After my post "the big 3 paranoia" a couple weeks ago that was full of motivation & expecting great things....things simply fell apart. I missed 4 workouts one week, then I didn't work out once the entire next week. Ouch indeed!
Normally I'd beat myself up about something like this. I'm realizing I completed a late season Ironman & didn't take enough time off, plus my focus has been on my 2 children, my wife, & my new baby on the way. I'm going to do my best to rededicate myself, but I'm not going to beat myself up if I'm unable to get back into the swing of hard core training like I'm used to. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. This was supposed to be my season to shine, since I'm now training specifically for sprints & that distance is the one I've always done best at. But, this is a life long sport, it's like my coach Pete Alfino says, I don't do this for a living, it's for fun. So let's make the best of it.
Oh, & if Jason McClure is reading this, thanks for the words of encouragement. For you to encourage someone who is one of your rival competitors in your division, says a lot about the kind of person you are.
The first time I had tried weight watchers online I lost a ton of weight. Hindsight I believe I lost to much way to quickly. I was averaging just under 4 pounds of loss every week. I kept that up from Nov 07 until May 08. I dropped from 256 to an all time low of 188. I remember being ravenously hungry all the time.
I'm hovering around 230 now & I've been attempting weight watchers online again. I'm not dealing with the hunger well at all. I'll get a week into the diet & the hunger gets to me and I fall off the diet wagon again.
Albert Einstein said "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over & over again & expecting a different outcome." I might be a very, very, very slow learner, but by golly I think I'm on to something. If I lost to much weight to quickly before & was hungry to the point of torture, & now I'm so hungry all the time that I fail to stay consistent, then obviously I'm not getting enough calories on WW online!
So now what I shall try is to eat double the activity points I'm allocated on WW. I believe this will help for multiple reasons.
-I'll be getting more calories on the days I'm working out which is when I need the extra nutrients & calories to recover.
-I'll be getting more calories so I won't be so ravenous & end up self destructing.
-I will be losing weight more slowly, which from what I'm told makes a person more apt to not gain the weight back.
Like I said, I don't learn quickly, but at times I am capable of semi-intelligent thought. I'd like to point out I did say semi-intelligent. I don't want people to start expecting a light bulb above this noggin to often or they will be often disappointed:)
A tad bit of info for ya. Mac & Cheese out of a box has a butt lod of calories. Today I had just a tad bit, 1 cup to be exact. That was 9 weight watchers points!!! Darn near gave me a heart attack! Beware the mac & cheese out of the box!
February 21, 2009
February 13, 2009
My comitement to my children
A lot of people often complain to me that their children weren't born with a manual. They are. It is written in the bible how I should raise my children. What I should do & even what I should expect. Here are some of my favorite bible verses about our children.
Deuteronomy 6:6
These commandments that I give you today are to be apon your hearts. Impress them a on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road,when you lie down and when you get up.
Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.
This verse hits me particularly hard. I need to give conscious effort in how I act each moment of each day. Will I live for Him, or live worldly. Each decision I make affects my childrens views on life and what should be important to them. God, or the world.
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
Psalm 127 3-5
Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him.
Children born to a young man
are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates
Proverbs 13:24
Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.
Mathew 18:6
But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.
2 Timothy 3:15
You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.
1 John 3
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.
Deuteronomy 6:6
These commandments that I give you today are to be apon your hearts. Impress them a on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road,when you lie down and when you get up.
Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.
This verse hits me particularly hard. I need to give conscious effort in how I act each moment of each day. Will I live for Him, or live worldly. Each decision I make affects my childrens views on life and what should be important to them. God, or the world.
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
Psalm 127 3-5
Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him.
Children born to a young man
are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates
Proverbs 13:24
Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.
Mathew 18:6
But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.
2 Timothy 3:15
You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.
1 John 3
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.
February 11, 2009
A big announcement for the big 200th post
This year I had a wish list. Among other things I was hoping for a Rocket Aero helmet.
Not sure where the confusion came from. 3 babies in 3 years. Apparently the endurance I'm developing for Multisport can affect other areas of my life. At the Dr.'s office they said they know what causes that now..... Who knew?
We've made progress this time though. There's 4 more months between #2 & #3 than there was between #1 & #2. We may even make it to the 2 year mark between #3 & #4. But then again maybe not, I do find my wife quite irresistible.....I knew my coach shouldn't have given me so much time off after IMAZ.
Our house is much happier & more full of life with 2 babies than only one. I think 3 is going to be great. I'm excited.... and really grateful I'm not the one who has to go into labor for the third time in 3 years.
