250 Burpees

250 Burpees

Wow the week has not even really started yet and I am behind the 8 ball. It all started on Tuesday, I was in the locker room getting changed at alive, when Damir walked in. He had that funny grin on his face so I knew something was up. I asked him if I should grab a treadmill right away since Ryan was not going to be there tonight, also I hoping that we would spend some of my training session on the treadmill so we could work on the whole running thing. He Smiled and said no you need to talk to Holly! I said oh am I in trouble? He answered do think you should be? So he just answered my question with a question, translation I ate something that was not in the plan.

So I head out to talk to Holly about last week’s log, just than one of my support team walked in, it was Kim the one who is helping me take accountability for my health and Attitude. Thinking holly was going to call me out on eat some smart pop popcorn, I said let’s talk here about the log, because I am thinking Kim already knows about the popcorn. It was not the popcorn that I ate that Holly pointed out that. No it was Bacon, yes I forgot about the bacon! 2 slice of bacon with my breakfast I had in my first week end on the plan. Holly was great, she broke it down and showed why the bacon was the wrong choice, and she even show me a much better choice I could have made. She is awesome!!

Now this new made Kim very happy, 2 slices of bacon = 100 Burpees! Just the other day I made her do 100 burpees for a negative comment. So she was happy to hold me to my promise to eat clean or pay the price with Burpees. It works out to much more burpees, but we will get into that a little later.

Now Damir and I were just starting out my session and my bacon error was fresh in my mind and in his. We started the session with Damir saying something like “bacon, seriously Brian” or maybe it was “you know how I feel about pork.” With the bacon thing fresh in my mind I said something I wish I never said, but I was thinking I would ask Damir for a wakeup call if I started to gain weight again. I asked Damir “when I gain weight again can you put the 65 pound dumbbells in my hand so I remember where I start out. This really pissed him off, he said “when you gain again” and walked off to get heavier Kettle bells for my workout. He grabs the biggest black kettle bells and returned. Then he said something I will never forget he said “Brian you think everyone gains weight on their weight loss journey, you are wrong you can do this without gaining any weight during your journey, you could do it just like so and so they did not gain anything since they started their journey”

Ok as we started our session I noticed that all the weights were much heavier than the ones we started with. Now maybe he set up with the lighter ones thinking that I would have more trouble with them then he thought. however after our little talk everything seemed to get a whole lot heavier. It was sort of like when he found that cheesy on me. Our session as so good that it flew right by; before I knew it we were done.

Later Tuesday night I looked over my log and notice that we went out for breakfast on Sunday and I ate 3 more Slices of bacon. That is when I took a deep breath and did the math, which is another 150 burpees on top of the 100 Burpees I already have to do. So I informed Kim that we need to do another 150, I think she was stunned, but was going to hold me to it.

When I got to Alive tonight I let Damir know that I had 250 burpees to do, He smiled and said he would talk to Kim about how I was going to pay for the burpees. Kim arrived and Damir had a word with her and we went to the Back and started to do the burpees, Kim said to do 20 burpees and she put down the med size black kettle bells, after I finished the 20 burpees without really stopping, A personal best for me, she had me do 20 each arm Alternate Cleans with the Kettle bells, Damir had made a work he said would count toward my burpees fine. As I did the Clean Kim said “Brian I think you may have really pissed Damir Off, this is not an easy workout” well it was something along those lines. I just smiled and kept going. What I think Damir did was he set up a workout with the kettle bells that is very difficult to do, but I am sort of good at so it made the overall burpees count not seem so Daunting.

After Kim kicked my ass for about 20mins or so it was time for kickboxing boot camp. My regular partner was there so it was awesome to work with her. Like I said before when you work with someone more than a few time you get into a rhythm. She went first and I pushed her a little. In fact I think there was point where she was punching really hard because she was a little angry with me, for making her do a burpees when she mess up the combo a few times. It was awesome! Now when it was my turn, I was still a little winded from Kim and I workout, so I was not hitting as hard as I usually do. So Lisa said “stop hitting me like I am a girl” it was awesome that she called me out, I love it. So I try a little harder. Boot camp Rocked!

So this is what I learned so far this week, I can do my weight loss journey 100% of the time or Kim, Holly and Damir are going to hold me accountable, and beat it into me. This is what I think I need right now, so thank you Holly for keeping me on track and thank you Damir and Kim for holding me to my word. Also I learned that Bacon is not worth it!! It may taste good, but it is not worth it at all!!

