Good Morning Sunshine

My good friend Natasha woke up this morning with a roommate.

I guess rattlesnakes aren't the only thing you need to worry about in the desert.  This scorpion somehow made its way into her room for an early morning wake up call!

Meet Marcy and Gwen

When you go on the hikes here at fat camp, you get into a van and it can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes to get to your hike for the day.  Needless to say, there is some pretty interesting conversations.  Today's was my all time favorite!

I met Marcy and Gwen from the Chicago suburbs.  Two ladies who just turned 50 and decided to celebrate with a relaxing holiday at a resort.  They would sit by the pool all day, get a spa treatment or two and then go out for dinner at night.  A perfect, relaxing week.

So Marcy told her assistant to look up resorts and book them in.  She booked them into a resort called BLR and told her it was all taken care of.  The night before they were leaving, Marcy opens up the website of Biggest Loser Resort (BLR) and looks at the program.  Much to her surprise, they were not going to a relaxing spa!

I was laughing so hard when they were telling me this story (we had all just hiked 5 miles up 1000 feet!)  I said, "I need to take your picture because I have to blog this."

It did get me thinking...maybe all of my friends need to come here for a week for my birthday for a nice, relaxing spa experience!

My first one

After four times coming to fat camp, I finally have gotten a big blister.  With all of the hiking, you can imagine that they are quite common here and need to be treated because you need your feet for all the activities.  They use magic stuff on it and then they use electric tape over the top.  Really good stuff.

It is all Glenn and Jeff's fault

So, I am back at the Ridge for a week sandwiched between two weekends in Vegas.  (life is tough!) :)

The sales team from my company was out in Vegas for a bucks weekend, so I flew out and had dinner with Glenn and Jeff.  BAD IDEA the night before going to fat camp.  While I was pretty good at dinner ordering a simple snapper and veg, I drank.  Alcohol.

Considering I have probably had about 10-15 drinks in the past year, my 3 or 4 on Sunday evening was enough to leave me with a hang over.  And more importantly, I simply could not get up the hill for my hike this morning.

When I was here last month, I did the hike at a PB of 1:15.
Today, I did a Personal WORST of 1:45!
I know it was the alcohol.
The whole time I was walking up that hill, I was cursing Glenn and Jeff - it is a good think Glenn didn't come with me (I was trying to talk him into attending) as I would have kicked his bum!  Hard!

Back to it!

CONTEST with no prize

I was organising some pictures today and found one from last summer - right before I left for fat camp.  I remarked to Paula that this would be a good "before" picture for me.  And then I got to thinking, surely my friends would have some great before pics of me.  Or what I am really asking is for pics where I look really big. (so is that a good pic or bad pic???)

What will the winner of the contest get?
A new picture of me!

Some people run a 4 minute mile

I run 4 miles in one hour.
This morning was a PB (personal best) for a run.  I ran four miles (or 6.4 km).
Paula coaxed me into this morning's running competition with her and Scab.   Scab was running 6 miles and Paula was running 4 miles and they were going to see who could make it back to the house quickest.  Paula told me to start on the 4 miles and then I could walk when I needed to.  But, when I told her I was going to walk (at about 2.5 miles) she said NO WAY!

So, I just did it.
Once again, it is all mental.  I NEVER would have thought I could do this.  Also this was the first time running with someone.  Paula had to run a bit slower to stay back with me but it was good - especially when my ipod died and she played her songs on speaker.

Dare I start to think about a 10k?
With the way my body feels this arvo?  I can not imagine it.

Thanks Pau!

Super Supportive Sorority Sister

Normally my BFF Yolanda and I meet up for brekkie or something fun.  But, today we decided to meet up at her gym and workout.  (ok - I know I am suppose to say that is fun, so...it was fun.)

Yo is not a gym rat but she sucked it up and let me lead her in a treading workout.
She is gorgeous and said, "I want to be here to support you." And she did.

But, she also said:
"I think I am having a heart attack."  (after 5 minutes)
"This can't be good for me."
"Shhhhhhhhhh...."
and then finally
"Shut up!"  :)

We really did have good fun - didn't we Yo!?!?!?!

Great to feel great

I never ever want my pic taken because no one wants to seem themselves when they are huge.  There are no good pictures.  But with 50 pounds off my bum, I look better in pics and this is the first family pic I have liked in three decades.

I'm going back to Cali...I mean Utah

Due to late August scheduling, I find myself on the west coast with not much to do.  So, I might as well go back to fat camp for a quickie week this weekend.

And it will be my one year anniversary!

A surprise visit and will get some of this vacation pounds off my bum.

My McStake

I don't know what I was thinking - I just wasn't thinking.  I was on auto pilot....and it happened.
I ATE MCDONALDS!

1 - It was a complete accident - I still can't believe it.
2 - I didn't have a cheeseburger or fries which is my real problem
3 - Paula says it doesn't count.

But it does.

