MarylandBill

Okay, been a week and a half since my last entry. Part of this was because we were out of town for Thanksgiving... Got home on Friday night and did a short row, 2000 meters in a hair under 15 minutes on Saturday... then spent most of the rest of the day on my feet since I took the boys to the Air and Space Annex in Dulles (highly worth it.. in many respects better than the original Air and Space museum because they have so many full size planes, including the Enola Gay, the Concorde and the Space Shuttle Discovery (okay, nitpick.. I know the Shuttle is not an airplane... but you know what I mean). Sunday spent the day doing house cleaning, raking leaves and other activities so no formal workout that day. Monday and Tuesday were lost because we had a barfing two year old. For anyone who has never had kids, two year olds are the worst sick kids because they are mobile, and start to run around again as soon as they vomit, and they resist every effort to put a bucket between their vomit and the floor, couch, bed, etc. Finally got back to it last night with a short row (another 2000 meters in 15 minutes). Tonight I did 3244 meters in 25 minutes. -- Bill

I had a few issues with the machine yesterday. Was able to get them resolved today did 20 minutes for 2695 meters. Bill

Another 25 minutes... only 3201 meters.

Okay, today did 3211 meters in 25 minutes.

Did another 2500 meters this morning. Will try for 3500 tomorrow. -- Bill

Thanks. I find it is easier to be consistent than not... too easy to let a day or two of rest turn into a week. I actually plan on a weekend day off.. but only if I workout every day during the work week.

Okay, Friday became an inadvertent rest day... I meant to row in the evening, but decided my wife needed me to make her brownies more (it was a rough day for her). Saturday we were really busy, but figuring something was better than nothing, I pushed out a thousand meter row in 7:48 seconds (Easily the fastest pace I have ever maintained for more than a few strokes). This evening, after a long day, I did a short 20 minute row and managed to go 2512 meters (My fastest time to 2500 meters). -- Bill

Waited until the evening tonight. I did 35 minutes and 5 seconds and did 4300 meters on the rower. Should hit 5000 meters next week. --Bill

Stayed up late watching the election returns. Still not sure what happened. Anyway, hit the rower tonight. 32 minutes, 30 seconds an 4000 meters. Got off the rower really spent. But, despite the fact that I deliberately held back a bit to make 30+ minutes today, I still ended up with 500 m split times almost as quick as my one and two thousand meter sprints yesterday. Not sure how long I can keep upping the pace like this, but at the moment, I am happy

Okay, this morning the workout was shorter than intended because my 2 year old got up when my wife did (she got up early to vote before I went to work). So, this morning I did 8 minutes on the rower for a 1000 meters to warm up. And 1 and a half body weight circuits. After the kids were asleep, I did 2000 meters in 16 minutes which required me to row as hard as I could. -- Bill

Okay, Saturday and Sunday were, for the most part, rest days, although both days were filled with lots of activities with my kids that kept me from being a couch potato. This morning I hit the rower... this was the day I would do 30 minutes (for the first time, certainly not the last). Did 30 minutes, 3595 meters on the rower. I might have pulled for another several minutes to get to 3750 (I like roundish numbers), but because of a return to standard time, my last ten minutes on the rower were accompanied by an audience of my three kids, all of them wanting breakfast. Anyway, Managed to get some push ups in while I fed them breakfast. All in all, feeling good about myself. Particularly since my split time was slightly faster than before. Tomorrow, emphasis on strength training. -- Bill

Okay.. I cheated, I did mostly Cardio today.. 25 minutes and 30 seconds for 3003 meters on the rower... Then two sets of 15 push ups. -- Bill

Okay, for a variety of reasons, was not able to workout until this evening... today was a cardio day, so on the rower I went.. and went and went (well, relative to what I have done before). Grand total is .... 21 minutes (6 minutes more than I have done before) and 2500 meters (755 meters more than before). Must say I am pretty pleased with my progress so far. -- Bill

