed her HUGE NSV NEWS where she has arrived in ONEDERLAND.

Have you had an NSV recently you have yet to share?

Myself, well, I have a pre-NSV in that I am on the verge of taking hammer & punch to my old belt again. Maybe in a week or two; NO, definitely in a week or two!

BETHANY from Bethany's Journey is a new blogger. She is also the daughter of KAREN from Sunshine's Heart, so you can call this a Two'fer Shout Out entry. CAUTION, if you do not like cute pictures of infants & toddlers, don't go here. Bethany has begun her weight-loss journey, lets share our experiences with her to help get her off and moving here.

Remember when you started your weight-loss journey?

Myself, absolutely. The difference from then to now in my knowledge of the topic and understanding of my capabilities is as different as the taste of cow-pies and moon-pies (making an assumption here that cow-pies taste worse than bad).

Spread What Moves You & Shout Out Some Link Love This Week!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 292 - Come On, Out Plank Me Already!!

Snow, yes, we have allot of snow. Schools are closed, my wife & I are working from home, winter can kiss my round yet knavish hindquarters...

Moving on... last week I spread the news of Josie's (Yum Yucky) plank challenge known as The Planktastic Plankathon Challenge. Hit up her link there and check it our if you have not yet done so and enjoy the videos of the challengers taking on this tough yet fun exercise.

Myself, I made a go at it on Saturday and chose to do the Straight-arm plank hold, I did better than I expected by holding position for 90-seconds. Josie was cool enough to include my video on her page (link above). She surprised me when she noted that I was current male challenge champ for that hold.

Huh, over-weight / weak-core me is the champ? Never would have guessed that.

Pondering that I figured the male bloggers out there who follow Yum Yucky just haven't participated. Oh some have in different categories; Reinaldo of DarnFitness put up an insane 6 minute Forearm plank hold.

Quite a few female bloggers have taken up the challenge in various categories, again check out her blog to see them in action. There are even some doing slightly easier holds such as the knee plank or the assisted plank. My fave, 88-year-old MamaMcFoodie getting her forearm plank hold on! Her video alone is worth the visit!

But I am sure that is just a matter of time until other male bloggers play along with Josie. But until they do, I suppose I have to challenge myself to up the time in this grueling category.

And I did just that. Here is my effort Tuesday afternoon, I nudged the time up to 2 minutes!...


What it is about this challenge I like I am not sure. Perhaps because it is quick to do; a minute or two or a few is all it takes if you've got game. Perhaps it is because I realize my core is weak and this does wonders for addressing that. Perhaps it is because I like feeling my whole body quiver and quake and know it is not a bad thing. Perhaps because I find it FUN!

Now, ENOUGH about me. What about YOU?

I am CALLING out my fellow male bloggers, you got game?

No way 2 minutes should be the championship mark men!

Female bloggers, many of you inspire me to move, so I know you got game!

Pick a category, get your video going and get in the fun being had here if you deem yourself healthy enough to take this challenge.

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 291 - January GTD Challenge Fades to FebGTD

Snow, all around the Chicagoland area are bracing for the storm being called Snowmaggedon. I am calling it Snowmagator, because I like alligators. What, do I need a better reason than that? As I said on Twitter this morning, "Hello snow, I've been working out so I'm ready for u."

January Go The Distance is now complete and February Go The Distance has begun. For January I only got in 30 of my 40 goal miles. So 75% is not immediately anything to be proud about. Consideration could be given to the fact that my elliptical does not display miles. Early in the month I tried to calculate it but there were too many variables for me to do so accurately. So I defaulted to simple math, 20 minutes equals a mile; although I'd bet money I am moving more than a mile in 20 minutes. But I chose to error on a conservative calculation.

So in January I did 600 minutes on the elliptical which I am scoring as 30 miles, 75% of my goal for 40 miles. In the spirit of building upon past performance I am keeping my goal at 40 miles in February. I'll calculate the miles the same way which means I am aiming for 800 minutes on that creaky old elliptical in my bedroom.

JanGTD also had goals for strength training. I set a goal of 12 sessions, I did 7... hhhmmm, I have to wonder if I failed to record a session or two early in the month. I started the month targeting twice a week with a  stretch goal of three times a week; hence the 12 mark was set. Looking back I thought I at least had the twice a week nailed and I know last couple weeks I have hit three... you know what. I am claiming victory as I know January saw my best strength training month in 15 years. February will be better than January, I promise!

JanGTD also had goals for water, fruit & veg consumption, I knocked all of those out of the park!

FebGTD has dropped the fruit & veg tracking and added a stretching goal to go alongside the cardio & strength goals. CHECK IT OUR HERE!

I am stoked for February, the last full month of winter. No more hibernating going to be had by this healthy-fitness-wanna-be-blogger-dude. NONE! I am awake, and I am moving!...

You awake?

You need help getting up & getting moving?? 

HEY, are you involved in February Go The Distance? If not & in need of a challenge, join us!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!