Not sure where the confusion came from. 3 babies in 3 years. Apparently the endurance I'm developing for Multisport can affect other areas of my life. At the Dr.'s office they said they know what causes that now..... Who knew?We've made progress this time though. There's 4 more months between #2 & #3 than there was between #1 & #2. We may even make it to the 2 year mark between #3 & #4. But then again maybe not, I do find my wife quite irresistible.....I knew my coach shouldn't have given me so much time off after IMAZ.
Our house is much happier & more full of life with 2 babies than only one. I think 3 is going to be great. I'm excited.... and really grateful I'm not the one who has to go into labor for the third time in 3 years.
February 07, 2009
Rough week
I was scheduled to do the WSMR duathlon today. I called WSMR Friday to see if I could stay at the camp ground the night before. The RD told me he didn't have my registration so I wouldn't be able to race on Saturday. I sent in the registration mid December. Apparently they lost it or something. Dang it they really piss me off. I did a mini taper and took 12 hrs leave from work for this race & now they're telling me due to their screw up I won't be allowed to race.
There aren't a lot of people who train as hard as I do in the dead of winter, if at all, & there aren't many people who do this race. The WSMR duathlon rarely pulls in more than 50-60 total athletes so this is a PRIME opportunity to get some great points for the South West Challenge Series. But nope, WSMR screwed up again. This is another mess up of a string of colossal mistakes. Its truly ridiculous. A pack of poorly trained monkeys could RD better than those guys. So thanks to the WSMR rd I won't have another race until late March & I'll have one less race than I'd planned for the South West Challenge Series. I'm so angry I could spit fire.
I have to drop my mini-van off at the shop tomorrow. More mechanical problems. I have the worst luck with vehicles!
& in July the legislature will be trying to make it so that NM state corrections has to do 5 years extra to retire. I can see some light at only having to do 7 more years at the Penn to retire. I don't see any light at the end of 12 years. That's a long time.
On the up side I weighed in at 217 this morning!!!
I'm going to get my M-dot tattoo re-colored today so it's no loner pink I may even get the one on my back cleaned up since I'm there. I figure I might as well get both done at once because I won't be able to swim for a couple months to let them heal. Why limit my swimming like that twice when I could just get them both done at once.
Dang I wish I was racing today. Racing always makes everything better doesn't it?
There aren't a lot of people who train as hard as I do in the dead of winter, if at all, & there aren't many people who do this race. The WSMR duathlon rarely pulls in more than 50-60 total athletes so this is a PRIME opportunity to get some great points for the South West Challenge Series. But nope, WSMR screwed up again. This is another mess up of a string of colossal mistakes. Its truly ridiculous. A pack of poorly trained monkeys could RD better than those guys. So thanks to the WSMR rd I won't have another race until late March & I'll have one less race than I'd planned for the South West Challenge Series. I'm so angry I could spit fire.
I have to drop my mini-van off at the shop tomorrow. More mechanical problems. I have the worst luck with vehicles!
& in July the legislature will be trying to make it so that NM state corrections has to do 5 years extra to retire. I can see some light at only having to do 7 more years at the Penn to retire. I don't see any light at the end of 12 years. That's a long time.
On the up side I weighed in at 217 this morning!!!
I'm going to get my M-dot tattoo re-colored today so it's no loner pink I may even get the one on my back cleaned up since I'm there. I figure I might as well get both done at once because I won't be able to swim for a couple months to let them heal. Why limit my swimming like that twice when I could just get them both done at once.
Dang I wish I was racing today. Racing always makes everything better doesn't it?
February 04, 2009
big 3 paranoia
I just did some MAJOR restructuring of my triathlon schedule. I'm canceling my first A race of the year, the trisports.com Dessert Classic duathlon & another mid season race -can't reveal which one just in case your reading this & are one of the big 3, that is one of the three Clydesdale Open Division athletes that are at this point in time faster than me, & all together likely to prevent me from taking top 3 Clydesdales this year. I'm also changing my A race from the February 22nd trisport.com dessert classic duathlon to a race in June. Can't tell ya which one in June will be my new A race just in case you are one of the big 3;)
This restructuring of my schedule gives me longer to build a bigger peak to really crush my A race and all competitors. By not travelling to AZ later this month it also helps my wife & I recover a bit in the pocket book. Which at this point is badly needed.
I'm really excited about my Multisport season this year. I've always enjoyed sprint distances most. I'm not only much faster the shorter the race is, but there's something exhilarating to me about going out & moving really fast, pushing as hard as possible for as long as the race is, not allowing myself to slow no matter how much my legs & lungs burn. Why would I want to monitor my heart rate and pace myself when I could hear a woosh-woosh as I pass stationary objects on the side of the road or pass other triathletes like they are a stationary objects!!!!!!!!
Another reason I'm excited is because I have more & stronger competition in my division (Clydesdale Open also called the Clydesdale 39 & under) this year than I have ever faced. I call these guys the big 3.
