Joining the Club

I've been blessed.

I've been blessed to have at least a passing desire for a somewhat active lifestyle, a relatively "fast" metabolism and a taller then average physique.  All that has combined to keep me relatively splendor for most of my life.  I've read dozens of blogs here on the site from people trying to shed a few pounds and always thought "whatever, boring, I'm moving on".  Well, yesterday I decided that I'm simply not as slender as I'd like to be and it's time to do something about it.  I'm not sure why the revelation yesterday, but nonetheless, it's time.

I really only want to lose about 20 lbs.  The scary thing is that I can remember 10 -12 years ago when I was at that weight and thinking "I should probably keep an eye on this." lol.  I'm expecting this to not be an easy thing for me.  I eat lunch out every day.  I've tried bringing in lunch and I just get really bored with what I can bring that's also easy to prepare at work.  I've tried not that long ago to incorporate slightly healthier choices when going out, but I can only eat so many salads each week.  The eating is going to be the hardest part.

As far as exercise goes, that should come a little easier.  I already play soccer every Sunday, and have a recumbent bike and elliptical machine that I try and use at least twice a week.  I just need to add a bit more to that and try to not skip as often as I do.  If I can do that and try to at least eat 50% healthier then I think it should come off pretty quickly.  Who knows I may be in for a shock. lol!

After deciding yesterday that this was what I wanted to do.  I grabbed a water bottle, tennis shoes and headed for the elliptical.  As I got there, I realized something....that machine is boring as hell!  Then I remembered something...

About 3 years ago or something my wife and I were at a Gamestop and saw a "game" called Yourself Fitness for the original Xbox.  On a lark we bought it.  I think I remember trying it one time and never putting it in the machine again.  Well, we still had it so I thought what the heck let's try it again.  The game let's you personalize a program based on your goals and current fitness level.  It seems like a pretty cool idea.  Why M$ hasn't come up with an updated version of this is beyond me.  Particularly given the success of the Wii Fit, but I digress.

In order to create your personal workout the game asks you to complete a series of cardio, strength and stretching routines and input your results.  Now, keep in mind, I'm fairly active.  The evaluation nearly kicked my ass!  Do you have any idea how long it takes to do 2 minutes of jumping jacks?!  I know, I know, but it seems like an eternity when she says "One more minute to go".  Bitch!

Well, I finished the evaluation and then just did a short yoga type workout to finish out the workout.  The "real" workout will start today.  The program has me working out 5 days a week. The good news is that it only has it set for 3 30 minute days and 2 15 minute days.  Quite manageable.  I could set the lengths shorter or longer if I wanted but I decided to stick with the default.  I'm going to try my best to give this game a shot for at least 1 month and see what happens.  As much as the evaluation kicked my arse yesterday, I'm looking forward to what today's workout will be.  The competitor in me kind of likes the challenge of doing as many and much of the activities as the program thinks I can do and more.  I take a sick sort of pleasure of walking up the stairs with jello legs and wincing when I pull the door handle 'cause I did too many push ups.  It's the feeling of progress....and success.

Now, I'm off to scour the interwebs for a good and hopefully free program I can put on my Blackjack phone (Windows Mobile device) to monitor that food consumption.  I should probably be scared of putting numbers on what I eat.