Minor Update from Quitomzilla

There is a nice add-on for your Firefox browser to help you quit smoking. It's a nice little app that will tell you how much you've saved and how long it's been since you quit.

Here are my stats: I haven't smoked for 1 week, 2 days and 18 hours, saving 195.39 cigarettes and $48.84 .

Here is the link: Quitomzilla

Training

Well I have two days of running under my belt now and even though I am sore as hell I feel great. I have been running/jogging 2 miles because the test I am training for is 1 1/2 miles and I need to run it in 13:46. For some reason I feel super motivated about this attempt at the test. I need to do something with my life and prove to myself that I can do it. I got a long way to go because I have averaged a 2 mile time of 27 min but I also never really ran before. Also quiting smoking will help too. No smokes for 6 days.

Time for a new me

We just like Jay I failed miserably at my goals that I set and now I have to do something about it. I have a great opportunity to become a police officer and all I have to do is pass the power test. The only problem has been that I never was able to motivate myself to do it. Now is a little different because I have failed it 3 times before and I will not do it again. I also got really motivated when my boss sat me down and told me how much they want me on the department. And the last thing is that my partner has told me that he will help me train for the test. And that is super important because I think that might of been one of the reasons I have failed in the past was because I had no one to train with. Well I have to do this. I need to do this for me and for everyone else. I need to do something with my life and I need to become a healthier and fitter me. I will keep ya'll updated.

Uhm, just a sec. I need to go throw up.

My first full workout with Ben the trainer was today. Needless to say he kicked my ass, and I deserved it for being a lazy piece of crap for the last oh... 7 years.

He strapped me up with a heart monitor and it was time to go! We started out with a little cardio, that was cool, no major complaints. Then the torture started. We hit the arm bike, 30 forward then 30 backward then fast to the stationary bike for a minute then fast back to the arm bike, 4x. I got up after the last set and when I saw myself in the mirror, I honestly couldn't remember the last time I was that sweaty. Then pull ups and push ups and step things and some ball on the ground and leg ups and swinging a giant metal ball then...

Me: Uhm Ben I need a sec.
Ben: Come on keep moving your doing fine.
Me: Uhm, just a sec. I need to go throw up.

5 minutes later...

Ben: Did you throw up?
Me: Yeah, I feel better now.
Ben: *High Five* Yes! That's my second this year!
Me: This is gonna fun.
Ben: Yes!

Well, now it was time to cycle through all the exercises again. I made it through to the end and it was time to throw up again. Man I am amazingly out of shape. This time though I couldn't keep going I was getting dizzy and my workout was pretty much done anyway. I threw up one more time for the trifecta and went to talk it out with Ben. He took my heart monitor and got really excited because, well first because he made me puke three times, but second because I burned 834 calories. I got excited because this weeks torture session was over.

Beave's Kitchen

I my quest to become a better, stronger, healthier me, I am taking my old recipes and turning them healthy. I will be sharing all of my recipes on my new blog Beave's Kitchen. Every few days I'll post a new super healthy but super tasty recipe.

Check it out and tell me if it needs more salt.

I Can Only Speak for Myself

I don't know how everyone else's past 2 and a half months went but mine sucked. I failed miserably in any attempt to stay or become healthy. It's time to start again.

I got myself a personal trainer to help me get to where I want to be. One day a week I will be meeting with "Ben," who will be kicking my ass and making sure the rest of the week I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. You should see the print out they gave me. If I stick to the program I'm gonna look like an effing beast.

I went grocery shopping to to buy the necessary food stuffs. BORING! But I'm pretty good at the cooking thing so I hope to make it easy. Oh and Aldi's makes it really easy to eat really good for really cheap. I got 6 pork chops, 4 pieces of salmon, 8 flavored tuna packs, 12 cans of chicken, 2 bags of almonds, a whole bunch of frozen fruit, jello cups, vitamins, a big tub of yogurt and some other crap for like 60 bucks. Try doing that anywhere else. All the old food and crap around the house, yeah that's been removed. Out with the old in with the new.

I am going to stop being a sissy and not smoke another cigarette. I need to have self control if I am going to stick with this. If I can't not smoke, I can't do any of this.

I am motivated. I am ready. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I guess you can call it progress

Well just like jay i have gone way south on the running portion of the plan. I havn't run in about two weeks but i still feel pretty damn good about myself. Its not that i am totally lazy i have been pretty busy lately and havnt had much time for running. But i willget back to the gym if not for our group goal then for my own new goal of being in shape so when i finally get a call from a Fire dept. then i wont have to kill myself training and can just go and do it. I have let good career opportunities pass me by before due to my poor fitness and i will not let it happen again.

As far as the smoking goes i am doing better. I am not longer a "full time" smoker and have only been having smokes on occasion. so if i can beat those urges on occasion then i will have this monster beat.

And to the diet or lack there of. I am not one of those people who can diet easily. I LOVE FOOD. but i also am not to worried about it because with fittness comes weightloss and im not too upset with myself and my body it could be worse but it caould also be alot better.

