Blubber To Runner

So… as part of Project Transformation, my whole diet has changed.  Oddly enough, I’m eating MORE than I was previously.  It’s weird to think… actually, BELIEVE… that by eating more quantity-wise, yet smarter food than I was before, that I will actually lose more weight. I’m still getting comfortable with that idea, but as Jen and I were spending a few hours in the kitchen prepping my meals for the week (well, OUR meals b/c she’s not only helping me with it, she’s doing much of it with me as well), we started talking about Super Bowl Sunday.

( <— And yes, that’s some of the beautiful work we were doing.)

As we all know, the Super Bowl is not only a sports holiday, but an eating holiday as well. 🙂  Well, we realized that we can’t have all the fun foods we’d REALLY like to have so we started trying to figure out cool eats to enjoy.  I did what I always do – Googled.  And I found a bunch of stuff!  But then it dawned on me:

Why don’t I share these cool ideas/ recipes with everyone.

And what better way to do so, then everyones favorite recipe sharing website – PINTEREST.

So here’s what I am doing; I started a board – and called it SUPER HEALTHY SUPER SUNDAY (pretty clever, right?  RIGHT???) and all through this next week I’m not only gonna add additional ideas to it for everyone to get stuff ready for their own Super Sunday, but I want to post your recipes as well!

Here’s what you need to do… if you’re on Pinterest, FOLLOW THE BOARD!  And, also, for any cool recipes you find, do one of the following:

*  Post your recipe in the comments section here,

* Post them on my Facebook page, or

* Email them to me at blubbertorunner@gmail.com.

And I’ll get them on the Pinterest board and make sure I share the board a few times during the week so you guys can prep accordingly.  I know this is gonna help me… and I hope it proves helpful to y’all as well.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME QUINOA!!!

** TWO NOTES – If you use Pinterest, send me the link that way so it’s easiest to repin… if not, I’ll take care of it for you!  Also, if you don’t use Pinterest, you can still view the board via the link! **

When I first started this waaaay back when, I was the most out of shape guy on the treadmill. I was surrounded by all different types of people – Old, young… men, women… great shape, out of shape… it was a smorgasbord.  But, no matter how you sliced it, I was the biggest.  At first that hung me up.  I got REAL self-conscious about it too… I started running outside more, avoiding the gym as much as I could.  I tried to get people to meet me at the gym so I wouldn’t be alone.

Typical anxiety, but it crippled me – until I realized no one cared.

I realized that everyone is so focused on their insecurities that they could honestly care less about mine.  That this whole situation was more of my OWN issues than anybody else’s.

Well, a funny thing happened on the way to strength training last week… IT ALL CAME BACK LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN FROM HELL.

I’ve made no secret about the fact that I’m not the strongest guy in the world. I was sedentary for YEARS and then, when I started running… I ran. I didn’t lift weights.  I didn’t do squats.  I ran.  I mean, I got SOMETHING but, in my opinion, not what you’d expect from a guy of my stature.  So, when I was selected for Project Transformation, I knew what I wanted my focus to be on – STRENGTH TRAINING.  I mean, have you SEEN Ryan Hughes?  If I’m gonna learn how to do it and do it right, he’s the dude to learn it from.

(Oh, and ladies… you’re welcome for the links.)

Day 1 of weight training?  Not an issue – it was Legs.  And, of everything I’m self-conscious about, my leg strength isn’t one of them. So no worries here.  I busted them out and felt good.  Friday?  That was shoulders and arms.  And I was anxious about it ALL DAY.  I was meeting Joe, so at least I was gonna be doing it WITH someone, but all that anxiety I had when I first started running on the treadmill came roaring back.

Why?  Because this situation was DIFFERENT – this was ALL guys, all at various levels of ‘great shape’ (including Joe)… and me.  Still overweight, and not very strong.  I fought through it, but it was tough.  I felt like everyone was watching us, because I was so far behind them.  It was REALLY tough for me – couldn’t leave the gym fast enough.

So… CAN YOU SEE HOW RIDICULOUS I AM?!?!

That didn’t happen.  I mean, I THOUGHT it happened… but it didn’t.  I bet Joe’s reading this right now and like ‘Bro, are you serious?’ because I, like MANY people, create these absolutely crazy scenarios in my head.  But, in going back and reading my old posts about situations just like this (and yes, I go back and read my old posts :)…) it helped me remember that no matter what I’M THERE.  I’m working my ass off to make myself better – just like every single one of those ‘in shape’ people around me.  It doesn’t matter how much I can lift, it matters that I’m lifting.  That’s a tough pill to swallow sometimes but, once you do, it makes things a HELL of a lot easier.

