The Madness.....

i love March Madness, but it can be a devil in disguise if not controlled. like last night, i head over to a buddy's house to view the Fighting Illini on his new 50'' plasma boob tube in his newly finished Irish Pub Themed basement. what is the harm? well, 8 miller lite beers is 900 calories and i feel guilty. i feel like the next time i step on the scale i will be back up to 236 lbs. it 's weird and crazy, but i got the cheaters guilt.

AND it is good old St Pattys Day. it would be nice to go out and get a bite to eat. no skinless boneless chicken tonight, but what can a calorie counting guilt feeling middle aged man eat out and about? i use to hit Chilis once a week and i love their burgers. so i did some searching and holy crap balls batman it is straight madness how bad this food is for people. check it out;

Bottomless Tostada Chips w/Hot Sauce [1 Basket]
= (480 cal/36 g fat/4 g fiber/26 g carbs)

Chipotle Bleu Cheese Bacon Burger
= (1090 cal/71 g fat/3 g fiber/57 g carbs)

Homestyle Fries w/entree
= (430 cal/26 g fat/4 g fiber/43 g carbs)

you can do the math and it is amazing. prior to my cleansing of 2006 i really had no idea that in most meals i was eating the RDA = Recommended Daily Allowance in one freaking sitting. think about it. think about all the people who have no idea that they are consuming 2000+ calorie dinners.

now, if i could just find the damn number for Chilis call ahead seating. i kid, maybe. later.

tickerfactory.com

That Wall Aint Got Nothing On Me....

twenty-two pounds and counting. you got it, i am at 214 lbs as of this morning. i wasn't a real fatty prior to jan 06, but at 236 lbs (6'3'') i was headed in the wrong direction. i was the tall guy with the beer belly and a love of hot wings and pizza. still got the love, but the belly is going bye bye. i plan to post some before and after Biggest Loser Style pictures in about three weeks. my goal was 215 by April, but as i previously blogged it demanded to be readjusted, so i got crazy and made it 205. we shall see.

only had time for 30 minutes of cardio today as i was on after work baby duty. managed 1.5 miles running and 1 mile fast pace walking in that time. my diet is still in check which you can see by clicking on my fitday link to the right.

later.

We Have Sun!

AND WIND, but i will get to that later. yesterday it was in the 60s, but clouds and a freakin vicious wind made me not ride. i know, what a sissy. we had rain too. this morning was a different story. the sun made an appearance and temps were slated to be near 50 degrees. i did the baby thing until mommy woke up around 9am (she had a run in with a bottle of wine last night!) (oh wait so did i!!) and then prepared to hit the road.

it looked awesome out and i geared up and headed out. immediately i knew the ride back in would be a bitch. WIND, cold steady wind of about 15 mph was pushing me west at an average of 23 mph,which is super fast for this beginner. i mean i was barely working it and still maintaining that pace.

ten miles out i made the turn to head back east and bam, how you doing, the wind smacked me in the face. i was just spinning like crazy with my head down and it took all i had to maintain 10 mph. it was pain and perhaps the best workout i have had in years. i think i loved it? plus i spotted 5 other roadies challenging the wind too!!

the stats please; well get over to bikejournal.com (link to your right) and check them out. ok, no need for profanity, here you go;

1 hr 26 mins, 21.6 miles, 14.9 mph avg & 27.9 max, 84 avg cadence & 103 max, 145 HR avg & 164 max, 1338 cals toasted.

that makes over 40 miles this weekend, a record for me. warmer weather will only bring more miles! later.

Spring Time ?

it hit 55 degrees today and it is suppose to top 60 degrees tomorrow. is this spring, summer, fall or winter. the world really is messed up weather wise.

i bolted out of work early with enough time for a ride. how about some stats? well i have a second favorite website, behind fitday.com, and it's bikejournal.com. a great place to track you rides and progress and what not. check it out, my bike journal.

for those who prefer to stay it broke down like this; 21.9 miles in 1 hr 24 mins, for over 1100 calories burnt. i hope to hit it, the road, again tomorrow. later.