A week of many firsts

A week of many firsts

This is a week I don’t think I will soon forget. It was a week of many firsts. I lost my fist 10 pounds of 2011, I ran my first running program on the hamster wheel, and I did my first set of spider planks. It was a great week to exceed some of my short term goals

I wish I could say that I did not worry too much about my weigh in this week, in the beginning of the week I was not even thinking about it but Thursday came and I started to panic, what if all the work I did this week inside and outside the gym was not enough. But when I stepped on the scale on Friday I was down 10 pounds! It was awesome because over the Christmas break I gained 10 pounds. So it was nice that two week in the New Year and I have taken all the damage I did to my body off.

Wednesdays night’s kickboxing boot camp was very awesome, to start off my regular partner was there. Damir had us doing some awesome, harder than normal combos. It was intense, got my heart pumping. In one of the breaks between combos he had us doing the usual, Burpees, than punching with light weights. While we were punching with the weights I could near Damir throwing down mat on the ground. The timer beeped and he said Spider Planks as I put my weights down I notice I had a mat too, normally I would have to do dirty burpees while the class does spider planks and Damir doesn’t usually give me a mat for that. So I Dropped down and tried to do them. As I did the first one I almost fell down on the mat, because I was amazed I could do it so I pounded another one off and he said switch arms, I thought for sure I was not going to be able to do it leading with the other arm. But I did it. I stood up very excited that I was able to do it. I asked Damir “did you see that?” he said “see what” “the spider planks I just did” he said “no I missed that” and I am the thinking you have to be shitting me. So in the next break we do the same and I pounded them out again. This time he saw me do them. The next day I asked him if he wanted me to do them when he gave me the mat. He said something like “I sometimes forget that I do everything in class and I just put down a mat for you as well” this was awesome as I can now do them.

Friday Hamster wheel workout I tried out a running program, a simple program, but it was hard for me to complete. I ran on the hamster wheel for 30mins for the first time, 1 min running and 1 min walking. Now I have heard Jenn, Kim and Jocelyne talk about how they love to run. Before Friday I thought they were full of shit. But now that I have done it, i could see how this is so great. I have decided to add this program to my Friday workouts and see if I can build up enough to run the 5k in May that would rock.

I am off to a good start this month, and I am excited to see what my next weigh in on the 29th will BE

What the Hell!!

What the Hell!

I am one week into the whole 60 days eating clean thing and it is going great! I do feel I am back on track. The food tastes amazing; I forgot that when all the other processed crap is in your diet, the good health foods don’t taste as good. But wow when you cut them out boy everything starts to taste so good. An example of that is that I never like potatoes in the past. In order to eat them I would have to smother them in sour cream and bacon or put cheese on them. This week Wal-Mart did not have any sweet potatoes, so I had to get baby potatoes for my lunches. The first day they were ok, but by the end of the week that all I talked about is how great they were. I also have been having salad with Balsamic Vinegar along with chicken when we get home from Alive, and wow that has been so good as well. So far I love the food. It is awesome!

It has not been all easy, last night we went to the movies at canyon meadows theatre; if you have ever been there you know they set up the big mazes line for the concession. Last night I stood in that line for about 20 mins for 2 Diet Cokes. That was hard, the smell of popcorn was very strong and as I stood in line I stared at the big bags of M&M. As I was getting to the front of the line I was starting to think I was really good all week one bag won’t hurt! Then I remember that if I get and eat that bag, Kim is going to make me pay with at least 150 Burpees, it’s a big ass bag she might say it is worth 200 or 300 burpees! Finely it was my turn and all that came out of my mouth was 2 Diet cokes please. Besides I had an apple and a nectarine in my jacket so I was good if I needed a snack.

The workouts this week have been very intense and insane; I put 10 hours in of hard work at alive this week. It has been awesome! Wednesday I was finished work early so i was able to put in an extra hour on the hamster wheel, & I didn’t have a partner for kickboxing boot camp so Damir was my Partner so I got to punch and kick for the whole hour. It was awesome!! Thursday’s Training session we worked on Biceps, Chest, and triceps, it was intense, the next day I was not all that sore, at first, as the day went on it hurt more and more. Saturday my whole body hurt, my legs, my Chest, my arms....Everything!! My triceps still hurt today and it is Sunday! What the Hell!

