Clyde/Athena Tri-N-4- Weight Loss Mentor Group -OPEN AGAIN!! (Page 55)

Today was one of those days when it just didn't pay to chew through the restraints. First, I went to school happy to sub in a science classroom for a change only to discover that all I was doing was showing a video, the same video, SEVEN times. Then I blew off my workout today so I could mow the lawn one last time for the season. But the mower wouldn't stay running, and when I tried to tighten the throttle cable it snapped. By that time it was too late to change my mind and go to the gym. Guess we'll call it a rest day.

It looks like there was a lotta hard work being done by you guys last week! Great job everybody! I had a whole rest week last week, and rest is what I did. I don't think there was a single night I was up past 8:30. That cold knocked me out. It's too bad too, we had some decent weather over the weekend, but I did not feel well enough to get the bike outside.

Today was my first day back. After a rough night with a 18 month old who now has my cold, I decided to skip weights at the gym and try to catch up on some sleep. Still not feeling 100%, but I did go out for a run at lunch. Week 2 Day 1 of the 5K to10K. plan 2.5 miles at 9:15 min/mi. Still learning how to push myself hard, but that felt pretty hard. I did the same run two weeks ago at 9:05 min/mi. Hoping that in the next couple weeks I will be sub 9 min/mi for that same run. Tomorrow will be a trainer ride in the morning, and possibly swimming in the afternoon, depending on the lane schedule. Going to try and take advantage of the pool while I can.

I decided to cancel my gym membership. I got so frustrated with them that I just decided enough is enough. So I am paid up through the end of the month and then I am gym-less. The only thing I would be using them for anyways is weights and for the pool, but they make pool schedule so that the times that are most popular (mornings, lunch, and after 4pm) you have to pay to join one of their classes (on top of the $80+/month I already pay) to actually guarantee a lane. Otherwise, you get to take your chances on getting into one of the two "open" lanes with the over 10,000 other members. You can still join the classes if you are not a gym member, but you just pay a little more, like $5. The triathlon club does a morning pay class starting in January that I am going to try to get into.

I had a very high carb weekend (it was my birthday) I did not even weigh in Monday because I did not want to see it so bad. I weight lifted for the first time in a long time hoping to burn off more carbs. All I can say is I never had so much pain before. Ouchie.

Somehow missed posting here last night.

12AP for tonight, 66AP for the week, with a goal of 50AP
Swam laps, lost count on my distance set, again. This was supposed to be 1050 yards.
4x50, 2x100, 1x300, 2x100, 4x50 = 1100 yds in 26m 47s
A little slower than usual, but considering I blew away my 50AP goal for the week, I can live with that.
Now the big question is, do I keep my weekly goal at 50AP or increase it to 60+AP? Bear in mind that the 10k on Sunday was a fluke and will not be a weekly occurrence.

Tonight, Wednesday, is my designated rest day. I will post my weigh-in later though.

UP 2 lbs! 374.6

The politically correct way to say this is that I am "angry" and confused. But I'm a Marine. I am thinking in MUCH stronger words right now, so I won't type them.

But can somebody please explain to me how I can swim over 3000 yds this week, walk a 5k and a 10k, and STILL gain 2 lbs!? My wife is trying to console me with "You are building new muscle." Sure wish I could believe that. Attaining that goal of 350 by New Years is looking pretty dismal right now.

First of all, great job on kicking your AP goal's butt! Sounds like you had a productive week. And second of all, your wife may be right. Don't get discouraged by one bad weigh in. If it keeps going up the next few weeks, then maybe it's time to evaluate your plan, but my guess is you'll be trending down again next week if you have another week like that. As far as moving your goal from 50 to 60 AP. I say do it if it's realistic, even if it is challenging.

Still not 100% here, but close enough. Didn't get my bike in yesterday, but did get my swim in, and a run today. The swim needs some work. Going to sign up for a triathlon swim class at my future former gym, but it doesn't start until January. The current class is full. Until then, I'm going to use the next month to get back into the pool at lunch time, and then next month join the gym's pay-to-play lunch swim class.

The run continues to improve. Today the 5k-10k plan stepped it up. It included two sets of 2 minute run as hard as you can. That about did me in. I looked at my watch and it said i was running a 7:30 min/mi pace. That didn't last long.

Day 4 of 20/30
10AP for the day, 10AP for the week, with a goal of 50AP
SWIM ~ 4x50, 2x100, 1x200, 2x100, 4x50 = 1000 yds in 23m 20s

Run 35m 2.10 miles 16m 40s /Mi
Day 5 (part 1) of 20/30 in November
6AP for the walk, 16AP for the week, goal is 50AP
Treadmill set for 3.5 mph racked up 2.1 miles in 35 minutes.

