I have to get in shape. I have been putting this off for too long. Not only do I need to get in shape for health reasons, but I also need to do it for health insurance reasons. My company requires all employees to take a biometric screening and one of the criteria is my waste circumference must be under 50 inches. Otherwise, I have to pay an extra $75.00 per paycheck for health insurance.

This morning, I got up early and used the Bowflex. Tonight, I might go for a walk. I don't want to make the mistake of trying to do too much too soon, so I'm going to take it easy. My plan is to walk Monday, Wednesday, and Friday - just walk as far as I can each time - until the end of February (next month). Then, in March, I'll start back on the "Couch To 5K" plan. If I stick with the plan, I should be running 3 miles, 3 days a week. From there, I plan on increasing that to 5 miles, 4 days a week.

I'm also planning on making changes to my eating habits - cutting out some of the fatty foods, reducing my portion sizes, and eating more foods that are good for me. I did this a couple years ago and actually started loosing weight, but I started out too strong and didn't stick with it.

I have been such a slacker. I have no excuse. Saturday, I decided to re-start the Couch-To-5K program. We'll see how long this lasts.

Couch-To-5K Week 1 - 08/04/2012:
Walked .25 mi - 19:53 /mi - 113 bpm avg - 123 bpm max
Jogged .09 mi - 10:37 /mi - 141 bpm avg - 161 bpm max
Walked .22 mi - 17:57 /mi - 133 bpm avg - 165 bpm max
Jogged .08 mi - 12:44 /mi - 147 bpm avg - 166 bpm max
Walked .22 mi - 18:11 /mi - 138 bpm avg - 171 bpm max
Jogged .09 mi - 11:42 /mi - 148 bpm avg - 166 bpm max
Walked .22 mi - 18:09 /mi - 140 bpm avg - 168 bpm max


Couch-To-5K Week 1 - 08/08/2012:
Walked .28 mi - 18:06 /mi - 131 bpm avg - 136 bpm max
Jogged .09 mi - 11:12 /mi - 153 bpm avg - 169 bpm max
Walked .23 mi - 17:44 /mi - 146 bpm avg - 172 bpm max
Jogged .09 mi - 11:24 /mi - 160 bpm avg - 175 bpm max
Walked .23 mi - 17:21 /mi - 153 bpm avg - 179 bpm max
Jogged .09 mi - 11:23 /mi - 164 bpm avg - 183 bpm max
Walked .22 mi - 17:59 /mi - 154 bpm avg - 184 bpm max

Walking 05/13/2012
1.58 mi - 17:32 /mi - 138 bpm avg - 150 bpm max

I haven't been very good about keeping track of my fitness efforts or recording them.



Walking 05/03/2012
1.24 mi - 17:46 /mi - 146 bpm avg - 158 bpm max


Bowflex 05/02/2012
31 min - 119 bpm avg - 140 bpm max


Bowflex 04/19/2012
32 min - 119 bpm avg - 144 bpm max


Bowflex 04/17/2012
27 min - 116 bpm avg - 138 bpm max


Walking at Work 03/20/2012
1.07 mi - 18:50 /mi - no heart rate monitor


Walking at Work 03/12/2012
1.02 mi - 18:28 /mi - no heart rate monitor


Walking at Work 03/07/2012
1.03 mi - 18:20 /mi = no heart rate monitor


Bowflex 02/22/2012
32 min - 124 bpm avg - 150 bpm max

Walking at Work 02/21/2012
.51 mi - 19:38 /mi - no heart rate monitor

Walking 02/20/2012
1.39 mi - 18:06 /mi - 118 bpm avg - 127 bpm max

Walking at Work 02/16/2012
.51 mi - 18:11 /mi - no heart rate monitor

Bowflex 02/02/2012
31 min - 120 bpm avg - 145 bpm max

I'm trying to watch what I eat. Although, I haven't been doing so good the past several days. Even though I told myself last Wednesday that I was going to cut out sodas and Heath Bars and Starbucks and all that, I really haven't. I even had Starbucks this morning.

At one point, I was really good about using the Food Journal section of Fitness Journal to record what I eat so that I could keep track of my calorie intake (mainly). But, after reading an article online, I realized I was going about it all wrong. Instead of record what I had already eaten, I should have been planning what I was going to eat. I started using the Food Journal and I am still recording what I have already eaten, but this time I'm doing it to set a sorta base line to know what I normally eat in a day. Then, once I have some guidelines, I'll start planning what I am going to eat in advance.

Walking at Work 01/28/2012

1.02 mi - 18:34 /mi - no heart rate monitor

I stepped onto the scale the other day and I now weigh 264 pounds. This is the heaviest I have ever been. So, no more sodas. No more Starbucks. No more Heath bars. No more chips. No more ice cream. No more going home, changing into pajamas and sitting on the couch watching TV or playing video games. More walking, less TV.

Bowflex 01/23/2012

35 minutes - 112 bpm avg - 140 bpm max

Walking at Work 01/19/2012

Walking with a little geocaching.
1.31 mi - 17:59 /mi - no heart rate monitor

Walking at Work 01/11/2012
1.03 mi - 18:52 /mi - no heart rate monitor

Walking at Work 01/13/2012
1.19 mi - 17:33 /mi - no heart rate monitor

I haven't been keeping track of this stuff. But, then again, I really haven't been putting much effort into getting in shape either.


Bowflex 11/26/2011
31 minutes - 115 bpm avg - 147 bpm max

Walking 11/26/2011
1.37 mi - 17:45 /mi - 122 bpm avg - 132 bpm max

Bowflex 01/01/2012
35 minutes - 121 bpm avg - 151bpm max

Bowflex 01/05/2012
34 minutes - 118 bpm avg - 147 bpm max

Cycling 10/30/2011

4.49 mi - 10.2 mph avg - 16.2 mph max - 149 bpm avg - 173 bpm max

Walking 10/25/2011

Jogged .38 mi - 11:13 /mi - 170 bpm avg - 189 bpm max
Walked .42 mi - 18:27 /mi - 141 bpm avg - 189 bpm max
Jogged .26 mi - 11:55 /mi - 173 bpm avg - 189 bpm max
Walked .13 mi - 19:07 /mi - 161 bpm avg - 190 bpm max

Jogged .64 mi total
Walked .55 mi total

I had to go out of town this past weekend and I took my Garmin but didn't get a chance to walk.

Cycling 10/17/2011

4.41 mi - 10.1 mph avg - 15.8 mph max - 134 bpm avg - 160 bpm max