HUGE Monkey Off My Back
Since hitting my goal with my students, I’ve been able to really enjoy hitting the gym and trail. It’s been so nice not climbing onto that scale twice a day - I was a little neurotic - and just work out for the sake of working out. It seems like, now, I’m eating much better than before and my training is more intense. I think that’s because I’m not focused on those numbers on the scale, which could fluctuate 3 lbs. from morning to morning, and paying attention to the image in the mirror, the percentage on the Body Fat Analyzer, and the man that I’m becoming inside. This just feels right.
My gym usually opens at 4:20 a.m. (and I’m expecting that there aren’t any stoners on this blog to get that irony), but I knew that it opened later today because of the holiday. I thought it was 7:00, which is when I showed up, but it didn’t open until 8:00. I was loaded up on caffeine - ready to hit the cardio hard - and I didn’t want to lose that jolt, so I went to the park close to my house that has a track going around it. I knew that there was a difference between running inside and out, but I didn’t expect it to be so drastic. I could immediately feel the pounding in my shins and knees, so I just did some fast walking - 4.1 mph for two hours. The time really seemed to fly, though; it was probably because of the change of scenery. I’m thinking that, next week when school gets out, I’ll get the the gym at 4:20 (he he) to hit the weights when no one is there, do 30 minutes of HIITof the treadmill, and then come home and go around the park for another hour at 55 to 60% of my max.
A lot of my students have commented that they’re coming back to visit next year to see if I made my next 12 week goal, but I’m really not sure how much bodyfat percentage loss can be expected. I’ll research it right now, right after I change the laundry.
May 27, 2008 at 6:13 am
Hey you!!
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS on making your goal that you set with your students! I commend you with sticking with your original goal, even when you saw that it wasn’t the best way, but you stuck with it because you wanted to model it for your students!! WELL DONE!! I’m sure they are all prouder than proud of their teacher and role model. 
May 27, 2008 at 7:55 pm
I definitely agree that when I do things based on performance rather than aesthetics, that I’m less neurotic and crazy. Great job on the cardio - what were you running on that made it so hard on the knees and shins? Maybe it was your shoes? But I do agree - running outside vs. indoors is pretty drastic, but both do the trick in keeping fit. So whatever works and is easiest on your bod, just keep doing it… you’re doing awesome, my friend!!
May 28, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Belted congratulations on reaching your goals. I believe that the more exercise that you can do that is aesthetically challenging and appealing the more you will like it and the more you will get done. Hit the trails. Hike, bicycle, live. Get out and enjoy Idaho. Good luck, and enjoy being only 3/4 of your former self.
May 29, 2008 at 5:10 am
Woohoo. We all knew you could do it. What a fabulous accomplishment. Enjoying what you are doing is so important to being a success. Glad some of the pressure is off but dont get comfortable. Remember staying out of the comfort zone makes the changes we want. Way to over come the closed gym obsticle. Very proud.
May 30, 2008 at 5:24 am
Congrats on hitting your goal Troy!! Way to go! You’re right about running outside, so much different than the treadmill, but so much better! Time FLIES by, or so I think.
Keep up the good work, and I’ll see you around.