StartBeingFit » Life

Saturday Run

Tyson — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 18:47:01 +0000

I took the opportunity this morning to hit a favorite trail running and mountain biking spot of mine: Kill Creek. I only get out there about once a year and I really try hard to make the most of it. Today I decided I was going to run it mainly because I didn’t want to go through the hassle of getting my bike over there. As I pulled into the park I noticed a sign for a 5k run. It turns out it was a small one and neither them nor I would get in each others way. I parked my car in the usual spot and took off for the trails.

About 10 minutes into the run I noticed something move on the trail ahead of me. As I got closer, I noticed it was a snake stretching out on the path. My foot came down within a foot of his head. I think afterwards I ran the hardest and fastest I ever have on a trail. I am not afraid of snakes, I just don’t like them much!

I probably should mention that I got up this morning knowing there was going to be a chance of rain and thunderstorms rolling through the area. I decided to chance it and head out before they arrived. According the weather map, they were at least 2 hours away. Now during my entire run, I could hear thunder over the sound of my headphones…but no rain. As I neared the end of the trail the sky’s opened up and it poured and poured…and poured. I ended up doing the last mile in the rain and became soaked!

It was a great time though and the rain and thunder really added to the experience of being out there. It’s so peaceful and I love just being one with nature. I didn’t have my camera with me this time but here are some pictures that I took 2 years back. Pretty much looks the same which is what nature is all about!

Here is the storm cell that passed through while I was out there. I guess I should be lucky that it wasn’t anything more than rain! BTW, the 5k race got cancelled.

Today I Hit a Wall

Tyson — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 19:38:08 +0000

I hit a wall today.

Not literally but psychologically. I was at the gym doing the 10th week of P90x Back and Biceps. I was about half way done and up to that point, pounding out the reps and weight pretty good. My first set of pull-ups yielded me 20 consecutive pulls. Then it hit me. A total lack of motivation to continue with the program. I went to do another type of pull-up and I couldn’t even manage one. I knew at that point I was done.

I have completed this program so many times before that I know it inside and out. I know the moves, I know the Tony jokes. I know it all. I just couldn’t handle it anymore. So I switched it off, put on some music, and started to do my own thing.

My enthusiasm picked up, the weight increased and I was again able to do my pull-ups. I left the gym feeling that I had actually accomplished something and that felt good.

I only have 2 and a half more weeks left of P90x but I am not sure how much more I can do. I am eager to swim, bike, run, and lift heavy stuff to the beat of my own drum. I miss working out with music and the motivation it provides.

Tomorrow is Yoga but I make skip it and swim instead. We shall see what that provides.

Random Thought

Tyson — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:46:29 +0000

After a repetitive workout of push-ups, pull-ups and listening to Tony Horton I sat in the locker room tired but bored and unfulfilled. Sure Tony gave me a run for my money on the push-ups but the repetitive nature of the workouts has really gotten to me. I sat there and thought about the enjoyable time I had over the weekend playing with my kids. On Saturday we went to the local middle school and played soccer and Frisbee. I hung up my suspension straps and we did pull ups and other various forms of upper body movements. To top it off we did sprints up and down the football field. On Monday, after a great walk we decided to let the kids play at the playground. I have never been one to sit buy and watch my kids have all the fun so I joined them. We did the monkey bars, climbed some poles and held onto the zip lines. Now that is working out should be about!

My point here is that you don’t have to be at a gym to get a workout. By incorporating simple movies into daily activities, you can achieve your goals and not be subject to the monotonous nature of gyms or 60 minutes workout videos. Get out of the gym and enjoy life!

Overcoming Life’s Hurdles

Tyson — Sat, 08 May 2010 03:48:47 +0000

We all have hurdles to overcome in our lives. Some people go over the top, some go around, some go under, but most fall short of ever trying. I feel that happens in weight loss quite a bit. Most people don’t even try to lose weight because they are already afraid they are going to fail and failure is hard to take. I know, I’ve been there. I have seen my weight go from high to low and back to high again. I have worked my butt off only to fall short of my goal and then have all the weight come right back again.

As a youngster I was always fascinated with the hurdles. I would go to the track and see the hurdles out there and think to myself, ” I can do that”. I would run down to the track, line up and run as fast as I could towards the first hurdle. But as soon as I got near it I would stop, not even attempting to jump over. I would stop, turn around and walk away too afraid to even try. I was afraid that I would get hurt or that someone would see me fail and laugh. I never did make an attempt at getting over that hurdle. Because of my own insecurities, I never even tried.

A couple of weeks ago I heard something that has stuck in the back of my mind ever since. I heard these words “Don’t let hesitation rule your life”. You see, if you hesitate on getting healthy the same way I hesitated on jumping over that hurdle, 20 years will have passed and you will continuously wonder “what if”. What if I had made that jump? Would I be a famous track star now? Don’t let “what if’s” rule your life.

I am proud to say that after 20-some years, I finally made the jump over that hurdle. Although I am ecstatic that I did it, in the end it was bitter sweet. Sweet in the sense that I finally did it but bitter in the fact that it took me 20 years to do it.

Don’t let hesitation rule your life. Act now. Become the person you want to be. Become the person you deserve to be. Jump over your hurdles and continue running on the other side.

New Year’s Health Resolutions

Tyson — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:49:01 +0000

Its that time of year again to make New Year’s resolutions. I don’t remember making any last year. If I did, I am not sure that I followed them. This year is going to be different. It has to be different. I have achieved great strides in my health over the last couple years and I think its time to take things to the next level. Here is what I have in mind.

Reduce my sodium intake to the recommended values of 1400mg a day.
I will not eat anything that is not 100% natural. That means if I cannot pronounce it, I will not eat it.
Consume only organic foods (this will be hard)
Track my daily food intake for all the world to see
Track my daily workouts for all the world to see.
I want to directly help at least one person achieve their fitness goals.
Go Primal with my eating. ( I am looking forward to this one the most)

Notice that I have nothing in my resolutions about losing weight? I am not looking to lose any weight this year. Rather, I would like to make my self healthier; from the inside out. This is the year to do it. I am not getting any younger.