Merry Xmas!

Day 143-149

12/21/12 - 12/26/12

Man is it hard to make it through the holidays eating healthy. There is just so much opportunity to eat poorly. I certainly did my fair share. I had more cake and cookies than I’ve had in the last 100 days and I even had two drinks on my wife’s birthday. If there is one day out of every year that is not about me it is my wife’s birthday. She asked me if I would have some drinks with her and of course my answer was yes.  A glass of Champaign and a raspberry Saki mojito, hit the spot. So much fun, after 15 years I still love her so much.

On a fitness note that was pretty much it, stayed pretty close to my caloric intake and defiantly put in at least 100 push ups and sit ups everyday I did not make it to the gym or go snowboard.

My wife got me a heart rate monitor for xmas and today was my first day using it, other than the fact that I walked around all day on Christmas letting everyone know what my heart rate was. I am not 100 percent sure what I am doing with it so I just kept my heart rate really high the whole time I worked out today. About 138 - 177 beats per minute during the work outs, including a 14 minute run at 8 and 8.5 on the treadmil with a heart rate of 177-183l. I will run a sub 20 minute 5k at some point this year.  I really do not like treadmills these days? Not sure why, but they make me angry?

Tomorrow I go to my first triathlon club at 5:30am followed by Olympic lifting at 6:30 than to work for a little bit than the whole family is headed to Vail for some mini shred!  So basically I will not be able to walk on Friday.

After the New Year I will try to blog everyday and get back into a routine. New client starts next week, can’t wait! Happy Holidays to everyone, and my heartfelt thoughts to those who Holidays were not blessed with happiness.

Machine Guns and Snowboarding...

Day 129 - 142

12/7/12-12/20/12

What a shitty job I have done of blogging lately. Sorry to anyone that reads this (all 10 of you),  and has been anxiously awaiting an update. It feels like an eternity since I have  wrote but it has only been about 13 days, but man a lot can happen in two weeks.

The worst thing that happen was a mass shooting by a psycho-path at an elementary school in my home state of Connecticut.  What a fucking coward to go into a school kill little children and than turn the gun on yourself,  little bitch. The truth is there will never be anything you can do about crazy people wanting to take other peoples life. However there is something you can do to make it more difficult for them to get thee hands on machine guns. What world are you living in that you think you need a machine gun? Just in case our society comes to a crashing halt and its everyman for themselves. It  is so crazy to live your life under this assumption. I have a favorite quote that says that “every generation is a mystery unto themselves.” This has always given me a sense of comfort because it is so true, my dads generation was hiding under desk at school, we were scared of the Russians, nowadays people are still waiting for the end of the world. Whether it is global warming or fiscal catastrophes so many humans have this internal fear that the end is near. How many generations have come and gone living with this fear that never materializes?

So instead of banning assault rifles (machine guns), our fear leads us to believe that we must have these things to protect ourselves from something that does not exist.  Hopefully calmer heads will prevail and realize we do not need these items to be easily obtainable. Even if it had only saved five children because he was using a pistol instead of an assault rifle, that would be more than worth it.

The best thing that happen over the last thirteen days is actually many things. I have continued on my healthy path although I have had a couple Holiday treats, like warm sugar cookies. Biking and running have been replaced by snowboarding. I could write for hours on the impact snowboarding has had on my life and my belief that achieving a true powder day is one of lives most magical experiences. But  I will try to sum it up with a quick story. I sat on the chair lift with my wife yesterday and we were talking about life. We were discussing how a lot of decisions we have made over the last 15 years have revolved around snowboarding. Most jobs I have taken, the question is always asked when will I be able to ride. We structured our lives around something many people would call a hobby and most would think that was crazy. But as we sat there on the chairlift looking around we asked ourselves what is it that we do in life that is better than spending the day together on the hill. The answer for us is nothing. Would I trade a powder day for a nicer car? No. Would I trade all my powder days for a better job that makes more money? No.  If you don’t understand this it is because you have never experienced it. It’s like trying to explain sex to a virgin, some things you have to experience for yourself.

So what does this mean? Well it means that we are incredibly blessed to know that we have constructed the life that we imagined. We went confidently in the direction of our dreams and it is all starting to pay off. It means that we are the happiest we ever been. Not because of what we have, but because of what we have become.

 When I was graduating from high school my mom asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up and I remember telling her I wanted to be happy. Well mission accomplished. Thank you to the universe for everything, and to all the friends that have become family who inspire me by always chasing their dreams.

I have my first paying personal training client starting on Jan 7th. I hope I have the skills and ability to effect his life in a positive manner, because what better gift could you give someone than happiness?  What brings more happiness that achieving a goal through hard work, dedication, perseverance, and the realization that we as humans are capable of infinitely more things than we give ourselves credit for?

