One Fine Saturday...

Day 52

Cardio
65 Min Elliptical
5 Miles
20 second break
35 Min Bike
10 Miles

Grip Training - Captains of Crush - Trainer
Right
8,6,4,2
Left
8,6,4,2

I was having a hard time staying motivated at the gym today. About 5 minutes in I almost got off but I pressed on and had a great workout. I'm still not on my schedule that I originally setup but I will get back to it starting this week. Cardio five days a week fasted, strength three days a week, and grip training four days a week.

Tonight is Daddy and Gracie night. I'm making my pizza and Gracie and I are going to watch a movie of her choice. Should be lots of fun. Maybe even some popcorn will be consumed by me! Gracie is going to have some ice cream with cherries and whip cream...I need to pass on that but the popcorn is sounding good.

Rosie our lab puppy is doing well, I need to post some recent pics. We took her down to one of our local pet stores to pick up some treats and they have a scale you can use to weigh your pets. Yeah, 6 months old and 50.5 pounds is what the scale said! We love her and she fits us perfectly. She did great at my sisters all last weekend and even better in the car.

Well, off to make some pizza and watch a movie with daddy's girl, Gracie!

"If I could wish for my life to be perfect, it would be tempting, but I would have to decline, for life would no longer teach me anything." Allyson Jones

Celebrate Life...

This morning Dr. Randy Pausch, 47, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer.

My thoughts and prayers go to his family and friends tonight. If you've never watched his "Last Lecture", please click on the link above and watch. Here is a man that received news that he had less then a year to live and what an impact he had during his short time left.

Don't just shuffle through this life, live every moment!

Yes I Can...

Day 50

Cardio
65 Min Elliptical
5.4 Miles

Grip Training
Right
8,6,4,2
Left
8,6,4,2

Had a great long weekend at my sister's in VA. It was good to get away from Greenville for a few days and enjoy time with family.

I've gotten my resume out to several place over the last week and I have a few opportunities to check in to. I will say this, when you have a challenge in life you really get to see who your true friends are! I've gotten alot of support from some of my old coworkers or should I say, friends. Some I didn't expect to get calls from but did and that was awesome. I appreciate all the support. Life throws those curve balls are way sometimes and support from family and friends are a great way to get through them.

Since I got laid off I've been off my workout schedule but I plan to get back to my orginal plan tomorrow with early morning fasted cardio and lifting at lunch time. Not working has been difficult over the last few weeks, it has been a long time since I've been without a job. I'm hoping that will change, no, I'm praying that will change over the next few weeks.

I have some pretty lofty fitness goals and I've had a few people tell me, basically, you can't do that! Well, can't is not in my dictionary and I WILL achieve those goals. Running in the Richmond marathon is looking like November of 2009 and that will be the focus over the next year as well as overall health and wellness. I remember several people saying to me you can't lose weight and train for a half marathon at the same time....WHAT, well, I proved that wrong by losing 65 pounds and finishing the half marathon and then I followed that up with an international level duathlon, don't ever tell me I can't and don't let anyone tell you, YOU CAN'T!

Some people have said why not run another marathon. No, Richmond is were I grew up and will be the place I complete 26.2 miles. Running a marathon or completing an Ironman has been a goal of mine for a very long time. It may take a few years but I will complete those goals.

All successful people men and women are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day toward their distant vision, that goal or purpose. Brian Tracy

Fun Weekend...

Day 44

Training Day Off

We are heading to my sister's in VA in a couple of hours for a fun weekend. She turned 40 a couple of weeks ago so we are going to celebrate! Should be a fun time with my whole family.

Day 43 (Thursday)

Cardio
38 Minute Stationary Bike
10 Miles

Strength
Hammer Curls 4x10
DB Front Raise 4x10
DB Incline Press 3x8
LatPulldown 3x10
Shoulder Press 3x8
Bench Press 3x8

It's only about a 3.5 to 4 hour drive but we are taking Rosie with us so there may be a few more stops then normal. Should be an interesting trip but I'm hoping Rosie will spend a good portion sleeping and chewing on the new bone toy we got her!:) She does pretty well in the car and has been in the car at least once a week since she was 6 weeks old. She gets very excited when we put her harness on her cause she knows its car ride time.

Have a great Friday!

"Sometimes in life there are challenges but we must stay positive and never ever give up!" Jason Chantelau

Better Day...

Day 42

Cardio
65 Minute Elliptical
5.1 Miles

Grip Training - CoC Trainer
3x10 Right
3x10 Left
BREAK
3X8 Right
3x8 Left

Ashli and Gracie went down to the gym with me today and Gracie played with her cousin Morgan in the kids area. Ashli did 1.5 miles on the treadmill and 2 miles on the recumbent bike. I then should Pam and Ashli most of the strength equipment and how to do each movement. They did really well and I hope they continue with the strength training.

This Friday we are headed to my sister's house in VA for a long weekend. She turned 40 at the beginning of this month and my entire family is meeting at her house to celebrate the big event. I remember when my Dad turned 40 because he was a minister of music at a church in Richmond, VA and the choir members and some of the church staff and friends put a huge sign in our front yard that said...Honk Dave turned 40 today! We lived on a semi busy street and all morning long the horns blew! Very funny. I promise Connie we won't do anything like that!:)

Have a great Thursday morning!

"The only real valuable thing is intuition." Albert Einstein

Frustration...

Day 41

Workouts
Training Day Off

Today was going to be about cardio and strength but was more like frustration over car issues. My wife's car needs a lot of work after taking it in today to get the oil changed. With the stress of not having a job and the added expense eventually coming our way I'm officially frustrated tonight.

I'm trying to stay positive but it hasn't been easy today. It looks like I'm a go to do some Oracle training for my old company next week and one session in August so that makes things a little better but still a long way to go before I can feel more comfortable, if ever. I did apply for about 7 different jobs in the last two days and I will be hitting it even harder over the next week. Maybe, hopefully, something will come from that. Just need to keep hitting it hard and stay focused.

Something my old company needs to think about...

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein

Pizza, Cookies, & Late night Clean Up...

Day 38

Training Day Off

Had a good Saturday. Ashli had a baby shower to attend so it was Gracie and I last night. We decided to make some pizza and I found a really good whole wheat crust to make it a bit healthier. We prentended to be in Italy at a pizza shop and we had fun. Then after the pizza we put in a movie, Barbie Mariposa, and I enjoyed every minute!:) We even made some cookies and she was a great helper.

Gracie wanted to sleep with us last night and at 3am she started to projectile vomit and unfortuantly she was facing me! Of course nothing wakes you faster out of a dead sleep then that sound...you parents know the one! I was running around the room still half asleep trying to find the trash can while Ashli was trying to catch with a towel, neither one of us were successful at this. Once Gracie had completed doing the technicolor yawn Ashli pulled the sheets off the bed and they took a shower. I did my best to clean but I also needed to jump in the shower as my entire left arm was, well, nevermind, you get the picture. We were all back in bed and asleep by 4am. What a night! Ahh...the memories, err....nightmares!

Day 39

Cardio
65 Minute Elliptical
5.2 Miles

Gracie was still feeling a little icky this morning but by the time I got back from the gym she was bounding around like her normal self and actually has held down some food. The cardio went very well and I'm feeling more and more conditioned as the days go by. This week will bring three lifting sessions including three grip workouts and five days of cardio.

I will leave you with this...

"Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character." Albert Einstein