So Monday I’ve got Chest/ Arms… and I’ll probably still be a little “Ahhhhhhmrmphhrmphgrrarrgghhh…” about it.  But you know what?  It’s all about framing it the right way in your mind.  So I’m just gonna go in there and own it, because I know I’m there for the exact same reasons EVERYONE in the gym is there – to make themselves look and feel AWESOME.

Monday is also the ‘official’ start for me for Project Transformation – I kinda started last Wednesday, but I had to get some things aligned with diet, training, supplements, etc… so when you read this, know that I’m probably enjoying my 1/2 cup of Oats, half of a sweet potato or my post-workout banana… and I’ll have more to come about THAT stuff in a future post I can promise you that.

In the meantime, have a great week!  Oh, and if you’re doing the Blubber To Runner Beat The Winter Blues Virtual 10K – let me know how you’re doing!!!

People ask me if I watch The Biggest Loser.  Does it motivate me?  Did I ever try to get on it?  Do I think the trainers are too hard?

Well… I don’t watch.  I’m not gonna get into every reason why I don’t (maybe in another post :)… ), but I am going to tell you one of them:

I get very frustrated when people get on the show only to quit.  I understand how difficult it can be to lose weight… TRUST ME, I do… but I don’t understand how people can get such an amazing chance – an opportunity of a lifetime – and just walk away because it’s too difficult. I mean, the show is one of the most popular on television.  You have SEASONS of episodes that you can watch, so you KNOW what you’re getting into; grueling workouts, ‘tough love’ trainers, public weigh-ins… this isn’t a surprise!

Well, the Universe works in very mysterious ways.  My beliefs on that topic are about to be put to the test… because I have been given one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunities.

Ryan Hughes is a professional body builder, fitness model, high-end personal trainer , creator of the Blast Training System and, starting today, he’s going to help li’l ol’ ME lose the rest of this weight and get in the best shape of my life!  I have the honor of being selected to be one of the first 6 clients as part of his Project Transformation… in other words, over the next 16 weeks I’m gonna be pushed in ways I’ve never been pushed as part of an opportunity that many wanted but only six of us were chosen for.

There’s gonna be A LOT more information in the coming days and weeks for sure, and I can’t wait to share this journey with you all!

However, for now – go ahead and ‘Like’ his Facebook page and follow my journey with Ryan to take that next step in my journey to total wellness.

You’re all such a huge support to me – THANK YOU ALL for reading – and fasten your seatbelt, because IT’S TIME TO STEP MY GAME UP!!!

8 Baby Steps to the Marathon for Beginners | Active.com.

This is a really great article, and isn’t just for marathons either… it’s really for any type of distance run that you personally would consider a ‘long distance’

I will say this though – I don’t do #3: ‘Think Time, Not Distance’… I do the exact opposite.  And I find it interesting they say to do time because every training plan I find talks about doing miles on training days, not time.  For me, as an example, I would do 3 miles no matter how long it took because you need to know what 3 miles feels like.  First time I did 12 miles it took over 4 hours… I ran 18 miles in that time just 6 months later.  But, when training, it was all about knowing what it feels like to do that many miles.  To each their own, I say… Lord knows I’m not gonna say it’s WRONG lol!

#6: ‘Recover Whenever You Feel Less Than 100 Percent’ is so ridiculously important… so many people hear all of this ‘push harder!’ type of motivation all over the place, but they don’t understand one CRUCIAL point of all of that:  There’s a difference between pushing and stupidity.  If you’re not healthy, then your body is telling you “I NEED SOME REST”… and you need to listen to it.  It was one of the hardest lessons for me to learn, but one of the best.

The last one that I love is #8: ‘Pre-Race Recon’.  It’s SO beneficial.  Most races will give you a course map on their website a few days/ weeks before the race.  Take a look at it – it’s an extremely useful tool – then take a ride out to where it is and run it.  Trust me… it helps!***

Anyway, just wanted to share this with you guys… I think it’s extremely valuable information for challenging races of ANY length.  I am all about preparing yourself to the best of your ability… hope this helps you do that same!