I am interested in stevia for coffee, but I also wonder if it might turn out to have some of the same problems that other alternative sweeteners. Well, before I discovered Nerd Fitness, I decided I wanted to get a machine that would allow me to work out at home since getting to the gym is just too hard right now (3 kids age 7 and under mean its tough getting to work on time, let alone leaving 90 minutes early to hit a gym). As I researched machines rowing machines floated to the top (as it were) for two reasons. The first is that the cost vs. quality curve on rowing machines make them a relative bargain; you reach gym quality machines at $900 and some very good machines for about $600. The quality of most other cardio equipment at that price level is somewhat iffy. The second is that a rowing machine is suppose to be a great full body workout... and so far that certainly seems to be the case, both my arms and legs are pretty tired at the end of a session. Once I add some push ups, I am probably exercising every muscle group in the body. -- Bill

Good luck with that... American Ninja Warrior is really a pretty amazing competition... and better than a lot of the "reality" programs they put on TV. It might be interesting to see it and similar competitions moved from the entertainment division to the sports division (After all, I can think of no reason at all why it is not). Anyway, welcome aboard. -- Bill

I am going to second the Stir Fry idea... You just cook the veggies for a couple of minutes until they are heated through but still crisp.... the fat you cook in helps with the flavor... and you usually add a sauce, just be careful since many sauces are loaded with sugar. -- Bill

Okay, this morning was a duplicate of Monday. I didn't do more on the rower because I wanted something left in the tank for the body weight exercises. I made 1155 meters in the 10 minutes though... so definite progress.

Well since you ask. Step 1, cut refined sugar out of my diet. I am also trying to make sure I just don't replace them with artificial sweetners. I still give in occasionally and have a diet soda, but one or two sodas a week is better than the 2-3 a day I was drinking before. Step 2. was body weight exercises. Not a lot, some inclined pushups, some squats, a few others to start building some muscle. Step 3. Rowing machine. Got it last Thursday so I am still ramping up on it. But put 15 minutes on it tonight and it left me panting, and my legs and arms feeling pleasantly spent. My ultimate goal is to be able to row 10,000 meters in a single session. We will see how it goes from here. -- Bill

Welcome. Are you planning on taking crossfit classes? -- Bill

Welcome aboard. There are a lot of resources here.. Honestly, I find it a bit overwhelming, but I did get some good ideas for body weight strength training... and the forums are good for support. I am sure you will do great if you are motivated.

Okay... November 1st means two things... 1. As a Catholic, it means All Saint's Day which is a Holy Day of Obligation. Since our two younger kids need to be in bed, I went to 6:30 AM mass at Church which meant no morning workout. 2. It means work has its first day of flood of Halloween Candy. So solution to number 1. I waited until the two younger kids are a sleep, and then did my best row yet. 15 minutes 1745 meters! Now... solution to number 2... none that I am aware of other than sheer will power... and at least today I did not fall off the wagon. All in all a successful day

Welcome aboard. -- Bill

Hi and welcome. For me the thing that made me realize I needed to take action occurred about a month ago and I saw myself at the heaviest weight I had ever been. Back in my 30s I had hit 285 and that scared me before into loosing a ton of weight... but after my wife and I started having kids, I let bad habits creep back into my life... and finally I realized I was as heavy (even slightly heavier) than I had ever been). I needed to make some changes. Now, I kind of cast about blindly for a while before finding Nerd Fitness, and now I am working on body weight exercises. I have basically only taken a few steps... but they are a start.

Welcome aboard. -- Bill

The thing to remember about most diets that restrict carbs in any way... whether it be Atkins, Paleo, South Beach, etc, is that it is really hard to over-eat. Sugars and simple carbs digest really quickly which leads to hunger and snacking (usually on bad food) which leads to more hunger and snacking. Most veggies, especially the green variety are generally free on any diet for a reason. You literally cannot eat enough to them to gain weight. So, without simple carbs, sticking to fruit and vegetables, most of your calories are probably going to come from your protein as opposed to the SAD diet where carbs provide a significant portion of them as well. When I did South Beach, I lost a lot of weight and didn't generally feel hungry.. and yet was eating 8 ounces of meat at a meal. My problem came when I decided to not stick with the diet in maintenance. That is the biggest problem with weight loss, not the diet itself, but preventing ourselves from falling back on our old habits.