Sunday, December 31, 2017
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Sledding in the Snow with Kids, Kickboxing Zombies, Rock climbing and Running
I have been doing it! My weigh is stable and I am down a little. I have been working out every day and adding weight to my free weigh lifts. Working in a lot of dead lifting both with dumbbells at home and with bumper plates at the gym. I love to hit the gym but I always need to work out from home.
We have had two snow bouts so far this winter and we have fully embraced them both. Getting out sledding with the kids is one of the real joys of winter. It's also a great way to be outside in the winter and get some exercise. If you don't think so just try it. Running up a hill with a sled, zooming back down and getting up so you can run up the hill again. What a fun way to burn calories while having fun with the kids in the winter.
I have also been getting back into kickboxing. I created a little drill on Friday where I pretend the heavy kickboxing bags are zombies and I have to fight my way past them to get to safty. Wow this is a crazy hard workout. I ran my kids through it this weekend and they not only loved it but thought it was very hard.
Watch the Zombie Kickboxing drill
Sunday we went to REI to return some items and the rock climbing wall was almost empty. We climbed for about an hour. Wow are my arms out of shape for climbing. But I love it so much and now my oldest son does to. We are going to climb at Vertical Endeavors next week for a day. Come join us if you want.
To really drop some weight I have been staying away from candy and sugar. I also added my kale smoothies back into my diet and cut my carbs. Its interesting how hard it can be to eat clean as a parent. My wife does not need to watch what she eats since she is naturally thin. My kids don't like most of the healthy food I need to eat and I end up annoyed and challenged. Will power needs a lot of enforcing over the holidays!
I know I will make it. I love to run and be active. I will keep in shape and fight the battle of the holiday bulge while enjoying all of my free time with the kids.
I hope you enjoy your time and stay happy with yourself.
-Gabe
Friday, December 8, 2017
Sledding in the snow with the Walking dead and Protein waffles lets Loppet together
We have SNOW in Minnesota. Seems funny to be as excited about it as I am but we have not had enough snow the last couple of years. The last 2 nights I have been out sledding with my kids. I really enjoy getting out, the snow makes everything so fresh and clean and white!!!
I want to do some fat tire biking this winter. I know the Loppet has some events for bikes and skiing. I am going to do them, who wants to join me?
Last night I made dinner, it was waffles. I usually make my own but my mom gave me a box of some healthy waffles. The box had a story about their invention and about how hole grains with protein are really good for you. The box also talked about how the modern day pancakes are nothing like the old school flapjacks from times of old.
I added 6 eggs, and milk to the recipe and it was super. Served with honey or real maple syrup and fruit. It was a dinner everyone loved.
My recipe :
4-6 cups whole wheat flower
1/2 cup flax seed
1-2 cups Greek yogurt
2-4 tsp baking powder
1 cup milk (or more to how think you want them)
3/4-1 cup peanut butter
* if you want a really big protein boos add 3/4cup whey or other protein.
You can eat them fresh or freeze and warm up in the toaster.
I think like the waffles we have changed much of our food into processed garbage and we don't even think about the changes. We need to get back to cooking whole food that are not full of sugar or worse corn syrup.
I have been eating a lot cleaner this week and getting my cardio in. I purchased the 7th season of the walking dead for my daughter and we watched an episode last night while I walked on the treadmill. I love movies and walking. No better way to get in some low impact endurance cardio under the belt.
Tonight I am going to do the same. Sled, walk then clean for friends coming over Saturday. I will also spend some time writing Christmas cards. I love this time of year and now that my foot is feeling better I can really get my exercise groove on!
I hope you have a super weekend and keep up all of the great work!
Happy Friday!
-Gabe
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Cutting weight and dead lifting some weight off, winter nights and SAD lights enjoying Christmas in the North #Minnesota
Losing some weight is always a good thing. I have been really hitting the weights and treadmill since I got over my gout attack. Ish I hope that never happens again. The NSAID I was on seems to have worked but I feel it was also making me put on weight. Or not =)
I have been walking on the treadmill at a 5-12 degree incline at a speed of 3-4.0 Mph. It really seems to help. I have been doing some spinning on my fluid trainer as well as hitting the free weights. I have about 400 pounds of Olympic plates and 2 bench's in my weight room. On of my favorites is still the 50 pound dumbbells. I will stand and do curl set after curl set with those while watching a movie.