Anyway i am going for my written test for the Milwaukee Fire Dept on tues and we will see what comes of that and then i am off the the wis dell for thurs to sun. and then after that i have no more major plans and maybe i can get myself back on track..

Peace out,
Nick

One Step Foward, Two Steps Back

I've been trying to keep with good habits, but it seems that everything I set to do I just can't keep with it. I haven't ran for over a week now. I have been walking stairs at work but that's not going to cut it.

The smoking has gone horriably off course, and it's time I admit that I can't do it on my own. I have a doctor's appointment set for this Thursday... well actually that's today, to get a perscription for Chantix, a stop smoking aid. Hopefully that will help me on this dirty little journey.

I did take a step foward and joined a gym, so as long as I use it that will be a great asset to me. I hope that this turns out different than all those other times. It seems like it's taking the same downturn but I am determined to not let it.

a week in

well its about a week in for me and i have come to the conclusion that i hate to run. i was at the gym 3 day this last week but then i got sore and could barely move. anyway i wanted to try to get off on the right foot this week but i have alot to do around the house so if i am able to go it will have to be after work before bed. anyway i feel good about watchin what i eat because i have not been able to eat as much as i used to. i guess your stomach shrinks kinda fast well im down to 250 so thats not too bad. as far as the training goes i know i will be able to do the 5k and other runs close to that but i have no ambition to ever attempt a marathon. i cant even stand running for 1 mile but the other stuff is alot more fun to me. but anyway i hope to keep strong and make my way to my first goal of a 5 k run in around a half hour is my new goal for that. anyway ttyl.

I think I may be masochist

So today I have the day off work because I'm going to the cubs game (north side is better than south side!!!) and I went to the gym... After running a mile and half in 13.28 I have set forth these goals. Build up to 5 miles at less than a 9 min mile pace... this means 2 miles in under 18, 3 under 27 and so on. I would like to reach this goal by September. This will not be easy since I truly hate running, but I think I can do it by going to the gym regularly and continuing to build of what I've done.

Now to the masochist part: I got back on the stairmaster. I went for 15 min on level 7. I truly hate that thing and the only logical explanation for me to continue it would be masochism. There is no other valid reason to do it and for the machine to exist in the first place other than to inflict pain and suffering...

I will now follow up on my workout with pizza and excessive amounts of beer at the ball game: is this self-defeating? I rationalize it this way: I would drink and eat anyways, so at least going to the gym is better than not going to the gym, right?

JW

Uh oh...

I've reached CRITICAL ASS!

Rethinking the Hancock

So yesterday I ran a 8.45 mile (close to a personal best in my post college world) and so I was feeling pretty good. I though I would attempt to begin training for the Hustle up the Hancock... which now seems a very stupid and pointless thing. I went for about 10 minutes on the stairmaster and was dripping sweat from every pore on my body and was beyond tired, and that was at level 7... I am beginning to rethink this Hustle thing, not that I do not think I can do it, but that I wonder if i want to do it. It seems a lot of work and I may just stick to running.

I am also revising my goals set forth earlier. On Monday I ran 3 miles in about 27.45. This makes me think I can do a 5K (3.1 miles) in under 28 to begin with, so my revised goal is by year end a 5K under 26.30 and at least 1 under 27 min.

Just remember guys, consistency is the hardest part, but the most rewarding... better to run a mile every day for a week than to run 7 miles in one day and not run at all the next week...

There is the Lung Run in September, to benefit lung cancer research, I think this would be a good run for us considering we have stopped smoking and will be in MUCH better help when this comes around... let me know what you think.

J

Tired...

Everything seems to be going pretty well so far. Went up to the RoPo aka Rogers Park to shoot hoops with the guys from work yesterday, those guys really know how to wear a man out.

I am struggling to keep running because I try to do too many things in a day, but I'll make it. Except for today I am way to freaking tired to workout today. I feel like I'm going to pass out at any second.

Day one

Well today was officially the first day of the rest of my life or at least i hope so. I started at the gym and on my diet today.

The gym: well i think i am off to a good start i ran on the treadmill and also did some time on the eliptical and the stairmaster. Also had a good core, chest and arms workout.

The diet: well i have found out that it is not cheap to eat healthy. i spent alot of money but it is all worth it cuz i need to make some changes esspecialy the way i eat. working weird hours is no excuse to eat fast food all the time and become a fatass.

The smoking: well i think i have almost fully conqured one of my biggest deamons so i feel great about that.

Well i feel like this whole thing is possible and that i can finally start making the move to be a thiner fitter heathier me. the only thing i wish is that i had someone to workout with because this blogging helps but i would really like to have a workout partner as well. maybe we can all get together one day a week and play raquetball or something.

