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NSV: Coworker asked to help him get started in a routine
Today was kinda cool. A coworker, half my age, asked if he could work out with me today to help him get started build strength again. He plays a lot of soccer but needs to get in shape. It was pretty cool to help someone else get started. His core is going to be sore tomorrow :bigsmile:
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"Cold" pool motivated faster lap time :)
When we had that sudden drop to single digits in G'boro, both the pool heater and the air heater in the pool area failed. Closed for one day. They got the pool heater fixed first. That only brought the pool up to 78 degrees compared to the usual 85. This was awesome from my perspective. It seriously thinned out the 5am…
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My first personal challenge for the new year....
Here it is. This Saturday morning I plan to swim 5000 yards, start 6:05am, then right to the 8:15AM spinning class. Never done the two that close together. Usually a week day thing I swim at 5am then an evening spin class around 6pm. Closest time space was on Christmas vacation. 5am swim. Home for breakfast, then back for…
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NSV: Swim mileage for 2013. 804.28 miles
Last January I set a goal 440 miles. The Y had the Swim The Haw River Challenge. 110 miles. I figured I'd challenge myself and do it 4 times. Ended up doing over 7x. Yahoo! Not bad. Never been on a swim team. Didn't start really swimming for fitness until a few years ago. Still nowhere near fast enough to consider…
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First spinning class since losing 100+. Freaking Awesome!
Last night I participated in a Spinning class for the first time since I was over 300#. What a difference 100 pounds makes in comfort in the class. I have mostly been swimming. But since I have been on a 6 month plateau with 25# left to go to my goal weight, I figured I needed to add something new. My arthritic feet…
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731 miles through the end of November.
800 miles for the year is possible. Not bad considering just a couple years ago I was swimming only a mile a few times a month. Not being able to run for exercise left me with few options. Luckily I like swimming. Several more seasoned swimmers at my Y have said they don't think they could swim as far as I do. But I don't…
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NSV: Leg Raise stand, 10 count, legs straight
Today, I moved another exercise from the list of things I have never done to the list of things I can now do., Leg raise stand. 10 reps, full raise to 90 degrees with legs straight. Two years ago I couldn't even hold my weight up long enough to try one bent leg raise. I figured that since I can do 3 sets of 10 inverted V…
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100 down on top of Hanging Rock
I love going to the top of Hanging Rock for comparison shots. This is 100# down from June of 2011. I can now run up the steep parts of the trail. Woohoo!
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My "revealing locker room selfie." Ha!
He is my version of a revealing locker room selfie. "Revealing" in that two years ago I would never have worn a shirt that wasn't rather loose fitting. I would have considered this short quite uncomfortably snug then.
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NSV. Did 10 pushups today, first time in my adult life
I couldn't even do 10 pushups when I weighed 155 pounds. But today I tried to see how many I could do. 10 the first set followed by 2 more sets of just 6 reps. May not seem like much, but for me, it is a nice show of physical progress.
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Chocolate Cake for Breakfast. Bill Cosby said we could.
Here is my recipe for Chocolate Cake Waffles. The recipe calculator says 420 calories per. 1 cup whole wheat flour 1/2 cup Stevia in the Raw (the equal measure type) 2 tsp baking powder 1/4 cup unsweetened coco powder. (use special dark if you prefer) 1 large whole egg 1 cup 2% milk 1/4 cup oil (olive, corn, or coconut) I…
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"False" advertising on Atkins protein bars. Beware
I was checking out the box on the Atkins "low carb" protein bars. In bold print on the front they tout "3g Net Carbs." But when you look at the actual carb count it is 18g. Apparently fiber and sugar alcohol carbs don't count. I call BS. BTW, these things are far more expensive than the bars I prefer anyway.
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Achieved my Olympic Marathon Swim goal today
Had a great swim today. Started at 11:10AM and finished lap 219 at 3:03PM. Did one more to round it out to 220 laps. So a lap over 10KM. No too bad. Last July I was doing a mile and started pushing a little. Did my first 5KM swim last August. For some crazy reason I decided to set a goal of completing an equivalent Olympic…
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HRM Strap in the pool
Finally got an HRM. Had to wait until I was off the beta blocker. I bought the FT40. The snap on transmitter. I found that in the pool, the higher profile of the transmitter causes it twist over in the pool. I really don't feel like cranking the strap as tight as needed to keep it from twisting. So my plan is to get a…
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NSV: "From where?"