“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be”

“A person can achieve everything by being simple and humble.”

Day 117

Ended up going on a run, somewhere around 4-5 miles. Awesome run into the white river national forest, so peaceful! Felt good to get outside, the weather has been really nice, which is great, but we need snow!

Day 118

I made it to the gym this morning around 6:00, worked out with heavy weights for about an hour. Cleaned up the gym and than went to a ski conditioning class at 8:00am. I for sure kicked my own ass this morning. Feeling really good right now, and I am glad about that because I was feeling not so good after Thanksgiving. It was fun to let lose for a little while, but is amazing how much damage you can do in a couple of days, for something that took weeks to accomplish. I gained two pounds in two days, crazy but true, and it was not muscle. Just confirms how vital diet is to the whole process of looking good. You can work your ass off but if your diet is not right, you will not get the results you are looking for.

Day 119

Rest day to get ready for a bit of snowboarding with my wife tomorrow.

Day 120

Snowboarded for about an hour before we got called home. Babysitters kid got sick, somethings are not meant to be. All and all it was a really fun day.

Day 121

Woke up at 4am with a very sick wife and a wide awake eight month old. Still got in 100 push ups, 100 sit ups and when my wife was feeling better I got in a 16 mile bike ride before dinner. The bike ride was awesome, it was sunny and 45 degrees which is great except that it should be snowing, weird dry warm winds are a blowing.

Day 122

Went to the gym this morning and lifted weights. I love getting to the gym when it is still dark out.

I am a third of the way through my get an eight pack experiment.  I currently have a six pack for the first time in my life. When I first started I thought about this time and wondered what it would be like. Well I can say that I am both excited with the results and humbled by the journey, along the way I am learning a lot about myself.

For starters I am by far my biggest critic, which is both good and bad. It is good because I am always self-critical which makes me push myself harder, but bad because I am never satisfied. I am 37 years old and am in the best shape of my life and when I look in the mirror I immediately see the faults and mentally criticize myself for all of them.  It works both ways, it gets me motivated to work harder, to eat healthier, but at the same time it is very hard for me to enjoy any success that I have.

As I think about this I realize this has been a theme of my existence. All good things have always been meet with a healthy dose of some self loathing, and all bad things were always taken as, well I deserved it.  I can think of some things from my youth that might have helped this seed to grow but for the sake of having my big boy pants on I am going to take full responsibility for this and just know it about myself. I have been trying lately to give myself a mental pat on the back every now and again.

Secondly, I do not miss drinking alcohol as much as I thought I would. When people ask me how you could give up drinking my response is the same, “I have drunk plenty and been drunk plenty”.  My nights in college and the ten years I spent snowboarding after college were pretty heavily dosed with lots of alcohol. I can honestly say that not one of those drinks did anything for me, but I remember thinking they were.  I am older now and almost all of the drinking I have done for the last six or seven years has been pretty responsible, but none the less pointless. I have never found the answer to anything at the bottom of a bottle and I have seen the bottom of a lot of bottles. I am also at a point in my life that I do not need alcohol to relax or loosen up, I am pretty loose sober.  At the end of the year I will have a couple drinks here and there but not as often as I use to.

Third I am humbled and thankful for every moment of my life that has lead to this moment right now. I am blessed with a great family and I am living the life I imagined as a kid driving his Chevy Blazer out to Colorado fifteen years ago. I am not even sure how it all happened, but I am so thankful that it has.

Last but not least I am inspired. Even though I am third of the way through my year challenge I feel like my healthy living is going to stick for life. I enjoy challenging myself to eat better and to work harder everyday. I want to be in better shape next year than I am this year and continue that trend till by body just won’t cooperate anymore. In other words I plan to have a six pack till the day I die.

I will end on this note. I am looking so forward to sharing my experiences with others and hope I am lucky enough to help people out on their own journeys to a healthier existence.

243 days to go!

Day after Turkey Day...

Day 112

Well I almost did that. I did make it to the gym at 5:30am. Great workout with a buddy, than I worked for an hour and swam 5 laps in the pool and now I am sitting at my desk at work. Gonna rest tomorrow ride on WED (YEA), kick it on Turkey day, and Friday go to the Beaver Creek Tree Lighting. Awesome week coming up! Happy turkey day people!!

Day 113

Rest Day.

Day 114

Spent the day snowboarding. So much fun!! Can’t wait to ride again, but as usual we need some snow!! Please and Thank you!

Day 115

Turkey Day!! I did not drink any alcohol but I did pig out for the last two days straight. I could not begin to tell you how many calories I stuffed in my mouth, but it was gluttonous and fun! Great little vacation with the family!!

We did go for a two mile run/walk and I did 50 push ups.