I am down 5 pounds in the last week and have 3 to go to be back at my pre gout weight. Then on to the fun. My focus is not eating crap - like sugar or processed things. I will let myself do fruit and nuts and cheese at holiday events but I need to hold it to that. I am also not going to drink a lot of hot cocoa or drinks with added calories.
My kids are always a great help with my weight loss ....NOT
Part of my journey is realizing my willpower is about me. If my kids get sweets or make sweets or buy junk food its my responsibility to push them away and not eat the junk.
I still feel required to eat something if someone made a special treat for the holidays but I try to stay away from force feeding situations.
My grandma Betty always quoted me "a minute on the lips, a lifetime on the hips" while this is a little morbid and mean I get it. As I get older the weight goes on a lot easier and leaves a lot harder.
What are your plans to stay fit over the holidays?
I will be doing a lot of pre planning, thinking about what I am eating, pushing away and exercising.
I will add next week how I have done but I hope to make it through 2 events this week and not gain a pound. I can do it!
Wherever you are on your parenting and self body love journey I wish you luck, you can do anything you put your mind to!
Monday, December 4, 2017
Gout attack - Thanksgiving - Bentlyville and a 2 hour spin
Well here we are. I did not post much in November or finish the Nanowrimo this year. I started a new job, I love it! I also had my first attack of gout and some other fun.
When should I start? I am now working in Downtown Minneapolis about 3 blocks from my old location. I am driving and busing to work and waiting until spring to start biking to work.
I have been trying to keep my weight stable or lose some. I had been on a roll but it gets tough as you know when you don't workout on a regular schedule. I had been doing morning workouts 3-4 days a week and kickboxing 1 evening with my daughter. Well mornings are out and the kickboxing class filled up for the session. We will be doing it again next session.
I worked out the night before Thanksgiving and was feeling pretty good. Then came my sore foot. Thursday it got sore, Friday it hurt more and was swelling, Friday night I work up in the middle of the night in pain. Every time the sheets touched my food I cringed.I went to the ER in Grand Marais the next morning and the DR put me on medication for gout. He didn't need to look to long since I have a family history through my grandpa and my mom. He gave me a non steroid anti inflammatory. He also said I could start working out a little when the pain was gone. He suggested cycling or swimming. Well I figured I would be back walking around that day or the next.
It turned out it took me a week for my foot to go back to almost normal. Saturday we stayed in Grand Marais but I didn't do much. Sat around and iced my foot. It was really hard for me since I love to walk around. I actually really have a hard time sitting at all. Then Sunday we packed to go home. We visited Bentlyville and the kids pushed me around in a wheelchair. I am sure this was a lot more fun for them than for me.
We made it home Sunday night and over the next week my foot got better. Saturday I did the 2 hour spin for World AIDS day and felt pretty good. Next up is for me to get back into weight loss and get to a comfortable weight.
The plus side is I have been hitting the weights more. My bench is increasing and my arms are really coming along. Now on to losing some tummy flab!
I just read an article about loving your body and I agree. I need to love myself and embrace that I can weight less or more but I need to not hate my body or the way I look. We all need to love ourselves more and then we can love others better.
Its not a war against food it a life with moderation. I will always keep trying.
We are in the month of December and more food and sweets gets consumed from now until new years than any time else. We can choose to embrace friends and gatherings with moderation and still have a great time. This goes for booze as well as food. Many of you know I don't drink much but for those who do, try to keep it reasonable.
I will commit to doing cardio 6 days a week for the rest of the year and a goal of feeling happy about my body. What is your rest of the year goal?
Wherever you are on your parenting or body journey keep up the good work. Nothing gets better without effort.
I am here for you!
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