Every day I put two hours in, by Friday I was exhausted and I didn’t want to stay on the hamster wheel for two hours. I hoped off for a break after an hour and about 15 mins in to pee and say hi to a few friends at the lobby, but Damir was setting up his boot camp and notices I was screwing around and quickly put an end to that, and I was back on with a feeling I better stay on here a little longer to make up the time when I hoped off.

This week is going to rock!! I weigh in on Friday and it should be a good weigh in. I am going to stick to my food plan and put in as much time sweating as I can!! I have not had this feeling in a long time; I can’t wait to step on the scale on Friday!!

Bam Back to Reality!

Bam Back to reality!

Well I guess I had fun over the holidays, stepped on the scale tonight to start my new year off to a good start, and bam back to reality! I gained some weight back, some weight that is a not whole truth, I gain 10 pounds back. This is not the news I was hoping for, but I have fallen off the wagon over the holidays. Now is the time to step up and get control of the food. Food is my drug of choice, when I am feeling bad or upset I turn to my friend the potato chips and ice cream. Thinking this is going to make me feel better, but it never lasts long, in fact after I feel just horrible. I beat myself up for eating it, but that does not stop me from reaching for it the next time.

Going into the holidays, I was just getting over the flu and I thought that I could handle everything. The last time I step on the scale I dropped 7 pounds just before the holidays. Then as the holidays began I kept saying to myself just keep on track, you can do it. However stress got the better of me and I just let go, I started with a small bag of chips and then I started to slip, eating everything I could get my hands on. It was a bad place to be; once it has started it is hard to stop.

Now before this all happen I put together an action plan for the New Year. It is a good plan and I am going to execute it well. I am going to put up some reminder around me how easy it is to fall off the wagon and start to slip back into old habits. Old habit = weight gain and I cannot have that I need to keep going. I have worked way too hard to get this far to just to throw it all away. This is not going to happen!! I am not done yet.

I start my plan tomorrow; I am excited because I am in the right head space now. I know what I have to do to have all my dreams come true. I need to step up and Do IT! I just have to Control the hard part. The hard part is not working-out everyday. No that is a lot easier than most people think. The hard part is dealing with my emotions and not turning to food for a stress release. I need to remember food is not for pleasure. It is fuel for my body. I need to get back to where I turn to the hamster wheel for stress release or maybe pound on the heavy bag when I am upset. This is the hard part!

I have to stop lying to myself, yes I have lost a lot of weight, but that is not enough! I am much stronger than I believe I am. I can eat what I need to everyday, and not put the poison in my body. I need to remind myself that junk food is really just poison! It is not ok to have a chocolate bar here and there. It is not ok to skip a meal here or there. The bacon and the sausage on Sunday morning must go, because this is why I am not doing as well as I could.

I have made a promise that if I say something negative about myself that I owe Kim 30 burpees. This seems to be working, so here is addition to that If I fall off the wagon and eat any poison in the next 60 days I will owe 50 Burpees for each item. Example (1 package of FERRERO ROCHER has 3 chocolates = 150 Burpees)

I am either doing the work or I am not. I cannot keep working this hard to just stay 400lbs, I will be in the 200’s before the end of the summer. Food is not going to stop me!!

So I guess I have learned a bit in the last year and a half at the Alive.

I arrived tonight at Alive to get some sweat in, it was been a hard week so the hamster wheel just was not going to cut it, I needed to work hard and not think about the last week or so. When you are on the hamster wheel there is a lot of time to think, this is not what I needed. Damir had just left and I decided that I would try to put something together that would make me sweat hard. As I changed into my workout gear I made a plan in my head. I would do interval training on my own.

So this is what decided to do for the first 45mins or so:

1. 3:00mins combo on the heavy bag

2. 45 sec wall squat

3. 3:00mins Hamster wheel with an incline of 10 at a 2.7 speed

4. 45 sec Burpees (yes I did burpees without being told to do them)

5. 1:00min rest

I repeated this 6 times

It was awesome my heartbeat was in my head the whole time, after the 4^th set I want to stop and take a break, but I thought would Damir let me stop ... no I don`t think so, I pushed on. As I did I felt the like I was going to vomit and I new I was working hard When the timer said that I had finished I still want to keep going, but I wanted to change it up a bit.