Bike 11m 53s 2.90 miles 14.64 Mi/hr
Day 5 (part 2) of 20/30 in November.
5AP for the walk, 21AP for the week, goal is 50AP
Cindy wanted to learn how to use the new Expresso cycles at the YMCA, so I set her up and then jumped on the next one over. The funny thing is we both, unknowingly I swear, chose the same route. These bikes are rigged up to record routes and times online. But even cooler is that if two people are on the same course, at the same time, it tracks both riders. I was riding away from the fictional peloton when I noticed a numbered rider way up the course in front of me. And being the competitive person I am I set out to catch him. I was peeking at Cindy's screen every now and then and it appeared she had the same riders on her screen that I had. About the time I caught up to that mystery rider I realized it was her. I tapped her and told her about it, she was not happy about getting passed, but you can bet there was no way I was going to let her catch me once I figured that out. LOL

Sunday Update:

Weight: you don't wanna know...

Swim: 1100yds on Friday. 500yds @ 2:48/100 (kinda slow), 4x50 kick drills, 8x25 offside breathing, 4x50 bilateral breathing. I know I'm neglecting the swim a bit, but I feel the bike and especially the run need more work. I should be able to move to bilateral breathing full time in the next week or two as breathing to the left is getting easier, but still have to concentrate on it.

Bike: 2 trainer interval sessions @ 8mi each. Both times I was cut short, but given how wet the towel under me was, I did some good work.

Run: Keeping with the c25k again, pushing the intervals harder than I did last time.

Brick: Ended the week with a 13.5mi ride/5K run yesterday. My bike was really sub-par with a 14.6mph avg... not sure why though. Yes, it was cold, and yes I did have a headwind for a good portion, but nothing I haven't dealt with before. The run was faster than Memphis in May and MUCH faster than Riverbluff... I did my c25k routine (5:00wu, 1:30r/2:00w x4) then I skipped my final cooldown and picked landmarks to run between for the remainder of the distance.

I will be so happy to get the last of the halloween crap out of the house.

Day 6 of 20/30 November.
7AP for the day, 28AP for the week, with a goal of 50AP.
Unlikely to make that this week. Was fighting sore throat and head cold all weekend.
Took it easy today, walked with the dogs.

Which plan did you pick?

I am using the 20 week half iron plan.

Swim 29m 53s 1200.00 yards 02m 29s /100 yards
Day 7 (part 1) of 20/30 in November.
12AP for the day, 40AP for the week, with a goal of 50AP.
4x50, 2x100, 1x400, 2x100, 4x50 = 1200 yds
My first non-stop 400. Felt GREAT!! Yeah the extra 200 really slowed my avg time, but that'll change in time.

Bike 16m 53s 4.50 miles 15.99 Mi/hr
Day 7 (part 2) of 20/30 in November.
7AP for the day, 47AP for the week, did not reach m y 50AP goal.
Expresso bike for second half of brick.
Really felt great about that too. Got out of the hot tub afterward and found myself a little light-headed. Guess I should have taken a cool shower first.

UGHHH! Winter finally came. I was hoping that maybe mother nature would just forget to send it our way in the Inland Northwest. Today was the first time it was too cold to run in shorts and a t-shirt, which means that it didn't get above freezing today. Almost four miles at a 9:55/mi pace. I thought my lungs were going to explode.

Trying to get a little motivation back. I was doing so well a few weeks ago, but i still haven't gotten back into the groove since i came down with that cold.

Nice pace man. I don't know what you're complaining about. I struggle to get an average pace of 15 min per mile.

Well, y'all were right. I did drop weight this week. (Oh all right, yes, my wife was right too. But don't tell her I admitted it.)

WW's weigh-in night. The training might actually be starting to pay off. I was down 4 pounds this week, 370.6.

I'm hoping that if I can hit my 50AP exercise goal I will finally break through that 370 barrier again.

Good job on the weight loss! Way to stick with it too. It's deflating when the number on the scale just doesn't make sense, but it feels great when the number does.

Today i swam at lunch. Took it slower and tried to work on technique. 45 minutes with few and short breaks. Bike tomorrow morning, and weights at lunch if I'm back in town in time. Going to go for a group run Saturday morning. Not sure how long or how far, but hoping it will help me push myself harder like the group bike rides did over the summer.

Good work and a good plan. I can't do anything "group" yet because I am just too darned slow for anybody to bather with. Hopefull, as the weight comes off this winter/spring that will change.

Swim 31m 51s 1250.00 yards 02m 33s /100 yards
Day 8 of 20/30 in November.
14AP tonight, 14AP for the week, goal of 50AP for the week.
4x50, 2x100, 1x450, 2x100, 4x50 = 1250 yds
Ooops, lost count on my distance set again. Was only supposed to be a 400.