PEARL JAM !!!!!!!

the greatest band in the world has a new album coming out May 2nd and their new single is available for FREE (with no digital rights act crap, cause that's how they roll) over at PearlJam.com. plus, as a member of the 10c (ten club) i was just able to pick up four tickets to their May show at the United Center in Chicago. Can I get a Hell Yeah!

not to mention, i have been kicking the workout to a new level. yeah, i am still pissed about not losing any weight last week, so! today it was running for 30 freaking minutes. did some intervals, average 5.1 mph, 2.6 miles, 413 calories burnt, 141 avg heart rate. i feel those pounds melting right now.

i am out to watch American Idol. later.

The Wall?

is this the wall? have i hit the wall head on or just fallen off the top? man i hate this freakin evil doer, the wall.

yes, i weighed in for the weekly number and i feel the wall is holding me down. 216.5 is the number for week 9 of my weight loss adventure. since dropping 5 lbs three weeks ago to hit 218 i have stumbled to a mere 1.5 lb loss for the past three weeks.

the last two weeks i feel like i have picked up my cardio big time. read below, i kicked some cardio arse this weekend. so WTF? i know, this is real life and not NBC's fabulous reality show, The Biggest Loser, but why cant it be? don't get me wrong i am sticking with this program as i have dumped almost 20 lbs in two months.

i was bummed today, but when i got the gym i was pissed. so i hit the elliptical up for 2.94 miles, 30 minutes, 513 calories toasted AND then, oh yeah i said it, i hit the treadmill and ran for 15 minutes, 5 mph avg, 1.37 miles, with 238 calories sent packing. come one wall, you want some!

i am out. later.

Weekend Complete.....

well this weekend was a success on the diet front when compared to last. i did partake in some Chicago style pizza Saturday, but a man needs his pizza. i ended this week with some solid cardio.

Friday it was the elliptical machine and 500 calories toasted, Saturday it was the treadmill where i ran a mile in 9 mins 30 seconds and walked another 1.6 miles, and today it was the treadmill again with an 8 minute 45 second mile and 1.5 walked. at the start of this year i couldn't run for 3 minutes let alone spend 35 total minutes on a treadmill.

i got in 5 days of cardio and kept my calories low all week so i hope to drop a nice number with my Tuesday weigh in. temps may hit 50 near weeks end but right now its freakin snowing out. hopefully i will be riding by Friday though. later.

Ride Time

Temps were projected to hit 50 degrees today so I managed to make some time for a road ride. This would be my first significant ride with all the new upgrades. Hey, including my upgrade, er downgrade maybe, to 217 pounds.

I got this kick ass new Polar CS200cad cyclocomputer that tracks everything but the stock market. First though, it was more like 45 degrees at ride time with a nice chilly 15 mph wind out of the North East. It felt like 40 and the 8 miles into the wind were a killer.

The stats please: 17.8 miles, 1 hr 8 mins ride time, 15.8 avg speed, 26.7 max speed, 151 avg heart rate with a 191 max, 79 avg cadence with 100 max, and 1130 calories burnt. Holy crap that's a lot of numbers from such a tiny wireless device. Now I just need someone to tell me what they mean for a 32 yr old 217 lb male????

The bike road sweet. The 105 components shifted like butter. It was kick arse going 25 mph on average with the wind!

I didn't run into any pig heads, insert one of my favorite daily reads Jeff Kerkove , but did see one other roadie out. He was flying with the wind as I was chuggintg into it. Seriously, that is a picture of a pigs head. Later.

Week Eight AND.....

Despite my own sabotage attempts I weighed in at 217 lbs this morning. My original goal was 215 lbs by April 4th, but I am adjusting the goal to 205 lbs. It is nice to adjust the weight loss goal downwards!!! Later.

Diet?

Damn you Waffle House!

The Cockpit

The Cockpit
Originally uploaded by aham23.

New Polar cs200cad cyclocompute and shorter stem, Easton EA70. With upgrades complete, for now, i took her for a short ride. it was 45 degrees in Chicagoland, but it felt like freakin 25 with that wind. seven miles, one chaing drop, but all in all i am happy.

i re-weighed myself this morning and i was 218.5 lbs, so it looks like it's official! i don't like to weigh in multiple times, but glad i did.

later.

The Upgrade

The Upgrade
Originally uploaded by aham23.

