Theres a certain truism that happens when you begin a workout program at a gym.  I am only in day three of my membership, and my second visit, but already I am feeling the effects.  Not just the decreased level of stress and overall feeling after a workout, but there is one thing that you are faced with as you stare down at the electronic dashboard in front of you – the calories burned counter.

Oh sure, you can switch it off, or make it count something else, but as you watch TV, listen to your iPod, or daydream while walking or biking, you have to occasionally glance down at that calories burned counter.  And there lies the key.

As you wipe the sweat from your forehead with your sleeve, you look down and see the little counter has only advanced 2.4 calories since the last time you looked.  Ok, so I’ll keep going.  A few minutes later, 4.7.   It is that damn calorie counter that all of a sudden provides the key to weight loss – knowing what something “costs” you.

One can of Mt. Dew (regular) = 140 calories.  1.5 miles of walking at a 4 MPH pace.

Bam.

Big Mac … ok, I don’t even want to think about it.  Someplace on the Internets said you would have to walk 10 miles to work off a Big Mac alone, let alone fries and drink.

Suddenly, everything you eat is a number.  And some people think that is bad, but me… it really puts things into perspective.  Where once it was “can I monetarily afford it?” – now it is “How much will I have to walk to burn this off?”

Granted, you have a base metabolism that burns 2000-3000 calories by itself depending on your level of activity during the day.  So if you ONLY have a big Mac, that is probably going to satisfy your “calorie count” for the day… but if you eat 3 meals (and have snacks like everybody suggests) then you really do need to be careful.  Eating out for lunch at KFC is not on anybody’s weight loss plan.

So yes, in only my 2nd trip to the gym, I am beginning to fully appreciate what it takes to burn calories.  That little number on the treadmill is way too slow.  Time to slow down what goes in as well.

[TAGS]the-diet[/TAGS]

Ok, so it’s not only one of the most used Babylon 5 quotes, but also one of my most used blog subjects.  Sue me.

Today I did something that will make people gasp and faint in shock.

Colin, are you listening?

I joined the gym.

There is a gym about 2 blocks away from me called Anytime Fitness, which is basically a 24 hour members-only gym.  It’s small, but since it is 24 hours, its easy for me to find a time to go in and not be intimidated by everybody else running faster or biking faster.   I am an early riser, so I will probably be one of the 5am workout people rather than the after-dinner crowd.

I went tonight for the first time after getting my membership this morning.  I did 2 miles of walking (even increased to jogging at the end) in half an hour.   Then I did 2 miles of biking in 10 minutes on the bicycle thingie.  I didn’t even try and touch the ellipticals.

I know 40 minutes doesn’t seem like much, but its a start.   Oh yeah, per Colin’s advice I won’t restart the diet with week 1 like I thought I would, I’ll keep on the normal schedule.. with an update Tuesday or Wednesday.

[TAGS]the-diet, colin devroe, troy rutter, diet, fitness, anytime fitness[/TAGS]

Ok, Colin – I’m back in.

But, I’m going to press the reset button one more time… and restart at Week One.
So next Monday I will post the results of “Week 1″  – Ive got some serious catching up to do.

[TAGS]the-diet,Colin Devroe,Troy Rutter, diet, fitness[/TAGS]

I could blame it on the holidays, stress, gift certificates from family, the weather, lack of a reasonably priced gym, uncomfortable walking shoes, or any number of reasons.  But the fact remains that in terms of the weight loss goal I started with a bunch of fellow bloggers last year – I’m back to square one.

I could tell in November I was slipping, actually before that.   I took “time off” during August and September due to the renaissance faire, when I “had” to stop at Long John Silvers for dinner almost every night on the way home.   Then with Christmas came gift certificates to fast food places, and times at work when “ooooh, Pancheros sounds good.  I deserve something good.”

So, I start 2007 again at 220.  I look terrible, I feel terrible.  To help me get back on track I added a little graphic on the side of the blog with the current weight on it.  I’m going to try hard NOT to update it once a day, but rather once a week.   When I update it once a day, I fall into the “I can be bad for a day, I lost 2 lbs” trap.

I also need to set more realistic goals that just “175″ as my final weight.  So…  here are my goals, which should be attainable.

February 1, 2007 – 210 lbs
March 1, 2007 – 190 lbs
April 1, 2007 – 180 lbs
May 1, 2007 – 175 lbs

Now the biggest jump is from Feb to March at 20 lbs in 28 days.  The reason I calculated that much, was because it is close to the start of the plan, so loss due to water weight and generally eating better will be greater.   This is counteracted after that with only 10 lbs and then 5 lbs in April.

One of the things I really need to work on is getting up and walking in the morning.  But it’s coooooold in the morning during winter.  Well, colder.  I think if I walk in the morning, rather than night, it will help tremendously.  I have read many sources that say exercising in the morning is the best for you.  Only I can’t help but think that it will make me sleepy at work during the day… which is bad.   Guess we will have to see.

Since this is January 8, that means I have one less week for the initial 10 lbs.  Better get started!

[TAGS]the-diet, colin devroe, troy rutter, weight loss, goals, fat, exercise, bloggers diet, fitness[/TAGS]