Great Weekend

I had a great 3.5 day weekend.
Hard workout before dinner & Beer with buddies on Thursday.
Lots of photo work plus a quick trip to the driving range on Friday. Saw the Avengers again with good friends Friday night.
2 rounds of golf on Saturday.
Relaxing Sunday.

Man that was a pretty perfect weekend!

Heading in the right direction

The scales are still heading in the right direction. I've lost nearly 6 pounds this month and would really love to get to 9 or 10 pounds lost by the beginning of June.

Tonight I'm having dinner and a few brews with friends but I plan on getting in a hard workout before that so hopefully I can limit the damage of dinner out.

Tomorrow is official weigh in #2

I couldn't be happier that I started my official weigh in's on a Tuesday. Because I ate way too much last night at a Mothers Day cookout.

I've rebounded with a good day so far, I need to close it out strong so I can see some weight loss for the week.

New Work Out

I waited a few weeks to post this to make sure I could stick to it. And who am I kidding, I also waited b/c I'm a horribly lazy blogger. Nonetheless.

I've embarked on a new 3 day a week in the gym routine with trying to fit in some cycling on one or two of the other days. I've only missed 1 gym day in the first 3 weeks, but with work, photography and school I've only been cycling once.

Warm Up - Every WorkOut
10 minutes of elliptical on Hill Climb setting. First five minutes relatively easy, remaining five increase effort until all out at the end.
Stretching - 3-5 minutes (this has really really helped with my back and general flexibility)
10 Burpees
30 Sit Ups
25 Bicycles
15 Leg Raises

Main Workout: Three Days - At least one day of rest between
Numbers that follow the exercise are (Sets / Reps)

Day One:
Bench 4/6
Incline Dumbbell Press 3/10
Overhead Dumbbell Press 3/8
Skull Crusher 3/10 (should be called the triceps crusher)
Ab Wheel Rollout 4/10 (holy shit hard, more on the arms, chest and shoulders than abs)

Day Two:
Deadlift 3/5
1 Arm Dumbbell Row 3/10
Face Pull 2/15
Lat Pulldown 4/8
Barbell Curl 3/12

Day Three:
Squat 4/8
Hip Thrust 3/10
Dumbbell Step Up 2/15
Cable Pull Through 3/8
Hanging Leg Raise 4/10

Conditioning - After Every Work Out
Elliptical Intervals - 1 minute easy / 1 minute all out for 10 minutes.
I will be mixing in Jump Rope in place of elliptical with 15 sec fast / 45 recover for 12-14 minutes in a week or two.

So far things have been going well. I'm back on track eating. Coupling that with this workout I've started loosing weight again so all hope might not be lost on the 30 in 30. Last month I had gained weight again and was at my heaviest of the year at 234. I've dipped under 230 again, and hopefully that's the last time I'll ever see that number. I've got my goals set in 5 pound increments right now so next up 225!

How $8 can make a difference

I have some friends who's 8 year old (almost 8) is doing a remarkable thing for his birthday.

http://mycharitywater.org/p/campaign/?campaign_id=26508

I work for a non profit (not charity water) and I love it when people are philanthropic. It doesn't matter to me what charity people support as long as they have one. Volunteers are just as important as cash donations too. So there is always a way to make a difference.

From Gabe (the 8 year old)

All of my birthdays have always been about stuff. Stuff I thought I wanted but, to be honest, I hardly even remember what I got last year.

So this year, I'm giving my birthday up. 

I'm turning 8 years old and instead of asking for gifts, I'm asking for $8 or more from everyone I know. It's not going to me, though. All of it is going to build freshwater projects for people who need it.

I never thought about people not having clean water. I can walk into my kitchen and get water whenever I want to. I didn't know there were people who can't until my dad told me and showed me the charity: water movie. It made me sad.

So my birthday wish this year is not for more gifts; it's to give clean drinking water to some of the people living without it. I want to make my birthday matter this year. 

If you’re looking for someone to donate 8 dollars too, I’d say this kid is a pretty good cause. J

It not only helps create clean water, it shows an 8 year old little boy that everyone can make a difference. How freaking awesome!

Ode to Cycling

I love bicycling.

It is my favorite exercise activity. Cycling and I have had our ups and downs over the years but those are mostly my fault, not cyclings.

In middle and high school I rode with my dad and we had a great time. Later high school years, the bike was replaced by the freedom of a car, and I didn't ride much from 99-07. I tried once to start rdiing again in like 03, but was too heavy and really didn't want to be out there. Golf was my thing at that time.

After my divorce I started running and then cycling. I built up a new bike and had a great year of riding. 09 was my best cycling year ever, I rode all the time, more miles than I'd ever put in and had a great time. I got decently fast and rode with some good groups and finished some "epic" mountain rides.

I rode in the early part of 10 but stopped before my wedding, I didn't want to be in Hawaii with any type of injury. I was timid to ride with groups. I really didn't ride much at all until the spring of 11 and then with grad school that got pushed to the summer of 11.

Cycling and I had another down moment last summer, I hadn't put in the miles that I previously had and got blasted by on the groups I used to ride with. I was a little discouraged by that and spent more time in the gym.

But the thing that I've grown to acknowledge and am perfectly fine with is that no matter if I'm with a group or by myself. No matter if I can ride 50-100 miles in a weekend or only 20-30, cycling is the sport I love.

I've tried being a runner, and I can get to the point where I don't hate it and I sort of like it. I've run 2 marathons and 5 or 6 halfs, and I need to get off my ass and start running a few miles a week again, BUT I don't love it.

I tried swimming so I could do triathlons. I got better at it, I finished the White Lake Sprint, but I didn't even really like swimming. Check that off the bucket list.

Put me on a bike and even if I'm suffering up a hill or mountain I am still having fun.

They say the best exercise is one that you enjoy. That's so true, I've got cycling and as long as my head stays out of the way we have a great time together.

I've ridden more in the early part of this year than I ever have. Most of that can be attributed to the milder than normal winter, but I'm happy about it.

On that note, Daylight savings time has started, its time to get in the saddle!

It's MARCH!

March is an amazing month.

March Madness & Daylight Savings Time - need I say more? Really, need I?

I will.
The first two weeks of march madness are the best because there are basketball games all day every day. The Big East tournament starts on a Tuesday and from then on things go into high gear. After championship weekend, the NCAA tournament is pedal to the metal on its first weekend and I LOVE IT!

Secondly, one of my favorite holidays of the year happens in march. The ending of daylight savings time. It may not be a holiday for you, but for me it marks the beginning of when I can cycle after work. Bring on spring, and let me start peddling.

Of course, grad school will put a damper on some of my cycling plans but I will make time for a few rides a week.

HAPPY MARCH MADNESS!