Save Time By Exercising?

After quickly dropping 7 pounds in about 12 days based with the removal of alcohol from my diet, to break through a plateu that had held me for eight weeks, my weight loss has slowed to a reasonable rate. The good news is that my waist is continuing to shrink!

I just started a book called “Stop Killing Yourself With a Knife and Fork” written by Presidential candidate and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee who lost over 100 pounds. It is interesting, and his message is mostly on point so far (I am only 3 or 4 chapters into the book) - although he seems to favor total abstinence from “fattening foods” rather than limiting them and portion control. In my opinion there are certain things that you need to compromise on to achieve balance and a realistic lifestyle that you can maintain. For me the compromise is pizza - no more than two slices a week. What Huckabee does accurately point out is that no one has “free” time for exercise, you need to make the time for your health and well being. He is 100% right on that point!

The tipping point comes when you realize that the time you spend exercising will actually help you to use your time more efficiently because you will have more energy and feel better! This certainly has proven true for me - the stuff that gets cut from your schedule to make room for exercising becomes the extra time you used to required to get going in the morning because you felt bad or the extra 1/2 hour you spent watching Jeopardy in the evening to unwind. It happens without you even realizing it. In my life the time devoted to exercise seems to create more productive time than I had without exercise. Weird huh?

Monday night I rushed home from work - changed into my running gear and headed out the door determined to squeeze in a three mile run before my 7pm meeting.

The cool crisp weather we have had for the past week or so has been great running weather. I have found that I am very comfortable in the mid 40’s to 50’s running in shorts and a long sleeve under armor heat gear shirt.

I now have 100 plus miles on my Mizuno Wave Rider 9 and I still love them. While they are not as cushy as my usual Adidas shoes I am appreciating the extra room in the toe box afforded by the wide width available in the Mizuno shoe. My shoe options are limited because I require a size 15 in running shoes - thank god for the Internet and zappos.com.

Tuesday evening I headed for the gym - and was greeted by the usual group of regulars and a lot of new faces. I guess now that summer is over everyone is back inside - either beginning a new workout routine or forced inside by the less desirable weather.

Since my lifting routine uses free weights exclusively the increase in people at the gym has little or no effect on me. Everyone seems to want to use the Nautilus machines and the elliptical machines.

I was lucky enough to have a fellow lifter observe my squat form and make a few suggestions make the move more efficient. Because of my height (6′4″) deep back squats can challenge. My friend pointed out that I need to concentrate on keeping my chest pushed up and out and my weight back on my heels. Seems like a small adjustment - but little changes in form can make a huge difference. Those little changes allowed me to drop “into the hole” farther, and the lower you can go when squatting the better the workout for your quads.

Today will likely be a rest day due to Halloween. Back to the gym on Thursday. Friday I am off from work so I may try and squeeze in my long run depending on how my legs feel after the gym on Thursday.

Keep running and keep your chin up!

Tag: weight loss challenge