I worked out 111 times in 2018!

The new year is upon us again, and so I wanted to look back at my accomplishments in 2018. As you can see, my new year's resolution last year kept me going to the gym fairly regularly... for at least the first few months! My strength training workouts gradually tapered off until they became almost nonexistent during the summer. I have no idea what caused this gradual disinterest in growing my muscles. Luckily, in June and July I was on the bike a LOT... maybe too much, as in August I didn't do ANYTHING. Was it just too hot? Was I working too much and had no time for exercise? I have no idea what happened; all I know is that I managed a measly two bike rides the whole month (both on the same day -- a there-and-back sort of thing, no doubt). And NOTHING else! (Other than a strenuous tennis match halfway through the month, which admittedly did burn a ton of calories, but I only did it because my dad begged me to get out there.)

In September, I clearly took stock of my inactivity, and vowed to get back to work. I went to the gym regularly that month, and even started jogging! In fact, it turns out I actually don't hate jogging, especially when I do it with friends. So throughout the fall, I jogged regularly with my buddies.

I can't tell you how encouraging it is to go jogging with friends, especially when you are all equally bad. We joked about how bad we were as we lumbered around the track, and we sang songs of motivation, and we stretched together and laughed together and collapsed together. It was delightful. And it built up my endurance to the point where I can actually try to attempt jogging for real, on my own, with an eye toward something I haven't done in 10 years. (More on that soon.)

December was a tough month, because I'm a singer and December is always incredibly busy. But as I mentioned last time, I actually managed to jog 20 minutes without stopping last week, and I am NOT resting on my laurels. Later this week I will attempt a 25 minute jog. With luck, I am finally close to being able to jog for 30 minutes without walking. And when that happens, it's a whole new world. (Insert Aladdin music.)

All in all, I am happy with my track record (ha!) this year, but there is clear room for improvement next year. My goal is to become Somebody Who Runs (note the title of this blog), and I'm also going to try to ensure that I don't hit the springtime slump again.

To fitness! :-)

I ran for 20 minutes without stopping!!!

I had been doing semi-regular track workouts with friends, easy jog/walks -- jog 3 minutes, walk 1, repeat 4... repeat 5... repeat 6... then up to 4/1... 5/2... 5/1...

This morning, instead of doing the intervals, I just decided, Ah the hell with it, let's see how far I can go?

Before I knew it, 10 minutes had passed! Then 12! 15! 18!

TWO MORE MINUTES I CAN DO THIS COME ON SCHWARTZ

And I did it! 20 minutes, at an average pace of 12 minutes per mile (including a fair number of neighborhood hills).

This is the first time in YEARS I have run 20 minutes without stopping. I'm going to have to check the archives, but I'd guess you have to go back 10 years to find a similar triumph.

And THEN at work, instead of mid-day chips, I had a major craving for broccoli. So I went to the cafeteria and got broccoli.

Onward! :-)

Kickstarted by an Offhanded Comment

It’s funny how an offhanded comment can get you to really think about your choices. I was telling my young Roommate how easy it is to gain a half a pound a Month, and after 10 years, that’s 60 pounds! I was telling him that when people get married, often times they just give up.  He responded: “When did you give up?” Ouch.  The funny thing is, he wasn’t trying to be mean or even funny! I think he thought, OK here is a guy who is a little bit overweight, approaching 40, hasn’t been married… So I wonder when he stopped trying? So, let’s start trying again. Back on the wagon. This morning so far I have had a couple cups of coffee and two eggs on toast. I just learned how to make scrambled eggs incredibly creamy, and now the eggs are delicious and taste like they have cream and cheese in them, even though all I did was cook it on the lowest heat. They almost spread over the toast like butter! I am going to really enjoy my eggs in the morning from now on. :-) Now I am off into the garage to do a workout – maybe leg day? Maybe back and biceps? (Editor's note: It ended up being leg day.) My last weightlifting session was two days ago. Before that, my last was five weeks ago. Far too long. I recently went on some very nice hikes through the forest.  I want to find nature walks around here. Last night I walked 2 miles through the neighborhood while listening to an oral argument for the podcast. I like walking. It’s a way to keep active and to burn some calories and also I like that it helps me think. I have all the ingredients for a healthy life… I just have to start using them! I think the main key, in addition to all this, will be not to stuff my face. Is very easy to do that when I am surrounded by stuff I love, so I have to make sure that stuff is not in the house. :-) Onward!

Meals Today (so far) 2 eggs on toast, with a teaspoon of butter and some onion/peppers - 250 cal, 14g protein Syntha-6 chocolate shake with water and creatine - 200 cal, 22g protein