In 4 years I've never had a Clydesdale 39 & under beat me on the run portion of a Multisport race. Now there are 2 Clydes who can out run me George Ferland & David McDonald (he's a fellow follower of Christ! Praise the Lord!). There is also the big bad cyclist Jason McClure. He's the most dominant cyclist in the Clydesdale open division. In December Jason McClure beat me by 8 minutes in a sprint race! 8 minutes! Ouch. I have my work cut out for me this year, & I wouldn't have it any other way. This is awakening my competitive side. Not only has this week been my best week of training since Sept, but I've not gone into an emotional eating frenzy since the last week of 2008!!! That's 5 weeks people!!! The last time I had a streak last this long ended in May of last year!!!! If I continue to lose weight at this rate I'll be down to my dream racing weight of 200 by mid April. That will give me a couple weeks leeway for the Atomicman duathlon April 26th! I may of lost 8 minutes on my 5k this winter, but now that I'm this focused I'll get it back that lost speed as quick, if not quicker than I had lost it. If your competing in the Clydesdale Open Division be afraid, very very afraid.
Now that being said I must say God puts things in our laps for reasons we may never understand. God suddenly put the love of triathlon in David McDonalds heart. He then put David in contact with me. It's my love for Christ and my desire to follow Gods words when he says to love my fellow man like I love myself that had me send every piece of triathlon info and resource I have to David who is my 2nd most dangerous competition in my division. Everything from articles, my USAT coaching certification books & paperwork, Joe Friels "the triathlon training bible", offered to take him with me to any out of town races I go to, told him which is the best race in the series for clydes to get a 10 point finish for the series, & have even offered to let him use my race wheels at a few multisport races. I must say, it sounds like I'm a good person doesn't it. I'm not. It's God who's good, He changes my heart & convinces me to show the fruit on my tree. As always I must give ALL the glory to God, because I am a wretch of a man who has been shown the light and the goodness of Gods ways.
This restructuring of my schedule gives me longer to build a bigger peak to really crush my A race and all competitors. By not travelling to AZ later this month it also helps my wife & I recover a bit in the pocket book. Which at this point is badly needed.
I'm really excited about my Multisport season this year. I've always enjoyed sprint distances most. I'm not only much faster the shorter the race is, but there's something exhilarating to me about going out & moving really fast, pushing as hard as possible for as long as the race is, not allowing myself to slow no matter how much my legs & lungs burn. Why would I want to monitor my heart rate and pace myself when I could hear a woosh-woosh as I pass stationary objects on the side of the road or pass other triathletes like they are a stationary objects!!!!!!!!
Another reason I'm excited is because I have more & stronger competition in my division (Clydesdale Open also called the Clydesdale 39 & under) this year than I have ever faced. I call these guys the big 3.
In 4 years I've never had a Clydesdale 39 & under beat me on the run portion of a Multisport race. Now there are 2 Clydes who can out run me George Ferland & David McDonald (he's a fellow follower of Christ! Praise the Lord!). There is also the big bad cyclist Jason McClure. He's the most dominant cyclist in the Clydesdale open division. In December Jason McClure beat me by 8 minutes in a sprint race! 8 minutes! Ouch. I have my work cut out for me this year, & I wouldn't have it any other way. This is awakening my competitive side. Not only has this week been my best week of training since Sept, but I've not gone into an emotional eating frenzy since the last week of 2008!!! That's 5 weeks people!!! The last time I had a streak last this long ended in May of last year!!!! If I continue to lose weight at this rate I'll be down to my dream racing weight of 200 by mid April. That will give me a couple weeks leeway for the Atomicman duathlon April 26th! I may of lost 8 minutes on my 5k this winter, but now that I'm this focused I'll get it back that lost speed as quick, if not quicker than I had lost it. If your competing in the Clydesdale Open Division be afraid, very very afraid.
Now that being said I must say God puts things in our laps for reasons we may never understand. God suddenly put the love of triathlon in David McDonalds heart. He then put David in contact with me. It's my love for Christ and my desire to follow Gods words when he says to love my fellow man like I love myself that had me send every piece of triathlon info and resource I have to David who is my 2nd most dangerous competition in my division. Everything from articles, my USAT coaching certification books & paperwork, Joe Friels "the triathlon training bible", offered to take him with me to any out of town races I go to, told him which is the best race in the series for clydes to get a 10 point finish for the series, & have even offered to let him use my race wheels at a few multisport races. I must say, it sounds like I'm a good person doesn't it. I'm not. It's God who's good, He changes my heart & convinces me to show the fruit on my tree. As always I must give ALL the glory to God, because I am a wretch of a man who has been shown the light and the goodness of Gods ways.
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