April 19th to May 2, 2006

It has been a while since my last entry, I apologize. This is an extensive program and one hardly has time to breathe.

For those of you that are following my efforts, first thanks for the support. For the sponsors of the program, thanks is not enough, you have all been absolutely spectacular. I have learned a lot from all of you.

I came to a major realization today and I thought I would pass it on to everyone. DON’T LET SUCCESS GO TO YOUR HEAD. IT WILL COME BACK AND BITE YOU IN THE ASS. I did very well in the first three weeks of the program and felt really confident (over confident). I let a little slip here and a little slip there. How much could a few cashews hurt me? Power bars, yes, since I am so powerful now, I need power bars. Boy, was I ever wrong. You can screw up a good thing by putting the wrong things in your mouth. Don’t listen to the demons.

I have to watch everything I eat. Remember a power equals a half hour on the elliptical trainer at level 3. When you think of food in that manner it doesn’t taste as good. I have had my wrist slapped and I am now back on track. Life’s little lessons learned.

I will reach my goals and then maintain them after I get there. This was a hard lesson, so trust me it is well learned.

April 19, 2006

Well everything we do for the next few days is preparation for the Pike’s Peek 10K run on Sunday. You notice I didn’t say race. This is a run walk crawl event for me. My goal is to finish within the maximum allotted time. Thanks go out to Caitlyn at Wholesomebody and the folks at Royal Fitness for helping me prepare to do my best. I now go into this with a plan for nourishment, hydration and level of aerobic effort. Remember, failure to plan is planning to fail.

My personal schedule outside of the Healthy Challenge has been rather hectic over the past few days as well, and I am feeling very fatigued. I have to reset some priorities and get some serious rest before this run.

For those who are following this, the meal and eating regimen is holding without any problems. I did not say diet, I said meal and eating regimen. I am not counting calories. I am looking at what I eat from a composition standpoint, high protein, low carb, moderate fiber, and water water water. On the smoking side, I am smoke free and have been for the past 11 days and counting. I do prefer the red stirrers to just plain straws.

Remember the challenge part of this Healthy Challenge is for YOU to get up off your ......... couches and start getting healthy yourself. This is a participatory event not an observational event. Every journey starts with a single step. Join in! I need the company!

4⁄6⁄06

Woke up this morning rushing. I gotta move the alarm clock out of turn-off range. Off to a PT session with Roya. No two training sessions with Roya are the same. The only constant is that she is going to get everything you think you have and more out of you. After the shower you really feel like you have done something and done it better than you thought you could.

I had to reschedule with the Pennington Institute as I was called to a staff meeting. Damn I hate when work interferes with my fitness program. (Just kidding, I love my job and the folks I work with).

Later this afternoon is my chiropractic adjustment and the I think I’m going to try and turn in early. Gotta get ready for Luis tomorrow morning.

Today was a good day!

4⁄5⁄06

I am actually beginning to enjoy the spinning classes. Luis at Royal Fitness can push you. My short-term goal is to make him sweat as much as me for at least one session.

I had a great visit to Roots Market in Clarksville. Melanie gave me a complete tour and is super expert in all things organic and organic related. If you are a cheese person you can’t miss Roots. They have one of the best if not the best selection of cheeses I’ve seen. They also have every kind of oil and extract you can think of. I better not mention Madagascar Monkey Milk again, I think they might have it.

The workday was normal and I was able to get out a little early so that I could make my first visit to Renu Med-Spa. Talk about posh and professional, this place is way cool, I’m told that is the current term for great. I had an analysis done with Dr. Schoenfeld after he took some pictures. I was then photographed with a machine that shows all the damage the years and I have done to my face, both on the surface and below. Enlightening, pun intended. After consultation a program was selected to help undo some of the damage. The program is part home care with the PCA products they gave me and part will be done at the office. I’ll let you know more later.

The facial session ran over and had to reschedule my missed chiropractic adjustment. I will make it up.

Eating is getting easier. Adjusting to the water intake. Still don’t like water. I have to say that something is bad so that you are not too jealous of my good fortune in being selected a Healthy Challenge Winner

Today was a good day!

4⁄4⁄06

Today the clock went of on time and I got to my personal training class on time and ready. Or let’s say I thought I was ready. Roya pushed me to my limits again, but I think I am making some progress. The one thing I realize now is that anyone who is starting an exercise regimen needs to start with a trainer. Not just any trainer, a certified trainer, a certified trainer that is certified by a national organization or college, not just the gym or fitness center you are attending. This also applies to anyone that has hit a fitness or training plateau. Trainers will ensure you get the most from your efforts and keep you from injury.

Eating is getting easier. Tree bark and twigs are not too bad with catsup and mustard. I am able to keep up with the water intake as well. Good thing we don’t have pay restrooms at the job.

Looking forward to my chiropractic adjustment this afternoon and then on to tomorrow

Today was an improved and good day!

4⁄3⁄06

An Aside and Observation

A realization. I’m doing well in all my programs, fitness training, diet, water consumption and all, in my opinion. I seem to be loosing some inches. These are all minor changes. The major change to lifestyle is that I am thinking health and fitness in everything I do or think. I keep asking myself questions like ‘‘Is this in the program? Is this a healthy thing to do or eat? Is this worth giving up any part of what I have worked on?”

Health and fitness is now my full time job, every minute of every day, I am trying to put my health and fitness first. This is really a major change in mindset. And I feel good about it.

Today wasn’t terribly effective; it started with my missing my spinning class because the one clock I forgot to change was the alarm clock... consequently I woke up when I should have already been on the bike already.

The rest of the day was light except for having to teach my last class for a couple of weeks.

4⁄2⁄06

A day of rest. You have to give your body some time to repair after you work it as hard as mine has been working this past week. The only thing on the agenda today is some time on my new elliptical machine. It will not become a drying rack for clothes!

For no reason at all I felt some time in the Jacuzzi was called for.

Diet is OK and the water continues to get easier.

Its back to the regimen tomorrow. Until then - WHEW!

4⁄1⁄06

The training session with Roya was a good one, I worked hard and it beat me up but it is what I need. Roya keeps me moving through the full session with very little rest between sets or exercises. I am on a regimen to lose fat and gain muscle definition. This means high repetitions (12 to 15) with lower weights. I know I wouldn’t be pushing as hard if I did not have a trainer there telling me ‘‘two more, you can do it.” I was treated to an Aqua massage after the stretching and the workout. This is a machine that uses hard jets of water moving all over your body.

After the workout was my part-time job auctioneering.

Until the evening when my wife and I went to visit some friends I took it easy and rested, after a dip in the Jacuzzi of course.

I’m keeping pace with the water. Still don’t like it. It is getting easier.

I am keeping pace with my dietary recommendations from Roya and Wholesomebody.

Read Thom's March diary

Read Yvonne’s diary

Back to Healthy Challenge main page