2 Years 4 Kids 50 Pounds ago Parents In Shape for Life

Today starts week 3 of the YWCA meltdown 2013. I have many things going on that could help me pack on weight but I am going to do all I can to stay healthy.  I recently started a new job as a personal banker and I found out that we are having our fourth child.  Little did I know when I started this blog with 2 kids that the number would double in 2 years. We broke our traditional mold of waiting 5 years between children. Not that we were ever expecting to have a fourth. Really the only one of our kids that we planned to have was our second.  We will see how the weight changes with number four. I will have to watch what I eat because I know there will be a couple of months where long periods of exercise won't be an option.

I want to thank all of you for following along with me. This blogging journey started when I was over 320 pounds and I knew I needed to do something to last as long as I could for my kids. Over the years it has changed into me talking and sharing tips on how to keep weight off, eat healthy and generally stay in shape as a parent.

I hope the next two years will be as successful as the last two.  When I look at all the changes I made to my life and diet I think sugar has been one of the most important.

I started by quitting pre-workout supplements, moved on to eliminate high fructose corn syrup from our diet and finally  to keep sugar out of my diet and out of my home. I find that I not only crave things less but that I have much more energy that is more even through the day. I don't watch my carbs or take in as much protein as I once did. But I find that I can more easy keep my weight even and drop unwanted pounds when I really put my mind to it. I think quitting sugar is going to be the main war that the world is going to have to fight against in the battle of health. 



I am still doing Gladiator every week, playing dodgeball on Fridays and swimming when I can. I have been adding in more weight exercise and adding some pounds on my bench. I think when summer hits I am going to try adding P90X to my bike workouts and I am going to train harder for the 5 mile trail run in Grand Marais so I can do it faster. What are your goals for this year as far as exercise and weight loss? I like to set specific goals so I know what I have to look forward to. Please ask if there are any questions I can help with. 

Thanks for being party of the journey, keep up the good work!

-Gabe

2 Hour Spin Super Bowl and influenza b Minnesota Style

It is Super Bowl Sunday and I am in the middle of 35 sweaty people. We are spinning for 2 hours in training for the 11th Minnesota Red Ribbon Ride. In 6 short months the 300 mile ride will be here and so will the heat. I don't think there is much better off season training for Multi day rides than group team training spins. Today I will spin about 40 miles and burn 1500 calories.

I did weigh in for the 2013 meltdown this week. I have about 70 pounds of fat and a 24% body fat ratio with 125 pounds of skeletal muscle mass. This equates to me burning 2500 calories simply being alive on the days I don't work out.

I am really looking forward to the meltdown this year and my goal losing 10 pounds. Tomorrow I start tracking my exact food intake for the next 8 weeks. My diet this weekend is a little off because my middle child has influenza b. 

I have been drinking a lot of orange and green juice. I purchased 6 pounds of cuties at Lunds they were buy one get one free and I have been eating 5 a day. I hope I can fight off getting the flu.

This week I did a 5 hour spin, a 2 hour spin, Gladiator class, burnt 850 calories on the elliptical, played dodge ball, and walked for 2 hours on a treadmill at 10% incline at 3.6 MPH while watching Premium Rush. I hope I can keep this pace up. My friend Tony said I should do more calorie cutting than massive exercise and I think I am going to start that route tomorrow. I think my knees will be able to take it a little more.

I hope you had a super weekend. More to come soon. Keep up the good work fighting fat!

Peace,

Gabe