Day 116

The day after!!! I got up at 5am and was working out by 5:45. Nice workout, about 15 minutes of cardio than 100 sit ups, 100 push ups, 100 dips, and 100 curls. I am going to try to get into the gym tomorrow for some heavy lifting.

Still Grinding...

Day 106

Great gym work out today, still training at a really high heart rate, but new exercises and much heavier weights.

Got a pretty good cardio in yesterday, some jogging a little interval work, and some stationary bike, about 30 min all together.

Day 107

Almost a third of the way through this experiment and I could not be happier with the results. I feel great about the sense of accomplishment that comes from sticking to ones goals. I am genuinely just happy about what I am doing, but like all goals once you are about to meet them others arise.

Lately however I have been really trying to focus in on how I can make this a career. I really feel like I can help people go through the same sort of journey that I am on. By no means do I feel like I have all the answers or a secret  solution to anyone’s problems. What I have discovered are the tools one can use to transform their body and in doing so transform their belief system.

If a person can transform their body by visualizing the results they want, by being accountable to a plan, by trusting the process, what other life transformations can they apply these things to? I think the answer is everything.

On my computer at work I have these taped up; I would like to share with you Arnold’s six secrets to success.

1) Trust yourself- be who you want to be

2) Break the rules

3) Don’t be afraid to fail

4) Don’t listen to naysayers

5) Work your ass off

6) Find time to give back

The thing about all of this, there are no secrets, everyone knows these things. It is when we are able to put them to use and make them become who we are, not what we do that the results follow.

I am gonna get in some cardio at some point today. Peace!

Day 108

Went for a nice run yesterday with my boy. Great gym work out this morning.

Day 109

Rest Day

Day 110

Rest day

Day 111

Circuit workout at the hotel, going to try and go really big tomorrow and get two solid workouts in. The plan is to meet my buddy at the gym at 5:30am for some heavy lifting. Work at the gym for a couple hours and than hit up my trainers ski conditioning class at 8:30 and to work by 10am. Sounds like a perfect morning to me.

It's never too late to become what you might have been.

Day 89

Crazy weekend. I took a rest day today, to help get everything ready for my daughters birthday party which is tomorrow.

Day 90

Took today off as well for my daughters party. She had such a blast and I think everyone did, kids and adults. Two days in a row with no exercise, I will be honest I was freaking out about it a little, but did not want to make the weekend about my workouts. I will get after it this week.

I had some birthday cake, just for the record.

Day 91

Great road bike ride, I road 16 miles in 57 minutes. I did not do this ride for a good time. It was a workout ride. I set the bike in the hardest gear and did the whole ride. There is one step hill by my house in the last mile of the ride and I down shifted here because the bike was starting to come to a stop and I thought I was going to tip over. My legs were burning.

I am trying to get faster on my road bike. I need a cadence meter for the second workout and the third will be hill climbs. I wish I had a $1000 dollar fitness budget as there is some gear that would help elevate my workouts, heart rate monitor, cadence/speedometer for my road bike, workout bench, kettle bell weights, and exercise pad, and some resistance straps, all in due time.

Today was my daughter’s real birthday. I can’t believe she is five already. I had another piece of cake.

Day 92

First day on the floor at the recreation center. I had someone approach me about training, so hopefully I did a good job selling it.

After working I worked out for an hour. Weightlifting routine with much heavier weights and lower reps.  Felt good to workout, I was sucking for air the whole time, but they have so many fans it was hard to work up a sweat. I maxed out at the 55 pound dumbbells for chest fly’s, will certainly be trying to push way past this in the next couple of weeks.

Diet is going well, 151 pounds on the scale this morning.

I will start the 100 sit up challenge today, since I have not done it up to now.

Day 93

Happy Halloween! Yes I do plan to eat some candy tonight while I walk around trick or treating. That being said today is an awesome day.

First time in a long time my wife and I had a couple of hours together, kid free. We went for a 4.5 mile mountain bike ride, which was my wife’s first real mountain bike ride in a really long time. She was awesome and is looking forward to next week.

Got in my 100 sit ups.

Day 94

Early morning treadmill workout. This is the one workout where at the end I know I have put in work. Life is goood.

Day 95

Got my 100 sit ups in yesterday for a total of 200 which is defiantly a personal one day record. I am going to take my boy for a nice long run later.

My wife went back to work yesterday, full time. A lot more Daddy care going on in the Leto house these days. 

Day 96

Run was good, 4 miles in about 38 minutes, felt nice to be outside. Did not get my 100 sit ups in. Passed out on the couch thinking about doing them?

Watching two little munchkins all day is exhausting. I have so much respect for stay at home moms with little kids!!

Day 97

Did a 30 minutes circuit, chest, back, abs workout in the ghetto barn gym last night. I got my 100 sit ups in yesterday as well. Days are getting shorter here, which makes it harder to get in evening bike ride which was the plan yesterday. I will try again today, but who knows what the day will bring. There will be some sort of workout, which I am sure of.

