[KRB52]

So, here we are in a new year. As always, many make New Year’s Resolutions to do things, mostly for self improvement. The typical “get in shape”, “loose weight”, “exercise more”, and blah, blah, blah; as we know, by January 31st, these are forgotten or discarded (heck, some are that way by January 4th.) Just like water and electricity, people tend to take the path of least resistance- it’s easier to sit on your butt, suck down fast food, soda or other sugar infested drinks and all the other modern marvels of our “diets”. I admit, I can very easily fit into this category. The question is, do I choose to?

As I implied, this thread is about a New Year’s Resolution, in this case, made by me. I want to “get in shape”, “get fit”, “exercise more”, “eat right” and so on. In other words, all the vague stuff many others state and then never quite achieve. As I learned in one of my early teaching classes, goals have to have a measurement, a number attached to them. So, here are my goals for the year as far as my fitness goes:

*Reduce stomach from 44 inches to 36 inches (that’s tummy, not waist. The waist is 36 inches.)
*Reduce weight from current 202 pounds to high school weight of 170 pounds. (I will accept 180 pounds, however.)
*Raise total amount of pushups to 100 per workout session (any combination of repetitions, from 100 sets of 1 to 1 set of 100.) Current level is ZERO.
*Be able to run one (1) mile at a ten (10) minute pace. (Gulp!! Run? Oh boy.)
*Maintain walking frequency as able, for distance of at least one (1) mile at a pace of 1 mile in 20 minutes. (This is about what I do now, anyway. I just want to push myself to keep doing it, with maybe a little less dawdling along the way.)

Now, the “vital statistics”:

Age: 53 Height: 5’11” Weight: 200 lbs Waist: 36” Stomach: 44”

As of 01-01-2012, per the device my father-in-law has for taking such measurements:

Blood Pressure: 111/68 Heart Rate: 71 bpm

I did not wait to start until I had posted this on the forum before I began. I started on 01-01-2012 and plan to continue until my goals are reached. I plan to add in other exercises as I am able, as well as equipment (stationary bike, tread mill, weights, etc.) but I will not throw them in as goals yet. I plan to post updates, maybe monthly, maybe quarterly, as I am able. (I’m not going to do daily posts.)

If I can get some cooperation at home, I will post some before pictures so we can see any changes at the end of the year.

[Jack]

Nice. Good luck man; keep us posted.

*Be able to run one (1) mile at a ten (10) minute pace. (Gulp!! Run? Oh boy.)

No need to gulp. You'll get here a lot quicker than you think you will.

[Thaispider]

keep us updated with your progress keith, stick at it , will make you feel so much better. good luck man.

[MKZ]

Keep updating us man. I'm trying to lose weight too, but sadly, I can't work properly without a snack or a chocolate bar here or there Anyway, good luck.

[Gallows]

Great goals. Achievable and realistic. I guarantee at the end of the year you'll look back on what you did and feel pretty good about yourself.

Look forward to your progress reports.

[JT42]

That's awesome that you have specific goals b/c that will definitely help you to stay on track. Last year my goal was to put on muscle mass and I was able to reach that goal by keeping track of progress and having specific things in mind just like you are doing.

[KRB52]

OK, so it looks closer to quarterly. I've been running and working out some, just not as much as maybe I should. I did skip running some days due to rain, snow, a skunk (although I could have taken a different route that morning.)

The loop that I am using around my place I originally was calling a "country quarter-mile". I found out this week, when I checked it with the car's odometer, that it is actually a half-mile, if I include a straight 100 yard or so section. Without that last 200 yards, I have been doing the "loop" between 2:45 and 3:00 minutes. If I do the 200 yards, I'm gassed at the 3:00 minute mark. I think it is more psychological than physical; it's always easier to just stop than to push on. I'm off Saturday, so I plan to do the first mile and at least get a base time to work with. This one will be for Matt.

[Gomi]

Have you ever thought of doing Couch to 5K?

[KRB52]

Have not heard of that.

I did run/walk the mile this morning. By my clocking, 11:30 or so. Yeah, I question that time, too. Maybe I'm starting off too quick and peak too early (maybe I shouldn't use the video of Disturbed's "Indestructible" as an inspiration just yet?) Maybe it's time I go up to the high school's track and run a measured mile.