My 05 Trek 1000 has gotten a face lift. New 105 shifters, FD, RD, Ultegra Cassatte, and SRAM 9spd Chain. I have done the unthinkable and upgraded an entry level road bike!! I should be ashamed, but uh, I am not. I can't stop, maybe wheels next, or something. Later.

Can We Have A Number Please?

why, yes you may. how does 218 suit you? that is freakin right blog world! the little magic scale has me at 218 pounds this morning. i checked it three times. lets scroll down, then back up, and do some math................you got it, 5 pounds lost this past week...........again...............down, up..............for a grand total of 18 pounds since 01/01/06. thank you and have a nice day.

wait, while i am excited about this number i think it may be a bit off? why you say. well, 5 pounds in one week is a lot. i did some type of cardio 5 out of 7 days last week. including running, elliptical machine, and dog walking. i may weigh in tomorrow just to verify this number. i lost weight this week, but think 3 pounds is more accurate??? who am i to argue with the scale??

and yes i still watch TV, or TiVo. survivor, AI5, my name is earl, scrubs, the shield, is what i am down too. looking forward to the new amazing race and what not, but i am just so obsessed with this weight thing and changing my life and blah blah blah. i am out. later.

Jealous Boy?

Little Baby
Originally uploaded by aham23.

This dog makes me smile!!!

How You Like Me Now?

As one cool 90s rapper once said.

223 Lbs for the weekly weigh in. Yeah that is right, I lost three pounds last week. Word! Treo Out.

Hello Gym........

how have you been? it's been too long my friend. i sound like a county song? the local YMCA is brand spanking new and open for business AND ten minutes from my house. Of course, i am its newest member. it is amazing to me how just eating better can improve fitness. the proof is in the pudding, man i like pudding......it was 32 minutes on the elliptical machine which resulted in 2.83 miles and 535 calories burnt. it felt so good i tackled the stairmaster for 10 minutes on my way out the door. all this and it aint even noon!!

hey, anyone know where my sitemeter went? it seems to have dissappeared from the bottom of my page. must find it. it could be lost and lonely.

later.

And in this corner...........

we have 226 lbs. boo boo boo, you suck, we hate you, yeah what he said.

well i didnt expect to lose weight every single week, but it sure has been a nice run down to 225, er, 226 lbs. the breakdown and recap to date:

• 1/3 = 236 lbs
• 1/10 = 232 lbs
• 1/17 = 233 lbs
• 1/24 = 229 lbs
• 1/31 = 225.5 lbs
• 2/6 = 226 lbs

i will take it. the earlier pic is in reference to the fact that i am home alone with Baby J while the wifey works late. before you jump me about the diet, it was regular coffee and not some fancy frapalapachapaslapameinthefacechino. regular plain old black coffee has minimal calories which really makes me happy.

this just in, the superbowl was a super suck fest. could that game have been any worse? no! the refs blew, seattle blew, big ben blew, the bus stalled, that seattle big mouth tightend had catching the ball issues. just a real piece of crap game. however, i did manage to partake in 12 amstel lights and a crockpot of little barbecue weenies. holy crap, no wonder i didnt lose any weight. i am out. later.

Fuel

Fuel for baby duty. Ha I said duty.

THE BIG GAME?

that is all i have heard on the radio for the past two weeks, THE BIG GAME, and every time i do, i am like WTF? really WTF is THE BIG GAME. then i remembered that those punk arse richer beyond belief peeps that run the NFL copyrighted the phase SUPERBOWL. so unless you are a paid sponsor, or become a paid sponsor you can't say SUPERBOWL in any manner that could be construed as a money making statement. you got that? THE BIG GAME!

uh, whatever. so as you know i am hooked on fitday.com and it is helping me kick the ass of fatness. i log exactly what i eat and try to keep my calories under or around 2000. it really has jump started my Cleansing 2006. once i start to level out on the weight loss it will be hello gym, how you doing.

my point is, today i will be taking a break from fitday and the calorie counting starting around 4pm. i have little barbecue weenies, miller lites, chips and salsa, cheese and crackers, veggies and spicy ranch dip, and THE BIG GAME. it's a must. i love football and all that is THE BIG GAME. the commercials, the hype, the 8 hour pregame shows, man i dig it all. so let there be no diet from 4pm on, and go BEARS! Da Bears 29 Steelers 3. later.