I started in earnest on the 2nd. Started logging all of my food using sparkpeople.com and also logging my exercise. I used Beach Body's 10 minute trainer program as my exercise program. I was definitely a scoffer, but I can highly recommend the program to anyone who is either out of shape or simply wants to ease themselves into exercising. You can work as hard as you want. I recommend a heart monitor to give you feedback on how hard you are working.
The umpiring helped. When I work a 10U or 12U girls fast pitch community game, with all of the wild pitches, walks, foul balls, etc, I likely see between 300 and 400 pitches per game. Each and every pitch is a squat. Do the math, but my legs are as solid as rebar right now. Add to that all of the exercise from the 10 minute trainer program and I really started feeling great and my clothes were fitting very loosely.
Anyway, I watched the pounds and inches drop off for a solid 6 months. Down over 70 pounds at the beginning of July, I started to run. I had mentioned to my wife that I wanted to run again, as I had been a runner in a younger life (cross country team in high school). While away at freshman orientation with my daughter at university, I jumped on the treadmill in the hotel. As I went, I realized that my heart monitor had synced up with the treadmill's computer so it became a game. The treadmill would adjust, I'd adjust, etc. When we returned home, I hit the road and started running at least 2 miles per day.
This past weekend, I ran the first 5K since my cross country team days (a solid 25 years). I came in 133rd overall out of 370 runners. 13th in my age group (40 to 49 year old males). Time was 27:28. It was for a great cause, too, as all proceeds supported the Small Steps In Speech foundation, which provides support and funding for kids with speech problems. Since my own daughter has been in speech and occupational therapy since before she started Kindergarten, I was thrilled to join the cause.
So here I am - down 90 pounds, lighter than I was when I married the super awesome Mrs. Q 19 years ago (my wedding ring literally fell from my hand and rolled through the parking lot the other night - it has since found it's way to a chain). I've gotten nothing but support from my family. Hopefully, they'll follow in my footsteps soon, as well.
And some gratuitous photo opportunities:
A sort of "before/after" shot. Before was Christmas Eve 2012. The after was this June where I volunteered as an umpire for the Special Olympics
A shot after my first run on that treadmill
After a run one night where my daughter asked if it was raining. My reply was, "Nope, that's all me, honey."
And some shots from the 5K
My daughter Jenna and I. The kids made the tshirts. I was running for Jenna and, of course, her shirt indicated that she was Jenna. Hers looses some context when I'm not with her and wearing my shirt
Stretch out before my run
In the home stretch
In the chute
And having a drink
Finally, my kids, their friend (practically my kid) and me after the race by the sponsor sign