The whole family was in a minivan for a wedding yesterday.  I asked Scab to go through Starbucks so I could get an ice tea.  At which point Paula noticed that McDs was across the street and she wanted a treat.  So, we drive thru and I get my icetea and Paula orders ice cream cones for everyone.
There is a million things going on in the mini van.
I am hungry.
I LOVE ice cream.
So...I ate the ice cream.
I can't even begin to explain how it NEVER crossed my mind - YOU ARE EATING POISON!  YOU ARE EATING POISON!

It wasn't until AFTER I finished that someone said something about eating McDonalds and I just about sqreeched!  OMG I JUST ATE MCDs!

So, I start my new countdown today.  Day 1.
I will be able to get past thirteen months no problem.

Last one - I promise!!!

Scab and I before the race

Elvis - post number four

A bit of fun from the race in pictures...

Elvis - Post number three

Good things -

TD ran the whole race!
Ran with my sunglasses on the whole race (although they got really steamy from the sweat)
Wanted to run under 50 minutes and almost ran 45.
FINALLY accomplished a race that I have wanted to run for a very long time.
Hit my 4th 5km this year.  (Goal is to run 5, 5kms)

Not good things -

Pulled up really poorly.
I am still not walking right - my ankles are a mess.

My muscles ached so bad I could not move off of the couch.  Slept in my gross sweaty race shirt and pants.  Didn't even take off my heart monitor!

Elvis - post number two

or it could be titled, "Best Brother in Law".

I have wanted to run this race for 15 years but this was the first year I was able to physically do it.  (Although looking at some of the Elvi....I think I could have entered a few years ago.)

Unfortunately, my fat camp friends had to back out of the race and that left me running the race by myself.  Until my wonderful brother-in-law said he would do it with me.

This is not a Scab race.  He runs half marathons, not 5ks. Contrary to what those in Hawaii saw, he is not a dress up kind of guy.  So, he said he would run with me as long as he didn't have to wear an Elvis costume.

He didn't say anything to me when I ordered our gold Elvis sunglasses.
He told me "large" when I said I was ordering black and white striped-jailhouse-rock-esque type tshirts.

And on the night of the race he wore it all!
Good fun and easy to find each other!

Here we are celebrating after a tough race.  He finished in 24 minutes and I did my race in 46 minutes. :)
Thanks Scab!

Elvis - post number one

I finally achieved my goal of running the Elvis is Alive 5k.  I ran the whole thing with my cotton shirt and elvis sunglasses on.  YEA!

I completed in 46 minutes which is about my standard.

And, if you watch the video...Scab and I run by in seconds 11-13.  We are black and white blurs in the background!

Very good fun.
Very good race.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8777244

Scalegate part IV

Even with my new scale, the numbers are not consistent.  What do I need to do to get a consistent reading?  This is getting crazy.

Should I go to monthly weigh in?
Should I go to measurements only?
Should I only weigh at the doctor?

I got a kiss :)

Today at a seminar, they passed around some candy and they were Hershey kisses.  Don't you love them? What is not to love?  (Do we have them in Australia?  I don't think we do.)

So, I looked it up on MFP.  A kiss is 22 calories.
That is calories well spent.
Everyone needs a kiss.

Following Jerry Seinfeld's advice

I read a great article today about Jerry Seinfeld and goal setting.  The full article is here - http://lifehacker.com/281626/jerry-seinfelds-productivity-secret  The point of the article is that if there is something you want to do habitually, mark an X on a calendar for a visual reminder.  As humans, we simply don't want to break the chain.  So, we keep making those Xs.

I have found this to be true.
1 - I loved adding another day onto my McDonalds goal.
2 - Using My Fitness Pal.  You know when MFP tells you that you have tracked 30 days in a row, it is very exciting.

So, today I started a calendar to exercise EVERY day.  Even if it is only for 5 minutes, I will do something everyday that is exercise, not just natural activity.  If I am sick or on vacation, I can mark a S or V on the calendar.  But, I am only allowing 3 weeks for S or V.

Happy Birthday Me!

I have more energy now than I did when I was 24.
I have run more 5ks than I did when I was 23 and running.
I have not been this size since I was 26.
4+4=8.  8 is my lucky number.  This is going to be a very good year.

I am still learning this crazy thing called the world wide web

Paula says I need to post link like this -
WATCH IT and go for a run.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsXRj89cWa0

I have made TD running an international craze!

I don't even know where to start.  Firstly, I am sorry for anyone not living in the USA and not being able to see the FANTASTIC Olympic advertising that occurs this time of year.

Far and away the BEST ads have been from Nike which have a theme of "find your greatness."    The idea being that we all challenge ourselves everyday and struggle and sweat and we are athletes.  Then the show everyday athletes in towns all over the world called London.  It is clever, inspiring and just an AWESOME campaign.

Up until tonight, my favorite has been this one - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNNVb5JT-RA
Come on, you gotta love the kid at the top of the diving board.

But tonight, Nike launched a new one.
OMG!
Firstly, the ad is sooooooooo AWESOME but also, it is obvious that Nike saw me running and has made my TD running an international phenom.
The text that Nike ads states "This is Nathan. He is 12 years old. He's from London, Ohio. Greatness is not beyond his reach, nor is it for any of us."


Greatness is within reach.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsXRj89cWa0
I dare you not to love this.
Love this.