Then I changed it up and this is what I end with:

1. 2:00 combo on the heavy bag

2. 45secs wall squat

3. 45secs Trx Rows

4. 2:00 hamster wheel on 0 incline at 2.8 speed

5. 45Sec Dirty Burpees

6. 1:00 min rest

I repeated this 4 times

It was a great feeling to know that I could actually come up with a Great workout on my own. It was awesome; I know that I could push myself pretty hard. I do believe that although I push myself it is not the same as when Damir is pushing me. He can push me beyond my limits! I can only get close to the limit line but without him there to push me over the edge I just won’t go there.

People have made this comment to me on more than once in the last few months, ``you have been doing this for over a year now do you really still need a trainer`` to this I always say if you have never trained with a trainer you don’t understand they do more than just teach you what to do, they take things to the next level, always raising the bar! I although I could put together a workout where I sweated my ass off, I need Damir there to kick me over the line and make me do stuff I never thought I could do and point me in the right direction!!

It is nice to not be sick anymore, it was a long week !!

"Pain is temporary, Pride is forever"

"Pain is temporary, Pride is forever"

With 2010 coming to an end and my Birthday around the corner I am reflecting on what an amazing year it has been. Looking back at 2010 I am in surprised at what I was able to achieve in only one year. 2010 started with me not sure how I was going to reach my first goal of 100lbs down before June. At first I was very cocky as I came out of the holidays with a weight loss and not a gain. I was cocky because I lost weight while I started to slip with the food. In full addict style I thought I could eat what I wanted as long as I worked hard at the gym. My weight loss stalled and I slipped deeper into my food addiction. This went on until the middle of March this was tough time. Damir I am sure frustrated with my attitude, we started to have a very different kind of workout, we did weeks of cardio on the hamster wheel. It was very hard on my body, because we were pushing so hard, and I was eating crap my body gave out and I started to get a cold, which quickly turned into pneumonia. The doctor made it very clear I was not going to get better unless I stop working and training & rest so my body would heal. So I was stuck at home for 2 weeks to recover. This was a very telling time, with time away from Alive and work gave me time to heal and think about how hard I was really making it on myself.

In order to keep my weight in check while I was not working out I need to eat very carefully. Coming back to Alive in April I had a better control of my addiction and I was eating better six days out of week, that is when Holly and Damir told me I could still make it to 100lbs down by June if I eat as clean as possible and step up the cardio. 37 lbs in 7 weeks, I first thought it was impossible. But I put my doubts aside after my first training session with Damir, right after our meeting. Damir Kicked my ass to the extreme, and then put me on the treadmill and said don’t get off before you have walked on the treadmill for an hour. I did it, I was able to work out for two hours and I did not die. So from there I just committed to myself that nothing was going to stop me.

June came and I was able to do it I lost 100lbs in my first year, it came right down to the wire, but I was able to do it. I have heard this saying at a weight watchers meeting , “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” now I don’t know if that is true or not as Skinny I have not been in a very long time, however I can honestly say nothing feels more awesome then realizing that you have lost a 100 lbs!! I wish I could tell you when I first realized that or when I first felt proud at what I have accomplished. But it was not a one day you feel it kind of thing! Hard to believe maybe, but for me it was when I over heard some talking about their weight, then it hit me,I lost what they weigh, as much weight as another person weighs! That is when I realized that I am in a very exclusive club, over 100 lbs of weight loss!!

Now, I don’t deal well with success, it was not until a very close friend for mine pointed out that it is ok to be successful. That Pride is not an evil thing. I work very hard and I should be proud of that. Pride is not being cocky, pride is very good thing. Fearing success is not a normal way to live. So I have embraced this and I want take this to the next level.

Looking back at 2010 I did what some said could not be done; I hit the 130lbs down mark! I now know that I can take this to the next level. In 2010 I broke the 400lb barrier! Now I am going to challenge myself to do another thing some say can’t be done! I am going to break the 300lb barrier before the end of the summer! Time to put everything I have learned to the test. Time to step it up! I know if I can hold it together with the food I can make this goal! Like many Great people have said in the past "Pain is temporary, Pride is forever"

myworkout Dec 2 2010A.wmv