10×10 in 2010

Posts Tagged ‘Motivation’

I’m looking at you, Stadler & Waldorf. Been thinking about what you said about exercise being boring. I can’t argue about that – some days it’s a slog to get up and exercise (today’s one of them for me). BUT.

There’s just no way to compare it to everyfreakingthingelse that’s gotten an uplift from all this. Clothes fitting better, walking without knee (or back) pain, wife is glad I have a neck again (and more energy), kids are really happy to have a dad who plays with them.

Looking forward to a future where I get to LIVE LIFE, and not watch it on T.V. (or Hulu, or YouTube) – hell, that’s the best of all. I really want to hike the Grand Canyon. And soon, I’ll be healthy enough.

So get your bad muppet self out there, man. It’s worth it.

-G

On a recent Saturday morning my amazing wife went out and just ran a 10k – because she could.  Motivational is not precisely what I would call it, though she has been absolutely excited the past few days (as she should!)

After considering her victory, I’ve decided to (literally) follow in her footsteps and start the “Couch to 5k” workout series that led her down this path to becoming an honest-to-goodness runner.

This new side project supports the overall goals of the 10×10 in 2010 project by providing a healthy mechanism to increase health, burn calories, and lose weight.  It has the added benefit of preparing me for a bright future of active living with the woman I love – that’s a tremendous bonus.

Here’s the link to the website with the interval mixes: http://www.djsteveboy.com/podrunner.html

If you’re interested in downloading them at iTunes (they’re free), here’s the link to the podcasts (will launch iTunes): http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?i=55501053&id=124686671

The Plan

3 days per week, 9 weeks – 27 running sessions.

Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Day 1 – March 22nd, 2010 – COMPLETE (and it didn’t kill me, or even hurt all that bad.)

This post is somewhat late, since “The Run” actually occurred on Monday or Tuesday this past week.  As many of you know, my wife started running about 5 months ago, and she’s been churning up the miles.

As part of this grand 10×10 in 2010 project, two exercises per morning simply won’t be sufficient to maintain a 2lb-per-week pace.  Years ago (18 of them, gah) I used to run a fair amount (6 miles 2-3 times a week), but then … I stopped.

So, I decided to give it a shot, got dressed, stretched out, headed out the door, and… Read the rest of this entry »

Climb! (photo courtesy of Flickr)

After a dismal week of progress (no pounds lost), I got to thinking about motivation.  Clearly it’s possible to lose weight, to alter one’s lifestyle, and to move toward a better life. Why is it that we fail and fall in our journeys?

A spiritual answer might be the concept of concupiscence – that we humans “walk with a limp” as a result of original sin (Adam & Eve).  I’ll set that answer aside for now, as it requires more intellectual horsepower than I can muster at 4am.

I think the truth might be closer to “lack of vision”.  Starting a new project is exciting! Visually it’s like setting out on a journey.  At first, the road is clear and wide, there are lots of excited people happy to see you on your journey, and you can ride that natural excitement out of town and onto the plains.

Read the rest of this entry »

In the movie “The Bucket List”, actors Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson portray two men on a quest to accomplish things that they’d always wanted to do, before they died.  I’ve been thinking about this for a few weeks now as the 10×10 in 2010 project gets under way; why wait until you’re on death’s doorstep to start planning out those amazing experiences?  Instead, think of the things you used to enjoy, and those amazing experiences you can look forward to once your own journey is behind you.

Source: Flickr

The world is a huge place, and being unhealthy really starts to limit how much of it you can get out to experience.  (I mean, there’s no way I’m hiking up a huge mountain pushing 330.)  As a way to keep motivated, put together a list of those things that, when you’re healthy, you get to do (or do again!)

If a (before I kick the) Bucket List is for those on the outbound train, what would you name a list for people getting their lives back?  Post a comment below with your ideas!

Gerret’s Starter List of Fun Things to Do Post-Weight-Loss

This is my list – you should go start your own, then post it somewhere visible (like the front of the refrigerator…)

1. Go downhill skiing
   There are few things to compare with flying down a mountain with the wind screaming by.
2. Take off Shirt at Beach
   (at least, without the threat of Greenpeace trying to slide me back into the water to save me…)
3. Shopping for clothes
   (whole new wardrobe, in normal sizes)
4. Run a 5k. And a 10k. And a Half-Marathon.  On the same day.
   (Yes, I’ve read Born to Run, and I can. not. wait. to lose more weight and start RUNNING again.)
5. Paddle a Kayak without rolling it
   (Heather, Dan, Kathy, I’m looking at you…)
6. Play Racquetball
   Really miss racquetball!