Day 98

Took Maizy for about a 30 minute chariot mountain bike ride, not much but better than nothing. Got in my 100 sit ups and my abs are for sure sore.

Day 99

Headed to the gym to work and workout!

Got a great workout in, I love lifting weights?

Day 100

Rest Day

Still did 100 push ups and 100 sit ups.

Day 101

Awesome hour long jog/walk with my beautiful wife.

Day 102

Trainer Day- Such a tough workout 300 sit ups, dead lifts, plyo-metrics, heavy weight bench 135x20 times, 3x2x1-225pounds eccentric lifting, an exercise I do not know the name of, and 150 pound rows. Ha hurt so bad I was laughing at the end from exhaustion, but felt so good to make it through.

My workouts are going to change up a bit. I am lifting 3 times a week and going to some boot camp classes for cardio. Also putting two rest days back in the mix.  Trainer said I should be really sore tomorrow, we’ll  see?

Switching the routine up a little to shock the body!

Day 103

Rest Day. I am so sore that the bottom of my feet hurt, that was a serious workout yesterday.

Day 104

Awesome day at home with the kids, got some snow which I am psyched about.

Got in 100 pushup, but still really sore. A lot of people are starting to comment on how different I look. I will admit that I like it, “man you look ripped”, is always a nice thing to hear and I don’t see myself getting sick of it anytime soon.

Day 105

At work this morning, and I will get a run in on the treadmill at some point today. I can not wait to go snowboarding with my wife some time soon. It has been way too long.

“The day you take complete responsibility for yourself, the day you stop making any excuses, that's the day you start to the top.”

Day 84

Hit the ghetto barn gym at home yesterday for a good workout.

Great day yesterday out at the ranch. Having the horses out there makes it a whole different experience, “there is nothing as good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horse.” They are such special animals.

Went to the gym early this morning and got in some heavy weights while still keeping my heart rate up. This is going to start getting really fun. I feel like I am about to take this body and my fitness to the next level.

I have two hours of training tomorrow for my personal training. Thursday and Friday I have certified pool operator training all day so should be tough to get a workout in, but I will stick to one of my mottos,

No Days Off!

Day 85

I went for a run today with my son, four miles, about a 10 minute mile. Not two fast, but got something in. Plus my little man is not light, probably pushing about 50 pounds all together with the jogger.

Did my last training at the rec center, I am a now a personal trainer at the Gypsum Recreation Center. Let me rephrase that, once I get a client I will be a personal trainer. My first day on the floor is next Tuesday at 8am.

During the training session I also got my body fat tested 9.2%. I am back up to 152 pounds. My weight seems to be jumping around a bit. I am hoping to put on about 10 pounds of muscle in the next six months.  That is less than two pounds a month, which would put me around 162 by my birthday. If I can keep my body fat below 10% and gain 10 pounds of muscle that would be cool. I am making this up as I write, but just trying to shoot for another goal besides the eight pack.

My goals are refocusing. I want to just work on dynamic health, get a little stronger, add some muscle, keep my cardio up, eat really healthy.

At the end of this road, 280ish days from now I will post a before and after shot of myself as the last post of this blog, but the more I workout the less I am concerned about appearance and the more I am concerned with performance. Although I won’t lie for that last picture I will try to get down to 4-5% body fat.

Got in my 100 push ups today.

Day 86

Went  for a little over five mile trail run in the rain/snow, such a great run. I am at a loss of words to describe how special this run was, kind of an out of body run, really cool. It was surreal, I was so unmotivated to go for a run because of the weather, but once I was out there everything was great. So many things are like that. It is so hard to get things started, or your brain says oh this may happen, or this may happen, but the fact is until you get out there and do it, whatever it is, you will never really know what is waiting for you.

Got in my 100 push ups as well.

Day 87

First snow of the year out at the ranch, hopefully just the start of a heavy snow year. Also if the snow gods are listening, I need it to snow every Tuesday night, thank you!

Tried to get up early for a workout, but didn’t make it in time. Sat on my ass for eight hours in a CPO class, not fun. I was forced to do math equations for the first time in a long time.

Got my 100 push ups in, two sets of 50. I have never done 50 pushups in a row before, felt good about that. Some sit ups and light stretching and off to bed, basically a rest day.

Day 88

I made it in early today and got in an awesome new workout. I found a great website www.fitnessblender.com. Did two different workouts off of this, it was new and fun, and I highly recommend this website. It is 100% free and seems to have all different type of workouts with a really easy to follow format.

I am also a certified pool operator, Yay! Scored 55 out of 60 on the first test I have taken in well over 5 years.

I will get my 100 pushups in along the way today. Last day for pushups, tomorrow I will start on 100 sit ups a day on top of my workouts.