Fourth of July

Fourth of July. Time for BBQs and fireworks. See the emphasis on the BBQs as food was and continues to be an item I enjoy. I may not not eat the Big Fatty's like they going out style, but this July would have a new event. We went to LaCrosse and were joined by my brother and his family. I did I mention LaCrosse does a 5K run on the 4th. We signed up and did it. I ran with his one daughter for most of the race while my brother and his other daughter were off. He taught me one thing, get up to the front. It is easier for fast runners to pass than a runner like myself weaving in and out of a pack of walkers. I just did not feel like a runner and should be in the back. I completed my first 5K running. Now what?

Bag a moose

The one night I working out at the gym, another person asked what my goal was to working out. I told him about hunting and joking said if I ever made to under 200 pounds it would be a moose hunt. I still had a long, long ways before I hit that mark. One to this day I did not think was obtainable. I kept up on the treadmill, elliptical and sometimes the weights. I never thought of losing over 55 pounds. I continued to get a little better, but weight lose was slow, like my first 5K. Down the road I hit that mark, but missed the opportunity for the moose, but feel better even with out the trophy on my wall.

The cats out of the bag

I was hoping to keep the race a secret. But when the ambulance and undertaker are right on your heals its hard to do. I was going to try to improve and the next time my brother and I got together and he went running with his daughter and asked me if I wanted to go, I would say sure, just to see the expression.

But the race got out and he found out, so now I needed to improve. My new goal, run 3.1 miles with stopping. No time nothing. In doing this I began to lose a little more weight and got in a little better shape. No more 38 pants, but 36s were plenty long. I mean tight.

Running - I only...

It was late February when a few people at the place I was working out wondered if I was going to do the St, Patrick's benefit run for Cody. Run? That is something my brother does, not me. After a couple weeks and knowing a few other people who were going to do the run, I gave in and said yes. Off the elliptical and on the treadmill. It was not a run, maybe a fast walk, but I thought after a couple of weeks and that I had been working out for almost two months, I should be able to run 3.1 miles.

My goal was to run without stopping and finish the race. I finished, but I could not run the entire 5K without walking. I could not believe I could not run 3.1 miles without stopping. It was easy in wrestling practice, 30 plus years ago. Why not today.

Better shape not weight loss

My goal was never to lose weight, just be able to walk and shoot. For me a work out was on an elliptical and some days weight machines. Low and behold in February I notice a little weight loss. I had grown to be a fairly good size guy. I personally classified myself as a broad shoulder's type of guy. I stopped weighing myself at 255 pounds. I can't remember when I wore 32 pants and I'm not talking length, although I prefer to think that way. I was into 38s and some well worn ones and a snug fit 36. So shedding a few pounds was not a bad thing.

Make it 28

In 2008 when I began my New Year's Resolution, I thought I better figure out a way to best accomplish it. All the things I found out on keeping a resolution was to work toward it for 21 days straight. My resolution was to get in better shape. Back in 2008 it meant being able to carry a shotgun a 1/4 mile and shot without being winded. You might think not a real big goal, but for a guy who had not exercised since freshman year or so of college, it was. I had along ways to go. While I was worried about sticking with the whole ordeal, I thought I better make it 28 days straight. It was a long 28 days, but I did it. When it was over, it was easy to head back in for workouts, now not on a daily basis. I even found some others who took up the challenge of working out. Some have come and gone, but a number are still at it.

John's First Workout

The best way to stick to any exercising is goal is to put the pressure on by telling people what you are trying to accomplish. The other thing I found helpful when I first began to exercise was doing it for 21 days straight. Follow me as I give some background on me and take you up to what I am doing today. Sometimes I think it should be What am I doing?