Jon's Goals

My goals, even if they don't make sense to you, they make sense to me.

target weight - 220... this takes into account muscle gained by working out, ideal weight is 200; but realistically i don't think i can reach that and still have the muscle i do

goal: quit smoking permanently; with the money i will save; i will be able to pay cash for a new flat-panel tv around x.mas time when all the sales are going on

running goals - complete 3-5 5k this calendar year with times progressively lower; last 5k was 29.30, which honestly could have been better. first one: under 29.15. next under 29, next 28.30 and by year end run a 5k in under 28. i don't think these are too unreasonable, i know i can do them, i think i am just lacking the personal drive to do so.

long term fitness goals - Shamrock Shuffle 8k 2009 in under 45 min. 2008 time was 47.19. Secondly i would like to attempt the hustle up the hancock in february 2009... this is something completely diffent that just running; so i'll have to see how that goes.... i have no idea what exactly it will be like, but looking online, my goal is under 40... that may be adjusted once training begins.

J

So i guess i'm not really good at this blog thing, mostly cuz i rarely have time to post, but here's my earnest attempt....

concerning the run, i don't know what program you're using, but for me, the best program i found was hal higdon's 5k for novice (http://www.halhigdon.com/5K%20Training/5-Knovice.htm). this is a 6-week program assuming you can run a mile and a half to begin with.... if you can't, no biggie, just start it at 7-weeks with a mile run, or even 8-weeks starting with 1/2 mile. now, i'm not a professional runner by any stretch of the imagination; but i found that anyone can run the distance... it just takes time to build up to it; even if you can only run for 2 min... the next time, just try to run for 3 min and build up to it... don't get discouraged...

oh, and we all need to sign up for this run ASAP, cuz for me at least, once the money is paid, it's definately more motivation --- i don't like to waste money.

J

5K Training

I haven't smoked for 5 days, 9 hours and 42 minutes, saving 108.09 cigarettes and $24.32 .

That being said I start today with my 7 week training to run the 5k which is in 48 days. I have run a little before but never anything specific for training. Except for maybe hills and the track for football but even that had no purpose deep inside me.

I am excited, I have never run a race before and this is just a notch in my belt on the way to the marathon. I already know Jon is gonna whoop my ass because of the fact he has run these things before. I'm looking for forward to seeing what Nick has in him, he's a such great competitor and we always cause each other to take it up a notch. It seems as though Jon has caused me to try and raise the bar around him as well because he has another competitive spirit.

Lookin' Good

I played basketball with some guys from work yesterday and I thought I was gonna collapse at certain points. Looks like it'll be a weekly thing now which will be good, that kinda exercise I don't mind.

I got some hip hop workout videos which are fun and challenging as hell. I am hoping to add those in to non-run training days.

I am also looking into a Crunch Fitness membership because I get a discount from work and it's literally located across the street from the job.

Also: I haven't smoked for 1 day, 18 hours and 47 minutes, saving 35.65 cigarettes and $8.02 .

Jay's Goals

I am feeling great about this. So many times have I tried to quit smoking and keep a healthy lifestyle and so many times I have quit. To have these two guys backing me up is really going to help.

Like Nick I've smoked for a long time, about 14 years or so, and have tried many times but never really could keep the motivation.

My goal weight is about 260. I have a long way to go but I'm hungry.

I have a lofty set of goals for myself. I more than anything want to cross the finish line at the Chicago Marathon. Other than that I want to complete the Hustle and Go Vertical, swim across Lake Geneva and eventually the Chicago Triathlon. Now for a guy who is not fit for much and to big for most that's gonna be tough. Another small goal is to be able to fit on all the adult rides at Great America again, something I haven't been able to do for quite some time. Last but not least I want to make my girl proud and not disgusted when she walks down the isle and looks at me.

Well that's me and that's how a player's gotta be.

Nicks goals

Well lets see here..... today is the first day of our journey and i feel pretty good about this. I am starting out at 255 lbs. I have been a smoker for about 6 years and am just recently trying to quit for good. i had my last smoke on sunday afternoon and i feel great. Now it should be alot easier to quit because all or most of my friends are quiting as well. i am also starting my workout routine as well as going back on my weight watchers diet. My goal is to get down to at least 200 lbs by next summer. I also have a lot of fitness goals that i would like to be able to accomplish within the next 5 years. I want to do a 5k swim , i want to do the hustle up the hancock , i want to complete the chicago marathon and last but not least i want to complete the chicago triathlon. these are the ultimate goals but i am starting off slow. the first challenge on our list of event will be the cougar 5k run in october hosted by St.Xavier university. well that is it for now , wish me luck........

So it begins...

This past weekend Jon, Nick and I decided that we were going to swim across Lake Geneva next year. With our size and smoking/drinking habits that would be a tough venture to tackle together let alone individually. Then we all got to talking about keeping each other in check and quitting smoking and running a 5K in the near future. I then thought that even though we all live busy lives, we all have access to the internet, so why not chronicle everything together for all the world to see. That should keep us in check. So here we go: balls out, no holds barred this is our story of pain and withdrawal...