I ran into the Fitquest coordinator at the Y last night. Fitquest is a free program to help people get started on the machines, weights and classes. When I told her I had 35 pounds to go her reply, without a second hesitation was "From here?" That is cool. But I still do have 35 to go. Maybe a little less as of today…
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Front crawl stroke: Straight or hooked. My experience
For as long as I have been swimming I have pretty much done a straight arm stroke for the front crawl (free style). Then I saw a video on Speedo Pace Club showing a well known swimmer that uses more of a hooked arm push across the body. What I found, for myself anyway, is that this hooked arm stroke is more comfortable for…
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First 10km swim day
Made my first 10km swim day. 4km at 6am 6km at 2pm. Total pool time 3 hours 50 minutes Keep working toward doing it in one swim.
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Next swimming distance goal: 10km
I have decided that my next goal is to swim 10km within an 8 hour period. Two 5km swims in the same day. Assuming a Saturday at the Y, first 5km at 6:00AM. Home for 3 eggs with sausage and cheese for breakfast. A short rest then back to the Y at 11:00AM and finish by 1:00 or 1:30PM. Usual time for 110 laps (25 yrd pool) is…
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"fitness" goal. A bit of an odd one.
It occurred to me yesterday that it would nice look fit enough that when I say I swim 110 laps that someone doesn't respond "do mean lengths?" I'm not quite there yet. Still get the question. Not limited to "kids" either. It would be nice to have the look that stops that laps/lengths question. Or maybe I should just say…
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Another NSV from Monday's physical. Cutting Beta.
I realized after I left the doctor's office that I forgot to ask if I can cut back or get off the beta blocker I have been taking to help prevent migraines. I figured that since they started when I was over 270 that the stress from the weight may have been a major contributor, if not the entire cause. Got the okay this…
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Had my physical today. BMI was under OBESE !
Had a great annual physical today. BMI was under Obese for the first time in nearly 2 decades. BP was lower than at any time in my adult life as was my resting heart rate. Still waiting for the blood tests. Doc told me that when she has a patient who says they are too old to start losing wait, she tells them about her 50+…
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Pool side NSV: Lift out!
For a years I had to use the ladder or steps to get out of the pool after swimming. About a month ago I could finally lift out to sit and get out after 90(4.11km) laps. Last weekend I was able to lift out to knee after 110 laps (5km). That is a big Biden deal for me. :bigsmile:
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The jopys of Cubicle Land.....
This was funny. Got an email from the occupant of a nearby cubicle saying he was "I’m very sensitive to loud flatulence." Cracked me up. He asked if I could be more discrete. I'm not sure how one can be more discrete. They are either SBD or trumpets. I replied "so you're okay with SBD's? :bigsmile: Might be the whey…
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New personal best single day distance
Saturday I went to my Y twice. At 6AM is did 90 laps (4.11km) and went back at 2:30 for another 75 laps to bring the distance total to 7.54km. In between I spent several hours working in the yard, digging up and old basket ball hoop pole and general spring yard cleaning.
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Down 85 pounds. Full length comparison
Previously I had only posted facial comparison. My wife took both of these pictures. June 2011 at Hanging Rock state park and today on our patio.
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NSV: No more hose nose to stop snoring!
Finally. No more snoring without the hose nose, AKA CPAP. Still should schedule a follow up with my sleep specialist to confirm that the sleep apnea is no more. But my wife confirmed that I no longer snore without it. I sleep better without it now too. Yahoo!
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Crossed the 80 pounds down mark.
80 pounds down. Still more to go. But at least for now I can take clothes from my 6'4" son and put off buying new jeans for a little while longer. My closet is looking emptier too since clearing out a lot of Never Again clothes. Still have another 45 to 50 to go unless I adjust my goal as I get closer to it. But the light…
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New personal 2 day best
I know I am a bit nuts sometimes. This may qualify as a little nuts. Drove up to MA from NC last Thursday. Left at 3:30 AM. Got to my brother's house at 5PM. Still wound up from the MIO Engergy I put in 2 bottles of water. So by 6PM I was in the YMCA pool for 110 laps (5.03km) Woke up at 5:30 on Friday and was in the pool…
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advice for new "fitness swimmers?"
Whenever the subject of swimming comes up in fitness discussions with friends and coworkers, the one thing I always come back to is persistence. Regardless one's current technique or endurance, persistence will drive toward improving both. I barely made 6 laps the first time I tried adding swimming to my routine. That was…
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yahoo! Beat my goal. 110 miles in 2 months, not 3.
My YMCA has a swim challenge each year. A distance equal to a particular body of water. This year is the Haw River in NC. The distance is 110 miles. I started the year hoping to complete my first challenge distance by the end of March. I ended up completing it by the end of February. Not bad for an old guy. :) My goal for…