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(*** – It helps if you read the map right that is!  When running my 1st 10K, a few weeks before it my friends and I printed out the map and ran the course (Duke Island Park in Bridgewater for my NJ peeps)… and we ran the wrong course, but didn’t know that until the race.  Our navigator that day made an honest error but, a few miles into the race, when you think you’re turning left (to head back) and you turn right (to head even FARTHER away), its a little unnerving!)

As promised… I wanna lay out my fitness goals for 2013.  By doing so, y’all have the right to call me out pretty much whenever you want about what I’m doing/ not doing… agreed?

Good.  🙂

AND – I wanna do the same for you!  Listen – you need someone to keep you motivated, get on you a little bit, keep you focused on some of your goals – hit me up.  Seriously.  I had people help me stay focused, and I KNOW how hard it is to find the right people to motivate.  That being said – message me at blubbertorunner@gmail.com, hit me up on my FB page, comment here… whatever’s easiest.  I’m here to help!

OK, so here they are, my 2013 Fitness Goals:

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50 pounds more – I’m down about 85 pounds right now, and I think 50 more is reasonable.  I’m still highly focused on doing this healthy and in a way that will assist me in KEEPING it off, but 50 is not a crazy amount.  I know some people say ‘wow, 135 is a lot of weight!’ but I don’t view myself as a 350 pound guy losing 135 pounds anymore… I’m now a 265 pound guy losing 50.  Different mindset – different goals.

5 obstacle races – Here is something I learned in 2012:

Obstacle races >>>>>>>>>>> Regular races.

Like, >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>… >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

So, I’m gonna try and do more of them instead of just signing up for any 5K anywhere they have one.  They have so many different ones now, such as the Hero Rush (firefighter themed), Urban Warrior Dash (city themed), as well as various lengths (5K, 8K, 10K and longer) and I believe I will find more challenges this way.  So, with that being said:

MUSCLES – Let’s just lay it out there… I’m physically weak.  I’m a big guy, but I’m not very strong (outside of my legs, which are pretty strong after running over 750 miles in 2012).  I have tried – multiple times – to get into a gym, workout room, basement, ANYWHERE to get into a rhythm when it comes to strength training, however I run way from it.  It’s a mental roadblock I gotta break through, and when I say I GOTTA, I mean it.  I HAVE TO.  It’s the only way I’m gonna lose the rest of this weight properly, and the ONLY way I’m gonna be able to compete in obstacle races.  I know Jen’s heard this before – multiple times – as well (she LOVES strength training), so hopefully she doesn’t see me as the ‘Boy Who Cried Wolf’ just yet. 🙂

Again – THIS HAS TO HAPPEN.  And I need a tangible way to track this; any suggestions would be VERY helpful.  I’m gonna research some on my own as well.

1 Competitive Trail Race – I am enamored by this… I wanna do a legit trail race of some length.  I need to really research this – training, locations, etc. – but I am truly fascinated by it, and want to do one competitively in 2013.

1 Duathlon or Triathlon – I wanna race a bike in a competition… I enjoyed riding it for the MS Ride last year, but Hurricane Sandy wiped out my 1st Duathlon.  The bike is the focus right now but, if I can find the right triathlon to compete in, I wouldn’t be against getting in the water to train a little 🙂

1 Destination Race – I’m going to travel somewhere to do a cool race; be it a half-marathon, obstacle race, dual/ triathlon, etc… I’m gonna go somewhere, enjoy being a tourist, then compete in something while I’m there (PLEASE NOTE – this does not include the DMV, where I’d like to do a race with my peeps there at some point in 2013 as well!)

1,000 Followers on the FB page – I wanna really spread the love.  🙂  I know I need to do things to help grow the B2R community, but that’s a plan for me.  More to come on this!

$2,500 for American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life – This is a cause VERY near and dear to my heart.  I was fortunate to be Co-Captain on an amazing team (The Pineapple Avengers) for 2 years, and we raised over $25,000.  Although I can’t Captain anymore (it is a Northern VA based team and I’m in NJ), I am honored to still be a part of it and want to use this as a vehicle to raise money for our awesome cause.

PINEAPPLE!

So there you have it – full accountability.  And, for those that have asked, I have a few more goals as well… in areas such as relationships, family, spirituality, professional and personal… and hopefully, as those come to fruition I’ll be privileged to share them with you.

This is gonna be a BIG year for Blubber To Runner… y’all just WAIT.

wait, maybe its better to say it will be a ‘SMALLER’ year. 🙂